George's on Mt. Vernon Square -- Sunday Brunch or kind of like brunch.

?  by LaChaBenn for LaChaBenn.com

We arrived at 3 pm. I was sure we missed brunch but we were in luck, brunch at George’s is served until 5ive pm! When we sat down the only area occupied in the restaurant was the bar. We had our choice of tables in the cozy dining room and picked the one that over looked the circa 1920’s building lobby.   A Gorgeous Building.

The server shared brunch drink specials with us, $4 dollars Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s. We declined the alcoholic beverages and shared a large kettle of warm hot chocolate. For bunch I craved waffles unfortunately George’s is the first brunch menu I’ve seen in sometime that does not make waffles available.   After pouting to my girlfriend about this dilemma she ordered for us, a Crab Spring salad to share Lox for me and an Apple Brie omelet for herself.  

Our wonderful server split our salad for us (I love initiative!) and served the dish as our first course.  The dressing served on the side, jumbo lumps of crab meat covered all of the mix spring lettuce, along with pecans and dried cranberries. I devoured mine and in hind sight I feel that if received that salad as an entrée not as a split item I’d still be left hungry after consumption. Never the less the salad became the highlight of the meal.  For the main course I was most excited about my girlfriend’s Apple Brie omelet, second the Lox. Very little can go wrong with Lox, as long as you have all the fixings: the capers, the red onion, the tomatoes etc. , I’m a happy camper.   

As I prepared my spread I noticed my girlfriend’s reaction to her first bite of the omelet which was served with small cubed home fries and wheat toast. “Something doesn’t taste right,” she said poking at her plate.  I tasted a full bite of her dish and agreed. Off the bat I tasted a meat flavor. Though she is a vegetarian she accepts that some food will be cooked in the same area as meat items but the omelet tasted as if it was intentionally cooked in bacon grease.  As a meat eater I applauded the bacon grease effort…what I couldn’t get over was the lack of bold flavor I expected from this dish. I felt the omelet was simply thrown together. Little thought had been applied to actually blending the flavors of the brie and especially the apples together. The apples were not cooked or carmizlied before they were place in the egg mix nor was the brie properly melted.  There was simply nothing holding the dish together.  The home fries were quickly devoured, perfect texture and seasoning.

Overall I enjoyed my experience at the George’s on Mt. Vernon Square. However it was the atmosphere and our server made the visit enjoyable and changed our minds from “probably won’t come back,” to “yes, we will give this place another try.”  I am excited to see their dinner menu, which is served everyday starting at 5ive pm. A note to the curious diner: the menu on George’s website is not the menu available in the restaurant.  I don’t know that I’d recommend this place to someone who is visiting from out of town. But for someone who is looking for something new in Baltimore, try George’s on Mt. Vernon Square.

b. Perhaps the best restaurant in Baltimore?

?

by LaChaBenn for LaChaBenn.com 


I asked, "so what kind of food do they serve?" My question was answered by Silence.

I'd answer the question by saying neighborhood fine dinning.
Under appetizer's yellowfin tuna tarter with capers, chopped egg and avocado caught my eye by i ordered the eggplant dig served with fire toasted Cubata bread, olives, and pickled vegetables.
I didn't reach for salt or pepper (good thing because it was not until late into the meal that i noticed that neither was available on the table.)
I could not decide what to get for my entree, everything looked SO Good. P.E.I. Mussels with green curry and coconut milk, Pear and Gorgonzola Sachette, Ahi Tuna Nisoice salad with Potatoes not pasta, Crispy Duck...i could go on, but it does little justice.
I ordered the P.E.I. Mussels with Green Curry, Coconut Milk, coriander leaf, and i'd argue lemongrass. And a small order of the roasted vegetable mozzarella Ravioli.
I rue not ordering their Ceaser salad. If you can do a ceaser salad right you are clutch in my eyes.
Everything, everything, from the atmosphere, to the regulars, to the veteran wait staff is on point and fabulous.
The Food, the food, is another story. Amazing to say the lease, perfect portions, the mussels are served in a heaping bowl. Plating and aesthetics of the food show exhibit the Art in culinary art.
I have one side note, there was a little to much oil in my ravioli. Honestly, Who cares.
Go, Go, Go.
Washingtonians-Escape to this place
and bring your A game, average person, with drinks and apps, $40.
Also, their micro brew and important Beer list is well constructed featuring Victory and Trogg, i can say the same for their wine list.

Pizzacato, Philadelphia, PA - Mas o Menos

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There is a $91 dollar charge on my card and i am still trying to remember why.

She says she wants Italian for her last meal in the United States. I ride my bike up and down Market St Philadelphia. My first choice was closed, so was my second, so i narrowed in on Pizzacato at the corner of Market and 2nd. (248 Market street, just before the bridge on the right)

The patio is packed, which i read as a good sign,
We sit inside because of the humidity and we are one of two seated tables.

Our server enthusiastic and charismatic; Im sure he was the manager. He pushes out the nights' specials and some information (the highlight) about the restaurant: they make their pasta in house!

We start with the staples:
glass of champion-i couldn't tell you what kind because we never saw a drink menu despite a request-
Ceaser Salad-i've said it before i'll say it again, if you can bring something to a Ceaser salad you are alright in my book
and Mussels- in "chilis and herbs (red or white)"

Sigh
Well the champion was good...dry? Chardon
The Mussels-blane...i suspect they steam the mussels early, not to order, keep them warm and pour sauce over top upon individual order. I was so disappointed I considered returning them. The cherry tomatoes at the bottom of the bowl captured the little essence of the sauce...unfortunately the mussels captured nothing.*
The Ceaser Salad...the lettuce was border line soggy, not crisp. The Ceaser dressing was good but not unique I give credit to the chef for producing their own croutons (they are made in house right?) but was disappointed that i was not offered crushed pepper for the salad.

