The Original Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian

Vinny’s was absolutely amazing! I called on a Saturday and left a voicemail requesting to set a reservation for my birthday dinner on Sunday evening. Sunday I received a call back scheduling the reservation and they were able to accommodate our group of eight thankfully on short notice. When we got to the restaurant, the hostess was already waiting for us as we came through the door with eight menus in her arms and friendly greeted us and took us to our table promptly. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating and kept our drinks full! The food was absolutely delicious and all of our guests thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. They brought my favorite dessert, cheesecake with a candle and sang happy birthday and it was so sweet. Highly recommend for a wonderful dinner experience!

Love the atmosphere of the original inside of the restaurant (a 1930's NY Italian Neighborhood). The Italian music fits the mood and is loud enough to muffle out your neighbors conversations. The outside of the restaurant and the heated porch area don't look like much. Loved our server "Penny" who was sweet, mild manored, knowledgeable, and attentive. NOW the Chicken Marsala with it's pan fried chicken was moist and flavorful with it's winey mushroom sauce, (BEST) I eaten. It was served with two sides. My husband had the lasagna and it was good. We were celebrating his birthday so they gave him a complementary tiramisu, again delicious. We went early on a Wednesday and by 6:30pm it was packed. Go early or you may get a waiting line (very popular).

I loved every single second of my visit here. Flannery was my waitress today and she was super friendly, welcoming and helpful. I got the lasagna and it was incredible. Its got a feel of a NY Italian restaurant with some jazz music playing which really makes the atmosphere amazing. I'm happy to have found a place where they make you feel at home and part of the family which I always strive for in a dine out experience. I recommend this place to anyone visiting Asheville!

Food: The food was okay. I'm not from the area so maybe it's a nice place to hangout but the food wasn't screaming authentic but more of something that was frozen and warmed up for us. My pasta didnt seem like it was fully cooked. I was going to order the fettuccine Alfredo but to add chicken was $12. Service: they were quick to sit us and provide the food quickly. They were nice. Ambiance: nice that felt like a cute Italian family owned restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

Rarely does a restaurant live up to a self-proclaimed title, but in the case of Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, neighborhood hits the nail on the head. This is a neighborhood joint, in all the best ways possible. Every member of the staff from the hostess, to the waitstaff and bartenders, and even bussers and managers, are warm, inviting, friendly, and accommodating to a fault. It’s southern charm with Italian cuisine. Also, you could plop Vinnie’s onto Canal Street in Little Italy in Manhattan, and it would fit in with every other Italian joint. The décor is spot on, and despite all that welcoming environment and atmosphere, the food alone could stand on its own. Portions are enormous and can typically be enjoyed family style, so be prepared when you order. Highlights include the fettucine alfredo and eggplant parmigiana. The food will absolutely draw us back for more on any visit to within 30 minutes of the Asheville area

Ate here tonight for the first time ever and everything was phenomenal from the service to the food. My new favorite place in WNC to get Italian. If you’re lucky enough to get Beth as your server you’re in for a treat. She goes above and beyond! Will definitely be back!!!

This is one of my Mom's favorite places to go when she visits Asheville, so on our Girls' Trip, this was a must stop. We went early and didn't have to wait for a table, which is unusual. We were seated quickly. I wasn't sure which red wine I wanted and our waitress brought me samples so I could choose the best one for me. So much appreciated. We ordered the Chicken Piccata with sauteed spinach and pasta. The chicken was juicy, tender and flavorable. The spinach was just right, a great garlic flavor. I had fettuccine alfredo as my side and it was so creamy. We truly enjoyed our meals and unfortunately we were too full for the Tiramisu, although it looked excellent. If you are searching for true Italian food and atmosphere, this is a MUST.

Plan ahead, the waiting before you get a table can be a bit longer so be patient between that and the time that food arrives to the table because is fresh, it could be an hour or two. However the food is worth every second.

