Bon Fresco Brings Great Bread and Sandwiches to Columbia

It took me a little while to get around to trying Bon Fresco, but once I did, it's been hard to stay away. The place makes great fresh breads baked on the premises in several varieties -- baguette, ciabatta, foccacia, a delicious plain white loaf, and my recent favorite, a soft, pillowy flatbread. We were recently offered a cinnamon bun that put the gloppy mall versions to shame.

Sandwiches at Bon Fresco are inventive with fresh, top quality ingredients including fresh roast turkey, pork loin, nice grilled vegetables and much more. The sandwiches come out hearty but not over-stuffed. You can feel good that you're eating well, but not eating too much. Sandwiches are served with a little side of lentils or cous-cous, which I like for a change of pace. But some folks really wanted chips, so now Bon Fresco offers a choice of good-quality potato chips if you get a drink, too.

In addition to the sandwiches, Bon Fresco has some terrific salads (the curried chicken salad is especially good) and you can choose your own mix of toppings and greens. They also have several freshly made soups that look great but I frankly haven't tried yet. The counter staff is friendly and eager to make suggestions to help you make the best choice. Bon Fresco has enough seats to eat right there or you can take your treasures back to your home, office, picnic or wherever.

Bon Fresco is precisely the type of fresh, home grown eatery that folks often say they want as a quality alternative to fast food chains. If you're one of those folks, seek Bon Fresco out and put your money where your mouth is. If you're not one of those folks, give it a try anyway and you may find yourself coming back, too.

Location
6945 Oakland Mills Road
Columbia, MD 21045
410-290-3434
(no website I can find)

From Snowden River Parkway, go west on Oakland Mills Road and take the first right into the shopping/office park. Bon Frescos is tucked in to the right, and they've put up a few small signs to help you find them. It's worth looking for!

Reviews

• How Chow has two positive posts (post 1, post 2) about Bon Fresco.
• Urbanspoon readers give Bon Fresco a 100% rating based on 19 votes and 3 user reviews (as of 8/11/09)
  
• 
• Yelp readers five Bon Fresco 5/5 stars based on 2 reviews as of 8/11/09.
  
• Chowhound has 5 comments about Bon Fresco as of 8/11/09.
  

Sushi Sono

Sushi Sono holds down a primo location on Columbia's downtown lakefront and serves primo sushi and other Japanese specialties. It's one of the prettier restaurants in the county, with picture windows of the lake, a sizable sushi bar and two private rooms. But it's the sushi, both the rolls and nigiri, that brings in the crowds.

Sushi Sono recently revised its website and has done a good job maintaining a high profile all over the internet. It is one of the most widely reviewed restaurant in the county, and most of the reviews are very positive.

Reviews

• Sushi Sono is included in our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.
• Howard Magazine (formerly Columbia Magazine) has ranked Sushi Sono as the Best Sushi Restaurant in the county for the last 9 consecutive years.
• Baltimore Magazine includes Sushi Sono as one of six restaurants in Howard County in its list of Neighborhood Specials places to eat.
• Dining@Large incudes Sushi Sono in its June 2008 list of Top 10 Howard County Restaurants.
  
• Gayot rates Sushi Sono 12/20.
  
• TripAdvisor readers give Sushi Sono 4/5 stars based on 31 ratings and 14 reviews, ranking it #1 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
  
• Urbanspoon readers give Sushi Sono 93/100 based on 73 votes, ranking it #14 in Baltimore and #2 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
  
• Yahoo! Local readers give Sushi Sono 4.5/5 stars based on 21 ratings as of 5/10/09.
• Yelp readers give Sushi Sono 4/5 stars based on 39 reviews, ranking it #3 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
• Zagat has 58 member reviews of Sushi Sono as of 5/10/09.
  
• BooRah readers give Sushi Sono 89/100 based on 66 reviews, ranking it #2 in Columbia as of 5/10/09.
• CitySearch readers give Sushi Sono 3.5/5 stars based on 14 reviews as of 5/10/09.
  
