After reading great reviews, yes, we crossed the river to visit Pinotta, and so glad we did! The restaurant has a welcoming, friendly, unpretentious vibe and we were fortunate to have the owner, Heidi looking after us. The food was fabulous, thank you chefs, and I only wish is the place had been around when I lived in North Fitzroy quite some years ago!
This is as good as North Fitzroy gets.
Attentive fine food.
Classic good service and wine.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming.
A fine experience.
Fantastic food, warm and friendly people. The spaghetti with squid ink was amazing and great suggestions for wine. We were there on a Saturday night and will definitely be back.
Great atmosphere and didn’t feel too rushed and busy.
We were here for dinner and the staff were particularly gracious as one of our number was an hour late, and as a group we generally buggered around due to people stepping out to smoke when it was time to order. The staff never made us feel like the inconvenience we almost certainly were.
The croquette was the stand out entrée. Between the mains we had of gnocchi, pappardelle, chicken and beef loin, the beef loin was the dish that provoked unanimous food envy. The gnocchi was good too. However, all the dishes and sides were of a high standard.
Another solid north-side Italian restaurant.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Ahhh, I don’t even want to share this place.
Good
1. Freshly made pasta on the menu
2. They use seasonal vegetables
3. The pork terrine - my god...
4. The sourdough.... amazing.
5. The pasta menu changes. The pork fennel gnocchi is a favourite of mine.
6. The gin and juice is freshly made. Great wine selection.
7. Staff lovely, always a friendly face
8. Lot of regulars
Bad
1. The dishes change and I miss them. But not to fret, they are replaced by equally good ones.
2. I spend too much money here, I’m here every weekend.
Ugly
1. I don’t have enough days off to come here.
Managed to blag a table without a reservation at 7.30 on a Saturday night!
A few small plates to start with; Sicilian olives, Veges with whipped tahini and sardines. Mussels and pipis in a simple spaghettti with butter and parsley and some lemony grilled asparagus. All delicious. My only complaint...the tables are tiny, and a balancing act is required to fit all of the dishes on the table. Lovely view of the sunset over the street
Went to Pinotta a while ago after a few years. Food was nice, but not amazing. I love the front part of the restaurant but I find the back room to be quite 'cold' and empty. Should do a bit or restyling and match the welcoming and warm atmosphere of the front room.
Lovely warm and welcoming space. Very nice food. Terrific service as well. Nice wine options too. Hard to not be seduced by that combination. We had the set menu option with each course very impressive particularly the roast chicken which was moist and captivatingly flavoursome. Service was impressive. 'Twas a good night all round. I'd happily saddle up again.
Pretty quaint little italian restaurant. Friendly staff, decent food and pretty generous portions which is great for sharing. Pretty disappointed that they didnt have the sea bream however we did enjoy the pork and mushrooms.
A very pleasant atmosphere to enjoy home style Italian dishes. Very friendly and accommodating staff that were very happy to take part in a surprise birthday celebration. Thanks to Heidi for arranging that. A concise good and wine menu is provided with great options without having to make confusing choices.
Always a favourite. The food is honest and delicious. I had the snapper and it was sensational. The one thing I truely love about this restaurant is I'm always greeted as an old friend would be no matter how long it has been between visits.
I've been to Pinotta a few times. The service has always been top shelf. The last time I was here the food was great but not superb. Having said that I've had too many good meals here to write it off. I look forward to the next visit.
Food was delicious , we got the 3 set course was perfect amount of food , definitely highly recommend , staff were very friendly. Decor is nice and cosy :)
Our second visit was just as good as the first. Friendly wait staff who aren't intrusive, and the food was consistently well executed and delicious. Our mains and desserts were the stand outs.
We came here for a birthday celebration. Loved the cosy ambience of the restaurant. The night started off really well with some delicious starters to share - the croquettes and olive tapenade were standouts. I ordered the papadelle pork ragu as my main dish. It looked so delicious but unfortunately was quite bland.
Simply terrific and very delicious. Cozy, friendly place with excellent staff. Had (I forget the exact name) bruschetta with spicy ham/pork and chilli? for starters and perfect pasta. We even squeezed in a dessert, which was fab. Highly recommended.