Been wanting to try Vinnie's for a while now! I must say that I have been missing out with Italian food! I love that they automatically bring you ice water! I felt like the beer selection was lacking. Had the toasted ravioli and a half order of Vinnie's Famous Garlic knots for an appetizer. I had the Baked Ziti for an entree and my boyfriend had The Chicken Parmesan. And omg their oil mixed with balsamic vinegar is AMAZING!!! I loved it so much!!! The toasted ravioli was ok, nothing to brag about and the garlic knots were pretty good! The Baked Ziti was amazing! The pasta was cooked perfectly! So cheesy too! My boyfriend had the biggest piece of chicken I've ever seen and his spaghetti was cooked perfectly too! Our waitress Sarah was very helpful and super nice! We never had to ask for anything! It's a very dark place but I love it because it's my favorite colors and it was definitely romantic ambiance to it! I loved the old pictures on the wall!! Will definitely be going back!

We were craving some Italian take out before we headed back up to our Asheville cabin Airbnb and Vinnie's caught our eye. When ordering online, you had to complete your order before knowing when your food would be ready for pickup which made it tough to time up. After 20 minutes (of the 60 we were told) we got a call from the restaurant which was very awkward. The gentlemen seemed confused when calling and didn't know whether my food would be ready now or in another hour based on my location (5 minutes away). Thankfully they said to pop by and our dinner was ready. We ordered the carbonara and the vodka pasta. The vodka penne was by far the better choice, I'd order 5 more times! The carbonara however was not my style.

I am a long-time fan of Vinny's especially for special occasions always without disappointment...until my most recent visit in early December. Yes the greetings were great, the bar staff friendly and upbeat. Once we got our table ( great table for my date and I) things went downhill quickly. The highly recommended garlic knots were cold and chewy, the pasta wasn't up to "Vinny Standards " and our octopus took forever ( closer to dessert than an appetizer). Very disappointing, given how much I have enjoyed Vinny's in the past. Our server , seemingly embarrassed, disappeared without explanation. It pains me to give such a poor review but as a retired senior, special occasion money is spent cautiously. I doubt I will visit again, sad but honesty written .

If you are looking for a delicious Italian meal in Asheville, Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian restaurant is the spot to visit! We both started off with side salads: Caesar and Greek. Each table is served complimentary bread with olive oil and balsamic. For my entree, I ordered one of the house specialty items: the Chicken Parmesan. The chicken breast used for the dish was MASSIVE and breaded to perfection. My friend ordered the Baked Ziti Penne dish and really enjoyed her meal! There was a small wait, but we got seated within 15 minutes and the food came out very quick. The service was very attentive. If I am in the Asheville area again, I would definitely come back to Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian restaurant.

LOVED my visit to Vinnie's for some authentic honey Italian cooking that is fresh and reminds me of my mothers cooking. We went on a Saturday night around 7, had a short 10 minute wait to eat inside. Once seated we had to order the famous garlic knots that came with marinara so good they sell jars of it in the restaurants. The knots were amazing, they give you about 8 big pieces and the marinara was so good we asked for a cup to go as we had 2 leftover. Parmesan cheese and butter spread evenly throughout made them delicious. I opted for the Spaghetti with Sunday gravy for my entree and my wife got chicken Marsala. I devoured my plate with came with pasta, 2 meatballs and a piece of sweet Italian sausage all to die for. The sauce itself was sweet and delicious, wish I could have this type of homecooking every Sunday. The chicken Marsala came with mashed potatoes and was topped with a white wine sauce. Place has tables inside named after folks who must've been going there for decades, this has to be among the top Italian in Asheville, SO GOOD!!!

On a visit to Asheville with family, we had dinner at Vinnie's for my parents' 63rd wedding anniversary, and we felt like we made the perfect choice for the occasion. They offered us a complimentary app and dessert, which was very kind. Service all around was excellent, very attentive. And the food was fantastic. We had the focaccia with whipped ricotta app, sausage and peppers, fettuccine alfredo, and carbonara, all delicious. Tasty cannoli to finish things off. Easy going, classic Italian joint vibes. We were all super happy with the experience. Thanks to Vinnie's for a great celebration!

Rude service Rude service Rude service Rude service Rude service Rude service Rude service Rude service Rude service

Very much a NE Italian restaurant. Nothing fancy but good food with large portions. My husbsnd had a Greek salad which could have been a lunch and shrimp and linguine. I had the chicken Marsala with garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli. For desert. 2 we tried the cheesecake, tasty but not Juniors . Prices were fair and a nice mix of families and couples. Nice wine selection with full bar. Next time we are in the area. Will definitely frequent.