• Sushi Sono garners frequent comments on Chowhound in discussions regarding best sushi in the area.
• HowChow reviewed Sushi Sono in July 2008.
  

Location
10215 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 410-997-6131
Website: sushisonomd.com
Blog: sushisono.blogspot.com

Specials and Other Details

• Sushi Sono has been running month-long discounted specials since March. Check their blog for more details.
• Sushi Sono has a Facebook page.
  

Good Gyros at Hickory Ridge Grill

I had a recommendation recently to try the gyro at the Hickory Ridge Grill, so I did and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was busy for a weekday lunch, but service was friendly and quick. And the menu was more extensive than I'd expected, with a wide range of sandwiches, burgers, pastas, kabobs and Greek specialties.

Looking around at the other tables, though, it was clear the Greek Hero (the Yee-roe) was the sandwich of choice. And no wonder. The Hickory Ridge Grill shaves its lamb and beef gyro meat from a proper vertical spit and serves it on a fresh pita with lettuce, tomato, onion and feta cheese. Tzatziki sauce is served on the side, suitable for dipping or spreading. The accompanying fries were also hot and good, and for $8 it made a fine meal.

Based on this limited sample, I'd say the gyro at Hickory Ridge Grill goes to the top of the class in the county, not that there's a whole lot of authentic competition. The gyros at Double T Diner and Solana's come to mind, but the HRG gyro seemed fresher and the restaurant ambiance a good deal friendlier.

You've got plenty of other options at the Hickory Ridge Grill, too, and I hope to make it back soon to try more.



The Hickory Ridge Grill is located in the Hickory Ridge Village Center, off Cedar Lane a mile or so north of Rt. 32. Nearby is the just-opened Maruha Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar, mentioned by HowChow a couple of weeks ago. Two good reasons to head over to Hickory Ridge.

An Loi Pho

An Loi Pho is a great place for a warming bowl of the classic Vietnamese noodle soup, pho.  An Loi offers nine different versions of pho, seven with various cuts of beef, one with chicken and one vegetarian.  But you are really the chef as you sculpt the flavors in your bowl with the fresh condiments and bottled sauces at your table.  It's hard to go wrong, as long as you take it easy with the hot sauces at the outset.

The pho may be what gets you in the door, but there's a lot more on the menu to keep you coming back.  There are many choices of "bun," a vermicelli dish topped with grilled meats and fresh vegetables, other prepared noodle dishes and soups, and a set of steamed or fried rice dishes.  Appetizers include fried spring rolls and soft-wrapped summer rolls with your choice of grilled meats and a tasty peanut sauce.  I'm looking forward to getting back and trying some more.

An Loi Pho does not appear to have a web site.  It's located off Snowden River Parkway, one traffic light away from Broken Land Parkway.

An Loi Pho

7104 Minstrel Way

Columbia, MD  21045

410-381-3188

Don't miss HowChow's more detailed post on An Loi Pho and their salted sodas.

Pub Dog in Columbia

Beer and pizza, pizza and beer. What more do you really need? For Pub Dog in Columbia the answer is not much. You can choose between a whole bunch of pizza and beer combinations and flavors, and beyond that there are just a few salads and appetizers. But if you're going to focus on only two of life's staples, pizza and beer are not a bad start.

Here the beers are craft brewed (locally?), available in 10 or so flavors, and come two glasses for $4. There are another seven "mixed breed" variants of a black-and-tan, and fresh root beer. The beers are pretty good and it's fun to experiment. I'm not sure any of them they qualify as "great," but they're fun. There's a full bar and a nod toward wine drinkers, but the emphasis is heavily on the beer.

