We came here for Father's Day last year and had a pretty good experience. The food was great but they had definitely overbooked. Luckily we still got an outdoor table within a couple mins. We went again this year with a 6pm reservation, got there at 6, and they said it would be 30 mins, maybe more. We have a 1 and 4 year old, so very disappointing!! This place completely overbooks and it's just really not cool on an important holiday. Never trying to do this again :( read more

My family wanted to switch it up for my Dad's birthday and try a different place so I suggested Medium Rare. I've always been curious about the place and glad I got to shoehorn it in the schedule. We booked a brunch slot because the bottomless option seemed like a good deal. There is only street parking (as far as I know) in front of the restaurant but they have plenty of garages in walking distance. We got seated pretty quickly and I was surprised that it wasn't busy at 11:30 AM on a Sunday but I guess thats lucky for us. The decor was cool, lots of brick. Our server was friendly and explained how it worked. For brunch, you get their fresh baked bread, a choice of salad, fruit salad, or a parfait, and an entree. You also get (a selection of) bottomless drinks. I opted for the fruit salad to start and the Steak & Eggs with a mimosa. The bread was really warm, soft on the inside, and crusty (in a good way) on the outside. Fruit salad was ok, kind of like a grocery store fruit salad. The steak was cooked a nice medium rare and the secret sauce that came with is just as good as everyone says. The fries were perfectly crispy. Another thing that I got to try was the French Toast which might possibly be one of the best I've had. It was crispy outside and almost custardy inside. I definitely see the appeal of this place and I will definitely be making my way back eventually. I even heard they refill you on fries which is a major plus so if I stay longer next time hopefully I can get more fries! read more

This place can be a hit or miss. For brunch you get to choose one app and one entree. It is not unlimited food like other brunches but they do have al la carte. The yogurt parfait was fresh and great. The waffles is what really makes this place! They come out fresh and hot. Now the steaks were thin and cold. The gravy sauce on the steaks was really good as well as the frites but they were cold. Let your server know not to wait on all the food and just bring out everyone once ready to eat fresh and hot. The area is really nice and there are other restaurants to go to after. The parking isn't that good but they have a public parking garage a block away. read more

Stopped in while getting the car serviced, and man, what an experience! Our server was super attentive, he described all of the options to us before we ordered and checked in quite often. I opted for the French toast, which was HUGE! I couldn't even finish all of it, the chorizo was beautifully cooked, I even ordered another one. The bottomless mimosas were great, unlike some other brunches, there's no time limit! They have a very nice setup, with patio seating and ample bar seating. I'll definitely like to try their dinner menu and indulge in their evening cocktails. read more

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I had such an amazing time here. Upon arrival we were greeted with such good energy and a vibrant smile from the host. Who was able to sit us very quickly. The place already had a good amount of people who were attending brunch as well. They have a set brunch menu which is available for all guest who attend. You can do unlimited drinks which range from mimosa to screwdrivers and others such as coffee. The meal I had was the steak and eggs which was cooked to perfection. I was able to steal a bite of my girlfriend's French toast oh man I loved it so much.. I drank a screwdriver probably every 15 minutes after I finished one lol.. it was such a good experience and did I mention how beautiful it looked inside!! Make sure to make you way down to Medium Rare it was a pleasure! read more

Medium Rare - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Everything about Medium Rare was so good. Steak frites, the pineapple mule, the atmosphere. Everything was beautiful. Save room in your stomach because they serve two portionings of the steak frites. They cooked mine to my wish (perfectly medium well). Wish I had room for dessert. I cannot wait to come back here. read more

Medium Rare - steak frites - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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A number of my friends have raved about Medium Rare. I have been planning to try this place for a while. It was okay. The steak is French style with sauce and frittes. The food was good, and with the fixed price menu I felt as though I was getting my money's worth. The setting also was nice. Nonetheless, I have had better and probably would not go back. read more

