Iron Age - Rockville, MD

Hi Everyone! Recently, the bf, my cousin and I went to eat a super late lunch at Iron Age. We figured since we had another boy around, it would be worth getting All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ.

The place is bigger than it appears from the outside. Sticking to its name, the interior is clad in metal/iron, not wood like many Korean restaurants have. Lots of TVs and a huge projector screen play Kpop music videos. They are open until 2am on the weekends, so I'm sure it's pretty popping at night.

The menu is very easy - pick Gogi A ($18) for 3 meats, or Option Gogi B ($22) for 5 meats and sodas. Each of us selected option B because it was more meats and drinks for $4 more per person.

We were given 3 meats, 1 skewer of veggies, 3 frozen triangles of rice, a pancake, egg soufflé, 4 ban chan sides, a soup and salad. The meats we were given were the first 3 on the menu. They weren't marinated, so they were bland, and tough. Both my cousin and I broke our chopsticks! The rice took 30 minutes to warm up thoroughly on the grill. The ban chan didn't include kim chi! The egg soufflé and soup were bland too. Thankfully the pancake wasn't too bad, so we had a few.

They also provided 4 dipping sauces: chili sauce, soybean paste sauce, sesame oil with salt/pepper, sweet sauce. I didn't think they were too special, but the bf liked the sweet sauce the best.

On our table had a call button, which we used at least 5 times because the service was poor. There were about 4 tables in the restaurant and it took them 10 minutes to take our order. They only gave us 3 out of 5 meats, and we thought they were bringing out the others later, but it never happened. We ended up cooking our own food, and using the call button for refills/requests because we weren't checked on. Towards the end of our meal, a server even blew out our grill before we were done cooking all of the meat!

I have a bunch of friends that will probably disagree with me, but lunch took forever, and it wasn't even good. I'd rather drive to VA or even buy marinated meat at H Mart and cook it myself for cheaper. My cousin who hasn't had Korean BBQ before thought it was fine. The Korean bf of mine liked the amount of meat, but not the taste. As a girl, I don't eat that much, so paying $22 for mediocre food and poor service isn't worth it.

1054 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 424-1474
http://www.yelp.com/biz/iron-age-rockville

Yocake - Rockville, MD

Happy Memorial Day Weekend guys! Soooo I'm supposed to be getting "bikini ready", however there's a Yocake a few minutes away from me that's open until 10pm on Fri-Sat...oh my waistline. Their original location in Montgomery Mall opened in 2009, and congrats to them for expanding to a freestanding store in Rockville and soon in Dupont Circle. 

The Rockville store has limited parking in front, but I've never had a problem finding a parking space. Plus, people have been making their own spaces by parking wherever they want.

The exterior looks completely different compared to the interior. Dark bricks covering the whole building bring an old, closed-off feeling, but the bright, white and modern decor is refreshing and gender neutral. Some cupcake places can be a bit girlie, but the bf doesn't feel out of place there!

Yocake combines two of the biggest food fads ever - frozen yogurt and cupcakes. Such a simple yet brilliant concept. My cousin ordered their signature YoCake, which is (as the name suggests) a cupcake with frozen yogurt on top ($3.95). You can add toppings for an additional cost. If you just want frozen yogurt, they have up to 9 non-fat and low-fat flavors.

They bake their cupcakes on site daily and there's always 12-16 different flavors to choose from. I've been a couple of times, and have tried the typical flavors like vanilla, chocolate, red velvet and honestly compared to other cupcakeries in the area, those flavors don't stand out. However, their fruity flavors are where it's at. Individual cupcakes are $2.75 each. We got the Buy 5, Get 1 Free for $13.75.   

We originally came in because I wanted ONE cupcake as an after dinner dessert. Welp, I got 1/2 dozen. My favorite is the Lemon Burst (lemon cake with lemon cream cheese as the filling and frosting) because their amazing frosting is also injected into the cupcake making it extra moist. The bf's fav is the Neapolitan (vanilla cake with chocolate filling and strawberry frosting). Aside from digging the combo of flavors, the frosting is great. 

An assortment of French Macarons ($1.30 each) are also offered. I tried their Pistachio flavor, which was very sweet. They are smaller than I'm typically used to, making them kind of pricey.

