Jersey Mike's Subs Now Open in Hilltop Plaza

I had a late lunch today at Jersey Mike's Subs in Hilltop Plaza.  The restaurant opened August 1st.

My order was made quickly and to my liking, but I didn't care for the customer service experience.

I asked for some advice, and I was told that the most popular item is the #13:  the Original Italian (provolone, ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni).  The clerk recommended that it be prepared "Mike's Way," which means with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, spices and "The Juice" (red wine vinegar and olive oil blend).  "It will be the best sub that you've ever had," I was told.

I said, "great, I'll have a #13 prepared Mike's Way, but hold the onions."

Another clerk interrupted and said, "sir, I really think you should try it the complete Mike's Way with onions."

I thought that was a strange comment.  I just said, "Thanks, but I don't like onions."  I know - just six simple words, but I was mildly annoyed that I had to say them.

While my sub was being made the Mike's Way sans onions, the first clerk said to me, "sir, I'm really sorry that we have to do this to you!"

So I said, "what?"

And he said, "this sub is going to be so good that you'll be disappointed whenever you eat a sub anywhere else from now on."

Now I know the guy meant well, but I felt like the interaction was scripted.  It wasn't genuine.  Normally I'm pretty chatty in situations like this, but I was just turned off by the conversation. It was also a little bit braggy for my liking. It's one thing to say, "I really think you'll like this," but I just thought this guy was a little over the top.  Over all, I found the staff very attentive, but I was a little turned off by the conversation.

And how was the sub?  I liked it.  The bread was good, but the clerk was wrong.  It wasn't the best sub I've ever had.  It was good, but not the best.  Ha, maybe it needed onions after all.  I'll be back to try some other menu items.  Next time I won't make it such a late lunch, and maybe I'll be less grumpy.

Bobby's Burger Palace in College Park

We stepped outside the Bowie restaurant scene this afternoon to try Bobby's Burger Palace (BBP) on Route 1 in College Park.  The "Bobby" in the name refers to Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay, and Flay was on hand at the restaurant's opening last October.

As the name implies, BBP is all about burgers - really, really good gourmet burgers.  The menu is a la carte, so you have to pay extra for your french fries, sweet potato fries or beer battered onion rings.  Pictured above is my order of sweet potato fries, served with a honey mustard horseradish sauce.  My burger was already gone by the time I thought to take a picture.

The prices are similar to Five Guys - maybe a little bit more expensive.  Our order came to $40 for two adults and a kid's meal with a milkshake.  They have no tipping policy, although it seemed like most people were not tipping.  You order your food before sitting down, and the wait staff brings you your food and clears your table.

Customers can sit at a curvy contemporary style counter or at tables.  The interior is kind of cool.  Check out some pics from a Baltimore Sun photo gallery by clicking here.

BBP is located in one of the mix-use high rises just north of the main entrance to the University of Maryland (across from the fire station, Town Hall Liquors and McDonald's).  There used to be a Jerry's Subs at that location.  Turn at the light at Melbourne Place.  A short entrance will lead you to a parking garage in the rear.  BBP is in the front of the building along Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue).


Bobby's Burger Palace
8150 Baltimore Avenue
College Park, MD 20740


View Larger Map

Railroad Inn's Brother Conway Passes

Arthur "Brother" Conway, owner of the shuttered Railroad Inn, passed away on Thursday, August 18th, 2011. Click here to see the death notice, calling hours and funeral details in the Washington Post. Click here to view or sign the guest book on the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home site.






Below is a collection of memories of Brother Conway and the Railroad Inn from the Bowie Blade-News.

• After 56 years, Old Bowie's Railroad Inn closes, Bowie Blade-News, July 6, 2006. You'll notice in this article that Brother Conway isn't quoted. I've heard that he generally disliked talking to the media.

• Take a dip into Railroad Inn famous pizza, bleu cheese, Bowie Blade-News, January 25, 2007.

• Readers' views, Bowie Blade-News, July 13, 2006.
  

Brother Conway

This is not a letter about politics, high gas prices or increases in electricity. This is about the passage of time and many memories of the robust gray-haired guy with a twinkle in his eye - Brother Conway - the owner of Railroad Inn.

When visiting Railroad Inn, children were always welcome, you were greeted with a big smile and escorted to a table in this family eating place. A recent Blade-News obit for Thelma Ameling, a longtime Bowie resident, highlighted her enjoyment of weekly dinners with friends at Railroad Inn.

