Eggspectation

This past weekend I visited Eggspectation in Silver Spring. I had never heard of this place before but after viewing their menu was excited to give them a try. Obviously the running theme was eggs and the restaurant offers breakfast all day long.

When i first walked in, I was a little disapointed with the decor and style of the restaurant. It is rather cold and uninviting. The bare floors and cold tables and chairs did not make me feel very comfortable. It was also a little difficult to find any privacy, the tables were all bunched together and we had to squeeze into our seats. However, all of the staff were very accommodating and friendly.

I was a little overwhelmed by the many pages of items on the menu which ranged from a jumbo lump crab cake and rib eye surf and turf to a western breakfast burger. However I knew i was in the mood for breakfast so i stayed on the breakfast page to make my selection. They offer something for everyone so this may be a great place if you have a large party with different tastes.

I asked the waiter to give his recommendation for breakfast and he informed me that their eggsbenedict's were very popular as well as more traditional breakfast platters. I decided on the Eggcitement- French toast topped with strawberrys or banana's FLAMBE' prepared wtih brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and orange brandy. I combined this with the Eggstravaganza which included two eggs, choice of meat and grilled potatoes. Lets just say everyone at the table had food envy when they had a taste of my french toast! The orange brandy sauce really set off the flavors in the french toast. Large peices of bread and the combination of traditional french toast with a twist, this is a must try. The eggs were eggcelent (I couldn't help myself) and the potatoes were the best breakfast potatoes i've ever had. They sliced them thinly then cooked them and they were perfect. My only complaint was my sausage link which was slightly undercooked for my liking, but everything else was perfect. I also ordered a drink from the juice bar. A Tropical Teaser-Mango, banana, pineapple blended with fresh orange juice and ice. This drink was perfect. It was very light and healthy, fruity and flavorful.

Now for the dinner side of the house I will definately be back to try some new dishes. All of the pasta's and burgers looked great. I did taste some of the Baked Potatoe Soup and it was very delicious. My fellow bloggers had some of the dinner and lunch dishes so maybe they will let you all know what they thought.

My recommendation is to visit this place for brunch or breakfast. I need them to narrow down the menu choices because you can't be great at everything!

DC Restaurant Week

Here are some of my picks for DC restaurant week Winter 2012. For those of you who have not yet enjoyed dining out during restaurant week, it is a time where local spots offer a set menu for lunch and dinner at a pre-set reduced price. Lunch is offered at $20.12 per person and dinner at $35.12 per person. Unfortunately I will be out of town so i will not be able to visit any new places this time around. But i will be giving you some good out of town spots once i return.

Here are some of my favorites on the list and some places i've heard good things about and have not gotten to try. Let me know your thoughts!

The Bombay club- Looks a little upscale..boasting of serving past presidents. It is Indian food that you don't eat with your hands. The prices look reasonable and i look forward to visiting here for dinner some time this year.

Buddha bar- Their website is what's sold me on wanting to visit. The atmosphere looks relaxing and inviting and makes me want to visit China. This is a sushi spot that i've heard good things about and i hope to try soon. I'm excited about the spicy Double Tuna Tempura Roll..doesn't that sound good Has anyone tried them out?

Casa Oaxaca- Authentic Mexican food near adams morgan. Read an earlier post here on restaurantrundown.blogspot.com reviewing this spot.

Ceiba A latin-American inspired restaurant that i've heard good things about. The Lobster enchiladas and grilled sugar cane skewered jumbo shrimp sound excellect.


CoCo Sala chocolate lounge and boutique. I was sold at chocolate lounge! The menu boasts small plates and bites such as sliders and shrimp mac and cheese. The desserts appear to be the star here with the 3 or 5 course dessert experience I would visit just for deserts and signature cocktails.

La Tasca - A spot us ladies recently visited is a Spanish Tapas restaurant with small plates. The menu selections are awesome, there's much to choose from. They also offer tasting menu's where you can get plates of almost everything and share between friends! delicious food.

Lost Society- I had dinner here for my birthday last year and it boasts a nice bar and sophisticated atmosphere. There is a club on the upstairs level after 9pm its 21 and up. The food is pricey for the amount you actually get. But it was tastey and i would recommend it.

