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Booker's Bbq Grill & Crab Shack
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Barbeque Restaurants Cajun/Creole Seafood, Barbeque, Cajun/Creole [Edit]
316 3 St SECalgary, AB T2G 2S4
(403) 264-6419
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 1 am
Sat 5 pm - 1 am
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Booker's Bbq Grill & Crab Shack
Review Highlights
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"Try the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Jumbalaya, both..." In 3 reviews -
"My yam fries were really tasty too, and my 'half' salad was..." In 3 reviews -
"The decor is funky warehouse and right away you'll feel..." In 3 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Tammy C.
Calgary, AB
4/22/2012
It's out of the way, but it's worth it! Peppered Vodka Caesar, Jambalaya, crab! Makes me hungry!
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Review from Katie M.
Calgary, AB
5/7/2012
Have really enjoyed bookers a few times, though our last experience was not so great. My boyfriend and I were craving pulled pork sandwiches, and knew bookers would fulfil our craving. We were sat by the door, which was not a very comfortable location, but these things happen. Our sandwiches were tasty but not the best I've had. We waited for about 10-15 minutes for the server to come back and accept our payment after bringing us our bill, at which point we just wanted to leave already! The worst part came later.... My BF and I both got food poisoning from something that we were served that night. Can't be sure what, but I suspect perhaps the coleslaw. I e-mailed the address found online once I was on my feet again, just to let them know, and received nothing in return, which I am still unimpressed with. Even a generic response would have been nice.
We will go back again and give them another try, as it's a good place, but I think I'll stick to the crab legs - won't be able to stomach pulled pork from there for a long time!! -
Review from Meghan H.
Bookers seems to be a great place for birthdays and a quick bite before a movie at Eau Claire.
The beauty of Bookers is, there is something for everyone. I had some non seafood lovers with me on Saturday and some big fans, and everyone left happy and full.
I avoided Bookers for about 2 years because of its location and look. But I was stupid. Stupid Meggy and your stupid judging a Bookers by its cover. When you walk in, it's actually quite lovely looking. Servers are dressed nicely, nice bar, and wonderful high bar stools and bar tables with a very industrial style ceiling. Almost like a chic warehouse.
There is pretty good parking around the area, and usually free after 6 and on weekends. Tom was a great help in booking the 10 person dinner and returned my call promptly and pleasantly.
I have been to Bookers a few times now, this time the beans weren't AS good as they normally are, and the mashed potatoes are kind of plain (no skin on, not sure if they're garlic mashed or not). But the Crabs legs 1/2 pound to start were to die for. We have been here before when they've given us all claws, but this time we GOTZ SOME LEGZ!
My brother is still talking about the brisket and, I quote, "When can we eat brisket again". And the answer, hopefully, is soon. The brisket and honey maple sauce is super delicious. Tender like you wouldn't believe. My mom had the salmon which she also said was delicious. Everyone seemed really happy with their meal.
Service wasn't VA VA VOOM but was decent enough, whenever I see an auto-grat of 18% I usually expect VA VA VOOM, but what can ya do.
The Big Taste Menu is on now for 25$ for a limited time only. Those who ordered it enjoyed a Crab Cake Atlantic Rick crab meat, roasted red pepper aioli,
Course 2: 1/4 rack of our smokehouse St Louis ribs, 5 oz of our house smoked brisket, garlic mashed potato, maple chipotle corn on the cob AND Course 3:
Raspberry Lime Cheesecake (Which they were out of so substituted with a brownie sundae)
If you find yourself hungry with a hankerin' for bbq or crab, head on down to BOOKERS, you won't regret it -
Review from jon h.
3/5/2012
Went Sunday night - during taste of Calgary event - $25 for crab cake appy, ribs and brisket (with potatoes and corn) main, then cheesecake for dessert.
Food was great - lots of bbq smoky flavor.
Service was super slow. Waitress was helping larger group upstairs and we got neglected.
Sundays and Mondays are all you can eat crab legs ($40) - lots of people were taking advantage of this special while we were there. -
Review from Kyle H.
