Travel, golf & leisure » Restaurants » M CAFE AND BAR, Chic New Upscale Cafe Offers Patrons a Fresh New Dining Option In Chevy Chase
M CAFE AND BAR, Chic New Upscale Cafe Offers Patrons a Fresh New Dining Option In Chevy Chase
Story by: Sol tucker
Photos by: Sol tucker
Chevy Chase , MD --
If you have visited the Chevy Chase area recently, you might have had a chance to see what the area has been buzzing about for the past several months, the Collection at Chevy Chase which features the likes of Gucci, Tiffany and Co., Jimmy Choo , Louis Vuitton and Max Mara and now M Cafe and Bar.
Designed by Stefano Domenciand inspired by its owner Iraklis Karabassis, M Cafe certainly takes after Karabassis for those who do not know is the founder and owner of Max Mara which is just the reason it connects to the Max Mara store and the life size posters on the wall depict the newest looks for the fall clothing line.
Once inside of the restaurant, patrons will be greeted by the massive seating area. There is plenty of space to bring your work and clients along for what we believe is one of the best lunch menu's anywhere in the Washington area.
The spacious cafe area's white table and chairs really brighten up the room and accent the amazing yellowish orange mural that spans the front wall of the restaurant which gives patrons a stunning early evening lighted experience. Something you might find in South Beach, but certainly a first in Chevy Chase. It even offers an amber glow to patrons enjoying the outside seating, which we might add fills very quickly and will be the most desired placed to sit this fall.
Now that we have described the amazing atmosphere you can expect once inside, wait until you have a chance to taste some of the menu items that Chef Gabriele Paganelli has put together. His cuisine which is inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and is influence by the famous Northern Italian, Pellegrino Artusi, author of " The Science of Art and Eating Well," which boasts the second highest number of reprintings in Italy, second only to the Bible. His combination of presentation and recipes with modern fashion, will not be matched anywhere in the Washington, D.C area.
One of the most desirable parts of Chef Gabriele's menu are the prices. The most expensive item on the menu is $15.95 and most selections are around $7.95, not bad for the best quality we have seen anywhere on a lunch menu in 10 years.
Our first selection from M Cafe's menu was from the salad portion of the menu. The Endive, Arugula and Greek Salad are some of the best they have to offer. The greek is going to be the most filling with a great vinegar base loaded with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, feta cheese and a whole bunch of olives. For $6.95 this is one of the best valued salads M Cafe offers based on the price and the amount product that you are tasting. It was so good we asked to take some back to the office with us.
If you think your salad is impressive when it arrives on the table, wait until you see some of the selections from the Cutting Boards and Carpaccio part of the menu. WIth 10 selections, there is something that everyone will like. From the vegetarians to the beef and seafood lovers, the amount of selections will leave you guessing what is the best on the menu. The Tuna Carpaccio which is a house cured tuna with baked olives, fennel, citrus and chicory.
Some of Paganelli's best dishes come under what M Cafe calls the One Dish Meals. If your looking for a light Italian lunch, then both the Lasagna Bolognese and the Bird Nest are great selections. While most Lasagna dishes tend to be heavy on the cheese, Paganelli has made this classic meat dish originally from Bologna mouth watering with the spinach pasta and bechamel. This is lasagna like your mother made it. Paganelli carries an artistic license to recreate some oldies but goodies.
The Bird Nest might take our "Flavor Buster" award as these cannelloni's are stuffed with ricotta cheese and swiss chard. They were so large they barely fit into the plate in which they were served.
If you desire a salad as a main course, they have some of the largest salads imaginable. The Beef Tenderloin salad was loaded with the most tender pieces of tenderloin we have ever seen. The beef just melts in your mouth. Most thinly sliced pieced of beef tend to become chewy, this was like biting into a warm slice of bread and the dressing, just enough, but not overwhelming the flavor of the beef.
While most people will enjoy the Italian selections, the Shrimp Kebob is a great seafood selection. The black tiger shrimp is wrapped in pancetta and is served with a nice selection of fresh fruit. Another A+ on presentation on this item. Add the balasamic vinaigrette and this $14.50 might be the best money spent at M Cafe.
While we did not sample the pizza, M Cafe has five different types of thin crust pizzas with the chicken and the white pizza being the most popular in the first week that the M Cafe has been open for business.
If your in the mood for a sandwich or a panini, there are seven different types to choose from that are either served with a green salad and seasoned french fries. We sampled the Piadina which is served on a flat breat that is similar to pita bread and is lightly grilled just to melt the taleggio cheese so it does not take away from the Parma prosciutto.
Lastly, who could leave the M Cafe without trying one of their homemade pastries. Anyone who walks into the restaurant can not miss the huge case in front of the bar area that displays everything from Key Lime Tarts to Creme Filled Cannolli's. You can taste the freshness in every bite. Even the bread served at every table with lunch or dinner is made fresh in the same kitchen as the pastries.
If you are looking for a great place to grab breakfast on the weekend, then this is the place. With everything from freshly baked pastries to Omelets and pancakes and salmon on a bagel
Overall, M Cafe has all of the ingredients to become the hottest place for breakfast, lunch or dinner in Chevy Chase. Their service, ambience and menu selections are something that is no where to be found anywhere else in the area. This is the place Chevy Chase has lacked for years. Chevy Chase has had a Nieman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue for years, but nothing like them in the dining category. With the most fashionable names in the world arriving in the neighborhood, you better have a place to dine that matches their names and M Cafe certainly steps to the plate and hits a homerun.
M Cafe and Bar is located at the Collection at Chevy Chase