Oceanaire- I've been told that their seafood is the best. It appears to be a typical seafood restaurant and restaurant week is a great time to visit and eat at a reduced price!

Poste Brasserie -I have eaten here for brunch in the spring on their outdoor terrace. It is located in Hotel Monaco and has a nice fresh vibe. The food was fresh and flavorful and i look forward to trying them for lunch or dinner.

Ruths Chris-I love Ruths Chris! It is my all time favorite restaurant and steakhouse. Everyone must eat there. Restaurant week is a great time to visit and get a good meal for a good price. The food is a la carte which can often add up. However the sides are huge so it is smart to just order sides that you can share in order to save money.

Zaytinya-A greek tapas restaurant near chinatown. They are fun and lively with great small plates. The hummus is delicious

Well there you are. My suggestions for DC Restaurant Week 2012. Leave comments and let me know which places you plan to visit this week!

Bobby's Burger Palace!

Philadelphia Burger

Bobby Flay is one of my favorite chefs. I have tried to visit 2 of his bigger restaurants and failed both times :( so when i read that he was opening Bobby's Burger Palace on K street in downtown DC I immediately went to try them out that same day! Since this locations grand opening Bobby has also opened another Palace locally in College Park, Maryland near the college. So you have two to choose from! I have been to only the K street location and have not tried the college park location yet.

The decor of the restaurant is fun and lively. From the outside you are drawn in by the colorful eye catching sign. You line up at the register upon entry and that is where you place your order. If dining in, you receive your cup and a number to place on your table. You can fill your own cup with the beverage of your choice and servers bring out your food to your table once its ready. There are long tables throughout the restaurant so you may be sitting side by side with strangers. It is a great way to maximize the small space. Since it is located on K street it gets pretty crowded at lunch time with the line often stretching out the front door.

The Food!

The menu has much more than just burgers as the name suggests. This place is not comparable to 5 guys at all. The menu is much more sophisticated and has something for everyone. You can order a beef burger, turkey burger or chicken breast. I recommend the beef! Why go to a burger place if you aren't gonna eat a burger?? There are also sandwhiches (Griddled Cheese) and salads on the menu. Pictured above is the Philadelphia Burger which had provolone cheese, griddled onions and hot peppers. I was pleased with the choice of red hot pepper over the expected jalapeno normally used in restaurants. I have also tried the Santa Fe Burger with grilled chicken breast. This featured queso sauce, pickled jalapenos and blue corn chips. I found the chicken breast was lacking in flavor and i prefer the beef!

The beer battered onion rings are fresh not frozen, and huge! A must try. Also if you aren't in the mood for the typical fountain drink try a Frozen Cactus Pear Margarita just $5! Delicious They also offer milkshakes which i still have not been able to try. After eating the burger i was way too full for anything else. The portion sizes are not too much. Its a perfect sized burger not huge and sloppy like some places i've tried.

In my eyes Bobby Flay can do no wrong...but Bobbys Burger Palace is a great place for a sophisticated burger lover. Go check it out

Casa Oaxaca

Filete Oaxaqueno

De Borrego

If you don't know, I am a fan of Mexican food. I can eat it everyday. I beg my husband to find me a Mexican cook and bring them home to live with us. So when I got an email about a daily deal for Casa Oaxaca I was immediately tempted. I receive daily deals from many places but this one came from http://www.opentable.com/ and offered a $50 gift certificate for only $25. I bought the certificate and made a reservation through opentable, it worked like a charm.

The restaurant is located close to the intersection of Floridy avenue and 18th street. It is technically a part of Adams Morgan but not right in the thick of the crowd and restaurants and bars. From the outside it looks like a small hole in the wall but once you walk in the decor is nice and contemporary and cozy. We were able to find parking right in front of the spot, I think thats just my luck with DC though :)

