Megster11187 "Context & memory play powerful roles in all the truly great me..."

My boyfriend is an Italian food fanatic, so it was no surprise he wanted to take me to Marco’s Ristorante Italiano in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine to celebrate our (dating) anniversary.

Marco’s is a large restaurant with the capacity to seat almost 300 people, though it is located in a very isolated part of town (the original location burned down in a fire in 2004). Case in point: on a previous visit, we arrived at 8:15pm (45 minutes before they close)…and there was not a single person inside, or another car in the parking lot! Needless to say, the atmosphere isn’t the most lively or engaging, but the food overall compensates for the lack of flair.

Decent Italian food, though you can find better, in my opinion, elsewhere in town (such as Espo’s, which is a bit more expensive but worth the cost). Huge menu, with 6-7 different seafood dishes, 8-9 chicken dishes, and practically any pasta dish or combination you’d want, with all the usual suspects (eggplant or chicken parm, seafood marinana, tortellini, lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, etc). The tomato sauce is home-made in the restaurant and is really good – garlicky and well-seasoned, though not the best I’ve ever had.

Appetizers are large enough to share, especially the bruschetta, which tasted fresh and was well seasoned, though I would suggest asking for the garlic toast without the cheese..it’s really overwhelming and overshadows the taste of the tomato! Not a huge fan of this and likely wouldn’t order it again, though I did like the topping by itself without the cheesy bread.

Entrees were more successful even though they were enormous, and I was a huge (ha!) fan of my Jumbo Stuffed Ravioli. Word of warning – they are NOT kidding when they say ‘jumbo.’ The ravioli was really great and overwhelmingly large (see pic for visualization!), but I wasn’t able to even tackle half of it. Extra points for portion size, though I would have preferred one less ravioli if it knocked a little off the bill :) My boyfriend ordered his (ahem…typical…ahem) chicken parm, and made quite an impressive dent in his massive dish (two large chicken fillets and a large serving of pasta)! Massive portion…guess I need to start expanding my stomach to keep up with these Lewiston-ites!

And, of course…dessert! Even though we were quite full, we opted for the strawberry shortcake (gotta sample it all for my fellow foodies), straying a bit from our usual chocolate-based roots. Really fresh strawberries and warm biscuits, definitely big enough to share!

Would likely go back simply for the ravioli, but that being said, I’m partial to other Italian restaurants in Lewiston (espesh Da Vinci’s) though everyone seems to have their own opinion as to which is the best. Guess you’ll have to decide for yourself :)

Being a self-professed Food Network/Travel Channel/anything quasi-food-related nerd, I was totally excited that my mom chose to go to Eric Ripert’s Westend Bistro for Mother’s Day dinner.

For those perhaps not as well versed in this adorable French culinary phenom (as in – have more of a social life than I do!), Ripert is the highly acclaimed executive chef at one of New York’s most famous restaurants, Le Bernardin (and he rocked on his guest appearance on the most recent season of Top Chef)! I was thrilled to learn in 2007 that he was opening a small restaurant in the Ritz Carlton in downtown DC, and 2 years later, I finally had the opportunity to go.

Two key things I’ve learned in life so far:
1) There are major advantages to being treated to dinner by my father, since the alcohol flows like water (check out the wine/drink list at Westend!) and he more or less requires you to order an appetizer, main dish, and dessert, else he might be offended.
2) The fancier the restaurant, the way smaller the serving size, especially if ‘Bistro’ is in the title.

Our party of six started with 4 different appetizers – scallop ceviche, tuna carpaccio, calamari, and the pea & shrimp soup (for those not feeling the appetizers, fresh sourdough bread is available to munch on). I ordered the ceviche, as it’s one of my favorite dishes! It wasn’t a traditional preparation but it sure was delicious. There was quite a bit of butter in the dish, a little too much for my taste, but it wasn’t completely overpowering by any means, just a personal preference!

The scallops were sliced thin, almost like long noodles, and the serving size was perfect but small…I would say I easily consumed it in 4-5 bites. Though, I always feel the sign of a good restaurant is to leave the diner wanting just a little bit more…in this case, however, I think I could have used another serving! Kudos for the taste, it was really great and incredibly fresh…just could have used a strainer for the butter :)

I sampled the tuna carpaccio (soup & calamari aren’t my thang, but I was told the soup in particular was fantastic) which really liked, though I must say I personally didn’t find the presentation all that appealing. Once again, might be personal preference since my mom thought it looked ‘beautiful’…to me, though, it looked a little overly gelled but the taste compensated for this perhaps not-as-intriguing presentation.

