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chowdawg
(121) reviews
6/27/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I like to sit outside and have lunch here when the sun is shining...then head to beldon alley and get drunk with visiting stewardesses...the food is cheap and goodish...the service is terrible and it always seems like the second drink takes an hour to arrive...there is some disconnect with the bar and the waiters..very french!
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a reservation
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tastebud
(88) reviews
5/23/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ 5/07 lunch. To enjoy Cafe Claude, I had to pass up the clau(de)strophobic, shadowy alley seating and ignore the dark, old-style interior. Luckily the lunch crowd had left by 2 pm, and the staff was eating their meals. We picked the assorted charcuterie ($15), with salami (so so), duck sausage (lean and great taste), shredded duck meat pate (almost like meat loaf, super flavors), chicken liver pate (smooth, creamy, and exotic), and prosciutto (top quality). The bread was kept coming to finish the pate. How come we did not order wine? Next I had the pasta du jour ($14), which came in a small bowl. The few pieces of salmon and halibut were cooked just tender and tasted great with the light tomato cream sauce. The penne pasta was semi al dente and tasted less starchy than some italian eateries. The food was good but not exceptional. To me the price is a bit over, but then it must not be easy to reproduce a french bistro in downtown America. Yet, this won't be my preferred lunch place. ”
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a reservation
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AirPenny
(79) reviews
5/18/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ My friends and I went on a Friday night. The place is small. There was a band playing some music to match the ambiance. The food was priced about right for a french bistro. The soup was good. Escargot was fine. I had a cup of hot chocolate, and when it came, the cup was so huge that it looked almost like a bowl. My friends enjoyed their meals. Only problem was our waiter messed up a couple of orders. Overall, I recommend the place. ”
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a reservation
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STB1
(52) reviews
4/2/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “
I have been on a french kick lately, so today we had lunch here. Very good! Nice reception, good service and pleasant ambiance. My appetizer was the special for the day: a cod mixture the consistency of mashed potatoes baked in a ramekin and served with toasted baguette slices with what seemed like fig jam. Also included little ramekins with very tiny blanched pea pods another with black olives. delicious! Main course was croque monsieur ( a no-no on my diet!). Not the best I've had but pretty tasty. The pommes frites were good but not as good as Chez Papa. My friend had beet salad which looked excellent and salmon served with fingerling potatoes and cherry tomatoes. After, I had one of the best cafe cremes I have ever had in SF. The waiter was very attentive but not obtrusive and we liked him. Highly recommended restaurant if you are downtown for lunch or dinner. ”
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a reservation
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promotersf
(423) reviews
1/19/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I love french and I love french bistros...but Cafe Claude just didn't hit the spot. Came here for dinner on a Friday night and the place was pretty dead...not a good sign. I have a feeling that Cafe Claude might be a better lunch bet than dinner. The beet salad was decent, the balsamic salad was weak and the escargot was pathetic. They were soooo overcooked and soooo tough that I could have bounced them around like a little rubber ball. The coq a vin was decent and i'm glad we ended it there. There was a limited staff for the slow night that did a good job handling the floor. I would like to give it another try, but all the dishes were so uninspiring and there are too many good french bistros to go to. ”
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a reservation
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mapleleafgirl
(480) reviews
11/24/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I was really looking forward to trying Cafe Claude, but have to say it dissapointed. The space is charming and the staff were fabulous but the food was lacking. We had the endive salad---which was delicious...perfectly balanced flavours. The beet salad was just OK. The escargot were overcooked and underseasoned so much so I left most of them. The steak tartar was also just OK, however they did prepare it tableside and it was fresh. We added salt, pepper and more mustard and it helped a bit and the serving size was huge. The coq a vin was flavourful but lacking presentation. Maybe I'll try it another time for lunch? It is a cute spot.
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a reservation
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Angelly Roscoe
(57) reviews
11/17/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I am in love with this place. From the moment we walked in, everything was gracious and enjoyable. Staff- friendly. Atmosphere- lovely. Food- decadent. Everytime i dine out "french", i always try the specialty's of the house. They did not disappoint. Coq au Vin, steak tartare, charcuterie plate and escargot a la bourguignonne- if you've never had escargot before - ever, experience them here. They are divine!!! ”
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a reservation
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Riffgurl
(102) reviews
11/11/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Tucked away in a little alley off of Union Square, this french Bistro serves some wonderfully classic cuisine. Live music on Friday and Saturday, so if a high decibel disturbs your digestion, go another night. Our server rattled off the specials with such a thick french accent, we had to ask him to repeat when he returned. If you have never tried Steak Tartare, this is the place to order it. They bring the ingredients and mix it at your table. The cornichons make all the flavors pop. The Coquilles St. Jacques were a little disappointing, in that there didn't seem to be any distinct flavors that stood out. Red beets, feta cheese, and snow peas are creatively presented in the Betterave. Gratin Dauphinous was a rich combination of potatoes, cream and Parmesan. Creme Brulee and Americanos were the perfect finish to a relaxing 3 hr. meal. This is a place I will add to my favorites. ”
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a reservation
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dizlaly
(115) reviews
6/27/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I went to Cafe Claude for lunch today! I had a great time. A friend and I split a bunh of dishes starting with a salad nicoise which was delicious, steak tartare, also extremely tasty. then we had mussels in a yummy creamy broth with pomme frites and finished with a cheese plate (we were not able to finish the cheese and had wished we had skipped that part and saved room for something sweet. We had a bottle of rose wine (I forget which it was) which was light and accompanied the dishes well. The bill came to about $95 before tip. Definitely a pricey lunch but we went all out. Most dishes were between $8-14.
