Bonefish Grill

Last date I was here: 07/25/2009

Restaurant: Bonefish Grill (http://www.bonefishgrill.com/)

Location: Centerville, VA

Total Rating: 4

Food: 4, Price: 5, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 2

Summary: Enjoy modern interpretations of market fresh fish, grilled specialties, and cocktails at this chain restaurant. Advertising "polished casual", the first impression of Bonefish was not too shabby. With a large dining area and bar, Bonefish was already crowded when we arrived at 6:30pm for dinner. We had reservations and were seated right away at a nice booth. Our server was very friendly while she described the menu. She took our drink and appetizer orders first and those came out right away. The portions were generous for the price, so I mark them high in this category. Located in a suburban strip mall area, Bonefish is not super accessible for the DC urbanite. Although our appetizers were good, the entrees were drowned in their lemon butter sauce - all over the fish, the potatoes and even the vegetable granish. It made the meal almost too heavy to eat, even though my fish was cooked very well. I tried the wood fire grilled piece of grouper that my mother ordered and it was much lighter and the wood grill flavor really came through. I also liked that they offered a large (9 oz.) or small (4.5oz) portion of the fish. All in all, Bonefish was a decent chain restaurant - although I would only come back for lunch and have some appetizers with drinks.

What I ate:

Bang Bang Shrimp
Tender, crispy shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce

Mussels Josephine
Prince Edward Island Mussels sautéed with tomatoes, garlic, basil and lemon wine sauce

Imperial Longfin
Royal delicacy pan-seared, baked and stuffed with shrimp, scallops and crab meat

Served with garlic whipped potatoes and zucchini and red pepper medley

Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar

Last date I was here: 07/18/2009

Restaurant: Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar (http://www.urbanadc.com/index.html)

Location: Dupont Circle

Total Rating: 4.5
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Urbana has been highlighted in many local papers and restaurant reviews and features an imaginative and approachable menu influenced by the rich culinary traditions of the Western Mediterranean. Offering signature pastas, pizzas from the wood-burning oven, grilled meats and seafood, Urbana is most popular for its Appertif Hour and specials that are available at the swanky bar from 4-7pm. Urbana is also known for its wine experience and displays an entire dining room filled with wine bottles as well as a list of 35 wines by the glass. The floor plan is open and split between the dining room to the left and a wood-burning oven in the back and the lounge/bar area to the right. The lighting is dim to create that romantic feel with direct spot lights to tables to make sure you look at your food. Closest Metro is Dupont Circle.

When we arrived for an early dinner, the dining room was empty except for one other couple. We were seated at a nice half circle booth towards the middle of the room – our backs to the kitchen. Our server informed us that tonight was a new menu featuring a 3 course tasting in celebration of Urbana’s third anniversary. After ordering our wine and perusing the menu, we decided to go ahead and try the tasting menu. Our scallops were cooked a little on the light side but tasted very good and the presentation was very pretty and colorful. As more patrons filled the room, our entrees took a while to come out. Our server kept using the excuse that the menu was new so the kitchen was backed up, but we saw another large table of 5 who has arrived as we were eating eating our appetizers and ordered our same dishes get served before we did. When our dishes did come out – there was a mix up of mine. The tasting menu listed a pappardelle with tomatoes and zuchinni in a light lemon butter sauce – however this was apparently a typo and was supposed to be the linguine dish where as the pappardelle is served with pork in a tomato sauce. The server was apologetic and the kitchen fired up the promised dish in quick time. The server informed us that it was indeed a mistake and that they would re-print all the menus before the next night’s service. I did not mind so much as the pasta was very light and fresh – exactly what I was anticipating. Our desserts were pretty and the perfect portion. Keith’s cheesecake was more like a panna cotta, but the flavors were there. All in all, Urbana was a classy restaurant with an ambitious persona to please its patrons. I would definitely come back again, especially since the small seasonal menus are constantly changing and the appertif hour is pretty good deal.

What I ate:

Seared Sea Scallops
With a white bean puree and red bell pepper and mango relish

Pappardelle
With grape tomatoes, zucchini, and pine nuts in a lemon butter sauce

Trio of Crème Brulee
espresso with brown butter maple foam
rosemary and caramelized apples
local honey with blueberry compote

Plus Keith ate:

Bacon wrapped Pork Loin
served with anson mills polenta, melted vidalia onions and baby carrots

Bananas Foster Cheesecake

Cantler's Riverside Inn

Last date I was here: 07/11/2009

Restaurant: Cantler’s Riverside Inn (http://www.cantlers.com/)

Location: Annapolis, MD

Total Rating: 4.2
Food: 4, Price: 5, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 2

Summary: Nothing says summer like an afternoon picking Maryland blue crabs on Cantler's patio overlooking Mill Creek. If you own a boat, you can arrive by water, but the journey by car from downtown Annapolis is just a few minutes and a world away. The pace here is dictated by how long it takes to steam the crabs in giant kettles and how long it takes one to pick through the shells for the succulent meat. You can't be in a hurry for either. Cantler's is open year-round and offers a full seafood menu for those who don't want to get down and dirty crab-picking (there is a big wash basin out back). The owner and founder, Jimmy Cantler, is a native Marylander and worked as a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay. The Cantler family has worked in the seafood industry for five generations. In 1974 Jimmy Cantler started a restaurant dedicated to serving fresh seafood in a casual family atmosphere. Today all seafood is inspected by experienced handlers to insure only the highest quality product reaches their customers.

We went to this place after reading about it in the Washington Post. The road was winding and tricky as we drove up and then we had to wait for about 30 minutes as there was a line of cars waiting to even get in the parking lot. Be prepared for another long wait, especially if you want outdoor seating. This is what gives a lower accessibility score, however it was such a nice day we didn’t mind waiting for our table. Also, you can walk down to the pier and watch as they load, measure, and pack up the fresh crabs on site. After an hour wait we were seated and served right away. The portion was decent for the price and everything was fresh and tasty. Although super crowded, it is worth the wait for fresh seafood and Maryland crabs at Cantler’s. I would definitely come back again.

What I ate:

Clam Strips
Tender clam strips fried golden brown

Crab Cakes
Two Deep Fried - In Maryland Tradition
Served with Hush puppies and Cole slaw

Plus Keith ate:

Cantler’s Crab Boil
3 hard crabs, mussels, clams, 1/2 pound shrimp, corn on the cob & coleslaw