Currently eating here right now, and just had the need to write a review. This place is hands down one of my favorites now! First time coming and definitely not my last! The place is so cute and the crew is really friendly! Don't get it confused with RJ's cafe cause we almost did (they're nice there too) We got the crepes, calamari, and chipotle chicken sandwhich! read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Inside! - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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This is a tough one. I've been coming here on and off for years and it has the potential to be great, but they have serious problems with inconsistency in food quality, service, attitude and ambience. As an example, I have had some incredible meals here, where the food quality, food prep and presentation, were all stellar. So far so good, right? But I can go back with friends a week later and order the exact same dishes and they come out COMPLETELY different and horrible in every way. I've had inedible food served to me that should have never left the kitchen. Likewise, I can come one day and get good, friendly service and I can come the next day, stand in line for 30 minutes and get bad attitudes and total chaos. Unfortunately the latter seems more common. This is all disappointing, especially from a catering company. I would never hire them for catering because of this. You'd think they would have a recipe book and train anyone to cook and prepare dishes the proper way. Consistency is extremely important in the food service industry. You'd also think after all these years, they could solve their staffing and scheduling issues. The most common excuse I hear from the cafe staff is that they had a catering gig that day and all the staff are off doing that, leaving the cafe in chaos, where it seems like the dishwasher is doing the cooking. Finally, as MANY other customers have mentioned here, the ambience is utterly ruined by the LOUD obnoxious MUSIC playing on the outdoor speakers. This seems to be for the benefit of the staff and absolutely ruins what could be a very unique and peaceful courtyard patio setting. We can hardly have a conversation out there. Everyone I've brought here says the same thing. There's a reason restaurants offer indoor and outdoor seating. People who choose to sit outside want to talk and want a quieter atmosphere. Here's a solution: Play what you want INSIDE the cafe, in which case the open doors would allow music to waft outside a little, but PLEASE turn the outside speakers off, as they are completely unnecessary. If you insist on playing music outside, PLEASE get rid of the pounding nightclub music (which makes zero sense at 1PM) and please play something soft and jazzy AT A VERY LOW VOLUME. We are the locals. We are your regulars. Please listen to our concerns. You have the potential to be one of the best 5 star spots in this area, but for now it's 2.5 stars. read more

I love What a Dish! The cafe is really nice and they have a wonderful covered and uncovered patio as well. They also make some delicious cakes and baked good too! Today I came for brunch and go the sunrise breakfast sandwich with bacon. I was slightly disappointed because the bacon was barely cooked. But, everything else was great. Staff was wonderful, I our coffee was perfect, and the atmosphere was lovely! read more

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We've been here twice and haven't been let down yet! Ordering can be confusing since the hostess stand is vacant & you hop in line inside to order - then, go grab a table that already HAS A NUMBER and they'll come find you. The food is so good and the staff works hard! Do us all a favor and be kind to the young employee at the register, she seemed solo and had a lot of people to deal with! read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - The potato's were divine...and the portions are solid! - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

I came here the weekend after Christmas and it was a positive delight to find that the quality of ingredients here are second to none, and the ways they put them together are also very sensible. The side order of pee wee potatoes was simply spectacular and super affordable as well. I loved the ketchup that came with the phenomenal potatoes - and lots of potatoes for a side dish! The crepes were also absolutely perfect for what I was expecting and the fruits inside were the best locally procurable picks that magnified the idea of cream and fruit inside crepes. It came with honey even though we wanted to sub with maple syrup. The Niçoise salad with ahi was quite good as well, although I liked the side order of potatoes the best, followed by the crepes. The matcha latte was pretty expensive considering I couldn't drink it due to the mug smelling and tasting like some kind of cleaning agent from the dishwasher. It looked really nice, though, and having it as takeout might be a good idea. The staff were pretty nice overall, especially the male servers - the female inside taking my order had a bit of an attitude but nothing too bothersome. The vibe was really relaxed and, due to the quality of the food and ingredients, also quite a happy place where people enjoyed coming to spend some time at with their friends and family. I totally recommend visiting What A Dish in Dana Point if you love the finest quality food ingredients like I do! read more