Or hostess, waiter and even the bus boy were all very friendly and helpful. Atmosphere and service all get high marks from me. The menu is well put together and focused. It is short but covers all the bases. Its not a typical mexican restaurant it is more authentic and contemporary then chevys or taco bell. The menu offered foods from chicken to steak, lamb and shrimp. Each meat was seasoned with a different mole or pepper sauce. The appetizer menu even offered one dish topped with grasshoppers, no we did not try that..not today! We tried the guacamole, salsa and chips appetizer. The guacamole was fresh, creamy and flavorful while the chips tasted just as fresh like they were being cooked in the back. This appetizer was a cool $5. Along with our appetizer we tried something from the bar, mojito and a mango margarita. Tall glasses and a Mexican heaping of tequila in the margarita made each drink well worth the $9.50 asking price. I hate it when I get a $10 drink and I cannot even taste the liquor. They also offer happy hour specials here, I think it would be well worth the visit. Next our entrees. I opted for the lamb tacos all Ihave to say is OMG! tender, flavorful well seasoned moist lamb in small sized fajita's topped with red onion slices, paired with black beans and rice. It was great portion size, not too much food for only $12. We also had the filet mignon which was topped with cheese and paired with fajita shells and black beans and rice. The steak was cooked perfectly, not over or underdone. Again the flavors ad seasoning were perfect and delicious.

I apologize that I was too stuffed to order desert, I felt horrible! But my waiter recommended the churros and the tres leches. Check out the menu on their website and make your selections! This place is a nice little gem on the outskirts of Adams Morgan, go out and enjoy the food then go walk down adams morgan to walk the food off. I give this place 4 out of 5 stars. yumm must try, I will return.

Cupcake Wars

So i recently went on the hunt for cupcakes for a birthday party. I work in Baltimore and have had a cupcake from Charm City Cupcakes before, so i chose to order from them. I filled out an online ordering form which said i would be contacted to complete my order. Needless to say, I was never contacted and Since I have a problem with calling places, I kind of forgot about it and never called the place to confirm my order. A friend at work recommended I try Georgetown Cupcakes which she likes much better then Charm City Cupcakes.

So i went on their website and instantly fell in love. I was able to see the entire menu online and what each cupcake had in it and on top of it, as well as a nice picture. Georgetown cupcakes offers the regular everyday flavors including red velvet, vanilla and chocolate as well as special flavors for each month like this months Cherry Cheesecake and ginger peach AND special daily flavors like my favorite PB fudge. So i ordered a personalized 18 cupcakes online and i had the option to pay online or pay in the store and I got a reciept to print out right away. I chose to pick up from the Bethesda location but they of course have a location in Georgetown D.C. as well.

One of the perks of ordering ahead is that when you get to the store you get to skip the line. This was a sunday morning, 11am the line was out the door and down the sidewalk. I went right up to the counter, paid and got evil stares from the people in the line..but oh well not my fault!

Now to the most important part...The cupcakes! How shall i describe them, hmmm.... moist, flavorful, not too sweet, but just enough, perfect small cupcake size not too large, the icing was the perfect compliment to the cupcakes. The icing was well flavored, fresh and light. My favorite, the PB fudge was a chocolate cupcake filled with a thick fudge and topped with peanut butter frosting. It was like a large, perfect, reese's cup, delicious! while i didn't get to eat all 18 cupcakes :( everyone at the birthday party raved about their cupcake flavor, and the 3 I did eat (red velvet, carrot, PB Fudge) were all delicious and worth the trip and the expense ($2.50 each, $15 for 6 and $29 for 12)

I will definately be going back to try some of the monthly and daily flavors in the future. These are also good for events such as birthdays and babyshowers.

This was my first time going to a gormet bakery specializing in cupcakes so the War begins, I will be trying some other spots in the future. But Georgetown gets 4 out of 5 for their sweet treats

2010 Summer Restaurant Week!!!!

Yay!!! its that time again..just wanted to let you all know that restaurant week(s) is upon us!!!

First up is Baltimore restaurant week. I work in Baltimore but have yet to try any good places to eat out here. Check out http://www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com/ for a list of participating spots. Baltimore's restaurant week runs August 13-22 with many places offering 3 course dinners for $35 and lunch for $20. An added bonus, discounted parking at many downtown garages! Some places that i would recommend, Lebanese Taverna, I sampled some of there food before at an event downtown and it is delicious greek/medeteranian food. Hummus, and great olives. Here is a list some friends of mine gave me of great places in Bmore that are participating:
-RA Sushi Bar -Brewer's Art
-Flemings Prime Steakhouse -Milan
-City Cafe -Salt Tavern
-Rusty Scupper (for sunday brunch)
-Saute

Next is D.C.'s Restaurant Week http://washington.org/restaurantwk/ August 16-22. Some places of interest on this list are Ceiba, Bombay Club (which i have reservations for, i'll let you know how they are) I've also heard good things about Chart House, Georgia Browns, La Tasca, the Melting Pot but have not yet dined there myself.

