The Delta Grill provided a charming dining experience enhanced by attentive service, fun music, and a lip-smacking margarita. My friends & I were there for a post-theater dinner and were seated just a few minutes before the zydeco band, Dirty Water Dogs, began. The New Orleans ambiance and cozy warmth provided a welcome oasis from the blustery cold spring night.
Being indecisive and already 10pm, we decided on side dishes and appetizers to share rather than an entree. The sticky chicken was too sweet for me, but aptly named and enjoyed thoroughly by the rest of my party. My favorite were the unusual jambalaya wontons - delicious! The mac and cheese was thick with real cheese, but a bit bland even so. The red beans & rice were fine, but not as spicy as I had hoped. The basket of sweet potato fries were a hit with everyone.
The choice was difficult. There were many intriguing options, including alligator. My favorite consumable was the top shelf margarita. The lack of driving in NYC makes it easy to have another.
Another fascinating feature of this cajun bistro was the people watching factor. A wide variety of people were there: different races, ages, apparent incomes levels, & orientations. Maybe that was just New York.
Tying the whole experience up in a handsome bow was our aspiring guitarist waiter, Alec. He was great with the suggestions, quick with the drinks, and witty without being intrusive.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Improv, Washington D.C March 17, 2007
The DC Improv is a comedy club first, a restaurant as a convenience. The show I saw, Flip Orley's hypnosis routine, was wonderfully entertaining, which was a good thing.
The cramped dark showroom was so crowded I wondered what the fire marshall would say. When my party of four was shown to its tiny round table, I noted the nearest emergency exit. We hoped there would be no pyrotechnics in this show. There were a lot of people between us and fresh air.
Once seated, our friendly and expedient waiter asked if we could scoot our table closer to our neighboring table to allow him access to the table behind us. We introduced ourselves to our new tablemates.
When I opened the menu, I was amused to see the fare was primarily Mexican. Did they think it was funny to feed this many squished people beans?
Knowing the nature of a dinner show and the size of his station, our waiter wisely suggested that we order doubles for our drinks. I was grateful.
Our food came quickly. The queso dip was delicious, although the chips were too thin to hold much of it. We had to fish out several pieces with our fingers as silverware did not arrive until after the entrees.
My burrito was big and pretty tasty, but the ingredients were unevenly distributed. It wasn't until halfway through that I found any of the promised lettuce. I was apparently at the rice end of the burrito. I finally used my fork and found the cache of lettuce and chicken at the opposite end.
After my double vodka, dessert seemed like a good idea. We shared the raspberry cheescake and pecan pie. Both were delicious, although too small. We hadn't thought to ask for 4 forks, so we had to share.
The comic put on a hilarious show. I laughed so hard my face hurt. But he had to work against my growing claustrophia. I couldn't wait to exit when the show was over.
If I go back, I will sit at the high top tables near the exit. And if I go back, it won't be for the food.
The cramped dark showroom was so crowded I wondered what the fire marshall would say. When my party of four was shown to its tiny round table, I noted the nearest emergency exit. We hoped there would be no pyrotechnics in this show. There were a lot of people between us and fresh air.
Once seated, our friendly and expedient waiter asked if we could scoot our table closer to our neighboring table to allow him access to the table behind us. We introduced ourselves to our new tablemates.
When I opened the menu, I was amused to see the fare was primarily Mexican. Did they think it was funny to feed this many squished people beans?
Knowing the nature of a dinner show and the size of his station, our waiter wisely suggested that we order doubles for our drinks. I was grateful.
Our food came quickly. The queso dip was delicious, although the chips were too thin to hold much of it. We had to fish out several pieces with our fingers as silverware did not arrive until after the entrees.
My burrito was big and pretty tasty, but the ingredients were unevenly distributed. It wasn't until halfway through that I found any of the promised lettuce. I was apparently at the rice end of the burrito. I finally used my fork and found the cache of lettuce and chicken at the opposite end.
After my double vodka, dessert seemed like a good idea. We shared the raspberry cheescake and pecan pie. Both were delicious, although too small. We hadn't thought to ask for 4 forks, so we had to share.
The comic put on a hilarious show. I laughed so hard my face hurt. But he had to work against my growing claustrophia. I couldn't wait to exit when the show was over.
