We stopped here to try out their Happy Hour and left wanting to come back for a meal. While it had a bit of the ‘strip mall’ feel on the outside (see picture), the inside was very modern and had the feel of a higher-end restaurant.
Was slightly disappointed by the greeting – partially a result of Reserved placards at all but one table that forced us to sit right next to (and very close to) a couple of loud and talkative ladies…making it difficult to have a conversation ourselves. On the positive side though, that indicates the food is good enough that people are making reservations at a rate almost equal to capacity.
I ordered the Gin-Berry Mule (see picture) and my wife ordered a Vodka Martini. Both were very good and well worth the $5 Happy Hour price. Definitely worth a try for Happy Hour…and we plan to stop for a meal another time.
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We stopped here because my wife read that they had the best margaritas in the area…and I’d have to agree after having one. The flavor was great…the sweetness was not overpowering and it didn’t leave that ‘fuzzy / SweetTart’ taste in your mouth.
My wife ordered a Michelada and it was also very good – spicy yet ‘light’ (see picture). The last strong point was the queso and salsa – both tasted great, although I prefer a less-watery mix of salsa.
As to the food, I was less impressed. The chips (although complimentary…) tasted powdery / floury to me (see picture). Not sure if this had to do with being undercooked or something else.
I ordered the ceviche appetizer with shrimp and fish. Although the quality and quantity were good, I thought it tasted bland (I like a distinct taste of lime and cilantro, but struggled to taste anything for seasoning). My wife ordered a taco with shredded beef (see picture) and while the flavor was ok, the beef was dry and tough…took a lot to chew it up.
UPDATE: We have stopped here before after hearing they had the best margaritas in the area and have never been disappointed. Last night was no different – we stopped after dinner to have 1 margarita (which turned into 2 and both were delicious).
Ozzie was our bartender and was fantastic, first recommending the Shaker Margarita with salt rim, then making the Laurie Special (my wife’s favorite) – a Mango Margarita with Jalapenos and a salt rim. You won’t find it on the menu (because my wife named it), but if you like a good spicy / sweet combination, you will love this!
Update 2 (new location): This is one of our favorites for Jalapeno Margaritas and Mezcal Palomas (ask Jorge at the bar, it isn’t on the menu)…which we had again on this visit. This time we had dinner – the chips tasted better and I would recommend the Enchiladas Bander. The only negative…the boxy industrial atmosphere made it very loud inside and hard to carry on a conversation with someone beside you.
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We hadn’t been over to this part of town, but were looking for Italian and this was one of the very few that was open on a Monday evening so gave it a try.
Finding the front door was the first challenge from the large parking lot on the north side. There were several signs about surveillance cameras on the building, but nothing directing you to the front door – and a Pilates studio on the front of the building to further confuse you. Both outside and inside, there was nothing exceptional that really stood out about the building. If you’ve read my reviews though, that isn’t my main concern…I’ll take food quality and service over atmosphere any day.
Craig was our waiter and did a good job of taking care of us. Once he mentioned Garlic Chicken Linguini as both recommended and spicy, I was sold and ordered it. It was indeed spicy and had a very unique flavor – maybe best described as olive oil with a pepper burn. My wife ordered the Pasta Prima Donna (see picture) and both of us really enjoyed it also.
Lastly, we finished the meal with a shared piece of Tiramisu, as we find it hard to leave any Italian restaurant without trying a piece. It was very light relative to others we’ve had and tasted good, although it seemed to have come out of the fridge or freezer and still had several cold spots within it.
Update: Stopped again for dinner last night and enjoyed everything except the non-cash fee to use a credit card (as you can tell, I’m not a fan of restaurants that do this).
Started with the bread and salad (see picture) and both were fresh and delicious. For my entree, I ordered Penne Diavolo (see picture) and my wife ordered Pasta Fresca with Shrimp (see picture). The Penne Diavolo was advertised as spicy and was just perfect to my taste (I highly recommend it – a nice ‘kick’ without too much burn). Compared to it, the Pasta Fresca was bland, but still very tasty.
Unfortunately, they were out of Tiramisu…so no dessert for us…
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We stopped here for dinner on a business trip while killing time to try and avoid the worst of rush hour. While the restaurant had good ratings, we weren’t expecting a lot based on the outside of the building and the crowded area next to the kitchen and cash register just inside the front door.
However, things started to look up quickly as we were walked through a doorway and into a larger seating area with plenty of space. The complimentary fresh-fried tortilla chips along with red and fresh salsas were excellent – all 4 at the table commented how good they tasted, with just the right amount of spicy kick.
For my meal, I ordered the 4 Mini Tacos (see picture) and HIGHLY recommend them…they were definitely some of the best ‘street-like’ tacos I’ve ever had and I can’t imagine anyone not thoroughly enjoying them. Definitely a good stop for authentic Mexican food!
