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Bergen St (F, G)
Mon-Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Classic 3-star restaurant food-wise. I had the pork tacos and while juicy, were nothing special. The "Okie Caviar" was OK, but I've made it myself with better ingredients.
I didn't get drinks, so that may change it, but otherwise - meh.
I was already hungry when we went to Cobble Hill Theater to check out a post-work flick, so I was STARVING afterward. I had already scoped out Lobo as an option for our movie-and-a-dinner date, but I won't make that same mistake again. We were seated right away, but waited an inordinate amount of time to get any sort of attention from anyone. When we were finally able to order, we each picked enchilada dishes, and were uniquely disappointed by each of our meals. Megan said her "sassy mama" enchilada's tasted like spicy Hamburger Helper if you swapped out stale corn tortillas for the noodles. My "chipotle shrimp" enchiladas were super fishy and featured chopped up shrimp that had been poorly deveined (or not deveined at all).
All this combined with slow-as-hell service that uses "cutesy" as a smokescreen for "lazy," and you've got yourself one hell of a Cobble Hill albatross.
People thought this was:
Two stars for the food. Add one star for the drinks.
FOOD: Karim used to live in south Los Angeles and then Little El Salvador in VA, so Karim knows Latin food. Chips and salsa are apparently the staple of every tex-mex joint nowadays, and the salsa here wasn't bad. But the "Over-stuffed Burrito" I ordered was stuffed with mediocrity.
Beer and vodka are my usual drinks of choice, but I couldn't pass up the massive margaritas this joint was serving. I went with the sangre de lobo, which was a blood orange base mixed with cinnamon-infused tequila. It was good to go, and after a second one, I was good to go.
ATMOSPHERE: There was seating on the first floor, but it seemed like we had a choice of sitting outside in the searing heat, or sitting upstairs where all the old people were congregating. Is that normal for Brooklyn?
SERVICE: Our waiter was good. I think I ran out of water a few times, but I compensated by drinking more liquor. Water is for pansies anyway.
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My first time exploring the Cobble Hill/Caroll Gardens hood and we stumbled into Lobo for a quick lunch. It was pretty empty when we were there, but I get the feeling it's pretty bustling during the eves, and there are two spacious floors.
I ordered the chicken taco platter and my friend had the veggie taco platter. Both were your typical tex-mex fare in taste and quality. Actually, my chicken tacos were a bit bland but nothing a bit of hot sauce couldn't really fix.
Not too special, but a pretty decent local spot if you need tex-mex and a margarita.
A friend was visiting from Florida and we decided this would be a great place to go for a quick bite to eat. It had really great seating in the back, a really cute garden but the food is not the best Mexican I've had, (and i'm from CT). Also they only accept cash, but the ATM they had upstairs would not work for my card. The service was really good, very friendly ... but overall I'm not going back here.
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After several trips to Lobo, thought a review was in order... First, get a margarita. They're good with the infused flavored tequilas. The jalapeno tequila can be a bit over the top spicy, but good once you warm up to it. If you can't take as much spice, try the ancho tequila, which gives a good kick. The other flavors are good as well.
The food is hit or miss. After living in Austin for a couple of years, I know it is hard to get good tex-mex in the northeast, but Lobo does an okay job with the standards. Our recent order of wings was a bit dry and overcooked, but they were better on a previous visit. I'd stay with the standards, tacos, etc. And lots of margaritas.
overall, it's a good spot for a drink (as is the location in the Slope) and an app, but not a meal.
Go here for the margaritas and drinks -- very, very good. Try the ancho infused tequila. The blood orange is not really blood orange... more like pink grapefruit.
Skip the food unless you are starving and crave mediocre tex-mex with your margaritas.
This place is never that crowded -- we've been here at all times of the day/week... they seem to get a steady but small crowd.
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They sell fish tacos both HOT and COLD and lobo, and unfortunately, it's also describes their service and food quality. Like an earnest but bipolar cousin, poor Lobo just needs a little Lithium to keep your water glass full.
But even when the check won't come and the salsa is out, after a few blood orange margaritas you'll forget your impatience -- grooving to the Texas tempo and laid-back vibe.
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Always super excited about the margaritas, chips, salsa and guac, but never remember that the rest of the menu is not quite as awesome until we're already seated. The juice for the margarita is freshly made, and it shows in the quality and taste.
I've never had anything that was bad, but never have raved about one of their entrees. Definitely give it a shot though.
The staff has always been really great, and the outdoor seating in the back is great when the weather is right.
