OVERALL: 4 Stars
Urbana was true to its name. Urban and chic, hidden in the basement of the Polerno hotel, it would have been easy to walk right by the entrance if your face was stuck in your phone. You could come up with a total of 40,320 champagne concoctions with the 8 different fruits they had to mix with your bubbly. Food was tasty and cheaper than the booze!
Food Quality: 3 Stars -- tasty, but average. The burger was large and juicy, definately the most substantial thing on the menu. The eggs benedict would have been better with more than the sliver of ham they served it with, although the hollandaise had just the right amount of lemon to give it a light finish. Seafood omelet was my favorite. The french toast needed more cinnamon.
Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 5 Stars -- Serve yourself! A new bottle is plopped on our table as quickly as we emptied the last one. 8 puree's were available as mixers: the standard orange, followed by mango, peach, strawberry, blood orange, grapefruit, passion fruit, and cherry.
Service Quality/Refill time: 4 stars -- The refill time was awesome; because... of course it was your own two feet that took you tot he juice bar whenever you wanted it. Only once in a span of 5 bottles did we have to ask for more. we only waited 15 minutes between ordering and receiving our food.
Atmosphere: 4 stars -- The place had a modern loungy feel to it with booths upholstered in a teal that reminded be of Mad Men scenes. I did notice that we were there a little over 2 hours, and several tables had been empty for 'reservations' the entire time! We were snug around an open seating coffee table type situation while empty chairs enjoyed the luxury of elbow room. If the party doesn't show up in 20 minutes, open up the table man! Come on!
So this is actually week 5 of our brunch adventures, but the first that we decided to post on a blog.
OVERALL: 3 Stars
The Getaway was...let's say decent. Located a few blocks north of the Columbia Heights Metro it feels like it's deep in the heart of true DC. Come early though, parking is a beast. Prices were pretty fair, about $10-15 per fixed plate. I left feeling content, but not stuffed. Would definitely come back for dinner, food wear great.
Food Quality: 4 Stars -- the food was definetley the best part about this place. They have a great brunch menu with the standard egg based fare, salads, and tons of sandwiches. Most of the dishes games with a side of crispy tater tots. I wished that I was a bigger man and could down multiple plates. As the waiter kept bringing food for various tables it looked great. I had a large breakfast burrito with chicken sausage. It was very tasty with a great mix a mexican flavor. I really enjoyed every bite, but wished there was a little more...or at least a side dish that came with.
Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 3 Stars -- The Getaway offers three different types of champagne drinks with the Sunday Bottomless Champagne option for $15: mimosa, mango, and passion fruit. The drinks were pretty good, mostly champagne with just a splash of the juice. You could also get a bottomless bloody mary option.
Service Quality/Refill time: 2 stars -- Pretty slow on the refills, though the food came out pretty quick. Appeared to be understaffed on the lower level. Bar tender was the waiter as well. The upper level had more of restaurant layout, so they might be quicker on the pour up there.
Atmosphere: 2 stars -- Obviously a bar that the owners were using the serve brunch. Very dark, with minimalist approach to decor. Good music choices which were not played so loud that you couldn't talk over it. The tables were rickety as well, which sucks when you are trying to cut your french toast and the drinks are splashing everywhere.
OVERALL: 2 Star
We left with a disappointing buzz from the over juiced, over-iced pint glasses topped with a bit of champagne that they called mimosas. Though I would probably go back to this place to try it for lunch, since the food was good.
Food Quality: 4 Stars -- I wonder what the place is like for lunch. We enjoyed the waffles, burger, omelet, steak and eggs, and benedict. Good classic brunch food that was prepared quickly and hot. The portions are large. I highly suggest the sweet potato fries as an appetizer.
Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 1 Star -- Pints of champagne and OJ sound like a great idea; less frequent refills, more stable than a champagne flute. But when you fill the thing with ice, and OJ then add a little dry champagne, call it anything but a mimosa.
Service Quality/Refill time: 1 star -- there was 1 host, 1 waitstaff and a bartender. The bartender was obviously busy mixing the worst mimosas ever, while the female waitress appeared to be flirting with the bartender and the single, middle aged dudes sitting at the bar. This left the host who was dutifully glued to his podium, and our waiter who was running back and forth to our table trying to get our food and keep up with us as we sucked our watered down pints of OJ. The demand was high but supply was just not keeping up. After a while, it didn't have to. We left.
Atmosphere: 2 stars -- Non destinct American sports bar. I did like the table arrangements though. We had a large, tall table near the front bay window that had great seating for a larger group. Towards the back were plush semi-sircle booths with tall backs to create the illusion of privacy for the diners. A small front patio area was full of burnch goers.
