Comus Don't Missus
DESCRIPTION: I loved this place! I had a lovely experience that amazed my tastebuds. It is refreshing to find a restaurant with such mature tastes in an unpretentious atmosphere. The waitstaff was helpful and warm, the food was orgasmic, the ambiance was comfortable yet elegant. The Comus Inn is up to something unique and I felt like I was a part of it this evening. Now I know what we have all been waiting for; it was worth the wait. Thank you, I'll be back!
DATE: 2004-12-29
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Turtle Soup, Butter Poached Lobster, Grilled Rabbit

An Epicurean Delight...
DESCRIPTION: And a gastronomic extravaganza of the first order. Meticulous attention to detail and food that is 'to die for" made dining at the Comus Inn last night an unforgettable experience that shall be repeated often. We are truly fortunate to have an establishment of such high caliber so close to home. I have to believe that "Anonymous" (see review above) just dreamed they were at the Comus Inn but actually ate someplace else or perhaps they have an axe to grind.
DATE: 2004-12-30
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Scallops, Tenderloin, Crab, Duck

Great Dining
DESCRIPTION: We had the Sunday family-style dinner. We Started with fresh crayfish from Louisiana (what a great treat). I had catfish that could not have been better. My wife is allergic to all dairy products, so the Chef prepared Halibut especially for her (it was not on the menu). Service was excellent; because of my wife s allergies the entire staff went out of their way to accommodate her. I highly recommend Comus Inn to everyone; the price was an excellent value for the great food, service and ambiance.
DATE: 2005-01-03
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Catfish

Needs Maturity
DESCRIPTION: I am very hopeful for the new Comus Inn as an upcounty alternative to D.C. and Northern Va. quality dining spots. Our experience in December, unfortunately, was not very encouraging. Firstly, the Comus Inn staff is obviously trying to find the right mix of customer attention and invisibility. I agree with the previous reviewer that the service is "over-the-top". Having 4 different staff serving plates simultaneously in a very choreographed manner was, frankly, creepy. Our party would have preferred to have been left alone more often and not part of some sort of show being performed by the staff. I understand that this is a process of maturity for this establishment and is meant as more of a recommendation than a criticism. Secondly, The menu. Ditch it. A format more like L'Auberge Chez Francois is more appropriate for a Prix Fixe menu style. I found it very confusing to follow. Thirdly, the Wine list is very good, though the prices are a bit out of whack. The 3x and 4x pricing guide seems to have been ignored with some wines being grossly overpriced, while others being a bargain. For example, a bottle of the Chandon Reserve NV at $29 is a deal, while the Cht Ste Michelle Brut at $37 is a bit interesting. Lastly, the food itself was average for the prices being charged. The Grilled Veal on white beans was cold, and the beans were overly sweet. The Chesapeake Crab Ravioli pasta was very dry, with the pasta portions not covered by the white sauce appearing, almost, like they had not been cooked. The gumbo starter was excellent and served in generous portions. The bisquits and rolls delivered at the beginning of the meal were extremely disappointing, being dry and cold. The only reason I mention it, is that they are served with the comment of being their "signature rolls". The Scallops starter was the best part of my meal. Done exceedingly well. The crab and avocado salad starter was also done very well. The pear and blue cheese tart was very average and served cold. Overall: This establishment has potential, but needs some serious work on the service methodology, menu organization, and food consistency. As my party expected when we made the reservation only 2 weeks after the open, the Comus Inn needs more "break-in" time and maturity. If they can work these items out, they should be successful. People do not mind paying the prices at the Comus Inn, but the place needs to delivery. Especially, when a less expensive alternative would be a place like L'Auberge Chez Francois. Good
DATE: 2005-01-06
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 4