Twenty years ago when our daughter got married, pizza was on the menu for her bridal luncheon. When our kids and their families return to town, Railroad Inn pizza was always on the list of do's. One pair of grandkids was convinced that Santa ate there and took a long route to the exit to avoid him. We have been regulars along with others for years. After dinner we sat back and my husband enjoyed a beer while Brother and I had coffee and solved worldly problems.

Railroad Inn along with our favorite "maitre-dooo" will be missed.

You can always visit the Brother's Railroad Inn at Independence, Kan.

LYLE & PAT VERBEEK
Glenn Dale



Bear's last call

On June 30, after 56 years of continuous service to the community, the Railroad Inn gave last call and closed its doors.

The family-owned restaurant has served generation after generation of Bowieites its famous pizza. It has been the meeting place for birthdays and weddings and funerals for almost as long as I've been alive and that is no small feat.

My name is Bear and I've tended bar there since 1977. Some of you might know me. I have been standing behind that bar since I was 28 years old; turned 30 behind it, then 40, 50 and seven more years to boot. I grew up there and it has been a part of my life for more than half of it. I've laughed and cried and flirted and socialized with people. Mostly, though, I opened beers for them and poured drinks and sold pints of liquor. If I told all the stories I knew, I'd have to leave town.

Don't worry, however, the secrets are safe with me. That is what a good bartender does. I just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every person I ever waited on or worked with in that old joint. Drive safely and be well. It's been a real pleasure having known each and every one of you. This chapter is closed and life in the "Smoke Laden Room" is gone but not the memories and good feelings I have about the good people of Bowie. I'll be around and we will see each other again, I hope. In the meantime, here's to ya.

BARRY HARRIS
Bowie

• Aunt Agatha on Politics, Bowie Blade-News July 13, 2006
  

Oh dear, the end of an era: The Railroad Inn has shut its doors in Old Bowie. Now that's a loss!

Auntie remembers the fare at Brother Conway's establishment with fondness. It was basic, reasonably priced food served with a smile (well, not by Brother, who was as cheerful as a winter blizzard) by the personable waitresses.

Not too many newcomers to Bowie will know about the eatery since Brother never advertised, refused all requests for interviews and had no signs pointing the way to the inn hidden behind a bank and adjacent to the railroad tracks.

But we old-timers will miss it. Auntie wishes Brother the best of luck in his leisure days.

Elevation Burger Coming to the Bowie Area

Elevation Burger is opening a Bowie area restaurant in the Vista Gardens Marketplace (Martin Luther King Jr Highway at the intersection of Routes 450 and 704). The organic burger joint will open in about five weeks (near the end of September) in the group of stores across from Home Depot (near Chipolte, Quiznos and Ledo's). Elevation Burger touts their burgers as 100% USDA certified organic, from 100% grass fed cows, 100% free range beef and the beef is ground in the same location where the burgers are sold. They also have fresh cut fries cooked in olilve oil with no trans or saturated fats. My family visited the Hyattsville location on Route 1 today. The burgers and fries were very good. The manager came by to see if we needed anything. He said that he recognized that we were new customers, and he asked us to let him know if there is any suggestions that we had for the restaurant. It was a very nice experience. Visit the Elevation Burger web site for more info: http://www.elevationburger.com/ (the Hyattsville location is pictured here).

We took some time to check out some of "downtown" Hyattsville when we visited the restaurant. The Elevation Burger opened in April, 2011 in a new building that houses a Chipolte and a Tara Thai restaurant (opening soon). There's also a frozen yogurt store around the corner, the Hyattsville Arts District across the street, and a lot of new development nearby. It's a blend of old and new.

Elevation Burger in Hyattsville

Hyattsville Arts District

Hyattsville Arts District

Townhouses under Construction in Hyattsville

The former Lustine Chevrolet building is now the Lustine Center with an art gallery and a gym

Bang Bang Mongolian Grill Coming to Bowie

A Mongolian grill/stir-fry all-you-can-eat restaurant is coming to the former Pomogrille location in the Free State Shopping Center. The BangBang Mongolian Grill has plans to open six restaurants in Maryland, and the first two will open this fall in Bowie and in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood. According to the Washington Business Journal, there are a handful of restaurants offering similar fare ...in the D.C. region, but BangBang plans to differentiate itself by providing fast service and only healthy options (no fried food). Customers pick their own food on a buffet-style "makeline," and then the food is stir-fried on a grill. Separate grills are used for customers with food allergies. The first BangBang opened in West Des Moines, Iowa in 2010. It looks like the Maryland locations will be the first BangBang restaurants outside of Iowa. On-line reviews of the West Des Moines BangBang are mixed. For more information, see the restaurant's web site: http://bangbangmongoliangrill.com/

UPDATE:  As of December, 2011, Bang Bang Mongolian Grille estimates the opening date to be late February, 2012.