The pizzas are individually sized 10" thin crust jobbers with 22 different combinations to choose from. They arrive quick and are quite good. I had a "Froggy Dog" with Dijon chicken, asiago, mozzarella, mustard, garlic, bacon, tomatoes and Dijon mustard and had no trouble polishing it off. The "Wing Dog" featuring Buffalo wing sauce and chicken looked popular. Most of the other pizzas come with multiple toppings, and everyone should be able to find something they like. As long as it's pizza.

The ambiance of the place is warm and friendly, focused on the bar but with an area of booths for a little more quiet. The location is in the same shopping center off Dobbin Road with the Frisco Grill and Mongolian Grill, among others. Stop in for lunch, dinner, or any other time you have a hankering for pizza or beer.

Second Chance Saloon

It's taken me a little while to get to the Second Chance Saloon, which opened early December in the location of the Fire Rock Grill and the original Last Chance Saloon that had been there for years. The Oakland Mills village center location is a little off my beaten path and I admit I sometimes still get turned around trying to find it. Even if you have the same problem, it's worth seeking out the Second Chance Saloon if you want a friendly beer, burger or meal.

With 12 beers on tap and nearly 50 bottled brands available, the Second Chance Saloon is certain to satisfy your suds appetite. The food side of the menu is pretty good, too, in a pub/tavern kind of way. The catfish Po' Boy I had was fresh and hearty. The burgers and sliders looked good, too.

The Second Chance Saloon has no shortage of diversions while you're there. Live music most Thursdays through Mondays, pool and shuffleboard tables, darts, a bookshelf for kids and others, TVs for the sportshounds. Coming soon, they say, is the NTN trivia game that had a bunch of regulars at Rocky Run when it was alive. Come to think of it, the Second Chance is a worthy successor to Rocky Run as comfortable local hangout, with food good enough for families and a bar scene active enough for those who want to spend a few hours with friends or meet new folks.

Coho Grill

The Coho Grill, located at the Hobbit's Glen golf course clubhouse, is Columbia's egalitarian take on country club dining. It's a pleasant public restaurant, open year round, with friendly service and a broad menu that's not just for golfers. The sandwich, burger and bar food choices are plentiful, but there are also good crabcakes, steaks and prime rib. The dessert menu and coffee choices are also above par (how can you resist a golf pun?). In good weather they have a nice outdoor area for dining, too.

The Coho Grill seems sometimes overlooked on the local scene, tucked away as it is in a golf course setting in a residential neighborhood. But it's locally owned, has a venerable track record and a loyal clientele. It's a solid choice for a casual lunch or dinner.

Hunan Legend

The Hunan Legend has been our go-to takeout Chinese place for many years (does that make sense?). We used to live near its Dorsey Hall Village Center location but now we sometimes drive the extra miles to get better quality than we've found at any closer Chinese places. The choices are mostly the Americanized versions of Chinese dishes, but they do pretty well with the basics. Basil chicken is my standby, and there are sometimes specials worth seeking out.

Dining in the restaurant is rarer for us. HowChow seems to have had a poor experience there and I can sort of understand why, but I'd also suggest giving it another try. The Hunan Legend may not be a destination dining location it is a better than average neighborhood Chinese place.

There does not appear to be a website for Hunan Legend, so here are the particulars:

Hunan Legend
4725 Dorsey Hall Dr
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-884-3888



For more Chinese/Asian choices in the area, check here. The Asean Bistro still tops the list for me.

Hunan Manor

The Hunan Manor has long been Columbia's flagship Chinese restaurant. It's large, often busy, and has a full menu of most every Americanized version of Chinese dish you can think of. There's also a set of "authentic" Chinese selections that let you feel a little more adventurous (though I always wonder about the Chinese authenticity of jalapeno peppers -- don't they at least have a different name?). The quality of the food is consistent if rarely stellar, but it's someplace you can easily take a group of friends and always find some dishes you'll like. The sizzling dishes with black pepper sauces are fun and tasty.

The Hunan Manor has been doing business in Columbia for so long it's easy to take it a little bit for granted. They do a booming take out business, too. I sometimes wish the place was a little more innovative (or took reservations), but we would miss it if it was gone.

