I've been to Ray's The Steaks before, but this was the first time I had been to the new location and also the first time I was willing to spend a good deal of money on my dinner there. Richard decided we should continue our tradition of going out to dinner for each others birthdays. December 4th is Anderson O'Callaghan Jones' birthday and since he loves eating dead animals and drinking wine from the Andes, we decided on Rays.
One thing I noticed right off the bat was that the host/hostess sizes everyone up upon arrival and determines whether they will be eating in the "bistro" section or the "fine dining" section. Both have the same menu, but the service, I'm sure, is different. Also, the new place doesn't quite have the same cache as the old. The downgrades end there. The new spot takes reservations and you don't seem to be rushed out like you were at the original location.
We went on a Thursday and the place was packed. Our reservation was for 8 and they had our table ready upon arrival. Ray's cows are grass fed and actually chill in the back of the restaurant's freezer until they butcher them. The special that night was "dry-aged" steaks with the bone in. Multiple people went this route and it received rave reviews. The size of these steaks was hilarious. Fred Flinstone would have been proud at the looks our table got as the runners brought out the Brontosaurus Ribeyes. Richard had the black and bleu steak which he said was kind of disappointing, but I thought it was superb. Andy got the 'ol T-Bone a la George Costanza. I had a cup of crab bisque and a 9oz filet topped with mushrooms and 4oz of foie gras. The bisque here is legendary and almost every food critic has written about it. Try it. Thats all i can say.
I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I think that my steak was the best. The tenderness of the duck liver went great with the way they cooked the filet and the mushrooms were a great compliment as well. Each bite was very rich. Our waitress suggested a few wines that would go well with all of our meals (Olsani made the final decisions) and we put back 4 bottles over the course of the meal.
The presentation at Ray's is less than stellar, but to complain about that is missing the point of the restaurant. Ray's truly is Extraordinary food for the ordinary man. Stellar steaks for Longhorn Prices. Unlike EVERY steak place in DC, Ray's does not make you pay for your sides! All of the mashed potatoes and creamed spinach you can eat. If you have ever eaten at a BLT or The Prime Rib then you know this can save you about 20 bucks.
The new Ray's location may not have the same "secret" feeling that the old one did, but the food is just as good and the service is incredible. With prices ranging 19 bucks to 45 bucks for a great steak you can go here once a week if you want to...and maybe I will. Even my dog enjoyed the place when he got to eat the bones from the leftovers.
Rating: A
Highlights: Crab Bisque with huge chunks of meat, Steak Rossini, and prices
Lowlights: The welcome staff and the fact that they don't have liquor.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Estadio 1520 14th Street NW DC
I tried the relatively new Spanish Tapas restaurant, Estadio, last night. It's the "sister restaurant" of Proof. I had to make the reservation for 6:00 pm because it was booked solid after that time, and for weeks that was the latest available time. When we got there I thought maybe we didn't need a reservation, but within about 20 minutes of being there the restaurant was packed.
They charged for bread, which is always kind of annoying. But instead we got the grilled bread with tomato, olive oil, salt, and Serrano ham, which was really good. We also got a spinach salad with grilled peaches and pears, hazelnuts, and fresh Parmesan cheese. I love fruit in salad so I was sold.
The next to come was the grilled octopus, which was amazing. Then the grilled scallions with romesco and goat cheese. They were definitely the low point. Not terrible, but just not something I would order again. Then the last dish was the spiced grilled chicken with cabbage slaw, rice, and salsa loca. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the mint sauce was stick your finger in and lick it good.
Because it was tapas, and tapas aren't usually that filling for me, we got a dessert too-pumpkin panna cotta with pumpkin bread. It was tiny! But sooooo good. Probably my favorite dish but I also have a ridiculous sweet tooth.
All in all a great experience. If you are sick of some of the other Spanish Tapas restaurants in DC (ahmm Jaleo... get it together) I would try Estadio. And don't be put off by the early bird special if you can't get in after 6- it's worth it.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Masa 14 at 1825 14th St NW DC
I recently went to Masa 14 with a friend. It was a Thursday. We were in the mood for something new and different, but nothing outlandishly expensive. So we ventured to the U Street area, and finally decided to try Masa 14.
Massa 14 does small plates. It's kind of hard to describe the type of food they serve there, since they have everything from sushi, to pizza, to fried rice, but everything they served us was excellent. We had spicy tuna rolls and mushroom flatbread pizza with avacado and red peppers. We also split the crispy crab won ton rolls and the pork and shrimp fried rice. Someone at an all you can eat buffet once said "honey, everything is better fried," and it was especially true here.
Service was great, food came out quickly, and since we shared almost everything it was very affordable. I would definitely suggest giving it a try.
Massa 14 does small plates. It's kind of hard to describe the type of food they serve there, since they have everything from sushi, to pizza, to fried rice, but everything they served us was excellent. We had spicy tuna rolls and mushroom flatbread pizza with avacado and red peppers. We also split the crispy crab won ton rolls and the pork and shrimp fried rice. Someone at an all you can eat buffet once said "honey, everything is better fried," and it was especially true here.
Service was great, food came out quickly, and since we shared almost everything it was very affordable. I would definitely suggest giving it a try.
Oyamel - 401 7th Street NW
Restaurant week is a time in D.C. that is loved by patrons and despised by those who work in the restaurant business. During the most recent restaurant week I sampled Harry's Tap Room, Zentan, and Oyamel. The review for Zentan will come later. Oyamel is another one of Jose Andres' million restaurants in D.C. (most of which offer tapas). As previously mentioned here, I'm pretty skeptical about most tapas places, but Zaytinya is incredible so Oyamel couldn't be too far behind.
The Thursday we went was actually during the extended restaurant week and I was surprised to see that the place was still packed. Packed at the tables, packed at the bar, packed. Despite the crowd we were still seated within 10 minutes of arriving. We used those 10 minutes to order some over the top cocktails at an over the top price (12 bucks). The cocktails are good here, but not 701 good. 4 of us sat down and we all decided on the restaurant week menu to make things easier. The menu included your choice of four plates and a dessert. To start, we each ordered the ceviche (fresh wahoo, lime juice, and avacado). The lime juice was very strong but the avacado did a great job of balancing it out. Also, the wahoo is a delicate fish so it went very weel with the soft avacado. Ceviche is one of my favorite summer plates and this was one of the better ones I have tried. The next dish I had was a miss in my opinion. Dish 2 was the baby cactus salad with citrus dressing and baby tomatoes. The citrus was wayyyy too much. I'm not sure if this was because I had just had a bunch of ceviche, but regardless it was too much. More tomatoes please. Next, two of us had the braised short rib and the other two had the scallops. Danielle LOVES scallops so if they are on the menu...its a wrap. I have to admit though, the scallops were much better than my short rib. Scallops (seared scallops with pumpkin seed sauce, pumpkin seed oil and toasted pumpkin seeds) vs. Short Rib ( Braised short ribs, with a mole verde sauce of pumpkin seeds, green tomatillo, lettuce, chilis and cilantro). The scallops won as the short rib was pretty bland and the mole was sub par. Our fourth dish was your choice of taco. Richard and I added on the grilled grasshopper taco because when I see grasshopper on the menu...its a wrap. This was the best thing I had. I promise im not bullshitting either. It was crunchy, spicy, and warm. All very good things. I would say it was better than the other taco I had which was baby pig confit (also solid). The desserts came to a choice between two. Everyone had the leche cake so I went with the fruit soup and sorbet. Honestly, a mistake. Mine was good, but it was made apparent to me by everyone at the table that it looked like a dole fruit cup. I like dole fruit cups, but whatever. The rum cake was very very good and it had rum ice cream along with it.
We all left very full and content. The scene in the restaurant is very fun and I wouldn't mind going there just to hang out and drink. Because it is tapas style you can either go big or go cheap depending on how hungry you are. Oyamel is a great night out when you don't want to "go out" and could also be used as a pregame.
I give it a high B.