I'd give this place a 3.5. It's good but could be better. Went here on a Saturday for brunch and the place was pretty busy. I ordered the steak and eggs (basically the steak frites with a side of eggs, cooked your way--I chose scrambled). The dish was pretty good but the steak was kind of small and thin. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. I think I had just the right amount of gravy, but my husband got way too much and thought it was overpowering. My favorite thing was actually the eggs--soft, fluffy, delicious! I also really enjoyed the parfait. The toppings were a good mix and added the perfect amount of sweetness to the creamy yogurt. I also got the bottomless drinks. Mimosas were good (they let you mix your own), bloody Mary was ok but I'd skip the screwdrivers. They tasted like watered down orange juice. Service was just okay but I guess it's understandable because it was busy. Had to get our servers attention a couple of times. All in all wasn't so bad. I might try out the French toast next time with the eggs. read more

Medium Rare - Steak frites with scrambled eggs - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

First time going for brunch! The steak Benedict was delicious! Flavorful sauce and the bread soaked up all the steak and egg drippings. The fries could've been a little hotter but I'm guessing we happened to go during brunch on a Saturday. I tried my friend's french toast and it was AMAZING! Truly one of the best ones I've had- super thick and custardy, yet light at the same time. I will definitely be getting it next time. A perk of going non-brunch is getting second helpings of steak/fries. read more

Medium Rare - Steak Benedict - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

The menu here is pretty simple which makes it easy to order. For a set price you get bread, salad and steak with fries. The steak comes with a savory sauce and the fries are crispy and good. I also really liked the maple old fashioned. The service is usually good but it can get really busy during weekend evenings. read more

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Went here on a Sunday, and there's like a pre fixe menu with just one thing on it lol. So not much to say, so I'd like to come back another day when I can choose and eat fr. It was good! read more

Medium Rare - Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Always good and my son loves the steak frites and double portions !!! Always great service as well. When the weather gets nicer patio is great too. read more

Decided to go here on a brunch date today. We had reservations for 12:30; we were seated at 12:34, the place was extremely packed. I'm going to assume this was the reason for the slow service. However, our waiter was nice and attentive. She kept the mimosas flowing. I had the parfait with the steak and poached eggs. I asked that my steak be cooked medium, but it was brought out well done. The signature sauce/gravy that is paired with the steak was good. Overall it was a nice experience. read more

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1 hour wait and the guy with the hat was watching me while I hate. Mid at best. But great food

My friends and I decided to visit Medium Rare for our annual Galentines Day celebration. I arrived first. The hosts were welcoming and informed me that I couldn't be seated until my entire party arrive, but I was more than welcome to have a seat at the bar while I waited. I went to the bar and ordered a mimosa. It was good- not too much orange juice. My friends arrived before I finished my first drink and I was able to join them at our table. We ordered the steak and eggs, French toast and sausage, and sausage and poached eggs to share. Brunch options were $28 and included bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and screwdrivers. They used orange juice with pulp, which I typically don't care for but the pulp was very light. I asked for a medium temperature steak with eggs. It was definitely over cooked, probably closer to medium well, if not well. I asked if I could have my eggs scrambled hard and I was told that they only prepare eggs one way. They were soft scrambled. I didn't care for them but maybe someone else would. The French toast was good. I was expecting the vanilla and cinnamon flavors that usually accompany French toast but they weren't there. This was definitely unlike any other French toast that I've ever had but i enjoyed it. If I go back I'll definitely get the French toast again. The sausage that came with it was flavorful. The same sausage was served with the poached eggs. read more

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What a wonderful place for a fun family birthday celebration! Carmen and her team really made it special - the food was delicious and the service impeccable. read more

Medium Rare - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Visited this spot with family a few days ago with family. Cute little restaurant tucked in downtown Bethesda. We had a reservation so we were immediately seated. Great customer service. We all had the house special. Salad and steak & fries. Everything was delicious. Definitely recommend. read more

Medium Rare - steak with gravy and french fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

It was our first time here, and the food was solid and at a very good price. Service was quick and really great. A couple things to note though, that never came up in the reviews I saw: 1. We made a reservation on Opentable for 8pm. Got there at 8, and had to wait about 15 min or so for a table. Lots of people came in with the same issue. For whatever reason, their reservation system was not properly synced with what was happening in real time . They should have turned off reservations, honestly. 2. The vibe here was not really my scene. Because the meal is so inexpensive, it attracts a very young crowd, like teenagers and college students. They had large parties and took up most of the restaurant. Not really my vibe at almost 40. 3. The apple pie was kind of terrible. Crust had no flavor at all and the filling wasn't very sweet. Definitely a waste. Would try the chocolate cake next time. Overall, though, the meal itself and service was great and I would definitely go back at an earlier time or on a weekday. read more

Had a fun time with my wife when we went to this restaurant. It's a nice place to celebrate and the fixed course is refreshing. (B).