Overall, I love the hours because I'm always craving sweets, so when we're bored late at night, the bf and I can stop in for a treat. The staff is always very helpful and friendly. They have a good variety of options. Their cupcakes are a great price, however I like getting my frozen yogurt at places that charge by the ounce.

838-C Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 309-0863
http://www.yocake.com

MOA - Rockville, MD

A large group of my girl friends and I had dinner at MOA, which is a Korean restaurant hidden in a more industrial part of Rockville. I actually used to work across the street years ago before they opened! The parking lot is small, but there is plenty of street parking.

The interior is bright with wooden tables and benches. They do not have tables with grills built into the center. They bring a portable grill if you order BBQ. They have a wide range of items from soups, BBQ and other traditional Korean dishes.

I've listed the dishes that everyone got, just as a reference.

1. Seol Leong Tang ($7.99) - This is what I ordered. A milky-looking noodle soup with beef. The milkiness come from the bone marrow in the broth. It was my first time trying this dish, and I wish it was spicy.

2. Mul Naeng Myun ($9.99) - Cold soup with beef and vegetables. Has a tangy taste, which makes it a popular dish among my friends. I personally do not like cold, noodle soups.

3. Pork Tang Su Yook ($14.99) - The Korean version of Sweet and Sour pork. I thought it was yummy!

4. Bulgogi Jungol ($29.99) - The plate that the meat is grilled on has a moat (is that the right term?) to hold vegetables, noodles and broth. The beef drippings also help add flavor. This was nice because there was extra stuff other than just meat.

5. Son Wang Mandu ($8.99) - These dumplings are the size of my palm! The biggest ones I've ever seen before. I enjoyed them.

6. Yukgaejang ($8.99) - Spicy, shredded beef soup.

I like that they give yogurt drinks at the end with the bill. Another good dish is their Spicy Octopus, which I've had on a different visit. Small staff, but very helpful! The kim chi is homemade and really good.

MOA Korean Restaurant
12300 Wilkins Ave
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 881-8880
www.yelp.com/biz/moa-korean-restaurant-rockville

Pho Nom Nom - Rockville, MD

My heart sank a bit when I heard that Ba Le was closing. Where was I going to get my banh mi and fast Vietnamese dishes?!  My heart has risen again since Pho Nom Nom has arrived because they do it better.

Limited parking in the front and side, but I've seen people make their own spots when needed.

The place looks brighter, warmer, larger and more inviting. I've been three times in one week, and every time it has been busy.

The menu consists of pho, banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), appetizers, rice/vermicelli, house specials, drinks and desserts.

We started off with an order of Gỏi Cuốn/Summer Roll (fresh garden roll with a choice of pork or chicken, shrimp, lettuce, cilantro, mint & vermicelli wrapped in rice paper, served with peanut sauce) for $3.50. I typically like a lot of mint in mine, but they tasted just fine.

The banh mi is not on their main menu, so you need to ask for it separately. They will give you a 'check-off' sheet where you can customize what you want in it. The bf loved that idea! We shared a Thit Heo Nuong/Grilled Pork banh  mi ($4.45) and it was amazing. The bread is softer, yet still crispy. Almost looks shorter, yet wider. We loved it!

We had zero expectation when ordering the pho because it's not easy to make memorable pho, especially if you have other items on your menu. We were blown away! Very good broth, though tasted cleaner and sweeter than Pho 75. They also give more meat than some other places we've been too. They have three different sizes: Small ($6.45),  Large ($7.95), Super Large ($9.95), the picture below is a small.

Such a minor detail, but it's ingenious. I hate when my spoon falls into the broth, and now I won't have to worry.

These pics were taken from the first time we tried the place. Since then, we've also ordered a vermicelli dish, egg rolls, coconut juice, Vietnamese iced coffee and Dac Biet banh mi. Overall, the place is solid. The pho is delicious. The service is good. Water is constantly refilled, they are friendly and food comes out pretty fast. Everything has been delicious, however I'm not a fan of their coffee because they pre-make it and it isn't sweet enough. The prices appear to be about $1 or so more than Ba Le was or surrounding Pho places. This is the bf's new favorite pho place because he is able to eat other dishes along with his pho. We will be going back quite often.