Highlight: creative cocktails and the ceviche
Lowlight: pricey cocktails and the cactus salad
The Thursday we went was actually during the extended restaurant week and I was surprised to see that the place was still packed. Packed at the tables, packed at the bar, packed. Despite the crowd we were still seated within 10 minutes of arriving. We used those 10 minutes to order some over the top cocktails at an over the top price (12 bucks). The cocktails are good here, but not 701 good. 4 of us sat down and we all decided on the restaurant week menu to make things easier. The menu included your choice of four plates and a dessert. To start, we each ordered the ceviche (fresh wahoo, lime juice, and avacado). The lime juice was very strong but the avacado did a great job of balancing it out. Also, the wahoo is a delicate fish so it went very weel with the soft avacado. Ceviche is one of my favorite summer plates and this was one of the better ones I have tried. The next dish I had was a miss in my opinion. Dish 2 was the baby cactus salad with citrus dressing and baby tomatoes. The citrus was wayyyy too much. I'm not sure if this was because I had just had a bunch of ceviche, but regardless it was too much. More tomatoes please. Next, two of us had the braised short rib and the other two had the scallops. Danielle LOVES scallops so if they are on the menu...its a wrap. I have to admit though, the scallops were much better than my short rib. Scallops (seared scallops with pumpkin seed sauce, pumpkin seed oil and toasted pumpkin seeds) vs. Short Rib ( Braised short ribs, with a mole verde sauce of pumpkin seeds, green tomatillo, lettuce, chilis and cilantro). The scallops won as the short rib was pretty bland and the mole was sub par. Our fourth dish was your choice of taco. Richard and I added on the grilled grasshopper taco because when I see grasshopper on the menu...its a wrap. This was the best thing I had. I promise im not bullshitting either. It was crunchy, spicy, and warm. All very good things. I would say it was better than the other taco I had which was baby pig confit (also solid). The desserts came to a choice between two. Everyone had the leche cake so I went with the fruit soup and sorbet. Honestly, a mistake. Mine was good, but it was made apparent to me by everyone at the table that it looked like a dole fruit cup. I like dole fruit cups, but whatever. The rum cake was very very good and it had rum ice cream along with it.
We all left very full and content. The scene in the restaurant is very fun and I wouldn't mind going there just to hang out and drink. Because it is tapas style you can either go big or go cheap depending on how hungry you are. Oyamel is a great night out when you don't want to "go out" and could also be used as a pregame.
I give it a high B.
Highlight: creative cocktails and the ceviche
Lowlight: pricey cocktails and the cactus salad
Monday, August 23, 2010
Casa Blanca - 1014 Vermont Ave NW
I believe this is the first "Mexican" place I have reviewed on here and am happy to say that this place was a great experience. My girlfriend recently moved into downtown DC and unfortunately, there is an EXTREMELY limited number of everyday restaurants in the McPherson Square area. Now, there are your Bobby Van's, your Georgia Brown's, Potenza, J&G etc etc, but only ass holes can afford to eat there everyday right? One of the other downfalls about the area are the hours that these restaurants keep: the nice ones are the only ones open for dinner for the most part. But anywho, this was lunchtime, we were low on cash, and we wanted to eat somewhere besides Cosi (dont get me started).
Wandering up Vermont Ave we came across a "Great Wraps". Hmm Great Wraps, we had one of those at school and it was solid...lets go there. Wait, what is this place next door. Oh yes, the terrifically sketchy Casa Blanca. This place is labeled as both a Mexican and a Peruvian restaurant, but we stuck with the Mexican. We also stuck with pretty simple stuff considering we were in a rush and low on money. The inside of the restaurant is long and narrow with Latin "stories" on the TV. All of the staff speaks little english which is reassuring for some reason. Also, you don't get free chips and salsa which kinda says that they don't need to fill you up with free stuff to mask the taste of their menu items.
Now for what we had: Danielle has the chicken quesadilla and I had the chimichangas. Exciting right? Adventurous right? Well, I've tried to go simple at restaurants such as Cactus Cantina, Los Cuates, and that shit show in Dupont with my order coming out lack luster. The quesadille was delicious and pretty big for an app. Both came with salsa verde, fresh jalepenos, guacamole salad, rice, and beans. The chimichangas were very very good. Normally the chimichanga will come out as a deep fried burrito, but this is better describes as two fried croissants filled with beef and topped with light cheese sauce. Sounds good huh? It was. The crust on the outside was golden brown, but it was still flaky and kind on dissolved in your mouth with every bite. The salsa verde was very spicy, but it went great with the dish. I think the total cost was 18 bucks after tax.
After thinking about this place and writing the review I think I will take the " marks off of the Mexican description. Casa Blanca has a very authentic feel, a very extensive menu, and tastes different from other Mexican restaurants in the District. I tried to go back yesterday, but they were closed since it was Sunday. Downtown DC strikes again. High B
Highlight: Chimichanga!, happy hour deals.
Lowlight: Cash only
Wandering up Vermont Ave we came across a "Great Wraps". Hmm Great Wraps, we had one of those at school and it was solid...lets go there. Wait, what is this place next door. Oh yes, the terrifically sketchy Casa Blanca. This place is labeled as both a Mexican and a Peruvian restaurant, but we stuck with the Mexican. We also stuck with pretty simple stuff considering we were in a rush and low on money. The inside of the restaurant is long and narrow with Latin "stories" on the TV. All of the staff speaks little english which is reassuring for some reason. Also, you don't get free chips and salsa which kinda says that they don't need to fill you up with free stuff to mask the taste of their menu items.
Now for what we had: Danielle has the chicken quesadilla and I had the chimichangas. Exciting right? Adventurous right? Well, I've tried to go simple at restaurants such as Cactus Cantina, Los Cuates, and that shit show in Dupont with my order coming out lack luster. The quesadille was delicious and pretty big for an app. Both came with salsa verde, fresh jalepenos, guacamole salad, rice, and beans. The chimichangas were very very good. Normally the chimichanga will come out as a deep fried burrito, but this is better describes as two fried croissants filled with beef and topped with light cheese sauce. Sounds good huh? It was. The crust on the outside was golden brown, but it was still flaky and kind on dissolved in your mouth with every bite. The salsa verde was very spicy, but it went great with the dish. I think the total cost was 18 bucks after tax.
After thinking about this place and writing the review I think I will take the " marks off of the Mexican description. Casa Blanca has a very authentic feel, a very extensive menu, and tastes different from other Mexican restaurants in the District. I tried to go back yesterday, but they were closed since it was Sunday. Downtown DC strikes again. High B
Highlight: Chimichanga!, happy hour deals.
Lowlight: Cash only
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Palena - 3529 Connecticut Ave. NW
A few weeks ago I started looking for somewhere my girlfriend and I could go for a nice quiet dinner. Palena does not do a lot of PR, their head chef does not write cookbooks or do interviews, and their location is not really anything spectacular. But this restaurant is definitely top 5 in DC in my opinion. The food, atmosphere, and service were all phenomenal.
The Palena "building" is next to a small shopping center right on Connecticut and use to be a Kenny Rogers Roasters drive-thru. The setting is real personal and feels very comfortable even though I had never been there. Before we even had a chance to look at the extensive cocktail menu our waiter walked over and gave us some complimentary glasses of champagne. Now that is the way I like to start a meal. However, we still decided to get a couple drinks in addition to that and browse over the tasting menus.
We snacked on the free bread and home made butter and we decided to go with the 3 course meal plus dessert. I had the 1) Sweet Pea and Pistachio Gazpacho (garnished with fennel salami, hard cooked egg, pickled chanterelle mushrooms), 2) Poupeton Provençal (Fish cakes roasted with Bouchot mussels, saffron and lime shellfish bisque sauce), 3) Veal loin and shortrib with wild blueberries and pearl onions, and 4) Blueberry Tart. Danielle had the 1) Raviolli and consommé with beef broth, 2) Stuffed calamaretti, 3) Nova Scotia Halibut (with Roasted heirloom beets, wilted arrowhead cabbage,horseradish froth) and 4) a coconut encrusted ricotta cheesecake.
What was great about both of our dinners was that all of the ingredients for each dish seemed to be seen right in front of you. What I mean is that everything tasted fresh and relied on the natural flavors from each food as opposed to heavy seasoning or marinating. The gazpacho, which I normally do not care for, was sweet and went great with the salt of the meat and mushrooms. The second course was my favorite. The lime that the fish cakes sat on top of made the dish and went really real with my Mendes cocktail The Mendes (Cabana Cachaça, muddled lime, Cointreau, fresh orange juice). To go with my veal the sommelier brought over a real light red wine. The shortrib was tender enough to cut with a fork and had not even a hint of dryness. The blueberry tart was good, but the desserts are probably the weak link (if there is one) at Palena.
All in all this meal was fantastic. I give Palena a high A with a great wine list, good service, and soo many different dishes to choose from and enjoy. Other than Komi, I can't think of another DC restaurant where I left more pleased.
Highlight: Service, romantic setting, and the fish cakes
Lowlight: It ended, lol
The Palena "building" is next to a small shopping center right on Connecticut and use to be a Kenny Rogers Roasters drive-thru. The setting is real personal and feels very comfortable even though I had never been there. Before we even had a chance to look at the extensive cocktail menu our waiter walked over and gave us some complimentary glasses of champagne. Now that is the way I like to start a meal. However, we still decided to get a couple drinks in addition to that and browse over the tasting menus.
