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- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
417 reviews for Farallon
Review Highlights
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One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
I love the restaurant now! It's the best in the city!
Love the 1927 tiled Roof and fancy orange lights!
Open kitchen give us energy and not too quiet and not too loud.
I ate 2 oysters and fixed dinner.
The appetizer, crab cake was very light. I expected like regular crab cake is kind of packed and heavy but theirs were puffy and light. Perfectly deep fried with bread crumbs. Nice.
Sea Bass was divine! The best fish ever! Loved the crisp skin, again perfect! Also they used maitake (don't know in English) mushroom. Love Love Love...
Desert the mushy (forgot the name) chocolate cake was perfect size. not too big... not too small and it was delicious.
We drank California Sauvignon Blanc, "Six Sigma, Rooster Vineyard, Lake County 2008 ($40) was light yet fruity and levels of flavor comes after... very good. very gooood. Then at last, I drunk Spanish coffee... nice and warm and delicious.
I sure want to go back again! I will recommend for anniversary, perfect date, with girlfriends... any occasion! even with parents!
Well decorated, the feeling of dining at the premier restaurant of a cruise ship while at sea. The ambiance is supurb and one would be hard-pressed to top it for an underweater themed seafood restaurant. The tiled floor, the jellyfish lamps, the paintings and murals, the clam-styled seating - all very nice and well done. This decor gives Farallon most of its stars in the ratings, the food was so-so, the cost was astronomical.
I had the Hawaiian ono, my wife had the prix fixe- neither were all that impressive. It was good, but nothing popped or stood out from other seafood restaurants. With the price, you'd expect it to compete with the tastes of other perennial seafood places in SF and other coastal cities (Boston, Miami, Seattle), but it really didn't. I was trying to convince myslef that it was really good, but I hate lying to myself, and my wife told me to stop. The dessert was actually really good, so Farallon saved itself from complete mediocrity.
The service was very good. Coat check, reservation in tact, superb wine list with helpful advice, though I wish they hadn't advised me on an unlisted 11 oz. bottle of beer that ended up being $13 per. They were very personalble and a good wait staff though, makes SF looks good.
And really, that is what Farallon is. It is located off Union Square and attracts a lot of out-of-towners. It's decor and service helps tremendously meet the image of San Francisco others may have, and for that we are lucky to have Farallon. And just like the coffee in Paris tastes that much better to we Americans, Farollon in San Francisco may taste that much better to those travelling from, say, St. Louis. But to me, it impressed a lot of my senses, taste just wasn't one of them.
It should get 5 stars for the decor.
Sadly, it gets three for the food. I don't even remember what I ordered, but surely it was undercooked. I was disappointed; I'd been excited to eat here, and I thought it'd be among the best meals of my life.
But while I was not eating my food and drinking my wine, I couldn't help but look around at the floating jellyfish lamps and feel like I was in the restaurant of my dreams.
I don't know if this was an off day, but I had higher expectations.
We had oysters on the half shell, which you can't mess up. It just needs to be fresh! but it didn't seem like that was the case.
Had the grilled Maine Diver Scallops and the Baked Icelandic Char...Again, the foodflavoring needed some adjustments. Don't get me wrong it wasn't horrible, but not what you would expect at a restaurant of this "quality".
the ambiance is very cool though. I felt like I was under the sea. Vibrant colors and dark plush red chairs.
May have to give it a second try down the road.....
Took my brother in law visiting from out of town and his sister and friend. I saw a few negative reviews here and had a bit of reservation about going there. But I did not decide on which new restaurant to try and was also interested to see the decor so we all went to Farallon.
The first impressions were all good. We arrived and was greeted by a friendly valet who gave us a parking space right in front of the restaurant. Our table was ready in less than 10 minutes. We walk through the interesting decor to a nice table for 7 in the middle of the raised area. We had a friendly and knowledge waitress. We ordered our drinks and wines and everything was going well. The plates that were being bused to other tables looked and smelled appetizing. The friendly waitress took our orders and we enjoyed the nice company and atmosphere.