Martin's Deli in Old Bowie Under New Management - Again

It was only last June that the Bowie Star reviewed Martin's Deli in Old Bowie after it was purchased by Linda and Ray Hayden. The Haydens planned on changing the name of the restaurant, and they solicited input from customers. I heard that they decided to change the name to Ma's Kitchen or Mom's Kitchen. Before they got around to changing the sign, the couple decided to get out of the the restaurant business. A "bad back" was the reason that I heard.

The "Under New Management" sign has been hanging above the entrance of the restaurant since the time the Haydens took over last spring, but now it refers to the new new management, not the old new management.

The restaurant is now being run by a family from Silver Spring. They could not be nicer people, and the service is very fast.

The new owners are soliciting input for a new restaurant name. The top choice appears to be Old Town Deli, which was one of the names under consideration by the Haydens.

The new owners are currently offering most of the items that were on the Hayden's menu, but new daily lunch specials will be added soon including chicken fried rice, shrimp fried rice, chicken teriyaki, curry dishes and dumplings. Daily breakfast specials are being offered starting at 7am on weekdays and Saturdays, and the restaurant is open until 5pm on weekdays and 3pm on Saturdays.

Stop in and say hello to Helen.

D.C. Area's Best Crab Cakes Available in Bowie?

Jerry's Seafood, with locations in Bowie and Lanham, has earned the WTOP Best Crab Cake 2010 honor based on the results of an on-line poll. Jerry's Place in Prince Frederick came in second, and G&M Restaurant in Linthicum Heights earned third place honors. Click here to read more details.


Jerry's Seafood
15211 Major Lansdale Boulevard
Bowie, MD
(301) 805-2284

View Larger Map



Jerry's Place
1541 Solomons Island Road
South Prince Frederick, MD20678-3301
(410) 535-3242

View Larger Map




G&M Restaurant
804 North Hammonds Ferry Road,
Linthicum, MD
(410) 636-1777

View Larger Map

Noodles & Company Opening Next Week in Bowie

Noodles & Company announced that it will open its 15th Maryland restaurant at the Bowie Town Center on Thursday, August 19th in the former Chicken Out Rotisserie location. Get ready for some Japanese Pan Noodles®, Pad Thai or Penne Rosa.

The menu includes Asian, Mediterranean and American noodle dishes, soups and salads. Buttered Noodles and Wisconsin Mac & Cheese® are available for the kids, and Square Bowls to Go® are available for large groups.

The restaurant plans on being active in the Bowie community through fundraisers and other events to benefit local schools and neighborhood organizations. Look for Noodles & Company at the annual Back to School Bash at the Bowie Gym on Saturday, August 21st.

Noodles & Company's Bowie location will be open the following hours:

• Monday to Wednesday: 11am to 9pm
• Thursday to Saturday: 11am to 10pm
• Sunday: 11am to 7pm
  

Related Links

• Noodles & Company Web site
• Noodles & Company Facebook page.
  
• Press release announcing the opening date
• Menu from Annapolis location

Directions

3916 Town Center Blvd, Bowie, MD 20716


View Larger Map

Laurel's Pasta Plus Wins "Best Of" Title

Pasta Plus in Laurel has earned the WTOP Best Italian Restaurant title for the second year in a row. Pasta Plus received 32% of the votes of WTOP listeners in an unscientific survey, just barely beating out Maggianos at 31%. Click here to read more details.

Simple Pleasures Hosts Party on the Porch

Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe moved into the Fabian House in Old Bowie earlier this month, and the owners are trying to take advantage of the Fabian House accommodation by hosting a weekly frozen drink party on the porch every Friday afternoon from 4pm to 6pm. Milkshakes, ice cream sodas, smoothies, daiquiris and margaritas (all non-alcoholic) will be available.

Click here for a Google map to Fabian House, 8519 Chestnut Avenue, Bowie, MD 20715.

