Please add your favorite places to the lists below,
and add reviews and comments to the places already listed.

Got Jo? - Where's your favorite place to get a cup of coffee?

-- I hate saying this but I require convenience and high quality coffee in the neighborhood for me to be satisfied with a coffee place. None of the current offerings fit my qualifications yet. I'm still hopeful we'll get the right combination soon.
-Jim C.

--I hear you, Jim! Right now, Starbucks in College Park wins out just because of proximity to home. If I want to sit with my laptop or a book, though, I do go to the College Perk, esp in daylight -- the outdoor tables are nice. We usually only get to the New Deal before a movie at Old Greenbelt -- and the new "policy" of not letting you bring in New Deal coffee to the theater sure put a damper on that routine! All won't be entirely well til we have coffee brewing in Town Center! --Dwight H.

• I had an excellent Cappuccino today (Aug 23, 2008) and was thrilled to get it in a fancy ceramic mug - so much nicer than paper/plastic. Their kitchen is now open and I enjoyed a half dozen delicious sambusas (a thin crispy dough filled with vegies and/or chicken/beef etc.). Also served on a beautiful ceramic plate. The owners (Adamu and his wife Kelem) are from Ethiopia and logically enough feature Ethiopian cuisine. Since I had two dogs with me, I ate outside and several people came out to greet me and the dogs. Everyone was very friendly.
  
  Coffee starts at $1.45 with Cappuccino from $2.65. Fruit smoothies from $3.50, Sambusas $1.50 each (cheaper by the dozen at $12 or half dozen at $7.50). Breakfast from $2.25 for an egg sandwich ($3.95 for eggs with ham, bacon or sausage and cheese). Weekday lunch specials are available 11am-3pm M-F for $6.95. Dinners from $7.50 to $12.95 (vegetarian, chicken, lamb, and beef entrees available). For the brave, they even offer steak tarter! (available raw or cooked). They have beer, wine and spirits and offer catering too. ~Rob
  
  Click here for a Shagga Coupon - 25% off food and coffee.
  

• In Gentrifying Mount Rainier, Some Artmosphere -Washington Post review 11/22/07

NOTE: July 4, 2008: Temporarily closed due to a fire on the premises - Chris hopes to reopen by mid-August

• For a more off-beat approach to lunch, this is actually one of my favorite places to get work done. The food is great too. Just barely north of 193 on Route 1, a bit south of Seven Seas. May be a bit "funky" for some.... –Sarah
  
• Absolutely, I agree Sarah. And they've got free wi-fi. A very good option for vegetarians, by the way. I particularly enjoy the outdoor seating in good weather during the day, and the music indoors at night. Really makes me wish we had a place to stage music for local artists in Town Center! Oh, yeah, and did somebody mention coffee too? --Dwight

• - The New Deal has changed hands, and is no longer a coffee house. They still have live entertainment, and feature a middle eastern menu. Check out there website here.
  

RESTAURANTS

In Riverdale Park

• Calvert House Inn
  

6211 Baltimore Ave
Riverdale, MD 20737
301-864-5220
11:30 am - 10 pm Mon-Sat
11:30 am - 9 pm Sun
Menu

Article announcing Calvert House re-opening in The Gazette 4/13/06

Calvert House - love crabcakes. But is expensive & only for special occasions. They need a regular menu for dinner that is equal in price to Platos in College Park. --Emily

Great crabcakes! -- Jim C.

Calvert House is reliable, great crabcakes. -- Nancy A.

• Shagga
  See Shagga above (under coffee). They are now more of a restaurant than a coffee shop with fine Ethiopian Cuisine.
  

• The New Surf Club Live!

4711 Kenilworth Ave, Hyattsville, MD
(301)927-6310
www.SurfClubLive.com

The Surf Club is under new management and is still the premier venue in the area for live musical performances. Check http://www.surfclublive.com for our up to date schedule. A neighborhood bar and friendly "road house". Come by and enjoy a show or have a beer and shoot a game of pool after work!

• Alamo Restaurant (Mexican)

5510 Kenilworth Ave., Riverdale, MD 20737

301-927-8787

Alamo - great food, like the people & atmosphere. But due to our diets we do not go there a lot but used to. --Emily

I've been to Alamo twice, and both times they had two older gentlemen
playing guitar and singing, very nice. --Nancy A.

I've had takeout from Alamo once, and the food was good, not great. It beats fast food Mexican, but there are better sit down restaurants.
-- Zuchinibut

Not Mexican but Tex-Mex -- and not the greatest Tex Mex.