Pho Nom Nom

842 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 610-0232

www.phonomnom.net

Il Pizzico Review/Rockville Restaurant Week 2011 Info

Rockville Restaurant Week starts tomorrow! September 10-18, 2011 with pre-fixed menus priced at either $8 lunch/$15 for dinner or $15 lunch/$30 dinner depending on the restaurant.

Participating:
Aladdin Indian Kitchen
Amici Miei Ristorante
Baronessa Italian Restaurant
The Bean Bag Deli & Catering Company
Gilly's Craft Beer & Fine Wine
Gordon Biersch
Il Pizzico
La Tasca
Mosaic Cuisine Cafe
Nick's Chophouse
Oro Pomodoro
Phillips Seafood
The Potomac Grill
Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company
Spice Xing
Stella Restaurant
Sushi Damo
Taste of Saigon
Thai Pavilion
Timpano Italian Chophouse

To help promote the week, I was given a $25 gift certificate to try Il Pizzico. The bf and I had been meaning to try this place for a while. Located at the intersection of E. Gude Drive and 355, it's hidden among the car dealers and repair shops. There is a limited parking around the building.

The interior looks nicer and bigger than the outside. The decor is classy and simple and has a wall filled with awards near the entrance.

The bread was soft and served with a black olive spread.

Each table had a tiny rosemary plant! So cute.

We shared an Insalata di mare (steamed scallops, calamari, shrimp and mussels, marinated with garlic, olive oil and lemon)  for $9.95. The dish was served cold, and it was tasty! Perfectly cooked with the right amount of oil and acidity. They did not skimp on the seafood.

The bf ordered the Tagliatelle in salsa di granchio (homemade fettuccine with crab meat, garlic, olive oil, chilies and white wine) for $15.95. There was a large amount of crab! He thought it was good, but actually preferred mine because of the richness, so we switched half way through. I liked his because of the freshness.

I chose the Ravioli di funghi al pistacchio (homemade ravioli filled with mushrooms and ricotta served with pistachio-cream sauce) for $15.95. Very good and creamy! The pistachio gave it a unique flavor. The mushrooms and ricotta made for a flavorful filling.

We ended our dinner sharing a Tiramisu ($8.25). It was topped with so much cocoa powder that we were about to cough off the first bite. Otherwise, it tasted good. There was more mascarpone than ladyfingers, which the bf preferred. We thought the price was a bit steep for the size though.

The menu had a lot of different dishes with pastas around $15 and meats in the low $20s. The homemade pastas really sets this place apart because you don't see that often! The portion size allows for you to be full, but you won't need a doggy bag. I can't say enough about the service. We were insanely impressed! I watched these servers work the whole restaurant (not just us) and they were on point. Friendly, efficient, helpful and professional to all of their customers.

If you're planning on trying a pre-fixed menu for Rockville Restaurant Week, I would recommend this place for a nicer dinner or date.

15209 Frederick Rd
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 309-0610
www.ilpizzico.com

Branded '72 - Rockville, MD

BBQ time! I brought my 2 girls with me to use my Living Social deal at Branded 72. Located in an industrial part of town, I've never noticed it before driving by. It has been around since 1972 and all of the meat is cooked Texas-style with hickory wood in an enclosed pit for 16-18 hours.
It has its own parking lot with the closest metro station being Shady Grove on the red line.

The interior looks a bit old fashioned. There are 2 sections: the bar has tables with a server, and the main dining area is open seating for the chow line.

There is a small sauce station with 3 BBQ sauces: Original Texas,  Roasted Habanero and Rockville Red #12. All of them were not spicy.

Lots of open seating available.

My cousin ordered the Barbecue Sliders (Three mini barbecue sandwiches and choice of two
homemade sides) for $10. She got the Smoked Corned Beef and Texas Beef Brisket with Mac N Cheese and Collared Greens. She wasn't crazy over her food.

My friend ordered the Texas Chili Bowl for $5. She said she liked it.