Great Wine and Food.
DESCRIPTION: What a wonderful place. I found the wine prices fine, keeping in mind that we are in Montgomery County where all wine is overpriced because of the County Governments taxes (no fault of any restaurant). Food was above average. I do agree with the comment made by JPD when they say it would be nice to be left alone a little more. We had the owner at out table so much we could hardly have a conversation without him, but at least they don t treat you like they wish you had not come like many places do. The food was nice and I for one love the menu idea. Food could be served warmer, especially soups. All in all it's very good for a place that has been open for less than a month. So my finial review? Keep the menu, try and keep the food hotter, keep the owner at home and all will be
DATE: 2005-01-12
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Quail

My new favorite Place
DESCRIPTION: I think this is the best place in Maryand by far. I eat out with clients at least three times a week and make it a point to try new places all the time. These guys are by far the best. I cant believe they have only been open a few weeks. I had a table for five on a Friday night. Our server was named Randy and he was the most professional waiter I have ever had. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and also helped me with the HUGE wine list. All of us had the five course menu and from the first "Gift from the chef" to dessert everything was perfect. I don't know where JPD eats but the fact that all the servers bring your food out at once and set it on the table at the same time wasn't creepy at all -- its called great service. I had the turtle soup. And it was the most wonderful thing I have ever tasted. Perfect amount of sherry, not to salty or bland. I could sit here all night typing about every course I had and how good it was, but I think you get the idea. All my dinner companions had a great time and they're from New York, where great restaurants aren't as rare as they are here in Maryland, but even they said it was one of the best meals of there lives. Thank you Comus Inn for going out of your way to have unique food and really special service. This is what fine food is really all a
DATE: 2005-01-14
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Turtle Soup

Will be back for more!
DESCRIPTION: For the past years my wife and I drove past the Comus Inn numerous times to check if it had reopened. Finally, on Sunday 1/23/05 we had a chance to check it out and were received with a warm welcome by owner and staff. On Sundays, a family style menu is being served whereby one has a choice of a poultry, meat or fish entr e. The appetizer was a crab soup and since I can t eat any seafood, this was quickly substituted by their gumbo specialty. For entrees we ordered ribs and black sea bass. Not only was there plenty of food, it was well prepared, had a good taste and nicely served all at once. With us being from Europe, we especially appreciated the fact that we were not rushed thru our diner. The wine list is extensive with an enormous selection of domestic and imported wines. Since we re planning to eat here more often, I had asked for a chance to look at the regular menu and there comes my only point of criticism: I d prefer an old fashioned menu which separates appetizers, entrees and desserts in a more traditional way (menu can be downloaded via their website www.thecomusinn.com). The evening was concluded by a tour of the newly renovated restaurant: Excellent workmanship while preserving and restoring some of its old characteristics. Summarized: excellent service, excellent food, excellent location! Without exception the Comus Inn met all my expectations: we ll be back for
DATE: 2005-01-24
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Gumbo!

NICE BUT PRICEY EVENING
DESCRIPTION: Lovely atmosphere in the dining area. A little bit too chipper staff, but I think they are nice young people who will eventually settle down. (Example: one of the young hostesses personally escorted my friend and I to the Ladies's room & exclaimed "Enjoy!") Service was a tad bit over-bearing, but again I think with experience the staff will pick up on who's high-maintenance & who prefers less hovering. Food was high quality, well-prepared, pleasantly presented. We were seated about 3 hours and I never felt rushed or as though I were waiting for my next course. Very nice balance. Sommelier recommended Fisher Chardonnay, which turned out to be excellent (we're ordered a case to have at home.) But somehow I found the concept that it was being promoted (only $62 instead of $66!!) a bit weird (?) considering our tab was $195 before tip. Why bother? All in all a lovely evening. The prices would keep this on our special occasion restaurant
DATE: 2005-01-30
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : crab, avocado, and tomato starter and the lamb was superb

Great View, Good Food, Very Expensive
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I have been going to this restaurant for over 25 years, and were anxiously awaiting the renovation. It's too bad that the new owners have chosen to make this a very exclusive, special occasion (for most folks) place. The view remains outstanding and it's been very nicely redone. The menu is now 'nouveau cuisine' -- looks & tastes great but expect to pay over $100/head for a meal including everything. The view at this place makes it one we'd like to continue going to 3 or 4 times a year. However, with the new prices, it will more likely be only once every couple of years now. Overall, this is very disappoin
DATE: 2005-02-14
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 6