Here's a review from the Washington Post from 2004:
Alamo Restaurant "Editor's Pick"

see also County provides alternatives to Tex-Mex restaurants in the Gazette

• El Bucanas Cafe

• 
  

• 
  

5409 Kenilworth Ave.,
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
301-209-9699
Washington Post review

• Pollo Fiesta (Peruvian style Rotisserie chicken plus Mexican foods)

6408 Kenilworth Ave, Riverdale, Md 20737
(Bright yellow building, on the west side of Kenilworth, about 3 blocks north of E-W hwy).
301-277-0298
Open 7-days/week, 11 am-10 pm.

Excellent food. Freshly made. I was very pleasantly surprised. Even the mixed vegies were fresh and delicious.

Pollo Fiesta has a wide range of prices, most very reasonable. As an example, Burritos with guacamole and sour cream $7.25. Enchiladas are about the same. 1/4 chicken $6 (includes 2 sides) or 1/2 chicken (w/2 sides) $7.25, Grilled fish $14, Steak and shrimp $13.50, Seafood combo (fish, shrimp, lobster) $21, Steak and seafood (shrimp & lobster) $23. Lunch specials (M-F 11am-3pm) $6.25.

• Other raving reviews:
  • Washington Post
  • http://www.yelp.com/biz/49aR5Wq1UjE2xPIlq1RNjw (4 and 5 stars).

(Excerpts: Craig says: "Their Peruvian style burritos are to die for. The steak burrito is enormous (much bigger than Chipotle)." Ethan says: "Don't let it's boxy-warehouse-meets-McDonalds exterior fool you, the inside is clean and more upscale than would be expected."

• Dannielle Glaros recently wrote a very positive review of Pollo Fiesta in the Town Crier.

Some of the menu is online here: http://www.comedorlatino.com/pollofiesta.html along with a map and a picture of the building (which is a bit ugly on the outside, but reasonably nice on the inside). -Rob

• We haven't eaten in, but have gotten their rotisserie chicken for take-out, and it's excellent! -- Dwight UPDATE: OK, we finally ate in! Nice place, nice people,. good service, varied menu. The tamales are wonderful. Nothing else we had quite lived up to the standards of their rotisserie chicken, but that's just one try. There are a lot of choices on the menu, so I'm sure we'll give another try.
• Pollo Fiesta rocks because they've found the magical combo of style (inside only), food quality, and overall value I look for. Try the pupusas and tamales also.--Jim C.
• Tried Pollo Fiesta for the first time with their half chicken and a chicken chimichanga. Very impressed with both meals and excited to try some more things on their menu. --Zuchinibut

• Taqueria Tres Reyes
  
  • 5403 Kenilworth Ave.,Riverdale Park, MD 20737
    301-779-6060

Washington Post review by Tom Sietsema (2004)

• "Korean Restaurant" (formerly Yi Jo, the Korean restaurant that used to be at Days Inn in CP.Now right next door to the Alamo, under the sign that says "Sports Bar" -- there own sign is only in Korean as of this writing 2/14/08))
  • Get the bibimbap in the stone crock. Yum. --Regina
  • Very delicious Korean food, no change in atmosphere from Alamo's bar (numerous large screen tv's) but if you can live with the incongruity, it's worth a trip over! --Jim C.
  • We ate there last night (2/13/08) and had a truly wonderful meal. Ditto what Jim said on the contradictions -- we had American Idol showing on 3 big screen tv's while we ate -- but I'd have to say this is easily the best restaurant food I've had within the borders of Riverdale Park. Thanks to everyone on TownTalk for singing its praises and getting us to try it out! -- Dwight
  • We ate there last weekend. Never tasted Korean food before - but it was very good. Nice to have a diff. flavor. We will definitely be a regular there. Emily, Del, Michael

• Here's a 2004 review from The Gazette
  

NEW PHONE NUMBER: 301-927-8888
NEW Address: approximately 5512 Kenilworth Ave (the Alamo is 5510)

In the Area

• Franklin's Brewpub and General Store:

Great food of the "generic americana" variety - though that doesn't do it justice - the chef is very creative. (Be forewarned, the website is dreadful, but it will give you an idea of the options.) About 1 mile south of campus on Route 1. –Sarah

• Franklin's has really good bar food, but the entrees are worth skipping --Nancy A.
• I *love* the mussels; everything else seems to be hit or miss. Too bad, love the atmosphere, am in awe of what Franklin's has done for our whole area. I think we go out of loyalty, not for the food. Always hoping that'll change in the future. --Dwight
• Washington Post review by Nancy Lewis, The Guide, April 26, 2007
• The atmosphere at Franklin's is great. I've always enjoyed my visits there. The beer is decent, but a bit hoppy for my liking. The food is really good, and I look forward to seeing what their specials are. --Zuchinibut