We snacked on the free bread and home made butter and we decided to go with the 3 course meal plus dessert. I had the 1) Sweet Pea and Pistachio Gazpacho (garnished with fennel salami, hard cooked egg, pickled chanterelle mushrooms), 2) Poupeton Provençal (Fish cakes roasted with Bouchot mussels, saffron and lime shellfish bisque sauce), 3) Veal loin and shortrib with wild blueberries and pearl onions, and 4) Blueberry Tart. Danielle had the 1) Raviolli and consommé with beef broth, 2) Stuffed calamaretti, 3) Nova Scotia Halibut (with Roasted heirloom beets, wilted arrowhead cabbage,horseradish froth) and 4) a coconut encrusted ricotta cheesecake.
What was great about both of our dinners was that all of the ingredients for each dish seemed to be seen right in front of you. What I mean is that everything tasted fresh and relied on the natural flavors from each food as opposed to heavy seasoning or marinating. The gazpacho, which I normally do not care for, was sweet and went great with the salt of the meat and mushrooms. The second course was my favorite. The lime that the fish cakes sat on top of made the dish and went really real with my Mendes cocktail The Mendes (Cabana Cachaça, muddled lime, Cointreau, fresh orange juice). To go with my veal the sommelier brought over a real light red wine. The shortrib was tender enough to cut with a fork and had not even a hint of dryness. The blueberry tart was good, but the desserts are probably the weak link (if there is one) at Palena.
All in all this meal was fantastic. I give Palena a high A with a great wine list, good service, and soo many different dishes to choose from and enjoy. Other than Komi, I can't think of another DC restaurant where I left more pleased.
Highlight: Service, romantic setting, and the fish cakes
Lowlight: It ended, lol
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Don Arturo - 2716 Washington Blvd Arlington, VA
If you have heard of or been to this place before I applaud you. On second thought, there is no way you have ever heard of or been to this place so allow me to enlighten you. A friend of mine and I decided that this would be the venue for one of our weekly "power lunches". Thank god I had the day off because I left so satisfied and stuffed that the rest of my day was a scratch.
When Schoener told me there was a great Bolivian place near his office I thought to myself "great compared to what? the maybe one other Bolivian place in the area??". He assured me that it would be worth the trip and that it wouldn't k.o. my wallet either. I got to the restaurant before him and it was pretty much the Latino interpretation of that scene in animal house when the white frat guys walk into the black club and the music stops. Nobody in the joint spoke a lick of English which assured me that this was gonna be really good.
The menu here ranges from 6 bucks for sandwiches to around 50 for family-portioned dishes meant to be split between several. Schoener and I both decided on the house specialty Silpancho. Silpancho is a traditional Bolivian food that is carb fest and verrry delicious. There is a base layer of white rice topped with chooped and boiled potatoes. Then, covering the entire plate is a "meat pancake" esque layer of a schnitzel type meat. On top of the meat there is two fried eggs with a helping of diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, onions, and parsley. Ok so this sounds like a lot...because its a shit ton of food. My one worry was that the dish would be dry because of all of the potatoes and rice, but this wasn't the case at all. The silpancho was delicious and there seemed to be different sections of flavor depending on what you got in your bite. The eggs mixed with the meat and fresh salsa was very refreshing and filling at the same time. I couldnt finish my portion as hard as I tried, but what I had was fantastic and I will definitely be back.
The atmosphere is travel channel worthy and would be a great place to watch a world cup match. The dish I had was fantastic and I am anxious to go back and try something else that I have not heard of so I can add that to my list of favorites as well. For a cheap, quick meal in Arlington I give Don Arturo a mid A.
Highlight: Authenticity and the Silpancho
Lowlight: Service is slow, but they don't pretend to be a high-end restaurant.
When Schoener told me there was a great Bolivian place near his office I thought to myself "great compared to what? the maybe one other Bolivian place in the area??". He assured me that it would be worth the trip and that it wouldn't k.o. my wallet either. I got to the restaurant before him and it was pretty much the Latino interpretation of that scene in animal house when the white frat guys walk into the black club and the music stops. Nobody in the joint spoke a lick of English which assured me that this was gonna be really good.
The menu here ranges from 6 bucks for sandwiches to around 50 for family-portioned dishes meant to be split between several. Schoener and I both decided on the house specialty Silpancho. Silpancho is a traditional Bolivian food that is carb fest and verrry delicious. There is a base layer of white rice topped with chooped and boiled potatoes. Then, covering the entire plate is a "meat pancake" esque layer of a schnitzel type meat. On top of the meat there is two fried eggs with a helping of diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, onions, and parsley. Ok so this sounds like a lot...because its a shit ton of food. My one worry was that the dish would be dry because of all of the potatoes and rice, but this wasn't the case at all. The silpancho was delicious and there seemed to be different sections of flavor depending on what you got in your bite. The eggs mixed with the meat and fresh salsa was very refreshing and filling at the same time. I couldnt finish my portion as hard as I tried, but what I had was fantastic and I will definitely be back.
The atmosphere is travel channel worthy and would be a great place to watch a world cup match. The dish I had was fantastic and I am anxious to go back and try something else that I have not heard of so I can add that to my list of favorites as well. For a cheap, quick meal in Arlington I give Don Arturo a mid A.
Highlight: Authenticity and the Silpancho
Lowlight: Service is slow, but they don't pretend to be a high-end restaurant.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Perry's - 1811 Columbia Road NW
It's been a while since the last post on here. Im going to go ahead and blame that on me starting a new job rather than plain ol laziness. Ok so the weather is now nice enough to eat outside during any time of the day. This mindset led myself and a few friends to the Perry's top deck a few weekends back.
I had eaten at Perry's before, but it was when it was still cold as shit so we were sitting inside. There were a couple things that led me back here: 1) I wanted to try out this famous top deck and 2) I wanted to try the caipirinha's as well. Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail and I figured these would be even better than the one I had in Athens, Ga during college. The drink is made with fermented sugarcane so it makes for a great summer drink...couple that with sushi and you have a pretty chill meal.
One of the knocks I have on Perry's is that the dinner crew kinda hates on the people there for the bar scene so it was hard for us to make the transition from caipirinha to sushi which sucked. After we got seated everything was cool though. I started with the seafood ceviche which turned out to be a de-constructed plate as opposed to traditional ceviche. Everyone else went ahead and ordered their sushi which covered the whole spectrum from traditional cali rolls to interesting BLT roll (applewood smoked bacon | romaine | tomato | green tea mayo). 20 minutes later out comes out sushi orders on a Hummer Tire sized plate. This was perfect for sharing and thats what ended up happening (partially because the waiter didn't tell us what was what). The drinks kept flowing and we had a great table overlooking Adams Morgan. The sushi here is great because the list is extensive and the rolls are HUGE. I have not tried too many of the tapas here because I personally think tapas are a bit risky considering the size/price ratio. Case and point is the ceviche here which was good, but not great.
We were at Perry's for like 2 and a half hours just chillin and having a good time. Get there early to avoid long bar lines and the dinner haters. Seriously, try the caipirinhas because they are awesome. This is the perfect place to enjoy the weather and have drinks and dinner with a group of 5 or 6. I think my total for the night was around 60 bucks everything included which is not too bad. I give this experience a very high A and the food like an A-.
Highlight - Scene, eclectic croud
Lowlight - smug host seating dinner crowd.
I had eaten at Perry's before, but it was when it was still cold as shit so we were sitting inside. There were a couple things that led me back here: 1) I wanted to try out this famous top deck and 2) I wanted to try the caipirinha's as well. Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail and I figured these would be even better than the one I had in Athens, Ga during college. The drink is made with fermented sugarcane so it makes for a great summer drink...couple that with sushi and you have a pretty chill meal.
One of the knocks I have on Perry's is that the dinner crew kinda hates on the people there for the bar scene so it was hard for us to make the transition from caipirinha to sushi which sucked. After we got seated everything was cool though. I started with the seafood ceviche which turned out to be a de-constructed plate as opposed to traditional ceviche. Everyone else went ahead and ordered their sushi which covered the whole spectrum from traditional cali rolls to interesting BLT roll (applewood smoked bacon | romaine | tomato | green tea mayo). 20 minutes later out comes out sushi orders on a Hummer Tire sized plate. This was perfect for sharing and thats what ended up happening (partially because the waiter didn't tell us what was what). The drinks kept flowing and we had a great table overlooking Adams Morgan. The sushi here is great because the list is extensive and the rolls are HUGE. I have not tried too many of the tapas here because I personally think tapas are a bit risky considering the size/price ratio. Case and point is the ceviche here which was good, but not great.
