horrifically slow and poor service with the most rude, disinterested waitstaff i've ever met. patrons don't come to spend 100s at an establishment to be talked to like that. the food was mostly unmemorable other than the steak, which was genuinely very good, and the lobster roll, which mostly just tasted of the "roll" it came on. NOT recommended read more

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Let me just start off by saying Emma at the bar made our night unforgettable and we will absolutely be back because of her exceptional service, amazing recommendations for the menu and around town, as well as going above and beyond to make our first meal in Portland ever so damn memorable. We did the pre fixe vegan for my husband while I selected off the ala carte menu to try, according to Emma, what they are known for. Before we got to the food though, Emma whipped us up a cranberry Negroni and a Tom Cat Old Fashioned, which were both fantastic. The amuse bouche was a sweet potato, molasses and miso concoction that I thought for sure I would hate because I dislike those first two ingredients--they proved me wrong. It was incredible! For our appetizers my husband had a salad that was so fresh with herbs and their vegan Caesar was so well done that you'd never know. The chefs kiss on the salad was the crunchy cashew nuts and the pairing was harmonious. My appetizer was the lobster roll that I would quite literally punch a baby for -- no joke, full closed fist to the cutest baby to get my hands on another one of these lobster rolls. Don't let anybody steer you away from having this buttery, rich, and just mouth orgasming dish. I don't know how any place could beat this roll and their Chardonnay pairing was perfection. Our main was a lions main that was skewered and roasted over coals with a mushroom scallion whip and pommes anna. Mine was their burger made from blended NY strip and brisket that was cooked exactly how it should be with a little redness in the center. The "fries" on the side were to die for. Lions mane was paired with a beautiful Pinot and the burger with a Rioja, which both accented them so well. The last dish was our desert--the vegan ice cream with miso chocolate sauce and a pepper twill cracker. The pairing with this dessert was probably the standout with a 30yr port that brought out the pepper in the twill. Do not hesitate to book this place and absolutely sit at the bar so you can be treated like royalty from Emma. read more

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This meal will forever be one of the great meals I've enjoyed. It helped that it was 1:1 time with my son. The food was delicious and imaginative while having perfect balance of flavor. The dining environment was lovely. A wonderful meal. read more

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The food here is delicious. Really unique and unlike what you find elsewhere around Portland. The servers are top gear and take very good care of you. I have to concur with another review I read before though about kids. Last night there were 3 kids running around, in and out the front door allowing freezing cold air in. I kept hearing Hey Eli! Being yelled. It went on for 20-30 minutes. I don't know really what to think about this, but if I was on a date, I certainly wouldn't describe this as romantic. Tbh I don't know why anyone would bring their kids here as the menu has nothing for them. No wonder they were running around. But it's too expensive for this kind of nonsense. Restaurants are not public environments, they are private operations. As such it's up to the restaurants to tell people to reign their kids in or hit the road. I dine somewhat regularly at high end restaurants-Honolulu and Boston, and kids running around yelling is not a common thing to see. I have seen kids running around at McDonald's playland. read more

Emma was incredible! She made me the best tea experience at the end to cap off the most perfect meal! I never write reviews but I had to! What a great culinary experience! Core memory check! Oh, and that ice cream sandwich with peppermint bark! I'm still dreaming about it! read more

Had Andrew W as our server, he is absolutely amazing. Definitely needs to be paid more. He goes above and beyond and made me feel so good about eating. He made the experience so grand. Love him. Food was so amazing and unique. read more

Twelve - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Round two. Two years later still spectacular. Consistent. Thoughtful. The tuna. The caesar. And we met Myan. Ask for him to be your waiter when you make the reservation. Next level. read more

Wow! This is hands down the best restaurant in Portland. I had the pre-fix menu with the tuna credo, steak, and floating island. Each course was delicious, and you could tell each ingredient on the plate was chosen with care. Definitely a must try for any ME foodie! read more