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a reservation
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firefly00
(53) reviews
5/20/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I've been here a few times meeting friends after work. I like the little, and I mean *little* bar area. Good drinks, good appetizers--though their cheese plate was more fruit than cheese. Decent service even when they're busy. Note to self: Check it out for dinner one of these nights. ”
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a reservation
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pengrin
(59) reviews
4/17/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I thought the decor was nice and the service was good. We had the following dishes: Charcuterie Plate - saucisson sec, prosciutto, garlic sausage and choice of two pâtes (serves 3 people), Steak Tartare - cornichons, capers, egg yolk, mustard, persil, croutons, shallots, Escargot en Croute - garlic, butter, parsley, almond nutmeg, shallots, and anchovies, Coquilles Saint Jacques - scallops, shrimp, mussels, mushrooms, bread crumbs, gruyere, Tartare de Thon Rouge - ahi tuna, goat cheese, quail egg, garlic croutons. I thought the dishes were good and tasty. My favorite at the end was their delicious dessert - Moelleux au Chocolat - soft chocolate cake with creme anglaise. It was amazing. ”
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a reservation
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mussidora
(1) review
3/7/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I adore coming to Cafe Claude. Great ambiance, attentive service, and of course yummy food. If you know french food, then this is the place to go for that classic Bistro cuisine. Being french myself, this restaurant reminds me of all those familiar flavors with a delectable onion soup (how good does it look!!! see picture below), amazing escargots en croute and a foie gras special that keeps me coming back for more on weekends. Even the lunch is satisfying for those simple, full flavors of a croque madame and quiche Lorraine (one of my favorites). Everyone is just so friendly and unpretentious that I've become one of their regulars. Just love it!
”
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a reservation
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Scottie_D
(11) reviews
2/9/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I had been looking forward to eating at Café Claude for some time.
I started with the “french Onion Soup ($7). I expected more. The soup lacked the robust earthiness, (derived from the onion skins,) that I have come to associate with a good onion soup. Also, the “croutons” were nothing more than bread in the bottom of the cup; hardly the traditional crusty fare one hopes for. The thick layer of cheese on top was the only saving grace of the soup. All in all, a disappointing start.
My friend had the Salmon Provencale ($11). It was beautifully prepared, cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, the side dish of Green Beans ($4) was a bit on the oily side and appeared to be overcooked.
I had the Croque Madame ($10). While the presentation was impressive, this dish proved too dry for my taste. It seemed to have been prepared in advance and tossed under a broiler to make the cheese hot.
Unfortunately, my main plate defined my experience of Croque Madame and left me wanting.