Our first visit to Vinnie's but will not be our last! Amazing from start to finish! Drinks, Garlic Knots were fabulous, Caesar Salad was delicious but the Scallops Linguine and the Spaghetti with Aunt Stella's Sunday Gravy might be the best we have ever had! Thanks Dalton for a fabulous dinner! We will be back!

Garlic knots come in 2 sizes orders 4 and I think 8. They are a descent size and come with a side of sauce. Cesar salad was ok the dressing is very light and could use some pepper. I had the penne vodka for dinner and it was a nice size portion. The sauce was a heavy sauce that covered each piece of pasta which was very nice. I am a bread dipper so I wished there was a little sauce left for that. Overall it was solid amount of food and flavor. Baiely my server was very friendly, knowledgeable and provided recommendations. Two thumbs up for Bailey!!

Don't skip Vinnie's if you're in town and looking for an old-school restaurant. I live in New England and NJ for about 20 years and Vinnie's reminds me of the restaurants in the Italian neighborhoods. We usually start with the Octopus a la Plancha appetizer and sometimes the Meatballs Marinara. The Twice-baked Meat Lasagna, Penne Bolognese and other pasta dishes are consistently good but my latest favorite is the Penne Al Funghi (mushroom) pasta. Side vegetables (Sautéed Gallic Spinach and Garlic Broccoli) are enough for 3-4 people. The wine list will satisfy just about every palette. And don't forget the tiramisu.

The place opens at the unusual hour of 4:30, does not take reservations, and has a parking lot which isn't huge. It filled quickly, even on a Monday. And I could see why. Italian food, even sans pizza, is so integrated into the American soul that the New York imagery and Sinatra and such playing hardly seems out of place. This isn't one of the more hipster experimental Asheville restaurants, but it is quite classic. I ended up with a penne arrabiata, which arrived quickly and steaming hot, but not before I'd dipped into some bread and olive oil and gotten a house ginger beer with a fresh kick. My pasta had a kick as well; arrabiatta is never quite the flaming hot spice that I want it to be, but this was certainly a case where the pepper really brightened the tartness of tomato and made for a pure and delicious pasta. Some spinach on the side was a little too sauteed for my taste, but broke things up nicely enough. This isn't the kind of place where they have New Age-y vegan options, though I would have at least liked to see some beans and a salad without olives or anchovies. But for what they do offer, it was delicious. I got quick and attentive service. I'd like to come back, or maybe try their location on the other side of Asheville.

I was in Asheville and was craving some Italian food and found Vinnies. I read some reviews and wanted to give it a shot. I am really glad that I did. I ended up sitting at the bar. Its a small bar, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. The banter with the other patrons and the bar tenders are always a good time. I started out with a starter salad and it was ok, nothing special. It fit my needs. For my main, I had the Lasagna with the meat sauce. The meat sauce was a little extra, but I was told that it was worth it. The Lasagna was really good. The portion and flavors were on point. Unsure about the extra charge for th meat sauce but ok. My only other thought would be the lack of bread. Again this was not a deal breaker. Overall my experience was really good. I have been to Asheville many times and don't understand why I have never been to Vinnies. I know that I will be coming back the next time I am in town. please support this business.

Very nice Italian restaurant. Stopped by Thursday around 6 PM and was able to be seated without a reservation. Parking was a bit of a challenge but thankfully we noticed a sign that said Vinnie's customers could park at the oil change place next door after hours. The food was very good. The Eggplant Parmigiana was fantastic. Large thick portion, soft and delicate eggplant, and very filling. Served on top of some yummy spaghetti. We also ordered the pasta special that night which was a Pasta Primavera with a lemony cream sauce. Very tasty. We finished things off with a slice of the Flourless Chocolate Torte which was also very good. No complaints, just a very nice meal. Will definitely come back the next time I am in the area.

A must if you're visiting! Garlic knots a must to start off with even though they give you complimentary bread, forget about that! My chicken piccata was to die for! The sauce was sooo good. I would definitely go back the next time I visit. Everyone was super nice, but what can you expect everyone in Asheville is nice. Our server was great! Forgot his name, he had a cool hippy vibe.

Simply the best Italian around. Love going here with family and the garlic knots are the bomb! Love both locations.