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Had lunch here while visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Bismarck and enjoyed the stop…good food and a good beer selection. While we found the atmosphere a little dark to our liking (low light levels made reading the menu difficult) the quality and taste of the food was great!
The complimentary table bread and butter (see picture) was basic but good. For my lunch, I kept it simple and light…going for the Turkey Sandwich with Pepper Jack cheese (see picture). While the bread was basic bakery loaf style, the sandwich was fresh and tasted great!
Other than bringing your own light to read the menu (if you are over the age of 50 like us), you will enjoy a stop here – great food and service.
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We enjoyed dinner here with a business group on a recent visit. It was near our hotel, had a good selection of tap beer and everyone at the table enjoyed the food.
For dinner, I kept it light and ordered the Beet and Goat Cheese salad (see picture) and would highly recommend it! For dessert, several of us shared a creme brulee…and it is also highly recommended!
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We stopped here while visiting my sister and brother-in-law and really enjoyed the food. The first thing we enjoyed were the chips and salsa – the chips were fresh and crispy and the salsa was thick and tasty. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend from the evening was the mezcal drink in the new menu (can’t remember the name). I love mezcal, but this drink was not good.
For the meal, my wife had the Parrillada and we both enjoyed it. I ordered the Chicken Street Tacos and thought they were delicious – small (easy to eat) & tasty.
Definitely one of the better Mexican restaurants I’ve been to – you won’t regret a stop here. The only knock on the menu…no desserts other than the homemade churros (which were quite expensive).
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We stopped here for lunch while driving through on a business trip and really enjoyed the food.
I ordered Brisket, Pork Burnt Ends and Broccoli (see picture) and thought all were delicious! The brisket had good smoke flavor and was moist (although ideally I like it sliced thicker), the pork burnt ends were lean, juicy and flavorful – and the broccoli with butter was also delicious!
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Stopped here for lunch while driving through on a business trip. Would best describe it as an average bbq restaurant. The brisket was a little dry to my liking, requiring more than average amounts of sauce and the bun was a low end grocery variety. A single small, round pickle slice complemented what I thought was the highlight of the meal – the Horseradish Cole Slaw.
I thought the pricing was higher than justified for the food quantity and quality. It was $11.50 for the relatively small sandwich and small portion of cole slaw – with styrofoam drink glasses and cole slaw container, and plastic eating utensils.
The pie and ice cream desserts looked great, but I ended up deciding against the extra calories so can’t comment on any of them.
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We stopped here for dinner while on a business trip and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The atmosphere was dated…but intentionally so, as we were in the Frank Sinatra room and we’re surrounded by numerous memorabilia from that era.
After appetizers, I ordered the Chicken Riggies since it was suggested as a unique dish for the area and found it delicious. I ordered extra spiciness and thought the spice level was perfect. Somehow, it is a perfect balance of flavor and creaminess without being heavy and overpowering.
For dessert, we shared several plates at the table, but the Tiramisu and Pumpkin Cannoli were my favorites. You won’t be disappointed with a stop here…I highly recommend it!
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We have been wanting to go here for some time and finally had the chance to go for my wife’s Birthday this week. The atmosphere and service were above average and the complimentary Birthday cake was clearly the highlight – fantastic presentation and great taste!
My wife ordered the Hanger Steak and while my taste of it left me feeling that it was a little tough / chewy, the flavor was very good. I ordered the Lava Roll and thought it was very good.
My wife also ordered a Lavender Butterfly and Paloma and liked both of them. Clearly an above average restaurant that we would return to on another date.
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Stopped for dinner while staying in Galena this weekend and really enjoyed the stop. The chips and fresh salsa were very good. My wife and I shared a Family Margarita Flight, which was a great value compared to the much smaller version for 2/3rds the cost. All flavors were delicious (Jalapeno, Pineapple, Watermelon & Mango) – and the Taijin on the rim made them even better!
For our meal, we shared an order of Fajitas and not only was it very good, but it was plenty of food for both of us. It was a bit pricey, but if you are selective in your choices it is manageable – and it all tastes great! If you like Mexican food, you’ll want to stop here during your stay.
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Came here while on a business trip as it was a favorite of one of our hosts – and boy was I impressed. On two subsequent trips, we returned to the same location for at least one of our meals. I’ve been to Peru on a mission trip with my Mom and son and have grown to really love their food.
I’ve started each of my meals here with a Pisco Sour (see picture) – they are always tasty and Cafe Cusco does a great job making them. While I’ve had their Ceviche Miami & Tamal with spicy pork on previous visits, I don’t have a pictures – but do highly recommend both. Lastly, for my meal on two of the trips, I’ve enjoyed their Spicy Pork Tacos (see pictures). I just absolutely love them – so much food, so juicy and oh so flavorful! This time they were infused with beets to make the shells red and on a previous visit, they were blue resulting from the use of blue corn.
