We ate at a resturant named Isabella's in Frederick the other night. The food and service was excellent. It is a Spanish Tapas bar. Tapas are small portions of very savory dishes including seafood, veggie dishes, meat dishes, and cheese plates. There are entrees as well that range in price from $16.00 to $25.00. We sampled about 15 tapas dishes and shared. There were 5 of us and we had wine, appitizers, drinks and dessert for about $30 per person. If you like savory dishes and spanish food you will love this place. It's at 44 North Market Street and has a website with the full menu and we suggest that you visit there first-each dish is explained in detail. www.isabellas-tavern.com

What happened did you forget where the other resturant review thread (that you started) was?

sorry udmas I asked webbie where to post resturant reviews and this is where she said to do it.

I and some friends tried Schmankerl Stube Bavarian Restaurant for the first time 2 weeks ago. The food and atmosphere were great.

I cant believe i haven't tried it before now... 30 years driving by the place, and we just finally decided to take the plunge. It was well worth it!

My wife and I frequent Stubes every weekend. That and Nicks Airport Inn and the sushi bar at Kobe are about the only places around H-town that we find enjoyable. But when we get the time we also head to Gaithersburg to "The Melting Pot". Its not rocket science to melt cheese and dip your food in it but this place is awesome.

We did the melting pot in early December... the Columbia, MD location.


$50/person is a little high, but you are paying for the 2 hour experience.

Its very loud and hot in the restaurant, which is a little annoying. I think i would rather go to Cheesecake Factory next time.


TMP is a place to go once a year. I cant imagine going there once a month.

Nicks has lousy service and just so-so food, IMHO. Kobe's sushi pieces are skimpy. Asian Gardens in Martinsburg or Sakura have fresher, larger pieces.

The new Fireside managers have been doing a pretty decent job, I think, if that's the atmosphere you seek.

I always cast a vote for Al Pomodoro, too. Good service, good food, nice atmosphere, reasonable prices.

And, of course, there's always Stone Soup in Shepherdstown.

I've eaten there a few times and I second that. The food is excellent, but the prices are very salty.

If you go to Stube with more than 8 persons be careful, they a 15% add the tip to you bill, and if you are not paying attention and add a 15% tip yourself they will not call your attention to it. A thirty percent tip is a little steep.

Had lunch a a place called the Crab Shanty in Ellicot City yesterday Service and Food was above average, but the Imperial was over powered by green pepper taste, I don't recommend it. The crab cakes were good and the cream of crab soup was excellent. They have a website if you want to check out the menu before going.

I thought that was standard procedure?

I believe it is. We just got hit with it last Saturday at the Outback. I've seen a lot of menus actually have it printed on them.

Yeah, but I think it kinda screws the servers.

DH and I are pretty good tippers: 20% is standard, more if the service is good.

But when they add 15%, it's just easy to be like, "The tip's already added, so we don't need to tip." Mostly out of laziness.

Of course, if the service is exceptional, we throw down some more bills. But for the most part, we probably would have left more if the gratuity had been our choice.

It may be standard procedure but not calling someone's attention to it is just greedy when that person adds additional money. No type of legal service at this or any resturant warrents a 30% tip on a $200.00 bill!!!!

Gratuity is where I miss France... Taxes and gratuity were always included in the meal's price so you always knew what you were paying.

Recently, I've eaten at O'Charley's, Brick Oven Restaurant/Bar, and Panera all here in Richmond.

I LOVE Panera! But that's stated in an old thread somewhere!

I saw an advertisement, recently, about an Ethiopian restaurant in Frederick. Anyone hear anything about it?
Years ago, when I lived in Balto, an Ethiopian friend made me, what she called, spicy chicken. She ground the fresh spices herself. I remember there was cardamon, cinnamon, clove, and others that I can't remember. It was the BEST chicken that I have ever eaten. I miss her! So, I am curious about this restaurant.

Any of you sushi eaters been to the new one R.C. Ching yet? what say you?

Olivers closed for health violations (mouse sh!t on a bag of graham cracker crumbs among others).

We eat there about once a month, I think we're going to go tonight just to see if the food is better without the mouse sh!t.

R.C. Ching: Ate there for lunch one day. The chinese food was just ok, but the veggie sushi was very fresh and beautifully presented.

Ate dinner at RC Ching. The place is gigantic, so don't be scared off if the parking lot is full. Plenty of seats. As for the food, very good and fresh. A bit on the pricey side for me but then again I am cheap. My wife and ate there and we split two meals, had water and nothing added. Bill came to $24.00. The only thing that comes with the dinners is a bowl of white rice. I was looking for soup, rice, and eggroll with the dinner. It is much better than the buffetts however a lot less food and much more expensive.

Ate at oliver's a couple of night's ago and it was awful. the crab meat on 2 dishes was not fresh or even fresh frozen and thawed. ordered mussels and more than half of the order had broken shells, which i would not touch with a ten foot pole. It was explained that they buy the mussels frozen and the shells must have been broken in shipping and handling, anyone want to eat potentially dead mussels? the desert was a stale cheese cake.
Unless they clean up their act look for oliver's to disappear from the scene.

MAN!!!! After reading all these posts and threads about different places,I'm glad we don't go out to eat!! also it's so damn hard to find a parking place and every where is so crowded we don't even bother any more. sounds like any more,when go to a resturant you're a guinea pig.

I just noticed over the weekend that Ground Round and Big Bats are both closed. No loss really.
I dont eat at either of them since they are just like all the othe chain restaurants around.
I guess Ground Round was again having money problems like last time?
As far as big bats I heard the rent was to high.

Both were terrible, IMHO.

Personally, I hate chain restaurants.

