Jackie's

My roommate is coming back home this week so I should really be cleaning (or sleeping), but I've done a good job of putting it off for a whole week, so what's another few hours?? And so, with Conan playing on hulu.com in the background... Let's talk Jackie's.
One might call the neon green heart that lights up the brick exterior after sundown to be tacky. One might find the bubblegum pink banquette, retro plastic dining chairs, and lounge covered in a myriad colorful cushions to be kitsch. But one will definitely find this car-shop-turned-restaurant to be fresh and the food to be absolutely delectable!

I've been there a number of times, as your tastebuds will surely ask of you once you pay a visit. Seasonal menus offering the best of local ingredients change daily. I'll walk you through all the goodies I've had so far.

We'll start with appetizers. One word: OYSTERS. If you're a fan of oysters (and even if you're not!), you have to try the fried oysters with a cucumber and onion relish and some sort of amazing sauce. The oysters are just perfectly lightly breaded, so you don't have to break through a layer of hard crunch. You bite in and your tongue is met with warm, plump, juicy, creamy, oyster goodness (let's try to fit some more adjectives in). And when you get a bite of oyster with the cucumber and sauce all together - heaven. Another favorite is the shrimp risotto with devil's oil. Yes, devil's oil. It does pack some heat, but don't let it scare you - it's not volcanic heat that will leave you drenched in sweat. It's the perfect amount of heat to complement the creamy risotto. The portion also allows for a cheaper alternative to an entree.

Which brings us to soups. When you're in Maryland, clearly crab is a must-have. Naturally, the Maryland crab soup here is pretty darn great. The tomato-based soup is rich and hearty, with a great share of big lumps of sweet crab meat and healthy veggies, and has a bit of a kick to it. Also great is the gazpacho. It is perfectly cool and refreshing, with fun pops of finely diced peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber. The two are basically polar opposites, but equally delicious. I have a hard time choosing between the two... hence I had both in one night. Sigh, no shame.

An entree that you might not find on the menu anymore when you visit, as their menu changes daily, is halibut with artichoke. It sounds simple but it was so good! The halibut was perfectly cooked, with a great lemon butter sauce, and a lovely roasted artichoke. I'm a little sad that I'll probably not have it again since the menu changes daily.

And we end with dessert. I've only actually had dessert once, poundcake with raspberries. To give you a fully honest review, I'll have to say it wasn't anything to write home about. I mean... it was poundcake with raspberries with sauce. To be fair, I'm sure they have other great desserts.

While you may not find the same items that I had, I promise you you'll have an amazing meal. And should conversation run dry with your dinner companion/s, nature shows projected onto a mesh screen hanging from the ceiling might provide you with fodder for small talk, if you're into mollusks and fawns.
Yummers!!!

$$

www.jackiesrestaurant.com