A Beautiful Restaurant Run by an Artist at DMV

Charley Prime Foods - A Rio Lakefront Restaurant 👨🏻‍🎨 Trapped by heavy snow, I finally chose this restaurant for my birthday celebration after much deliberation, and both the environment and dining experience were surprisingly pleasant. The owner, Jackie Greenbaum, is also a painter👨🏻‍🎨, which explains the restaurant’s stunning beauty. The French garden-style decor and space design are right up my aesthetic alley. I bet sitting on the patio would be even more delightful when the weather warms up. 👨🏻‍🎨 It’s rare to find a beautiful restaurant that also serves great food. This is a place where the appetizers outshine the entrees. ⭐️ Five Spice Pork Shoulder🐷 The crispy rice cake topped with five-spice pulled pork and Mexican chili is like the rice cakes I had as a kid for breakfast. Eating this in an American restaurant is both magical and delicious! ⭐️ Tuna Tartare The fresh tuna tartare in a round tart shell, topped with avocado🥑 and served with crispy crackers, is a delightful combination. The texture of the crackers is particularly enjoyable, and tuna with avocado is always a great match. ⭐️ Oysters I ordered a half-dozen oysters, which were very fresh, especially since it’s oyster season. No tummy troubles🤪. Oysters must be paired with a strong drink, and the House OF is a good choice. ⭐️ Huli Huli Pork Steak The oversized pork chop, slightly sweet, served with grilled 🍍 pineapple, is a perfect blend of meaty and fruity flavors. Better than steak! ⭐️ 12oz Ribeye The portion is generous, but the medium-cooked ribeye was a bit overdone. I think medium rare or rare would have been better. A bit disappointing, but the pineapple pork chop saved the day! ⭐️ Gaithersburger Burger🍔 You have to try it at least once if you live nearby, just for the name😆 ⭐️ Fried Shrimp Platter The shrimp platter is pretty standard. 🍸🍺 The restaurant is famous for its stunning bar, which presumably has a great selection of drinks. It’s an excellent spot for a drink, and The Washington Post has praised it for “raising the bar for drinking in Montgomery County.” Make sure to explore the cocktail menu. 📍 There’s also a sister establishment, Bar Charley, in DC. #dmvfoodandfun #restaurantinagallery #birthdaydining