Day 4 - Pantry Challenge - Dinner out at Grace's Manadarin

Steven and I finished our evening by having dinner at Grace's Mandarin. We have been to this restaurant several times now and each time our experience is always memorable. When you first walk up to the restaurant you are greeted by glass and steel doors that gently swing open to let you in, as if they knew you were coming....very magical We were even more wowed when we walked in and saw a larger than life Buddha (33 feet tall to be exact) greeting you and inviting you to venture further into this very sexy chic Asian restaurant. The staff further welcome you and if you are lucky they will seat you at the window which has a wonderful view of the newly built Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

The home page of their website says it all:

"East meets west in a sensual fusion of tastes at Grace’s Mandarin at the National Harbor, Maryland. Pan Asian flavors come together to arouse your taste buds in a casual, elegant atmosphere with views of the Potomac River from every table. Enjoy our sushi bar or our intimate lounge featuring stylish cocktails, an expansive selection of wines, and the area’s largest selections of sakes. Our three-story waterfall and 33-foot Buddha will heighten your experience.Flavors that will stimulate your senses. Service that will seduce you. A view you’ll fall in love with."

When we sat at our table we were greated by Grace herself. What a wonderful and "graceful" lady. Being that she is the mastermind behind such a wonderful restaurant it was nice to meet the insipration that came to be Grace's Mandarin. I always love the special touch of the owner coming over to welcome you. We felt right at home and after we commented on how lovely her chopstick rests were and she surprised us by giving us a pair of our own complete with chopsticks. Thank you, Grace!

We started out with a spring mix salad and miso soup. The salad was a fresh spring mix topped with a nutty and sweet sesame dressing and the miso soup was described as soy broth with tofu, scallions and seaweed, what they forgot to mention was the exotic blend of mushrooms added. We ordered the crunchy scallop roll as an appetizer which was a roll made with avocado (my favorite), scallop, sirachi sauce and tempura flakes. The sirachi sauce gave it a nice kick, the kind of kick that hits from behind the palette and sneaks up on you. Steven ordered the sesame chicken and I ordered the sushi deluxe platter. Both were equally good.

Over all I would give this a 5 star rating. The atmosphere was warm, the food superb and the service was top notch. If you are looking for a restaurant for a special occasion or to impress a business client or a date, then Grace's Mandarin is the place to be. We will visit again the next time we come to the harbor even if we don't have an excuse to celebrate.

For the Day 4 of the Pantry Challenge Maddie made rotini and used some of the Olive Garden spaghetti sauce I made.