I made a reservation through open table. I came to meet up with my mentee for work (we work remotely). She chose this spot for their amazing brunch. The customer service was superior especially since... we may not have left til 5 but got there at 10:30a (don't judge). The wait staff changed about 3x because we were there so Ling. It wasn't busy and he er asked to leave. Staff was super polite. I tipped 30% because, they deserved it. I ordered the mimosa and she got the Bloody Mary. She later switched to the mimosa. I'm a lightweight so I appreciate that I didn't get sloppy drunk of the 96 mimosa refills I got but I did get kinda louder than normal and maybe overshared hence why we were there for so long. We both ordered the salad and eggs Benedict. Loved the eggs & the toast. Oddly, not a big fan of the steak tho. I know it's called medium rare (steak) but if it was lox, I would have been in heaven. I never checked reviews but everyone is saying go with the yogurt parfait. If ever in the area again, I'll do just that. read more

This might be the first time I've ever wished that a bottomless boozy brunch was a la carte. The food and vibe were great, but my fiance just popped two Tylenol from a sugar headache from the mimosas (aka oj with a splash of bubbly). The sugar from the juice gets to you looong before the alcohol hits - even 5 drinks in. Now for the good - the food, vibe and service were the highlights. We never once felt rushed and they were incredibly accommodating whenever I called to make changes to our reservation. The manager even gave me her cell so I could reach her when she was out. The meal starts with rustic bread fresh out of the oven, and is then followed by a parfait, fruit, or salad. Major shout out to the cooks. My fiance ordered his steak rare plus, and it actually came out that way! My Benedict was smothered in a steak and mushroom gravy and I was all about it. We then ended with the largest slice of carrot cake I've ever had. It should have been split four ways. Our friend got the chocolate cake, which she couldn't finish even with help. The atmosphere - the exposed brick with writing on it and real candles were awesome. There were also quirky drawings posted on the wall by the bathrooms. It reminded me of some restaurants in DC and not so much what you'd expect in Bethesda (in a good way). Bottom line: improve the booze situation and this brunch will become a regular thing for me! read more

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Used to be good service ... but now it is very bad ... service takes for ever and treatment is sub par...

A great concept! Three course set menu priced at $24.95. The rustic bread was warm and crusty. Salad was pretty basic but the salad dressing was pretty good. Now if you are going to only serve steak it must be done well. They use Top Sirloin Cap Steak which is very tender. Steak was cooked medium rare and boy that steak sauce was fantastic. They should bottle up that steak sauce. I've read they guard their steak sauce recipe so that nobody knows the full recipe except the owner. French fries were hot and crispy. After we were done, they came around again and gave us a second steak and fries! How about that? So come here hungry. Plenty of outdoor seating and service was fast and friendly. read more

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I had wanted to try Medium Rare for a while. I went for a late lunch with my family for my daughter's birthday. Not very crowded during that time on a Saturday. Hosts and waiters were friendly and had smiles. We opted to eat outside -it's a modestly sized area right in front of the building. It's a prix fix menu- garden salad, thin steak cooked to order, homemade steak gravy, with a side of crispy shoestring fries. You can ask for the gravy on the side if you're unsure. This isn't Ruth Chris steak, but it was tasty and you will get enough, even if it doesn't seem like it at first. Just be sure to ask for the temp of steak that's a little more rare than you want it. Since steak is thin, it over cooks a bit. Never order well done! The desserts are on point. I got apple pie a la mode, which was very good. My daughter's key lime pie was arranged especially for her birthday and the waiter led us in the birthday song. Cute! There is a nice wine and cocktail list for those looking for drinks. read more