If I go back, I will sit at the high top tables near the exit. And if I go back, it won't be for the food.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
the Four Seasons Grill, Gambrills, Maryland
I was hoping when I read the menu that my first experience at the Four Seasons Grill in
Although I didn’t order wine, I did look over the list which, though not vast, was well beyond the typical offerings in my area, ranging from reasonably priced domestics to Dom Perignon. The waitstaff was prompt with water and delicious bread sticks so fresh from the oven that they were too hot to handle for a moment. The options of soft butter or a pesto olive dipping oil were offered. I hadn’t thought I was so hungry, but it took restraint to not devour that delicious bread.
On the appetizer list, the Mediterranean Platter, with hummus, fresh mozzarella & grilled veggies with something called baba ghanoush sounded like a meal in itself. I made a mental note to order it in the lounge the next time I come in for a martini. Or maybe the Scallops Napoleon, or goat cheese brulée, or smoked salmon platter. And these were just the appetizers.
The menu offered a scrumptious array of surf and turf: lobster and truffle risotto, jambalaya, flat iron steak, lamb ragu parpadelle. I am rarely intrigued by a pork chop, but listen to this: Double Pork Chop stuffed with caramelized cinnamon pears & Gorgonzola cheese, wrapped with prosciutto, topped with brandy sauce. Are you listening? How about Pasta Purses stuffed with pears and Gorgonzola in a creamy béchamel sauce sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts. The dinner menu added more salad and steak options and additional side dishes, including crispy macaroni and cheese with crab. Do you see my dilemma?
I chose the Spicy Crab Flatbread: crab meat, oven roasted tomatoes, chili peppers & basil with a touch of cream of crab. It was fabulous.
Just to be thorough, I checked out the dessert tray and selected the lemon torte, although the various cheesecakes and tiramisu looked wonderful.
My waitress, whose name I did not catch, was prompt and courteous, giving us enough time to decide and visit while still checking to see if we needed anything. My glass did get empty, but the restaurant was pretty busy. I was relieved the service was good enough because there is so much more eating I have to do here.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Redrock Canyon Grill, Gaithersburg, Maryland
I was skeptical when I went to the Redrock Canyon Grill in Gaithersburg, Maryland for my sister’s birthday. I had glanced at the menu on-line and thought this was just another barbeque franchise. However, the choice was not mine to make, so we loaded up and prayed for good traffic on the beltway. It was certainly worth the drive.
The service at the Grill was excellent. Our waitress, Jackie, had a great sense of timing and was unfazed by our side table of children. We were promptly brought drinks and found an enjoyable wine from their primarily moderately priced wine list. The team member who delivered our drinks explained that although Jackie was our waitress, Redrock embraces the team approach to serving their guests. I wish more restaurants had this cooperative approach.
The crab dip appetizer changed my ordering decisions. With such big chunks of crabmeat, I was willing to bet the crabcakes would be equally meaty. I was grateful that I could order a single crabcake instead of the whole platter since I didn’t bring a sufficient appetite for many of their entrees. I wished I had been less conservative. I love big lumps of crabmeat.
There is nothing run of the mill about the salad dressings at the Grill either. If you are strictly a ranch or French dressing eater, then this is not your restaurant. The uniqueness of the dressings required that Jackie recite the options of few time. She did so in great detail with unflagging enthusiasm. I chose the balsamic blue cheese and found it quite tasty. The croutons were made from their sweet and spicy cornbread. The spiced pecans were another treat among the greens.
Others in my party enjoyed the ribs, rotisserie chicken, steak and rockfish. The thick juicy burgers at the kids table were also alluring. The shoestring fries were not a big hit with the kids, although I found it difficult to stop snitching them. The mashed potatoes on the adult plates were flavorsome with a hint of Rosemary.
I was truly sorry to be so full when Jackie described the desserts. My nephew ordered the monstrous “Something Chocolate” that were all able to sample and still leave plenty for him. I was most intrigued by the bourbon pineapple upside-down cake, and I bet the key lime pie would be terrific too with its pecan walnut crust.
My kids decreed that we should return to this restaurant located in an attractive shopping center by a pond and fountain. We immediately began thinking of our upcoming events. I will definitely return the Redrock.
The service at the Grill was excellent. Our waitress, Jackie, had a great sense of timing and was unfazed by our side table of children. We were promptly brought drinks and found an enjoyable wine from their primarily moderately priced wine list. The team member who delivered our drinks explained that although Jackie was our waitress, Redrock embraces the team approach to serving their guests. I wish more restaurants had this cooperative approach.