Twelve - Tuna crudo - New American Near Me - Portland, Maine

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My husband and I came to Twelve for an anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint. We sat at the chefs counter which was a new experience for us. It was great to see the chefs work together to compose every plate. Everything we ordered was so good, our steaks were cooked to perfection and the service was impeccable. If you are looking to celebrate or just treat yourself I highly recommend Twelve! We look forward to coming back one day. read more

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I hate leaving a review that is nothing but raves. There is usually something that can be improved upon. But, at Twelve, I am at a loss to find anything amiss, anything less than perfect. So, get ready for a love fest from me to Twelve in Portland! Last night, we ate at the chef's table. What an experience! At most chef's tables, you get to talk to and converse with the chefs but not here. These people were too busy creating and churning out the meticulous food of a lifetime. You could just look at these consummate professionals and KNOW that it would be impolite to interrupt their artistry with mundane questions. And this intense effort, attention to detail and extreme professionalism extended to the wait staff, the host, the bar and everyone we met. I do not know where you find people like this who are so focused and deliberate in delivering the ultimate in top notch cuisine and service, but the Prentice Hospitality Group has succeeded in putting together a perfect staff. They have the individual focus of fine artists and yet, somehow, they work together like a finely oiled machine, attuned to the needs and movements of their colleagues around them. It was truly impressive to watch this kitchen in action. Our waiter, Andrew (or Tennessee) is also a consummate professional. Thank God he is not a lawyer or a nuclear physicist - both of which I believe he could be - because his hospitality skills are second to none. We started out with a celeriac amuse bouche. It was kind of like savory pancake with sorrel, almond, garlic and horseradish and - of course - the perfectly smooth celeriac. Every bite gave me a slightly different take on the dish but the result was the same - an almost sensual experience! Bravo! For our starters, we had the Tuna Crudo and the Mussels. Each was fantastic! You think - oh - whatever - tuna crudo - I have had that a thousand times before. But, somehow this elevated version surpassed all those others. The vinaigrette was to die for! The Bangs Island mussels were likewise perfection. They were out of the shell and accompanied by things that only a MASTER - yes, I said it, a master - would have concocted. Squid ink pasta, roasted garlic and little heavenly flakes of fried Lacinato Kale (whatever the hell that is)!!! It might be the most unusual presentation of mussels ever! And I am thankful that I was able to eat it! For our main course, we each had the New York Strip. I believe we got this dish because the guy who was working the meat was solitary in his work!. He never stopped moving, preparing, testing, tasting, touching, salting. He was the best of the best! When he handed the saucepans to others, he ensured that the handles were turned to their side so they didn't have to turn the pan before they moved them! And it all happened in the blink of an eye! He was poetry in motion. The steak was expertly grilled. The potato puree was like foam it was so creamy and smooth AND there was little gem underneath it - roasted garlic puree that added something luxurious to the potato foam! INSPIRED!!! And I think that this layering of ingredients and flavors is a hallmark of Twelve. Just when you think you know what you've ordered, they surprise you with something else underneath. Truly the Prentice Entertainment Group and everyone who worked there last night should be very proud of what they have accomplished at this restaurant. It is a pleasure to be served such food, in such an elegant and professional way and in such a beautiful yet restrained atmosphere. I feel lucky to know Twelve, to have been here twice and to know that I will be going to Twelve again! read more

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner on a Friday night for the four course prix fixe menu and everything was absolutely exceptional. The restaurant itself is lovely, with warm low lighting setting the mood. It does get full and so it's a bit noisy but nothing unusual for a popular restaurant. Service was very attentive and knowledgeable. For each course, they described each dish in detail, which was helpful since some dishes were composed of many elements. Now on to the food - everyone at the table started with a bit of sweet potato in broth. The broth was extremely flavorful and the sweet potato was cooked to caramelized perfection. We also split the milk buns, which were incredibly fluffy and soft and buttery. For my appetizer I chose the vegan Caesar salad. It was unlike any Caesar salad I've ever had - the dressing was tangy and refreshing and I loved the addition of the chopped cashews for crunch. For my main I got the oyster mushrooms. They came with sourdough bread topped with kale and more mushrooms. The mushrooms themselves were delightful. I loved the addition of the sweet grains (I think it was bulgur and buckwheat) on top to balance out the savoriness, and the dollop of truffle butter (at least that's what I think it was) was delightful. For dessert I got the galette. This was the only course that didn't blow me away. It was very good but just a little dry and I would have preferred more of the filling. The whipped cream was delicious and did balance out a little bit of the dryness. All in all I had an excellent experience at Twelve and hope to be back! read more