Our first course were mostly salad and oysters. Both were what one expect in restaurant of the caliber. Up to this point, I would give this restaurant a easy 3.5 - 4 stars
The rest of the meal went down hill from there. I order the fresh sardine, scallop and seared hawaiian Ono. I am sure all the ingredients were top notce. However, the chef brought out the worst possible flavor and texture out of the fine ingredients.
I have only been there once so I don't want to recommend people to not eat there.
What I learned from this experience is if I see any negative reviews on Yelp, I will try the restaurant by myself before hosting a party there.
I took my parents here for their 50th Wedding Anniversary (that's right... 50th) and it was an excellent choice for such a grandiose occasion! The food was amazing: from the delicious fresh bread we got when we were first seated to the dessert cheese platter that completely put me over the edge. To make me extra happy, they were having a special on wild, local chanterelle mushrooms this week. The service was all around superb! The decor was actually pretty awesome (albeit a tad on the old fashioned side, but I was quite fond of it, fake "ancient" mosaics and all). Jellyfish lights!!!
This is definitely not a place that I would go just for the heck of it, but for a memorable dining experience - it did not disappoint!
Very disappointed.
Room - 5
Service - 1
Food - 1
I am sure this was a good place at one time, but like many places it looses it's touch and becomes a tourist place. The food was cold and the scallop was sour.
I was here for my going-away dinner and it was an amazing dinner experience. The interior is expansive and I really liked the unique balance between a modern and "Fisherman's Wharf" feel. The sashimi trio that I had was very fresh (I wish I could remember which fishes it consisted of!) and all of my friends enjoyed their seafood dishes.
What really stood was the sommelier's wine recommendations for the evening. We had the 2006 Hartford Zinfandel and 2005 Robert Sinsky Merlot. The Hartford was and continues to be the best Zinfandel I've had BY FAR. It has an intense, yet balanced fruity character that just engulfs your taste buds and lingers oh so pleasantly after each sip. The Merlot was also very good with just the right balance of tannins.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal and I'll have to come back again sometime for further wine recommendations!
Fabulous decor. Each course was absolutely delicious and plated so nicely. Menu changes depending on what they have fresh.
Definitely a spot to take your wife, girlfriend, or anyone you would like to impress :-)
Farallon has truly unique, wonderful seafood dishes. It is a favorite of mine to share with family and friends when they come to visit in San Francisco. The decor is incredible and the presentation and taste of the dishes live up to their surroundings. If you are looking for a true San Francisco dining experience, Farallon is the place. Pricy, but worth every penny.
JELLY FISH LIGHTS!!!
I came here for my holiday party, and definitely will need to visit again for a real sit down dinner. This place has such a unique decor with its artsy lights, underwater themed walls and of course delicious seafood. Tasteful to the tee.
We were escorted to the private dining hall in which I was delighted to discover an open bar, and a variety of appetizers throughout the night. Out of all of them I would have to say that my favorite was the sashimi going around (never was quite sure what type of fish it was, but it was delicious).
We had a set menu which consisted of : Beet salad, scallop gnocchi, sea bass as the entree and dessert. The beet salad was tasty as well as the scallops, and although I enjoyed my sea bass, the beef cheek was pretty tender and just melt in your mouth amazing. Between the two was a constant fight for my taste buds.
Fantastic!
The service was great and the food was excellent. Some of the best oysters I've had anywhere. The decor makes for a really unique experience. Put on your nice shoes and escape to Farallon for some fine dining!
We had a our holiday dinner here for a party of 12. The private dining rooms are on the fourth floor and are just beautiful. Spacious and cozy at the same time. We were seated at the biggest dining table I've ever seen. Great service from staff.
The grilled shrimp appetizers were good but the mushrooms in pastry were truly awesome. Smoked salmon plate is recommended. The seabass was very good and the filet was even better and was so tender.
They know how to do desserts here. We had the airy Meyer lemon cake and the sticky toffee cake. Both were delicious.
Valet parking is $12.