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Service? Oh, it's nothing to write home about. You'd think with a reservation you'd be seated quickly--ha! We waited 40 minutes. Guess reservations are just a suggestion? The food? Mediocre at best. They tell you they'll bring you two portions, but what they really mean is 'we'll bring you one portion, and we'll split it in half to confuse you.' I ordered my steak medium well, but clearly, they misunderstood and thought I wanted it well beyond well-done. The ambience? A nightmare. It's so loud you could barely hear yourself think, and the tables are so crammed together you practically have to shout at your date just to communicate. I swear, it felt more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. And with the mob of people waiting, you'd think they might invest in better outdoor seating... but nah, why bother? It's not like Maryland summers are humid and rainy or anything. The only saving grace? The drinks. Kudos to whoever made the strawberry lemonade and pineapple drinks--they were the highlight. But honestly, after all the hype? Totally overrated. Not worth it, not in the slightest. read more

Always a nice visit when we go to Medium Rare. The front desk hostesses are so pleasant and personable, gets our dinner off to a good start. And the steak frites are excellent value. Great to have them in our neighborhood. read more

Simple and to the point. There's no big menu to read over for an hour. There's just one choice, steak. The server asks how you want your steak cooked and if you want the secret sauce on top or on the side. The table starts off with bread and butter, then a mixed greens salad, then the main course: steak frites with secret sauce. All for $25. The bread is warm, fresh, and served with house butter. We ended up asking for more. The mixed green salad was simple: mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, salt, pepper, and a mustard based dressing. I enjoyed it more than my friends. We all know they didn't come for the salad. The frites were skinny cut and well seasoned. The steak was cut into centimeter thick slices, cooked as we each requested, and was tender and succulent as you bit down on it. It wasn't the fanciest cut of steak but I don't know enough about steaks to critique it. The secret sauce tasted like it might've been a mushroom base. When you've finished your plate and you think you're done, a server comes out with a tray to refill your plate. More steak and fries! By the end of the second round, you're sure to be full. If not, there's dessert (not pictured). We ordered a slice of their chocolate cake a la mode to share. It was grand, rich, and decadent. It reminded me of the cake from Matilda, before that kid started digging into it. If you just want steak and fries, keep it simple, go to Medium Rare! read more

Medium Rare - Steak Frite Pre Fixe Meal - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Sasha was our waiter and the service was great -- she was so attentive to our needs and was just very personable!!

I liked medium rare when we went for dinner. The sauce is super tasty and flavorful. I would love to go back and see how the brunch selection is because the steak/frites can be underwhelming after a few times... Overall nice place to eat if you're in the area! read more

Not going back. Please be mindful that repeat Clints show up for two reasons: good food and quality, having said that even if one is not up to speed or the food is not consistent then you loose customers. Have a look at your kitchen management. read more

I stumbled into the restaurant and so happy I did. Orvin the bartender and the staff made my night. Just very positive and respect their jobs which is a rare... additionally I was shocked at the quality of the food in a positive way! Having tried many places in Bethesda, if you eat meat and like a good ambiance check them out. I've been to gourmet and much pricier steakhouses that don't serve as good of a steak. read more

Had a horrible time here a few days ago the waiters bumped into me while I was sitting down every other minute we sat at are table for so long before are first serving that the manager noticed and gave us some fries to snack on before bringing are cold food 35 minutes after we sat down. The second serving didn't even come I was so frustrated I told them to just bring it to me in a box I left still hungry and upset having to eat cold mediocre food after waiting for so long read more