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A stand out in an already culinary gifted city. Sit at the chef's counter and enjoy the show. I have eaten at many Michelin and James Beard restaurants and this was one of the best meals I've had--not to mention the value if compared. The staff were friendly and very accommodating. The lobster roll is a must--one of the best in the city with most delicious bread. This is a must visit if visiting near Portland. read more

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This was our splurge during our trip to Portland and we really enjoyed the experience. We ate at the bar and ordered the 4 course meal with wine pairing. The parsnip first course was amazing and a great start. For appetizers we got mussels, roasted carrots and the green salad. The mussels were the favorite of this course. The sauce was really tasty with green peas and green garlic...it was balanced and went well with the wine pairing. For mains we got the duck and New York strip. I had a few bites, but I was stuffed by this point. We asked to get out desserts to go and ordered the honey cake and butterscotch tart. We nibble on them the next day and they were definitely good. To be honest I think we were overly ambitious with trying the four course meal...next time we will order off the regular menu so we don't overdo it. This was a memorable meal with beautiful food and a lovely environment. Definitely worth checking out if you live in the area or are just visiting. read more

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While in Portland and visiting some sites, we made it to Twelve and luckily, after our meeting, we were able to snag a table outside. Their outdoor space is bright with fresh air blowing through but unfortunately it got a little cool for us. Not to fret! the attentive servers were able to pull down the shades and it was much better! I stared at all of the dishes coming out to the neighboring, tables and they all looked really good so I was excited to place my order. We started out with the chips & dip. You may think to yourself, "No big deal" but let me tell you this thinly fried potato was a perfectly seasoned crisp. Now let's get into the dip... OMG I need the recipe. That's all I can say! Please do not forget to order the Parker rolls with the pesto butter! Do not miss out on that experience! For my entrée, I ordered the cod which was swimming in a lobster bisque, surrounded by tiny potatoes and topped with some sort of moose cream and fennel with a crispy element on top which was then finished with fresh dill. Hands-down, it was amazing! I felt like I wanted to be somewhere else where no one was watching so I can completely put the bowl to my face and devour it in private! It was that good! For dessert we had the strawberry Galette and it was light and refreshing, which was a good finisher for the palate. Thank you Twelve for an exceptional dining experience! read more

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Twelve is a real stand out in Portland. Fine dining at its best. The food is always top notch, as is the service. It's pricey compared to other places in the area but it's well worth it. read more

we loved the food, the people (we had six different people check in on us) and the comfortable feeling we had. It was really really great!

Ambiance was perfect for a 2-year anniversary celebration! Food was amazing, and the waitstaff brought us an extra dessert for our anniversary -- excellent service :) read more

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Looking for a superb meal? Head to Twelve on the Portland waterfront. Reservations are definitely best, even at 5:45 the place was full. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and comfortable. Our server was charming and funny, incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. His recommendations were spot on! We chose the prix fixe option, from the appetizer to dessert nothing was less than perfect. The keen attention to detail in plating and well developed flavors made it worthy every penny! Great night out! read more

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Extremely creative cod, lobster roll and ice cream sandwich. A very well executed meal. By the harbor. Nice staff. read more

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Each bite was truly incredible. Twelve did an amazing job bring flavors and parts from around the world together rooted in Portland style cuisine. The old brick port building had a intimate and elegant interior with thoughtful service. read more