Didn’t try the soup, but it smelled fantastic, and looked to be quite hearty and filling (more so than my serving of ceviche)! Lots of shrimp, various beans, and veggies rounded out the dish.

In the name of honesty…I wussed in order to save room for dessert and ordered an appetizer as my main dish, the Grilled Carolina Shrimp with ‘melted peppers.’ A bit wary as to what ‘melted peppers’ were, but it turns out it’s just a fancy word of saying ‘delicious’ :) In all seriousness, just heavily marinated red and yellow peppers with garlic and onion, cooked to perfection. The serving size was small (I would consider to be small even for an appetizer), so ordering the ‘casserole’ of vegetables made it at least look a little more substantial (and was really good)! If I could have a do-over, I likely wouldn’t get this as my main dish…as good as it was, all the other fish dishes looked incredible.

My uncle was kind enough to trade me a shrimp for piece of the Salmon with lentils, and Mom donated a small piece of the Loup de Mer (fancy word for some type of sea bass) with an olive-artichoke relish – both were great, and the portions were appealing and looked to be a great size. Even the Tagliatelle Bolognese met the very high standards of my 16-year old sister, who went as far to stay that it was better than what she usually gets at Armands or Olive Garden! Quite the statement from a teenager.

And of course, dessert! We had some home-made banana cream pie waiting for us at home (I’m a cheap gift-giver!) but we couldn’t resist splitting the Triple Chocolate Cake six ways, though Triple Chocolate Delicious Bite-Size Bar is a slightly more accurate description. It was a great size to complete the meal…though I did think it could have been a little bigger for $9. Taste-wise, it wasn’t overly sweet even given its heavy chocolate preparation, and I found I could really taste the three different preparations of chocolate mousse (mixes of dark and milk chocolates, yum). Other dessert items looked great, giving incentive to go back…highlights include a chocolate peanut tart with malted milk chocolate and lemon beignets.

Overall, a wonderful meal, incredibly flavorful, really satisfying, makes me want to go back at some point (with unlimited funding!) and I was really glad I got to go!

That being said, I’m not sure I would put this at the top of the list for those dining in DC for the first time, as there are better and similar restaurants with more extensive menus & more lively atmospheres (such as Central, Café Atlantico, Ten Penh, Zengo, or Zaytinya in the in the Penn Quarter/Gallery Place areas). I was really pleased with the meal, even the little things that I take for granted, such as the pace. It did take a bit long to get our drinks (though, to be fair, we ordered a complicated mixture of mixed drinks and champagne!) but the wait time in between the appetizers and the meal itself was really ideal…not too full after any one course, and I found myself quite excited every time food was brought to the table.

A reservation is probably needed for busier times, especially given the location of the restaurant. Be prepared to eat well…and spend quite a bit of money!

The only negative I have would be that I was gently scolded by a waiter for taking pictures of the food :) Oh well – hopefully worth it for all my fellow foodies!

Georgetown Cupcake has been on my to-do list for a long time, ever since the Washington Post published its “Cupcake Wars” article in November 2008. I’ve always been intrigued when driving by, as the line is usually out the door and nearly around the corner! As a life-long DC resident, I figured it was high time to indulge.

Let me begin by saying, I LOVE cupcakes, so it might be a bit difficult for me to be unbiased :)

Georgetown Cupcake has a rotating menu of options that changes daily, including 6 cupcakes that are consistent throughout the week (2 chocolate varieties, 2 chocolate/vanilla combos, vanilla, and red velvet). Special flavors that rotate throughout the week that caught my eye include chocolate peanut butter swirl (Thurs), chocolate ganache (Tues, Sat), chocolate banana (Wed, Thurs) and lava fudge (Tues, Fri).

I dragged my cupcake-loving sister along with me on a freezing cold Friday afternoon, and the 10-15 minute wait outside was totally worth it. We opted to get 3 cupcakes to split, as we had to get a good taste (literally) of all the hype! The aroma of the shop was absolutely incredible, so perhaps we were pre-disposed for deliciousness before we even took a bite!

We opted for the chocolate & vanilla (vanilla cake, chocolate icing), toasted marshmallow (I think this was a seasonal flavor) and the lava fudge. All were delicious, with the clear winner being the lava fudge. It was a chocolate cupcake (the menu said it has a ‘rich fudge core’, though I’m not sure I tasted that) with an incredibly light and creamy vanilla icing, drizzled with chocolate fudge. I almost came to physical blows with my sister over who got the last piece!