Spring is in the air! Well on the odd day it feels like that and on the day we visit Pinotta it's a great day for the walk to North Fitzroy and to enjoy a Mediterranean long lunch. Pinotta is cute little neighbourhood bistro and when we arrive we're greeted warmly and are seated at a table with a great view of the street outside.
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Great little Italian restaurant in North Fitzroy. It has been here for a while, but I think we had a boring breakfast (under different owners) and have never bothered going back. A shame, because we had a great experience. Service was good and staff knowledgeable, food came a bit quick for my liking, but now I know I can say something next time.
Simple menu, good choice of reasonably priced wines and beers (missing a "real" IPA), nice mix of local and European wines, most priced in the $40-100 bracket, a few over. Wines are well chosen to go with the food. We had the Mac Forbes Pinot Noir, good wine and good value.
The food was awesome. They have a range of small appetisers to share, then the rest of the menu is medium (pasta dishes) and mains, that are not designed to share. We had the croquettes, burratta with cucumber, and the brandade. We loved the first 2, particularly the burratta fish. The brandade wasn't salty enough for me, almost like the chef had dialled it down for the local quinoa community. All this was served with great bread, and some fantastic olive oil... of which we had too much. For mains we did the duck with beans (really good) and the flank steak, which was cooked perfectly. I personally was not a fan of the mustard greens, they are horrible, needed garlic, bacon and chilli (anything to take the taste away). Sides of radicchio and chips were good, but by this time we had hit our carb loading ceiling.
No room for dessert, but we will be back to have a pasta and the tiramisu.
I adore this restaurant. The food is always exceptionally good and the service matches such that the experience is seamless. I'm so glad I discovered it as it is my new 'go-to' place for a special occasion. Love the dim lighting and ambience. Last night I had the burrata, octopus, spaghetti a la chittara and few sides. Delicious.
I'd personally like to thank the staff at Pinotta for two excellent nights out recently. The first night was 'date night' and we felt truly special - the ambience is just lovely for a romantic evening and the service was spot on. Brought some family back a few weeks later so we could order and share even more dishes and the food was just brilliant. Spaghetti a la chittara was divine (my personal favorite) but really everything we tried was great. No complaints but I deducted 1/2 a point because I'm sure I will go back and taste even better food there one day.
One of my Melbourne favourites. Always great food. Simple and delicious. They don't try to be fancy but they have one of the best services of the city. Well done guys see you very soon .
Bravo Pinotta! I dined at this restaurant a few weeks back and have been meaning to write a review but hadn't found the time. I do apologise because Pinotta is worth making time for. Everything about this experience was lovely. I could sit out the back and eat spaghetti a la chitarra with the lights down low every week and never get tired of it. Just yum.
This restaurant feels like a nice place for an occasion meal- like a date, anniversary, reason to dress up and catch up with friends. The back of rh restaurant has a small room, dimly lit with tablecloths and curtains and a calm ambience. Outside at the front feels very casual.
First time we went here, was for a date night and we sat out the back. We were blown away by the super attentive service, and really happy with the food too- although expensive it was delicious.
Second time we went we brought some friends, sat outside. Our food was a little bland, and service harder to come by- the restaurant had also become very busy.
Either way I think it's a good little place, and you can make a night of it as opposed to lots of the quick eats around the area.
Pinotta embodies what great Italian food is all about - delicious flavours, passion, convivial times and food to remember by and yearn for. Our dinner at Pinotta in Fitzory North for Ms G's birthday was the best meal that I've had for 2015. It's fine dining without the pomp but classy enough to know that you're experiencing in something special. More than anything, the food... my god, the food was sublime. It was the first time the 12 of us had dined at Pinotta and by the end of the night, Pinotta had 12 new fans. The third entree was a lovely chunky country pork terrine served with warm grilled bread, mustard, cornichons and a dressed salad (another favourite of mine)
Such a great little restaurant. Food excellent and the staff, especially the owner, absolutely wonderful. Brilliant wine list too. Highly recommended.
A great find. Love the food and love the service. Heidi takes great care of her patrons. Have sent others here and they agree. Shame they're not closer to my home. But we will travel!
Amazing food, fantastic staff. We had the 3 course set menu and without going into too many details it was all fantastic. I especially liked the casarecce pasta dish and the rump steak which was cooked to perfection. The entrees were all fantastic and fresh, I especially liked the chips with goat curd. Even the basic starters were fresh and tasty it was all just well put together with very attentive staff.