We were at Perry's for like 2 and a half hours just chillin and having a good time. Get there early to avoid long bar lines and the dinner haters. Seriously, try the caipirinhas because they are awesome. This is the perfect place to enjoy the weather and have drinks and dinner with a group of 5 or 6. I think my total for the night was around 60 bucks everything included which is not too bad. I give this experience a very high A and the food like an A-.
Highlight - Scene, eclectic croud
Lowlight - smug host seating dinner crowd.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Founding Farmers vs. Farmers & Fishers
Founding Farmers and Farmers & Fishers, "sister" restaurants, both bring a lot to the table.
Founding Farmers is in the Foggy Bottom area, whereas Farmers & Fishers is on the waterfront in Georgetown. Point 1 for F&F for it's location.
Founding Farmers' food is slightly better in my opinion. Both restaurants have very good food and affordable prices. But I like more of the food options on the FF menu (cornbread with butter and honey spread is amazing). Point 2 goes to FF.
The "vibe" at FF is also better. F&F has these plastic green and white checkered tablecloths that are gross. Point 3 to FF.
Both restaurants pride themselves on their mixed drinks, which are very impressive. The offerings seem very similar, but FF has "recession proof" drinks that are 3-4 bucks less than the other cocktails, and F&F does not have this option. Point 4 to FF.
Finally, for kicking us out of F&F when the bathroom started flooding even though people were still working on their drinks, and with no compensation, final point to FF.
So all and all unless you want to be near the Waterfront, if you're choosing between these two restaurants, go to Founding Farmers- beats Farmers & Fishers 4 to 1.
Founding Farmers is in the Foggy Bottom area, whereas Farmers & Fishers is on the waterfront in Georgetown. Point 1 for F&F for it's location.
Founding Farmers' food is slightly better in my opinion. Both restaurants have very good food and affordable prices. But I like more of the food options on the FF menu (cornbread with butter and honey spread is amazing). Point 2 goes to FF.
The "vibe" at FF is also better. F&F has these plastic green and white checkered tablecloths that are gross. Point 3 to FF.
Both restaurants pride themselves on their mixed drinks, which are very impressive. The offerings seem very similar, but FF has "recession proof" drinks that are 3-4 bucks less than the other cocktails, and F&F does not have this option. Point 4 to FF.
Finally, for kicking us out of F&F when the bathroom started flooding even though people were still working on their drinks, and with no compensation, final point to FF.
So all and all unless you want to be near the Waterfront, if you're choosing between these two restaurants, go to Founding Farmers- beats Farmers & Fishers 4 to 1.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Open City - 2331 Calvert Street NW
Boy was I struggling when I got up on Sunday. The Kentucky Derby always makes for a LONG day and my roommates and I had spent the majority of it drinking mint juleps at Bourbon. I had to make a decision...throw in the towel and call it a Sunday or slam a Powerade and head over to Open City for brunch. I'm glad I didn't choose to melt into the couch.
I had never been to Open City, buuuut I knew it was there because of its proximity to the worst establishment in D.C. (Woodley Park Cafe). The wait was about 30 minutes so we picked up some smoothies from the little cafe they have inside. They were way too expensive, but they were really fresh and made with real fruit. It was a beautiful day outside so we chilled on the benches and hung out with a pit bull named Misty until our table was ready.
We were seated after about 30-40 minutes and the table was kind of sticky, but I will chalk that up to how busy they were. The most surprising thing about this place were the prices! Everything was under ten bucks and a brunch place in DC will usually run ya around 15-20. They serve breakfast all day here (money) and have a variety of pizzas and sandwiches as well. The vibe is really cool with all of the windows open and, a huge patio, and solid tunes over the sound system. For 9 bucks I got a 3 egg omelet with smoked salmon, tomatoes, and cream cheese. All of the breakfasts also come with choice of grits/hashbrowns and some toast. The hashbrowns were a welcomed change of pace to the terrible breakfast potatoes that most places serve up here. Since I've been here I have yet to find hashbrowns that are as good as the ones from Waffle House. My omelet was freakin awesome and it filled me up for under 10 bucks. Other orders included: a blt and a wide variety off egg and hashbrown combos. All of these orders received good reviews and the turnover once we sat down was relatively quick.
I was not expecting much from Open City, but I am now a fan and will recommend it to anyone who asks. Next time I go I would like to try and go in the evening so I can stay longer and enjoy a few drinks with my dinner. I give it a B+.
Highlights: smoked salmon and cream cheese combo coupled with a great scene.
Lowlights: Waiter didn't check in after taking our orders and our table was sticky :)
I had never been to Open City, buuuut I knew it was there because of its proximity to the worst establishment in D.C. (Woodley Park Cafe). The wait was about 30 minutes so we picked up some smoothies from the little cafe they have inside. They were way too expensive, but they were really fresh and made with real fruit. It was a beautiful day outside so we chilled on the benches and hung out with a pit bull named Misty until our table was ready.
We were seated after about 30-40 minutes and the table was kind of sticky, but I will chalk that up to how busy they were. The most surprising thing about this place were the prices! Everything was under ten bucks and a brunch place in DC will usually run ya around 15-20. They serve breakfast all day here (money) and have a variety of pizzas and sandwiches as well. The vibe is really cool with all of the windows open and, a huge patio, and solid tunes over the sound system. For 9 bucks I got a 3 egg omelet with smoked salmon, tomatoes, and cream cheese. All of the breakfasts also come with choice of grits/hashbrowns and some toast. The hashbrowns were a welcomed change of pace to the terrible breakfast potatoes that most places serve up here. Since I've been here I have yet to find hashbrowns that are as good as the ones from Waffle House. My omelet was freakin awesome and it filled me up for under 10 bucks. Other orders included: a blt and a wide variety off egg and hashbrown combos. All of these orders received good reviews and the turnover once we sat down was relatively quick.
I was not expecting much from Open City, but I am now a fan and will recommend it to anyone who asks. Next time I go I would like to try and go in the evening so I can stay longer and enjoy a few drinks with my dinner. I give it a B+.
Highlights: smoked salmon and cream cheese combo coupled with a great scene.
Lowlights: Waiter didn't check in after taking our orders and our table was sticky :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Obelisk, 2029 P Street Northwest Washington, DC
Adventurous Italian. That's how I would describe each dish served at this DC hidden delicacy. With a maximum capacity of about 25 diners at a time, it truly offers an intimate experience with both company and cuisine. With a price-tag of about $80 per person without alcohol, the wines can add a shiny coin to your bill, but are the perfect compliment to each unique flavor brought to the table. It's a set menu, with options at the Primi, and Secondi and dolce offerings, as well as antipasti and formaggio plates.
Italian dishes are traditionally small, and both the primi and secondi dishes were true to form, but the antipasti came more in the form of Spanish tapas. Classic plates arrived with a unique flavor such as a sweet balsamic glazed calamari bruschetta. Other hand churned cheeses came along with muscles with a white wine sauce along with Tuscan bread (unsalted).
For the Primi, the choices were mainly stuffed pasta options. I had a quail ravoli that was in a soupy mixture that reminded me of a boston clam chowder. A flavorful broth highlighted with sun-dried tomatoes provided a deep saturation in which the quail could ruminate allowing the flavors to mingle richly.
Secondi came as a more full meat selection. Here I ventured into more unknown territories opting for the squab with nettles. Squab is a fowl akin to a pigeon and was smaller than a quail or a duck breast and arrived with it's feet intact curled into claws. The meat was dark similar to duck but with a bit more gaminess, although it was cooked so well that it was still able to be taken apart in the mouth with little chewing. Rather it melted with the orange butter sauce with an even consistency. The nettles provided a nice bitterness similar to dandelion garnish that brought more out of the caramelized orange glaze on the squab.
The formaggio plate came next with an assortment of fresh cheeses and a fresh basket of bread as well as an accompaniment of a fig/berry spread. I am not as eloquent as I would like to be in regard to cheeses so I will leave this dish here saying only that there was an assortment of textures, richness and solidity on the plate in order to give a range of experiences.
Finally, the for the dessert option I chose the chocolate truffle mousse, which was THE purest, softest, richest, bite of dessert that I have ever put in my mouth... period. Accompanied by home made whip cream, it was one of my favorite desserts ever.
For wine, I chose a relatively inexpensive bottle of chianti (my preference only, from spending time living in Tuscany) and asked that it arrive later with the secondi so that we might enjoy it with the cheese and dessert plates.
