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Lilac, Tampa, FL
Award-winning

Lilac

4.6
4.6
355 Reviews
$50 and over
Mediterranean
Top Tags:
Lilac is a modern Mediterranean restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef and California native, John Fraser. Lilac exclusively offers a 4-course prix fixe menu featuring signature elements of Chef Fraser's mastery of Mediterranean cuisine explored through the lens of Floridian coastal produce. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, the dining room’s walnut flooring and the warm glow from the pendant globes create an elevated, convivial space focused around an eight-seat Christian Liaigre chef’s counter in sandblasted walnut and a lively open kitchen. Taking its cues from Fraser’s Greek heritage and his admiration of Turkish cuisine, Lilac’s balanced menu is a celebration of the chef’s vegetable-forward philosophy using fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
Experiences are available.

Additional information

  • Location
    500 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Christmas at Lilac

    $175.00 per person

    Dec 24 - Dec 25, 2023
    Immerse yourself in the warmth of the season at Lilac, the Michelin-starred Mediterranean gem located on the ground floor of The Tampa EDITION. Join us for an exquisite festive celebration, meticulously curated by renowned Chef John Fraser and our esteemed culinary team. Indulge in a sumptuous Christmas feast crafted from the finest local ingredients and infused with the vibrant flavors of the season. Each dish promises a culinary adventure, rich with the spirit of the holidays. At Lilac, every bite is an enchanting journey, inviting you to savor the magic of the moment. Come, experience the joy of togetherness, and relish in the enchantment on December 24th and 25th. Your heartwarming holiday indulgence awaits.
    Christmas at Lilac Photo

  • New Year's Eve at Lilac

    Dec 31, 2023 only
    Due to overwhelming demand, our restaurant is fully booked for the evening, but the celebration continues in our adjoining Lobby Bar! Join us for an intimate and lively experience, surrounded by the same culinary artistry and refined sophistication that Lilac is renowned for. For the early seating between 5 - 5:30 PM, indulge in a symphony of flavors across four courses, promising a culinary journey that captivates the senses at $185 per person. Or opt for a later seating between 8 - 8:30 PM and experience the lavish six-course affair, a gastronomic masterpiece that unfolds like a poetic narrative, ensuring a memorable transition into the New Year. Please note that your reservation will be at a table in the Lobby Bar.
    New Year's Eve at Lilac Photo

What 355 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

355 Reviews

  1. gaetT

    Tampa

    17 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good not great. Service great. Cool spot with the nature setting. I got the lamb. Presentation was great, warmish not hot food all around. Wife got short ribs - too fatty didn’t eat it. Been to 6 or 8 Michelins in Europe and here. Wife def thinks they are not worth the $$$$$. I like the change.

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  2. KellyD

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was good but not Michelin Star good. It was very over priced for what it was. Very loud and the smell of the air freshener in the lobby was overwhelming and you could smell it heavily while dining which took away from your senses while eating which I feel is a huge part of Michelin star dining. Service was great.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 1
    We were surprised the ambience was as casual as it was for the restaurant being described as so elegant. Otherwise it was an excellent experience.

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  4. ShannonP

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The appetizers were overspiced, so spicy any flavor was lost. The lamb chops were over salted. Again, a lot of lost flavor Chocolate souffle was more like cake. The Bombolino dessert was terrific and the best part of entire meal!? Someone remove their Michelin Star.

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!! Ryan and Liz were fantastic. Made us feel like we were the only one there. Had to save up but so worth every penny. We will definitely be going back. If you want to feel like royalty, go to Lilac. You won’t be disappointed. Thank you for making our Anniversary special!!!

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  6. DeborahG

    San Diego

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was delicious. Service was excellent The drinks were weak and very expensive

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The foooooood! AMAZING! I wish the seating was more intimate and private.

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  8. Herbert

    Orlando

    55 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    55 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Wonderful dinner, best in quite awhile. Scallops and then Duck, both superb. Thanks Trinaty for the great service. Will be back

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  9. AntonioC

    Orlando

    33 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was great as expected, food recipes, well kind of art and better on itself and served on a plate, BRAVO FOR LILAC’s team‼️

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  10. KenL

    London

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service. Was surprised by how small restaurant is. Good food. Some dishes excellent such as octopus and pork but some were kind of standard such as salmon. Overall nice.

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  11. KateL005

    Tampa

    57 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    57 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was phenomenal, the drinks elevated, and the chef and staff earned every part of their Michelin Star! Congrats!