Calgary, AB
3/22/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Love the crab. Luv it.
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Review from Kenny M.
So I finally got a chance to check this place out and I gotta say it was pretty decent! Now before I continue I just wanna say if you don't like cheesy bluesy piano "duals" (as they are called) then you might want to avoid coming here on certain nights!
So the food was good, I tried the clam chowder (A little above average but a slight bit murky tasting), and pulled pork sandwich with a side of yam fries, and it was everything you would expect! nothing wrong with it but also I have had much better.It was a little over priced to (for what it was). I tried my buddies fish n chips, it was also pretty decent but again, nothing that blew me away. Now for me, I guess i have this idea that any place that calls itself a" bbq" joint should have some kind of bbq item that makes you go "wow!! this is really really good" so I am judging by that standard but I will have to go back and try the ribs, the brisket and of course the crab!
The menu seems stretched! and also if a place does crab and bbq, it probably means that one or the other or even both, will suffer a drop in quality.
So yeah I would say this place has a nice feel to it and delivers the goods! BUT i was a bit taken a back with the piano guys! Dont get me wrong the guys playing were actually quite talented players and singers but it was a little to loud for my taste (at least during eating time!) and we were as far away from the PA system as you could be!!
I had quite a hard time having conversation with my buddies! It actually kind of annoyed me! ( mainly the volume and the song choice :s) I am a snob, yes it is true ! hahaha, If only they would have played some bruce hornsby!!! something like "spider fingers" that would have made my night!! They basically "hornsby- afied" every song they played from U2 to rolling stones! You know what! just bring down the volume 20 db! We can still hear you fine guys! hahahaha
Anyway props to the waitress who brought me a second bowl of clam chowder (on the house, probably just using the fat guy as a garberator!!! that chowder was gonna be dumped down the drain in a couple of hours anyway! hahaha) Still a nice and appreciated gesture on her part!
Check it out its a good decent place! -
Review from Angelo T.
2/12/2011
We expected to enter some dive-shack that had Louisiana decor, overenthusiastic waiters and patrons with crab/lobster bibs. Instead we walked into a swank bar area that one would find in Stephen Ave. It was the Cactus club with Big T's menu.
Our group of no good music snobs immediately hated the pianists, who belted out pop songs to wow a slim crowd. But I have to admit, they had me when they did a cheesy rendition of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air intro. Still the music was just too loud that our table struggled in our conversations. I resigned myself to watching some lame pool tournament on TV.
No complaints about the service, our waitress was attentive. I had Jalepeno poppers, which were "meh" and the fish burger. The fish was a little on the bland side, but I liked how it was lightly fried and enjoyed the light texture. Whatever else was in the sandwich wasn't memorable for me.
I never knew this place existed. Very odd location to be at and not a very convenient location to reach. Just not worth the visit. But I thank Booker for rekindling my love of Will Smith.
"HEY YO UNCLE PHIL!!" -
Review from Jay B.
11/28/2011
Calgary has been getting a bad rep in the US media because of the XXLL Keystone pipeline; I suggest instead of transporting Oil Sand in those pipes, they transport crab legs from Bookers. We took my brother to Bookers for his birthday. The location is made for Yelpers; in downtown Calgary right across the street from a homeless shelter in a nondescript building. SHAZAM.. you can accumulate street cred for braving the rough streets to get good food. The door transports visitors to a different realm : plush seats, Flat-screen TV wallpaper, clientele wearing their Easter clothes. We did not reserve and had to wait at the bar for a minute, but it was worth it. After we snagged a table, there was no stopping the buckets of crab legs and ribs . I am talking juicy, succulent, ginormous crab legs, tender well-seasoned ribs. I did not know this day would come, Food 1-Jay 0.
throw in polite hipster waitstaff and its definitely worth the $39,99 All-you-can eat. -
Review from Devon B.
4/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Booker's, where have you been all my life?
I don't know why it took so long for me to find out about this place, but I sure am glad I did.