Not to dismiss our other two delicacies – the toasted marshmallow was good, but is not my favorite flavor, and the chocolate & vanilla was great…it had a little floral decoration on the top which made it so cute. I prefer chocolate cake in general, but this was really good!

So, ridiculously high marks for taste! I’ve read other reviews saying that the cupcakes are overrated, but I would have to disagree! My experience was absolutely delicious and wonderful. Even the employees were incredibly nice and sweet, even with a huge line out the door! I’m sure it can get frustrating and cramped when people can’t make up their minds, but I will be going back ASAP!

The shop itself is tiny – I think there is only one table to sit at, and it definitely has more of a grab-and-go vibe. And, a word of warning, it was pretty pricey – over $9 for 3 cupcakes! Definitely worth the indulgence, in my opinion! The little boxes they put the cupcakes in are adorable as well, which adds to the overall atmosphere.

Georgetown Cupcake is located Potomac Street, a side street right off M (the main street that runs through Georgetown, sort of near the Dean & Deluca). I believe the shop is closed Mondays…so be sure to plan your visit accordingly!

This is a favorite of my boyfriend and his parents. He’s taken me nearly every time I’ve gone to visit him in his hometown in Lewiston, Maine.

It is quaint and diner-style. It would not be a choice location for a nice meal, but really great for breakfast and brunch. I’ve usually gone in sweats! It is also a fantastic bakery, and you can stop in to pick up fresh-baked muffins and breads to take home.

To add to the local and cosy feel, there is a toy train that runs around the ceiling of the restaurant. And, be prepared to fill up on the majority of your calories for the day :) Worth it, every once in a while!

Great for french toast (especially the banana bread version) and my boyfriend loves the “The Capital” – huge plate with 2 eggs, 3 pieces of bacon or sausage, potatoes, and toast, for only $6. And, the cinnamon rolls, which are home-made are truly amazing – they are about the size of a small dinner plate, served warm, and are nice and gooey. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

In an effort to stay somewhat “healthy”, when not indulging on sweets, I usually opt for the over-sized omelets (can get egg beaters instead of eggs) or oatmeal, fruit, and biscuits (ask for them grilled!)

I personally have not eaten here for lunch or dinner – most of the fish (I’m a vegetarian) is fried which is not my choice preparation – lots of broiled fish cooked in butter and crispy seafood, which I’m sure is appealing to some!

I’ve heard good things about the burgers and sandwiches, notably the Reuben, and the desserts are PHENOMENAL. They serve Gifford’s ice cream, a regional favorite amongst the Mainers.

A couple words of warning – they have been known to run out of breakfast foods later in the day (especially oatmeal and biscuits), and since it is frequented by a much older and local crowd, the service is usually pretty slow. It is quite cheap, though, so it’s a nice break for the wallet.

It has lots of “Maine” seafood, but I would say it is pretty generic as far as diner/breakfast places go…although, it holds a very special place in my heart! I have such great memories from eating here – it’s worth the trip if you’re looking for huge, delicious portions at a great price!

It can be quite the task to find the perfect restaurant to take my ex-chef father to for special occasions, an adventure that was further complicated by the pressures of the ever-stressful Father’s Day Dinner. Thank goodness for Blue Duck Tavern in Foggy Bottom! The menu boasts fresh, local ingredients, simplistic dishes, and phenomenal flavors that hit the spot. It can bring ex-chefs to their knees.

The restaurant is gorgeous – high ceiling, aesthetically pleasing interior architecture, large windows that allow a lot of light inside, and a very quaint and beautiful outdoor seating area. Reservations are recommended for any day of the week but parking is amazingly not too difficult so it’s totally worth the trip. Blue Duck is affiliated with the Hyatt hotel, so expect a mix of tourists and locals looking for an excellent dining experience.

On to the food! I’ve heard rave reviews about the signature Pear Martinis…but I could not pass up the opportunity to order a Cucumber-Ginger Martini. Super satisfying and surprisingly not too sweet for my palette! The ginger really balanced out the drink and gave it a perfect kick. Will probably not please everyone – my mom made quite the face after having a sip of my drink – but I thought it was pretty fantastic (I had two. ‘Nough said!) Blue Duck has an extensive wine list and a plethora of other signature drinks and a large beer selection so there’s a little something for everyone.