I remember walking past this restaurant a few times during some photo shoots throughout the year and it would remind me to type up a review. I never really had the time up until now. If my memory serves me well... The last time I was here was on a date with my ex girlfriend. I'd like to take the positive route and bring that magical moment back. Our waiter was awesome, I can't forget that great sense of humor. To be a great waiter, you need that charisma! My date and I were amused by the service, and I'm sure the alcohol had nothing to do with it. The halibut was full of flavor. Most might say the decor is to laugh at, but I was comfortable with it to be honest. The only thing that I can think of that bummed me out was the bill. I was working retail at the time. I do remember eating out of cans for a couple of weeks shortly after. Hahaha.
Now that I understand the system better, the pricing is fair for those who want it. And I will come back someday... But I do feel sorry for those who have to spend entire paychecks for a great dinner. Because I came from that crowd. And now I could eat here everyday if I wanted to. It's definitely safe to say that Farallon is one of the best places to eat in San Francisco.
I read the reviews before deciding to come here on our short San Francisco trip. Loved the decor. Thanks to the yelp reviews knew they had a special happy hour menu at the bar. They said our table was ready but I wanted to take advantage of the discounted prices at the bar as I knew we would be dropping serious coin. Started with the crabcakes and fried oyster. While the crabcakes had very little filler, it was overshadowed by the cornmeal crust. Husband summed it up, "hushpuppies." That said, the fried oyster on top a spoonful of lobster was pretty tasty along with a south beach mojito that was the best mojito I have ever had.
Onto the dining experience....the sommelier was very impressive in that he had two different years for the wine we ordered and he brought out both years to ask which one we wanted. Most would pawn off the one they thought they needed to dispose of first...so that was a nice touch. We started with the grand seafood platter - straightforward fresh chilled seafood - the jumbo prawns were the best.
But what really stood out was the thai snapper. Wow!! There were about 6 flavors going on but they were all subtle and it all worked. Portions are pretty good size here too. Surprisingly there were tons of beef dishes being ordered all around us even though this restaurant is known for seafood. The only reason I knocked off a star is that the waitress got overwhelmed and we were forgotten at the end. However, service throughout the evening was top notch.
OK, so it's been a few months since we ate here...so I cant remember the names of what we ordered...but I know it was good. The ambiance is great and the server really took care of us. Check out the pics I added and that's what we ate. There were crab legs and tuna, fillet mignon and more tuna. It was tasty.
My amazing boyfriend took me here for my birthday, and it was such a special evening! A lot of the other parties were business meetings, but the place definitely has some very romantic tables. The decor is eclectic and breath-taking, from the glass jelly fish, to the old-school-swimming-pool ceiling in the dining room, to the seriously cool bathroom tiles.
Everything we ate was delicious, but my personal favorites were the ravioli stuffed with foie gras and topped with lobster, and the scallops main course. The calamari were good, but unremarkable. The desert menu is huuuge and everything sounds delicious... the chocolate souffle tart was great! The wine selection is amazing, with some rare wines and our waiter was a riot.
The space was cool, interesting and fun, but the food was extremely mediocre. It's a touristy joint, not for people who appreciate fine food and know the difference. Once was more than enough. Big disappointment, too many other good restaurants around to waste on this one.
Two friends took me to Farallon for my birthday. What a huge disappointment. The service was TERRIBLE, and the food was not much better. For the very large amount of money we spent, this place should have been off the charts in every way.
We went on a weekday night, and I think we might have been the only women in the place. The entire resaturant was filled with large tables of guys in business suits. I felt like we were at a convention. We barely ever saw our server the whole night. I think we were well into our third round of small plates before we got any wine. We had to ask three times for some Pellegrino. The special, a steelhead ceviche, was so fishy, it was almost rank. We had to send it back because none of us could stand to eat it. The crab bakes were deep-fried balls that could have come from Long John Silvers. The single scallop that you get when you order the scallop dish was cold and sitting on a pool of sauce that tasted like pure congac--it was horrible. They did manage to remember to bring us our coffee, but not until after the bill had been paid. To top it all off, they gave my friend a hard time about getting her coat because she'd left her coat-check thing at the table. I don't recommend this place to anyone--there are so many other seafood places in San Francisco that are SO much better.
Interesting decor, reminds me a bit of Gaudi meets The Little Mermaid - right by Union square.
The seafood is solid, shrimp cocktails, red snapper and scallops.