Almost There
DESCRIPTION: My husband and I enjoyed a lovely Valentine's Day dinner. The food was outstanding, the service was attentive for the most part, the ambiance was pleasant, and the renovation and interior decorations are stunning. The Chef's treat of a vanilla lobster bisque as a starter was fantastic! The classical music selection was particularly nice. We do think the dining rooms would be enhanced with fresh floral arrangements designed to fit the unique spaces located throughout the restaurant. We arrived on time for our 7:00 PM seating and were invited to visit the bar. A half hour later, we were seated. We weren't sure if the kitchen was backed up or we were being milked for $25 (the cost of 2 glasses of House pinot noir). Once seated, we waited a good 5 minutes before we received a menu and were served water. After that brief delay, things rolled along nicely. We ordered Veuve ed Clicquot champagne from the wine menu (it said the bottle was available in both a split and full bottle). After ordering, we were informed it was not available in the full bottle, but we were not offered an opportunity to review the menu again to make another selection. We ended up paying $60 for a split vs. $30 but the champagne was superb. We were given an option of ordering a 3, 4 or 5-course meal and ordered the 5-course meal. Everything was prepared to perfection, plated beautifully, perfectly timed and served hot. Two servers came to the table with each course. We were not told that if we didn't pre-order our dessert, there would be a delay, so at the end of dinner, we waited another 15 minutes for our final course and were blamed for the delay. However, once dessert arrived, with an ample serving of apologies, it was delicious as well. The coffee was excellent. Besides the awkward delays, the only other distraction was having the owner visit us twice. We would have preferred being asked if we enjoyed our meal as opposed to being asked if we got enough to eat. After dinner concluded, we presented the waitress with our coat check and valet tickets and she arranged to have both ready for us by the time we walked downstairs. It was a treat to have our coats ready, and our car heated up and running. The valet should be trained to hold the car door open for women, and to offer to hold flowers and/or leftovers while they ease into the car. All in all, a nice evening, but when you pay $300 for dinner for two, which is what you'd pay at the Citronelle in Georgetown, for instance, you expect the service to be impeccable. We hope the Comus Inn at Sugarloaf Mountain achieves perfection soon because it would be a shame if they don't make it. In our opinion, they are almost t
DATE: 2005-02-16
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Gumbo, Oysters, Scallops, Squab, Alaskan Halibut, Lobster, Beef Tenderloin, Chocolate Thyme Ice Cream & Citrus Cream Brulee

Who needs The Inn at Little Washington?
DESCRIPTION: I dine out more than the avg person due to my line of work. I spend three or four nights a week in so called "fine Dining:" restaurants all over DC, VA and MD. So believe me when I tell you The Comus Inn is well on the way to beating them all hands down. I have had dinner at the Comus two times in the past week and both times have been unbelievable experiences. First the building is a work of art. Beautiful hardwood walls, a wonderful view and gold china on the tables make for a wonderful time. You are asked to order by course, something I love to do but I can see how some people would be put off by this. There is a three a four and a five-course option. I have had such dishes as a Wonderful turtle soup something I had never tasted before but took a risk on and now can't wait to have over and over as well as on my first visit a pear and blue cheese tart that was very good except that the blue cheese was a little weak for my taste. As main courses go the ones at the Comus are not only tasty but also beautiful and very large for such a fancy place. I had the Duck with a crispy egg roll on my first visit. It was very tasty and cooked to a perfect pink color. On my last visit I had the Lamb chops. WOW what a great lamb dish. Whatever they coat the chops in is crispy and adds a whole new layer of taste to the dish. My dinner guests had many different dishes from a crab salad to sweetbreads and felt as I do that they quality of the food and service is exceptional. On my last visit "with business guests" We where visited by David who is the Sommelier. He was very nice and helped me pick a bottle of Bordeaux that impressed my guests without costing a mint. He is very nice and informative. It s nice to see a place in MD with the commitment to great food and wine. I would like to see them add a cheese course because i'm not much for sweets. They don t have espresso yet because of some problem with the wires in the old place so that was a bit of a let down. But I think with a little more time they will be one of the great places to eat in the nation. I have Reservations for mother s day with my wife and I can t
DATE: 2005-04-24
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Everything