The crab dip appetizer changed my ordering decisions. With such big chunks of crabmeat, I was willing to bet the crabcakes would be equally meaty. I was grateful that I could order a single crabcake instead of the whole platter since I didn’t bring a sufficient appetite for many of their entrees. I wished I had been less conservative. I love big lumps of crabmeat.
There is nothing run of the mill about the salad dressings at the Grill either. If you are strictly a ranch or French dressing eater, then this is not your restaurant. The uniqueness of the dressings required that Jackie recite the options of few time. She did so in great detail with unflagging enthusiasm. I chose the balsamic blue cheese and found it quite tasty. The croutons were made from their sweet and spicy cornbread. The spiced pecans were another treat among the greens.
Others in my party enjoyed the ribs, rotisserie chicken, steak and rockfish. The thick juicy burgers at the kids table were also alluring. The shoestring fries were not a big hit with the kids, although I found it difficult to stop snitching them. The mashed potatoes on the adult plates were flavorsome with a hint of Rosemary.
I was truly sorry to be so full when Jackie described the desserts. My nephew ordered the monstrous “Something Chocolate” that were all able to sample and still leave plenty for him. I was most intrigued by the bourbon pineapple upside-down cake, and I bet the key lime pie would be terrific too with its pecan walnut crust.
My kids decreed that we should return to this restaurant located in an attractive shopping center by a pond and fountain. We immediately began thinking of our upcoming events. I will definitely return the Redrock.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Dahlia - Spring Valley, Washington D.C.
I happened upon this shopping center restaurant after a medical appointment and was pleasantly surprised. My daughter and I were just before the lunch crowds when we were seated in a corner of this this clean, bright, but underdecorated dining room. The host, waiter, and busboy were all three friendly and efficient.
Perhaps the dinner menu appears more permanent, but the lunch menu was simply printed on two sheets of paper. Despite its flimsy presentation, the list of menu options was wonderful. I had a tough time selecting between one of their uniquely topped pizzas, beefy black and red bean chili, and scallop salad to name a few. I decided on the crab cake sandwich and my daughter the hamburger.
The waiter brought me iced tea which tasted as though it had been brewed in the coffee maker. He was kind and quick about trading it in for a Diet Coke.
For a starter, I was delighted with the pear & blue cheese salad in a white basalmic viniagrette. An unusual flavor, familiar, but unidentifiable was mixed in with the greens. When I inquired, my waiter immediately knew it was the shaved fennel. Very interesting and delectable.
By the time our entrees arrived, the dining room was filling up. I noticed the patrons at lunch were predominantly female. One table had a lone male diner and another party had a couple. I wouldn't have identified the decor or menu as necessarily girly, but the lunch crowd was mainly girlfriends. The interesting part about that was the conversation. The dining room is one square room filled with tables. The conversations were not only easy to overhear, but difficult not to enjoin. I know they weren't talking to me or my daughter, but there were some fascinating things going on.
After her initial puzzlement over the mechanics of ingesting such a thick burger, my daughter polished off every bit of her burger. She didn't even realize she was eating onions until she was almost finished.
Although I was underwhelmed by my crabcake, the unique side of coleslaw perked it up. If we hadn't scarfed down the fries, we might have enjoyed a dessert.
I did appreciate our waiter's efficiency in bringing the check at the end. I hate to be kept waiting just to pay the bill.
I think I will be sure to schedule our future medical appointments around lunch. I am looking forward to sampling some more of my future favorites.
Perhaps the dinner menu appears more permanent, but the lunch menu was simply printed on two sheets of paper. Despite its flimsy presentation, the list of menu options was wonderful. I had a tough time selecting between one of their uniquely topped pizzas, beefy black and red bean chili, and scallop salad to name a few. I decided on the crab cake sandwich and my daughter the hamburger.
The waiter brought me iced tea which tasted as though it had been brewed in the coffee maker. He was kind and quick about trading it in for a Diet Coke.
For a starter, I was delighted with the pear & blue cheese salad in a white basalmic viniagrette. An unusual flavor, familiar, but unidentifiable was mixed in with the greens. When I inquired, my waiter immediately knew it was the shaved fennel. Very interesting and delectable.
By the time our entrees arrived, the dining room was filling up. I noticed the patrons at lunch were predominantly female. One table had a lone male diner and another party had a couple. I wouldn't have identified the decor or menu as necessarily girly, but the lunch crowd was mainly girlfriends. The interesting part about that was the conversation. The dining room is one square room filled with tables. The conversations were not only easy to overhear, but difficult not to enjoin. I know they weren't talking to me or my daughter, but there were some fascinating things going on.
