This place is adorable and conveniently located next to my mothership, Target! I've been here twice after a Target run and I'm getting dangerously close to making stops at Layers a post-shopping habit. There's plentiful seating, but the space can get packed around lunch time, so if you don't want to stay you can get your order to go. All of the treats are on display in glass cases and they have a great variety of baked goods including cookies, cake, pies, bread and other sweet treats which they make with as many organic/naturally based ingredients as possible. I've only had two things here-the Tiramisu cup and one of the sandwiches (can't remember the name). Tiramisu can be a terrifyingly rich dessert, but the mini cups they have here give you just the right amount of espresso-soaked goodness. My only complaint was the chocolate shell on top which isn't a characteristic of traditional tiramisu, however the overall flavor was great and perfect serving size was key. On my second visit I had a hot sandwich with cheddar, bacon and chicken and wasn't impressed but wasn't displeased. It just kind of fell flat to me and was a little heavy for my taste. The bread it was on however was very tasty (it was some type of molasses bread) and I'm going see if they sell that by the loaf next time I'm in because that would make a great breakfast toast! They have a small but sturdy variety of salads, soups, and sandwiches on the menu and they offer a small selection of craft beers and a little known wine brand called Bear Flag (my knowledge of this brand comes from the website Look at this F$&*ing Hipster....). The staff is friendly and enthusiastic and take pride in making quality, good for your soul food. This place is great for kids, small groups or for those who want to have a quiet solo date with a book during their off hours (see: the few hours between the breakfast and lunch rush and lunch and dinner rush).

positive

Oh dear, what has happened to Rawhide and the Steakhouse?!?! I've been taking my kids to Rawhide for Thanksgiving for the past 3 years, and always had a wonderful time. This year, the kids wrist bands to go on the rides/attractions were still $15, but the train is gone and the Stagecoach was MIA for 2 hours, so we spent $15 per kid for them to ride a burro. The service at Thanksgiving dinner was the worst I've ever seen. Hungry kids waited an hour and a half, to get Kraft mac-n-cheese and cold chicken strips. My Thanksgiving dinner was so cold I sent it back. The waiter brought out bill (at the 2 hour mark) without ever offering us coffee or the pie that came with dinner. Three conversations with a manager got us no better service. Sadly, this was the year I brought 10 friends with us. So a party of 15 left determined to never return.

negative

The rice was good. Everything else was less than stellar. We ordered the General Tao's chicken. It was decent, but it was too spicy for our taste buds. The service was terrible. The restaurant was crowded; they struggled to seat people, there were major delays in service, and they struggled to communicate with some monolingual French clients. I wasn't completely dissatisfied until it was time to pay the bill. I gave the server the exact amount on the bill and she shoved the bill in my face. "This only include tax, no tip include in bill, you didn't pay tip." It is incredibly rude to ask for a tip - one I was going to give her anyway. I ended up tipping her, but I encourage others to perhaps not go here anymore... or better yet, go but don't tip her.

negative

It's a good thing we got groupons for this and didn't have to pay full price. Bottom line is that it's not worth the experience. Don't come hungry to this event...they feed you very little, and the food itself is cafeteria grade. The breadsticks were stale, the eggrolls were soggy, and the main dishes were terrible: the salmon was overcooked and dry, and the sides were simply steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes likely from a boxed mix. The other main dish, stuffed chicken, was also dry, and the stuffing was a mixture overwhelmed by creamed cheese. The highlight of the meal was a dessert was a chocolate cake that was moist and creamy. The show itself was somewhat entertaining, if you're willing to dumb down your humor and lower your overall expectations. Many lines in the actual show were stolen from popular movies, so they were funny but unoriginal. The story dragged on for too long...started at 6:30 and ended at 10. Dinner wasn't served until about 8/8:30. The host took every opportunity possible to point out the bar in the corner, which charged $8 for a mixed drink or cheap wine. I've always wanted to try one of these detective dinners, and now that I have gone, I won't ever go back or recommend it to anyone else. Maybe it will entertain a group of children, or a group of conservatives who think that these things are an adventure. Even with the groupon deal, this "show" wasn't worth the money. Save your cash and go to vegas for a real show, or go try a couple of quality restaurants instead.
negative