I am writing this review in memoriam. I've been to/ordered from Sushi Sushi at least 30 times. Danielle introduced me to this hole in the wall almost two years ago and I think it was some of the best sushi in the district. Well, Sushi Sushi is no more (as of about a month ago) and I wish I had gone there one last time and broke the bank.
Sushi Sushi probably got a lot of its business from overflow of 2 Amy's and Cactus Cantina. The space was pretty small and had a huge mural of the ocean on the interior. The service was always great and they delivered for free. Since I've been there so many times I thought I would just highlight a few of my menu favorites.
The seaweed salad here was a great starter. It was chilled and just enough food for an appetizer. There were 3-4 types of seaweed in the dish. This was a perfect dish to make you feel a little better about what you did the entire weekend. SS also had a great miso soup for like 2 bucks. Thats 2 bucks cheaper than most other places.
The best part of the restaurant was the "special" sushi rolls. All of the rolls were made with high quality fish, but each was done in a different way. What made sushi sushi great was the fact that these rolls were 5-8 bucks as opposed to 15-18 bucks at high-end sushi spots. The Macomb roll was far and away the best (california roll inside topped with red snapper and spicy mayo, served grilled). Since sushi sushi has been gone I have been ordering spicy mayo with my other sushi orders, but it just aint the same. My second favorite roll was the Ocean roll (battered yellow tail, salmon and red snapper inside topped by crabmeat and chef's special sweet sauce). Both of these rolls are huge! Easily twice the size of normal sushi rolls. The most unique thing that they offered was called "the smokey boat" (half avocado filled with crab stick topped with shrimp and home made spicy mayo and baked. served with a touch of chef's sweet sauce). This was kind of pricey compared to the rest of the menu, but it was well worth it the few times I ordered it.
Highlights - Macomb roll and free delivery
Lowlights - Its F'IN closed!
Rating - Solid A babay
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Zengo - 781 7th Street NW
Being a first-time living social user is what drove me to Zengo. Normally I would not go to a place that can seat 500 comfortably, for dinner. I'm glad I did though because it was a nice surprise and a great meal. Zengo is japanese for "give and take" and is an uber-trendy happy hour spot in Chinatown. The menu is split between latin and asian influences which sounds nasty, but ends up working. We walked in and there was house music playing as the happy hour crowd was in full swing. After about a 5 minute wait we were seated upstairs. The seating upstairs is a lot quieter, but very very close together.
Our waitress came over and took our drink order while explaining that the food came out as it was ready rather than all at once; this encourages sharing. I had a caipirinha and Danielle had the Yuzu Fresa which is vodka with fresh strawberries and lemon. Both drinks were great, but the Fresa was better. The 5 tapas that we ordered were: The tuna tacos (sushi rice / mango salsa / guacamole), the duck tacos (curried apple / orange-coriander sauce), the veggie sushi roll (grilled asparagus / red pepper / avocado / mushroom / lemon-sake aioli), the kobe beef roll (self explanatory), and the thai chicken empanchile poblano / oaxaca cheese / mango-curry salsa adas).
The tuna tacos came out first and I think they were my favorite of the 5 things ordered. Sushi rice in a taco is such a good idea! It held all of the ingredients together when you took a bite and made the taco crunchy and chewy. The guacamole was yummy, the tuna was seared and spicy, and mango salsa is just fun to say. "A" for that dish. Everything else came out second. The duck tacos were also pretty good, but were a little sloppy for my liking. The apples in the duck tacos were a nice touch though. Between the sushi I think I liked the veggie roll best because it had a little more variety and the kobe roll was a tad chewy. The empanadas were also great, but I still think some of the best empanadas I've had were at the bar at Clyde's (is that wrong?).
The scene here is what draws a crowd, but the food is worth sticking around for. I really like the idea of everything coming out at different times because it makes you feel like you get a lot of bang for your buck (and Zengo can get pricey). Props to LivingSocial for getting me to try a place that I normally would have walked right past.
Lowlights: proximity to next table, dessert sucked
Highlights: Yuzu Fresa and the tuna tacos
Overall grade: A-
Our waitress came over and took our drink order while explaining that the food came out as it was ready rather than all at once; this encourages sharing. I had a caipirinha and Danielle had the Yuzu Fresa which is vodka with fresh strawberries and lemon. Both drinks were great, but the Fresa was better. The 5 tapas that we ordered were: The tuna tacos (sushi rice / mango salsa / guacamole), the duck tacos (curried apple / orange-coriander sauce), the veggie sushi roll (grilled asparagus / red pepper / avocado / mushroom / lemon-sake aioli), the kobe beef roll (self explanatory), and the thai chicken empanchile poblano / oaxaca cheese / mango-curry salsa adas).
The tuna tacos came out first and I think they were my favorite of the 5 things ordered. Sushi rice in a taco is such a good idea! It held all of the ingredients together when you took a bite and made the taco crunchy and chewy. The guacamole was yummy, the tuna was seared and spicy, and mango salsa is just fun to say. "A" for that dish. Everything else came out second. The duck tacos were also pretty good, but were a little sloppy for my liking. The apples in the duck tacos were a nice touch though. Between the sushi I think I liked the veggie roll best because it had a little more variety and the kobe roll was a tad chewy. The empanadas were also great, but I still think some of the best empanadas I've had were at the bar at Clyde's (is that wrong?).
