terra plata

terra plata is really cute and quaint. was easily walkable from our hotel. i had the fried chicken sandwich with the chips which was really delicious! and the grits which was also as delicious. must try the manchego biscuits absolutely delicious. especially with the grits. they convinced us to have the churros so we got the churros and it was agooddecision although we were very full! the customer service was amazing as well.

just next door to the melrose market is terra plata , a restaurant that focuses on seasonal and local fare, or as they call it “earth to plate”. when we were there they had a stand set up selling their fresh and perfectly chunky summer gazpacho. they have a really nice rooftop deck that is open during the warm months. aside: i’m not exactly sure whether these guys were from terra plata or another restaurant in the melrose market area, but they sold me a very tasty huckleberry soda. and doesn’t the guy on the left look just like  seth rogen ? terra plata on: tacos chukis i’ve had lots of really terrible mexican food in my travels, so a decade ago i swore off eating tacos anywhere except california or mexico. in recent years, i’ve come to realize that with changing demographics in the us and the resurgence of attention given to quality food, you can findgoodethnic food in unexpected places. so we decided to give tacos chukis a try. i had their vegetarian tacos and kevin their pastor se

so-so. going in perhaps my expectations were too high. it wasn't bad by any means but it wasn't as exciting as i would have hoped based on what i had read. we had made a reservation for brunch just in case and even though the place was empty we were sat at a weird table next to a brick structure that jutted out of the room. the set up was very awkward so we asked to switch and the hostess was rather rude about it even though all but two tables were empty. the food wasgoodbut nothing exciting, not flavors really stood out or made it memorable. i wouldn't recommend it for brunch but wouldn't be against trying it for dinner.

my friend won't stop raving. about this spot, so i had to check it out. the wine list is impressive. the little white lights and open windows give a happy glow to a unique upbeat restaurant. it's small and has a lovely feeling of intimacy.
the menu is varied. the house-made charcuterie looked and was wonderful. the risotto was also really good, although completely your typical risotto. it was "earthy" (and that's not a word i'd ever normally use to describe risotto). the main course items were lovely as well. nice, simple presentation.
took us a few minutes to get our table. at 8 pm on a school night the restaurant was still packed, which is always agoodsign.goodservice by our wait staff and the short wait gave a us a chance to take in the ambiance.

excellent brunch. this is really a lovely little restaurant. well lit, all glass walls, warm wood interior, it is very inviting. we went to brunch today, and i really recommend it. the group ended up sharing a few plates, as no one could decide on just one. i really enjoyed the pork hash, which had great flavor without too much grease, and the manchego cheese biscuits with chorizo gravy. the biscuits were just a bit dry, but the flavor was excellent. we also had the pancakes, which were thick and moist and wonderful. while the portions were not huge in comparison to price, i did think the quality of the ingredients and careful preparation made this agoodvalue, and the menu is unique, and the space exquisite.

where's the tamara murphy we knew?. i had high hopes for terra plata, mostly because tamara murphy's brasa was so great. and she won't let you forget about her james beard award, oh no.
going to terra plata for my birthday, however, did not reveal the kind of exquisite food and service that one would hope. here are the things we liked: interesting wedge space for a restaurant, open bar that looks right into the kitchen, unusual cocktails and a uniformlygoodlist of wines by the glass..here's what we didn't like: chairs don't go with the chic modern vibe they're aiming for; the chairs belong to a rustic spaghetti joint. no bread unless you pay $3 for 3 slices, sheesh. because it was my brithday, my husband brought a 2002 leonetti merlot. corkage fee: $25, ouch!! most restaurants charge $15 for corkage. we ended up buying a couple glasses of wine and opening the leonetti at home. the food was a mixed bag. roast pig was the winner: hearty stew-like concoction of pork, chorizo, and clams. the fish, fluke, was not as successful: bland white fish with a too-subtle sauce and raw/blanched almonds that didn't seem to fit the dish. i agree with other reviewers who thought the vegetable sides were too costly. half a cauliflower with barely any sauce for $12, really? the entire cauliflower cost you less than $2 in the store. others made the same point about the carrots and rapini. next time (if we ever do go back), we would get one small appetizer, such as the pate or broiled oysters, one large entree, and skip the ala carte veggies. we didn't try the desserts as they didn't seem very interesting.
tamara murphy has done extraordinary things in the past. step it up, tamara, don't rest on your laurels!

urban yum!. i love the space in this cap hill restaurant. the wine suggestion was amazing. the food - was what i would consider - good. not wowza, out of this world, like perhaps la bete, but good. this is a place to go if you like an urban bistro withgoodwine. modern food. please add just a touch more garlic, salt or herb to spice it up!!!