Before my dinner at Againn Tavern in Rockville, I had already chosen the title of my blog post. “Not, Againn.” I decided that I wasn’t going to like it so that I could use this clever (although probably not original) title. About half way through the meal, I was thinking I would change it to “Once, Againn,” meaning that this was a decent one-time dining experience but I would probably not be back.
A few days have gone by. This doesn’t happen often, but I am now starting to like the meal better as I look back on it.
Pub food is not usually my thing. The menu at Againn Tavern is on the heavy side. Fish and chips, ribs, shepherd’s pie, steaks, etc. There are a couple of salads but nothing that sounds interesting besides a salmon salad that I’m just not in the mood for at that moment.
I’m having a tough time deciding. A manager comes over and tells us that the fish and chips will “knock our socks off.” That’s all I need to hear. I like having my socks knocked off. I order the fish and chips.
You know what? I liked it. The batter is crisp but not too heavy. The fish is moist and there is a light sauce tartar sauce on the bottom that’s very nice.
Service is a little uneven. Our server takes too long to bring us our bread. The manager offers to bring us some homemade pickles and then forgets about it. She never comes back to see about our socks after we finish our meal.
My friends and I walk out and we agree that on a 1-5 scale we would give it a solid three. We may not rush back, but it’s a definite possibility among the crowded but not so interesting dining selections on the Pike.
But subsequently one of my friends emails that she’s upping her score to a 3.5. I’m starting to think that it’s a decent dining option for a night at the symphony at Strathmore Hall.
I’m pretty sure that I will be dining Againn. And if I wait a few months, when there is a chill in the air, the menu will be somewhat more appealing than it was on a muggy night in August.
*Does anyone remember this TV series that ran from 1999 to 2002 starring Sela Ward and Bill Campbelll? It was about two divorced parents trying to make it work as a couple. Liked it a lot. Sorry, I digress.
Againn Tavern, 12256 Rockville Pike, Rockville
My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 3.5
Tom Sietsema First Bite Review