Great food (gnocchi on Wednesdays), Nichole and Michael were great servers with excellent recommendations and we could bring our well behaved dogs

I don't think I have ever been to a restaurant with a nicer staff than this place. It's apparent that everyone is very happy to be working here. Totally jammed on a Friday but the lovely hostess rescued us and pulled up another chair to the bar so we could eat. She also very graciously took a photo of us even though she was crazy busy. Bartenders were super charming and attentive. Love the t-shirts. Food is solid. The Caesar dressing felt a little thin but they do put actual anchovies on it upon request.

We tried this restaurant based on it was open on Christmas Eve and the reviews were ok. Some were pretty good and some were low at the time we dined here. Unsure if they are always this busy but we had a 1.5 hour wait to get in. We were ok with the wait and happy they were open when we needed them. On to the service and food. Service was good. The young man that served us got it right each time he came to the table. The food was a true miss. The only item that we ordered that our table of 6 enjoyed was the mozzarella sticks. After that it wasn't good. The garlic knots were hard and drenched with some oil rather than butter. The pasta dishes all were basic. No real flavors to write home about. We didn't even finish the baked ziti. At this point we did not want to try the desserts. If I were to summarize this place, I would say it is good for the local Asheville community but if you're from out of town or travel quite a bit, you may not enjoy the foods here. Lastly, the place charges another 3% to support their kitchen staff. I guess I'm getting tired of "nickle and diming" the patron. We don't like it. You already charge more than average for your basic meals so I would presume you have adequate profit margins to pay your staff properly. I like you care about them but don't put it off on your patron. The 3% feels like you want us to pay for your credit card transaction fees instead...

It's a simple old school family restaurant. Nice bar area to wait for your table at. Service was fast, friendly and knowledgeable. Decent amount of cliche Italian restaurant items but hey, who doesn't like black and white pictures of the Rat Pack while they eat? Would definitely return.

First time visiting post my daughter's graduation. Anticipate a slight wait during peak hours. Aside from that, customer service and food were satisfactory.

We tried going to the other location once on a weekend and it was a total fail. Line out the door and no parking so we ended up leaving. We decided to give it one more shot and come by this location on a Wednesday around 6pm. They did have some parking spots and it was only like a 5-10min wait. The place itself is very cool. I like the design and vibe of the place with all the pictures and what not. Service was also very good. Everything came out quickly and our drinks were always filled. To drink I had a sidecar and a manhattan and they were both very good and made how I like them. We started with the garlic knots because we didn't know they bring you a bread basket also. The knots were good, but honestly I prefered the house bread, it had a unique taste to it I can't quite pinpoint. The sauce that comes with the knots was very good though. After that we had the caesar salad. Very good. Nice and cold and offered with anchovies the way the good lord intended! You don't see that very often. I had the chicken parm and my girlfriend has the penne fungi. Both very good. My chicken parm is probably top 3 I've ever had. The only thing that would have made it better is if it was a veal parm! The penne fungi was also very good. Very unique taste and large pieces of mushrooms. Someone recommended ordering it with a fried chicken cutlet and that sounds amazing! Will probably try that next time. We ended with the tiramisu which was also very good. If I had to change anything I just prefer it a bit more coffee soaked, but the taste was very good, not too sweet! Honestly the only negative with Vinnie's is that it's in Asheville which is far and I hate going there, but if I have to go to Asheville you can bet I'll be stopping at Vinnie's again!

This was a charming find through yelp. Excellent service and excellent food. It was the best meal of the weekend!

We love coming to Vinnie's whenever we visit Asheville. The food is great and service is so friendly. Our favorite dishes are the octopus, calamari, and vodka penne. We couldn't pass up visiting two nights in a row for the last visit and the staff remembered us. Great place, food, and service!

Excellent service. Very accommodating and caring to a dairy allergy my daughter has. Food and service were terrific.

Oh my goodness. The yummiest Italian food! I had the chicken piccata with broccoli as my side. Absolutely amazing. Place was crowded on a Saturday night but got some wine at the bar and made the best of it. Desserts were 5 star (cannolis! Yum). Service was great too. I will 100% be back again.

