My s/o and I are big fans of Mike's American for their consistency in their food and service. We…read moreprobably come here at least once a month. The actual restaurant feels massive but decorated in a rustic way. I want to give a huge shout out to Alicia. She is such a knowledgeable, approachable, and receptive server. She was on top of refilling drinks, making sure we weren't left alone for too long when we were waiting for our food to come, and just had an overall amazing energy. While we really enjoy all of the servers we've had at Mikes, Alicia takes the cake. If there's any way to provide her with recognition, I would highly vouch for it. She could sell me anything on that menu with that kind of personality! Thank you, Alicia! I'm going to make sure we try to get seated at your table again.

I visited Mike's American after coming across it on Resy and was able to get a same-day reservation…read morefor two on Easter Sunday. As expected, it was busy, but the restaurant does have a fairly large parking lot which made arrival easier. The setup was interesting. After checking in downstairs, I was given a ticket and directed upstairs for seating. I took the elevator, which offered a clear view of the kitchen below as it ascended... definitely a unique touch. Upstairs, another host staff guided us to our table. The space had a lively feel, roaring with chatter from customers, and I could see parts of the kitchen where food was being prepared over an open flame, which added to the overall atmosphere. For the food, we started with the calamari. It was cooked well and had a nice texture, especially paired with the crispy onion shoestrings, which added a good crunch and flavor. It was served over a lobster sauce, although the lobster flavor wasn't very noticeable. The main issue was the salt level... it was quite heavy! I did enjoy it overall, but I would only recommend it to someone who doesn't have to watch their sodium intake. For entrées, I ordered the steak cooked medium with broccolini. The dish automatically comes with mashed potatoes, and while I was able to substitute the salad for broccolini, there didn't seem to be flexibility with the potatoes. After tasting the mashed potatoes, I wish I was offered to substitute it as it tasted like the brown box we grew up on where you just added water. When the food came out, the steak was closer to medium-well or well done rather than medium, and both the mashed potatoes and broccolini were a bit cold. I chose not to send it back since we waited but it did affect the overall experience. My guest ordered the ribs with fries and coleslaw. The ribs were well-prepared--tender with a clean pull off the bone--and were probably the highlight of the meal. The fries were also very good and came out hot. The coleslaw wasn't as well received, described as having too many of the tougher parts of the cabbage. Overall, the experience had some positives, especially in terms of atmosphere and certain menu items like the ribs and fries. While I did enjoy parts of the meal, it's not somewhere I would personally return to, but it may be worth trying once to form your own opinion.

Dear reader,…read more Firebirds was a thoroughly lovely experience and exactly the sort of place one hopes for when the evening calls for a proper cocktail and a comfortable perch at the bar. We sat there for the evening and had such a fun time, due in no small part to the bartender, who was super nice, genuinely funny, and clearly knew their way around a cocktail. A charming and commendable combination. The atmosphere strikes a very pleasing balance. It feels warm and inviting with a slightly upscale air, but never in a way that feels stuffy or overly serious. Everything felt polished, the service was great, and the whole place had that easy, settled-in quality that makes you want to stay for another round rather than rush off to the next engagement. I also especially liked the Seared Ahi Tuna, which was absolutely worth ordering and deserves its moment of recognition. Overall, Firebirds delivered a very enjoyable evening with good drinks, great service, and an atmosphere that made lingering feel like the correct decision. We will absolutely be back soon, and happily so.

The Happy Hour selections were delicious! Make sure to get there early because the bar fills up…read morequickly, and Happy Hour pricing is only available at the bar. It's was very vibrant for a chilly Friday evening. The cocktails were great and the portions were surprisingly large--perfect for sharing. We ordered the fireside shrimp, beef sliders, prime rib sliders, crispy cauliflower, and truffle fries. Everything was flavorful and came out quickly. The lemon drops and mules were also excellent. Even better, our entire order for a family of four came in under $100, which was a great value. Shoutout to our waitress, Bre, who was fantastic--attentive, friendly, and made the experience even better. We will definitely be returning!

My colleagues and I come here for corporate teambuilding lunches, birthday lunches and happy hours…read more It's not unusual for us to spend many hours and a large amount of money at this establishment. The area surrounding my place of work does not have many nice dining options in my opinion, so I'm thankful for this restaurant. My go to items on the menu: Crispy Calamari Cheesecake Spring Rolls Firecracker Shrimp Pappardelle Bolognese Crispy Fish Sandwich Go to cocktail is the Pomegranate Martini. Highly recommend if you like sweeter cocktails.