The dishes are tapas-style, even the entrees. For example, crab cakes are served without any type of garnish, just two cakes in pan with some type of tartar sauce on the side. I would definitely recommend ordering side dishes to supplement the meal, since you won’t get much with the entrée!

All that foodie hype sure lived up to expectations. Not to overuse my current favorite obsession..but the crab cakes (what else would I order?!) were delicious and were very meaty, they did not taste too fried, weren’t greasy/full of mayonnaise, and weren’t overwhelmed by breading. They were the perfect temperature and very evenly cooked. Enough to share…though go the selfish route and eating them all for yourself!

I recommend ordering a couple of side dishes in addition to entrees in order to have a more complete meal. My favorites were the roasted mushrooms (an assortment of shitakes, black truffle, porcini) and the daily harvest vegetable. I lucked out and had sugar snap peas sauteed in chipotle chile butter…excellent flavors.

And be sure to save room for dessert :) We opted for banana chocolate chip sorbet, which consisted of three incredibly generous scoops, and the signature apple pie, which really is more of an apple cake. Plenty to share, though to be fair I refused to let the banana sorbet stray too far from my spoon.

Service was wonderful, and I loved how all the food was carried to the tables – the runners/servers all knew who ordered what! Waiter offered great suggestions (especially for dessert!) and was attentive and knowledgable. The menu is relatively limited regarding number of offerings but that is not to say it’s at all limited in flavors!…other intriguing dishes include cuttlefish ravioli, smoked sturgeon, and marinated sheep’s milk cheese with fava beans. Brunch & breakfast menus looked excellent as well, all the more motivation to go back!

When my parents visited Charlottesville this weekend, I was determined to try a new restaurant while they were here. Might as well use parental funding while I can!

A friend of mine suggested the Shebeen Pub & Braii, located near the Downtown Mall (Vinegar Hill Shopping center, below the Staples), and I’m giving him a huge, food-related hug next time I see him. The meal was excellent, the wait staff attentive and friendly, and I had an incredibly satisfying, eclectic, and innovative meal.

The restaurant does not take reservations, but you can call 30 minutes ahead to get your name on the list. I would recommend doing this since I’ve heard it’s almost always packed. Even though we called ahead, we still had to wait for a bit once we arrived – not to worry, there is a great little bar area and an appealing drink (’libations’) menu, so we indulged while we waited. There are also comfortable couches and other seating, making the wait pretty painless.

The restaurant is small and intimate. My mom and I thought it looked smoky, which we decided may have been due to the lighting…just a heads up for those who think their eyesight might be going a bit too soon!

The menu is varied with a wide range of options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Warm dinner rolls are served at the beginning of the meal…they tasted like they were fresh out of the oven and were great!

Our table ordered 3 appetizers to start: the zambezi chicken satays, pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus, and the cape mussels. Since I don’t eat meat, I can’t comment on the chicken…but they were so good, my sister got another order with her main dish! The peri-peri sauce that came with the satays was incredibly spicy but REALLY good – we ordered 3 extra sides of sauce to enjoy with our various main dishes.

The hummus, which in general is one of my favorite foods, is good as well, very flavorful and a generous portion. The pita chips are home-made and deep-fat fried…absolutely worth those extra calories! My mom thought the mussels were excellent, as evidenced by many slurping sounds…word of warning, the sauce is great but is very heavy and creamy, which might not be appealing to all.

The main courses are truly a culinary experience. I ordered the Sadza Cakes – 2 parmesan polenta cakes topped with eggplant, spinach, and mushrooms, served with lemongrass butter (I got this on the side). The polenta nearly melted in my mouth, and the combination of the vegetables and parmesan was delicious. Mango salsa came on the side, although I opted for peri-peri sauce for a bit of spice. It was filling but light and flavorful.

There were lots of other great-looking items on the menu! To name a few others: Ginger-Garlic Salmon, Durban-Spiced Chicken, Grilled Joberg Strip (steak), Shrimp, Calamari, Braised Lamb, Shepherd’s Pie, and burgers. They also had many stew options served over rice, both vegetarian and meat – too heavy for me, but on a cold Virginia night I’m sure they are truly delicious.

Even though no one had much room left…we of course opted for dessert, which was worth the handfuls of Tums required after the meal!