For my entree i had the Exotic Mushroom T- I saw the dish on a patrons table while I scoped out the restaurant, Khrissee had the Linguine, with vegs, and extra, extra, extra Parmesan (the girl loves cheese).

My dish was good, the essence of the Mushrooms, the pasta...kinda of sticky, maybe over cooked.
K's Lingini was perfectly cooked, the tomoatoe sauce not as blan as the mussles.

i'm gonna guess i caught this place on a bad night. Or maybe the event sadden my heart and my palate. Unfortunately there are to many baller sdpots in philly and i will not try this spot again. But don't not try it just based on this review.

2 stars out of five.

Eh...

and they don't have a website...weiiiird!!!!

b. perhaps the best restaurant in Baltimore?

?
?


I asked, "so what kind of food do they serve?" My question answered by Silence.

I'm still not sure how to answer the question myself.
This corner Bistro has left me breathtaken.
Under appetizer's yellowfin tuna tarter with capers, chopped egg and avocado caught my eye but I ordered the eggplant dig served with fire toasted Cubata bread, olives, and pickled vegetables. So did every table in eyeshot.
I didn't reach for salt or pepper (nor did i notice their absence until late into the meal).
I could not decide what to get for my entree, everything looked SO Good. P.E.I. Mussels with green curry and coconut milk, Pear and Gorgonzola Sachette, Ahi Tuna Nisoice salad with Potatoes not pasta, Crispy Duck...i could go on, but it does little justice.
I ordered the P.E.I. Mussels with green curry, coconut milk, coriander leaf, and i'd argue lemongrass? And a small order of the roasted vegetable mozzarella Ravioli. The Mussels were Huge in size and quantity. The broth, a perfect blend of coconut milk and water, not to sweet just an after taste. At one point I considered ways of sneaking the broth home-i didn't. Instead I consumed the delicious (guys listen to me: DELICIOUS) broth with the never ending servings of fresh Cubata bread.
The small portion of the Roasted Vegetable Mozzarella ravioli was a perfect size. Fresh Ravioli stuffed with a puree of roasted veggie cheesy freshness!
I rue not ordering their Ceaser salad. If you can do a Ceaser salad correctly and uniquely you are clutch in my eyes.

Everything, everything, from the atmosphere, to the regulars, to the quite corner location, to the veteran wait staff are on point and fabulous.
The Food, the food, is another story. Amazing to say the lease, perfect portions, the mussels are served in a heaping bowl. I mentioned the Pasta came in half and whole portions as do some of the salads. I tried the Duck in confit served with fingerling potatoes, a style I've grown tired of, But b was able to cook the duck perfectly: Cold pan, Meat, then isle (i swear not everyone knows that, how to render duck). Had the Vanilla Creme Brulee- That got that right too ;-) Plating and aesthetics of the food exhibit the Art in culinary art.
I have one side note, there was a little to much oil in my ravioli. Honestly, Who cares? I didn't.

Go,
Go,
Go.
Washingtonians-Escape to this place
and bring your "B" game, average person, with drinks and apps, $45. ($$$)
Also, their micro brew and imported Beer lists are well constructed featuring Victory and Trogg, i can say the same for their wine list.
Bunch on Sundays
b

Oylema

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Oylema, two blocks down from the south entrance of Gallery Place Chinatown.
Party of Four, one arrived late.

I discovered this small spot on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations late one night. I've been craving mexican, El Som really, so i decided to try out this "modern" mexican spot.
Food is delicious but presumptuous. There is no salt, pepper or hot sauce on the table.
The Drinks, over priced and over rated. Nitrogen infused salt rim on the tables margaritas. Nice to look at, but does not reason the inflated price-though i did get a buzz off of one drink.
PLUS: AWESOME vegetarian menus, ascetically pleasing wait staff. Starting a Bar only happy hour on March 23!
MINUS: Menu is hard to read after a hard days work, the font style is Overly Avante Gande. The bussers are super aggressive to the point where they will clear your food and overpriced drink before you are done with it

over all three out of five. worth checking out, but highly unlikely you'll make it your regular spot.

Zengo

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Zengo, In Chinatown on the corner of 7th and H street NW Washington DC (also in Denver) $$-$$$
Time: 6 o'clock Happy Hour, table for three downstairs
Atmosphere: Very calm and relaxing downstairs in the bar area. Upstairs party room, bar, and large dinning space.
Service: Very slow and unresponsive at first. Sat for a long time without service, got up three times before a bartender came to the table. The Manager was the only one working for a tip.
Drinks: The first one was better than the second and i wish i'd tried more- had a mojito fresh with a clean finish. Small but good in quality beer selection. Large Saki and wine list.
Food Highlights: We tried one of each Happy Hour item. The Kobe on cornmeal biscuit with black bean spread was difficult to eat but worth the effort it has a kick on the after taste. The edamames are slightly charred which gives them an awesome roasted taste. The seared Mahi-Mahi fish tacos in a wanton shell with red cabbage on a bed of guacamole are worth a try. The Crab-guacamole dip is not worth a try.

it is worth checking out