I have now eaten here twice and I have mixed feelings about it. First, just so everyone is aware, yes, this place is open. It is an eatery that is located inside the Hilton on New Jersey Avenue. They may have closed for a bit since they are doing a remodel of the inside are, but they are back up and running. Their hours are not very convenient if you are expecting to have a late lunch as their lunch service ends at 1:45 p.m.
This place is just convenient for me. The building that I work is in directly connected to the hotel lobby which allows for us to sneak in and out to grab a bite to eat when we really don't want to go far. The service is always top notch and the employees, from the hostess to the servers are amazing.
My first visit the food blew me away. It was fresh and delicious. The first go around I had their burger. Comes with cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickle on the side and comes with fries. Ketchup is in a ramekin and you get it whether you ask for it or not. Burger was juicy, cooked to order and all the toppings were fresh. The fries, nicely done. Crispy on the outside and a good amount of potato on the inside. I cleaned the plate and was happy to go about the rest of my day.
My next visit, which was today, didn't go as planned. Service was still stellar, so no points down on that part. However, the food missed this time. I guess I should say that it is a very limited menu, so that...well...limits you to what you can select. This time around I went with their chicken sandwich. When it arrive, it arrived not how it is described on the menu. On the menu it says that it will be a crispy chicken, instead I got a grilled chicken. Not a deal breaker, but I was expecting some crunch on the sandwich. I also feel as if the chicken was overcooked as it was dry and the sandwich, even though it came with goat cheese and a pesto sauce was really lacking flavor. I only tasted the pesto once or twice, the goat cheese, might as well not have been there. The fries this time were way over fried. To the point that they were nothing more than hollow pieces of bark. More of a tasteless chip than a fry.
As far as the drink situation. First time, no problems at all. This time I was given what was basically a club soda. There was no flavoring to it all. When our food was brought out I asked the server to take it away. He was a bit persistent with me trying to go with something else and I said no, I'd rather just stick to the water. I was happy with just the water, as I am about a quarter of the way through my meal the server comes over and sets a glass of ice and can of soda on the table. I honestly did not want it but they wanted to make sure they could charge me for a soda. For an almost five dollar charge for a soda, I didn't want it out of a can.
I can almost guarantee that I will return here, especially since it is a quick stop for a lunch for me. But I think I might go with a salad next time. read more