I ordered the Single Smoked Meat Plate (choice of meat, 2 sides and Texas toast) for $12. I went with the Texas Beef Brisket, Mac N Cheese and Collared Greens. I found the Mac N Cheese and Collared Greens bland. The brisket was decent, but I had to really pile on the sauces because it was drier  than I prefer.

It's great the place has been around for so long, but the atmosphere and staff was lacking energy. My cousin and I ordered pretty much the same thing and both of us found the food lacking flavor.

387 E Gude Dr
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 340-8596

Bombay Bistro - Rockville, MD

The first time I had tried Indian food was at Bombay Bistro when I was probably 10 years old. It was one of the original Indian restaurants in the area. I decided to re-pay it a visit after all these years with one of my good friends.

There is parking in front and along the side of the restaurant. The closest metro station is Rockville on the red line.

The place is small on the inside with pretty simple decor. Our booth looked and felt a bit worn down though.

The menu consists of regional dishes from both the North and South of India.

My friend and I shared an appetizer of Aloo Tikki (Potato patties stuffed with spiced peas, served with assorted chutneys) for $5.95. We wanted something non-fried, and it was the 1st time I had heard of this item, and I liked it a lot. Nice consistency, and flavorful.

We both ordered Garlic Naan (leavened white flour bread with garlic) for $2.50. Each of them were the size of a small pizza. They had a lot of garlic and I appreciated the large portions.

I ordered the Saag Paneer (homemade cubes of cheese cooked with spinach) for $10.95, which was the closest thing to Palak Paneer (my fav!). However I've realized the difference between the dishes is what I'm not a fan of - the consistency. The Saag Paneer is thicker and I prefer the smoothness of the Palak Paneer. I also found this dish a bit bland.

My friend ordered the Lamb Rogan Josh (lamb cooked with an assortment of spices and
tomatoes) for $12.95. I liked it better than my dish because it had a lot of spices and was more flavored.  The presentation was cute with the candle. Both dishes were served with basmati rice.

Our server was helpful when we were trying to understand the dishes. The garlic naan was the highlight of our meal. I would probably order something else next time, though the assorted chutneys helped my dish a bit. I found the prices to be average for Indian food (low teens).

98 W Montgomery Ave
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 762-8798
www.bombaybistro.com

Sichuan Pavillion - Rockville, MD

My cousin and I were in the mood for Chinese food on a Saturday night, so Yelp helped us pick Sichuan Pavilion. There is plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant and the closest metro stop is Rockville on the red line. They also have an outdoor patio for warmer weather.

Nothing too fancy about the inside.

I love tea with my Chinese food!

There are 2 menus - American Chinese Style and Authentic Chinese Style. I think it's pretty self explanatory as to which menu you will find the Sweet and Sour Chicken or the Duck Blood Curd in Sichuan Sauce.

We started off with some Crispy Cucumber Salad ($3.50), which were pickled cucumbers. It would have been a bit better with some chili peppers.

A staple item we like to try at any Chinese restaurant (if served) is the Fried Scallion Pancake ($2.95). It was pretty big, but dry and bland.

The Eggplant in Garlic Sauce ($9.25) was ok. The overall texture of the entire dish was mushy, and had more oil than I would have preferred.

Based upon suggestions from Yelp reviewers, we ordered the "Mapo" Tofu with Minced Beef ($9.25). We didn't know what to expect, but it tasted like...pine needles. We couldn't eat it, so we brought it home and the bf couldn't eat it.

So aside from the food being disappointing, the kicker was the service! On Saturday they claim to close at 10:30pm. Between 10:10pm and 10:20pm, the entire staff had their coats on, we were handed the bill and asked to pay cash for faster processing (we didn't have cash). After swiping our credit cards, the server didn't leave our side until she saw us sign the check. We weren't asked if we wanted to take the food home, but after asking for it to be packed, they only packed 1/2 of it! Then one of the staff members starting singing the tune "So Long, Fair Well" from the Sound of Music....mind you, we were still EATING. Ok we can take a hint, but you're still technically open! So we left after that lovely song.
Sorry if you guys love this place, but I'm not recommending it. There is plenty of good Chinese food in Rockville like Seven Seas, Bob's Noodle 66, Joe's Noddle House and A&J.

410 Hungerford Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 403-7251
www.scpavilion.com