Black Market Bistro

Black Market Bistro ($$) 3.5 (food 4)
4600 Waverly Ave, Garret Park MD
301-933-3000
www.blackmarketrestaurant.com

Happy Thanksgiving! After a week of preparation culminating in gluttony that lasted 3 hours, I rested then went right back at it... I love the holidays. You eat all you want 'cause your wearing so many layers of clothes who's gonna notice the extra layer of lard! On sunday after turkey day, we (my family and my mother in law) went to Black Market Bistro. I have to admit I am A BIG FAN of the Black's. I love Black Salt (BS) and Black's in Bethesda is COOL! I have not been to Addie's but its on the list. Black Market Bistro started rough. We called the day before for a reservation and they said they didn't take them for brunch. When we arrived at 10:10 (opens at 10) we requested a table for five and the host rolled his eyes when we said we didn't have a reservation. After a short wait we were given a table of good size. Be fore-warned this place is SMALL. The service was below what Black's and BS offer. Some beinget's showed up that we had not ordered and were whisked away. The hot cocoa that my Mother in Law (MIL) order was little more than steamed milk... went back and they got it right. The menu was good bistro fare: croque's (basically fancy grill cheese on super brioche bread), eggs benedict and some paninni's. The kids menu is good: lots of fruit and not too heavy on the nasty stuff. I ordered the steak and eggs ($14), my wife had the croque madame ($12), my MIL had the eggs benedict with the house cured salmon and the kids had pancakes with chocolate chips and grilled cheese with fruit. This is where things recovered. The steak and eggs were very good. The skirt steak was well tenderized and grilled just as would be expected in a french bistro, the eggs were seasoned well, not overcooked and DELICIOUS. The baby yukon gold potatoes although cute, were mushy and were left alone on the plate. The croque madame with beautifully poached eggs looked great and got good reviews from my foodie wife... she took what she could not finish home. The benedict also was received well. As for the grilled cheese (cheddar and mozzarella on brioche bread) and pancakes my kids gave the Ebert thumbs up to both and plowed through them. The service picked up with the meal. The coffee was Illy brand... found all over europe and brewed to perfection at the bistro: no need for sprucing it up as a latte or cappuccino, I like it Black like the bistro. Over all I give it a 3.5 only for service issues... I will go Black... I mean back!

-Zach