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Amazing food, service & setting in which to have a great meal . Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny day. Their menu has just about anything you would crave. The people working are there to please and show you a great experience. We come here often. Also a great place for cakes & any pastries you might want. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Came here for brunch with friends and had a great time! The food was delicious- one of the best eggs benedict's I've had (and I've had a lot). The hot chai latte was also so good. The vibes were great. My only slight complaint was that they asked us to leave when we were done and just chatting because they had a reservation. The host did it nicely, but we had been there less than 80 minutes. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Chilaquiles - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Such a cute brunch/lunch spot in Dana Point, especially now that so many shops are closed in the harbor! The restaurant had plenty of open tables at lunch time on a weekday. We ordered the Brunch Bowl and a BYO Omelette. Super happy that the omelette was able to be made with egg-whites only! The Brunch Bowl was packed with vegetables I was hoping for, but the portion was smaller than I expected an overall a bit too salty for my liking. The prices felt a bit high; the brunch bowl was a great portion for me, but for someone with a larger appetite, I think it would have left them hungry. The cupcakes were also on the smaller side being sold for $5. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - BYOO - egg white omelette - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Rainy-day brunch plans sent us indoors, and luckily we snagged a table inside at What a Dish Café. On a warmer, drier day, the patio would be really cute and inviting. Ordering is done at the counter, and they bring your food out when it's ready--easy enough. I decided to go with a lunch plate instead of breakfast, and honestly... that was my mistake. I usually try to order things I wouldn't make at home, so I chose the tuna melt. Unfortunately, it was a letdown. For a café that's also a bakery, I was expecting something more than basic white toast. The tuna itself was pretty mediocre--my homemade version is definitely better. Watching another table receive the chilaquiles didn't help; they looked amazing and exactly what I should have ordered. Lesson learned. Overall, the vibe was nice and the setup is casual, but the food didn't win me over this time. Not sure there will be a next visit, but if there is, I'd stick to breakfast. read more

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Had a great lunch experience. Delicious food, great service, wonderful ambience. We highly recommend. Tim was very helpful and a great ambassador for the restaurant. read more

The dish classic 4/5 It was very aesthetic and the food was decent! I will say overall I wish there were more pancake options besides only blueberry. Overall would try again! read more

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After coming here multiple times and being continually disappointed, it's time for a review. Service/Ambience: Today I went to meet a friend and sit outside since we'd be having 2 strollers with us, when I showed up there were plenty of one tables- but every single one was filled with old plates and table numbers. I tried to flag someone down for a while but eventually had to go in and request a table to be cleaned, to which the man gave me a hard time, and the women next to him eventually said she would go and do it. At the table I asked for a napkin for my baby (I wanted to use the cloth napkin as a little bib since I'd left his) & the waiter came back with a few paper napkins- I thanked him but asked for a cloth napkin, to which he looked put out but said OK, and then never came back. Food: Oh man. Bad bad. My food: my friend and I both got the Steak Chop Salad and it was probably the weirdest salad I've ever eaten in my life. Little medallions of steak were plopped on top of wilted (I suppose grilled?) full heads of lettuce (unchopped), looking like little mini burgers and I honestly didn't even taste dressing, just oil from the (supposed) grilling of the lettuce- so weird. SO hard to eat. The plate was also small and skinny, so since you had to chop everything up yourself and it was a strange mix of crispy romaine tips and soggy, wet, wilted romaine middles that were hard to cut everything spilled off of the plate as you tried. Ordered a cup of fruit for my baby- $4 for 4 blueberries, 2 strawberries, and a couple sad cubes of honeydew. Ordered roasted veggies as well, these were *very* oily bht the side was relatively large. My friend & i shared a side of sweet potato fries, those weren't bad- definitely the next part of the meal but that wasn't saying much. It's a shame because this place is so cute and is situated in a perfect spot, they could do really well. I've now been here multiple times and every time the food has been overpriced, disappointing, and coupled with bad service. I won't be going back :/ read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Steak & Chop Romain Salad- terrible & weird - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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This is one of my MIL's favorites so she had to take us when we were in town. What a lovely spot for brunch. First, the hostess was amazing and very tolerant when we had to switch tables 3 times before it was "just right". It's a tiny place where you order at the counter and then they bring the food and drinks to your table and they have a nice patio with various styles of tables. Since Benedict's are their specialty, I had to try one and went with the Jojo's since it was a little different with bacon and jalapeños. It was absolutely delicious, super flavorful, but honestly 2 eggs are too much for me - wish I had someone to share, but my table mates had the classic Benedict and the Ahi salad. On the side were amazing purple potatoes - such a nice surprise. And I had to do a cranberry mimosa (because brunch!) that came with a little pitcher of juice on the side so I could customize. Loved this spot and would definitely try dinner here next time as I hear it's also great. read more