Looking for Obelisk, you will not see signs or lines of people, but you will find a homely kitchen seeming in the background of the DC landscape.
Bests, the variety, the attentiveness and friendship of the wait staff and the relaxed atmosphere designed to have you eat like an Italian and truly take your time to enjoy the food.
Price is the only setback here (unless you tend to stick to the plain italian of more homely pasta restaurants, then this is not your pick)
Italian dishes are traditionally small, and both the primi and secondi dishes were true to form, but the antipasti came more in the form of Spanish tapas. Classic plates arrived with a unique flavor such as a sweet balsamic glazed calamari bruschetta. Other hand churned cheeses came along with muscles with a white wine sauce along with Tuscan bread (unsalted).
For the Primi, the choices were mainly stuffed pasta options. I had a quail ravoli that was in a soupy mixture that reminded me of a boston clam chowder. A flavorful broth highlighted with sun-dried tomatoes provided a deep saturation in which the quail could ruminate allowing the flavors to mingle richly.
Secondi came as a more full meat selection. Here I ventured into more unknown territories opting for the squab with nettles. Squab is a fowl akin to a pigeon and was smaller than a quail or a duck breast and arrived with it's feet intact curled into claws. The meat was dark similar to duck but with a bit more gaminess, although it was cooked so well that it was still able to be taken apart in the mouth with little chewing. Rather it melted with the orange butter sauce with an even consistency. The nettles provided a nice bitterness similar to dandelion garnish that brought more out of the caramelized orange glaze on the squab.
The formaggio plate came next with an assortment of fresh cheeses and a fresh basket of bread as well as an accompaniment of a fig/berry spread. I am not as eloquent as I would like to be in regard to cheeses so I will leave this dish here saying only that there was an assortment of textures, richness and solidity on the plate in order to give a range of experiences.
Finally, the for the dessert option I chose the chocolate truffle mousse, which was THE purest, softest, richest, bite of dessert that I have ever put in my mouth... period. Accompanied by home made whip cream, it was one of my favorite desserts ever.
For wine, I chose a relatively inexpensive bottle of chianti (my preference only, from spending time living in Tuscany) and asked that it arrive later with the secondi so that we might enjoy it with the cheese and dessert plates.
Looking for Obelisk, you will not see signs or lines of people, but you will find a homely kitchen seeming in the background of the DC landscape.
Bests, the variety, the attentiveness and friendship of the wait staff and the relaxed atmosphere designed to have you eat like an Italian and truly take your time to enjoy the food.
Price is the only setback here (unless you tend to stick to the plain italian of more homely pasta restaurants, then this is not your pick)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Liberty Tavern - 3195 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
Saturday was a late lunch for myself and a few buddies. We took about an hour to figure out where we wanted to go and ended up deciding on Liberty Tavern. Liberty Tavern has recently been ranked at #75 on the DC areas top 100 list. I had never been and I was jacked.
That being said. Can I get an overrated chant?!? This place should be called "Average". Boy did it have promise though. We walked in and they had couches set up with people chillin drinkin beer. There were people playing cards at the table next to us. There was a solid beer list and the hostess was really nice.
Then we sat down. Now this was not an awful dining experience by any means. I mean this was not like Woodley Tavern or anything like that (I will write their review on a day when I am bored or get fired from my job or something). The service after being seated was slow as all hell. This is disappointing when most of the people in the place aren't eating. Ok. Remember...this was ranked 75th. Komi is 1 and Marvin was 98. Now, we each had different sandwiches. We ordered: Their skirt steak burger, the philly cheese, the North Carolina BBQ sandwich, and a Pittsburgh sandwich called the Primanti Brothers sandwich (housemade pastrami, provolone, coleslaw, French fries on housemade Italian bread with a fried egg). That last "sandwich" got the best review, a B. My burger was good, but not great. I could have had the same burger anywhere in the city. The NC bbq chicken was an insult to NC BBQ from the looks of it and my friend said it was pretty bland. Bland BBQ? That should be an automatic F. The steak and cheese was tiny, but got an "ok". Our waitress came to check on us twice throughout the whole meal and was not too pumped to be at work.
If this place was across the street from my house I would go every once in a while out of convenience to get a decent meal for cheap. However, this place is hyped and is ranked in a magazine that I trust. I give the Liberty Tavern a C+ or B-.
Highlight: Good fratmosphere with a solid beer list
Lowlight: Food, Service, and distance from my house haha.
That being said. Can I get an overrated chant?!? This place should be called "Average". Boy did it have promise though. We walked in and they had couches set up with people chillin drinkin beer. There were people playing cards at the table next to us. There was a solid beer list and the hostess was really nice.
Then we sat down. Now this was not an awful dining experience by any means. I mean this was not like Woodley Tavern or anything like that (I will write their review on a day when I am bored or get fired from my job or something). The service after being seated was slow as all hell. This is disappointing when most of the people in the place aren't eating. Ok. Remember...this was ranked 75th. Komi is 1 and Marvin was 98. Now, we each had different sandwiches. We ordered: Their skirt steak burger, the philly cheese, the North Carolina BBQ sandwich, and a Pittsburgh sandwich called the Primanti Brothers sandwich (housemade pastrami, provolone, coleslaw, French fries on housemade Italian bread with a fried egg). That last "sandwich" got the best review, a B. My burger was good, but not great. I could have had the same burger anywhere in the city. The NC bbq chicken was an insult to NC BBQ from the looks of it and my friend said it was pretty bland. Bland BBQ? That should be an automatic F. The steak and cheese was tiny, but got an "ok". Our waitress came to check on us twice throughout the whole meal and was not too pumped to be at work.
If this place was across the street from my house I would go every once in a while out of convenience to get a decent meal for cheap. However, this place is hyped and is ranked in a magazine that I trust. I give the Liberty Tavern a C+ or B-.
Highlight: Good fratmosphere with a solid beer list
Lowlight: Food, Service, and distance from my house haha.
Marvin's - 2007 14th Street NW
My girlfriends family was in town this past weekend and I was put to task to find the restaurant for Friday night. I've eaten at Marvin before and was very pleased so I was pumped for round two. There were going to be 5 of us: myself, Danielle, her mom, her aunt, and her cousin. Danielle and I got there a little early and helped ourself to their very extensive beer list. The restaurant was running a little behind and we were offered some complimentary frites, but you can't jump the gun at a place like Marvin.
We were seated about 15 min after our rez, which is pretty normal for Friday night, and started with a very affordable bottle of sauvignon blanc. We decided to try a few of the appetizers while we browsed the rest of the menu...Shrimp and Grits (some had never had a "grit" haha), Goat Cheese Croquettes with Fig Vinaigrette, and Seared Sea Scallops with Braised leeks & beurre rouge. To be honest, if you wanted to just chill here and drink inexpensive wine while you try every appetizer they have you would NOT be disappointed. Seriously though, these apps were all fantastic and they each had a very distinct flavor. My favorite was probably the croquettes with the mix of stinky cheese and sweet vinaigrette.
Now for the entrees. We ordered the seared, pepper-crusted tuna, Maine lobster with mussels, clams, and shrimp, the special (smoked Foie Gras with field strawberries), and the roasted halibut. The standout was the Foie Gras. Although the portion was more on the app side, the salty liver fat with the strawberries was something I had never tasted before and it was a 5-star dish. The tuna. Umm I flip-flopped back and forth all night on the tuna. If it wasn't so damn fresh and seared perfectly I would have been pissed I was eating a block of pepper. I mean I LOVE spicy food, but this was pepperfest. The fresh spinach served with it acted as a nice break from the spice though. The halibut was also delicious and this dish is the "popular" one in most reviews. I didn't try too much of it, but what I had was delicious. The lobster waterzooi is a task to say the least. As Danielle's aunt put it, this is for people who want to fight their food. If you fight it though it is worth it. All of this goodness still paled in comparison to the Foie Gras. I could have eaten a bucket of it. Dessert included rice pudding and crepes. Marvin still get bullied for having weak dessert, but being more of a salt guy I dont really care...at all...about "great dessert".
Marvin is a great place to eat and enjoy yourself in an atmosphere that makes you feel like you are already at the party rather than eating before it. Try to get there early and enjoy the bar scene if you can since they have a deep beer menu. All in all I would give Marvin a low A for the menu and an A+ for value with all entrees being under 30 bucks.
Highlights: Service, Foie Gras, Cheaply priced wine
Lowlight: can't think of one of the top of my head.