However, if a chain restaurant is going to succeed in that area, I think it's gotta be a "specialty" type place. One that focuses on a specific type of food, and doesn't just serve the burgers/wings/fries of Chilis and Fridays and Garfields and Ruby Tuesdays, etc. Maybe an Olive Garden would survive there. Or possible a Chi-Chis.

What ever happen to people eating real food?
OH that`s right ,People don`t cook anymore.

Sorry bunch.

Ate at Burhans Station last night and just didn't think it was anything to rave about.

Had the black bean burger, which was really good--homemade, I think. But my meal was pretty much the highlight.

A friend ordered fish with potatoes (came with salad), and she said she was still hungry when she was done (this is a 110 lb girl).

Hubby ordered chicken over pasta, and he said it was just so-so. The pasta sauce tasted "off" to him, so he didn't finish it. Don't know whether it was really "off" or just tasted that way, but either way he didn't like it.

Service was very good, attentive, though. A plus in my book.

Maybe I'll go back for the burger for lunch, but will probably skip dinners there.

On the local front I like eating at Maloo's accross from the college. Very good burgers including the S.S. Maloo which is a crabcake on top of a bruger really good.

Now my favorite resturaun t is in Richmond Virginia. The place is called the Tobacco Company.

http://www.thetobaccocompany.com/

Food is wonderful they make the best prime rib you will ever eat and then you can get seconds at no charge. Also the service is wonderful. They really believe in the team concept. Each waiter or waitress has an assistant so your drink glass never gets empty and your dirty plates do not sit long on the table. If you server isn't around the others pitch right in. It is all about the customer.

If you evetr get to Richmond try it.

Tony

The Tobacco Co. is Awesome! Is Millies in Richmond still open? That is, by far my favorite restaurant.

I am not sure about Millies. I go to the Tobacco COmpany about 4 times a year. I spend most of my time in Newprot News so I an tell you good places in Williamsburg and even some in Norfolk . If you ever get to VA Beach or Newport News you should try Keagens IRish Pub and Resturaunt. Great food and most of the waitresses all wear little kilts. So you have something to look at if your an old dog like me. LOL

Seriously though Keagens is good. They have fresh made Bread Pudding that has a Whiskey Butter sauce. OMG is it good.

Tony

Tried the new Black Steer over in the Sam's Club shopping center. This was the same restaurant that used to be on Mason Dixon Rd up by State Line.

Nice looking restaurant inside, more upscale in ambience. The service was attentive and food was good. The fried chicken is still one of the best around; fresh, not frozen chicken. Crispy on the outside and juicy and tender inside. The fried flounder was a little too over cooked for my taste, but the portions were generous. They still maintain a bar area with 3 large screen plasma/lcd TV's, each tuned to a different sports channel.

I miss the great salad bar/dessert bar they had in their State Line location; no salad bar at the new location. I overheard a couple people remarking about that very thing. At 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon, the restaurant was not crowded at all.

The menu has been pared down from what they used to offer in their old location. Next time I'll maybe try one of their signature Black Angus steaks, for which they are famous for.

Yeah... I walked by and checked out their menu. I am always looking for a steak house that also offers at least one decent vegetarian dish. Would be nice to find a place that would suit both the steak-eaters and me when we go out to dinner.

The old Black Steer had spaghetti and tomato sauce... the perfect vegetarian dish, IMHO. But, alas, this one didn't.

Other than that, haven't really tried any new restaurants in the area. There's a BBQ place in Fountainhead Plaza where the Antrim House used to be. Will probably try that sometime just because it's one of the few bars on that side of town (and just a few blocks away from a friends' house).

1912 Hoover House - Waynesboro PA

Quaint atmosphere: The room we had our dinner in had about 8 tables, nicely spaced, nicely lit.

Service: Good, very polite and aware of the menu

Menu Selection: To me on the small side which is good for me, since I tend to have a hard time deciding.

Food: EXCELLENT

Appetizer: Crab dip in a Bread bowl - Excellent. Sourdough bread bowl I believe.

My Meal: Chicken Oscar (chicken breast topped with Crab meant on asparagus, with a bernaize sauce) Ladies and gentlemen I have had many chicken dishes and can honestly say I have NEVER had chicken literally melt in my mouth. I even ate the asparagus (which my wife will tell you is unbelievable). With my meal instead of a Salad I got the cup of Maryland Crab Soup, very good, not overpowering on the spices.

Dear Wife's meal: Grilled Salmon topped with Shrimp Scampi. The one taste I was able to wrestle from my wife was very good, she raved about the meal all throughout consumption. My wife had the salad with her meal it was a very good salad (more than just lettuce and an couple of chunks of tomato) homemade salad dressings.

We are not dessert folks so I can not give you any insight there.

Total bill was, to me, reasonable, with tip $73

I strongly recommend this place. We will certainly be going back to try more of the selections.

You know... I've heard of this place. I just called and they definitely have some veg dishes on their menu, including a tasty-sound pasta and a few veg sandwiches. I think DH and I are going to have to check it out soon.

I strongly recommend it PF. I forgot to mention the Veggie dishes. We have a friend who is Veggie and has eaten there and likes it very much.

Was there yesterday for lunch. The food was good and the inside was pretty nice.

When in the mood for old time family dining at a reasonable price, with good service, try a relaxing choice from yesteryear. (Nearby family-type places that offer a change of pace and a casualness that is good for family or friends on the go.) We enjoy hiking and drives with our family. It is fun stopping by different places on the way home, for a pleasant and quick meal.

Mrs Gibbles Restaurant & Candy Shop
www.mrsgibbles.com
7325 Molly Pitcher Hwy, Greencastle, PA

Sunnyway Diner & Delicatessen
140 N Antrim Way , Greencastle, PA
Phone - (717) 597-3928

Parlor House Restaurant
724 S Potomac St, Waynesboro, PA
Tel: (717) 762-5415