My wife and I came to Twelve for our second wedding anniversary and provided such a memorable experience. We informed them during the reservation process that it was our anniversary and they truly went above and beyond. We were seated a beautiful corner window table, and were given a complementary piece of delectable honey cake that is customary for weddings and anniversaries in Ukraine, where the pastry chef is from. As for the food... the best we've ever had. The dinner started off with a celeriac dish that set the tone for the entire dinner, absolute flavor explosion. I had the mussels for an appetizer, which ended up being my favorite dish of the night. The sous chef worked some absolute magic with the sauce on this dish, which was a reoccurring theme for the night. My wife splurged for the lobster roll and it did not disappoint. For a main I had the cod dish which is in a lobster bisque, absolutely beautiful presentation and intense rich flavor. My wife had the New York Strip and we both agreed it was the best piece of beef we've ever eaten. It came with a beautiful potato pureé that was highlighted by some delicious black garlic that is hidden underneath. For desert I had the ice cream sandwich and my wife had the strawberry galette, which were both terrific but the piece of honey cake absolutely stole the show for desert. The service was impeccable. We had the pleasure of being served by a very southern gentleman, kicking myself that I can't remember his name because he deserves a shout out. He had immense knowledge of every dish and of the kitchen staff. Truly a 10 out of 10 experience and could not recommend it more to anyone in or traveling to Portland. 100% will be back in the future. read more

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We scored seats at the chefs table to celebrate our anniversary and had a very enjoyable and delicious meal overall. The vibe is very casual and informal, no pretense here. You have the option to enjoy a four course prix-fixe or a la carte menu. All diners are not required to have the prix fixe, which provides flexibility. Sitting at the chefs table provided an awesome view of the kitchen, and it was fun to see this very well organized team work together. It was really nice to have the different members of the team present dishes and explain what we were being served. Service was friendly, prompt and efficient, maybe too efficient, more later. The prix fixe option is $90 per person, with optional wine pairing. We chose to start with cocktails and then had a glass of wine. Some may find the menu a bit limited, but the chef takes some basic proteins and elevates the dishes to something special. I wasn't sure about the vegetarian eggplant option, but after discussing with our waiter I decided to give it a go, and so glad I did. Rich, grilled, umami flavors with a bit of crunch, made it a real delight. Bread service is available for an additional $9, and is 4 very delicious parker house style rolls. Delicious yes, but I felt that was a steep upcharge. If you are really hungry, you can opt for the lobster roll as your appetizer course, $20 upcharge. We did not elect this option, but it looked great! My wife had the swordfish, which she said was delicious but a rather small portion. The standout dessert was the ice cream sandwich, just about perfect! All in all, the food was very good with two dishes that didn't hit the mark for us. We thought the vegan caesar dressing was odd, not quite tasting like caesar. I found the Farro Sabayon appetizer to be just a tad over salted for my taste, but I am pretty sensitive to salty food. We did feel a little rushed through our dinner however, perhaps because we had an early reservation and they needed a second turn. Despite the cost, this was not a leisurely dine. Start to finish in less than 90 minutes, and we tried to slow our waiter down a bit when he asked to take our order before our cocktails arrived. I just don't like to feel rushed when having a nice dinner. Had we not put the brakes on, I think we would have been in/out in less than an hour, which is just too fast to enjoy such a meal. If you are looking for an above average dining experience, give Twelve a try, perhaps asking for a later seating and perhaps won't be rushed. read more

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A true culinary experience. Celebrated my four year anniversary with my boyfriend and the team at Twelve made sure to make it a memorable one. We selected their four course menu and had to start their kohlrabi followed by the yellowfin tuna and the tomato tonato which were both delicious. We then had their Parker rolls, which were so fluffy and perfect. As our main course, we went with the New York strip and the swordfish and were both impressed by how amazing they both were. My steak was tender, cooked to perfection and came paired with potato. The swordfish was light, flaky and well balanced. As our final dish, we had the chocolate pudding and the blueberry galette. The team, then, was kind enough to surprise us with a slice of layered cake to celebrate. I couldn't tell you which dish I liked more because they each were so flavorful. Overall, our experience was nothing short of amazing. Our waiter was fantastic and what I would describe as being, "on the ball." Definitely recommend Twelve! read more