And you can never go wrong with Zaytinya, Poste Brasserie, Ruth's Chris, Mortons, McCormick and Schmicks and Art and Soul all places i've tried myself, and love :)

Finally, if you're still hungry Alexandria Restaurant week is August 20-29 http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=9&pid=426 . Most VA places are included in the D.C. restaurant week list, so this list is pretty short. Delia's Mediterranean Grill has a nice review (scroll down) from Ria on restaurant rundown..check it out. La Tasca is also on this list, so you may be able to wait until this week to visit there instead of using up your time during D.C.'s week. Besides that you're on your own with this list, i haven't visited any of these places yet.

I'm so excited! wish i could visit every place on each list for the next three weeks..but i promise i won't. Good luck and let us know how the places turn out ;)

Teatro Goldoni

Spinach Cappellaci
Buffalo Mozzerella

Veal Chop
Roasted Salmon

"2009 Rammy Award for Favorite Restaurant and was named DC's Best Italian Restaurant by Washingtonian and Esquire Magazines." All these awards and top reviews, I thought this restaurant was a perfect place to take my husband for his birthday. While the ambiance, service and cleanliness are very important when going out to eat, lets face it the food is most important and their food disapointed me big time!

So this time my review will start with the food:

We started out with some fried calamari and buffalo mozzerella as an appetizer. The calamari was bland and needed the tarter sauce to add flavor, this would be the theme of the night...no flavor. The presentation of the food was excellent and beautiful. The calamari had fried red peppers and zuccini mixed in the basket which was fun and different, but the zuccini had more flavor then the calamari. On the plus side it did taste fresh and was not chewy like some calamari i have had. The mozzerella was something new for me, i'll admit but the texture and flavors of it were not pleasing to me. This was the one dish that had a little too much going on. The candied cherry tomatoes, balsamic gelatin and eggplant on top of the mozzerella overpowered the cheese and gave it an abrupt flavor. I ate one piece and did not want any more.

I chose to order the Spinach Cappellaci which was under the pasta section, (pictured above) it was 4 small pasta's filled with butternut squash which was sweet and very different. It was a nice soft fresh pasta dish but tasted more like a desert with the sweetness of the butternut squash inside. Next I had the roasted salmon which was topped with crabcake and laid on top of sauteed spinach. The spinach was crunchy and tasted slightly burnt. the salmon needed salt and pepper and the crab cake had pieces of shell in it. King of like when you buy the cheap grocery store brand of crab meat insted of the phillips crab meat to make crab cakes at home. So i was picking crab shells out of my mouth. My husbands veal chop looked gorgeous and huge. It also was bland and needed some seasoning and flavor. It also had alot of fat on it and was slightly tough and chewy.

After dinner i had a taste for something sweet to get the other flavors out of my mouth, but the desert menu consisted of fruit, gellato and nothing that looked worth my time.

My main complaint about Teatro Goldoni was the lack of flavor in the food, obviously but I was also unhappy that it was not an italian restaurant. Nothing about it made me think italian. There was techno music playing, there were african masks on the wall for decoration. I can see a spin on traditional itialian but this place was just confused. To be fair i will mention the service was excellent, prompt and friendly. they even took the mozzerella off our bill when i told them i hated it (not in those words:) and the prices were reasonable for the dishes they offered. The drinks were also delicious and strong...maybe you can visit the bar for happy hour 5-9pm mon-fri...we couldn't get happy hour prices sitting in the dining room (seriously).

So i think the best thing i learned from this experience is that its best to go off word of mouth to find a good place to eat (like restaurant rundown:) and not off top 100 list or places that have won awards or rankings from the Washingtonian!

2 out of 5 stars for this place..and I won't be going back no thank you