We were seated about 15 min after our rez, which is pretty normal for Friday night, and started with a very affordable bottle of sauvignon blanc. We decided to try a few of the appetizers while we browsed the rest of the menu...Shrimp and Grits (some had never had a "grit" haha), Goat Cheese Croquettes with Fig Vinaigrette, and Seared Sea Scallops with Braised leeks & beurre rouge. To be honest, if you wanted to just chill here and drink inexpensive wine while you try every appetizer they have you would NOT be disappointed. Seriously though, these apps were all fantastic and they each had a very distinct flavor. My favorite was probably the croquettes with the mix of stinky cheese and sweet vinaigrette.
Now for the entrees. We ordered the seared, pepper-crusted tuna, Maine lobster with mussels, clams, and shrimp, the special (smoked Foie Gras with field strawberries), and the roasted halibut. The standout was the Foie Gras. Although the portion was more on the app side, the salty liver fat with the strawberries was something I had never tasted before and it was a 5-star dish. The tuna. Umm I flip-flopped back and forth all night on the tuna. If it wasn't so damn fresh and seared perfectly I would have been pissed I was eating a block of pepper. I mean I LOVE spicy food, but this was pepperfest. The fresh spinach served with it acted as a nice break from the spice though. The halibut was also delicious and this dish is the "popular" one in most reviews. I didn't try too much of it, but what I had was delicious. The lobster waterzooi is a task to say the least. As Danielle's aunt put it, this is for people who want to fight their food. If you fight it though it is worth it. All of this goodness still paled in comparison to the Foie Gras. I could have eaten a bucket of it. Dessert included rice pudding and crepes. Marvin still get bullied for having weak dessert, but being more of a salt guy I dont really care...at all...about "great dessert".
Marvin is a great place to eat and enjoy yourself in an atmosphere that makes you feel like you are already at the party rather than eating before it. Try to get there early and enjoy the bar scene if you can since they have a deep beer menu. All in all I would give Marvin a low A for the menu and an A+ for value with all entrees being under 30 bucks.
Highlights: Service, Foie Gras, Cheaply priced wine
Lowlight: can't think of one of the top of my head.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ray's the Steaks-2300 Wilson Blvd-Arlington VA
As a celebration of the end of a grueling Q1, a colleague and I made the trip up Wilson Blvd to Ray's the Steaks. Walking into Ray's, a feeling of comfort washes over you as you view the incredibly unintimidating atmosphere and the awesome absence of sleazy lawyers/politicos hitting on 30 year old maneaters drinking martinis. Ray's has no bar, just a no frills interior filled with ordinary people who enjoy a good steak and a reasonable bottle of wine. To begin the meal, you are givin salty and sweet peanuts and bread and butter. The wine list contains a section of twenty or so "great value wines" all priced under 25$. The famous sommelier (formerly of Citronelle) Mark Slater was on hand to help us choose a bold flavored 19$ Chilean Red. To begin the meal, we chose to skip the famous Crab Bisque (my cholesterol is at dangerous levels) and we instead split the entree, Crab Imperial. The gigantic portion of delicously sweet Maryland Crab was perfectly seasoned and after only a few bites, to my surprise, my steak arrived. I went with the Hangar Steak, traditionally described as he least tender, yet most flavorful steak on the menu but at 20$, an incredible value. Rays is probably the one steakhouse on the entire Eastern seaboard that offers free sides, with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes coming with every meal. With a delicious steak, free sides, lump crab meat, and chimichurri as a condiment, I was in heaven. Rays only fault is their rushed service. 90 out of 100.
Citronelle Bar-3000 M St. NW
For young professionals curious to what the hoopla is about the "world class" and "most popular restaurant in DC" (according to zagat), you do not have to break the bank while dining at Citronelle, just choose to eat in the bar instead. On a breezy spring evening my companion and I made the short walk to Georgetown to visit the home of the culinary wizard, Michel Richard. Upon arrival, sitting outside was none other than Chef Richard, relaxing and sipping a fine French Bordeaux with some companions. The bar takes no reservations, and there was only one other couple dining at prime hours which was nice. To drink, we started with a French White labeled "recommended by Chef Richard" that was only 24$. The wine list affords a chance to drink at resonable prices, up and down France. For an appetizer, I chose the escargot tart, which was lovely. Succulent and garlic infused escargot are baked in a tart resembling a personal thin crust pizza, which was well worth the 14$. To follow I had the halibut, very delicious, but a boring choice by me. The halibut was cooked to perfection, and was draped in a rich lobster cream sauce with roasted fresh vegetables. The overall tab was a little over 100$. Not bad for a Tier 1 restaurant in DC. 91 out of 100.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Cleveland Park Bar & Grill - 3423 Conn. Ave. NW
It looks as if the winter months are finally behind us and we can put away the heavy jackets and thick socks for good. Aside from Braves season and the Cherry Blossom Festival, this means one major thing to me...dining and drinking can now be moved outside. This is a huge plus and makes any experience exponentially better. This past Saturday my roommate and I were looking for an outdoor venue where we could drink some good beers and soak up the sun without having to navigate the chaos that is M street or break the bank at the waterfront. We ended up at Cleveland Park Bar & Grill (CPBG).
CPBG is a fairly popular sports bar that is packed to the brim during the NFL season and throughout March Madness, but this past Saturday it was not too crowded at all. Neither of us had ever been here before and were going more for the beer than the food. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how extensive their menu was for being a sports bar. When you first walk in CPBG it strikes you as nothing extraordinary. There are plasmas out the ass and the downstairs bar has a dungeon feel (typical sports bar right?), but there is a pathway towards the bathrooms that leads to an upstairs deck with a full bar overlooking Connecticut.
My roommate and I started out with a couple pints on draft and each were only 5 bucks. 5 dollars is still 3 dollars too many, but all things considered that is a pretty good deal. The service was fantastic in my opinion and the staff was very attentive throughout our meal. I wasn't too hungry so I just had some chicken tenders and "Dad" had the turkey club. The chicken fingers were deep fried and came with a vinegar based bbq sauce that overshadowed the McDonalds-esque honey mustard. For 7$ i got 7 or 8 fingers which was nice. The turkey club was pretty average as well. We ended up running into an acquaintance randomly and their order was far superior to ours. They had the margarita pizza, some hot wings, and the chicken alfredo which all got rave reviews. I am curious to try some more of their food, but I was just as satisfied to do some top deck sippin on a great day. I give CPBG an A...the scene was awesome and I cant wait to go back and try some more food. I will post an update when I do so.
CPBG is a fairly popular sports bar that is packed to the brim during the NFL season and throughout March Madness, but this past Saturday it was not too crowded at all. Neither of us had ever been here before and were going more for the beer than the food. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how extensive their menu was for being a sports bar. When you first walk in CPBG it strikes you as nothing extraordinary. There are plasmas out the ass and the downstairs bar has a dungeon feel (typical sports bar right?), but there is a pathway towards the bathrooms that leads to an upstairs deck with a full bar overlooking Connecticut.
My roommate and I started out with a couple pints on draft and each were only 5 bucks. 5 dollars is still 3 dollars too many, but all things considered that is a pretty good deal. The service was fantastic in my opinion and the staff was very attentive throughout our meal. I wasn't too hungry so I just had some chicken tenders and "Dad" had the turkey club. The chicken fingers were deep fried and came with a vinegar based bbq sauce that overshadowed the McDonalds-esque honey mustard. For 7$ i got 7 or 8 fingers which was nice. The turkey club was pretty average as well. We ended up running into an acquaintance randomly and their order was far superior to ours. They had the margarita pizza, some hot wings, and the chicken alfredo which all got rave reviews. I am curious to try some more of their food, but I was just as satisfied to do some top deck sippin on a great day. I give CPBG an A...the scene was awesome and I cant wait to go back and try some more food. I will post an update when I do so.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Ristorante Tosca- 1112 F Street
I decided to try Ristorante Tosca near Metro Center this weekend. The restaurant has a really modern feeling, and there were a fair amount of people just sitting at the bar when we arrived.
I had the buffalo mozzarella with roasted bell peppers to start, and then the roasted scallops with artichoke puree. I really enjoyed my choices, and everyone else's food was excellent as well. One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in DC.
I thought it was going to be a somewhat expensive dinner, based on the menu online. What I did not know, is that a lot of the prices on the menu are for the appetizer-sized portion. They are assuming that you'll get the starter, a pasta, a meat, etc. But if you get the "entree" size, watch out. This is a really expensive restaurant in disguise, so careful of what you order.
Highlight: when someone in the restaurant proposed- and everyone started clapping...it was straight out of a movie.
Lowlight: unexpected prices
I had the buffalo mozzarella with roasted bell peppers to start, and then the roasted scallops with artichoke puree. I really enjoyed my choices, and everyone else's food was excellent as well. One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in DC.