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a reservation
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Angela Von Buelow
(227) reviews
11/20/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Charming french bistro just off Union Square with outdoor seating on Claude Lane and live music on weekends. I started with the Brochette, perfectly grilled prawns skewered with a rosemary twig served on a bed of lightly dressed baby greens. For my main course I had the Agneau, roasted lamb, emergo beans with bacon accompanied by a roasted roman tomato. The lamb was very tender and the sauce gave it the perfect flavor, very nice. I ended with the Moelleux Au Chocolat, flowerless warm chocolate cake served with crème anglaise, OMG this was rich and sinfully decadent, I loved every bite! (Thanks for the recommendation guys!) This would be a great place to meet for Happy Hour, they offer many small plates perfect for sharing and have $4 Infused cocktails 4-7pm everyday! Enjoy! ”
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a reservation
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Wayne Lambright
(212) reviews
11/19/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Try the “KOBE STEAK” it has a totally delicious veal stock reduction made with white wine and green peppercorn’s, the sauce was a new experience, the steak comes with french fry’s, which were surprisingly flavorful, crisp and light. As an appetizer I had the Escargots baked in a traditional garlic-butter & parsley, the sauce is delicious all by itself :-), this place was at full capacity, so make a reservation, we sat in the back of the room and for a fall evening, it was hotter then expected, overall a very plestent experience. ”
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a reservation
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edubble
(30) reviews
10/29/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I was not impressed with this place, after hearing nothing but praise from my girlfriend. We had lunch there, with a few friends, and none of the food was outstanding. A possible exception was the mussels - really tasty, actually - but my own dish (basically a ham& melted cheese sandwich) was mediocre. One of my friends had to send back his dish, one of the specials of the day - ham hock stew, of some sort - because there somply wasn't much meat on it.. it was mostly bone, fat and skin. I can see how this might be a cute place to have lunch, as it's in a small alley, but I will probably not go back on my own. ”
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a reservation
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delight
(120) reviews
10/10/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Really cute place with a great feel to it and the food is really good. I did find our dishes a bit salty (french onion soup and some wild mushroom pasta dish), but the manager really seemed to want to know about it and to keep it in mind for the future. Great service, friendly, sincere. I hear that every Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 pm is Ladies Night with drink specials and some small plates-- each for $2 each! ”
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a reservation
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ghouliegrrrl
(11) reviews
9/11/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ WONDERFUL! Absolutely love this place. Went for the first time a few weeks ago and have been trying to get back since. Beef tartare is fabulous, as was everything we had. I loved the atmosphere - sophisticated yet not snooty. Very nice in every way. ”
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a reservation
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tangedmond
(13) reviews
7/6/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ After reading the other comments from this website I expected this restaurant to be more casual but it turned out to be a little outtight. We went on the past Sunday night (the long weekend sunday) so it was all quiet that makes our dining expereince a little more formal... Our server had french accents, which is a big plus. Overall, service was great and attentive. I highly recommend the kobe beef tartar, which was prepared in front of us and we had a fair size of good beef tartar. Absolutely delicious! However, I find the atmosphere a little pretencious. Maybe it is better to go on Friday and Saturday when they have live jazz music. As for main entree, I ordered the duck breast and it was slightly cold. cocktail is quite good though. ”
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a reservation
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Feechen99
(1) review
6/27/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I have nothing but raves for this restaurant. We brought two friends for the first time this past weekend. We had made reservations for 10:00, but ended up showing up almost an hour early. They accomodated us without any gripes and we were seated within 10 minutes. The decor of the place is very artsy and pleasant, and I loved that it wasn't loud like most restaurants we've been to. We were actually able to have a conversation! The waiter was courteous and knowledgeable about all the foods (our french leaves something to be desired). I had the coq au vin, and it was wonderful. At first glance the portions look somewhat small, but none of us went home hungry. My only gripe would be that the drinks were slow coming, and my apple dazzle was horrible, but I've not had one before, so it's my fault for ordering it. For dessert I had the apple tart, and it was to die for. I highly recommend this place, especially, since it wasn't even all that expensive (about $20 for an entree). ”
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a reservation
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xscientist
(223) reviews
4/11/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Great little french Bistro, with cute french waitstaff. Young and hip feel, but the cuisine is classic and well prepared. Great mussels. Off the beaten path on an alley off Union Square makes it feel like a secret find. Very reasonably priced for the quality. Go for lunch and treat yourself to fine french dining in the middle of the day at lunch prices. They have good soup/salad/sandwich combos. ”
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a reservation
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kate
(33) reviews
4/4/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ A fun french bistro in a small alley off of Union Square. This is a great restaurant for dinner when you're looking for great french food and a lively atmosphere. They have jazz on the weekends and a great wine list. A good place to take your sweetie or to go with a group of friends. ”
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a reservation
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chris1
(116) reviews
3/29/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ I was drawn to this location by the sound of live music coming from an alley. I stumbled in and was warmly welcomed by the staff. What a great spot to stumble upon. I enjoyed a cocktail at the small bar and was entertained by the jazz trio. My entree was very good as was the desert and service. ”
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a reservation
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VeggieJen
(58) reviews
1/18/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Nestled down an alley off Bush Street, Cafe Clude is a lovely escape from Union Square and the downtown bustle. This place is much better than any place you'll find on Belden. Outdoor tables are perfect for a glass of wine and a sandwich to break up a day of shopping. Try the Le Petit Nicois - it is delicious. The carrot soup also never disappoints although it is not a permanent fixture on the menu. The dinner menu is not particularly vegetarian friendly - although I have never had a problem piecing a meal together with side dishes and a salad. Live music a few nights a week adds to the Parisian feel of Cafe Claude. Highly recommended! ”
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a reservation
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punks
(110) reviews
11/4/2004
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro)
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Downtown |
| “ Order the crepe with the crawfish and asparagus. It's packed with both and not skimpy by any stretch. I had that and split the salad with the chevre souffle on top. One normally wouldn't think that works together but it actually did. This place is one of the few restaurants that serves Evian in the bottle and it's hereby duly noted that I appreciate that "nicety" in an establishment. ”
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a reservation
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