IHOP... not good. Unless 4am.

I am not sure why IHOP has become so below average, expensive, and just plain skippable.  I love eating breakfast food, even for dinner, but to be honest.... I would rather cook it myself than go to IHOP and spend $50 for eggs, bacon, pancake, and toast.  Because that is it...that's what I order.. It's never delicious.  And if you are going to be average..please, at least be cheap.  They haven't had anything interesting in about 3 years.. The service is fine, but it's just overall, not good.
ms

Ruby Tuesday's in Ashburn Village...ok

Hey, this place is OK.. I used to have a generally bad opinion of this chain, but I will upgrade it.  I really think it's ok.  You can go in and get a salad bar... nothing crazy, just a plain old salad.. and order some pretty good kids food, and here's the part that is the best...you can get out of there for under $50 bucks for a family of 4.. almost unheard of in today's restaurant world... So here's to you Ruby Tuesday's..you are OK in my book.
ms

Don Pablos...junk

Ok, I went to a local Mexican Restaurant, Don Pablos in Sterling, and it was basically crap.  I got the steak quesadillas, and they tasted like cheap, foul, not quite beef.  I am pretty sensitive to low quality meat, so I didn't even try to finish them.  The kids ate tons of chips & salsa, which is of course the best thing they had, because even the beans and rice were just low quality blandness.  I wish I didn't even go out, but it's close to Toyz R Us.. Don Pablos is just another in the below average world of food in NoVa.

When in Kansas City...BBQ Fiorella's Jack Stack

Ok guys, every couple of years I head to my hometown, Kansas City, MO.  And when you are in that city, you better visit a couple of places.  Oklahoma Joe's was of course featured on Food Network, so it is hugely popular, but for the people in the know...Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ at the Freight Station is the best.  It's downtown, right off 20th Street in an old train station, which gives it the cool old Kansas City feel..but really ambiance is only a small fraction.  The truth is the baby back ribs are juicy hickory perfection, the brisket is of course excellent due to the midwest grain fed cattle, but they are famous for the burnt tips.  I secretly prefer dry rub BBQ, like memphis style usually..and that is mainly because I find it impossible to fall in love with a sauce..until Jack Stack.  I order it online..it is that good.  So in all of my travels around the world this is the ONLY place that I get my ribs Kansas City Style baby!  And I can't get enough.  #1 BBQ in the world if you ask me.  I am Kansas City all the way..Chiefs fan, I grew up in Northeast KC... and  I love this town.

New Neighborhood BBQ spot..Urban BBQ

I went to a pretty cool little spot in Ashburn yesterday, with my kids..Urban BBQ.  It's a bit pricy..we spent over $50 for 2 kids, & 2 adults.. the BBQ is sort of Kansas City style..Sweet & wet.  I got the same thing I get everywhere I go in the world for BBQ..a full rack of ribs.  They came St. Louis style.. with nubs.. and the smoke was mild... overall above average to good...very large in size. I will go there again, because it is close, and they have Lost Rhino Root Beer on tap..that's cool.  Peanuts in a barrell & lots of excellent sauces to smother your ribs with..The Hot style is my favorite...The kids loved it too. ms

p.s.  After going to KC for the weekend all other BBQ gets a 2 star downgrade...sorry Urban...ms

Outstanding.. Capital Grille, Tysons Corner

Ok, like I said in my first blog, I have three categories.  Well this is the top of the list.  Outstanding.  Capital Grille is where I took my fiance, and they did everything right.  Not only did they call me a month ahead of her birthday to remind me, and offer to make a reservation, they had our perfect table ready, and complimentary Champagne chilled.  The French Onion soup was melted with exquisite light cheeses, and the croutons inside were seasoned perfectly, the filet mignon was superb...light, and lean...certainly Prime.  I would go there just to have the cheesecake for dessert, because it is the absolute best dessert I have ever had..anywhere, but I wouldn't because I would have cheated myself out of the other wonderful courses. The quality of the food, and the atmosphere cannot be overstated.  It is the top of the line.  ms

Buffalo Wild Wings...Consistant Crap

Ok, took the kids, which are 5 & 6 years old to Buffalo Wild Wings.  This is definitely one of those spots that I find myself settling for way too much...I go there about once every 6 months.  It has a couple of things which bring me in...and it's kid related, or I would never go there.  It has these cool tabletop ipad type game consoles, which I put $5 in and the kids can play video games while we wait for the "food" to arrive, and I can watch tons of TV's.  Except that every 3rd tv has trivia/poker/buzztime stuff on it...The service, and the staff are always nice, and cordial.  But that is about it for the positive. 

Food is well below average.  This place has "Wings" in the name, but the wings are definitely the smallest of any sports bar anywhere.  They have quite a few recipes for sauces, and the buffalo dry is the only one I enjoy, but because of the size of the wing, and the fact that every item is in a cardboard basket.. it is super-cheap feeling.  Everything is fried, and small sized, especially the Ribs..very bad ribs..

Beer selection, and bar atmosphere is, again standard and boring.  It touts a "craft & specialty" beer section, but hasn't got a single beer that isn't mass produced from a conglomerate brewery.. No microbrews or "crafts" on the list..not one.

I keep going back, for the kids... but I am consistantly reminded that some successful chains are just that..consistant.. even if it's consistanly poor.