We ordered 2 to split – the mango pie and the chocolate lava cake. The mango pie was my favorite, served on a crumbly shortbread crust. The chocolate lava cake was delicious and rich, as expected, although the center wasn’t as ‘molten’ as other lava cakes I’ve had. We opted to get it with ice cream, although I would recommend asking for it on the side – the scoop was so big, it almost covered the entire lava cake!

The meal was really delicious, and as filling as it was, I didn’t reach that level of ‘overly full’…evidenced by the fact I had a rather large order of pancakes this morning :) I highly recommend this restaurant, although it is really on the pricey end. It doesn’t fit into the typical college student’s budget…best to save for Parent’s Weekend!

As my final weeks wind down here in Cville, I thought it was high time for me to go to all the restaurants I haven’t made it to in my 4 years in this collegiate culinary paradise. I’m a HUGE fan of breakfast any time of the day, something my roommate is well attuned to, and she’s been pushing me to go to Bluegrass Grill for months now as we prepare to leave. I finally took the opportunity to go this past weekend with my sister (my fellow all-day breakfast bud)….and I think I can confidently say my only regret in college is that I didn’t discover Bluegrass earlier!

Bluegrass Grill is located on a side-street off the Downtown Mall (one of my favorite locations in the area – great shopping and other fancier restaurants!) It’s somewhat hidden between various parking lots and the train tracks, but you’ll know when you’re there due to the massive amounts of people gathered outside. Bluegrass is small, cozy, and does not take reservations. A sheet of paper, where people write their own names and number of people in their party serves, as the seating list, so go early, come hungry, and be prepared to wait! Wait time can be anywhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours (not to instill fear into your foodie hearts, but my roommate has waited for 3 before!), but in my humble opinion, it’s worth it!

The service is fast and friendly, the inside is very quaint and clean, and the turnover rate is relatively quick…the masses of people waiting just make the wait seem eternal. There aren’t too many tables, maybe 10 at the most, which explains why the place gets crowded so quickly. Great mix of locals, tourists, and college students, brought together by pure deliciousness. Parking’s not a problem in the area (you do have to pay during the week), though the walk from the UVA area to the Downtown Mall is nice on a gorgeous day! Gotta create that calorie deficit somehow.

On to the food :) The menu boasts wonderful variety, ranging from omelets to french toast to pancakes to hash to potatoes cooked 4-5 different ways. As a cereal fanatic, I had to go for the granola w/milk & strawberries, biscuit, and a side of fruit….. in my opinion the idyllic meal :)

Needless to say, it was SO. GOOD. The granola was absolutely delicious – perfect serving size, and had a great balance of stuff in it. Not too much dried fruit or nuts, and it wasn’t overly sweet; it had a nice toasted taste to it, and tasted really fresh. Skim milk & strawberries ere the perfect addition. You can also get yogurt or soy milk.

Biscuits are my food weakness…and these babies did not disappoint!! They are huge and made fresh right in the restaurant – you can peak into the kitchen and watch the cooks pull out huge trays of them. Not too sweet, fluffy, and incredible – no jelly, jam, or extra butter required!

My sister loved her omelet – portion looked great, and she said it wasn’t too eggy; it had a really good balance of everything, and came fully loaded with veggies. And, she’s a really picky eater…so it’s got to say something that she cleaned her plate! The omelets come with a choice of potatoes or grits, and a biscuit, and you can substitute egg beaters/egg whites for a small additional charge.

And due to my voyeuristic tendencies, I was happy to be seated right near the kitchen, so I had the opportunity to witness all the other amazing creations headed to other hungry diners. The pancakes looked really amazing, though they were huge! Everything just looked great, especially the cinnamon rolls (mmmm). My roommate touts the cilantro lime tofu hash as being the ‘best thing ever’ – hopefully I’ll be able to go back and determine that for myself!

SO glad I finally got to enjoy this Charlottesville gem, and highly recommended for anyone with some time to kill, looking for a memorable breakfast or brunch!

Just a heads up – they only accept cash, so come prepared and ready to indulge :)

I recently left the humidity and comfort of my East Coast-abode and ventured out to the West Coast for a week of fun in the sun (well, and clouds!) with my boyfriend. I was well equipped with things to see & do, complete with a list of excellent restaurants, courtesy of another awesome Menuism reviewer (shout-out to grubalicoussf!)…and given my obsession with all things breakfast, Brenda’s was the first thing to try!