Food Network Visits Old Bowie Town Grille

The Old Bowie Town Grille announced yesterday on its e-mail newsletter that two producers for a new Food Network series visited the restaurant for possible casting for an episode that would film later this year. The show is seeking family run restaurants in need of a makeover. The show sounds familiar to Restaurant Makeover, a Canadian show that is no longer in production.

The following note came from the Old Bowie Town Grille newsletter:

Yes, you heard it right! Two producers for a new Food Network Restaurant Makeover Series visited the Old Bowie Town Grille this morning for potential casting in the show that would shoot this summer and fall. They are looking for family run restaurants that are in need of a boost in customers, good reviews and overall revenue. We have managed to hang in there for over 4 years, but our remote location sometimes works to our disadvantage. Just the publicity alone from the show would provide a significant boost. The visit went really well and we hope to hear back from them soon. If you were a Celebrity Food Network Chef, what changes would you recommend?"

Martin's Deli in Old Bowie Under New Management

Martin's Deli Under New Management
According to a Bowie Star article, Martin's Deli in Old Bowie was taken over by Linda and Ray Hayden in April. Ray Hayden is the "Ray" in Ray's Towing Service, another popular Old Bowie business. The Haydens plan to change the name of the restaurant, and they are accepting suggestions. Click here to read the story.

Muffin Man Caribbean Cafe Coming to Bowie

by Mimi

When I was a kid in Bowie in the 70s and 80s, if you wanted ethnic food in Bowie, pizza (Happy Italian) or Chinese (Golden Pavilion) was about as exciting as it got. But that was then.

Three decades later, we have Thai (East Moon); Japanese (Sakura); Mexican (Mi Hacienda) and great barbecue (KBQ). We can even get tandoori at the Bowie Town Center food court (White Tiger).

And this summer, our culinary options in Bowie will be expanded further with the addition of the Muffin Man Caribbean Cafe, which is slated to open in Hilltop Plaza later this year. The original “Muffin Man” is in a strip shopping center on Lanham-Severn Road in Seabrook. We decided to check it out this weekend.

Recognized as one of Washingtonian Magazine’s “Cheap Eats,” Muffin Man serves up two dozen varieties of muffins – from the exotic (guava, mango, tropical lime) to the more familiar (blueberry, chocolate chip, banana nut) – and spicy Jamaican fare.

We had originally thought we’d go by in the morning to grab a muffin, but oddly, the place doesn’t open until 11 a.m. – a little late for breakfast. I don’t often feel like a blueberry muffin for lunch. But maybe that’s just me.

The place is decorated like you’d think a Jamaican joint would be – cool Island colors, the requisite Bob Marley mural on the wall, and reggae singer Shaggy tunes blaring.

If you go for lunch, be prepared. Like the softball-sized muffins, the portions are huge.

Unfortunately, when it comes to eating, our kids are typical kids. We aren’t like those pretentious Montgomery County types who brag about their kids’ adventurous palettes and eschew high fructose corn syrup. Without any familiar kid favorites on the menu, our kids ate chocolate chip muffins for lunch (bad parents).

We shared the ziggy (honey glazed) wings and jerk wings served with rice and peas and cabbage. While I’m not fond of chicken that isn’t white or boneless (I know. I hate me too), the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and the jerk wings had a nice peppery bite. The cabbage and rice and peas were nice accompaniments.

We washed down our meal with sweet Jamaican pineapple sodas and limeades.

The dense muffins were so heavy; they were almost leaden, but moist and fresh. We’d definitely go back for those. But for one meal, sodas and three muffins, our meal came to about 30 bucks – not really a “cheap eat” for fairly simple fare at lunchtime.

We'll definitely give it a try when it comes to Bowie. Next time we'll bring our appetites and leave the kids at home.

Changes Taking Place in Old Bowie

The Fabian House Cafe closed earlier this month, the Shops at Fabian House will be closing June 30th, and Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe will be moving from from its current location behind the Bowie Antique Depot to the historic Fabian House during the first week of July. Some of the current Fabian House vendors will be leaving the location, and it's possible that some may be staying. The owners of Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe are looking for vendors to fill some of the empty spots.

The Fabian House is located at 8519 Chestnut Avenue in Old Bowie (see map below). The building once housed the Joffe Family General Store. Click here for a bit of the Fabian House history.

A June, 2009 Bowie Living post about Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe can be seen by clicking here.

