Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Epicurean and Company Food Review II

Fried Chicken

It's great to have a few options near the Van Ness-UDC Metro station... even if they are relatively ordinary (in terms of flavor.) So it is, with the hot buffet at Epicurean and Company. My May breakfast experience left much to be desired; but when it comes to this neighborhood favorite, I'm all about second (and third) chances.

Don't expect cheap: I paid $5.43 (including tax) for two Fried Chicken legs and three Teriyaki Meatballs. To be fair, I don't need much more to constitute a satisfying lunch. As always, service was top-notch and friendly; and the restaurant was super clean & tidy (even the buffet area.) The meatballs were garden variety, perfectly formed and (odds are) straight out of a bag. The Teriyaki sauce was quite sweet, but makes a nice compliment to a relatively dense meatball. I'd like to see/eat a more tender meatball.

Teriyaki Meatballs

As for the chicken, no major complaints. It's crisp, but a tad overdone on the outside (reheated?) There was plenty of meat, and it was surprisingly moist. Not much in terms of flavor (no spices, etc.) but that's a lot to ask from a buffet bar. Overall... good enough to have again. FYI: Buffet bar fried chicken weighs quite a bit (bones.)

Timing is everything; so it helps to arrive at "just the right time." Usually that means around 11:00 AM; but I could have sworn the chicken was reheated (flash burns) despite my arriving a few minutes after 11. Regardless, Epicurean's buffet has a ton of choices... a big advantage over its competition. Thanks to cleanliness, convenience and solid service, I'll definitely be back (even if the food isn't quite up to par.)