I'll be circling back to Circa!
For some reason (the crowd), Ann was not-so-hot on going to Circa despite it being another friend's fave brunch endroit. I FINALLY convinced her that we could no longer deny Circa's allure for there had to be a reason for the 
always packed brunch. I have to say...there sure was! It's called kick ass drinks! Helllooooo berry smash - yes and yes! And they have all their prepped mojito and berry smash glasses lined up on the bar like little lighthouses warning the unwary bruncher that no one has just one! (I think I had 4)
Unfortunately, I don't have Ann's review for this one, and as you can see from the former paragraph, I was less than sober by the time we left, thus I have NO idea what we ate and how we felt. But, I have a warm fuzzy feeling when I look back on it - so I am pretty sure it was good. Here is what I remember:
UPDATE: Yah! Ann just sent her review...so here is the "official review" of Circa:
BOOZE: So, despite my initial misgivings, (all I can think of is Wrapworks!) Circa was a "smash"!!! I think it is important to use this because the best line of the brunch, and of perhaps any brunch, had to be Erica's proclamation, "The berry smash makes me smashed!" Not surprising, she also had the green apple martini, which unlike at most places, was not cloyingly sweet - it was fabulous. We asked them about it and they said that they have a green apple juice that they use - not a green apple liquor.
The bloody marys were really not up to par for this crowd. Not that they aren't ok, but after close to a year of brunching - we have pretty high standards here at DCBC.
NON-ALCOHOLIC: I ordered a coffee and it comes in your own little french press with a rock-candy stirrer. The coffee was indeed delicious and there is a nice selection from which to choose.
ENVIRONMENT: Circa has a very open and clean design with good patio/people watching. When the weather is nice, they even open up the windows/walls that lead to the patio giving you the feeling of being outside without dealing with the noise, bugs, etc.
Besides the service, our favorite thing about Circa was the music. I am not sure if it was a radio station or if it was someone's iPod mix, but they played a steady stream of 80's classics that were sort of obscure: I Don't Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats), Barracuda (Heart), Young Turks (Rod Stewart, Don't Do Me Like That (Petty)....It was quite impressive and entertaining!
We
also ordered the lobster ravioli for the table, which had a wonderful
presentation and was delicious!!
I had the breakfast burrito which was very spicy, but also yummy!!
The veggie omelet had a great selection of vegetables in it, including asparagus - it was served hot and was still hot 10 minutes later!
AMENDMENT TO CIRCA: We went to Circa on New Year's day and yes, this isn't a fair representation of a restaurant based on their performance on a major holiday, BUT the experience was HORRIBLE! They were out of pretty much everything good - including the flatbread for the table and then after explaining what they were out of we ordered what we thought they still had. Come to find out, they were out of even more than they originally thought. The breakfast burrito which was supposed to have chorizo came out with german sausage and the gruyere (which the waitress couldn't pronounce) was suspiciously missing from my dish! So - this one has been put back on probation. I would say try it, but don't have too high of an expectation.
always packed brunch. I have to say...there sure was! It's called kick ass drinks! Helllooooo berry smash - yes and yes! And they have all their prepped mojito and berry smash glasses lined up on the bar like little lighthouses warning the unwary bruncher that no one has just one! (I think I had 4)Unfortunately, I don't have Ann's review for this one, and as you can see from the former paragraph, I was less than sober by the time we left, thus I have NO idea what we ate and how we felt. But, I have a warm fuzzy feeling when I look back on it - so I am pretty sure it was good. Here is what I remember:
- AWESOME Music
- AWESOME Booze
- Cute waiter that I was convinced was flirting with me despite the fact he was gay (I am so Grace....)
- Table that was just on the edge of the inside of the restaurant, which we decided was great because you kinda get the "outside" feeling without dealing with the chill or passersbys watching you stuff a giant bite into your mouth
- Nice bathrooms
- Cute waiter
- Tasty drinks...this is different from Awesome, it's important to mention both
UPDATE: Yah! Ann just sent her review...so here is the "official review" of Circa:
BOOZE: So, despite my initial misgivings, (all I can think of is Wrapworks!) Circa was a "smash"!!! I think it is important to use this because the best line of the brunch, and of perhaps any brunch, had to be Erica's proclamation, "The berry smash makes me smashed!" Not surprising, she also had the green apple martini, which unlike at most places, was not cloyingly sweet - it was fabulous. We asked them about it and they said that they have a green apple juice that they use - not a green apple liquor.
The bloody marys were really not up to par for this crowd. Not that they aren't ok, but after close to a year of brunching - we have pretty high standards here at DCBC.
NON-ALCOHOLIC: I ordered a coffee and it comes in your own little french press with a rock-candy stirrer. The coffee was indeed delicious and there is a nice selection from which to choose.
SERVICE: I
arrived early and sat at the bar waiting for the group. The service
right from the get-go was great. From the hostesses to the bartenders
to the service staff, we were treated very well. We were not
encouraged to go after we finished eating and the service was
attentive, but not annoying.
We were not seated until our whole group arrived, but the place was packed so this was understandable.
We were not seated until our whole group arrived, but the place was packed so this was understandable.
ENVIRONMENT: Circa has a very open and clean design with good patio/people watching. When the weather is nice, they even open up the windows/walls that lead to the patio giving you the feeling of being outside without dealing with the noise, bugs, etc.
Besides the service, our favorite thing about Circa was the music. I am not sure if it was a radio station or if it was someone's iPod mix, but they played a steady stream of 80's classics that were sort of obscure: I Don't Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats), Barracuda (Heart), Young Turks (Rod Stewart, Don't Do Me Like That (Petty)....It was quite impressive and entertaining!
FOOD: We ordered the
"artisanal cheese plate" which I recall as not being cheap. If by
artisanal, they meant it was a work of art to make the Costco cheese
seem as if it was hand made on a farm in Vermont or Switzerland, well
then we get it....but, I encourage you to go to Bar Pilar or Cowgirl
Creamery if you want cheese...not Circa.
The bread was very good though and I think we asked for a few refills, which the waiter was happy to bring if it kept Erica from flirting with him!!
The bread was very good though and I think we asked for a few refills, which the waiter was happy to bring if it kept Erica from flirting with him!!
We
also ordered the lobster ravioli for the table, which had a wonderful
presentation and was delicious!! I had the breakfast burrito which was very spicy, but also yummy!!
The veggie omelet had a great selection of vegetables in it, including asparagus - it was served hot and was still hot 10 minutes later!
OVERALL: We would definitely go again (after our first experience). The food was very good, the drinks were even better and the service was great. (See amendment)
AMENDMENT TO CIRCA: We went to Circa on New Year's day and yes, this isn't a fair representation of a restaurant based on their performance on a major holiday, BUT the experience was HORRIBLE! They were out of pretty much everything good - including the flatbread for the table and then after explaining what they were out of we ordered what we thought they still had. Come to find out, they were out of even more than they originally thought. The breakfast burrito which was supposed to have chorizo came out with german sausage and the gruyere (which the waitress couldn't pronounce) was suspiciously missing from my dish! So - this one has been put back on probation. I would say try it, but don't have too high of an expectation.
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