Kings Contrivance Restaurant

 

1

13

Erin H.

College Park, MD

Delicious!

I had the pleasure of trying this restaurant last weekend for a friend's graduation celebration. Personally, I enjoyed everything about this place.

Ambiance: Kings is in a historic mansion in Columbia. They've got plenty of property (i.e. nice views). Private dining rooms are upstairs - haven't had a chance to check those out. Small bar. Main dining rooms are on the 1st floor. We dined on what seemed to be an enclosed porch - lovely views of the property, flowers, etc.

Service: Matre d' was a bit full of himself. He joined us for a smoke break outside to brag a bit, but was still very friendly. Our server was on point - got every order right, and was able to recommend excellent entrees and desserts.

Food (the really important part): Yum! I ordered a mesclun salad which consisted of baby greens, dried figs, fresh raspberries, crumbled goat cheese, walnuts and a nice raspberry vinaigrette. Sooo good! For dinner I had the pan seared sea scallops, finished with a nice lobster/asparagus risotto (good amount of lobster) and a creamy, yet light truffle oil sauce. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Dessert was a small chocolate bowl filled with a scoop of raspberry sorbet, a scoop of chocolate sorbet and some mixed fresh berries - very light and tasty. Extensive wine list, too.

If you get a chance, definitely try this place out. You won't be disappointed!

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Elite '08

34

171

cindi n.

San Francisco, CA

celebrated my father-in-law's 91st birthday here for dinner!   sat in enclosed porch -- nice seating area by the windows,  so lots of light & beautiful view of the woods -- would have been perfect except it was grey & heavily pouring.
i had the shellfish bisque, eggplant fritters & jumbo lumb crabcakes.

- excellent shellfish bisque with lobster, shrimp & crab (although others thought it should have been thicker & creamier)

- great lump crabcake -- & they do mean lump, barely any fillers about 99.5% lump crab meat (others thought too much seasoning which lost sweet crab taste, i'm not from maryland -- so i'm not the crab cake expert & i was  amongst maryland crabcake connoisseurs) -- but i still thought it was delicious!!!

- eggplant fritters -- didn't care for it, should have asked for no olive tapenade (i hate olives).

others in the group had:
steamed mussels with artichoke, tomatoe sauce & olives -- she loved it

stuffed flounder with lump crabmeat -- both loved it.

seared scallops (sauce seems similar to shellfish bisque, but thinner sauce) -- both enjoyed it.

large mansion -- but  from inside not sure where's the rest of the mansion.  most areas were dark, except in enclosed porch area.  walked upstairs, narrow hallway with several private rooms -- but all doors were closed, didn't check it out as i didn't want to embarass myself walking into a private party.

good service & good food, perfect ambiance & place to celebrate my father-in-law's 91st birthday!!!!!

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