Pricey and Pretentious
DESCRIPTION: This was my first time at Comus Inn, and will probably be my last, certainly on my nickel. The restaurant is newly refurbished and rather attractive, and I found the service to be quite attentive, and not so overattentive as some other reviewers commented. I will agree that the service was ostentatious, though. My favorite example of this is that the dishes were brought to my table of six by a staff of three (two apiece) and were put in front of us in some sort of synchronized process. Puh-leeze!! The ingredients were all the finest, but I do have some major complaints. First and foremost, the meals were without exception served stone cold! This is inexcusable in a restaurant of this (purported) caliber, especially since there was a great pronouncement at the beginning of the meal that none of the dishes were prepared in advance. As for the meals them selves, the lump crab was generous, and was served with asparagus and greens, unfortunately the avocado that it came with was overpowered and rendered tasteless. The salmon was good, but too oily. The lobster was good, but the five spices that were supposed to season it were indetectible; the potatoes that accompanied it were strictly pedestrian. The tenderloin and tuna steaks were both excellent, but as I mentioned earlier, they suffered from being served cold. The lamb lacked any distinctive flavor. The desserts were good, and fortunately ended a disappointing meal on a high n
DATE: 2005-05-20
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Pretty, but Inn at Little Washington It's Not
DESCRIPTION: The view is picture perfect, but the ambitious and gimicky menu (dessert is ordered first, dishes are color-coded) yielded dishes that seemed almost untouched by seasoning (except salt and sugar). A pear and onion tart was almost inedibly salty, while a perfectly roasted duck entree only hinted at the five spices that gave the dish its name, but was accompanied by a salty egg roll. My chocolate-peppermint torte tasted only slightly of peppermint, but was accompanied, oddly, by a cinnamon sauce. Service was mature and pleasant, and the decor very pretty, but at $60 for a three-course meal, this is not a good value for the quality of the fo
DATE: 2005-06-13
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6

Sunday Brunch 12/18
DESCRIPTION: After reading the reviews my wife and went to the sunday brunch at the Comus Inn. Of course I was looking for the negatives written in the reviews. The positives out-weigh the negatives 10 to 1. The service was no more or less then expected at a buffet style brunch. We sat in the lower section we a nice view. All the items on the buffet were superb, the prime rib was excellent, served on fine china One thing I would like to highlight. I ordered one of the brunch cocktails, the last one the list. There was alott of fruit left in the glass. I asked to fill the glass with red wine, there was no problem. The piano player made the experience very nice. The fantastic bread pudding complimented everything. It was a little on the high-end for brunch. $100.00 including drinks and tip, although I recommend trying the Comus In
DATE: 2005-12-18
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Sunday Brunch - No Thanks
DESCRIPTION: Way over priced for what you get. Several of the buffet items were cold, and the service was not up to par. I was very disappointed to see that some tables were catered to, while others were neglected. It was very obvious to the guests from out of state that I was entertaining. Since I live close to the Comus Inn, I was hoping that I could become a regular customer, but I will not go again.
DATE: 2006-02-18
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Great to work with for events
DESCRIPTION: We just hosted a 50-person party at the Comus, and were very pleased all-around. The service was great, and Kendall, the events planner, was very easy to work with. Contracts were clear, no hidden gotchas. Almost everyone commented on the Comus itself - food, atmosphere, etc. Thanks, Comus, for helping make our party a success
DATE: 2006-03-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8