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  12. Glenda

    Tampa

    52 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    52 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was great, food was tasty. We had their Thanksgiving prefixed menu. The servings are small but filling. We wished they would have offered the regular menu so that we could have tried other items since this was our first time dining there.

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  13. Anotherdinner

    Tampa

    45 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely thanksgiving dinner experience. Will definitely do it again. I forgot my servers name but she was amazing. Five stars all the way around👍🏾

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  14. prettygirl

    Tampa

    32 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    After having eating in various Michelin stars restaurants around the world Lilac was not at all what we were expecting from a Michelin star restaurant, from the size and layout of the restaurant which leaves a lot to be desired to the quality of the food and the service. Restaurant is very small and right next to the lobby bar without any wall separation. We arrived earlier since that day was a lightning game at the Convention Center, checked in with the hostess to let him know we were at the bar and 5 mins after our 8:15pm reservation one of the bar waitress had to go and reminded him about us… food was terrible and service was not impressive at all. Not coming back for sure.

    1 person found this helpful

  15. OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    For a one star restaurant, it did not live up to its expectations. Food was above average, service was friendly but disorganized. The space felt like a pop up restaurant shoved in the only space left in the building behind plants & on the other side was a loud busy bar. I’ve dined at several Michelin one, two and three star restaurants throughout the world recently, and I do not think this will restaurant will maintain its standings.

    1 person found this helpful

  16. beckys

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and experience! Would definitely recommend.

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  17. WayneH

    Tallahassee

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding! Food was wonderful, service was spot on. Enjoyed it 100%. Looking forward to returning.

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  18. Maria

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Very good location, great service, great food but keep in mind the restaurant is right beside a bar so it’s very loud. And the tables are very close to each other. Other than that, was a great experience.

    1 person found this helpful

  19. OpenTable Diner

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Where do I start? The service in this restaurant was outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. Jesse was our server and along with the rest of the team they excelled in taking care of my wife and I. My wife has an egg allergy and they did a wonderful job in accommodating that. The food was amazing. The Pork Belly and Octopus was so tasty and so well prepared. The Diver Scallops were beautiful. Entrees were the Dover Sole and the King Salmon. The Dover Sole was the best fish dish I have ever tasted. The deserts of Olive Oil Cake, snd Chocolate and Walnut Cremeux were delightful. I had the wine pairing also, which gave the evening a nice touch. We’ll definitely be back to sample more that Lilac has to offer. On a side note - on getting to the hotel where Lilac is located, many of the roads were closed due to a Hockey game at the Amalie Arena. The valet staff and the Tampa Police Department were wonderful in helping us get to the hotel. If you are driving to the hotel you may want to check to see there is anything happening at the Amalie.

    1 person found this helpful

  20. RaheemF

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Never have I been to a restaurant where the ambiance, taste & service was so perfectly balanced.

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  21. Toni

    San Francisco

    56 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    56 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Worthy of it's Michelin star. Professional friendly service. Charming atmosphere. Amazing food. Chef willing to assist with food allergies. Sexy room.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    4 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely no words. •Took a few friends one from out of town and now I’m restricted from picking any restaurants for a while. •3 people $1,000- and nobody liked their food

    3 people found this helpful

  23. philadelphiaboy

    Philadelphia

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Excellent service. Well-curated menu. Lovely ambience. Surely recommended for a Tampa culinary experience.

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  24. Anonymous

    Tampa

    26 reviews

    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience for a special occasion. Excellent food and service.

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  25. BettieS

    Tampa

    54 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    54 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lilac and its chef, who appeared to complete the finishing touches on most dishes. delivered a meal that met the expectations of a Michelin starred restaurant. Four of us enjoyed our four-course meal from appetizers to dessert. Highlights were - the spiced braised rabbit appetizer. the Gulf red snapper with its lovely presentation, duck au poivre, glazed short rib, and dark chocolate souffle. We were told this was the Fall menu and it will be in place for another couple of months. We also had the wine pairing. We found the whites to be interesting and thoughtfully matched to each dish. I was disappointed with the odd Bourdeaux Zin or Tuscan. The late harvest and port with the desserts went well. Our waiter, Ryan, paced the meal perfectly and dealt with the plants that must have grown over night and were invading our space with his trusty pair of scissors. It was a beautiful evening.