Fabian House

8519 Chestnut Ave, Bowie, MD 20720

View Larger Map

Red Robin Restaurant Considered for Bowie Town Center

Plans are being evaluated to convert the Bowie Town Center Famous Footwear location into a Red Robin Gourmet Burgers restaurant. A revision to the Bowie Town Center Specific Design Plan is being considered, and a public hearing will take place during next Monday's City Council Meeting. A bid for construction has been posted, and a permit for construction has been submitted.

The following details for the public hearing are posted on the City of Bowie Web site.

Public Hearing at City Council Meeting

Council Chambers
Bowie City Hall
2614 Kenhill Drive
Bowie, MD 20715

June 21, 2010, 8:00pm

Red Robin lnternational Inc has submitted an application for a Revision to a Specific Design Plan SDP for the purpose of converting approximately 5328 sq ft of existing retail use at Famous Footwear to a non-fastfood food restaurant. The project also includes constructing a 318 sq ft cooler to be attached to the restaurant within an existing service court area and constructing a 43 sq ft vestibule to the front northern building elevation. The subject site is located in Bowie Town Center, on the south side of MD Route 197 Collington Road directly opposite the Bowie Corporate Center and is currently zoned MAC Major Activity Center where the proposed use is permitted by right under the Prince George's County Zoning Ordinance.

The City has scheduled the following public hearing Bowie City Council Monday June 21, 2010 at 8 p.m. Your attendance and participation are welcome at this meeting. In the interim should you have any questions regarding this project please do not hesitate to call 301-809-3047.

Pomo Grille Follow-Up: Squisito Opens in Crofton

When the Monte Development Group closed the Pomo Grille in Bowie last January, the owner planned on opening a Squisito Pizza & Pasta restaurant in the same Free State Shopping Center location. The owner of the property, Federal Realty Investment Trust, had an alternate plan. Monte Development Group was forced to abandon the property, but they vowed to return to Bowie.

The plan came to fruition earlier this month with a slight modification. Monte Development Group opened a Squisito restaurant in Crofton at the Crofton Centre shopping center (near Kmart and Shoppers).


Squisito customers order food at the counter, and servers deliver the food to the tables. Some people compare it to The Italian Market. Takeout is also available.

We've visited the new restaurant twice since it opened. I liked the pizza crust and sauce, but the pineapples on my pizza during the second visit were not not sweet at all.

Related Links

• To-Go Menu
• Squisito Pizza & Pasta web site
• First Bowie Living post on the Pomo Grille closing
• Second Bowie Living post on the Pomo Grille closing
  

Pomo Grille Closing - Some Bad Information

I previously posted about the closing of the Pomo Grille. When I heard that the restaurant was closing, I went to Pomo Grille and talked to the hostess. She informed me about the plans for the Monte Restaurant Development Group to convert the location into a Squisito Pizza & Pasta restaurant, and she told me that Squisito would be opening on Monday, January 18. I said to her, "January 18th! They're going to be able to do the renovations in one week?" And she said something like, "Yep. I heard that a crew will be starting tomorrow (January 10)."

I did send an e-mail to the Monte Restaurant Development Group last week to confirm the conversion plans, but I never received a reply.

I have yet to see any signs of renovations at the restaurant. This is how things looked on Saturday morning, January 16.

Multiple notices of the closing hang on the door, and nobody took in the new phone books. Phone books? Do they still print those things?

A closer look at the notice - note the 15% discount at the 4 Seasons Grille through February 28. I didn't see any promotional posters for the new Squisito.

Pomo Grille Closed

Saturday was the final day in business for Bowie's Pomo Grille restaurant. The wait staff first heard the news two weeks ago.

The Monte Restaurant Development Group, the owner of the Pomo Grille, has decided to convert the location into a Squisito Pizza & Pasta restaurant. Renovations are expected to take just one week, and the new restaurant will open on Monday, January 18th.

Monte Restaurant Development Group owns and runs several restaurants in the area, including eight Squisito locations (predominantly in Anne Arundel County), the Four Seasons Grille in Waugh Chapel, Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen & Wine Bar in Annapolis and Sazzio in Hanover and White Marsh.

Squisito offers a more casual dining format than the Pomo Grille. Customers place orders at a counter before sitting down. I'm not sure if the staff delivers food to customers or if customers pick up the food at the counter. Click here to see the menus at other Squisito restaurants, and click here to see a picture gallery of Squisito restaurants and menu items.