I thought it was going to be a somewhat expensive dinner, based on the menu online. What I did not know, is that a lot of the prices on the menu are for the appetizer-sized portion. They are assuming that you'll get the starter, a pasta, a meat, etc. But if you get the "entree" size, watch out. This is a really expensive restaurant in disguise, so careful of what you order.
Highlight: when someone in the restaurant proposed- and everyone started clapping...it was straight out of a movie.
Lowlight: unexpected prices
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Minh's - 2500 N. Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA
This past Thursday we were looking for something quick and cheap to eat without having to resort to the Chipotle belly bomb or 5 guys. I also wanted to avoid the hassle of looking for parking in Dupont or Georgetown so I decided to try Minh's in Arlington. Minh's is a Vietnamese restaurant that recently made a name for itself by cracking the Top 100 restaurant list.
I had no problem getting a table even though the restaurant was relatively crowded. The restaurant is filled with all sorts of nick-nacks (not the Bond character who also yelled "da plane, da plane" in fantasy island) that make you feel like you are eating in someone's house rather than a restaurant. We decided to start off with the combination rice rolls (Rice paper wrapped w/ shrimp, pork, lettuce & vermicelli) and the shredded pork rolls (Rice paper wrapped w/ shredded pork & salad). Both of these were served with their own dipping sauce that ranged from sweet to extremely spicy. The brown sauce (spicy) was the better of the two. They were about 5 bucks per appetizer and the helpings were more than enough. In hindsight I think that we probably could have gotten away with just ordering one. My girlfriend ordered the shrimp, scallops & calamari sauteed w/ mixed vegetables while I ordered the catfish stew with vegetables. Both of these entrees warranted a to-go box and they were about $12 each. The catfish was very good, not spectacular, and definitely worth the money spent. I like a little more spice in my food and the focus seemed to be more on the sweet side. All of the seafood was very fresh and was an obvious upgrade from the usual Chinese take-out seafood...and it was cheaper.
All in all I would give Minh's an 88 out of 100 and a very high rating on bang for your buck. This place is open for lunch and dinner so I can only imagine the cash they rake in during office lunch breaks. I think next time I go I will go with 4 or more people so we can sample more dishes.
Highlight: Catfish stew
Lowlight: I had to go to work the next day
.................................
On a completely unrelated note: A friend of mine shared this song with me and I wanted to pass it on. Enjoy!
I had no problem getting a table even though the restaurant was relatively crowded. The restaurant is filled with all sorts of nick-nacks (not the Bond character who also yelled "da plane, da plane" in fantasy island) that make you feel like you are eating in someone's house rather than a restaurant. We decided to start off with the combination rice rolls (Rice paper wrapped w/ shrimp, pork, lettuce & vermicelli) and the shredded pork rolls (Rice paper wrapped w/ shredded pork & salad). Both of these were served with their own dipping sauce that ranged from sweet to extremely spicy. The brown sauce (spicy) was the better of the two. They were about 5 bucks per appetizer and the helpings were more than enough. In hindsight I think that we probably could have gotten away with just ordering one. My girlfriend ordered the shrimp, scallops & calamari sauteed w/ mixed vegetables while I ordered the catfish stew with vegetables. Both of these entrees warranted a to-go box and they were about $12 each. The catfish was very good, not spectacular, and definitely worth the money spent. I like a little more spice in my food and the focus seemed to be more on the sweet side. All of the seafood was very fresh and was an obvious upgrade from the usual Chinese take-out seafood...and it was cheaper.
All in all I would give Minh's an 88 out of 100 and a very high rating on bang for your buck. This place is open for lunch and dinner so I can only imagine the cash they rake in during office lunch breaks. I think next time I go I will go with 4 or more people so we can sample more dishes.
Highlight: Catfish stew
Lowlight: I had to go to work the next day
.................................
On a completely unrelated note: A friend of mine shared this song with me and I wanted to pass it on. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Best Burger in D.C. : Ray's Hellburger or Good Stuff Eatery?
I love a good burger. And although its more fun to cook them in the backyard with a cooler of beer and some lawn chairs, the next morning your going to want someone else to do all the work. Trust me.
Two of the best places to do that in D.C. are Good Stuff Eatery on the hill (303 Pennsylvania Ave S.E.) and Ray's Hellburger (1713 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA). Those are just two of the many places to grab a burger around town, but they are my two favorites.
Ray's is part of the Ray's "franchise" in D.C. that includes Ray's the Classics and Ray's the Steaks. All three are known for their incredible ingredients and affordable prices. Ray's hellburgers are MASSIVE. I'm talking like drag my dead body out of the restaurant massive. When you walk in the restaurant (or stand outside because the line is that long) you need to send someone up to the front to grab a menu to browse. Once at the register there is somewhat of a "soup nazi" vibe and you don't want to be the guy holding everyone up. The free toppings include everything from pickles and onions to cherry and cognac mushrooms or piranha sauce. I Usually stick with the Big Punisher...Chipotle Marinade, Pepper Jack Cheese, Charred Jalapenos, Grilled Red Onions, Piranha Sauce(Fiery, Spicy, Green Sauce). This is a fantastic burger. The bun is always big enough, which I think can be overlooked sometimes, the helpings are equal to the price, and there is endless variety. I usually order some sweet potato fries and a root beer to go with it for around 11 bucks.
Good Stuff Eatery was one of the first places I tried when I moved here a couple years ago. I ate here before I tried Hellburger and had a great time eating there. This place is famous for being started by the infamous "Spike" of top chef fame. He is almost in there helping out which is pretty cool since I rarely see Jose Andres in Cafe Atlantico or Jaleo lol. The focus at Good Stuff is on the freshness and quality of the local beef and it shows. There is almost always a line here too because of the location and Spike. Burgers at Good Stuff are juicier than Hellburger since they arent as big and are COVERED with cheese. The menu is not as diverse as Hellburger, but I like to go with the Good Stuff Melt...Melted Cheddar & Muenster,Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms with Good Stuff Sauce. They have four or five different types of mayo too including a Siracha mayo which is my favorite hot sauce. A burger, fries, and a drink here will run you about $13 or so. Good Stuff has the onion rings though! Man these onion rings are just incredible. The only thing I can compare them to are the onion rings at The Varsity in Atlanta and those are legendary. The local dairy farm Milkshakes are also terrific, but they are way overpriced. Another overlooked plus to Good Stuff is the potato roll they use.
All in all I would definitely say that Hellburger is pretty damn superior to Good Stuff if you are going to go strictly burger. I will say that both are very good, but since they are about 15 min. apart, why not make the drive to Ray's? However, if you are looking for some fantastic onion rings or a milkshake you can stop in Good Stuff for a quick bite. Your unlikely to be disappointed either way.
Winner: Ray's Hellburger
Two of the best places to do that in D.C. are Good Stuff Eatery on the hill (303 Pennsylvania Ave S.E.) and Ray's Hellburger (1713 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA). Those are just two of the many places to grab a burger around town, but they are my two favorites.
Ray's is part of the Ray's "franchise" in D.C. that includes Ray's the Classics and Ray's the Steaks. All three are known for their incredible ingredients and affordable prices. Ray's hellburgers are MASSIVE. I'm talking like drag my dead body out of the restaurant massive. When you walk in the restaurant (or stand outside because the line is that long) you need to send someone up to the front to grab a menu to browse. Once at the register there is somewhat of a "soup nazi" vibe and you don't want to be the guy holding everyone up. The free toppings include everything from pickles and onions to cherry and cognac mushrooms or piranha sauce. I Usually stick with the Big Punisher...Chipotle Marinade, Pepper Jack Cheese, Charred Jalapenos, Grilled Red Onions, Piranha Sauce(Fiery, Spicy, Green Sauce). This is a fantastic burger. The bun is always big enough, which I think can be overlooked sometimes, the helpings are equal to the price, and there is endless variety. I usually order some sweet potato fries and a root beer to go with it for around 11 bucks.
Good Stuff Eatery was one of the first places I tried when I moved here a couple years ago. I ate here before I tried Hellburger and had a great time eating there. This place is famous for being started by the infamous "Spike" of top chef fame. He is almost in there helping out which is pretty cool since I rarely see Jose Andres in Cafe Atlantico or Jaleo lol. The focus at Good Stuff is on the freshness and quality of the local beef and it shows. There is almost always a line here too because of the location and Spike. Burgers at Good Stuff are juicier than Hellburger since they arent as big and are COVERED with cheese. The menu is not as diverse as Hellburger, but I like to go with the Good Stuff Melt...Melted Cheddar & Muenster,Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms with Good Stuff Sauce. They have four or five different types of mayo too including a Siracha mayo which is my favorite hot sauce. A burger, fries, and a drink here will run you about $13 or so. Good Stuff has the onion rings though! Man these onion rings are just incredible. The only thing I can compare them to are the onion rings at The Varsity in Atlanta and those are legendary. The local dairy farm Milkshakes are also terrific, but they are way overpriced. Another overlooked plus to Good Stuff is the potato roll they use.