The scene here is what draws a crowd, but the food is worth sticking around for. I really like the idea of everything coming out at different times because it makes you feel like you get a lot of bang for your buck (and Zengo can get pricey). Props to LivingSocial for getting me to try a place that I normally would have walked right past.
Lowlights: proximity to next table, dessert sucked
Highlights: Yuzu Fresa and the tuna tacos
Overall grade: A-
Siroc - 915 15th St, NW
Eating in downtown D.C....do you want Cosi or BLT Steak? Do you want to spend 8 bucks or 200 on dinner? That is basically what it boils "down" to. Danielle's "new"(ish) apartment is in downtown DC and we often find ourself looking for somewhere easy, relatively cheap, and most importantly, good, to eat for dinner.
Siroc is owned by a couple of brothers that put out "lighter" Italian food. You might assume that this means less flavor, but just because they aren't piling on butter and creme does not mean it doesn't taste good. The inside of the restaurant has about 20 tables and is a very romantic setting. The noise level is minimal.
As far as our dishes. For our appetizer we had a composed tower of avocado, mango and roasted shrimp with basil oil and crispy parma prosciutto. This came out looking beautiful, but ended up being one of those menu items that you poke once and the whole thing falls apart like jenga. However, it did taste pretty good. It could have used a little more salt to go with all of the sweet, but it was alright. In the battle of the entrees, Danielle's ended up being much better than mine. She had the house-made black pepper tagliatelle with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes and seared scallops. This pasta was very very rich in flavor, but was not a belly-bomb that sent you directly into a coma. The scallops were done perfectly and were not too small. The red pepper flakes gave it a little bit of spice, but they did not dominate the dish. I was only shared one bite of the pasta if that gives you an idea of how good it was. The bite I had was excellent and you could really tell that everything was fresh and home-made. My entree order was the pan seared Muscovy duck breast served with a turnip and taleggio cheese torte, roasted pear and a star anise sauce. Unfortunately my duck was not as good. I ordered it medium and it came out pretty rare. The highlight of the dish was the roasted pear. I could have eaten a bowl of the pears without the duck. Normally I really love duck and this was one of the first times I wished I had not ordered it. The pears and the cheese torte far outshined the duck. Next time I eat at Siroc, and there will be a next time, I will stick with the pastas. For dessert...we had gelato. The three that came out were mango, passion fruit, and rasberry. Each of these were so creamy and tart that it was a nice ending to a very savory meal.
Siroc offers great italian food for around 20 bucks an entree. The setting is romantic and the service is average. They arent gonna knock you out with the best meal of your life, but its good for what it is.
Overall Rating: B+
Lowlight - undercooked duck
Highlight - a GREAT martini and perfectly cooked scallops
Siroc is owned by a couple of brothers that put out "lighter" Italian food. You might assume that this means less flavor, but just because they aren't piling on butter and creme does not mean it doesn't taste good. The inside of the restaurant has about 20 tables and is a very romantic setting. The noise level is minimal.
As far as our dishes. For our appetizer we had a composed tower of avocado, mango and roasted shrimp with basil oil and crispy parma prosciutto. This came out looking beautiful, but ended up being one of those menu items that you poke once and the whole thing falls apart like jenga. However, it did taste pretty good. It could have used a little more salt to go with all of the sweet, but it was alright. In the battle of the entrees, Danielle's ended up being much better than mine. She had the house-made black pepper tagliatelle with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes and seared scallops. This pasta was very very rich in flavor, but was not a belly-bomb that sent you directly into a coma. The scallops were done perfectly and were not too small. The red pepper flakes gave it a little bit of spice, but they did not dominate the dish. I was only shared one bite of the pasta if that gives you an idea of how good it was. The bite I had was excellent and you could really tell that everything was fresh and home-made. My entree order was the pan seared Muscovy duck breast served with a turnip and taleggio cheese torte, roasted pear and a star anise sauce. Unfortunately my duck was not as good. I ordered it medium and it came out pretty rare. The highlight of the dish was the roasted pear. I could have eaten a bowl of the pears without the duck. Normally I really love duck and this was one of the first times I wished I had not ordered it. The pears and the cheese torte far outshined the duck. Next time I eat at Siroc, and there will be a next time, I will stick with the pastas. For dessert...we had gelato. The three that came out were mango, passion fruit, and rasberry. Each of these were so creamy and tart that it was a nice ending to a very savory meal.
Siroc offers great italian food for around 20 bucks an entree. The setting is romantic and the service is average. They arent gonna knock you out with the best meal of your life, but its good for what it is.
Overall Rating: B+
Lowlight - undercooked duck
Highlight - a GREAT martini and perfectly cooked scallops
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Ray's: The Steaks - 2300 N Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA
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.
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.
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.
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