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What a Dish Café Cafe is one of those local gems that instantly makes you feel at home. Whether you're stopping in for brunch or grabbing a quick coffee and pastry, the atmosphere is warm, relaxed, and welcoming. AR suggested we come here - she'd visited before and thought I'd enjoy it. Always up for trying something new, we stopped by on a late Saturday afternoon, drawn by the promise of al fresco dining on their shaded patio. Our order included: Arnold Palmer Champagne spritzer Truffle mac & cheese Calamari Grilled plate (roasted vegetables) Coconut shrimp Bacon-wrapped dates Sweet Potato Fries Opting for the patio was definitely the right call - plenty of shade and a comfortable breeze. (Thumbs up) That said, the food was just okay overall. (AR had commented that she remembered it being much better.) Everything was nicely presented and perfectly fine, but a few dishes lacked the spark or standout flavor I'd expected given the café's reputation. Service was also on the slower side - possibly a sign they were a bit understaffed that day. Despite that, What a Dish Cafe remains a charming neighborhood spot - a blend of cozy ambiance, community spirit, and approachable fare. A solid choice for a laid-back breakfast, brunch, or light lunch. - Big Aloha! Food: 3 Ambiance: 4 Service: 3+ Value: 3 read more

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I always love coming to this restaurant. Good food, good service, and cute location. I really enjoy that they are pet friendly with a few items to choose from. My dog is a picky eater and he loved the pupcakes. Not pictured was a Bloody Mary and I will say that it was delicious! We asked for extra spicy and it did not disappoint. Spicy, strong and to the point. What a dish is definitely a local favorite. Chilaquiles were tasty and very large but I just wish that the chips were a little lest soft. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Pupcake - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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NO SERVICE AND NO DRINK REFILLS. For $3, were given one small can of WARM coke on an 80 degree day to drink with our $50 food purchase. We were not offered any ice or water with it. After running out of coke, we went back up to ask for more and they made us buy another warm can for $3. Since you have to pay up front at the counter, we had to do a second credit card transaction just to get more to drink. All other brunch places in the area offer free fountain drink refills. Not this place. Also, we asked for a straw and a worker brought an unwrapped straw to our table with his bare hands and placed it on the dirty, unwashed table. Ew! Really regretted tipping them so much up-front when there was no service/bad service. read more

If I could give a 3.8 rating, I'd do that. The location is nice, the staff were great, the presentation was great, the service was very good. There are tables inside and outside. Outside there are umbrellas for hot sunny days and heaters for cooler days. ... 3.5. because the crab cakes did not appear to have much crab in them and they had a lot of fried breading. The coconut shrimps were better, but again, a lot of fried breading. The hummus with pita was very good. I'll have to go back and try their breakfast food. read more

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Located in Dana Point across the street from well known hot spots like Baby Beach and Dana Point Harbor. Free parking is available in a nearby lot. There is seating available both inside and outside of the cafe. I opted to sit outside to enjoy the mild temps. Order at the counter and it will be brought out to you. The happy hour menu caught my eye but I was there for breakfast. Ordered Dad's Classic it comes with two blueberry buckwheat pancakes, 2 eggs ,and I chose chicken sausage. I would have preferred a more flavorful meat choice.The meal was good, but I was able to try the eggs Benedict and that was better. read more

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I went in to purchase cupcakes for a birthday. The man who assisted me did not wash his hands prior to assisting me. He never put on gloves and grabbed the cupcakes with his bare hands, placed them in the box that he assembled with his bare hands, and as he was placing them in there, his fingers touched the frosting. It wasn't until I said something (I. E. Can you put on gloves you're touching the cupcakes frosting and the cupcakes themselves) that he only threw one cupcake away. He then appeared frustrated that I said something, washed his hands, and then went to go put on gloves. He put them on in a way that was like a F you. He then put the same cupcakes into the box and only exchanged one. I will never go back to this restaurant and am utterly disgusting by this potential health code issue. I'm upset that I spent 20 on cupcakes here. I wish I could get a refund but there was no one else there to assist. Most disgusting experience and if I could zero stars I would. read more

