OVERALL: 4 Stars
We were totally pumped to try this place, because i had to make reservations a month in advance. It lived up to expectations, and is one of the few places we feel gets somewhat close to the Black's untouchable 5 star rating.
Food Quality: 5 Stars -- Fried chicken, mini bagels and lox, I counted a total of 8 cold salads which were fantastic. Cheese blitzes, numerous cakes for dessert, made to order omelet station. Mac and cheese was not impressive. You need more than just velveeta to make a delicious cheese sauce. Food is the reason to go here.
Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 3 Stars -- Again, just the standard; OJ and bubbly. No exotic juices or what not. The bloody mary was pretty tasty though, and i'm usually not a fan.
Service Quality/Refill time: 4 stars -- Waiters were well dressed and very polite. I don't think we ever had an empty glass.
Atmosphere: 3 stars -- The restaurant touted its "sky room" dining area, which pretty much was an extended sun room they had added on to the bar area to make into dining space. It was nice, i'll admit, to sit in the sunlight and stuff my face, but it did get kind of hot in there. They also need to do a better job of keeping the floors dry. I slipped near an emergency exit on the stamped concrete floors and spilt my entire plate all over another diner. thankfully none of the food was hot, and he was very nice about it.
OVERALL: 3 Stars
Across the street from Urbana, in Dupont. We should just get a reserved parking spot in this area. Middle of the road all around. No surprises either way.
Food Quality: 3 Stars -- Skip the lobster hash; too much hash, not enough lobster. And not too flavorful. Eggs chesapeake was pretty respectful. Mac and cheese was great. And one full point just for the fried pickles!
Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 3 Stars -- Each person had to choose between mimosas or bellini's or bloody mary's, and stick with that. BUT they bring carafes pre mixed to the table, so you can take a little of this and a little of that if you want.
Service Quality/Refill time: 3 stars -- No problems, delicious fried pickles came out along with the mac and cheese just as we were getting hungry. Several times we were waiting for carafe refills though. Our drunken selves were getting anxious for our refills!
Atmosphere: 3 stars -- The space was narrow and clean, and the front room had big windows that let in plenty of sun. The hostess podium looked like it had been thrown together the night before in some college kids basement: it was plywood and nails, painted on the front. We got placed in a smaller room in the back, which was quiet and shaded.
OVERALL: 3 Stars
So last weekend we took a break and had to regroup at Blacks. After that interlude, the southern based sports bar was next on the list. Next door to the well known chili place, the dark bar tried to class it up a little.
Food Quality: 3 Stars -- I tried the signature dish and it was delicious, but I couldn't believe how much plaque formed in my arteries from a dish with shrimp in it. Cheesy grits, piled with a white wine and butter sauce cover with shrimp and sauteed veggies. A fascinating combination. Fried chicken a waffles was also a stand out; sweet and salty.
Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 2 Stars -- They used the large wine glasses, which i like, they are easier to drink out of and hold more per serving. But all they had was the plane jane classic. Maybe a little pineapple would spruce it up?
Service Quality/Refill time: 3 stars -- The service was appropriately paced; just fast enough to keep you from looking for the waiter. He had a smart mouth on him though. I told him i was deciding between the shrimp and the french toast. He said, so would pass up our signature dish for bread dipped in eggs? well then.
Atmosphere: 3 stars -- Dark wood, tall stools pulled up to tall bar tables, trying to step up a notch from its namesake next door. On every wall a flat screen displayed a stock image of a beach. This really got on my nerves after a while. I kept waiting for something to happen. Put the morning news up there, or something, music videos, i don't know. It was like a digital fish tank, but less interesting, and with no fish.