After a bit of a wait in the freezing cold (hey, anything below 70 degrees = freezing for this Wash DC native!), our party of three was seated inside the quaint diner-style restaurant. Definitely had a funky Southern flair, and as a recent grad of University of Virginia, I felt right at home with a menu that boasted items ranging from buttermilk pancakes with pecans to omelets with shrimp and goat cheese. The place was bustling and very crowded, even at noon on a Wednesday! Food was coming in and out of the kitchen at record speeds, with two very busy yet sociable servers handling the entire costumer core.

I had to order a biscuit – if you check out Brenda’s website, you’ll know why…amazing photo mmmmm! _- and opted for the home made granola with a side of fruit, as it is my favorite food combination perhaps in the universe. My boyfriend ordered the croque monsieur with fries, and my aunt opted for an assortment of side dishes – one pancake, andouille sausage, biscuit, and cole slaw.

The food was absolutely fantastic, and everyone’s plates were cleaned by the end of the meal! Since I’m a veghead, I can’t personally comment on the quality of the meat, but the contented sighs from my aunt & boyfriend were enough to assure me it was good!

The service understandably a bit slow, given the amount of people in the restaurant/the sheer size of the dishes offered, and the food was well worth the wait! I wouldn’t recommend Brenda’s for those in a rush, so come ready to relax.

The biscuits were just…amazing. Fluffy, light, incredibly fresh, and not too sweet, exactly the preparation I like. So good, I was unwilling to give my boyfriend a taste (well, eventually I caved, can’t say no to a puppy face!) Everything tasted warm and very carefully prepared– the croque mousieur was still steaming a bit when it reached our table! – and it was the perfect comfort-food meal.

We didn’t quite have the appetites to order the beignets, but they looked totally awesome and are def on my to try list! There were four different varieties, and do some serious stalking at nearby tables…I can honestly say each order of beignets delivered to the tables in the restaurant were fully consumed! The chocolate one looked amazing – molten chocolate flowing from the inside. The restaurant also offers 3 other varieties (plain, apple, and crawfish) and ordering the plate of all four seemed to be a very popular item among those who knew the ropes!

Random factoids that hopefully someone will find helpful – no skim milk (sometimes whole is the only way to go, anyway!), credit cards are accepted (yay!), be prepared to wait, but you will not be disappointed! No reservations accepted but you add your name to a sign-up sheet out front and things move along relatively quickly. Parking is difficult around Brenda’s, though my week in San Fran taught me that parking is difficult no matter where you go :) I love places like this…and will be sure to include a trip to Brenda’s during my next West Coast Extravaganza…once I gain funding!

District Chophouse has established itself as a lively part of the Gallery Place dining scene. I’ve eaten here a couple of times, and my most recent visit solidified it as one of my favorite places for an upscale, leisurely, and delicious meal the city.

The restaurant attracts an eclectic mix of tourists (the Crime & Punishment/Spy Museums are a stone’s throw away), young interns enjoying a classy meal after a hard day, the lawyer-ing crowd, and local families. The restaurant is metro accessible (Gallery Place-Chinatown is the closest, and the Metro Center & Archive stops aren’t all that far).

Come hungry! My favorite aspect of the restaurant is it serves skillet cornbread as the ‘bread’ course, and it is sooooo good. Always warm, fresh, and steaming, and a great way to introduce your taste buds to the flavors Chophouse has to offer.

My sister & I are suckers for spinach artichoke dip, and our most recent meal was no exception. The dip is served with warm grilled flatbread and big chunks of artichoke hearts within the dip. Maybe not for those who prefer a smoother dip, but it was ideal for me, who is not totally crazy about having an abundance of cheese in my spin-art dips. My arteries didn’t feel (overly) clogged, so I had plenty of room for my next course(s) :)

I only recently became a crab cake eater and have now realized I have missed out on a huge part of my food education! This entrée consisted of two mini crab cakes, made out of generous chunks of crab meat with very little breading, with a choice of four different side dishes – white cheddar mashed potatoes, baked potato, fries, or rice pilaf. I opted for the baked potato, mainly because I remembered the potato is covered with rock salt and an excellent mix of spices that can’t accurately identify (basil/rosemary/something good).

As hard as it is for me to admit, I wasn’t able to eat everything on my plate (tragic, I know!) The baked potato was way bigger than the span of my hand, but my inability to finish up my glorious entree is no commentary on the quality. The potato’s seasoning had a great kick, and the relish on the crab cakes was superb, a tomato-corn-cilantro mixture that was not too oily or overwhelmingly strong. I appreciated the presentation – the tartar was very prettily drizzled on the side of the plate so one could choose to eat it or not.

