College Park Grill is the first high-end restaurant created by Adam Greenberg, president of Restaurant Zone, Inc., the company that runs Bagels ‘n Grinds and Potomac Pizza in Potomac, Rockville, Chevy Chase, College Park, and Hanover, Maryland.

Set in the lobby of the Cambria Hotel, which debuted in August 2018, on Baltimore Avenue, the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch, and has a bar area. Adam’s goal in opening this restaurant was: “To create a place where family and friends can gather for good conversation and delicious food.” The menu is not vast, but everything on it is prepared and served to perfection. You’ll find steak, seafood, chicken, knife and fork ribs, and pizza (and other items) from the wood-burning stove.

As soon as you enter, you realize this restaurant is made for comfort. The wood tables are without tablecloths, so you don’t have to worry about spilling anything. The kitchen is open so you can see the chef and crew actually enjoying what they’re doing. This is more than a bunch of jobs; it’s a passion. Brad Barr, the executive chef, was born and raised in Maryland. He’s had 18 years of experience in a variety of hotels and restaurants, including six years overseeing the Bagels ‘n Grinds restaurants.

“Make Guests for Life” is the motto of Che Harris, the general manager. He’s an expert in customer satisfaction and has had experience at such restaurants as Maestro’s Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris, and Hillstone restaurant groups.

Now you know the background and the ins and outs. It’s time to dig into the menu. That means it’s time to make some serious decisions … fortunately, you can’t go wrong .. for everything’s cooked to perfection. The dinner highlights are French onion soup and the wood-fired shrimp for appetizers. Oh, and you may as well order some iron skillet cornbread with honey butter. The Caesar and Ahi tuna nicoise are excellent choices for salad. The prime rib French dip (with Gruyere) is really prime rib, sliced ever so thinly with a cup of au jus for a little more flavor. You have a choice of pizzas, with the Margherita and pulled pork BBQ at the top of the list. You know you have a winner with the wood grilled salmon, Mom’s buttermilk fried chicken, and the melt-in-your-mouth baby back ribs for an entrée. And, if you happen to be dining here on a Friday or Saturday night, opt for the slow-roasted prime rib.

The Cambria Hotel and the College Park Grill are only four blocks north of the south entrance to the University of Maryland. For walkers, it’s an easy stroll to the campus and all it offers.

 

 

 

 

 

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