Pricey, so beware but a great night can be had.
Very neat atmosphere, somewhere at the intersection of classy and ridiculous. The wine list is very, very well prepared.
The food is acceptable, but in my opinion not what one would expect when walking into this curiously stuffy spot, especially for the price.
My mother and I came here on her first night in town visiting and it was really fantastic. We walked in and were immediately seated at the seafood bar, had prompt service and great recommendations from our server, Mike, and the food came out quickly and was absolutely deliciously. We ate the organic gems salad, sweet and succulent and for dinner I had the striped bass and my mom had the dorade. Both were great fish dishes, but I would highly recommend the striped bass.
We finished dinner with by sharing the chocolate gateau. It is to die for, but I would highly recommend sharing this dish because it is extremely rich. I was also able to sample the pear sorbet which is creamy and you could really taste the natural pear flavor.
Superb dinner!
I love the decor! You feel like you are "under the sea" with the jellyfish chandeliers and the seashell chair backs, sea urchin light fixtures, kelp columns, you name it! It creates a fun but still elegant feel inside! I've been here a few times now and they regularly update their menu. I can say that the menu is hit or miss on occassion but still overall great food! Definitely a restaurant worth checking out!
------Review for happy hour only-----
Came here for happy hour after spending a day wandering around SF with the boy. It's right next to Union Square.
The decor is nice; it's the only place that can hang jelly fish from the ceiling and make it look classy and not tacky. There was a seafood bar that was filled with oysters and crabs and although I didn't end up ordering anything from there, it looks promising.
Other than that, the rest of my experience was blah.
We ordered the fries, crab cakes and ceviche. All were good but none really stood out to me.
The service was terribly slow. I don't understand how there was one waitress for happy hour yet three hostesses that stood around chatting with each other. Really now? What the hell. We were there for over 1.5 hrs because at least 40 min was spent waiting to have our order taken, waiting for the food, waiting to get the check, etc.
I don't know about you but if you're aiming to be a classy high-end restaurant, bring your service up to par. I didn't even have any expectations going in and I was still disappointed. Big no no
came here for happy hour! amazing fresh oysters but albeit pricey for the happy hour special..nevertheless a great time with 7$ drinks including two yummy house picked cabs and chardonnay are on the drink list..bread is offered with olive oil and the usual balsamic. ordered the crab bisque on the menu and the flavours were pretty amazing..a great accompaniment with the bread bowl....coming back to try dinner sometime. overall great experience :)
Hit this place upon a recommendation from a friend and he was spot on. I had the best gourmet prepared seafood dish I have ever had in my life. It was a tai snapper prepared in a coconut-curry broth with leeks and chili oil. It had an amazing balance of sweetness, spiciness and texture. The snapper was cooked to perfection with crispy skin left on and it was so tender.
The decor in the bar area is pretty nice with hanging jelly fish glass ornaments and other sea-themed touches but it was the dining room that was spectacular.
The ceilings are adorned with mosaics dating back to 1924 when the building was an Elk's Lounge. The chambers on the ceiling divide the dining room into various sections which make the huge dining room look cozier and warmer.
All of a sudden you feel like you're in a different era or even in a different world. I think it would not be fair just to rate the food at Farallon. The dining experience as a whole should be rated. And for me, it was top notch.
It was a while ago since I dined there, but I was not impressed with the food. I had sea bass with the crunchy skin in the broth. It did not taste that good. It does not seem like a dish that requires a skilled chef to prepare. I do like the underwater theme and the jelly fish. No need to go there again.
Honestly one of the best oyster bars in San Francisco. I went for holiday drinks with friends. We had their crab salad, sardines plate, ceviche of the day and their amazing pomme fritz. Everything was fresh and delicious. The drinks were strong and served me as a nice insulation to the night's coldness. The place is real cute, an under the sea theme. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star rating was because our waiter would leave for long periods and we would have to flag another waiter to get service. But that didn't take away from a good meal and some nice drinks. Can't wait to go back.