A great night at Pinotta. Sat at the bar and enjoyed great food presented with style. Attentive and friendly staff who were also very relaxed. Nothing else like it in the vicinity. Great tasting plates, wine list. Thoroughly enjoyed it although somewhat expensive, but I was more than satisfied.
Pinotta embodies what great Italian food is all about - delicious flavours, passion, convivial times and food to remember by and yearn for. Our dinner at Pinotta in Fitzory North for Ms G's birthday was the best meal that I've had for 2015. It's fine dining without the pomp but classy enough to know that you're experiencing in something special. More than anything, the food... my god, the food was sublime. It was the first time the 12 of us had dined at Pinotta and by the end of the night, Pinotta had 12 new fans. The third entree was a lovely chunky country pork terrine served with warm grilled bread, mustard, cornichons and a dressed salad (another favourite of mine).
Very happy with my lunch at Pinotta. Stopped in with a couple of girlfriends for lunch and a wine. Setting is beautiful, with a good menu and a great wine options to match. Wasnt too busy as we came mid week, service was speedy.
Would love to come back and see what dinner has to offer.
Thanks Pinotta
There's something so warm and inviting about this place. The staff, the food, the music, the ambience, all make it such a favourite of mine. I feel really lucky to have a "local" of this calibre in our little hood. Had the Ragu pappardelle, the rocket and witlof salad, an amazing Pinot Noir and a semifreddo tonight. All perfect. Was celebrating with a few mates - one had the wild nettle gnocchi (perfect balance of tasty, salty and creamy) and the tiramisu, which was massive so I had to try some. Just sensational. Had a chat to one of the owners Heidi, super knowledgeable, so gentle, generous and had a great amount to say about the stars in the kitchen. Just a great, go to, neighbourhood restaurant, well priced, great menu and really special.
Great place! Loved the european wines and the food, but my favourite has to be the bread. I'd come back only to eat that delicious bread served with some salt and olive oil. I also recommend their gnocchi.
Love love love this place. It's a local favourite but we always bring our friends from the other side of town to Pinotta as well. We had the prix fixe before a gig this week and the food was faultless, topped off by a wonderful Italian red and warm, efficient service. Highly recommended.
Great service and delicious, authentic italian. Gnocchi gorgonzola and the meatball pasta were winners. Sangiovese and the french waiter were also nice!
So much love. Can get busy as it's so good, I'm not a great fan of the back room but I'd live in the front bar if Heidi would let me. I've been, like a thousand times and will go a thousand more. A little $$ so maybe only do the prixe fixe, a cheeky Thursday night and Sunday lunch each week.
Yes please. Great place. Lovely food, lovely romantic ambience, and Heide (and her excellent record collection) is fantastic. Always an interesting selection of mains, and without fail the thing to order for entree is the gnocchi gorgonzola. Yes, it is in many ways "just" a fancy mac-and-cheese dish, but it is addictive.
Loved, loved, loved Pinotta. Attentive and friendly service, and food that was simply stunning (both presentation and taste). I thought it was reasonably priced too. Add to that a great location and beautiful decor and you can't ask for more than all of that. I'll be back!
Fantastic food. My partner and I went to the Prix Pixe Monday night $40 3 courses. It was warm and inviting with friendly staff and jazz playing on a record player behind the bar which was a great touch. My goat tortellini in a parmesan broth was amazing, though to be fair everything was delicious. I look forward to eating here again.
Solid local. Been here for lunch and dinner, just love it. Kind welcoming staff and seriously tasty fresh food. Their desserts are gorgeous too. Well done.
Wow!. The chef has apparently changed and the menu just got better. We had the most brilliant night. Service that was attentive but not intrusive and the quality of the food was exceptional.
Thanks Pinotta.
We will be back... again....
What is not to love?!. The awesome service, friendly waitresses & BEAUTIFULLY cooked food.
Meat specialist chef - the rabbit melted in my mouth. I'm so glad this Pinotta is local for me!
A lovely dinner. For the price i was expecting a wow factor, this was almost accomplished.
i would have liked a little more complex flavour to our dishes, service was friendly and setting attractive. I have been round to Pinotta a few times, overall nice experience.