• La Sirenita (look for the blue mermaid on the sign; a small place on the left side of the road as you drive south on Edmonston Rd, coming from Riverdale Park)

4911 Edmonston Road
Hyattsville (isn't this really in Edmonston?)
301-864-0188

I love this place for its chile rellenos, which are to die for. The atmosphere is great too -- picture menus on the wall, Latin tunes on the juke box, and Mexican soaps on the satellite tv! --Dwight

The Post puts in a good word for their burritos here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1119908
and the Gazette gives a full review (1/12/06), County provides alternatives to Tex-Mex restaurants

• Beijing Palace
  • Chinese, sushi and sub, carry out, Kenilworth Av,Bladensburg--Jonah
• Three Brothers, Italian, on Kenilworth Av Bladensburg (near Beijing
  Palace) --Jonah
• El Tapatio (4309 Kenilworth Ave, Bladensburg) is one of my favorites --Nancy A. I second that! (tho I thought it was RP) --ReginaK
  

• Hanami Restaurant (Japanese):

- Sushi, tempura, teriyaki. This is my absolute favorite restaurant in the area. Extremely close to CASL (behind the Fire Station on Route 1.) --Sarah

• Seven Seas (Chinese, sushi):

They have good vegetarian options, food is okay. Also nearby (between U of MD and 193/University on Route 1.) To be honest, I haven't yet found a nearby Chinese restaurant that I really love. Silver Spring/Wheaton has much better hoices. –Sarah

Chinese and sushi, College Park Balt Blvd --daily lunch
buffet, dim sum on Sunday --Jonah

• College Perk Coffehouse:

- For a more off-beat approach to lunch, this is actually one of my favorite places to get work done. The food is great too. Just barely north of 193 on Route 1, a bit south of Seven Seas. May be a bit "funky" for some.... –Sarah
- Absolutely, I agree Sarah. A very good option for vegetarians, by the way. I particularly enjoy the outdoor seating in good weather during the day, and the music indoors at night. Really makes me wish we had a place to stage music for local artists in Town Center! Oh, yeah, and did somebody mention coffee too? --Dwight
- Fun hangout with activities on many nights. --Jim C.

• China Buffet
  • on Rt 1 - all you can eat & has crab legs/shrimp. I like the flavor of their food but it is full of MSG which I cannot have. They did not use to have MSG in their food but do now. The price is right but we cut back going. People nice to us. Big lines sometimes on weekends. --Emily

• Plato's Diner
  • We eat there a lot cause of the prices but I do not like the food much but Del does as he likes vinegar & Greek food. –Emily
• Coffee Shop/Cafe on Rt 1 by Md. Univ. - they have so many teas to choose from. --Emily
• Food Factory - "Afghan, Pakastani, Indian, Iranian, Turkish and
  Bangladesh" -- shish kabob, fresh baked nan, and some good vegetarian
  dishes. in College Park (Near Hanami Japanese restaurant) --Jonah
• Curry Express
• • OUT OF BUSINESS: You see! The free market works! (Dwight)
    
  • carry out Indian, great curry etc College Park (in the
    old White Tower Hamburger joint. (check out their website:
    dabbawalli.com and read about the lunch delivery industry in Bombay.) --Jonah
  • I'd love this place to be awesome; unfortunately I've found the quality to pretty much match the price (cheap). anyway, nice to have it as an option! The people are very friendly. --Dwight
  
  

Washington Post review

I love AeroSquadron as food is always good & the atmosphere is wonderful - fireplace, music etc. But is expensive for special occasions. --Emily

• Yi Jo, the Korean restaurant at Days Inn in CP. Get the bibimbap in the stone crock. Yum. --Regina NOTE: Yi Jo has moved to Riverdale Park -- directly next door to the Alamo; as of now the sign is only in Korean! see reviews above--Dwight 2/13/08
  

• Beijing in Old Greenbelt Mall by movies

Beijing Of Greenbelt.
131 Centerway,
Greenbelt, MD
Tel: (301) 345-3996

- great food, spoil you rotten & prices higher than Plato but not too bad. We eat here a lot. --Emily

• Secret Chef [Thai] on Greenbelt Road –
  

5810 Greenbelt Rd.
Greenbelt MD 20770
301-345-6101

Good Food but on the expensive side. Nice people. –Emily
Got takeout one time, but my brother, wife and I were not impressed. - Zuchinibut

Siri's Chef's Secret: - We all know this nearby Thai restaurant on 193 east of Route 1. --Sarah

