X Marks the Spot at GrillMarX Steakhouse and Raw Bar

I have been meaning to check out GrillMarX Steakhouse and Raw Bar in Olney since its opening about a month ago, but just didn't have a chance. Secretly, I have been waiting for it to work out the "New Restaurant" kinks, so I would love it. My plan has worked! Four of us had excellent service and delicious food. One of the owners previously worked at the now closed Houstons in Rockville, and some of the tried and true dishes are available here. GrillMarX is very busy and a happening place on a Saturday night. Although, the restaurant is in a shopping center (the Fair Hill Shopping Center near Harris Teeter) it is worth the trip. This is a perfect place if you live within ten miles or so of Olney, Maryland.

As long as a restaurant has a raw bar, I will be tasting. No disappointment here. The waiter, Sum Yung, suggest the fresh oysters from Cape Cod. They are a blend of sweet and salty, and expertly cut away from the shell. The three dipping sauces are quite fresh and wonderful: fresh horseradish, Texas Pete, and a combination of citrus juices. My favorite is to mix the fresh horseradish with the Texas Pete. I expect this combo to burn, but instead it is a tasty addition to the oyster. I like the large, tall serving stand for the oysters, however, I would use a smaller tray for only a half dozen oysters. Yes, I am a little bit picky.

One of our party has a mixed green salad to start. This is extremely fresh and just right. Our wait is a touch long for the entrees, but worth it. My Ahi tuna steak is sesame seared with wasabi-citrus dressing and rice noodle crunch atop sauteed spinach with red pepper. I must admit that I do have Ahi tuna quite often, and this one is very fresh, rare, and quite delicious. I like that is not a huge portion. All in all, it is quite good, but just a tad too salty for me.

My husband likes the basics, and he orders the old standby cheeseburger. He calls it quite juicy and comparable to one of the best in the area at Ray's the Classics in Silver Spring. The cheeseburger is a 10 oz. burger with melted cheese (usually cheddar, but he substitutes blue cheese), lettuce, and tomato. Surprisingly, the tomato is actually vine fresh, even in October. My husband skips the onion and switches the fries for a salad with no problem. The waiter is more than happy to make any changes. This restaurant really seems to agree that the customer is always right.

My brother-in-law and sister in-law share the GrillMarX bbq ribs, a full rack of slow cooked baby back ribs smothered in a smoky Chipotle sauce, served with french fries and cole slaw. I must admit that there are only a few places that deserve excellent ratings with ribs, and this is definitely one. The meat easily falls of the bone, the sauce is a sweet/spicy mix, and the fries are crunchy and perfectly cooked. Before they even start their meal, I am grabbing fries and enjoying every bite. The cole slaw is home made and a welcome addition to the plate. They both nod while devouring the ribs that the food is one of the best and worth the calories.

We glance at the dessert menu, but the majority are saying no more food. My husband and I actually would like to try the molten chocolate cake with milk chocolate Gnache, whipped cream, and peppermint or the vanilla bean creme brulee with whipped cream, but now we will have an excuse to return.



Other friends are eating dinner that night and give high marks for the tuna tartare, rockfish, and of course, steak. The bar is lively, modern, and inviting, and not overly loud.

 Be sure to make reservations, and enjoy a "Bethesda type" addition in Olney. It is about time.

Taste of DC is Just That!

A beautiful, sunny 80 degree day in October calls for an outdoor plan. I join some friends for the Taste of DC. For some reason, this event has been missing from DC for eight years, but it is back with a bang during the three day Columbus Day Weekend. Seafood seems to call my name with four out of the five dishes that I sample.

I begin with a small appetizer of fried oysters with remoulade sauce from Marvin, a DC restaurant inspired by Marvin Gaye and his life in Belgium. This dish is crispy, meaty, and a sweet start to my day. I will definitely check out this restaurant in the U Street/Shaw neighborhood, especially for the shrimp and grits and rooftop bar.

Next for a delicious taste of salmon tartare at Petits Plats, in Woodley Park near the zoo. Looks like a great place for lunch and/or outside dining. This taste is quite yummy and worthwhile, however, not to be compared with the tuna tartare at Raku in Bethesda.

Onto my only meat dish: duck and pine nut dumpling from Sequoia in Georgetown. Quite delicious and cooked perfectly, but not enough pine nuts for my liking.

One of my favorites is a surprise dish from Sushi Rock in Clarendon: "Free Fallin'" a beautiful roll (three pieces) of spicy tuna + scallion + akami + spicy aioli. This could have more zest to it, but I love the combination of flavors and delicacy. I would love to check out more dishes, especially sushi, from this restaurant, but Clarendon is usually not one of my go to spots. You never know, because the creative names of  rolls are perfectly named, such as: "You Shook Me All Night Long" or "Stairway to Heaven" or "Light My Fire".

The pieces de resistance of the whole afternoon is the succulent and perfect lobster roll from New York City's Luke's Lobster, right near Verizon Center in Penn Quarter. The longest line of the day is here, and it is worth every waiting moment. The lobster is chilled inside a New England-style split top bun with a secret, amazing sauce. I feel as though I am in Maine, by the water when eating this roll. Yes, I will be returning to Luke's again soon.

This is certainly my type of day: lots of tastes, beautiful weather, wine and/or beer tastes too, and no sharing of foods I don't love. Sorry that the Taste of DC is over for this year, but you can certainly check out any of these restaurants and take notes for next year's events.