After her initial puzzlement over the mechanics of ingesting such a thick burger, my daughter polished off every bit of her burger. She didn't even realize she was eating onions until she was almost finished.
Although I was underwhelmed by my crabcake, the unique side of coleslaw perked it up. If we hadn't scarfed down the fries, we might have enjoyed a dessert.
I did appreciate our waiter's efficiency in bringing the check at the end. I hate to be kept waiting just to pay the bill.
I think I will be sure to schedule our future medical appointments around lunch. I am looking forward to sampling some more of my future favorites.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Chef Geoff's
For delicious dining before or after the theater in D.C., Chef Geoff's has something for everybody. The menu had enough unusual items that I had to ask our charming waiter, Vaughn, to explain some terms: gravlax, gallette, beeche, and sopressata. I was also stumped by some of the wines: Varaldo, “Sori Loreto”, Barbaresco and the Ronchi di Manzano, Tocai Friulano, Friuli. However, I love learning about new delectables, so I was pleased.
Although the atmosphere was upscale bistro, Chef Geoff's was quite accommodating to their youngest diners. The tables were lined with white paper and crayons were offered. A children's menu offered a respite for picky eaters on their way from the Nutcracker at the Warner Theater across 13th Street. Puzzles and jokes helped our party ease through the reasonable wait for our food.
The crusty rolls with the light yeasty centers were an omen of good things to come. For the indecisive, the soup sampler features the spicy black bean soup, the split pea, and the butternut squash. The maple vinaigrette was a nectarous topping for the blue cheese and endive salad. The crab gallette was so tasty that I barely got to eat any with my voracious party. If you like smoky hickory flavor, the monkfish was a savory meal. The mushroom fettuccine was rich and hearty.
Although the desserts sounded heavenly, we finished with the chocolate cherry martini. I'll have to go back for dessert another day. I will request Vaughn's station. Good food is even more enjoyable with friendly, informative service.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Grace's Fortune Bowie, Maryland
I ate dinner last Sunday night at Grace's Fortune in Bowie, Maryland. It appeared as if many in my hometown were in need of something different from Thanksgiving leftovers and perhaps too weary from travel to cook at home. The place was packed.
Grace's is one of the prettiest restaurants in town. The tables are set up so that you don't feel packed in with all the other diners. The zen-like décor of the entrance helps you break away from the shopping center location.
I also appreciate the better than average customer service of the waitstaff. So many restaurants in my hometown are mid-priced franchises with teenage servers. I was once a teenage waitress, so I am one of the most understanding diners around. But it was so nice to have water brought without requesting it, the cloth napkin placed in my lap for me, the hot tea poured for me, a “quarter call” to check on our dinner, and the dirty dished whisked away instead of stacking up. The hot hand towels before and after the meal are so comforting. I am always tempted to wash my whole face in that steamy treat. Too bad I didn't catch the waiter's name.
My daughters and I were not feeling adventurous in our menu selection and chose some basics: won ton soup, steamed dumplings, crispy beef, honey chicken, and chicken lo mein. My favorite were the dumplings. There was none of the lo mein left at the end of the meal either. I'm not a fan of the crispy beef. I think it is too chewy, but my teenage daughter is a fan. I normally avoid the fried foods, but the honey chicken was so crisp and sweet I ate several pieces like dessert.
Grace's is one of the prettiest restaurants in town. The tables are set up so that you don't feel packed in with all the other diners. The zen-like décor of the entrance helps you break away from the shopping center location.
I also appreciate the better than average customer service of the waitstaff. So many restaurants in my hometown are mid-priced franchises with teenage servers. I was once a teenage waitress, so I am one of the most understanding diners around. But it was so nice to have water brought without requesting it, the cloth napkin placed in my lap for me, the hot tea poured for me, a “quarter call” to check on our dinner, and the dirty dished whisked away instead of stacking up. The hot hand towels before and after the meal are so comforting. I am always tempted to wash my whole face in that steamy treat. Too bad I didn't catch the waiter's name.
My daughters and I were not feeling adventurous in our menu selection and chose some basics: won ton soup, steamed dumplings, crispy beef, honey chicken, and chicken lo mein. My favorite were the dumplings. There was none of the lo mein left at the end of the meal either. I'm not a fan of the crispy beef. I think it is too chewy, but my teenage daughter is a fan. I normally avoid the fried foods, but the honey chicken was so crisp and sweet I ate several pieces like dessert.
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