For a little bit better quality Chinese or pan-Asian meal, I still prefer the Asean Bistro. We've also been hearing good things from HowChow and others about the Grace Garden in Odenton, home to one of Hunan Manor's former chefs.

Mamma Lucia

Located in the Gateway Overlook shopping center near Trader Joe's and Costco is the Howard County and newest branch of the regional Mamma Lucia empire. The original Mamma Lucia opened in Rockville in 1997 and there are now ten restaurants in Maryland and Virginia serving "down home Italian cooking."

Mamma Lucia's is one of the better places in the area for family friendly Italian cooking. The menu is extensive, with a full complement of pizzas, pastas, chicken, veal and seafood dishes. The portions are large and the quality is pretty good. It's not fine Italian cuisine, but they do the basics well. We liked the complimentary garlic bread and dipping oil that appeared just after we sat down. There's a full bar slightly separated from the dining area, service is friendly and the decor is pleasant in a pre-fab kind of way. Mamma Lucia's is also a good place to visit at lunch, when prices are lower and portions a little more manageable.

The Melting Pot, Columbia

Well, OK, it's a chain and it's more expensive than I think it ought to be, but you have to give The Melting Pot a few points in its favor. It's hanging in and generating traffic at the Wilde Lake Village Center (which is its own sad separate story), it's on OpenTable, it's a pretty restaurant once you're inside, and best of all, fondue is fun.

The menu choices at the Melting Pot can get a little overwhelming, with big-ticket feasts, combinations and cooking styles to choose from. We tend to stick with the individual entrees which themselves are combos of meats like Shrimp and Sirloin or the Land and Sea that also has chicken. We really enjoy the unlimited vegetables that come with the entrees, and the accompanying salads are not bad. We enjoy sharing the food and trying the various dipping sauces to customize things to our own taste.

Usually the entree is plenty of food, but sometimes that doesn't stop us from ordering the chocolate fondue for dessert. It's always good, but we always feel stuffed afterward. One time we tried to get through a cheese/entree/chocolate combo and we didn't come close...and doggie bags don't really work so well for fondue. So we stick with the basics and usually have a good time at The Melting Pot, but it's still more of a special event than an everyday place for us.

Mongolian Grill

Mongolian Grill, Columbia
This is the ultimate "have it your way" place. At the Mongolian Grill you get to choose from a wide array of meats, seafood, fresh vegetables, noodles, rice, sauces and spices. You can mix and match to your heart's content in the bowl, then hand it off to the cook. In a few minutes the dish comes piping hot to your table, fresh from the "grill" (griddle?). If you don't like what you get, you can only blame yourself...but it's easy to start over again. It's all you can eat, and there's an extensive salad bar, too. We've never left hungry. The Mongolian Grill is not the most elegant place in town, but it is family friendly and locally owned.

Asean Bistro

Asean Bistro, Columbia
The Asean Bistro has been a gem for Asian cuisine in Howard County for a decade. Chef and proprietor Jesse Wong hails from Malaysia and takes you on a pan-Asian tour with dishes from China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and more. We have a lot of favorites on the menu; picking out a few for dinner is always hard, so it's fun to come with a group and sample a wider variety. Harkow dumplings, Tom Yum soup, Peking Duck, Thai curry, and the choices of various seafood and sauces have all been winners with us. The filet mignon with mustard sauce and spinach doesn't seem very Asian but has been delicious, too.

The restaurant is very nicely decorated with dark teak wood, and even the dishes and place settings are a step up from the ordinary. Service is usually quite good, and the live entertainment is a treat except when the sax gets a little too loud. There's also a separate carry out counter that does a lively business.

Asean Bistro is on our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.