The outside of this place made me think I was about to walk into a dive, and I was OK with that, as long as the food was good. Well, it certainly isn't a dive when you get past the front door, and the food is, in fact, great.
They do barbecue really well. I ordered the Brisket, but they had just run out. Normally I'd be a bit upset, but in this case it proves they do their own barbecue from scratch and that isn't as common as you might think. Further to that, they have so many tempting options I had more of a problem deciding what not to have.
The crab shack and seafood section of the menu is small, I grant you, but I wasn't going to expect miracles here in Calgary. What they do have is top notch (for Calgary). I can't wait to try the all-you-can-eat crab legs on Sunday and Monday nights.
As for the nightlife at Booker's, all I can say so far is that it is big and on Saturday's they have live blues. I'll have to go there on the weekends to see if the nightlife lives up to the rest of the place.
The only area they lack is the beer selection, which surprised me since they have a large bar. It isn't like they have NO quality beer, it's just limited.
If that is the worst thing I can say about this place, I'd say they are doing a pretty damn good job.
See you there!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Andrew D.
Calgary, AB
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The exterior implies some good ol' down home cooking right from the pit but walk through the doors and you get a dimly lit trendy looking bar/restaurant/lounge. You can either sit at the bar to catch a hockey game, enjoy a dinner with friends or take in some live tunes. Word of warning though: fridays consist of live piano cranked up full blast but if you like cheesy sing along hits than it could be good fun.
That being said the food was rather delicious. The Booker's Burger is a jaw dropping towering heap of brisket, pulled pork, maple bourban on top of a overwhelmed but well seasoned patty. It definitely requires a plan of attack since i don't think anyones mouth is that big. Being a lover of all things meat I was left satisfied.
Service was adequate and pleasant though at times slow despite a seemingly quiet night. All in all Booker's is a solid place to hang out and enjoy some decent BBQ.
P.S. All you can eat baby back ribs on Mondays....need I say more?! -
Review from Philippe G.
Calgary, AB
We really enjoyed Booker's. The food was great and well prepared.
We came in mid-week and the server seemed swamped so everything took a little long.
We were looking for a few bourbons and a scotch or two to finish the meal and the server was not certain of what they had.
Great food, great environment, just a few drop off's in service. -
Review from Danger D.
Calgary, AB
11/5/2010
I think the first time that I went to Bookers was maybe 10 years ago... I thought it was GREAT! Sure, in a bit of an edgy neighbourhood downtown but the concept of a 'true' Southern BBQ house really worked for them... think ribs, brisket, chicken and lots of that Bubba Gump shrimp... you know, I'd never even seen a crawdad before I had some there... grits, corn bread... down home true Southern cooking in a big industrial space with picnic tables, red checked table cloths and metal plates and, of course, crab races on Fridays.
...then one day I had the urge for some smokey cooking and key lime pie and EVERYTHING had changed. The new owners got rid of all the kitchy down homie ness and (the horror!) replaced all that unique Southern BBQ food with things like Fettucini Alfredo and Marinara Pizza... there was nare a crab nor crawdad to be found.
So with that background I was a bit unexcited to hear that I was meant to go to Bookers for dinner the other night. What I found was new inspiration! Little did I know but the folks who brought us Wild Wood Pub and Dining Room (now sadly gone because of a ghastly clerical error and a 'rhymes with sick' Landlord) are now behind this much slicker and sophisticated Bookers... Sure to become a professional go to spot (think Investment Bankers, Lawyers and Accountants wanting to escape beer in the core.. a bit Soho-esqe) and a favourite for those who are going to be living in the new residential spots immediately there.
What I'm especially excited about is that their menu seems to be embracing a lot of what made the old School Bookers work but in a really updated fashion. The smoked BBQ ribs I had were pretty easily some of the best ribs I've ever had in my life (including my own ribs... note to self: need to punch up my ribs a few notches if I'm going to compete).
All together, I think this place is sure to be a long term winner, especially as the new Bow River pathway system and river walk starts to bring the forces of light back into the area East of City Hall. -
Review from Clucker M.