Cash only can be a pain in the neck, but they have an ATM upstairs to avoid the neighborhood ATM scavenger hunt while your partner stalls the waitress.
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The room is nice & it's great there's outdoor seating. They have many exotic margarita flavors and infusions, not the normal corny stuff like "mango". The staff is superfriendly and the location's great of course. I liked the salsa, but the salad & the catfish dinner I had weren't very flavorful or distinct in any way. The prices are fair, so I'd come back here since it's near & good-enough, but I wouldn't come for a special event or a date.
We went to Lobo for my buddies' post-wedding brunch. We were a huge (20-ish) group, but they had reserved plenty of space for us upstairs. Our server was extraordinarily friendly and helpful -- he joked around with us and offered great recommendations.
Some of the orders got mixed around or a little flubbed, which is understandable given the size of our group, but they went out of their way to make things right every time. I had the 10oz burger topped with an egg, jalapeños, and queso, (don't worry, I took a picture for http://www.thisiswhyyo...) and I'll be dreaming of it for weeks to come. The cheddar jalapeño grits are worth the trip alone, and the Bloody Mary was the best I've had in ages.
Lobo's is one of the few genuine restaurants where you can just go by yourself and chill. The staff is really funny and laid back and dont bug you too much. The food is ok thus the 4 and not 5 stars.
Ask Jett the bartender for their signature margarita. I was given a sip to taste and it was delicious. The crowd there are regulars who come by to hang out... not to pick up dates, not to look cool or anything else but just to hang out because it is a chill neighborhood bar where everyone wants to relax and have a drink.
Go there on a day you are beat and just want to rest your tootsies over a nice cold drink and some hearty food :)
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Yes, two stars. Why? My margarita tasted as if no tequila was added, the salsa needed work, and while my entree was hot, none of the meats had any discernible flavor. Only the crispy beef taco held any promise.
I've been told their brunch is great, but I won't have the chance to experience that anytime soon.
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Lobo is my favorite Tex-Mex place in New York. The chips and salsa, which are normally bland elsewhere, are really tasty! They have plenty of options for vegetarians, including some delicious bean and cheese tostadas. The ingredients are always fresh. Their mango margarita is definitely one of my favorite in the city.
Lame. In a hood with so many great restaurants, I'm suprised this one has survived. The free chips and salsa were the tastiest part of the meal. the "guacamole" was just mushed up avocado. Not that I don't love mushed avocado, but I don't call it guac - that's like calling a boy a man.
The veggie tacos were barely heated corn tortillas with grilled peppers and musrhooms in them - nothing else! no salsa, no sour cream, no beans, no nada! Folks, that's not a taco. (Maybe my issues with this place are vocab issues!?)
And it's not just a veggie issue, my man's chicken enchiladas were super boring too.
And for all that, it wasn't cheap - $50 for our two entrees and 2 beers. I say pass unless you're drunk, rich, and lacking in standards.
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I mainly go to Lobo for the atmosphere. The first floor is intimate enough that if there isn't much of a crowd you still feel like the place is comfortably busy. If it does get busier, the upstairs can seat a decent amount of people. The BEST part of the atmosphere is during the summer. I love the backyard of this place and who doesn't love a margarita on a beautiful summer night with strings of lights surrounding them?
The food is decent and fun. The bartender and servers all seem pretty genuine and nice. One time our meal order was lost so a server (who was actually off for the night) brought our table shots and took one with us.
The food takes long enough to come out that I fill up on chips and salsa almost every time. I don't mind this during the summer because I just like sitting in the yard, but during colder months it's less appealing.
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I really want to give Lobo a 5-star rating, but I can't.
Despite the delicious chips and salsa, awesome nachos and quesadillas, and my personal favorite, Que Linda's burritos (chicken burritos with a sauce that is to die for alongside rice and beans), the dessert is awful as is the service.
I love a complete, well-rounded dining experience with a solid beginning, middle, and end. Unfortunately, Lobo's ending falls short.
As for the service, I don't know why it's so bad, but you better be ready to do a lot of sitting and waiting because these servers take their sweet time. Don't get me wrong, I don't want an overzealous, annoying server, but, come on, a little attention goes a long way.
What a horrible waste of a cool space and sweet little outdoor patio. The food here is godawful, like something I'd expect from a major chain Tex Mex restaurant at a small midwestern airport. The chicken in my chicken soft tacos had an extremely unpleasant aftertaste, like mildew, or maybe urine. The congealed cheese enchilada was made with only the best Velveeta, and the rice and beans had no flavor at all. At all. It was like eating lumpy paste.
