A Chef Driven Beach Bistro
Holmes Beach, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Bistro
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 2/5
Dined in September 2017
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Owner:
Sean Murphy
The eat here Anna Maria restaurant near Sarasota on Anna Maria Island was recently selected as two of Florida’s “Best New Restaurants” as part of Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Awards. They have also received accolades as “Best Restaurant” and “Best New Restaurant” selections from numerous publications in the local community. Beach Bistro which is also owned by Sean Murphy and part of the eat here family has long been included in ZAGAT's "Top Restaurants in America,” enjoying praise for “the best food on the Gulf Coast” and is in Florida Trend’s “Golden Spoon Hall of Fame,” which honors the top restaurants in Florida. The Bistro was recently the focus of media attention as the restaurant selected for an Emeril Lagasse television feature on the best restaurants in Florida.
They advertise themselves as a restaurant family without pretension. A more casual partner to Beach Bistro, offering chef-crafted, Gulf-Coast cookery featuring presentations of fresh, locally-caught seafood, local farm products, and inspired salads, pizza, and tacos. They serve local craft beers and wines from family-owned vineyards and handcrafted, specialty wine-based cocktails.
They are “chef-driven,” trained in the Bistro's school of commitment to culinary excellence - the restaurant focus is on the food and what must be done to create a memorable dining experience. They offer variations on the Bistro's exceptional culinary preparations using a more accessible product that permits pricing for every day dining in a casual, comfortable atmosphere.
My wife and I were visiting the island researching places for dinner when this restaurant came up. The restaurant is located in a building with other smaller shops, a little off the beaten path from the main island roads. The GPS had us travel to the backside of the building saying that we had arrived, versus the front parking lot, as we went through the neighborhoods on a golf cart we rented. The inside is quaint and small, with a burgundy/orange wall paint, chalkboard specials and local artwork hanging, tables, banquets, and small booths scattered around, with the expedition service area towards the back, and the kitchen is closed off except for a small window, and refrigerators loaded with wines and beers next to it. The refers could be seen from the dining room, so a little bit of an eyesore, but space was small.
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| eat here dining room |
Speaking of wines my wife had the rosé by Aime Roquesante, a Côtes de Provence blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah. According to the winemaker, it has a salmon color with pronounced rose shades. On the nose are powerful aromas of red fruits and cut grass. The palate is full and powerful with a pleasing acidity. 13% Alcohol. I enjoyed the 2015 cabernet sauvignon M.A.N Family Wines from Paarl, South Africa, just north and to the west of Stellenbosch near the Cape. It has a blending of 2% Petit Verdot and is the vineyards most popular wine: The ou kalant (old rascal) remains firm, outfoxing others by combining New World ripe fruit flavors with Old World elegance and charm. According to the winemaker is it superbly balanced, capturing both Old World silky tannins and New World ripe fruit, and completes it with a beautiful, long finish. 20% of the wine is matured in oak barrels for 12 months, giving the bold, juicy red berry fruit an elegant touch of oak spice. On the menu, they also have a good amount of craft beers that are local, national, and a few international beers.
Menu:
- Beginnings, smaller or sharing
- Soups and Salads
- Tacos
- Wood Stone Pizzas
- Blue Plate Specials, Grasslands
- Sides
- Better Than Soda
- Desserts
- Gluten Limited Menu
- Happy Hour Menu
While we waited for our wine, an amuse or a small plate of house-made pimento cheese dip was delivered with crackers. The crackers were still wrapped in the manufacturers plastic covering. An amuse-bouche or amuse-gueule is defined as a single, bite-sized hors-d’œuvre. They are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons but are served gratis and according to the chef's selection alone. They are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse into the chef's approach to the art of cuisine. The question is, was this dish the chef prepared following the definition? I hope not. The pimento cheese did not have any noticeable spice or seasoning and could have used more cream cheese in my opinion.
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| Amuse |
We shared a few items as we had eaten a few hours before and were not that hungry. Originally we came after making the reservation and receiving a free glass of wine coupon, then forgot to use the coupon. The first item we shared and always like to try from one restaurant to another is an item associated with Floribbean Cuisine, and that is the hickory house-smoked fish dip. Each restaurant has a slightly different version. Most Florida restaurants purchase it from other sources, while some make it from scratch. With nearly half of all restaurants reviewed on this website are in Florida, and usually, we order the fish spread special, I came up with the following chart to rate the spreads offered.
