PREVIEW: Brunch at Medium Rare

I was graciously allowed an early bite today as Medium Rare, Cleveland Park's new steak frites bistronomie, put their staff through a dress rehearsal.

Brunch sticks to their simple menu theme and is affordable at $14.50. Each item comes with their soft-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside rustic bread and your choice of yogurt parfait (suprisingly good!), fresh fruit or salad. Currently, the brunch line up includes Steak Frites (with a poached egg if you so desire), Medium Rare Benedict (steak, portabello mushroom, poached egg, red pepper & hollandaise) or Egg Frites (three perfectly poached eggs topped with their secret sauce (gravy-ish) and fries. Those were all solid choices - and if you're a meat and potatoes kinda gal/guy, you are really going to dig this joint.

I'm not, but I still think I'm going to like it. (Vegetarian options nightly will include portabello mushrooms topped with red pepper and their secret sauce, plus frites)

First off, the staff was incredibly welcoming, gracious and astute. They rarely missed a beat and I already feel at home in the warm, chic space (Yanni, who?). I adore the red exposed brick walls, inviting windows and smart bistro tables. The bar invites you to pull up a stool for a glass of wine or pint of beer. And, the bloody mary was one of the best I've had in recent memory (if you are a horseradish slore like me, you'll go nuts on it).

Lastly, though in my book it might go first, desserts. We tried the carrot cake and the apple pie. I think my live tweet said it best: After I have my way with Medium Rare's carrot cake, I want to go home and spoon it. It's huge, so there's another serving in my fridge and I just might do that.

My only complaint was that the menu wasn't sourced. I like knowing where my ingredients come from and the staff couldn't tell me what farm their beef came from. Nerdy locavore question, I realize, but if I had one thing to improve upon that would be it. Either way, I'll be back for more.

As the sign on the door today says, "Show opens and lines form Monday March 28th, 5pm."

Bottom line: Check it out.

Medium Rare is at 3500 Connecticut Avenue NW at Ordway Street. Brunch will be served every Saturday and Sunday. It less than a stone's throw from the Cleveland Park metro stop. Make a reservation, follow them on Twitter and let me know what you think!


Disclosure: Part of my meal was complimentary as this was a dress rehearsal and the restaurant is not officially open. That said, it's worth the hard earned dollars in my bank account. ;)


Live in Cleveland Park, follow me on Facebook & Twitter for the latest happenings in the 'hood.

WANTED: Amazing Artisan Coffee in Cleveland Park

I woke up this morning and was out of half and half. As I trudged out in the (why is it still) cold to Brookville Market, I was thinking, all I really want is Pound. Or Murky. Or Filter.

The insanely delicious Nutella Latte I had yesterday at Pound The Hill

Yes, we've got Firehook and Cacao - both great bakeries, but I want someone who's focused on the perfect latte, not the perfect, flaky croissant. (I'll take the croissant after my latte.)

We are blessed with so many fantastic restaurants in our neighborhood. Is it too greedy for me to hope that the Cereal Bowl space becomes an amazing, artisan coffeeshop?

What do you wish Cleveland Park had?

PS. Dear Nam-Viet, please consider brunch, cause BaBay's Vietnamese brunch now has me craving fried egg banh mi!

Sneak Peek: Cleveland Park's New Medium Rare Menu

I just walked by the cozy new Medium Rare space at Connecticut and Ordway and peeked inside. The exposed brick walls and cafe tables scream French bistro and the menus I saw on one of the tables reinforced it.

I had heard that Medium Rare was going to do steak frites and steak frites only, but part of me didn't believe it (maybe the part that doesn't really eat steak.) But, the menus show Rustic Bread, Salad and Steak Frites for a grand total of $19.99. Not half bad and I expect the steak lovers to flock.

For the rest of us, I hope they cobble together some sort of kick ass sides combo like Hank's Oyster Bar's market plate.

When it comes to dessert, Medium Rare won't be a one trick pony. I spied chocolate cake, ice cream sundae, carrot cake and cheesecake on the docket

So, what do you think, will DC support a single item menu? When it's the vision of Michel Richard, Brian Zipin and Mark Bucher, I suspect the answer will be yes.