We were from out of town and by chance drove by Vinnie's. Had an amazing meal comprised of Chicken Marsala and Chicken Parmigiana with a slice of Tiramisu for dessert. The portions were generous and some of the best Italian we've had. The service was prompt and friendly. The atmosphere is upscale but comfortable. We will definitely return if in the area again.

On the recommendation of locals, we decided to give Vinnie's Restaurant on Merrimon Ave. a try. I am a very difficult person to please when it comes to eating Italian food in a restaurant. I grew up in an Italian family where my grandmother had a brick pizza oven in the kitchen. What an all around pleasant surprise. The ambiance is incredible, the food was delicious and the service provided by Nicole E. was phenomenal. I will recommend Vinnie's to anyone looking for an Italian Restaurant that has it all. When we move to Asheville in January we will DEFINITELY be regulars at this outstanding establishment!

Vinnie's is a fabulous Italian restaurant. Came here for the first time and it will be a regular and favorite restaurant when we move here in January. The service by Nicole E. was superb; she was attentive without being intrusive, and was very personable and efficient. Food was delicious and the portion was generous. Just a great dining experience. They do have a "Kitchen Appreciation" fee, which appears on your bill without warning and leaves no way to opt in or out, so be aware of this add on. Otherwise, great meal, great service and great ambiance.

Excellent food and service! This is the second time we have eaten here and it is FABULOUS!! Eat here! You won't be disappointed! Authentic Italian cuisine!

Fantastic restaurant! Great people and the food was really yummy. The meatballs, salads and cannoli are fantastic definitely a must do in Asheville. The folks here go over and above to take care of their customers!!!

Vinnie's is a great, Italian restaurant, with a a cozy atmosphere and excellent food. The restaurant is decorated with black and white photographs that are mostly from the 40s and 50s. When you walk in, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack are playing over the speakers, the smell of delicious Italian food permeates the room, and well dressed servers are attentive and waiting to assist. I very much enjoyed the scallops that I ordered. They were served over pasta with a sauce that sort of combined a Beurre Blanc with a light Roma sauce. The scallops and pasta were excellent! Another standout was the Caesar salad. It was incredible. The salad is served in the traditional style that most restaurants have gone away from. It had a few anchovies and was lightly tossed with dressing, topped with fresh croutons. We also ordered a couple of Cannolis to go. I highly recommend trying Vinnie's. If you love Italian food, you will be pleased. Even if Italian food isn't your favorite, I still think you should try it, because if you have read this review to the end, you probably enjoy a nice dining experience and are selective about which restaurants to try.

If you're looking for a place that feels like an Italian family home where mom is serving dinner, this is your place. Food was plenty and so delicious. The atmosphere filled with memorabilia. The service excellent. Love it here.

We sat at the bar where Savannah and Mike waited on us. Excellent meal and service. So happy we found this place. We will tell all of our friends to eat at Vinnie's

We met a grad school friend (that I hadn't seen in 20 years) and her husband at Vinnie's. My husband was running the half marathon the next day, and we had requested a restaurant with a pasta option. They live in Asheville and chose Vinnie's for us. The portions were HUGE. The food was good. It's a casual atmosphere, but was bustling. Our server was amazing. We sat at her table far too long catching up (we tipped extra when we left), but she never neglected us and never made us feel rushed or that she wished we would leave. We had garlic knot appetizers, Caesar salad, lasagna, a scallop and pasta dish, cheesecake and chocolate cake. We enjoyed every bit.

We went in for a birthday dinner on a Monday night and waited easily an hour. This place is always packed! But the food (Linguine with clam sauce and penne bolognese) was amazing, as usual. Do yourself a favor and don't skip dessert here. The cheesecake is to die for.

Always great food, and service Our go too for home made Italian in Asheville Never have had a bad meal there.

Terrific Italian food - hard to find in this area. Good size portion with very fair pricing. Portions are both single eating or family style . Bathrooms were clean and seating spacious. Hosts and waiters very friendly. Well worth the wait. Note- they do not take reservations and they are busy, busy, busy- for all the right reasons!

This might be the best Italian in Asheville! The food is incredible and the service is too notch. The homemade sauce is to die for. Good for groups or couples. Feels like NY Italian restaurant!!! Love it! Family style is the way to go. Feeds 3-4 easily...one of my new favorite places!!! Tip: Ask for Goombah Card for rewards and a discount on your current meal!