Get across it!!!. When you talk about Fitzroy-North you don't tend to talk about great restaurants. Sure Matteo is a definite must and always have a soft spot for Supermaxxi's pizzas but that's really it, isn't it?
Pinotta is this rough diamond laying in the tall grass. You step on it and will always remember it. The restaurant has a modern feel to it as does the menu with the occasional classic popping up. The music is relaxed, the light are dimmed just right and the hustle and bustle of a busy city restaurant unleashes.
Not going to go into finer details of the food. Every starter, main or dessert I have had here has always been nothing less than outstanding. Presented nicely and taste delicious.
The service reflects to the relaxed feel of the restaurant. It's informative when needed and warm and buzzy when focussing on your gourmet meal.
I happily return over and over for more.
Highly recommended!. Went out looking for a wholesome and inexpensive meal on a Monday night, came across Pinotta in the Good Food Guide. We were not let down! Without any pretence or ego, it could easily be a comfort meal or a flashy night out. Really a lovely balance, striking gold in an otherwise fairly suburban area.
Monday is a fixed price menu of 3 courses + drinks... The food is just beautiful - Italian at heart, but with modern influences. Everything was clearly housemade and with love. The sauces were just unreal!! Our wines were matched by the owner/operator, Heidi - we were consistently blown away and it almost became a competition of who was winning in the flavour game - the kitchen or the bar. In many ways, this is our idea of a perfect dining experience (spot the winos!)
The DMan went out to celebrate birthday and was not disappointed. The DMan opted for the steak tartare, and was suitably impressed with the handcut fresh steak with a touch of truffles and a quails egg. The truffle could have easily overpowered the subtle flavours of the tartare, however the chef showed perfect restraint and it balanced the dish perfectly.The whole baked flounder was another delicately flavoured triumph. The wine list is extensive with some well priced quality wines available.
Step through the unassuming front room to the cosy elegant fire-lit dining room and prepare to be wowed by perfectly seasoned and cooked fish, steak, spectacular handmade pastas, lovely sides. Best tuna I may ever have had. Chocolate fondant, good god. Attentive service. Won't be long before this local North Fitzroy beauty ceases to fly under the radar.
We had a fantastic time at Pinotta. Service was attentive, the food and wine was outstanding so I'd definitely recommend it
Pinotta is the way restaurants used to be. Good, friendly, efficient staff who know and enjoy what they are doing. As usual great food and produce. Keep up the great work Pinotta.
Been there many times for quick dinner or family celebration.
Food, atmosphere and music is always perfect.
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Welcome and come this way. This was my first time at pinotta and felt the warmth of your welcome as soon as we stepped through the door...like greeting an old friend. We were offered two seating options upon arrival for our 8pm reservation. From the beginning we were not bombarded but gently and subtly approached by our wait staff. Options were offered and a rather delightful non alcoholic beverage was arranged for a non drinker. once settled with a drink menus were provided and specials explained. all sounded so very delicious but we decided to select off the rather enticing print menu-Liver pate, calamari, followed by gnocchi gorgonzola and a veal ravioli with pomodoro basil sauce and side salad. this took place over the course of 2 1/2 hours and was well paced and not rushed. An option to share the mains was given so each diner was able to sample the others. Perfect. The linen table and napkin were crisp, the glassware clean and delicate, cutlery replaced upon different course intervals, the staff unobtrusive, the ambiance and lighting lovely and peaceful and music in the background where it should be heard. We were very impressed with the meal, wine selection , wait staff knowledge and manner. It was an absolute pleasure to find this treasure and i will have no hesitation in recommending pinotta. Well done and thank you for a lovely unpretentious dining experience. Bravo.
Great place!. We had a big group so we pretty much tried everything on the menu and none of them actually disappoints....surprisingly.
Ambience is great. Staff is attentive. Price is reasonable. What more can you ask for?
Will definitely go back.
AMAZING! We had the Gnocchi, Eye Fillet and the chocolate fondant. The food was great, staff were so friendly and the fire topped it off. All round a perfect atmosphere!
Such a good place! The food is delicious, the wine list is great, and the room is lovely. A good local.
Great service, friendly and unpretentious. Great food, the serving portions were just right for us, can't find any fault at all. Will definitely come back for more.