Calgary, AB
1/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this place. But for chicken wings, don't expect too much - and I'm not knocking them for it, as you *know* you're heading into a bbq and crab shack - but the bbq part of it does imply that some wings are at least on the menu.
The wings were decent size, but a bit dry and given that they were 'screaming hot' I was a touch let down. -
Review from Matt T.
Calgary, AB
7/19/2011
I've been to bookers a few times with friends and had very mixed reviews to report. We've had good servers and very very bad servers, good food and very very bad food (fish tacos are unedible) and the lack of consistency is what makes it hard for me to return. I've been in for lunch numerous times and would recommend sticking to the basics. The crab is hit and miss. I find it's often overcooked and this ruins it for me. The appetizer order of crab claws is a generous portion of the cheapest crab meat available and sells for $16. If it's not overcooked it's a fun little meal and I usually combine it with an appetizer. Avoid the dry ribs and fish tacos. The tacos aren't a taco at all and are served on a crouton type wafer and they taste awful. I've seen many in my group try it and all have hated it.
Another thing to remember is that the little butter bowl on the table will explode if the butter gets too low. If you get the typical shitty service and don't blow out the candle or keep on your waitress to keep the butter level up you will end up with hot butter splashed all over you. I had a 2 day old hoodie and $400 jeans ruined this way. Our waitress acted like we were stupid to not know this was going to happen.
All in all I wouldn't recommend going to Bookers but if you do:
1. don't go on sunday - half the restaurant will be left empty for "reservations" which never show up and we've come to assume they just can't handle a full restaurant and the all you can eat thing is a joke
2. don't wear clothes you are too attached to- they don't have enough butter heaters to even have one for every table we're told so you'll need to do a lot of reaching and the butter does get low and pop out at you.
3. don't be affraid to ask that your crab meat not be overcooked- unless you like that weird taste it gets and makes you think your butter is rancid.
4. don't go at peak times- this place is poorly run to put it simply. When they get busy it collapses and the customers suffer.
Just my experiences. -
Review from Geoff B.
Strathmore, AB
Booker's is in one of the worst parts of Calgary, and our recent visit lived up to all of the hype. As we walked toward the building, cops were taking down a crackhead with guns drawn. Once the guns were holstered, we continued toward the door, and were able to piece together that she had just stabbed another woman at the nearby drop-in center.
Once inside, Booker's is actually fairly nice. As Jason mentioned, it appears to be a converted warehouse building. It is roomy and has a bunch of televisions, which would be great for sporting events.
We were there for the all-you-can-ear crab legs. We were a bit surprised to find out that the meal would be $38 each, but we all figured we would eat more than enough crab to justify the cost.
It took about 35 minutes after ordering before we saw our first crab legs. That could have been because one in our party ordered a regular meal, so that's not so bad. What was disappointing is the delay between when we finished each helping and the time the waitress brought us our next serving. It was usually between 5 and 10 minutes, which is too long.
When we were eating, the crab was okay, although it was usually too salty. Also, they were snow crab legs, which tastes good but doesn't yield the same reward as king crab.
The yam fries were delicious, although they came out lukewarm, at best.
The washrooms are upstairs, and I didn't see an elevator, so I wouldn't call this place wheelchair or elderly accessible.
If I returned to Booker's, I would probably order a regular meal next time. -
Review from Lesli K.
Calgary, AB
10/4/2008
Perched on the edge of downtown in between the homeless shelter and the Bow River is Booker's. The decor is funky warehouse and right away you'll feel comfortable in the laid back atmosphere.
We sat at a high table with high chairs near the bar and had a perfect view of everything going on around us. Not knowing what to order, we ordered the 'Garbage Lid' platter of seafood. It was huge, and offered a sampling of shrimp, catfish, crab, coleslaw, potatoes...it was crazy - but good!
...I'm pretty sure it was a real garbage can lid, too. -
Review from Sarah T.
5/25/2009
This place looks like an old loading dock when you first see it, but it's quite different inside. It's large and has a Louisiana, Cajun theme to it. Currently they are closed for about a month for renos.