Clyde's of Columbia

Clyde's, Columbia
A DC regional mainstay for decades, and a Columbia landmark since 1975, Clyde's continues to produce reliable, popular American standards. Clyde's holds one of the prime restaurant locations in Howard County, lakeside near the nominal heart of Columbia. It was one of the first places where we dined in the area, and is still an easy spot to meet guests for lunch, dinner or brunch. Their steaks, lobster, chili and crabcakes are consistently good, and their menu changes frequently enough to offer interesting surprises for repeat customers. The bar is big and often busy, and there used to be a notorious wait for tables. But now with reservations and OpenTable it's a much more convenient proposition to have a good time at Clyde's.

Clyde's of Columbia is on our list of Nearly Best Restaurants in Howard County.

Maiwand Kabob

Maiwand Kabob, Columbia (Harper's Choice village center)
The county's pioneering provider of Afghan specialties is still the best bet for kabobs and other Afghan treats. The grilled meats are nicely complemented by the seasoned rice and freshly baked Tandoori bread. The appetizers are consistently good and help make this one of HowChow's favorites, too. The ambiance is still more of a take-out joint than a fine restaurant, but that doesn't detract from the food.

Cha-Ya Cafe

If you have a hankering for Asian food but can't decide between Japanese or Thai, now one place has both. The Cha-Ya Cafe is a sushi and Thai restaurant that has taken the space of the former Red Parrot restaurant on McGaw Road, near Cheeburger Cheeburger and the Greene Turtle. It offers a menu that's pretty evenly divided between Thai and Japanese standards including an extensive sushi and roll list, teriyaki, hibachi, noodles, curries and vegetarian choices. They have a good lunch selection, too, including bento boxes.

The space is small but nicely decorated, with a substantial sushi bar front and center. The service on my first visit was friendly and attentive. And they mean it when they ask how spicy you want your food. My "medium" spicy Basil Chicken came with an authoritative kick and was quite good. The Cha-Ya is a pleasant alternative to the nearby chains, and we wish them better luck than the dead Red Parrot.

The King's Contrivance

The King's Contrivance, Columbia
Columbia's most venerable fine dining establishment seems to just keep rolling along producing surprisingly good fare. Extensively renovated over the past few years, the stately mansion is a pleasant step back in time. The menus also reflect a traditional take on good food, prepared and served well.

The King's Contrivance makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Victoria Gastro Pub

Victoria Gastro Pub, Columbia
Victoria's brings upscale food and drink choices to a former Bennigan's location. It's a big improvement. The menu has interesting variants on the typical burger, fries and salad staples, and the beer and wine choices are impressive. The bar is big and can get busy, but the dining room has different areas that break up the space and can afford some peace to enjoy a good meal.

Victoria Gastro Pub makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Victoria Gastro Pub regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Update: The Baltimore City Paper published a review of Victoria Gastro Pub in December 2008. See my comments.

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar

Aida Bistro and Wine Bar, Columbia
The Barbera family runs this Italian and Mediterranean outpost in an unlikely office park setting. Once you're inside, the pleasant atmosphere and seasonal menus of small plates and entrees make for a very enjoyable experience. Knowledgeable servers help navigate the extensive selection of wines by the bottle or glass. And there's an option of fixed price menus with wines or beers matched to each course.

Aida Bistro makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Aida Bistro regularly holds special dining events. Check for them in our Monthly Restaurant Events listings.

Update: Aida Bistro is one of four Howard County establishments on Baltimore Magazine's Best Restaurants list.

Cafe de Paris

Cafe de Paris, Columbia
Owner Erik Rochard is one of the friendliest hosts you'll find, and he offers a range of choices at the cafe. It's become two restaurants in one, with a Crepe Cafe adding a low cost alternative to the main dining room for lunch or dinner. In the dining room there's a three-course "Formule" menu or extensive a la carte list of French specialties. The weekend brunch is a nice treat, too.

Cafe de Paris makes our list of Howard County's Best Restaurants.

Update: Cafe de Paris makes our list for Best Steak in Howard County.