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| - Maybe it was the fact that it was the first day the temperature had dropped in over a week, or maybe the happy hour is just that popular - but Nolen's was packed on a Tuesday evening. Even though we arrived after the official happy hour had ended, there were plenty of people still there enjoying their own.
We were seated at one of the last tables available on the patio, right next to the door. Our server came out shortly after, but the bar was so backed up there was no way to get our drinks in a timely manner. We ordered the zucchini chips to start and were given small side bowls as appetizer plates because again, the bar was overcrowded with snackers as well as drinkers and they had used up all the small plates. Not that it mattered, a dish is a dish, and there really wasn't anything our server could do. It just seemed odd that the restaurant was so overwhelmed by the day's happy hour crowd.
As far as the chips go - as others have said, it's a mixed bag. Most pieces are excellent, others are a soggy mess. Decent sized pile, nice dipping sauce, but really all I could think about was eating French's fried onion pieces. Which is not a bad thing, I LOVE french's fried onions, but it kind of left the zucchini out.
We ordered the Cioppino and the pearl couscous entrees. (It is really refreshing to have a non-fine dining restaurant still provide you with all the proper utensils and dishes to eat a seafood dish.) I thought the Ciopinno was a little lacking in the saffron department, but everything was cooked well and it tasted great. I didn't love the couscous dish, but the person who ordered it did, and that's what mattered.
Overall a beautiful patio, attentive service, and the happy hour specials seem to be pretty good. (not that the regular menu prices are outrageous) The patio tables are a little close, though, so if you're looking for a quiet dinner - I'd look elsewhere.
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