Seriously, what the hell is going on in that kitchen? If you have the cojones to call yourself a Tex Mex restaurant, how about...I don't know, maybe going to Texas or SoCal for a week and actually eating some real Tex Mex there before whipping up your own "special" recipes? This was like what your schoolmarm Aunt Martha, who has never left her small Maine hometown, might make from memory or maybe just from looking at pretty pictures in a magazine. It was awful, unconscionable...what in the world? I can't get the awful clash of bad tastes out of my mouth. Maybe I never will. It was THAT bad.
The service was slow and kind of unpleasant, even though we were the only people outside, and there were bugs crawling all over the hot sauce bottles and obligatory Corona bottle salt and pepper shakers. The prices were way too high and though I didn't try any booze, I can't imagine even the best margarita in the world would have made up for the horrendous food. Somehow I doubt they offer the best margarita in the world.
No. Just...no. Avoid this place like the plague.
P.S. If you want mediocre Tex Mex in Cobble Hill, go to Mexicali at Court and Atlantic. It's not good at all, but it's about a million times better than Lobo in every way.
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I can't speak for the dinner menu but, for brunch this place is a favorite of mine. My husband and I eat here regularly on Sundays and probably my favorite part about eating there is the staff. Jen, the waitress is so quick with a coffee refill that you never see the bottom of the cup.
Their omelets are ridiculously huge in size and I love that you can get decent grits in Brooklyn. My favorite are the Migas, however. I get them with chorizo and cheese. They are so filling and tasty.
For dinner, well, I have to be in the mood for Lobo. I don't really think of it as Tex-Mex, it's more like comfort food to me with a Tex-Mex twist. I always suggest this place when I am in the mood for goopy, cheesy, warming food. It's good, it's not the best food in the world. But, it ain't bad either.
Oh you were sooo, sooo close to fulfilling my neverending search for "Tex-Mex".
It's all pretty decent, Georgia's Bean Dip, a nice mixture of refritos and "chili con queso" (why they call it this, I don't know, as it contains no meat), the tostadas were ok and the chicken tacos are a very large portion and probably better to share. Chips and salsa are also pretty good, although, I might like the salsa to carry more heat.
My only complaint, really, and I do a lot of complaining as it is when it comes to Tex-Mex, you have really got to stew those refritos with some hamhocks people and throw in a little salt too! Everything seems to be lacking a little flavor, but Lobos does have some promise.
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Yup, food and service needs help. I agree with the reviewer who said it. I think the service people are likely nice, but maybe overworked- could explain why they can't get back to your table even to give you a check.
Everyone in the neighborhood says how they would have LOVEd for it to be good, but somehow the flavors are never more than bland...the food is a bit expensive for what you get. The location is good. Too bad the trucks in Redhook aren't always open, right?
OOOH, yep, the cash only thing.
We like the guacamole with a margarita- so have a drink and the guac, skip the dinner, and get on the train to York street station, and go to Hecho restaurant in Dumbo.
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I, too, am surprised by the negative reviews. I've been to Lobo a number of times - for a drink, for brunch, and for dinner. Their pumpkin pancakes are delicious, their eggs are cooked perfectly, the rice & beans are really really yummy (and I'm one of the few freaks that isn't generally crazy about rice and beans), and the free chips and salsa are VERY GOOD. I had the chicken fajita tacos for dinner and they were great. The place is really cute and the staff is chill and attentive. Great selection of beers too. The only qualms I have are 1) it's kind of pricey for dinner and 2) they don't add the good stuff to their bloody marys, like olives, celery or carrots. They really need to get on that.
Other than that, I really dig the place.
I always see Lobo when I'm on court street. One day my friend and i decided to try it out because we wanted maxican food. We were squished in the front by the window; was'nt a very comfortable experience. The food was not what I expected what so ever. My friend told me after leaving she has better so I knew this was not going to be a place i would visit ever again. On the plus side our waiter was super sweet.
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Wow, I keep dreaming about the margaritas from Lobo. Who would have thought that cinnamon tequila in blood orange juice could be so good? I would come back to this restaurant, if only for those tasty concoctions.
Alas, there are many other reasons to visit:
-Yummy Red River Fish Tacos
-Lovely outdoor seating in the quiet backyard
-Wide variety on menu
-Healthy alternatives to normally fatty tex-mex
-Friendly wait staff
-Great neighborhood!
Give it a try, and definitely try to dine in the backyard... it totally changes the experience.
