Blue Duck Tavern - a very pleasant surprise


After recovering from a very bad post-holiday cold I wondered if I had the strength to have dinner at Blue Duck Tavern. Pals had suggested Blue Tavern in the past, but I had shied away from Blue Duck Tavern because it was located within a hotel. In the past I had found hotel food to be overpriced and just mediocre. Blue Duck Tavern proved me wrong, very wrong.

I had an enjoyable meal in a relaxed setting with great service. I arrived early and stopped at the bar for a pre-dinner beverage; I had the Cranberry Crush mocktail - cranberry, lime juice and ginger beer. It was refreshing and tangy with a hint of spiciness from the ginger beer.

I had the cauliflower soup, bone marrow appetizer, braised beef rib with brussel sprouts. The bone marrow appetizer can easily be shared by two or more people. The braised rib and brussel sprouts can also easily by shared.

bone marrow

brussel sprouts

 I finished the meal with sunfruit sorbet (think orange sherbet colored sorbet with citrus hints bursting forth with each spoonful).  My server, Michael, suggested I try Blue Duck Tavern's sugar cookies with the sorbet. The cookies were pliable and melted in the mouth. The cookies enhanced the enhanced the citrus element of the sorbet.

sunfruit sorbet



sugar cookies

Michael, the server assigned to my table, was wonderful. He skillfully recommended wine pairings for the appetizers and entrée.

The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The Blue Duck Tavern is a family friendly restaurant; it is also a lovely spot for an grown ups only evening out.

The closest metro stop is Foggy Bottom. Metered street parking is available Monday thru Saturday. Street parking is free on Sundays. Reservations are suggested and can be made through Open Table.

 I only regret that I hadn't visited the Blue Duck Tavern sooner.

Chef Geoff's - Rockville

I visited  Chef Geoff's in Rockville, MD with a pal who had a not so pleasant experience at another Chef Geoff's location. We had the CG burger, chicken Provençal and trio of sorbets.

  The chicken Provençal, a new menu item, was tasty and visually appealing.

Chicken Provençal

The CG burger was cooked exactly the way my pal requested. The broccolini side was crisp and fresh .

CG Burger

 We shared the trio sorbet (a scoop of mango-pineapple, coconut, and raspberry sorbets)and accompanying chocolate chip biscotti. It was a perfect ending to our meal.

trio sorbet

After dinner my pal decided she will visit this Chef Geoff's location in the future.

Service was efficient and polite. The bathrooms were clean and in good  working order. The restaurant is family friendly and could accommodate a large group for dinner.

Mondays and Tuesdays the restaurants hosts all day Happy Hour in the bar area.

This location of Chef Geoff's is in located in the former Houston's Restaurant space on Rockville Pike in Rockville, MD. The closest metro station is Twinbrook Metro.