We wanted to take advantage of the beautiful weather and drive down the Arches in Dana Point. While there we searched for a Dog friendly lunch spot and found What a Dish Cafe. It is in a shopping center across the street from water with a few other restaurants. It is tucked away a bit but worth looking for. They are fast casual in that you order at the table and they bring the food out to you. Typically this means very little interaction with the serving staff but on here. The staff was very friendly and cared about us and our pup. The food was great. I was having a hard time deciding on what to order and after a short conversation with Tim at the counter I landed on the Braised Short Rib Slider. My wife orders the steak salad. Both were great. They also had a lot of baked goods including some dog treats that our pup absolutely loved. I certainly plan on going back. read more

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Well... I frequent this restaurant all the time and the food and service is always great. Very cute patio setting. Tonight we came to dinner and we were treated to rude behavior by a girl. She is an expert in rolling her eyes and being very rude. I've met the owner many times I hope he takes care of his problem that worked tonight Thursday 11/21. She's extremely unprofessional, nasty and not a good representative of your restaurant. read more

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Food is really good, the service was excellent, they ask politely what I need and make sure I get it. Ambiance is beautiful, nice comfortable chairs and benches. Literally feels like a vacation spot to enjoy. read more

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So I have been here 4 yrs ago and this time my experience was completely different. Huge improvement in everything I came with my girlfriend and we had the eggs Benedict sat outside and the service and pricing is excellent. The cost for eggs Benedict/truffle fries and tropical iced tea $22 such a great spot to dine across from the harbor much better choice than stuff in the water. read more

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The Hubs, my MIL and I came here for breakfast while in San Clemente for a wedding. I found it on YELP! And was not disappointed! It also turned out that it was the same place where the wedding cake came from! My MIL and I had delicious Bloody Mary's with breakfast. She had the Salmon Benedict, I had an omelette and the hubs had the yogurt parfait! Every item was delicious! Our server was the cutest, her name was Emily C. She was friendly, informative and sweet. (I have a teeny-tiny * the gentleman who delivered our food * I asked if they had any salsa for my omelette. He kindly brought two different ramekins, one was salsa verde, the other was a beautiful shade of orange. So I thought maybe it was habanero, so I asked him if it was habanero- he said back to me "we don't give spicy salsa to white people". Now, I can totally take a joke, but he wasn't kidding. And I recently learned a new Spanish word. Payaso- it means clown . He got mad. He didn't expect the white girl to know Spanish. Well, I know enough. So after all that. YES! I would definitely go back. I would get another delicious Bloody Mary and try something new on the menu. Can't let one person ruin a 5 star review. And I'm not going to let some guy be outright rude to me without saying something. 10/10 would recommend, just hold the attitude. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Bloody Mary - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

Great breakfast and atmosphere. I'm particular about hollandaise sauce and these people do a great job. Nice twists on dishes, like boiled baby potatoes instead of hash browns. They have about 6 indoor tables with the bulk on the patio under a large tree. Ocean breezes, quiet and dog friendly. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - California Benedict with asparagus, sun dried tomatoes and spinach - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Grease covered in all the food burnt pasta, a whole flipping potato in the breakfast burrito and they have a furry friend food, but it was covered in pepper and dogs can't have pepper. Our fruit was covered in grease and if you zoom in on the guac, you can see the grease buildup around the perimeter. Absolutely disgusting. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Guacamole, breakfast burrito, four legged friend, chicken and pasta - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

What a dish really lives up to its name! If you haven't eaten here before (like me) you're missing out. Their menu is HUGE and everything we had was delicious! This place is then best for "Sunday vibes" with friends! We came for brunch and had a ball on their outside patio. We had the steak and Romain, Salmon salad, seared tuna sandwich, and a few bottles of champagne. I notice the bloody mary on the menu and it's really a jaw dropper AND a whole meal! We will definitely be back. Tasia was our server and made the whole experience better. She was so friendly and knowledgeable. Also the cupcake trio and AMAZING matcha lattes. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - The STACKED Bloody Mary - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Went with some friends here for dinner. Nice ambience, great service from our waitress. Food was excellent. Will definitely try their breakfast next time. I ordered yogi wrap, it was amazing read more

The decor and ambiance are very cute. They offer outside and insider dining and they are very dog friendly. The food unfortunately was not for me. I ordered the French Toast Pudding which was very dense and not moist at all. The flavor of cinnamon was so overpowering that I could not taste anything else. I ate one piece of the French toast and the strawberries, needless to say I left still hungry. My friend is vegetarian and ordered a sandwich with bacon in the side so I could take her bacon. When she got her food the bacon was in the sandwich. Thankfully she is not a fuzzy person so she just took the bacon off. I don't think I would return based on the food. I would definitely go back to just have an alcoholic beverage and hang out. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - French Toast Pudding. Looks better than it tastes. - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

