Style: Fine Dining
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Website: Rowland
Likes: Flattering service (even if they were fake), pleasant atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, tasty pie
Dislikes: Some specials were not available, the “down home goodness” dish that I tried lacked syrup, watery bloody mary
My cousin and I decided to take my grandma, Gigi, to brunch on Mother’s Day. My cousin is a more fashionable person than I, so she picked an upscale place that I had never heard of located in Richmond’s “fan.” Rowland was a restaurant that was easy to get to, being right on Main Street and not difficult to find parking for. That is always a good sign for me because I will enter the restaurant in a happy mood.
When I walked in at 12:30 in the afternoon, it was refreshing to see all of the light filtering in through the windows and onto the tables. My family was sitting right in the front and they looked so happy with eager smiles on their faces. It was so uplifting to see my grandmother happy and bathed in sunlight!
Although I was on time, I was the last one to arrive. I was promptly greeted by a friendly server and I ordered a Bloody Mary. The Bloody Mary was spicy which was nice, but it seemed a little watered down. I like mine a little more thick and robust, but that is most likely a preference. When our food was brought out to us, there was another friendly server who said, “And this plate for this lovely lady,” to each of us. Although it was very flattering, he was probably working what he had for the service. He was a sycophant (special thanks to my husband for teaching me this word today). I get that, but it was still nice for Gigi.
My cousin had Poached Eggs with Pork Milanese. It was the best dish on the table. The pork was nice a crispy which complimented the soft eggs. Although I had only a bite, I thought that the pork and eggs complimented each other well. The pork had a saltiness and spice to it that was not overpowering because the egg added a balance. Because the egg was poached and runny, it carried the flavor well throughout the bite.
Gigi had my least favorite dish, which was disappointing because I almost ordered it. She had French Toast with Bananas, Pecans, and Maple Syrup. When it was served, it looked like it had just been plopped on the plate. I am not usually one that cares a great deal for the presentation because it all ends up in the same place. In this instance though, it was inconsistent with the rest of the meals. Gigi said that she liked this french toast because it did not have an overpowering maple flavor. Although I am glad that she liked it, I would not have agreed. I felt it was dry and lacked flavor. Some extra syrup would have done a world of wonder.
I had a special that was not on the menu. I almost did not get to try it either because our server warned us that there was only one left. I ordered a piece of quiche made with salmon, goat cheese, and green onions that came with a side salad. The quiche’s crust tasted homemade and was exquisitely buttery and crumbly. It had nice bites of flavor between the salmon and the goat cheese, which complimented each other well. I was originally worried that three ingredients would compete too much, but the green onions were mild and flattered the salmon nicely. The side salad that came with it was made of spinach, spring mix and fresh green beans with a balsamic vinaigrette. One bite of the salad with the quiche was divine. The salad added a crisp freshness to the warmth of the quiche.
For dessert, we originally agreed to share a slice of lemon cheesecake. I was so excited for the lemon dessert to act as a palate cleanser… plus I love lemon! Then our server came back and told us they were out! We ordered a derby pie slice instead. The pie slice was tasty, but a touch small. That is only because I am disappointed because it was so tasty that there needs to be more, of course. It had chocolate and nuts topped with vanilla ice cream and strawberries. It is a dessert that really cannot go wrong.
Overall, Rowland provided a lovely Mother’s Day experience. The service was pleasant and the food was tasty and not overpriced. If I did not like it, it was probably because I have some strict preferences. Seriously, why not have more maple syrup?
