"I believe if you go someplace with no expectations, you can often be pleasantly surprised. That and a good attitude will make for enjoyable dining except at the worst places. Went here last Saturday night with my BFF. Never saw the owner but our waiter, Niko, was fabulous. Very knowledgeable on the food and wine. Both of which were excellent. It's a small place which can get crowded but I didn't find it cramped. Noise level was about what you expect from a small, open, busy restaurant. We tried 6 different small plates, almost all of which were fabulous. The Ribs being the exception as I've had better and the Kimchee Cucumber was way too spicy, at least for me. But the Tempura Shrimp with Sweet Chili Glaze and Honey Wasabi, the Fried Chicken Waffle, and Lobster Macaroni Cheese were indeed excellent. We also had the Pork Belly with Mu Shu Sauce (that night's special) and Zucchini Pancake with Osetra Caviar. In all we had a lovely time, in part to our waiter and in part to the excellent food and wine. The night ended with dessert, Madeira and coffee, the last of which had me wishing I could stick around. It came to the table in a small French press, dark roasted, and smelling like heaven. They're definitely not cheap, but for me, it was money well spent and worth every dime. We will definitely be back."