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.

Rip's Country Inn

The special last Wednesday at Rip's Country Inn in Bowie, Maryland was a 5 oz. broiled lump crabcake. Wow was it delicious! I love it when a crabcake has so many lumps of meat and so little breading that it barely holds together. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.

I hadn't eaten at Rip's for dinner in a long time. This town has sprung up with just about every franchise restaurant you can imagine, and I have been trying them out. It is like this town was starving and no one has time to cook. But originals almost always beat copies. When I was a little girl in this town (not 60 years ago, but 35) Rips was one of the only restaurant choices. There were a few others. The only other oldie still in operation is The Golden Pavilion which I'll have to write about soon.

Whenever I walk into Rip's, I feel like I'm walking into a stable. It is rustic and dark with low ceilings. The rows of booths are decorated like a tack room. It's nice that there are still places in this town that remember what put Bowie on the map in the first place: horses. This old inn has been around for 60 years. They also have a liquor store with a pretty good sized wine collection, a deli that makes terrific sandwiches, private banquet rooms, and an old fashioned motel that still uses real metal door keys.

My dining companion chose the Swiss steak special that seemed so tender it was more like a pot roast. And when was the last time you saw stewed tomatoes or Harvard beets on the list of standard side dishes? Their wine list looked inviting, but I had to opt out. With the wine selection in their adjoining liquor store, I imagine they have a great selection for the restaurant. I didn't have time for dessert, but the fudge, coconut, pecan pie looked too good to be true.

Our server was friendly and efficient. We were watching the clock and she brought us in right on the nose. I wish I had caught her name. I'll have to go back and ask if she doesn't introduce herself in a comment.

City Tavern, Philadelphia

For a historic Philadelphian meal, I took my children to the City Tavern, commission by our hungry founding fathers. They felt that a quality city like their Philadelphia ought to have a great tavern. I'm glad our founding fathers enjoyed a mug of ale at the end of the day. Opened in 1773, City Tavern must be one of the oldest restaurants in the country.

The worn wood floors, high, crown-molded ceilings, costumed servers, and pewter goblets evoked the spirits of the past. The menu posed a gastronomic challenge, offering many tantalizing selections: corn meal fried oysters, glazed duckling, venison and rabbit. A children's menu was available with something for each of my dining companions. Although the wine and ale selection was intriguing, I had to stick with the iced tea, being the only driver in my party. My children were happy with the hot and iced cider with cinnamon sticks.

Our charming server in breeches and brass buttons, Chris, enthusiastically told us the amusing history of the Anadama bread, Sally Lunn bread and Jefferson sweet potato pecan biscuits that opened our dinner. He offered a copy of the restaurant's cookbook for my perusal. The Jefferson biscuits went first and fast.

I started with the West Indies Pepperpot soup, which might have come with a sinus warning. The collard greens and chunks of pork were still tasty beneath the strong combination of black and Scotch Bonnet peppers, onions and scallions. (See how useful the cook book was?) My daughter enjoyed the golden cream of mushroom soup so much that, later that evening as she was drifting off to sleep, her last words were, “cream of mushroom.” The dry breads were excellent for dipping in the broth.

We enjoyed our other entrées, even if they weren't the best I've ever had. My children thought the pomme frittes were perfect. The pastry topping the turkey pot pie was scrumptious. Although the prime rib was a bit flat tasting to me, my children all enjoyed the tender cut. The chicken tenders were coated with a crispy corn meal coating. My basil bacon shrimp were good, but not as horseradishy as I had hoped. Perhaps that was the pepperpot soup's fault.

Despite the fact that we were no longer hungry, we couldn't resist the array of desserts. My son caved in to the Martha Washington chocolate mousse cake, especially after he was warned of the rum content. My daughters chose the crème brulée and the apple walnut cobbler. I tried the orange almond financier, a type of cake that seemed a cross between a pound cake and a scone. With the raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream, it was a real diet buster. But if you are going to go over the edge, you may as well go with something so delightful.

Our server was perfect, the right combination of friendly and informative without being intrusive. When my daughter knocked over her glass, several servers can quickly to the rescue and were very kind. For a restaurant that had such an elegant menu and appearance, they were very kid-friendly. I would be happy to bring my next guests to this historic tavern.

Geno's Steaks

I took a trip up to Philadelphia with my kids. Of course, we felt we must get a Philly Cheesesteak to make our experience authentic. I read about the Italian Market district in South Philly and decided that this must be the place for the most delicious food.

Perhaps I did insufficient research. It may be that I don't have a true appreciation for an authentic Philly Cheesesteak.

We found a parking space on the narrow 9th Street on what must have been trash day. There were many little hole-in-the-wall places to eat, which, looking back on it, might have been a better choice. We were drawn like moths to a flame to the brightest and the biggest place, Geno's.

Now, I hate to speak poorly of any place – especially one that is apparently such a favorite of the local boys in blue. The service was quick and friendly. It was by far the cleanest looking place around, if you don't mind the pigeons. You simply ordered at a window and took a seat outside. No indoor seating available, so I'm glad the weather was pleasant. You ordered your sandwich at one window and your drinks and fries at another. Here was the menu: Cheese steak sub with your choice of three cheeses or you could have a roast pork sub. For a side dish you could get fries or cheese fries.

It's probably because I'm not from Philly. I was hoping for something greasier. I like mine with mayo, which was not offered as a condiment. I thought it needed salt, which I didn't see out. I also thought they came with peppers, which were on the condiment sideboard, but not sautéed with the onions. The bread was delicious. The steak was fine. It was fine. It just wasn't what I had hoped for.

The owner was inside. He seemed happy and friendly. He seems to love his job. Perhaps this is what Philly Cheesesteaks are supposed to taste like. The place was plastered with pictures of famous patrons, so probably most people love this place. It seems fun. Maybe I should have chosen the cheese wiz instead of the provolone.

Ledo Restaurant, Adelphi, Maryland

Whenever your restaurant is featured on “Oprah Winfrey,” you should have a party. That's just what Tommy Jr. and Jimmy Marcos decided. Their restaurant, Ledo Restaurant of Adelphi, Maryland, founded by their father, Tommy Marcos Sr., was featured in an interview by Gayle King on the Oprah Show last week as having one of America's favorite original pizzas.

I went to the restaurant to enjoy the festivities last Saturday. One of the owners, Jimmy, was offering free slices of the award winning pizza to all the patrons in the dining room. Along with cheese pizza, Marcos offered the same pizza that King enjoyed when she came in for the interview: pepperoni and onion. I see Gayle King and I have a couple of things in common.

Friends and fans crowded into the restaurant's bar to watch the Oprah clip on the televisions. It was fun to be part of the crowd cheering on their coworkers and friends.

I have never been disappointed with Ledo pizza. I have tried several combinations. This time I tried chicken, zucchini and garlic. Tommy Jr. indicated it was the combination of the sweet sauce and salty cheese on a basic dough crust that makes their pie unique. I have to agree.

Jimmy, wearing his festive tie adorned with pictures of pizza, excitedly pointed out patrons who were returning alumni from the University of Maryland as well as one couple who drove down from Pennsylvania just to see if Oprah was right. That couple, Ed & Joyce Strushensky of Johnstown Pennsylvania, left with a large sausage and mushroom pizza to take to their friends back home. Looks like Oprah was right.