Motorkat — Restaurant in Takoma Park

This spot has some GOOD FOOD!! Hands down, it’s that simple. I saw them on my social medias when they first opened. Now I’m here!! Oh and to the Bamma that called in a bomb threat at this spot…you’re not important!! . Where I am: @motorkattakoma . Location Reviewed: 6939 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park M.D. . Menu Includes: Salads, Burgers, Seafood Stew, Fried Chicken, Catfish, Ribs, Steak, Eggplant, Dessers, Cocktails, & MORE!! . Items Reviewed: Their Pumpkin Risotto (with braised kale, & root vegetables, pumpkin seeds, mascarpone, & parmesan $24). STAMP!! Hearty, packed full of flavor…this was a whole MEAL!!

Their Motor Dog (a crispy corn Hebrew National dog, with curry ketchup, aioli, & pickled red chilis $6). LIKE THAT!! Try it!! It’s a mildly spicy, crispy, curry ketchup corndog!!

Their French Fries A Go Go (with veggie gravy, & mozzarella $6). DECENT. Good. I needed some more flavor to these.

Their Roasted Sunchoke (with a sunchoke miso ranch, black sesame, & sweet & sour raisins $13). LIKE THAT!! I’d get this again! The ingredients MADE this meal!!

Their Happy Roaster Oysters (roasted with herb butter, & lemon pepper $15). STAMP!! Perfectly toasted, not chewy, meaty, buttery, & lemony!!

Their Dry Age Burger (with l.t.o, & smoked mozzarella Béchamel $16 I added bacon $3, & a side salad $4). STAMP!! A juicy thick flavorful burger, crisp bacon, & a cheesy cheese, even the simple salad was DELICIOUS!!

Their People Shrub Mocktail (with lemon, lime, & apple cider vinegar $8). STAMP!! You did NOT taste the vinegar, surprisingly refreshing!!

Their Curried Fried Chicken (Fried chicken in a curry sauce, forbidden rice-a heirloom black rice, Madra’s curry, & a crunchy herb salad $23).

Their Pear Apple Walnut Crisp (with a citrus custard, walnut streusel, vanilla ice cream, & a caramel drizzle $12). STAMP STAMP!! Bursting with flavor, apple pie on 100!!

Their Calico Crème Brulee Not in the video($Custard with a candied caramel on top $10). STAMP!! Creamy, sweet, DELICIOUSNESS!!

Their Banoffee Trifle Notin the video(with, graham cracker, Dulce de leche, cream, & caramelized bananas $10). STAMP!! GET IT. That’s it!! . Customer Service: On Point!! . Online Navigation: Easy . Parking: ROUGH . Music: YouTube-Backyard Band Socket . Recommendations: The Burger, Chicken, Risotto, & ANY dessert!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️=STAMP ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️➕=LIKE...

Really really wanted to love this place, since it’s local and there was a ton of buzz around the changeover at this location.

Came here on a Sunday for late afternoon drinks and bites. For some reason the full menu isn’t available until an hour after opening…but we were shown the menu anyway, which was confusing. Same with happy hour…we were given a happy hour menu, but then discovered happy hour doesn’t exist on Sundays.

Every other review says the service was great—how I wish we had that experience!! The nicest thing I can say is perhaps our server…wasn’t experienced? For a literal hour the server walked back and forth by our table and offered my dining companion nothing. No follow up drink, no food, nothing. We eventually made it a game to see how many times our server would walk by and ignore the empty glass. We had also chosen sparkling water and a variety of servers kept trying to refill our glasses with still, despite the very distinctive water bottle on our table, so we had to be vigilant to “protect” our water glasses, which definitely detracted from the dining experience.

The restaurant seems to pride itself on its oyster offerings. We asked several very simple questions about the oysters and got an answer from our server that was so uninformed as to be laughable. Also not great that the restaurant requires a minimum order of 6 oysters. We also received a confusing receipt with the oysters that made it seem like we had gotten substitutions, and had to wait for an explanation instead of receiving one up front. (Why is the ordering system not calibrated properly to not require TWO substitutions for ringing up the oysters that are meant to be a dining highlight?)

Finally a manager seemed to notice us and we eventually got food. My companion’s burger was fantastic. When I ordered the same thing, there was a decided difference in quality. Other food we ordered was good.

Finally when it came time to pay the check, the restaurant put an 18% service fee on it. The diners next to us were unhappy that this wasn’t mentioned up front, and the manager pointed out it was—in tiny print. We don’t know what this fee covers. Maybe better to just build it into the cost of food bc it leaves a bad taste.

Might return, since we are locals, but definitely underwhelmed. Dining is about the experience and this...

My recent rendezvous with MotorKat in Takoma Park, MD, was a culinary revelation. The convenience of paid street parking and nearby lots ensures a smooth entrance into this hidden gem.

MotorKat's surprises commence with an extensive mocktail menu, a delightful deviation from the ordinary. While the oyster menu dazzles with excellence, it doesn't quite carve a niche unique to the area. The curated food and dessert selections, though limited, boast an irresistible appeal, each dish surpassing expectations.

Opting for the classic Old Fashioned proved to hit all the right notes and set the stage for an evening of gastronomic delight. The culinary journey continued with the Roseda Farm Coulotte Steak, Cross-Cut Beef Short Ribs, and the Banoffee Trifle. While the Cross-Cut Beef Short Ribs stole the spotlight with its pronounced marinade, the Roseda Farm Coulotte Steak left much to be desired, lacking the distinct beefy flavour. The Banoffee Trifle, a dessert sensation, earned its stripes with a creamy and smooth texture—a highly recommended finale to the meal.

MotorKat's commitment to direct sourcing is evident in every bite, with fresh and sustainably sourced ingredients elevating the dining experience. Adding a 20% gratuity, which goes directly to the staff, is a commendable practice that underscores the establishment's dedication to fair compensation.

In summation, MotorKat stands as a shining star in Takoma Park, MD. From unexpected delights on the mocktail menu to the delectable offerings on the limited yet enticing food menu, every facet is a testament to thoughtful curation. The commitment to direct sourcing and sustainability makes MotorKat not just a dining destination but a culinary experience worth savouring. A visit to MotorKat is an investment in exceptional gastronomy and an excellent addition to the vibrant tapestry of...