My uncle and aunt bought me to Farallon for my birthday and it turned out to be a fantastic dinner treat. The ambiance and fruites de mar grand platter were the highlights for me. I loved the underwater theme, I almost felt like I was in a sophisticated Little Mermaid movie. There were jellyfish lights hanging from the ceiling and booths that looked like shells and coral - though it may sound cheesy it was far from.
Because Farallon is known for its seafood we decided to start off our meal with the Fruites De Mar Grand platter (oysters, shrimp, crab legs, lobster claw) - 2 of us finished off the whole platter and could have easily eaten more it was so tasty. More legs and claws please! The seafood on ice comes in 2 size portions, the Grand which is what we got and the Royal which is meant for 4, each has a side of onion sauce and butter.
For a nice restaurant the Farallon had pretty big portions. I got halibut with chantrelles and an arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette. My favorite part of the fish was the crispy top crust, yum, and it went great with the mushrooms that had a subtle sweet flavor. I'm a huge fan of arugula so I scarfed that down right away. My aunt and uncle got stuffed lobster (the lobster meat was removed mixed with veggies and a sauce and stuffed back in its shell) and a beef dish (my uncle was having some seafood allergies so he opted for this plate which was 1 of 2 non-seafood items on the menu) - both seemed happy with their entrees. My aunt was going into surgery the following day and was glad that Farallon would be her "last" meal till she recovered.
I thought service was great - our waiter was attentive and our glasses were filled regularly.
Each December, my sisters and mother meet in SF for shopping, eating and laughing! This time we ate at this restaurant and all of us loved it! It's right around the corner from the St. Francis Hotel at Union Square...it is the BOMB! Delicious. The ambiance, the service, the food...it's simply one of the finest restaurants. Will I go back...you betcha...I may even fly up just for the Seafood Platter! Out of this world. Try it...you'll love it!
Nice atmosphere. Service was stellar. Food was ok, but nothing spectacular. I got the crab chowder which had an overabundance of green onions in it which made it not as awesome as the waiter was describing it. The meal was okay. I ordered some kind of fish in a light black bean sauce. It was definitely way too light of a sauce and watered down. I love the asian dish clams with black bean sauce, so the sauce here for the fish dish did not compare!
Amazing steak here. I really love this place for a special occasion. The decor is really cool and detailed. I thought the ambiance of the restaurant really added to the experience. Everyone I went with loved the food.
I reccomend the butter lettuce salad. It has an amazing dressing.
The decor here is very little mermaid and has the feeling of an older, kind of cheesy Vegas hotel. We had some interesting cocktails at the bar and then sat in a booth in the back. My ahi tuna dish was probably the most forgettable thing I've ever eaten in such a nice restaurant - overcooked, bland, and surrounded by mushy vegetables. The more raw apps were much better. Dessert was heavenly - I had the chocolate malt gateau.
Our waiter was VERY detailed in his descriptions of each and every item on the menu, which was a little much, but I guess was helpful.
I LOVE this restaurant. We went here for my birthday dinner. I had no idea what to expect as it was a surprise. The hostess was super friendly and seated us right away, even though our reservation was a half hour later. We were seated in front of the kitchen which was a bit odd at first but nice to see the hustle and bustle of it all. Service was slow at times. Our waiter told us that he would be right back because he had to go say hi to someone. That was probably unnecessary. There was also a point where our dishes weren't cleared and the chef from the kitchen reached over and grabbed the dishes out of the way. Weird.
For the appetizers we had the shellfish bisque and the grilled hearts of romaine. Both were fantastic. For the entree we had the seared halibut and the char. The baked char was AMAZING. It came with diced vegetables and clams which were a great addition to the fish.
We did not have desserts because the choices didn't sound appealing. The server did bring us a scoop of their malt ice cream. It tasted like a ice cream whopper. Yum.
The fish here is delicious. Service could have been better but not terribly bad. Ambiance was nice. Out of towners and business types. Would definitely come back again for a nice meal out. They know how to serve seafood here!
** They add a 4% surcharge to the bill, to pay for medical coverage that is required by San Francisco's Health Care Security Ordinance.
Here are some items on the "6 till 7" happy hour menu (all items $6 until 7:00):
- Dungeness crab cakes (see my photos): outstanding, with just the right crispy coating. It has a rich crab flavor that is not masked by spices or sauces.