This place is great if you like blues music, they have a band that plays each week, and enjoy smoked meat and fish dishes.
I have tried numerous things, and have to say that everything is good. Try the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Jumbalaya, both delicious.
They have an extensive bar menu, and the staff are really great as well, better than most restaurants.
The only down side is I find it really dark - but this could also be an upside for some, especially after alot of drinking. This place looks like it could get rowdy (in a good way).
This place is definately a Stampede party favorite. -
Review from Greg H.
Belleville, ON
11/19/2008
Not the nicest area of town but a short walk from the nearby Delta hotel and I'm a huge BBQ fan, so was excited to see the sign while driving in.
It was Monday night so football was on the many large screen TVs which was perfect for me... BBQ AND football. Heaven...
I sat at the bar since I was on my own and ordered up a BBQ staple - pulled pork sandwich, served with slaw on the bun and a side of sweet potatoe fries. Not a big slaw fan eater but I left it as is and it didn't detract from the juicy well balanced sauce and soft white bun. Happy to see they didn't screw it up by serving it as some ill-advised nouveau cuisine panini as I've seen at times. The fries were outstanding and served up with maple syrup. A nice touch and very tasty. Not a health meal, but I knew that going in - this was an escape from responsible eating...
This place attempts to replicate your typical southern BBQ joint, complete with that wooden, slightly run down garage feel. Everything is comfortable, clean and service is friendly, so no need to worry.
Price with an O'Doul's near-beer and tip was 19$. -
Review from Moez T.
Calgary, AB
12/8/2009
We were recently at Booker's BBQ Grill & Crab Shack for a work function provided by my fiance's employers. It was a lobster dinner that included over 100 people. It was a fun, delicious disaster. But any issues could only be blamed on the organizers and not Booker's. The Booker's staff really shined under the circumstances, actually, but still had room for improvement.
When we arrived for the event, a little later than we wanted, but still earlier than the starttime, it was already packed tight. I suspect they oversold tickets and people were spilling out of the event room into other areas that hadn't been reserved for the event.
Once everyone was sorted and seated, the event moved along. The first issue we ran into with service was not being asked for a drink order. And being sandwiched against a wall at the end of a long table, it wasn't an option for us to get anyone's attention. So unfortunately, we went without drinks (which was a shame, because I was really looking forward to a beer).
The food was excellent, and the organization of getting everyone into line was great (buffet style). Overall, we enjoyed the experience, but largely felt ignored by the serving staff. Due to the size of the event and the apparent shortage of servers, I will definitely have to go again and judge them on a more equal footing. An experience I look forward to! -
Review from Starsia E.
Calgary, AB
4/11/2011
Once upon a time I would have given them four and a half stars and then they completely changed the menu and the way they made their food. They used to serve a cool meat platter on a garbage lid and it was huge and yummy. Plus the salt and pepper shrimp was to die for. Now they are trying to look more upscale and for some reason their food is suffering for it. I hope they go back to the recipes or maybe they changed chefs. In any case have a slice of mud pie it is one of the best I've ever had. Plus they still have all you can eat crab. Overall it's worth a look.
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Review from Sabahat N.
Calgary, AB
3/30/2011
From the outside, Bookers looks like a really sketchy, was-once-a-bar-but-is-now-closed shack that you would not want to enter unless you knew your friends were already in there, and there was a reservation.
Anyway, so we did have a reservation yesterday, and we had the private room booked, since we were a large group. Upon entering, we were surprised at the cool industrial-yet-chic vibe of the place. I liked it immediately. I kind of wished we stayed in the main area, but we were whisked upstairs to the private room.
When we looked at the menu, everything looked appetizing! We ordered 2 buckets of crab legs and a bucket of deep fried pickles as appetizers while we perused the menu. I had an especially hard time trying to decide between my Snow Crab Dinner, Beer-battered fish sandwich, Crab sandwich, and fish and chips for my main meal. I finally settled on the beer-battered sandwich. With yam fries on the side. And a half salad on the side too.
