490968 Mon Feb 18 18:03:28 -0800 2008 1 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 3410969 A friend of mine had free tickets to a show at the symphony last week, and I treated to dinner. We decided to try the new Abacrombie. Good things: Our service was amazing. I really love a server who can keep a glass of water full for hours. She was attentive, unobtrusive, patient, and charming. The staff was young, attractive, and professional and seemed to work well together. She made great recommendations and seemed really proud of the product. The food was great. We started with a frisee salad with apples, walnuts and warm camembert and shared grilled oysters on the half shell topped with creamed spinach or chard and smoked bacon. I had a mushroom lasagna. It was creamy, rich, and delicious. My date had the beef cheeks. He was apprehensive about it but loved it. It came with perfect sweet potato puree. Afraid of falling asleep at the concert, we abstained from a full bottle of wine and enjoyed a white Rioja and a Cotes du Rhone from the wines by the glass list. Both recommended by our sever-and both perfect with our meal. Not so good things: The atmosphere was stiff. It needs something. There was music playing but it was barely audible. It was so quiet that I was afraid to speak. It lacks a hipness. Maybe some color somewhere? It almost seemed 'sad'. The portion size of our dessert- a lemon polenta cake with blood orange sauce and a scoop of milk gelato was tiny. We'll be back but this time we'll just ask for the biggest dessert. Mon Feb 18 18:03:28 -0800 2008 157479 filelilly 1 3411558 I found the atmosphere restful and romantic. I wonder if it's an age thing? I'm in my fifties, and way past being hip. Incidentally had almost the same meal, with the beef cheeks and the lemon polenta cake (yum). Has anyone had the Sunday brunch here? Mon Feb 18 20:57:12 -0800 2008 3410969 12297 crowsonguy