- truffled pommes frites: very good. The truffle taste really comes through, and the sauce is great. But, they are not as crispy as I would like; definitely order them "well done." Farallon has upstaged The Clock Bar at the Westin St Francis: the truffled popcorn at The Clock Bar isn't as good.
- cornmeal fried oysters: not recommended. It sounds great, but it just doesn't work; the oysters are too small, and the cornmeal just gets in the way of the taste.
- Farallon Jack Rose cocktail: It just didn't work. It tasted limp and watered down. There was also something else wrong: I think the glass was too small, and it arrived at room temperature.
You can't beat the ambiance with the deep sea fantasy especially if you're entertaining out of towners. Farallon is probably the most selected 'trade show' business dinner spot by most concierges so perhaps that explains the just ok experience I had this week. Granted it was an all male group with one not a friend of the Sea so obvious choice was the one beef entree - did not partake in the oysters, lobster bisque just the steak which came about an hour after were seated. His first bite of the steak was all it took for him. He told the waiter it tasted strange and 'off'...maybe the seafood surroundings gave him the 'heebie jeebies' plus his left arm was feeling numb from a pinched nerve....I think the vicadin was messing with the taste buds.
Our server did fine...offered to remake, order something else and bought the table a round of after dinner port for the (mishap).
Bottom line for me, Farallon is fine for those who have not been before, but there are other good choices potentially fantastic dining experiences around.
I come here for some of the best seafood in the city (especially if I'm with a group). They have amazing spreads for sharing your favorite shelled creatures...as well as excellent drinks/wines.
I recommend sitting downstairs in the back- it feels more open and welcoming and service seems to be better. Upstairs is a bit dark and feels like you're a part of a segregation attempt.
Farallon is also a top spot based on its close proximity to just about everything...after dinner, I suggest walking around the corner to The Starlight Room for dancing and more drinks!
High end, tasty food. So expensive. Liked their desserts. Free birthday dessert.
I really can't espress in words just how much I love this place! Words really don't do it justice, you have to experience the Farallon for yourselves. I was back for my second visit last month to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. From the second we walked in, the service was once again exceptional.
The host took our coats for us, then sat us at one of the best tables in the entire place. We had an intimate table for 2 set apart from the rest with a great view of the kitchen.
Our waiter was great, very attentive. The staff was great as well. Everytime either one of us would get up, staff would immediately rush over to re-fold our napkins! How awesome is that!?!
The food is insanely delicious! It's seriously TDF. We started off with the JUMBO GULF SHRIMP COCKTAIL. Soooo yummy! For entrees, my bf ordered the Wreckfish with gnochi dish that they had on the menu that week, and I ordered the SEARED LOCAL PETRALE SOLE (with beef short rib ravioli, toasted walnuts, cherry cognac jus). Both of our dishes were extremely delicious. The petrale sole that I got preactically melted in my mouth. The raviolis with the walnuts and cherry cognac jus made the dish! It all paired so perfectly together!
For dessert we got this Rocky Road Baked Alaska- that they had on the menu at the time. (Keep in mind their menu changes quite often to incorporate what is in season). It was delicious! And big enough for 2 people- we couldn't even finish it all!
This is the perfect place to come for special occasions. The staff is attentive, the decor and ambience are beautiful, and the food is beyond delicious and worth every dollar!
Upon getting our coats I asked the host about cab accessibility due to the fact that we needed to get across town and the host literally went outside and hailed a cab for us before I could even finish my sentence! This restaurant goes above and beyond to exceed expections!!!
I can't wait to come back!!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/23/2009
I had a remarkable experience dining there is past Valentine's Day.
Once on the freeway, we… Read more »
You certainly can't beat the decor.........especially in the bar area.
We were seated at a banquette in the back. My major issue is the lighting and the acoustics. The food was awesome and wine list inviting and comprehensive.
A brief review of a good restaurant. Save it for a weekday, and just sit in the bar area rather than the huge, overwhelming, daunting dining area.
For the price, you'd expect the food to be great- and it is.
Bar area is the way to go. Three stars. The fish rocked.



