Style: Southern, Fine Dining
Website: http://juleps.net/
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Likes: Extremely professional service, the sophisticated atmosphere, the amazing food, they take reservations, free valet parking, they put out Groupons and LivingSocial deals
Dislikes: It is so expensive (and deservedly so), location is in a sketchy area
When my husband and I go to Juleps, it is a big deal. The place is expensive, so we wait and scope out Groupons and LivingSocial deals so we can eat here without breaking the bank too much. Too much is the key word.
One of my favorite appetizers here is the pork belly. It is like eating a thick cut of bacon that melts in my mouth because it is so soft and tender.
I also tried a fried oyster. I ate a raw oyster once, and had never eaten one again since it tasted like ocean snot. However, this oyster was crunchy decadence.
My husband ordered the NY Strip Steak, which was easily one of the best steaks I have had. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare as ordered, with a nice sear to add texture and extra flavor. A celery root mashed potato accompanied the steak, adding an addictive combination of flavors that were new and exciting.
I ordered the duck breast with cherry jus. The duck was tender, with juices running to mix with the cherry jus. It was a huge treat.
But the biggest treat was bananas foster. The waiter wheels a cart out to the table and spends a solid few minutes preparing tableside flaming bananas. It is quite a show, with flames feet in the air laced with the smell of bourbon. Then, the bananas are laid with vanilla pound cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This is currently my fondest dessert memory at a restaurant.
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?
Style: European and Wine Bar
Website: http://www.orzokitchen.com/
My Rating: 5/5 stars
Likes: Divine food, excellent wine, friendly staff that was able to deal with splitting checks in many ways, beautiful decor
Dislikes: It's too far away to return and finding it was tricky the first time (but it does have a parking lot which means no parallel parking!)
My friend Lindsay, from Eveery Day is an Adventure and I had just finished a long day of travel. The night before I had been out for a going away party for my cousin who was moving to Alabama. Then I had to get up around 3:30 a.m. and drive with Lindsay to Charlottesville, VA in order to attend a Google Teacher Conference. The conference was an amazing adventure in its own right as we spent the day learning about ways to use Google Apps. However, after the conference session was done for this day, it was time to take our tired brains and retire to the hotel. But first, and most importantly, it was time to eat.
My cousin had mentioned a restaurant to try that was nearby called Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar. So Lindsay and I loaded up into our big white whale of a car that we named Bertha and tried to find it. We drove up and down Main st. and looked for it. It was helpful that we found the street address because it was tucked away inside a shopping center. We parked Bertha and walked in the back way, realizing that there was a front door. Whoops. Then, both the host and a manager asked if we had a reservation. We didn't because we weren't even sure if we could find the place. They both seemed deeply disappointed, which left Lindsay and I slightly puzzled.
We were seated right next to the open kitchen and a dessert case. From that moment on the awkwardness subsided and excitement took over! When we were handed the menu, I was tantalized by the variety of savory excitements that awaited us. This was the type of menu that is good for your soul. The pairings of food were beckoning to me and I easily found six or seven dishes that I wanted to try. The ones that I did not get to were such a tease! I still feel them calling to me and my mouth waters for them.
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| Glass of Water at Orzo |
When we ordered, we were served with a delicious artisan bread that was crusty the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. There was a tasty and aromatic hummus that accompanied the bread that we spread over the top.
We ordered an appetizer of figs served with buratta, bacon, and grilled lettuce. The sweetness of the fig was opposed to the salty and savory bacon and brought together by the mixture of textures that were present. It seemed like each flavor in this bite was clearly present as an individual, but was united in a perfect union with the others. It went especially well with my wine pairing of the Chianti that they offered.
When we were ordering food, I thought for sure that I would be able to remember all of the little components of the dishes we ordered. If not, then I thought I would be able to look at the menu online. However, the menu online is not the same as when we visited last weekend. Therefore, I am going to wing it!
Lindsay ordered a filet of trout on a bed of calamari. I loved the bite I had because it was a beautiful seafood taste with tomatoes without it tasting like a cup of ocean water.
I ordered pork belly on a bed of spinach gnocchi and broccoli rhab. The bitterness of the broccoli rhab was absorbed by the gnocchli dumplings and the pork belly addition added a flavorful explosion to the palette.
We were not necessarily hungry at the end of our entree, but we were so impressed by our meal that we had to get desserts. I ordered Tiramisu, which had the correct flavors. I tasted the lady fingers, coffee, and cocoa. The consistency was slightly more like pudding than I am used to though.
Lindsay ordered a bread pudding, which was very tasty, but barely recognizable as bread pudding. It had a sheet of caramelized sugar over a bed of sweet sauce and a chocolate bread cube at the top. Although not what I was expecting, it was still very tasty.
I loved my experience here at Orzo. I look forward to making the long trip bak since it is now beckoning me. This is my definition of soul food.