Medium Rare is located at 3500 Connecticut Avenue NW, immediately outside of the Cleveland Park Metro stop. We Cleveland Park residents urge you to take Metro to this new hot spot as it's combat parking out there already! ;)

St. Patrick's Day in Cleveland Park

I defy you to show me a neighborhood that does St. Patrick's Day in the District better than Cleveland Park. We've got a built in base with 4P's & Nanny O'Briens... and now, today, all day, we also have the Lobster Truck.

It's a gorgeous day. Get your green on and get here... and if you forget your green, this guy will hook you up:

DEAL: One Month at City Fitness + Personal Training for $50

No need to mince words here. The beach is nearing. Groupon's got the hook up today: $50 for one month at City Fitness right here in Cleveland Park, plus a personal training session to keep you honest.

I'm thinking of joining, so this will be a good way to test it out. Anyone else love it/hate it?

Beck Boys Bringing Bistro to Cleveland Park

TBD may be capsizing, but they are still delivering good local restaurant scoop, like today's piece on Bistro Le Zinc.

Metrocurean reports that Brasserie Beck alums David Ashwell & John Warner will be setting up the French bistro at 3417 Macomb Street NW (over across from 2 Amy's where that sushi joint used to be...)

With TBD shuttering, make sure to follow their restaurants editor @Nathasha on Twitter to keep up with the latest!

DEALS: 3 Personal Training Sessions for $90 at City Fitness

Um, are these things geolocating to me or is today just extra awesome for Cleveland Park? In addition to the mani-pedi deal on Living Social, we've also got a deep discount on personal training at City Fitness on Deals for Deeds.

Log in or sign up for Deals for Deeds and get three personal training sessions (usually $240) for just $90 at our local gym, City Fitness.

NOTE to slackers (ie, me), you have to use the sessions in the next three months, so get crackin'!

[City Fitness is located at 3525 Connecticut Avenue... right across from the metro exit and inconveniently located between Palena and Waygandt Wine.]

PS. How did I not know they had yoga and pilates? Anyone go to City Fitness and love it? Maybe I need to join as this whole, couch surfing thing is not helping my bikini bod for spring.

DEALS: Half Off Paraffin Mani/Pedi in Cleveland Park

I know many of you get emails or app alerts from endless discounters like Groupon, Living Social and Deals for Deeds. I keep an eye on all of them and will report them to you here when they are in Cleveland Park... like today's!

Now, I'm more of a Cleveland Park Day Spa or Nam's Posh Nails girl... but for just $25.00, I'll give Revo a try.

To get yours, click here and go to Living Social. Log in or sign up and voila - 55% off a paraffin manicure and pedicure... which we're all going to need once this snow breaks. You can only purchase it today, so get hoppin'.

[Revo is at 3416 Connecticut Avenue NW, just a block from Cleveland Park metro.]

Available Lot in Cleveland Park?

Someone (a non city dweller) asked me what it would cost to buy a lot in my neighborhood. I scoffed that there would even be a slice of space available without a home, business or condo already built on it... but, whaddya know, there is.

Brought to you by my addiction to Trulia.com... a pretty wooded lot on Klingle Road NW...

Just a mere $1.7 million clams. Contact Marc Fleisher of Long & Foster if you're ready to ante up...

UPDATE: Tacklebox Opening Set for April

If you're like me, you've been peeking through the windows of the forthcoming Cleveland Park Tacklebox restaurant trying to deign when it might open.  A simpler way would be to follow their Facebook and Twitter feeds where they announced today that they are shooting for April - and they'll be announcing special offers!

Hang in there CP! We'll have lobster rolls and blueberry pie come spring...

PS. Wonder if we'll get a Crackle Bar too? Email me & tell me what's the scoop!

[UPDATE: Well, that's a wrap. Tacklebox closed in April 2012. After the Bandolero pop up, we're getting a new tapas joint from the guy behind Floriana.]