Rips Country Inn

I was in Bowie looking for somewhere to eat and decided to try this place. The staff were really friendly and patient while answering all my food questions. I had rainbow trout, fried green tomatoes, half and half, then an apple tart-style dessert with a scoop of ice cream. I ate the dessert before I could take a picture. One tip: if goat cheese isn't your thing, ask to leave it off the fried green tomatoes. The food was otherwise phenomenal. There's also a liquor store connected to the restaurant, and it's one of the biggest I've seen. Prices seemed pretty reasonable to me.

The place has a cozy feel, with a horse racing theme, and the service was friendly and attentive. I hadn't been back in more than 20 years. The fried chicken and green beans were tasty, though the macaroni and cheese was uneven: I liked the top, but not the bottom. I'd recommend giving it a try.

The broiled salmon filet was cooked just right, served over rice with fresh, herb-seasoned spinach. Some of the best real cooking around, and good American fare. There are several rooms. I'd suggest the private booth room if you want to hear one another. We ended up in the open seating area at lunch, where a gruff man was giving a loud sales pitch with a video playing to the couple beside us, and conversation was pretty much squashed.

I brought a group for brunch and we all enjoyed the food. They were very accommodating with the guests who had allergies.