Fish Spread Rating Chart:
THE BEST - Top notch quality, excellent flavor profiles, memorable presentation, rare ingredients, organic, non-GMO, sustainable, local, immense-colossal quality of fish, and extravagant smoke flavors
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DAMN GOOD - Fantastic smoke, exceptional quality, eclectic flavor, nice display, dedicated local sourcing, beautiful quality fish, possibly sustainable, non-GMO
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GOOD - delicate, Enhanced ingredients, nice flavor, fresh taste, great smoke, common arrangements, in state local, superior quality fish
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BETTER - Nice ingredients, higher-desirable quality, okay flavor and taste, good smoke content, maybe from in-state sources, but possibly a GMO
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OKAY - Nothing amazing, a regular spread, fair quality, highly probable GMO product, might be from the state, most likely not, fabricated or mainstream smoke products
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BAD - Taste old, horrible seasoning, cheap smoke, manufactured, heavy GMO product, not local, bad smell
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The fish spread at eat here is served with toasted points, topped with capers and black caviar with chive garnish and red pepper. The average rating from the many spreads we have eaten is at the ‘Better’ or ‘Good’ rating, with one or two being ‘Damn Good.’ For eat here Anna Maria I rate the fish spread as ‘Good.’ It had a fresh flavor with a light to medium smoke flavor, with fish purchased locally, and very delicate.
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| Fish Spread |
The second item was the tempura’d beets, with fresh red beets, lightly boiled and cooled, cut to bite size then battered with a small amount of sweet mixture followed by the golden brown fry. The dish was served with chèvre and crème fraîche. Beets are a wonderful vegetable that when I was younger wanted nothing to do with, but grew a fondness for later on. No matter if they are cold or hot, mixed with spinach and blue cheese or plain, red or yellow beets are a nice starter dish that I do enjoy. The batter was nice and flaky, but in my opinion, frying the beets took away from the flavor of the vegetable. Make sure that when you order them to finish them or discard. Do not take them home and reheat, as the batter becomes very oily when you try to reheat.
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| tempura’d beets |
The final shared item we had was the Seattle style grilled muenster and gruyère cheese sandwich with caramelized onions, apples, and vine-ripe tomatoes served with a French dipping sauce. My wife loves grilled cheese sandwiches, and when researching the menu, the mention of this item with the free glass of wine attracted us the most to give them a try.
Dessert:
Did not have dessert, but they did have an apple fruit crisp, key lime cheesecake, chocolate budino (decadent Italian chocolate pudding), and an Abita root beer float.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Bistro Articles & Restaurants:
Bistro at Biltmore Classy farm to table eatery in Asheville, North Carolina
Bistrot La Minette Charming French Bistro with movie filmed terrace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cook'n' With Gas Bistro High end bistro with modern New Zealand cuisine in Christchurch, New Zealand
Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro - Laid-back dockside spot for global eats in St. Petersburg, Florida
Gilroy’s Bistro serving traditional Irish cuisine at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland (NOW 1837 BAR)
Josty Bistro Eatery serving German regional cuisine at the Potsdamer Platz Sony Center in Berlin, Germany
Le Grand Chancelier Countryside French Bistro in Cheverny, Loire Valley, France
Terroir Seasonal South African cuisine bistro in Stellenbosch, South Africa
The Brasserie at the Café de Paris A Parisian style bistro rendez-vous in Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Tirquaz Bistro and Garden Lounge W. Asian, N. African, & European dishes in Bur Dubai, UAE
Zinc Bistro and Bar Southwestern-inspired New American fare in San Antonio, Texas
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Anna Maria restaurants and articles on Wine, Dine, and Play:
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Florida Style Waterfront Dining with Gulf-to-Table concepts
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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Third Floor terrace Seafood Centric New American dining
Bradenton Beach, Florida, USA
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Gourmet Organic Taqueria Street Food
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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Med-Latin & tapas café with 360 views
St Pete Beach, Florida, USA
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Tierra Verde
Relaxed waterfront seafood restaurant
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Events & Seasonal American cuisine dinner cruise
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
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Ybor City & Sarasota Traditional Spanish & Cuban chain since 1905
Sarasota, Florida, USA
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Lively Bar and Grill
At the Hollander Hotel
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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Vibrant Southern cuisine & BBQ
St Augustine, Florida USA
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give eat here Anna Maria a 2 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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9
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1
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Food quality
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9
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7
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2
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Plate presentation
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8
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6
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2
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Customer service
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8.5
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5
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3.5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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8
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4
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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43.5
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31
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10.5
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.71264367816092
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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1
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0229885057471264
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.735632183908046
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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2
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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2 of 5 Stars:
74% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
Far Above The Average Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Wine rating:
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5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, California, New Zealand, Oregon, South Africa, Washington State
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Corkage fee’s:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style:
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American, Bistro, Café
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten Free, Local, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Rustic, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Public Lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$29.00 USD
eat here Anna Maria:
5315 Gulf Drive
Holmes Beach
Anna Maria Island
Florida 34217
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 941-778-0411
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Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Dinner: Mon-Sun
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences list is based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Chain serving Chicago-style deep dish pizza & other Italian eats
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Acclaimed upmarket classic & innovative Italian
Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE
|
Classic Mediterranean Cuisine
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| Seattle Grilled Cheese |
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| Dining Room |
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| Ceiling paintings |
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