All in all I would definitely say that Hellburger is pretty damn superior to Good Stuff if you are going to go strictly burger. I will say that both are very good, but since they are about 15 min. apart, why not make the drive to Ray's? However, if you are looking for some fantastic onion rings or a milkshake you can stop in Good Stuff for a quick bite. Your unlikely to be disappointed either way.
Winner: Ray's Hellburger
Mourayo 1732 Connecticut Avenue
Trudging back and forth to work every day, I always look at the restaurants that surround me on my way. Mourayo had always caught my eye. I knew it had received good reviews, but it always looked kind of unassuming to me. In fact, more times than not it was kind of empty. But it’s one of the only restaurants in my area that I knew was supposed to be good that I had not yet tried, so I was excited to go.
Heading into Mourayo on a Sunday night, we were seated right away with no reservation- definitely a surprise for a well-respected restaurant in D.C., even on a Sunday. I think the waiter was annoyed at us for waiting so long for the rest of our party to show up, and he didn’t seem to recover the rest of the night.
We started with the melitzanosalata-roasted eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, feta, olive and vinegar. I’m not a huge eggplant person, but it was tasty. The pita bread they serve there is really good, so really any vehicle to use the bread was fine by me.
The wine we ordered was a Greek Syrah. Now I’m not a wine connoisseur or anything, but I’d say it was a tad pricy for what it was.
There were a lot of entrees to choose from (good for me because I’m kind of picky and I like a lot of different options…but that sometimes leads to a panic order followed by immediate regret). I ended up ordering the Kotopoulo “Peloponnesos”- organic chicken breast w/ onions, tomatoes, and okra. It was good- I blame myself for ordering the chicken dish. The Pythagoras “Theorema”- pork loin medallions with figs, almonds, manouri cheese and honey sauce certainly stole the show from my dish. I also got a taste of the Htenia “Mykonos” -dry scallops pan seared w/ basil, eggplant, pistachio pesto. It was very tasty, but a pretty small portion.
All in all I’d say Mourayo was a pleasant dining experience. A little bit pricy, but can be well worth it if you order the right dish and have a more genial waiter- 85/100.
Heading into Mourayo on a Sunday night, we were seated right away with no reservation- definitely a surprise for a well-respected restaurant in D.C., even on a Sunday. I think the waiter was annoyed at us for waiting so long for the rest of our party to show up, and he didn’t seem to recover the rest of the night.
We started with the melitzanosalata-roasted eggplant, garlic, tomatoes, feta, olive and vinegar. I’m not a huge eggplant person, but it was tasty. The pita bread they serve there is really good, so really any vehicle to use the bread was fine by me.
The wine we ordered was a Greek Syrah. Now I’m not a wine connoisseur or anything, but I’d say it was a tad pricy for what it was.
There were a lot of entrees to choose from (good for me because I’m kind of picky and I like a lot of different options…but that sometimes leads to a panic order followed by immediate regret). I ended up ordering the Kotopoulo “Peloponnesos”- organic chicken breast w/ onions, tomatoes, and okra. It was good- I blame myself for ordering the chicken dish. The Pythagoras “Theorema”- pork loin medallions with figs, almonds, manouri cheese and honey sauce certainly stole the show from my dish. I also got a taste of the Htenia “Mykonos” -dry scallops pan seared w/ basil, eggplant, pistachio pesto. It was very tasty, but a pretty small portion.
All in all I’d say Mourayo was a pleasant dining experience. A little bit pricy, but can be well worth it if you order the right dish and have a more genial waiter- 85/100.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Komi - 1509 17th Street NW
For our first "review" in D.C. I am posting a review of Komi, the Post's best restaurant in DC. It's hard not to get your hopes up when it is such an ordeal to get a reservation somewhere and all of the other reviews you read say that this is the best restaurant in D.C. and possibly the best on the east coast. However, my expectations were fulfilled and then some. Komi is probably the best meal I've had...ever.
In order to get a reservation here you have to get somewhat lucky and get through the busy phone lines exactly one month in advance of your target day. Its similar to trying to get a reservation at Minibar without the smugness and herd mentality.
Komi is in an old townhouse right outside of Dupont. They have renovated the restaurant recently, but it is still very inviting and doesn't have any of the stuffiness that usually accompanies a top notch restaurant. We all wore jeans and none of the staff had a problem with it. Obviously, with a chef like Johnny Monis, most of the patrons don't know much about food in comparison so it was helpful to have a waiter who didn't shy away from explaining everything we ate.
The degustazione course at Komi will run you 125 bucks, but its well worth it. The waiter asks if you have any food allergies and that is pretty much the last input you have in your meal. The entire dinner was a complete surprise. The 10 small plates you start with range from 1 bite to three and ran the gamut of fresh sashimi to alaskan salmon served in a small martini glass to a caesar salad baked within a crouton.
Somehow, I have NO IDEA how, he had put together the tastes of the lettuce, parmesan, and caesar dressing into a liquid form and baked that in a homemade crouton. This was an interesting small plate, but the highlights were the salmon, a scallop covered with truffle and olive oil and chives, and the entrees.
It isn't really apparent until you get your entree that Monis' focus is on traditional Greek cuisine. We had the suckling pig and the baby goat. Both were phenomenal and did not need any condiments. However, we were presented with homemade hot sauce, tzatziki sauce, hummus, and olives. The hot sauce was Siracha-esque and complimented the pork very nicely. Even more food was presented after the entrees- we had 3-4 dessert plates, the highlight of which was the cinnamon ice cream with honey.
The biggest compliment I can pay Komi and the chef is that throughout the 3 hour meal I didn't once think "when is the next plate coming," "my ass hurts from sitting so long," or "why the hell am I still eating." If you can keep me entertained for three hours I would consider it a success. I give it a 99/100 and would definitely go back if I could save up for 3 months, hah.
In order to get a reservation here you have to get somewhat lucky and get through the busy phone lines exactly one month in advance of your target day. Its similar to trying to get a reservation at Minibar without the smugness and herd mentality.
Komi is in an old townhouse right outside of Dupont. They have renovated the restaurant recently, but it is still very inviting and doesn't have any of the stuffiness that usually accompanies a top notch restaurant. We all wore jeans and none of the staff had a problem with it. Obviously, with a chef like Johnny Monis, most of the patrons don't know much about food in comparison so it was helpful to have a waiter who didn't shy away from explaining everything we ate.
The degustazione course at Komi will run you 125 bucks, but its well worth it. The waiter asks if you have any food allergies and that is pretty much the last input you have in your meal. The entire dinner was a complete surprise. The 10 small plates you start with range from 1 bite to three and ran the gamut of fresh sashimi to alaskan salmon served in a small martini glass to a caesar salad baked within a crouton.
Somehow, I have NO IDEA how, he had put together the tastes of the lettuce, parmesan, and caesar dressing into a liquid form and baked that in a homemade crouton. This was an interesting small plate, but the highlights were the salmon, a scallop covered with truffle and olive oil and chives, and the entrees.
It isn't really apparent until you get your entree that Monis' focus is on traditional Greek cuisine. We had the suckling pig and the baby goat. Both were phenomenal and did not need any condiments. However, we were presented with homemade hot sauce, tzatziki sauce, hummus, and olives. The hot sauce was Siracha-esque and complimented the pork very nicely. Even more food was presented after the entrees- we had 3-4 dessert plates, the highlight of which was the cinnamon ice cream with honey.
The biggest compliment I can pay Komi and the chef is that throughout the 3 hour meal I didn't once think "when is the next plate coming," "my ass hurts from sitting so long," or "why the hell am I still eating." If you can keep me entertained for three hours I would consider it a success. I give it a 99/100 and would definitely go back if I could save up for 3 months, hah.
Introduction: Mission Statement lol
For young "professionals" making the trek to the District of Columbia, navigating the DC restaurant scene can be daunting. In our search for greatness in fine dining around the District, we've had more than a few missteps. We'd like to share our dining experiences: the highs and the lows. I'm no expert, but I know what I like, I know what I don't like, and I am pretty sure you will feel the same way.
From worst meals to best boozy brunches we'll be your guide to all-things-food that our nation's capital has to provide.
From worst meals to best boozy brunches we'll be your guide to all-things-food that our nation's capital has to provide.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)