Redwood

OVERALL: 4 Stars

Live music was charming, and the service was great. would have liked some other drink options...

Food Quality: 3 Stars -- well laid out and easily accessible in the bar area, the food had a wide array of cold salads and hot foods. The grits were perfectly cheesy and buttery delicious. Fresh soft bagels with lox and all the toppers. This was the first time we had seen soup served at a brunch buffet. It was savory and Mediterranean in flavor.

Mimosa quality: 3 Stars -- basic mimosas, but they were served in unique tall narrow tom collins type glasses. Classy. Perfectly mixed

Service/Refill time: 5 Stars -- John was our waiter, and he was so prompt and attentive. Our mimosas would be halfway empty and he would be  placing another teaming glass next to it.

Atmosphere: 4 Stars -- rustically simple with thick hardwood tables and chairs. There was plenty of space between tables so you didn't feel like you were eating brunch with everyone in Bethesda. Live jazz was charming!

18th Amendment

OVERALL: -1 Stars

Oh. My. Goodness. not even worth my time to review it. Don't even waste your brain power wodnering about it. It was that bad. Lets just say if you were walking down a shady street, and you are so hungry you hadn't eaten in three days, and then you see this place, just keep walking. Look for something else.

Agora

OVERALL: 2 Stars

So this was an interesting morning, we enjoyed the awesome sunny day on a covered porch, serenaded by the most adorable 2 year old screaming his head off. Of course this did not impose upon our mimosa consumption. Bob's touch finally put him to sleep after making 5 laps around the block in the stroller.

Food Quality: 4 Stars -- Quickly served, with a greek theme as expected. The flat bread pizzas were delicious with plenty of fresh perfectly melted cheese. The sausage mentioned is more like a thick pepperoni and strongly flavored. Anything that comes with bread arrives with a hot basket of freshly cooked naan which melts in your mouth. The omelets were slightly overcooked, but the portions were healthy. They do have a deal for unlimited plates only if the whole table participates. 

Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 2 Stars -- 2 words: time limit. If your table orders the bottomless mimosas, they literally start a timer. You get 2 hours to get sloshed. And no other options.

Service Quality/Refill time: 2 stars -- still fuming about the time limit thing. I do give the waitstaff credit for shuffling tables around to accommodate our stroller. And only a couple of times did we have to ask for a new carafe. We poured our own drinks, so I really can't give them credit for that either...

Atmosphere: 2 stars -- Tables were wobbly, and the outside eating area lacked decor. Some plant life would have been nice. The inside looked very upkept and newly remodeled. I'm not sure why they forgot to by patio furniture.

El Centro

OVERALL: 2 Stars

We were looking forward to this place so much, and we were sorely disappointed. The site advertised a buffet of delicious, well spiced mexican food, which clearly was not even close. 

Food Quality: 2 Stars -- It was tasty, when it finally showed up. Matt asked for enchiladas in his first order, and finally got them 45 minutes later. The chicken soft tacos were a little bland, as well as the potatoes and eggs tasted like they were just tossed with mayonnaise. The chorizo and egg was yummy. The best thing on the table was the guac, salsa and chips. Hell i could have made that at home.

Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 3 Stars -- For beverages poured from a pitcher, they were mixed proportionately. I tried a few of the 'aqua fresca cocktails'. I think they were made by the bartender in training. Way too much liquor, i couldn't finish it. Its sunday for crying out loud, not friday night at 11pm.

Service Quality/Refill time: 1 stars -- The waitresses were prompt at pouring drinks, i'll give them that. The kitchen screwed them out of a decent tip though. We could order 6 dishes at a time for the entire table (and they were SMALL plates). On average 70% of our orders came back. Its not like they showed up with the wrong plates, they just never showed up at ALL. After 1 or 2 reminders to the waitstaff, we would finally get some food. This pattern was great for our portion control, since we got full way before we could eat too much food. 

Atmosphere: 2 stars -- Looked very much like the inside of Ben's Next Door actually. Dark wood, dimly lit rooms with tall cafe tables, selective appearing loft with more tables. Decor was minimalist and indistinctly modern without much style or thought. Could be any bar from ultra rave to chic foodie.

Vinoteca Bar and Bistro

OVERALL: 3 Stars

Girls day! despite the pouring rain, me and to other smokin' hot chicks decided to brave the weather and try this intriguing corner bistro. It was charming and did not fail to please.

Food Quality: 5 Stars -- Perfect portions, and delicious flavors with just enough kick. the pork sanwhich is to die for. I think the menu could use a little sprucing though; the place has a few obvious favorites and the rest sort of fade to the background. Eggs benedict was perfectly prepared. We did not try the french toast, but again, the presentation was beautiful on the next table over... 

Mimosa/Champagne Quality: 3 Stars -- A little too much OJ and not enough of the good stuff. No exotic options. We did splurge for the pitcher of bellini ($18) which gave us four generous glasses. Delicious, but why did I have to pay extra for it?

Service Quality/Refill time: 3 stars -- Bless these young college girls! Soaking wet and still working for a living. Where are the burly bus boys to help them move umbrellas around and bring out food? They did their darndest to keep our glasses full and our seats dry.

Atmosphere: 2 stars -- Ehh... if you are going to have an out front patio, the tables need to all have covers that fit and work reliably. The waitstaff struggled with broken umbrellas made for square tables to put them on rectangular tables that were soaking already. Prepare a little better or don't open your front patio in the rain!

Beacon Bar and Grill

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. 

Scion restaurant

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.