My dad had the tuna chop rare with rice pilaf, and my sister got the chicken picatta with mashed potatoes. Both enjoyed their entrees immensely, but the portions were huge and we parted with a healthy bag of leftovers. At least we have dinner for tomorrow night!

As far as ‘pacing’ of the meal…I would say it was one of the best. Cornbread was served approx 10 min before the appetizer, allowing for some eating enjoyment without getting full. We had plenty of time to enjoy our salads that come with the entrees (either house or Caesar) before the entrees arrived – it was perfect! The waitstaff was extremely friendly and attentive, and made sure we had full drinks and a cleared table before the next course.

I was def in the mood for something sugary (as usual) after all that salty food, and the caramel apple pie hit the spot. The pie crust literally melted in my mouth, it was so light and buttery. Served with two generous scoops of vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce…a sweet finish to a fantastic meal, and the apples were cooked right to my liking – not too soft with still a good amount of crisp & crunch. I’m a bit bias as apple pie is not my favorite dessert, but this was pretty good.

Like any other steakhouse of similar ilk, it’s pretty pricey but not outrageous (apps average about $9-$10, entrees between $20-$35ish). Great wine & beer list, and a nice bar with multiple TVs, so you’ll be able to catch any of the big sporting events nearby…and having the Verizon Center two blocks away keeps things exciting. I would highly suggest reservations, even during the week. The longest wait I’ve had without a reservation is about 45 minutes on a Saturday night, which isn’t too bad (but still frustrating!) for the Gallery Place area.

Great meal and great service. I was surprised for how crowded it was on a Wed night – gotta love all us foodies helping stimulate the economy. The restaurant has 3 other locations in Cleveland, Boulder and Denver…so if you’re out in those areas, I’d suggest stopping on by!

Sizzling Express has 9 locations throughout the DC area, and it’s an ideal location to grab a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner on the go. It’s a buffet-style joint, with options ranging from egg rolls to fruit salad (not mixed together, of course!) on a huuuuuuge salad bar.

Sizz Ex is ironically my favorite sushi spot in the entire DC area! In all honesty…I really only come here for sush as I’m not totally into the idea of the massive buffet :) But it sure is popular among the locals!

The sushi is incredibly fresh, reasonably priced, the sushi chefs are efficient and it’s fun to watch them work. There are a wide range of options for sushi eaters of all ‘levels’ – my favorites are the pickled radish and gourd (I assume some type of squash?… perhaps it’s better not knowing the exact ingredients :) ) and you can also get all the usual suspects – cucumber roll, California roll, avocado, tempura rolls, and nearly any type of sashimi you can think of. The spicy tuna roll & Alaksa roll are totally delish!

The sushi bar serves as the ‘real’ bar, so it’s not uncommon to see various mixed drinks being prepared among the raw fish. Not an idyllic eating-in location, as the seating area def has a cafeteria feel since the place is designed for a quick meal, so I always opt for carry-out. Though, in the past year some outdoor seating has been added which is very pleasant, even given the fact it is sandwiched between a bank parking lot and bustling Penn Ave!

Sizz Ex is also a favorite dining location of local law enforcement, so no need to panic when you see all the cop cars out front :) Huge salad bar with a ton of veggies, and also a wide assortment of fruits and pre-mixed salads (such as lentils w/feta, black bean salad). You can also order cold & hot made-to-order sandwiches. Lots of Asian influence – hunan chicken, lomain stir-fry beef, egg rolls, dumplings, sautéed green beans, fried rice – but also good fish & more purely vegetarian option….always a lot of diversity and a lot to choose from.

For breakfast, Sizz Ex has a wide variety of eggs, home fries, meat, pancakes, biscuits, and fruit. The blueberry muffins are great, especially if you’re willing to get there close to opening (6:30am!) and grab one fresh out of the oven!

The price is per pound (~ $8/lb at lunch, ~ $6/lb at breakfast) so be wary of filling up on rice and lomain, since it makes the price go up exponentially. Might want to check out the desserts on the way out…the chocolate cake is incredible. Wouldn’t necessary recommend Sizz Ex as a dining out location, but FABULOUS for sushi, attracts a wide variety of Capitol’s Hill’s finest law enforcement, summer interns, and adorable locals!