When we walked in, we were greeted by multiple people in a very welcome manner! There is a different special depending on the day of the week, be sure and check these out. There is a complimentary bread basket served with a delicious garlic infused oil and vinegar dipping sauce. Decent bread. We started with sharing a Greek salad. There are two size choices, we went with the small which was definitely enough for two. It was a great salad, highly recommend. My husband had the chicken parm and he substituted the pasta for sautéed spinach and there was no upcharge which was nice and unusual. He enjoyed the dish. I got the eggplant parm and substituted the red sauce on the pasta for a garlic and oil. They were very accommodating with our substitutions. I also enjoyed my dish very much. Nice portion sizes, great service. The manager even came out to check on us and make sure that everything was OK. Nice parking lot also.

After watching sunset at Omni Grove Park Inn, wife and I were looking to get dinner and all of the hotel's restaurants were busy, so we looked up and found Vinnie's close by. That ended up being such a hidden blessing because this place was so good! From the time you walk in to the time you leave, it really feels like you're in a classic NYC italian restaurant with a mob business operating in the back room, and I mean that in the best way! Make sure you order the garlic knots you get a ton of them and they're ridiculously good. We split chicken Parmesan and lasagna and both were among the best I've ever had, we needed to get rolled out of there. Can't wait to be back around this area just to come here again!

Classic family Italian restaurant. If you are there on. Friday night get a $6 lemon drop martini. Don't skip out on an order of garlic knots for the table. Chicken piccata with fettuccine and spinach was super delicious. The mushroom pasta was packed with flavor. It felt a little risky to our the pasta pescatori so far from the ocean, but the seafood was fresh and flavorful. We will be back.

Nice casual atmosphere. Ordered the linguine with clams, linguine with shrimp, and two kids meals (spaghetti and meatballs, mash potatoes and chicken tenders). All were excellent. Also would recommend the calamari fritti appetizer which was so yummy and served with marinara for dipping. Even the free bread was tasty and warm. Service was attentive. Recommended!

Underwhelming, to say the least. Staff was great and that about sums up the positive. Garlic knots were rock hard. Wedding soup was a Salt-Bomb. Mussels were extremely tough and over cooked. If not for the decent sauce the Spaghetti and Meatballs would have been on par with Olive Garden...and it was about twenty bucks! Chicken Parm was dry and the pasta was like the most average cheap spaghetti ever. My suggestion is they take a little time and make their own pasta. Do folks here really consider this to be good Italian food? Not exactly the cleanest eatery in the world, either. Then, to add insult to injury, they tack on a mandatory 3% fee for the kitchen staff? Does your favorite store add on 3% for the folks who stock the shelves?

Absolutely amazing Italian food. There isn't one item on the menu I tried that wasn't delicious

Visited the Biltmore during the day and stopped by Vinnie's for a nice Italian meal. The spaghetti and meatballs with Sunday gravy was tasty, as was the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. The flourless chocolate torte was delicious. Willy our server was great. The ambiance was good, and the diners at the nearby tables were very friendly.

Excellent local Italian restaurant. Food and service were outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Wow! Great food. We are from Chicago and my wife is Italian so I claim street creds and we're saying "Vinnie knows Italian!" The Lasagna was excellent. It had layers of pasta that was perfectly cooked layered with a tangy tomato meat sauce. The top was a perfect brown but not crusty. Just the right texture all the way through. The Bolognese was so tempting and I couldn't decide. So our wonderful server suggested we put Bolognese sauce on top of the Lasagna. I would have never thought of it but it changed my life and made the dish truly epic. I strongly suggest you try it. The portions are very generous. We took home half the lasagna and had a 2nd meal the following night. The food was hot and delicious and our service was good. We will be back. The inside of the restaurant reminded me of a Wisconsin supper club. Great food, subdued lights and photographs of people that have eaten there all over the walls. They do not take reservations and they do get busy (because the food is so good). Great comfy ambiance. We will be back.

Best Italian food we have ever had. You will not regret it! The wine was wonderful too. We ate here two days in a row.

Food, service and atmosphere were all great! A fun, boisterous atmosphere, typically Italian! Food was delicious and our service was great and even though we showed up 30 minutes before they closed, they let us take our time and enjoy our meal!