We stopped in for brunch and it was amazing!! The pricing was incredibly fair and the service was super fast! I got the buck wheat pancakes with eggs and bacon. The outside seating area was super cute and a great environment! Would recommend. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Blueberry Buckwheat Cakes - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

I have been here twice now. The second experiment was better than the first. The ambiance is why you keep coming back. Tasia at the front is full of personality and gives great service. The food is pretty good. What I learned: They do have a free mini cupcake for your birthday. There is no wait staff, you must order at the front, one cashier and a very long lines. The short guy at the cashier maybe should be switched out, his personality doesn't fit the vibe and his confrontational jokes were not inviting. But the girls hustling to make coffee and bring mimosas saved the day. Cute place, just come before the crowd so you don't have to wait in line. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Avo toast and egg whites with avo and potatoes - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

Now open for dinner--took the dogs for a walk and stopped by for some yummy food! My husband got the French dip and it was delicious as well. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Charcuterie Board and Chardonnay. Bodee's favorite - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

Super yummy and amazing brunch place! I came to visit a friend in Orange County and we decided to visit here on Sunday around 11:40am. There was no wait and they were able to accommodate us with my pup outside. I originally decided to get an omelette but changed my mind last minute to an eggs benedict with the ahi tuna. I've never seen another place do eggs benedict with tuna so I had to try it! I'm super glad I did because it was delicious. It also came with peewee potatoes which were perfectly salted and cooked. Food came out quite fast. You are seated with a number at your table and you go inside to order. The servers will later bring out your food. Overall I highly enjoyed this place and definitely wouldn't hesitate on coming back if I'm ever in the area again. They also have free parking with lots of spaces which is a plus. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Kauai - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Went there by chance because we are just looking for a place to dine in the area. What a hidden gem! Our group had 3 different kinds of pasta dishes and all were great tasting! We will definitely go back. read more

I have heard great things about What a Dish and finally got the opportunity to have lunch here yesterday. We ordered the Berry Salad and the Seared Ahi Sandwich with sweet potato fries. It was busy but our food came out quickly. The salad was perfectly lightly dressed which I love. Fresh berries, dates, goat cheese. The Ahi sandwich delicious. I loved the fact that it wasn't a thick piece of ahi but several slices of seared ahi. Much easier to eat and still just seared. We will definitely be back. read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Seared Ahi sandwich Seared Ahi Seared Ahi - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Very quaint little breakfast/brunch spot that dishes up a variety of American based food. Our favorite is the chicken salad sandwich - great taste, fresh ingredients, and good texture. Love that it comes on a pretzel bun. Brunch bowl gets a notable mention, probably one of the more healthy options on the menu. Nice combination of veggies/eggs/grain, but I usually add some protein to make a well rounded meal. They are stacked in the bakery, so give something new a try, lemon bar and raspberry cheesecake were solid options for our palette. A big plus here is the location, right next to the harbor, which warrants a long walk after enjoying your food. All in all, we frequent What A Dish, and you should too! read more

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Awesome spot. Simple counter ordering, comfortable outdoor seating and fantastic food. Great selection and everything we've tried was great. We'll be back read more

Our new favorite brunch spot! Food was absolutely delicious. The staff was very friendly. We went on a Sunday morning and it was busy but food came out very fast. The food was SO GOOD! The highlight was definitely the jojos egg Benedict. But everything we got was delicious from the breakfast burrito, the French toast, buckwheat blueberry pancakes, omelette. We literally ordered more food after our first round because it was so good!! The location is great! Easy parking! Highly recommend! read more

This is a hidden gem. We ate on the outdoor sofa on the patio--super dog friendly. My doggie is a picky eater but she scarfed down the pupcake. Service was so friendly and attentive, and food was great too. The mixed berry crepe was filled with fresh berries--yum! read more

What a Dish Cafe & Catering - Pupcake - Caterers Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Although the food was excellent, there was one hiccup that impacted the flow of the meal. We ordered an appetizer that unfortunately arrived at the same time as our entrées. While the kitchen explained there were many orders ahead of us, it would have made a big difference if priority had been given to the appetizer so we could enjoy it as intended before the main course. Despite that, the quality of both the service and the food makes this place worth returning to. Hopefully, the kitchen can fine-tune the pacing of the orders, especially for the appetizers. read more