My wife and I ate at the Pomo Grille a handful of times since it opened in 2007. The food was always great, and there always seemed to be plenty of customers. Obviously the owner believes that a Squisito will be more profitable in this location, but I'm interested in hearing more details.

I'm also looking forward to trying out the new Squisito. The reviews I found on the Web suggest that people visit Squisito for the pizza. This will be the first pizza joint to return to Free State Mall since the closing of the Happy Italian Delight.

UPDATE: It seems that I received some bad information about Squisito opening on January 18th. Please see this new post with more details.

Indian Food Comes to Bowie

UPDATE: The White Tiger closed the Bowie Town Center location in December, 2012. 


Ethnic dining choices in Bowie are almost as rare as white tigers. So it's only fitting that the first restaurant to offer Indian cuisine in Bowie be called The White Tiger.

The White Tiger, a Capitol Hill restaurant for the last thirteen years, opened a fast food venue in the Bowie Town Center food court on the day after Thanksgiving, and Kavitha Ravishankar, a member of the family that owns and runs the restaurant, said that business in the Bowie location has been great ever since.

Customers can order from a small list of specials, or they can choose appetizers and buffet items for faster service. Buffet items change multiple times per day. Buffet combos are available with your choice of two or three entrees, salad, and your choice of rice or naan. Vegetable samosas, vegetable pakoras and fish pakoras are available as appetizers. When I stopped by last Friday for lunch, the buffet included chicken tikka masala, a spinach and beef dish, peppered curried wings, vegetable korma and daal maharani. Ravishankar said that chicken vindaloo is frequently offered as well. Raita is available for dipping (it's great with the samosas) as well as the popular yogurt drink - lassi.

Other menu items take about ten minutes to prepare, according to Ravishankar. Tandoori chicken, lamb chops, chicken tikka, paneer tikka and chole batura are available.

The other customers that I spoke to last Friday were all very happy with their meals. One woman told me that The White Tiger is her new favorite restaurant, and she's been to The White Tiger three times in the last week.

Ravishankar, a resident of Bowie's Heather Hills neighborhood, said that the family hopes to open a formal Indian restaurant in Bowie after establishing clientele at the Bowie Town Center location.


Bowie Town Center Food Court

View Larger Map

New Pizza Shop in Bowie

Pizza Tempo opened in Bowie's Collington Plaza nearly two months ago, and we stopped by for dinner Friday night. The new shop is located at the former site of Luigi's Pizza and Armand's Pizza.

The Pizza Tempo menu includes Pizza Margherita - a variation of a style of pizza that dates back to 19th century Italy. According to the popular story, a pizza maker prepared a pizza in 1889 for Italy's Queen Margherita that included the colors of the Italian flag. The pizza had tomatoes (red), mozzarella cheese (white) and fresh basil (green). Queen Margherita loved the pizza, and it was named in her honor. Pizza Tempo's version is made with tomato sauce and real mozzarella cheese, but there is no mention of basil on the menu. Pizza Margherita should not be confused with Pizza Latifah - the pie that originated in 20th century New Jersey.

The pizza was good, and the crust was noticeably fresh. The food is definitely worth a repeat visit.

Pizza Tempo has two locations - Rockville and Bowie. The Rockville location appears to be pick-up and delivery only, and the Bowie restaurant offers pick-up, delivery and dine-in service.

The Bowie location may be the restaurant's first attempt at having a dine-in location, and they have a few kinks to iron out. A cashier takes customer orders near the kitchen. The cashier didn't seem to know the menu very well, and she seemed a little overwhelmed. I liked that she read my order back to me - especially since she seemed so frazzled. After she handed me my receipt, I asked if she was going to call my number when the food was ready. She said, "no. Just come back up here in twenty minutes." I thought that was a strange answer, but I later noticed that someone was bringing food to the tables. Dine-in customers are served their pizza in takeout boxes, and I would have been annoyed if we didn't have an empty table nearby for the box. Kid sized drinks are not available, but you're allowed unlimited napkins when your kid spills their adult sized drink.

The bottom of my receipt displayed the calculated amount for a 15% gratuity, although the gratuity was not included in the total. It seemed odd given the format of the restaurant.

The Pizza Tempo menu includes salads, subs, panini sandwiches, some entrees and desserts. They also offer a lunchtime buffet.

Although I didn't think the service was great, I felt like they were trying to figure it out. I imagine we'll stop in again sometime soon.

Map
3552 Crain Highway, Bowie MD 20716 (near Walmart)


View Larger Map