Walked in for lunch, sensational food
Sensational. Great food,wine &service. Brilliant!
What a little gem! Dined here with friends and were more than impressed. Quality dishes and friendly service. Would return again!
Fantastic, quality food. I have returned a number of times and always enjoyed the experience. Chefs are friendly when you walk by the kitchen too!
Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at this seriously good restaurant - what a coup for Fitzroy North village.
Linen napery and intimacy set the the scene for great service and mouthwatering food.
The Snapper & Saffron Agnolotti with Cuttlefish, Tomato & Basil was sublime. Beautiful little half moon shaped discs of fresh pasta filled with flaked snapper cooked to a softness that they melted on the tongue. The cuttlefish and sauce with a hint of chilli coated the pasta with just a little left on the plate that could be mopped up by the fresh sourdough bread - just heavenly.
Cannot wait to indulge again !!
FAVOURITE. This is without a doubt a favourite - food is great, wines are great, service is top notch.
Hard to beat
Had dinner with friends here and the Gorgonzola gnocchi was delicious. I had a steak and it was really well cooked and yum too.
Best meal we've had out in ages and certainly the best restaurant in north Fitzroy! Service, food, wines, atmosphere were impeccable and yet managed not to be pretentious. Couldn't fault anything.
Recently returned to pinotta. Pleased with the food except for the smoked cheese croquettes- which had no flavour. Overall, an enjoyable experience with good service. Will return
Fantastic authentic dining. Beautiful oysters, glass of Chablis and seafood linguine. Great flavours. Restaurant had lovely warm vibe. Staff are a delight and it's nice going to a restaurant where all the kitchen staff acknowledge you on your way in and out. Good formula all in all.
Sophisticated dining.. Went here with a group of six. The decor is lovely and understated. It was cold outside and there was a roaring fire which was beautiful.
Our waitress was friendly enough and fairly attentive.
Now the food. It was just ok, which was a bit disappointing. A few of us had been told the Gnocchi Gorgonzola was the best item on the menu and thats kind of why we went but they've taken it off the menu!! Why would you take of the item that people talk about!!
I had the Veal Osso Bucco which I found slightly salty but the Gnocchi on the side was delicious. Some friends had the Gnocchi with Lamb Shoulder and everyone seemed to greatly enjoy it. Obviously the homemade Gnocchi is where Pinotta excels.
We tried all the desserts and the vanilla Panna Cotta was delightful.
Perfect for a romantic dinner I think.
Oh!! And I almost forgot, one of our party was Vegan and the kitchen made her something off the menu and she thoroughly enjoyed it so that was awesome.
Lovely food and great staff... Very disappointed that the gnocchi gorgonzola was no longer on menu as so many people had raved about it.
Impressive. Really excellent food, fresh, colourful, simplicity with good products. Really good wine list with some absolute bargains at the higher end. Service is careful and attentive. Very good.
Excellent place to eat, service is impeccable, if your willing let the staff order on your behalf, you will not be disappointed.
Fantastic food, great service - hey gotta love a place that plays Vinyl!
Num num num!. Every morsel of food that comes out of their kitchen is delicious! We discovered Pinotta shortly after it opened and have made it our regular haunt ever since. So lovely to see it flourish with increasing custom. Staff are kind and friendly; attentive and happy to tailor dishes to meet dietary requirements. Impeccable taste in music also...
Fab food, fab service and a fab experience. We have enjoyed our night and will highly recommend to others :)
Dissapointed after all the hype. We went with high expectations after reading and hearing many good reviews. The service is good, atmosphere OK, food OK but far from outstanding. Too much use of butter and oil in dishes, Calamari dry, really poor. Fish nicely cooked but swimming in a pool of butter which overwhelmed the dish. There are a number of other much better Italian choices within walking distance. A bit pricey for what you get. Terrible if you want vegetarian choices. Unlikely to return.
Rare find... Simply sensational. Pinotta is one of those rare finds in Melbourne... exceptional food, very friendly service, quirky and cool interiors in a great location. Been there twice and I just want to go back for more. I am from Sydney and visit Melbourne often. There are few suburban restaurants I know of in Melbourne that match the quality and good value of Pinotta. Wish we have something like this in Sydney. It will go off, no doubt!