Review is for both brunch and dinner. Brunch: Medium Rare offers bottomless brunch which is already a sign for a good time. They offer a similar course menu as their dinner with additional choices: parfait or fruit as an appetizer, and specialty brunch items. The parfait was a nice addition and I enjoyed it better than their house salad, Having tried their steak before, I decided the French toast was for me. It was big, crispy, and soft on the inside. Afterwards, my friends and I tried all the desserts with coffee. We enjoyed the chocolate cake and key lime pie the best. The paper table coverings and crayons becoming the best things after a few mimosas. Unleash your inner Bob Ross! I would give brunch 4/5 stars. I think the overall experience is more fun than dinner and you have more options. Dinner: Dinner is simplicity at it's finest. They do one thing and they do it well. It's a prefix course meal consisting of bread, a simple salad, and steak with frits. The bread was crusty and came with salted butter. The salad was... honestly forgettable, but served it's purpose as an appetizer. The steak, in my option, was good! I enjoyed their secret sauce (ask for more) and the frits were slim and crispy. When you're done, they come out with a second helping. I felt satiated after the first helping, but was stuffed after the second helping. I can see the steak rubbing people the wrong way. If medium-ish temperature, thin, sliced steak isn't what you're looking for than I would look for another place. I would give dinner 3/5 stars. It was good and worth a try, but it was the sauce that elevated everything. Overall 3.5/5 stars. Come for brunch and at least try dinner once. read more

Medium Rare - Brunch French Toast - Steakhouses Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This place is one that "does the job": thinly sliced steak (check), crispy fries (check), basic salad (check), warm crusty bread (check). Nothing more, nothing less. It is a prix fixe menu, so as long as you go into it knowing, you will be fine. Items were lightly seasoned so you might need to add if you prefer your meals salted. The customer service was excellent, warm, and inviting. Portions were large, considering you get two rounds of steak and fries. read more

Amazing food, love the steak and fries with the sauce. Salad and bread not bad either. Service was good and friendly despite being packed. Only the rude hostess kept from being 5 star. I made a reservation for 1 and ate early don't hassle me for not wanting to sit at bar. read more

Always a reliable meal. We like this place a lot. We especially like what good community members they are too. Go early for no crowds!

You get what you pay for and I say that in a good way! The feel is somewhere in between fine dining and cozy dinner. The amount of food and quality fits the $29 price. It's a prefix menu. First is the bread and butter for the table to share. We did ask for seconds and wasn't charged extra. Second is the salad the dressing was memorable. Third is the main course which is the steak and fries. The sauce is good, a bit powering but goes well with the steak and fries. You'll get a second serving of the steak and fries too with the sauce on the side. I asked for my steak to be medium rare and got just that. The second serving didn't come out in separate plates though. There were 3 of us and the waiter came out with a large tray with all of the second serving of steak and fries and distributed from the tray. Luckily we all like our steak medium rare so my second serving was to my liking but I did see other tables being served their second servings the same way so some people may have gotten their second serving of steak cooked differently. I like how they have outdoor seatings and because the location was downtown, it's a cute outdoor scene. Inside had lots of seating too. We came on a Friday night at 8pm and got seated right away. The waiter was attentive and made sure the food came out in a timely manner. Overall I had a good experience and would come back! read more

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Very sad to report that we came for brunch here on a Sunday and they lost our order so after waiting 1.5 hours we just had to leave hungry. They also never gave us refills on our drinks until I asked after an hour. It seems the staff are overwhelmed and the restaurant is understaffed. Perhaps a result of covid and the current economic environment. I hope the top management can work on this. Too bad as I always liked the DC location. Recommend to skip Medium Rare and head across the street to Oishii Ramen Cafe instead! read more

Just left this restaurant. Unfortunately, service was lacking and borderline unprofessional. Server was unattentive, took us forever to get our meal (and second portion...which was barely a portion). We had to clear our own plates out of the way when courses did come. And we had to ask for utensils. Not being petty...just giving examples of how to have better service. Server didn't even know what a "cosmo with Titos" drink was and just brought a Tito's on the rocks because they were "out of cosmo vodka". What??? And a woman who appeared to be the manager tonight just spent most of her time checking on one large table and making sure they had everything they needed including large second portions. Meanwhile, we were ignored. Food is delicious. Better service next time please. read more

Busy place on Father's Day but Medium Rare delivered. It was beautiful weather today and almost every place was reserved for 10ish am for breakfast. I stumbled upon Medium Rare and got my reservation. The place was "packed" when I got there but the service and food both exceeded my expectations. Great service and very attentive servers. Food was cooked as ordered and very delicious. A very simple brunch menu. Not a ton of options and a good time for sure. Highly recommended. 4.1/5 read more