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I LOVE LOBO! The margaritas are absolutely perfect! The queso and the guacamole are among the best i've had, and their super secret weapon is the pork tacos. NOBODY ever has pork tacos and they are a bit of heaven. They also have the rice and beans down just right, which, lets face it...is critical to good mexican.
Great service-- any time they've made a mistake, they go above and beyond to make up for it, and I love the set up of the place. Very comfy- two small floors, and a very pretty courtyard out back for when the weather is just right.
I can't understand the neg reviews.
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Uneven, but often quite good.
I suspect you need to learn how to pick your way around Lobo's menu -- the reason it's endured so long is mainly because those of us who've been going there enjoy the location and the laid-back vibe as much as the food. The margaritas are great, the chips and salsa are absolutely delectable. The appetizer quesadillas will keep you going for the rest of the day. Every portion, it seems, is value sized, so this is a great place to stop and refuel if you're on a budget. On the other hand, the ceviche I ordered here on a whim, while a very large helping, was also tasteless and rubbery.
Stick with the core offerings -- quesadillas, enchiladas, chimichangas -- and the brunch is excellent. Then just sip a margarita and watch the world go buy on Court Street.
mami-likey for sure.
i was super boring because i was pretending to diet that night and ordered the taco salad thing... but it was actually really good.
very yummy chips & salsa too, and my boyfriend loved his veggie chimichangas ( i think that's what they were... fried.. cheesy?)
it's right around the corner so i'm sure i'll be going back when the craving hits.
And by Tex-Mex . . . you mean . . . .???!!!!!
First off - - there are fucking cow hides on the seats. Real or not I DO NOT LIKE THE SENSATION OF ANIMAL HAIR TOUCHING MY BODY WHEN I SIT DOWN TO EAT.
That's just the beginning of the laundry list of crimes this restaurant inflicts upon its customers:
1) No frozen ritas?!!! Are you for fucking serious?!!!
2) Rude rude waiter. My friend has a newly developed wheat and corn allergy but this guy was not impressed. When my friend asked if the salad had any corn he rolled his eyes and droned, "Nnno." Then what did the salad come in? A TORTILLA SHELL.
3) I don't even remember my meal. That's just how bland and uninspired it was. Obviously (yelp membership as proof) I like remembering my meals. This is a problem.
Okay. Close with something positive. They have Lonestar. For $4 (fuckers - a six pack costs that much!!!!) Ahem. Positive. Ahem . . . uh . . . ???
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Tex/Mex?! Are you serious!? Why is it that there is no decent Mexican restaurant in all of New York!? Coming from California, this is an insult to traditional Mexican food. Even Taco Bell is better than this crap!!!!
A waste of your money. Don't go here.
Gawd... I move to NY from CA and there goes the Mexican food.
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Nice nabe joint. Unpretentious and fun. Mamas sassy enchiladas with beef, cheese, rice and refried beans was tasty. Creamed corn was a little sweet and real good. Generous amount of free salsa and chips. Upstairs with it's Texas decor and brownstone views is quintessential Cobble Hill and simple Tex-Mex. Nice garden in rear for warmer days.
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I have gone to this Lobo several times and each time I go back I'm hoping the food will be better, but it never is. The place seems really cool and I love Mexican food, but this food is always disappointing. The only time I liked what I had was when me and a friend just had drinks and guacamole. I think I've given this place enough chances and I won't be back.
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I crave the margaritas, and seeing as they are located only a few short blocks from my apartment, I feel I am on the verge of having a bit of a drinking problem...kidding. The original or fruit flavors are great, but it is so worth it to be a bit adventurous and try their infusions...cinnamon tequila with blood orange, brilliant!! They also give you some chips and salsa gratis, to go with your drinks. I can't speak for the other food but who needs it if you can fill up on tasty drinks!
Granted, I'm one of those people who likes the same thing again and again (and again), but I've been coming to Lobo for awhile, and I'm pretty sure it's for a reason. The salsa is great and the chips keep a'comin'. The guac is super-fresh, and comes in a little chip bowl, which is both adorable and delicious. I love the chicken fajitas and the burrito is pretty decent too. Prices are a little steep for what you're getting, but the staff has always been friendly and the garden is nice.
So, it ain't perfect (and realistically, only 3.5 stars), but where else are you going to get better Mexican in Cobble Hill?
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C'mon, Lobo...let's have fun together. Lighten up a little bit.
I've been coming here over the years since it used to be Harvest and served Southern fare for dinner. I have to say that the switch to a Tex-Mex decor and menu was definitely for the best. They make a mean margarita. This neighborhood needs a great Tex-Mex spot with some kick ass guacamole....and Lobo is just short of missing the mark.