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  26. JenniferA

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Overall it was a nice experience because we chose to overlook a few things such as the noise level is not that of a fine dining experience. It was very loud and obnoxious right beside where the restaurant is located inside the hotel. I would personally put up a divider between the dining area and the open hotel entrance area to muffle some of the sound. The street was completely blocked off making it difficult to find a place to park blocks away. I didn’t appreciate this as I expected to have valet, or at least able to pull up to the hotel. I think the restaurant should have called or texted us to let us know of the parking issue before arriving. It was obvious right out their front door the blocked streets. It would have helped us not have the frustration of driving in circles to figure out how to get to their hotel/restaurant. The food was good, the service was excellent, and great wine. I wanted to give this experience a 5 star and could not. I would give it 3.5 stars. I may give this a shot again in the future.

    2 people found this helpful

  27. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love coming to Lilac for the amazing food and great service! Looking forward to coming back when the menu changes again!

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    7 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Nice restaurant and good food, service a little slow. Thought it was a little over hyped.

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  29. Chastity

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience! Loved it. Everything was great

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  30. YanetV

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I went with my husband and two children (ages 3 and 1) and everyone was so accommodating and kind! They even offered to order my children’s food from the hotel’s kitchen. The food at the restaurant was absolutely amazing! It was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Our waiter was always professional and made fantastic recommendations on the dinner choices. The amount of effort from all the restaurant staff to the chefs was above and beyond. We definitely plan to go in the future!

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  31. JohnC

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely restaurant and atmosphere, excellent service including absolute awareness and care of an allergy. The food was superb as well. My only issue was that we were wanting to add 2 to our party of 3 for a 92 year old's birthday and each time I called it was not possible, however when we arrived, the hostesses said it may have been. Otherwise a delightful experience albeit quite expensive.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service and the food was delicious with a stunning presentation.

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  33. Enzosmom

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! Aside from the wonderful set first course of milk break that had onions and was served warm—yum, artichoke raviolis that had a shell that melted in my mouth, the liver mouse was smooth, and the smoked fish bite was nice, the pork belly and octopus app was superb (my husband really wanted to order another). Both the pork and octopus were super tender. For dinner we had duck. The pepper encrusted duck skin was unbelievably delicious and had a great texture. Interesting to have duck cooked two ways in the same dish confit and sous vide. Paired well with the salt in the olives and the sweet carrots. The dessert was a nice summation. We had the olive oil cake that came with a nice cream layer and orange marmalade. And a delicious cream covered in a white chocolate. It really was like eating a Magnum white ice cream just not cold and soft inside. The sour cocktail was sooooo nice. Loved how it was infused with a pepper and only felt the spicy feeling a few seconds after sipping it. Neat surprise. Super balanced. They gave us a nice little after dinner cookie and bit of almost candied strawberry jam with a tiny pistachio and orange speck that was perfect. The service was awesome. Jessie made great suggestions and was super informative of everything! I love that he loves food—it really shows. Alex did a great job keeping us hydrated and humoring us as we asked random questions. And saying “Of course” every time we said thank you which was very often because we were so excited and grateful for every little detail! So excited that the menu is seasonal so will be going back for sure when it changes. And after saving up many nickels…for reals!

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and service was very good. Enjoyed the visit!

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  35. joser

    Tampa

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great fine dining experience. The ambience was on point and the food amazing.

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  36. ElainaT

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a great dining experience. The food, service and wine was all so amazing.

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  37. TomB

    Greater Boston

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Brought my wife for her birthday last night. Food was very disappointing. Seemed like the focus was on presentation not flavor. Concepts were either mediocre or poor. Lobster appetizer (flavors were unappetizing), salmon entree (so salty it was inedible), and duck entree (leather tough) were all big misses … so bad, we didn’t eat them. Wine pairing was okay, but probably not worth it. Desserts were good. Clearly a strong focus on service, which was very good. We were so excited to try and Michelin star restaurant in Tampa. Overall, very let down … won’t be going back.

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  38. Kate

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 31, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was my husband’s first Michelin restaurant, and he wasn’t sure what to expect but left raving about our meal, the wine pairings, and the overall experience. Everything was delicious and visually appealing. Will definitely return!

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    Naples

    6 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 31, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    This was overall an average experience. I had the rabbit appetizer and bit into a bone in the meat. The duck entree was good just not memorable. Our favorite was the hors d’oeuvres. Not worth the price and will likely not be back.

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  40. StephanieR

    Tampa

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful time celebrating my husbands birthday. Food was absolutely delicious and the staff were incredible!

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FAQs

Lilac is rated 4.6 stars by 355 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Lilac

500 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

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