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Great food, truly spectacular. Acoustics no issue- not too loud, comfortable seating not crowded tables. Five star experience for prix fix menu. read more

This was my second time at Twelve and we came for Portland's Wine Week. I will just say the chef of Twelve did not disappoint nor did Jenn Forge the Sommelier, her knowledge of the wines she presented us was excellent. Because it was a birthday celebration and wine week we decided to do the premium wine pairings. We started our evening with outstanding parsnips, something I would never think to order but they were truly amazing. This was paired with Bollinger La Grande Annee Champagne, AMAZING! Then we had a choice of appetizers, all of us chose the tuna and that too was outstanding. This was paired with Jean Et Sebastien Dauvissat. We then were served a palate cleanser that I did not care for, tasted very acidic to me from France. Finally, the main course I chose the black bass, my husband the strip and my daughter the halibut. All were fantastic. A scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream was served with 20 year old aged sherry, I thought I had died and gone to heaven but no we were not done.We finished this amazing meal with the chocolate sundae, tawny port and they surprised me with the ice cream sandwich. A most memorable evening! read more

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I felt every aspect of this dining experience was exceptional, from the food plating and server presentation, to the preparation and flavor of the dishes. Also, the N/A beverage pairing exceeded my expectations (which weren't terribly high based on various n/a beverages I've tried in the past from other sources); they really shone with their accompanying dishes. Staff were great, with just the right amount of attentiveness. Sad that we won't be in the area for another visit anytime soon, but I sure hope we make it back on a future visit to Portland. read more

The best meal of my life, and at 70 years of age that is saying something! The dining room is simple modern - a look I like. Service was impeccable. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. Presentation of our prix fixe meal was not rushed and allowed for time to thoroughly enjoy the outstanding food and conversation with my companion. I had the Persian cucumber, tuna crudo, Parker house rolls, the New York Strip and the Peach Bostock. Each was a flavor sensation. Unforgettable! Oh, and the martini was the best I've ever had! The kitchen is open and the employees looked like they loved being there. read more

The table service was supurb - a knowledable waitstaff, an accurate sommelier, and many servers made the ordering and delivery very nice. The space is attractive and modern and tries very hard to be Maine-esque. Unfortunately the food itself was very disappointing. First, the good: The rolls were tasty, but should be complimentary. The delicata squash was delicious, savory, and sweet, and the green salad despite being perhaps the simplest item ordered was also good. The beef tartare was delicious both in taste and texture, and the halibut was cooked exquisitely and served with a fantastic sauce. The scallop crudo didn't taste fresh, and was sour along with the golden beets, which were simply unpleasant both in texture and taste (also sour). The cod was cooked alright, but didn't taste remarkable, the pork loin was fine, but I couldn't find a single reason it was a $40 entree. I'd love to write more about our main courses, but "just fine" was sort of the theme, besides the halibut. For dessert, the gingerbread was fantastic, but the other sweets were unremarkable, and all of them being priced at $18 seemed a bit of a stretch. We were provided with a sommeliar, and the wine we ordered was just as suggested. The cocktails on the menu were uninspired, and, like the food, overpriced. Overall it was a pleasant experience, but not an impressive one. Our bill for four was $500+ and I'm confident we could've had a better dinner that night elsewhere in town at a third of the price. If you want to spend a small fortune dining out, by all means, but you would do much better in New York or Montreal at that price point. read more

Great restaurant - "best meal I ever had" category. Amazing hospitality, and is my go-to choice for my wife's birthday. Website and reservation system is a plus, and they listen to / heed your comments about food preferences - Andrew W clearly demonstrated he put together who I was and what I had indicated in advance. Amazing Prix Fixe meal - highly recommend. read more

Twelve is not that "special". They really think highly of their food. Bartender was cold as ice. Almost ordered the lobster roll. It looked minuscule. Glad we didn't. The pecan aspect of the bread/butter service had 3 crumbs of pecans in it! Scallops and strip steak were passable...... read more