I would come here more often but one thing has always been consistent about this place, whether it was in the Harvest days or now as Lobo: the service practically sucks. I say practically b/c there are some waiters there that truly always do their best. But each time I go there for brunch, dinner, or takeout, I get treated like I just personally insulted whoever I'm dealing with. They are so rude to me here. I keep hoping that one day I'll have an experience there that'll erase all of the hurts from the past, but alas--it has yet to arrive. Half of the staff are teenagers who are from the neighborhood and a bit rough around the edges, so I'll give them that to be reasonable. But to all of the adult employees: Shame on you for being so snotty! This is Brooklyn, for crissakes!
Leanback/Leanback/Leanback/Leanback
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I live by myself in the neighborhood, and Lobo is the one spot I feel comfortable eating alone. It enhances my life, and my gut.
At least once every week, I sit at the bar and order a margarita on the rocks with salt and Edwin's Enchiladas with verde sauce. The friendly bartender gives me a huge amount of thick chips -- not the slight ones that crumble when exerted -- and medium heat, thin, tasty salsa. The margarita is good, the food is fine, and the atmosphere is oh-so-comfortable in an area with not-so-comfortable, self-conscious eateries. I read a magazine and chat with the bartender a bit. I leave satisfied.
It's a routine, and I like it.
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i really enjoy the breakfast at lobo. The jalapeno cheese grits are amazing in a way that only heavy food can be. The Tulsas are great if you can sneak a nap in after breakfast. Cheese, beans, eggs & jalapeno grits, yum! I also like the Migas.
I loves me some fried chicken! The FC at Lobo is quite good. Tasty batter, not exactly cripsy but not soggy either. I'm a dark meat person so I wish they'd give you the option of two legs instead of a leg and a breast. It is great to be able to get some good down-home chicken here in Brooklyn!
Their baby back ribs are also excellent. My advice: order the full order (even though they'll warn you about how it is waaay too much). For the extra five bucks you'll have a great lunch for the next day.
The enchiladas are decent, though the sauce lacks focus. Not enough cumin and oregano. I guess I'm not used to Tex-Mex so I'm expecting the sauce to taste like Mexican enchilada ranchera sauce. Whatever - it's my review so I can expect whatever I want!
I find their margaritas too sweet, so I stick to bottled beer (Pacifico has the best margaritas in the area IMHO).
The service is hit and miss - the women are always super nice and the guys usually seem surly and put out to have to take your order. It's weird...usually a place is consistent in their service. Either they're all nice or they're all assholes.
Service notwithstanding, this is one of the better brunch spots in Cobble HIll/Carroll Gardens. Good heavy, greasy hangover food!
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Do you like leaving brunch sort of drunk from the most heavenly margaritas this side of the border? I do and that's why I go to Lobo. The food is excellent as well--Fredo's bean and cheese chalupas rock my world. The fajitas and the buffalo chicken quesadillas are also highly recommended.
The servers and bartenders are attentive and friendly.
I've had a couple of great experiences at Lobo and no bad ones. The free chips and salsa are actually tasty, the combination plates are big enough for two to share - especially if you get an appetizer (the quesadillas are good), and the red sangria is yummy and $25 for a pitcher.
Seating is available in the front downstairs dining room (the window seats are fun of course), the upstairs area (more roomy) and a large back patio surrounded by trees (great for nice weather).
All in all, the drinks, atmosphere, and food are all above average for what I've found with anything in NY trying to be Mexican food or Tex Mex, and the menu is big enough (gigantic) that surely everyone can find something they like.
Side note: Watch out for the bathroom on the right, as the only water that comes out is scalding hot and you'll burn yourself trying to wash your hands. Also, CASH ONLY.
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Dan's negative review clearly has Tex-Mex and Mexican food confused. As anyone who's spent time in Austin can tell you, there is a big difference.
First off, let me say for the record that this is better Tex-Mex than ANY of the spots in Los Angeles. (Which was somewhat of a shock, since my fiancee and I had just about given up on ever eating good Tex-Mex outside of Austin ever again.)
The queso isn't perfect (texture wasn't exactly right), but again, MUCH better than any of the feeble attempts at queso I've enjoyed in Southern California, and definitely in Austin's league.
If you're a Texas transplant or just someone who appreciates the fact that melted cheese + chips can take more forms than JUST nachos, you should definitely give Lobo a spin.
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Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Tex-Mex
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
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Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Category: French
Brooklyn, NY
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
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