River Hill Sports Grille

Here's a sports bar that aims for a little bit more. Tucked into the back of the River Hill village center, facing the Columbia Gym, is the River Hill Sports Grille. It's been a tough location for previous restaurants over the past few years, but the current owners have put in 30 flat screen TVs, a big emphasis on football, sports and family friendly community events. The bar is roomy and sports-intensive, while the dining room is separate and a little more laid back. There's also a good sized private room for special events.

The menu is pretty typical bar fare with a few twists including regular, bison or kobe burgers, a pretty good take on fish and chips, and wings with nine different toppings. There are also nightly specials like half-price burgers on Mondays, lobster on Wednesdays for $18.95, and steak and shrimp on Thursdays for $15.95. The River Hill Sports Grille is a decent local alternative to the chain restaurants nearby. Give it a try.

Mimi's Kabob

Mimi's Kabob offers Afghan and other specialties in a no-frills, order at the counter style. The chicken, lamb, beef and kofta (seasoned ground beef) kabobs are all grilled on the spot and served with rice, salad and fresh-baked tandoori bread. The chicken and kofta appear to be the favorites, and the bread is great. There are a few tables for the eat-in crowd, but there's at least as much carry out business. At lunch, the menu actually expands to include a selection of subs, wraps, sandwiches and pizza, along with gyros and an occasional curry.

Mimi's kind of steals a page from the more venerable Maiwand Kabob in Columbia, but it's good to have a new Afghan alternative in the county. Mimi's Kabob does not appear to have a web site (UPDATE: it does now...link below). It is located in Clarksville, on Route 108 just south of Route 32, directly across from the St. Louis church and school.

Mimi's Kabob
12345 Wake Forest Road
Clarksville, MD 21029
Phone: 410-531-2000

Katana

Katana, Clarksville
A pleasing Japanese restaurant in Clarksville, Katana is located on Ten Oaks Road just off Route 108. You can find all things Japanese here, including an extensive variety of sushi, sashimi, lots of regular, hand and specialty rolls, and plenty of teriyaki, hibachi, tempura and noodle choices too. I like to experiment with the various imaginative rolls, and keep coming back to the simple but satisfying udon noodle soups. Katana has a large sushi bar and two private rooms that are good for groups 8 or more.

El Azteca

El Azteca, Clarksville

The original link in Gilberto Cortez's family of Mexican restaurants (also La Palapa and La Palapa Too in Laurel). Like the others, El Azteca offers a full slate of Mexican standards as well as an encouraging selection of "Gilberto's Specialities" for variety. El Azteca is smaller than its cousins and doesn't take reservations, but somehow the food always seems a little better. It's fun if you don't mind a possible wait.

Update: El Azteca is on our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.