StorageLady

I like the Common Market for other things - but I'm guessing there's a big too much vegannaise and tofutti for the teen crowd.

Delray Beach; Boca Raton; Boynton Beach Looking for some tasty food - but since we're "beaching" it - don't want anything fussy or too fancy. In the past we have really enjoyed the fish& chips at Hurricane Alley (Boynton), the seafood at J&R's in Delray, and the martinis at Suite 225. Love the setting/ambience at Old Key Lime House - but the food isn't great. In fact, most of the places we have eaten on the water have been wonderful for the sights, but weak in the tasty department (this includes Dune Deck, Prime Catch, Old Calypso, Banana Boat, and Bernie's) Any suggestions for casual but boldly flavored food in the area? Especially on the water? We can drive to Boca or West Palm or stay nearby in Boynton, Lantana & Delray We like pretty much all types of food - American, Asian, Indian, Cuban.... Appreciate any suggestions!

I need 25 lbs of potato salad and 25 lbs of macaroni salad for my son's graduation pool party/picnic. I do NOT want to make it myself even though it would taste better. But, let's be honest - do 80 teenagers really care if it's store-bought? I just don't want it to be disgusting (like that awful Amish mac salad they have at my local Weis...ugh...) That being said... Can anyone comment on the general tastiness of Reese's potato and macaroni salads? It is a brand that Costco sells so I can get a pretty good deal on it... If you know of a better ready-made brand, I'm open to hear about it! FWIW, I live in Frederick and don't want to drive to DC to find something tasty.. Thanks for the help!

Storage Lady (Janis & Don) figured out what to make - an antipasto pasta salad..... See you all tomorrow!

We will be there - 2 adults, Janis & Don...and will bring a side dish of some sort...

We want to come!! I have a son graduating a few days before, and am planning his graduation party for the following weekend. But, I think I'll deserve a break don't you??? Hope you see you/meet you on the 7th... I have no idea what we will bring - will check back online just before the weekend to see if there are any glaring absences... Janis & Don

I didn't realize that they had extended the deal. We went for dinner during Restaurant Week and were wild about the food and the wine pairings. Thanks for the tip..

IF you don't mind heading out of downtown - we have really enjoyed our meals at G.Hunter's out on 40. We have been there 4 times and was happy with every meal. This surprised me because I wasn't expecting to be impressed - especially since the other restaurants run/managed by the same owner have a tendency toward mediocrity. Kids are generally fond of Brewer's Alley (owned by the same guy as G. Hunter's). I have mixed feelings about the Alley. Sometimes the food has been good, sometimes downright awful. But, it's priced right and is loud so that the kids won't feel like they have to whisper. Cacique is a good place for a family group also. LUcky Corner is a Vietnamese restaurant at the corner of 7th and Market - still considered downtown, but a bit past the "shady" side. Their staff is great - be sure to ask that the chef keep the sugar to a minimum unless you like dessert-sweet entrees. When I ask that they not add any sugar, their food has turned out very tasty...Skip the summer rolls, though - far too much noodle, not enough vegetable. Firestone's has good food - and now that there is a no-smoking rule - it's definitely worth a trip. --- Philly's Cheesesteak Factory (ol_ironstomach)

OH how I WISH we could get a group to go!! I made reservations for 6 people at the chef's table for last Saturday night - but couldn't find anyone willing to fork over the dough to go. So, sadly, we cancelled. Wah..... It would be very fun to get some folks who love to dine out to make the trek up here to Frederick to try Volt with us!

Where is the picnic and at what time?

I'm a bit confused...is the dim sum Sunday a regular thing or does it move around each week? Is it held every Sunday or only when enough people sign up? Thanks for filling me in!! We have exactly ZERO dim sum restaurants up here in Frederick....

No, I haven't had their chicken. But I did make it over to the new Peruvian chicken place across from Home Depot - I think it's called "Don Chicken". The bird was really good. The fried yucca was so delicious that it was almost impossible not to polish off the entire order - which was substantial. I didn't know I was a yucca fan.... Now, I know. And, by all means - skip their cole slaw. They don't make it - it's purchased and is a gloppy mess. Somewhere I read that there's a taqueria somewhere out on 40 that's only open on the weekend. Anyone know where it is?

We have a number of new ethnic restaurants that have recently open their doors up here in Frederick. I'm in the process of trying them all! Most f the new places are of the Mexican/South American variety - a taqueria, a Peruvian chicken place, a couple of Mexican places, Thai... A small take-out place called Caballo Viejo (old horse?) serves arepas & roasted chicken as their specialty items. I did find the areaps quite good - but their daunting size precluded the ability to order more than one at a time! I'm a darn good eater, but couldn't finish an entire one for lunch. I like the size of the ones that used to serve at the old Cafe Latino. They were about 3" in diameter - so you could order a combo plate of 3 different taste sensations without feeling like too huge of a glutton. Anyone tried any of the other new places yet? Janis http://thediningdiva.blogspot.com/

Wow- I didn't realize it has been that long since I logged in! Anyway - to answer the question: Marsala's is in the old part of Walkersville right on Main st. Drive out Rte 26 past the strip center near the Walmart. When you get to the light at Ceresville Mansion, turn left onto 194. Pass Walkersville High. At the next blinking light, turn left. You will find Marsala's where that street intersects Main St. I've since returned to Firestones now that the smoking ban has taken effect. The food was quite good. But, the portions were teeny tiny. When I got my $8 baby bok choy salad - my dining companion asked where we should go for lunch afterward! Bok Choy just isn't exquisite enough for the price. iL Porto which is in the site formerly occupied by Zest seems to be doing a pretty brisk dinner crowd. Surprising since the location is, shall we say, a bit rough? Keeping that in consideration, I have high hopes for the new Charlie Palmer restaurant soon to occupy the old building on Market St. Anything new to report???

The Canela in Gaithersburg or Rockville?

I'm so glad that there are folks out there who are talking about the food in Frederick! We go out to eat about 3-4 times/week and have sampled just about every restaurant up here. Most are , shall we say, unremarkable. Occasionally there's a stand-out meal, but that seems to be more the exception. We have always had great meals though at Monocacy Crossing and at Marsala's (in Walkersville). Normally, the Tasting Room is quite good. But for the price, we expect better service and better ambience. It's quite loud, and prior to February 1st, the nasty smoke from the bar would mar an otherwise enjoyable meal. I look forward to hearing folks takes on our local dining spots. Here are my favorites: Marsala's. Not much to look at, but the food is delicious. It's an old gas station that the owner converted into a restaurant. I believe the ceiling is the original from the oil days. Monocacy Crossing LJ's and the Kat Lounge. OK, it's in Hagerstown - but really, once you're in Frederick, it's not the huge a leap. And they are truly a "find". Very urban, very sophisticated. Animal print carpet, hammered metal bar, open kitchen, upscale American cooking, superb martinis and a totally amazing smoked/grilled OMG it's so fantastic sirloin steak. Did I mention the scalloped potatos with truffles? (Nearly always perfectly creamy soft and truffle-y : although on our last visit they were clearly over-reheated and dry. sad.) Fajita Grande -especially for the salsa fresca & margaritas (ask them to make it without the sweet/sour mix ) Luke's - you have to eat the pizza while you're there - otherwise it's soggy and cold. Love their chicken modena salad and their fried artichoke appetizer with garlic aioli. Sometimes they neglect to fill their calzones enough, so we make sure to order them with extra cheese. They have very tasty large topped focaccias suitable to take to parties Mediterranean Grill - slow service but the food tastes pretty good Hagan's Tavern - The chef here owned the Brown Pelican 15 years ago when the BP was actually good. His culinary skills still shine at this little spot in Braddock Heights. Always delicious Ethnic food in Frederick is sorely lacking. Some of the Vietnamese restaurants started out strong when they first opened, but then started taking short cuts over time and no longer pack their original punch. I still enjoy going to Lucky Corner - but the dishes are overly sweet and overly greasy. Why do these places use sugar and fat instead of ginger, lemongrass & garlic? I repeat the exact same complaint for every single Chinese restaurant up here. And all of the Thai ones, too. (Although, you can get some pretty decent green curry that's not sweet). And the Indian ones no longer do it for me either. What happened to all the complex flavors? The dishes have become too bland and too Americanized for my taste. It's as if the Olive Garden now has additional branches: Tandoori Garden, Pad Thai Garden, and Peking Garden. All pretty. Pretty boring that is. I do have a tendency to blather on, so I wrote about a few local places on my very incomplete blog which nobody reads except me (http://thediningdiva.blogspot.com/) I wish there were more places for which I could extoll some virtues. Sadly, there really aren't . But, here are some places we would love to love ... but don't: Isabellas? Small portions for the price, often underseasoned dishes, filler in the goat cheese fritters, delicious fried asparagus La Paz? Are you kidding me? great location and terrible food Firestones? Food is good, but haven't been there in 2 years because the smoke was too bad. Will try again now that there's a ban Griffs? Like the kitschy nautical theme, but the food is boring and doesn't always taste perfectly fresh. They did a great job though with the fresh Tuna during the Progressive dinner a few months ago Acacia - Great menu to read, uninteresting to eat That Cuban Place- oh why why why aren't you better???? The last time we were there, they ran out of mustard AND pickles for the sandwiches. Aren't those kind of staples on a Cuban? Couldn't they just run up to Giant Eagle and get some more? We need to start a dining out club here and put these places to the test!

I have never had a bad meal at Monocacy - lunch or dinner. The scallops in bacon vinaigrette are an excellent lunch entree and my tennis buddies love the steak salad. Our only complaints about Monocacy have been 1. The dining room is downright COLD in the winter - even if you're sitting near the heater 2. You have to walk through the smoky bar to get to the dining room. Thankfully - this will no longer be the case since the smoking ban is finally (!) in effect! Any of you remember the very cool martini glasses they used to have? The bowl and the stem were two separate pieces. You could settle the bowl of the glass in a mini-ice bucket between sips. Alas, as they broke, one by one, they were never replaced.