Fabulous Sunday Lunch. We had the most fabulous lunch for a group of about 20. Service, food, everything was 100%. Thanks to Andy and team at Pinotta for making my birthday so special. Definitely have to go back.
Food was delicious. Loved the food. The place has undegone a complete transformation & looks fabulous. Our group of 8 enjoyed every dish. One improvement could be made - get rid of the "tossa" male waiter. Will go back after he has gone.
I wish I could keep this place to myself.... But it is just to good to not share with friends and other urban spooners!! Best chocolate fondant ever, I will be back just to get another one :)
Pasta have been perfect both time I went there, and the service is just spot on.
Big Eyes For A Big Tummy
+4.5
Enjoyable night!. We didn't make a booking but decided to give this little restaurant a try and wasn't disappointed. service was attentive and the meals were delicious and just right in serving size. we shared the beef carpaccio and i had the papadelle with white rabbit ragu - so yummy. the papadelle was cooked to perfection. highly recommended. was there on a thursday night and the tables were pretty full. finally found a quality place near my work to go to for a decent meal after a busy day!
*****. Had a late lunch here last Sunday and agree that the Gnocci Gorgonzola is sublime. Tried a few different dishes and all were delicious. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, great wine list, good service and local knowledge. What more could you want!
Gnocchi Gorgonzola. Delicious fluffy little pillows of potatoe cooked to perfection and rolled in a delicious creamy gorgonzola sauce. Think l have just died and gone to heaven. Now need to be disciplined enough to try other fabulous sounding dishes on the menu next time l visit. This new local restaurant is just what North Fitzroy village needs.
A low-key Italian bistro in Fitzroy North, with beautifully thoughtful Italian food. Flavours that are unique yet honest. From a gorgeous lamb shoulder gnocchi which is incomparable, to a rabbit dish, resting on a bed of soft polenta. It's comforting, like curling up in a blanket and watching the rain outside. A handful of silverbeet with parmesan and a twist of lemon, for a hint of zest and lip puckering, to offset all the protein⦠And a semifreddo laden in bright and sweet strawberries. A joy on the eyes and tastebuds alike. Pinotta could be that place to have a little special night, with it's crisp linens, or somewhere to warm up and have a lazy meal wh
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This is my favourite place in Melbourne. It is my go-to for interstate visitors to give them something to remember when they fly home. It is always consistently good.
The food is often Italian and French inspired, but definitely not limited to. They’ve explored with dishes from around the world. It’s always delicious and the cook times are always perfect.
The food is creatively complex and yet simple in what they serve up at times- genius. The pastas and sourdough are made in house. The flavours are always seasonal.
The vibe of the place matches the food. Heidi is a great host and owner. The staff are all familiar faces who genuinely love to share the experience with you and treat you like family.
Personal highlights
- hand squeezed ‘gin and juice’
- the wine recommendations
- the sourdough
- Gorgonzola gnocchi / squid ink pasta
- the steak sandwich (was a covid-temporary and missed fixture)
- the fries
- anything sardine related
- the jazz band when Sunday dine-in lunches were a thing.
This restaurant is increíble!!! I was having the worst day at work and my sister and I came in for dinner to try and lessen the blow. My oh my we were delighted to the most wonderful service, the staff are so sweet and amazing at their job. AND THE FOOD!!!! Oh my god so tasty - the green pasta literally blew my socks off! Everything was pretty affordable, an amazing Fitzroy north location!
Very Nice upmarket restaurant. Had 2 x seating areas with kitchen in middle. Long and narrow but very good. Extensive wine menu and a few beers. Good food well presented. It was a long lunch and very enjoyable. Xlnt wait staff. Friendly and helpful and efficient. Cost. $$$.
Beautiful food, beautiful experience and incredible dietary options. Trust in the chefs and take a step outside of your usual food preferences, as this is the place to try a new and delicious flavour combination.
Recently hosted a special event at Pinotta and was really happy with the evening! The food, service and atmosphere was just what I was after, and the approach to planning the event was accomodating and stress-free. A lovely spot for a special get together with friends and family.
Pinotta has a welcoming, friendly, unpretentious vibe and we were fortunate to have the owner, Heidi looking after us. The food was fabulous, thank you chefs!
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