Ya know, I try to be charitable in these matters. But we just did takeout from Secret Chef last night... I've probably had their food 20 times over 6 or 7 years -- you get desperate for Thai food every now & then, but sometimes it's just not practical to drive up to Wheaton... I can safely say with certainty, I've never had a single dish from them that makes you go 'wow.' And more often than not, the food's just mediocre, at best. Last night's was a definite mediocre. For starters theBasil Delight had exactly 3 little leaves of basil in amongst the beef, which was tough. Not much delight in that. Spices were just strong enough to let you know 'this is Thai food,' but just that. I've often thought the nice thing about Thai restaurants in this country (vs Chinese) is that they don't go overboard in Americanizing their cooking. Sure, it's not near as hot as it would be in Thailand, but most restaurants here give you a full portion of flavors -- but not at this restaurant, not in my experience. The pad thaiwas decent enough, nothing to write home about (unless your home is on the Wiki ;-). I wish it weren't so. I'd love to drool over every item on their menu... --Dwight 12/19/07

• New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt - good desserts & healthy foods - like the music/art plus the music outside that we can sit around and listen to. --Emily

Further Afield

• Tiffin (North Indian) (sister restaurant to Udupi Palace (South Indian))

Really fabulous Indian food, but a bit more of a trek (on University just before New Hampshire.) --Sarah

One of the three very good Indian restaurants at the Langley Park intersection; but this one really is outstanding. I lived in South Asia for 13 years, and I’ve tried out more than a few Indian restaurants in the U.S. and Canada over the years. I really don’t know another place that serves consistently better food (and at very reasonable prices) than Tiffin. We’re very fortunate to have them so close. --Dwight

I hate to pile on but this is by far one of the best Indian restaurants in the DC area (especially for the price). --Jim C.

Woodlands(South Indian)

Really excellent, all vegetarian. Atmosphere is not as fancy as Tiffin but the prices are much lower and the hospitality and service is just as great, if not better. Checkout the restaurant review in Washingtonian. Located in the shopping plaza caddy corner from Udupi. Tell the owner, Anand Pujuray, that you are from Riverdale Park and want him to open another restaurant here. He attended the Town's June '08 open house in our Town Center and expressed some interest in one of Jemal's buildings. - Alice

• Golden Bull

9107 Riggs Rd
Adelphi, MD 20783
(301) 439-4800
I like their beef. Many years ago I used to go there for company dinners. But have not been there in retirement years. --Emily

• Jerry's Seafood in Seabrook. Crab Bomb and crab cakes are wonderful. But it is expensive but well worth it - for special occasions only - big lines.

• Ruan Thai

11407 Amherst Ave.
Wheaton, MD 20902
301.942.0075
Washington Post review

My very favorite Thai restaurant in the Metro area. Never been disappointed, A true "hole in the wall" kind of place; family operated, very friendly. Nothing fancy whatsover (though they did upgrade the menus a year or so ago!)
--Dwight

I really like Ruan Thai in Silver Spring (it's a dive though, but the
food is great)... --Sarah W.

Read what the Chowhounds have to say about Ruan Thai (and Dusit Thai)-- if you are not familiar with chowhound.com and you like eating out -- well, you're in for a treat.

• ...or Dusit Thai (nicer atmosphere). -- Sarah W.

Dusit Thai Cuisine
2404 University Blvd W
Wheaton, MD 20902-4510
Phone: 301-949-4140

Note: Strange as it may seem, I found this note re Dusit Thai at: "Takeout is not available from Dusit Thai Cuisine."

• Clyde’s - up towards Rockville 270 off Montrose Rd./Old Georgetown Rd area - done up in the Adirondack atmosphere - - the food was expensive but to die for and I would go back there in a flash - for special occasion. --Emily

• Cozy Inn - Thurmont Md.

The Cozy Restaurant
103 Frederick Road
Thurmont, MD 21788
Phone: (301) 271-7373

Cozy Buffet is absolutely wonderful - best we have found and the price is reasonable and the drive there is beautiful and the rooms are great. We are going for our anniversary - fireplace, big cushy chairs, king size bed with new type mattress that you sink so far down in - I thought I would never climb back out. Our refrigerator was encased in an old time safe. Little shops surrounding the Inn. All rooms are reasonably priced for what you get. --Emily

CROGHAN, NEW YORK

Up in the north country NY, land of deep snows, there is a wonderful early 1900 ice cream store decked out in all the old tyme dairy stuff - that still makes old tyme sodas - the rare one that nobody else will make here in our area - ice cream to die for and a fair price - what Baskins & Robbins gives you for $4 here - Wishy's gives you the size of your head. That is right, Del & I got a banana split - it was so huge we did not think we could begin to eat it - but talking to the owner - before we knew it - that split disappeared down the hatch. If one day any of you want to come up to visit a spell with us, we will take you there & other neat places on the farm.

Emily & Del

Maybe Merge this with Hyattsville's list?

This week's Wiki Poll: