We ate at the Ice House in Herdon Sat. night with another couple. My husband and I had only been there once, probably 15 years ago. Since I can't remember anything about the meal (except that my lovely mother-in-law caused a huge scene by offering to take us to dinner and then refusing to pay for the bill because it was $50 and she didn't *have* $50 and did we think she was rich - but I digress...), I was a little leary, but was assured by recent diners there that it was very good. Well, maybe the entire staff has changed in the past few months (because I put great stock in the restaurant choices of a certain individual who will know who she is when she reads this), but the food and service were flat-out *AWFUL*. The wait-staff was a group of sour-pussed individuals who would barely respond when asked a question and who did not even *attempt* to make one feel welcome. My appetizer came out luke-warm. It was baked oysters topped with lump crabmeat. A lump, *any* lump, was never within 10 feet of that crabmeat - it was stringy and tasteless. And when the entrees arrived that my husband and I ordered, they were NOT as described on the menu. He ordered "blackened salmon" - but it came out pink as a baby's behind. I ordered chicken with polenta. The mass on my plate was definitely NOT polenta but I had no clue what it was. I flagged down one of our two waiters and I said something like - this dish was supposed to have polenta on it? He replied - yes, it's a potato pancake. I replied - oh, they decided to change it? He turned and walked away without further comment. Friendly sort. And the potato pancake was a starch-glob - again completely tasteless. On the positive side, my husband thought the basmati rice and shredded pickled cabbage that came with his meal were very good and a good combination of tastes. We did not stay for dessert and coffee. All in all, I was extremely disappointed and would not tell anyone to go there. Any comments??? risa
Washington, DC