This was a random stop for us and I didn't know what to expect. It was lunch time and I wanted…read moresome American food. Not what I expected but it will suit specific people looking for their offerings. Burton's Grill is your typical all American restaurant but focuses on serving all the dietary needs of Americans with allergies or not. The place looks new, the kind of place you wanna wear clean clothes at a minimum and not look slovenly. Outside sitting, full large bar, sports on several TVs above the center of the bar, and a lot of servers milling around here. Great lighting, not loud but not quiet either, just chill. We were starved so our eyes ate. Brunch was still being served till 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays so I grabbed the French Toast and the Steak and Eggs. My friend had allergies with gluten so she went with a salmon and some super salad dish. She was happy as all the dishes had markers for gluten free, food free, soul free, etc. Very helpful for all allergy infused humans. Great waitress btw. Fantastic service. Food came after some time, we requested for everything to come out on time. Steak and egg was okay but I'd go with the prime rib next time. The steak came out sliced with 2 poached eggs on top. The hash on the side was on point. Salmon okay too. Salad was okay but we should have added a protein on top. A little dry on dressing maybe but we could have requested more so that's on us. On the other hand, the French toast had me scratching my head. It was cubed challah bread but eggs was 0, zero, nada eggs on it. I thought I was eating croutons which would have gone great with the super salad dish thinking about it now. The French toast really bunched up my undies, French toast is my favorite breakfast thing you see. They explained it was prepped that way for allergy sake due to the egg. Well, I'm not allergic and never said I was, but my friend was but she wasn't eating my dish so why make it in this fashion. Overall, this experience was just okay. Nice environment and service but I realized how lucky I am not to be allergic cause if I have to eat French toast like this forever, I'm not sure what to do. Definitely not up to eating croutons with syrup.

amazing food! amazing service! amazing decor!…read more the food was very good and the staff was very attentive. the soup was warm and came out quickly

Love the truffle fries and cream shrimp pasta. Nice place for hanging out at night/ weekend. :)read more

Stopped by Fat Cat Kitchen for a casual bite, and I'm glad to report the experience was just as…read moresolid as the hype. Service was cool--laid-back but attentive enough to keep things flowing. I ordered the City Burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions, and whew... this was a good burger. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right so every bite felt intentional. The toppings were perfectly sautéed, adding that extra depth without overpowering the meat. The hand-cut fries deserve their own shout-out--crispy, golden, and delicious. You can always tell when fries are actually cut in-house, and these definitely passed the test. Fat Cat Kitchen is a great stop when you're craving a quality burger with no frills, just flavor. I'll be back to explore more of the menu!

I'd come here a couple of years ago and was not greeted and kept standing at the hostess station…read morefor 6-7 minutes, so I just left. Today, we were greeted quickly and warmly and shown to a table. My Dad had a huge burger, which he said was good. My sister had the Gumbo- I tasted it and it was delicious! My Caribbean chicken and shrimp would've been delicious, but the chicken was way way too salty! The shrimp and beans and rice were both good. I'm so glad I ordered the sauce on the side because it ratcheted up the salt level to briny. Our server was adequate. The dining room is in a sort of weird U-shaped to me, but and spaced to serve. The friendly Manager stopped by our table to give my little niece a toy, and check on our experience. Our food hadn't come yet, so I didn't share that I didn't enjoy my meal. Even though I didn't enjoy the dish I had, I probably come back to try the burger.

I've been to another restaurant that CJ Cross opened, so had pretty high expectations for my first…read morevisit to Chalkboard, which opened two years ago. WHY DIDN'T I COME SOONER! Gregory, behind the bar, made us immediately feel like regulars. The bbq we tried reminded me of Dixie Pig in Brunswick, GA. Smoky, juicy, falling off the bone meat. The wings are insanely good - double fried, with options for different rubs and sauces. Pulled brisket was a standout too, but we also loved the pulled pork and pork belly burnt ends. If you're into Cole Slaw, theirs is bright and light and fresh and crispy. Solid beer selection. Can't wait to go back.

The pricing is awful and the wings are not as good as they rant and rave about. I'm an Army Vet and…read moreI went there on a night that had some discounts for Active Duty and Vets on this board but I didn't see it until I made my order and I told the kid on the register who was up to his neck in tending the bar and trying to serve us that I was former Army from Fort Belvoir. He never told me they had discounts on that night and once I paid all that money, I walked around the place and read what was on the two boards and was PO'd. No thanks guys, you can have it.

The bar area was really packed when I came last night for a late dinner, but service was…read moresurprisingly very fast! Aimee was a fantastic bartender! She was very attentive to everyone at the bar while also slinging drinks. My skinny margaritas were really delicious. I ordered a chicken bowl, and it was surprisingly way better than I thought it would be given that it's in their under 700 cal menu. I would absolutely order it again!

I had to try out Yard House's happy hour because I heard they had 1/2 off appetizers! Appetizers…read morestart out at $7. Everything came out in big portions, so you can definitely share everything at the table. The nachos were really good. Huge portion and perfect for sharing. I would suggest that you ask for extra sour cream. The buffalo boneless wings were good and I loved that they came with a skewer so you don't get messy. Very date friendly appetizer. The tenders were cool, just nothing special. Fries were good but the honey mustard was watery. The burgers were mid. Just a regular burger with no seasoning. The spinach dip was edible but not seasoned. I've had better spinach dip from the grocery store. The ambiance is the same as your typical bar, loud, fast paced, with many tvs. Overall I regret ordering the burgers and spinach dip but I loved everything else and I'll definitely be back! 8 appetizers and 2 drinks only came up to $80!

Matt and Tony's was exceptional from start to finish! The food was a 10/10, the wait service was…read moreoutstanding, and the overall vibe was phenomenal. Definitely make reservations before you go because this place gets packed! We ordered the chicken biscuit gravy with chorizo, and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the MMT Breakfast, which gave us a little sample of everything. The homemade biscuits were amazing, and the bacon was not that cheap, flimsy kind -- it was thick, flavorful, and so good that we added extra bacon. The price was just right, the ambiance was great, and even though parking can be a challenge, the staff was super helpful in telling us where we could park. It's also not far from DCA airport and close to other great restaurants and scenery. I hate that I forgot to take pictures of our meal, but we were so hungry and the food was too good to stop! We will definitely be back for brunch, and this is officially becoming a regular brunch spot for us. Cheers to next time!

I finally got a chance to try this restaurant and I must say it's a bit overhyped. The staff were…read moreamazing, from the hostess and host to the food runners and everyone in between. Clearly people love it as there was a wait the whole time we were there and the restaurant was packed. I loved my drink, the Taipei Punch. I would definitely order that again. I got the French Toast and it was mid at best. It just wasn't flavorful. My friend got the steak and eggs. Likewise she was underwhelmed. The presentation/plating is great, but when it came down to it, the meal was just ok. Perhaps another dish will change my mind, but I won't be rushing back to find out.

Always love this place and we always go for the seasonal items, or the giant pancakes with eggs and…read moresausage. The current seasonal items may be the best we've ever had, the bacon egg and cheese sandwich is delicious and comes with the perfect spicy aoli kick, that adds amazing flavor. During the fall, you can never go wrong with the pumpkin pancake, so gooood. And whenever they have some type of corn bread or different flavored scone, we always order and it always hits! Can't go wrong upgraidng your potatoes with the million dollar potatoes adding cheese and bacon to it.

AMBIANCE: I hardly get up early enough to go to a restaurant…read morefor breakfast but I went to the gym and for my babes birthday I decided to take him out to brunch. PERFECT reward. It was around 10am, so not many people, but it did start getting full. It's open, the booths are big and comfy, typically if you come to First Watch on the weekend it's packed, so it was nice to have a stress free experience. SERVICE: They are kind and to the point. My bf is in tech so he has a habit of taking his laptop everywhere-- I tend to think there are certain places you can have laptops and certain places where you can't. First Watch is one of those places where I'm like eh.... Maybe not. But I did! We didn't stay long and only had our laptops open for the meal, but no one said anything so it was solid. Additionally, I didn't know what I wanted to eat because I wanted to be a little adventurous so I ask the waitress what I should get. I am sometimes hesitant to ask bc I always feel they're going to upcharge me instead of giving me their opinion, but I don't believe she did thank and I was grateful! Wish I got her name. FOOD: So, for me she suggested the chilaquiles. I trusted her input and ordered that! I was hesitant because, traditionally, that dish is typically very heavy and spice-based, and I didn't know if I wanted to start the day off with food like that, but it was SO GOOD. Lots of flavors. I was very happy. First Watch is always a treat. Fresh food and good times!

Phenomenal little neighborhood gem on all fronts! THE best burger and chicken sandwich I've ever…read morehad, and truly not even close. Maddison was an exceptional server that was very attentive and spot on with her choices, as we took her recommendation on a few items. Fried green tomatoes is an absolute MUST when here and it is certainly DIVINE!!

We come about every two weeks. I always get the flounder over mushroom risotto. The food is…read morefantastic! The service is usually always on point with friendly staff and the cozy neighborhood vibe is great.