We came here first on the recommendation of a local host who recommends this place as his favorite…and it quickly became my favorite also! You absolutely have to try this place – all of the dishes I’ve tasted are full of flavor and delicious!
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Stopped for dinner while staying in Galena this weekend and really enjoyed the stop. The chips and fresh salsa were very good. My wife and I shared a Family Margarita Flight, which was a great value compared to the much smaller version for 2/3rds the cost. All flavors were delicious (Jalapeno, Pineapple, Watermelon & Mango) – and the Taijin on the rim made them even better!
For our meal, we shared an order of Fajitas and not only was it very good, but it was plenty of food for both of us. It was a bit pricey, but if you are selective in your choices it is manageable – and it all tastes great! If you like Mexican food, you’ll want to stop here during your stay.
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Highly recommended, so stopped here for dinner on a recent trip to KC. Three of us decided to share the Pitmaster Family Share Dinner and not was it a treat! We really enjoyed sampling all of the great smoked meat – and although pork and beans aren’t usually high on my list, they were very good also, as was the cheesy corn!
If you are ever on the Plaza area in Kansas City – I highly recommend that you try this place. You won’t be disappointed.
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Although it wasn’t high on my wife’s list based on the exterior appearance, I talked her into trying it since it was relatively close to where we live. We started with a 28oz Margarita and Paloma. Although they didn’t have Mezcal for the Paloma – both drinks were still very good, but a bit on the pricy side.
For our meal, I ordered the Ceviche Shrimp (see picture) and my wife ordered the Carnitas (see picture). Both were very good and we would order either again. Although it seemed a bit on the pricey side for the area, we wouldn’t hesitate to return and would recommend that you give it a try.
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This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while and got the chance to go after kayaking nearby with our son and daughter-in-law. There was nothing fancy about the exterior (see picture), but once we stepped inside (see picture) I was impressed with the modern, clean and ‘edgy’ atmosphere.
We started with drinks (Supa Dupa Fly, Car on Cruise & Natural Aphrodisiac) – and they were all fantastic! They come up with some interesting names for their drinks and they all seem to be great combinations – hats off to the cocktail mixologist!
For our meal, I ordered the Fight! For your Right to Pudding (see picture), my wife ordered the Sean Combs (see picture) and my son ordered the Mimosa Chicken and Waffles (see picture). We enjoyed all of them and I especially enjoyed the Fight! For your Right to Pudding (just be prepared though…it is a LOT of heavy food, so you will likely be taking some home with you).
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Our friends set us up for dinner here one day during our visit and what a great place!
For starters, we ordered the Ceviche with chips (see picture) – and it was oh, so delicious! For our meal, I ordered Atlantic Salmon (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass (see picture). As per the usual, we both shared with each other and both of us absolutely loved both dishes. The fish was cooked to perfection, the couscous quinoa was light and clean and the flavors were fantastic!
If you follow my posts, you also know that I love ending the meal with dessert, so we couldn’t pass up sharing the Cobler of the Week (see picture) with the group at our table. Warm, crumbly cobbler and cold creamy ice cream – what a way to finish a fantastic meal!
While it is admittedly pricey, the view of the lake, atmosphere and service are fantastic! Not something most of us can afford on a regular basis, but highly recommended to try on your next special occasion.
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Finally had the opportunity to stop here while in the area for another appointment. Even though it was getting late in the morning, the place was still busy and the smells were fantastic!
The good news is that your donuts are made to order and very fresh (or you can get some that were previously made), the bad news is that you need to wait about 20 minutes to get your freshly-made order.
Very unique donuts with a wide variety of toppings to satisfy almost any taste buds. This place will definitely put a smile on your face when these tasty bite-sized donuts are combined with a delicious cup of coffee. You can’t go wrong with a stop here.
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We were intrigued by the name when we saw it in a restaurant search, so had to give it a try. We went last Summer and while we found it a little pricey, we really enjoyed each of the plates we ordered.
As a starter, we ordered the Chorizo & Potato Empanadas (see picture) and would highly recommend them. Next, my wife ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak (see picture) and I ordered the Fried Bologna Sandwich (see picture). As an ‘After School Snack’, the Fried Bologna Sandwich was relatively small – but was very tasty. My wife really enjoyed the Grilled Hanger Steak – it was juicy, cooked as ordered and the sauce and toppings tasted great.
If you are in the area, this is definitely a place that you’ll want to give a try. There are so many unique menu items that you are bound to find one that you will enjoy.
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