Food service is very good. Food is unique but not odd. Nice restaurant. Feels like a showroom kitchen. The prices are relatively fair compared to the ambience and other prices up and down the streets. It seems more fitting. The same prices are charged for fast food style lobster rolls up and down the pier versus this nice, sit down, special occasion style restaurant. read more

12/5 stars for Twelve! An incredible experience from the second you step inside. Before falling in love with the food, we fell in love with the ambiance. We expected Twelve to be humongous on the inside, and we did not think we would get the level of intimacy we usually get at some of our other local favorites, but we were so wrong. The interior is intimate and glamorous yet, modern. We now get why Twelve was named one of America's Top 50 Restaurants by NYT. During our almost 2-hour dinner, we interacted with at least half a dozen people, including some of the chefs. The level of service was just unreal. The food was impeccable and magazine worthy -- each plate was a carefully constructed culinary masterpiece, with ingredients so exotic that, at times, some were unbeknownst to us. We had the four-course $82 prix fixe menu and paired it with a bottle of wine. It was the way to go -- getting the items a la carte would've been more expensive. It was a perfect dinner. The baked halibut was delightful, and the New York Strip was perfectly cooked. Also -- I recommend getting the monkey bread! read more

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Incredible, incredible, incredible. From the vibe to the space to the staff to the food. As good as it gets. Wife had halibut, I had lobster roll. So frickin good. read more

Wonderful experience. Was worried about coming here since our uber driver told me this place was a "bit too much" for Portland Maine. Def think he was wrong about that. They had great drinks, and great food. We sat at the chef's counter and watched all the action happen. Service was superb. Would def come back! It's also not too expensive for a nice restaurant and a 4-course prix fix meal. read more

Food was incredible! I have not stopped talking about the Cod entree. Service was fantastic, great ambiance. Favorite spot all week!

Reserve the chef's table!! Outstanding from beginning to end. I tried the Born to Run, or something like that. It was whiskey with carrot and turmeric and, despite what you think, it was off the charts incredible. Each course was better than the next and served by Chef Colin Wyatt himself. The menu changes regularly so I won't elaborate on each dish. Reserve now and enjoy the experience! I have one complaint: I still felt hungry after the tiny portions on the chef's tasting menu. The dessert (chocolate pudding) was more voluminous than the entirety of the meal and made me feel stuffed and uncomfortable. I would avoid dessert next time. read more

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I'm flight crew and discovered Twelve on my walk back from the beach on a cold day. I wasn't dressed for a nice restaurant but I guess I didn't look like a hobo because I was seated at the bar upon arrival. Every time I come here I feel welcome and I always have an extraordinary experience. This visit I brought my sailing mentor for a thank you dinner. We were both impressed with every plate and had a lovely time. It seems I always have the same bartender but unfortunately I don't know her name - but she rocks. She answers every question without making me feel stupid or that I'm wasting her time. Love Twelve! read more

Twelve was definitely an experience. We came with a group of 7. Almost the full group did the Prix Fixe menu, and our waitress was so great giving us suggestions on which courses to try. We also had a lovely sommelier who walked us through the wine list. There were 3 stars on the menu: the sweet potato in brodo first course, the lobster roll croissant, and the desserts (specifically the hazelnut one). The rest of the courses could have been balanced a bit better (e.g the Jonah crab was a bit heavy on the acid). read more

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HOLY COW! We loved this place. We did al a carte menu and spent less (I think) than pre fixe menu. We ordered the Parker house rolls (delicious but could be skipped) chips & dip (delicious but could be skipped), lobster roll (MUST MUST!!!) mussels (delicious!!!), swordfish (good), and cod (amazing but had a pretty sweet flavor). We highly recommend interacting with the staff - the Sommelier was incredible at recommending wine and our staff had great selections for dishes. We finished with the blueberry and sweet corn ice cream sandwich (not a must but was delicious). A bit pricey but worth it - great date night or fancier spot! read more

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Our server, Andrew W was excellent, as well as all the wait staff. Thank you for an incredible dinner experience. We'll be back and look forward to more delicious creations by the chef. I could eat the eggplant every day!!! read more