When my sandwich came, I dove right in - and it was GOOD! I was very pleased. My yam fries were really tasty too, and my 'half' salad was pretty huge. I had to ask the waitress again if she had messed up my order, but she said "Nope, that's half". I took a few bites of my fries and salad, but honestly, my sandwich was so good I could barely stop eating it.
My group had mixed feelings about their sandwiches and the pickles (too salty, some said), but I loved my meal. Service was a bit slow, but I guess that was because of the size of our group. But overall, I will be back! -
Review from Andrea T.
Calgary, AB
6/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Booker's all you can eat crab on Sunday has been a family favorite for special occasions for years. Unfortunately, tonight we learned that in recent months they no longer serve the legs. It is all you can eat claws. The place is packed, so clearly people still love it, but we were used to the higher quality version of their meal. We talked to the staff and were told it was a supply issue. That's fine, but I would have liked to know of this change upon ordering. Bottom line: if you have had great crab at Booker's in the past, be warned it may not be what you expect anymore.
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Review from Merry K.
12/17/2009
I had a group here for lunch. An extra person came at the last minute & they were able to move us to a bigger table with no issues. Unfortunately, we ordered after a large group & our food was very slow coming out. When it arrived, I think they had rushed the food out. My steak sandwich was raw (I ordered medium rare but it was barely seared & dark red) and had a huge fat/gristle running through the middle of it. I didn't send it back as I was hosting the lunch and my customers had to get back to work. I won't be rushing back here.
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Review from Terry W.
Calgary, AB
7/19/2011
Last night we went to Booker's for all you can eat crab. As a side dish, I had the coleslaw - which was devoid of flavor and somewhat warm. My wife tried the baked beans, which were delicious. The crab was not cooked consistently, sometimes it was done well, and sometimes it was overcooked. Our server was difficult to pin down when she was needed, and would often be gone for 15 minutes when asked to get us more crab. When we asked her for our bill, she was gone for about 15 minutes until she came back and asked us if we wanted our bill again. We had not been to Booker's for a couple of years until last night, and we really did not enjoy our experience this time. For the quality of food and service we received, the $115 we spent before tip was too pricey.
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Review from Jason G.
Calgary, AB
4/9/2010 2 photos
I don't know about you, but if I hear of a restaurant that has both seafood and BBQ under the same roof, then say no more - I'm there!
And there, again and again. That place in Calgary is Booker's BBQ Grill & Crab Shack. "Shack" doesn't do justice to this sprawling, rustic warehouse-type restaurant. It's a really cool, unpretentious exposed brick space on the east end of downtown. Inside, it's just dark enough to camouflage the inevitable sauce drips you're likely to get if you're there for Monday's All-You-Can-Eat baby back ribs or the butter drips you're liable to get on Sunday's All-You-Can-Eat snow crab night. I've partaken of the Sunday crab night multiple times and all I can say is if you've ever wondered what it's like to eat like Friar Tuck, they'll satisfy your curiosity once and for all. Also, if you've never had a deep fried pickle, you don't know what you're missing. The good thing is, Bookers will happily fill you in, and up, with all the Cajun goodness that you've been missing! -
Review from RONDA R.
Calgary, AB
1/25/2010
Horrible location- homeless shelter, dead-end parking and no taxi access. Once inside you regret how nice you have dressed. I was told they had done a face lift and it was more modern. Obviously nobody informed their beer swilling pub fans that they were trying to class up the joint. During a recent intimate dinner for 2 for a birthday we were seated on high stools in the pub- absolutely awful. Yes I asked to move but no. Then as per the way of Murphy's Law they seated a table of 12 beside us with an obnoxious child- please people consider a babysitter! Not only is it an inappropriate place t have a child (did I mention its a pub) but no one is able to have a decent conversation when your child is such a brat.
The ONLY good thing is the unlimited crab for $38 per person, and the awesome $6 mojitos. I know this business is considering bankruptcy but I urge them to reconsider their location, and their decor ambition before pulling the plug- Good Luck.
