RappEats

DC Restaurant Week 2014 - Oyamel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 19:11:00 +0000

I haven't been a huge fan of Restaurant Week promotions in any city/neighborhood and usually approach them with a huge dose of skepticism or outright repeal. My thinking is that a good restaurant doesn't need to promote a gimmicky menu just to get people in the seats. On top of that you get volume surge that could be above normal operating conditions (good for restaurant, bad for you) that yields less interesting menu choices or worse, a kitchen just churning out the same dishes quickly without pause. To say that I'm down on "Restaurant Weeks" is accurate - but like everything in life, you give things another look when the time is right. This week I'm giving DC the benefit of the doubt and going full force into Restaurant Week to try some new places in town, and hopefully force me to throw up some more reviews. Last night started with Oyamel.

I've heard good things about Oyamel from many people and understood it to be a Chinatown staple by talented restaurateur Jose Andreas featuring Mexican fare, tacos and ceviche. The prix fixe menu ($35.14 for all participating restaurants) is five courses with multiple choices for each course to give you quite a lot of flexibility to choose your own Oyamel adventure. Even with a large amount of food on deck, Kelly and I decided no good Mexican meal can start without a solid heaping of guacamole, chips and salsa. Unfortunately for my appetite and desire to not over-eat, both the salsa (very similar to Rick Bayless salsa) and chips were delicious. They add a nice spice mixture to the crispy fried chips that make them quite addicting. The guacamole was relatively average in taste or special flavors, but you do get the table side treatment that makes the experience a little more fun. I also started the meal with one of their specialty margaritas that included a nice watermelon flavor. Yum.

Overall I was very impressed with the food and service of the meal. No single plate was a 'wow' but everything tasted good and well prepared and not oversized. Oyamel did a great job of rebuking all of my previous assumptions about restaurant week quality control and menu options. The best dish of the five was definitely the dessert, and the weakest was the fish taco. The bass ceviche was nice and a good intro but it was VERY spicy, and I'm a guy that likes my heat. I took a break from it when the brussels sprouts came out just to give my mouth a break. The sprouts were also very good but definitely reminded me a dishes I've had many other (and non Mexican) locations. So while tasty with peanuts and sauce and nicely prepared, it did not feel authentic (right or wrong) and was solid but not spectacular. The small quesodilla was fun, with an interesting green creamy sauce and grilled veggies/flowers on top. My least favorite - the fish taco - was just not that tasty, with way too much mayo sauce and a bland taco. I ate the fish but left everything else. Oh well. Finally, I'm sure it's on the regular menu so please try the tres leches with pineapple if ever dining. It was delicious. The cake soaked in rum was well made and tasty on its own, throw caramel ice cream on top with pineapple salsa and run whipped cream - and you have a very nice, tasty, refreshing and addicting dessert.

It was a tasty meal with a solid offering of various Mexican dishes. The food quality throughout was tasty and consistent. It's hard to judge value on a special priced meal but the final bill appeared reasonable given the drinks, chips and amount of food ordered. I could easily see myself wanting to return for a fun Mexican small plate dinner, one that focused on chips, guacamole and margaritas, with an occasional taco or two finished with dessert. I'm relieved that my first Restaurant Week dinner was tasty and I look forward to the rest of meals.

Casa Luca

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 17:29:00 +0000

No matter the location, I am always interested and challenged to find good Italian restaurants. You would think it was the easiest cuisine to master and impress guests with. Stick with some solid and traditional pasta dishes, add in salads and classic chicken dishes (parmesan, marsala, etc), throw in some simple prepared fish and I think you'd have a winner. The challenge is that few places do this, and fewer do it well. Many newer Italian restaurants I've found have tried to distinguish themselves by adding unique, "modern" or other personalities that take away from the actual quality of food. I admit, I have not been to a plethora of Italian restaurants in Washington, but thus far I give high praise to Casa Luca for successfully pulling off both the traditional menu items and the modern twists that made my dining experience very enjoyable.

My visit was a few months back but I remember walking into the space and thinking there was a good and welcoming vibe with a well organized layout. Service was very good throughout and attentive from all staff regardless of who was walking by. The menu is also well sized with plenty of options but only a few in each category to help steer your decisions with the main focus on the pastas (e.g. two sea, two land and three "family style" choices). We went with two starters and two pastas, which might not have been the most adventurous or diverse selection but whatever, that's what looked good and if you can't wow me with pasta I'm not likely to return to try other items.

We passed up the breads/flat breads and "bites to share" sections in favor of a salad ("Cesar Salad" of Burrata) and small pate Crudo of Arctic Char (with salsa romesco and pickled vegetables. ). Both were excellent and I thought the burrata "salad" was delicious and creative.It's on the smaller side but maybe because I had to share and I wanted more. I would like to try the other starter options as well. The two main course pasta dishes were smoked potato gnocchi with a duck ragu and the fusilli cacio e pepe (served with burrata, basil and black pepper). Both pastas were well sized and portioned. Even though the pricing might seem like a stretch for a bowl of pasta I feel the ingredients used and portion size are consistent with good value. As for preferences, I was a huge fan of the fusilli. The burrata was delicious and the pepper was flavorful but not overpowering. I would order that dish again quickly. The gnocchi was good too but the duck ragu definitely stole the show. They should find a way to substitute out the gnocchi for a different pasta perhaps. It's good gnocchi but I find it to be more of a challenging pasta to eat a large amount and can take away from whatever sauce is included.

The nightcap was a nice small bowl of gelato with some fresh fruit and nuts. I can't remember the flavor but it was green and tasty. I appreciate their dessert menu because the pricing and sizing seem spot on. Not too much (on either) and just enough to leave a nice taste in your mouth. I like Casa Luca and have recommended it many times since my first visit. It has a sophisticated yet approachable vibe with good service and an approachable menu. The pastas we tried were very solid and worthy of a return visit. I wouldn't call Casa a mom and pop home grown Italian experience, but that's what makes it special and good.

Table

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 May 2014 22:08:00 +0000

Well. It's taken quite a while for me to get back on the food scene writing horse. I could provide a plethora of excuses or justifications, but that's not really important. Some how it's been one year since I moved from my beloved hometown of Chicago (and culinary capital of the national IMO) to our nation's capital of Washington. I still love eating, checking out new restaurants and jotting down my thoughts and opinions, but my lifestyle and timing is quite different than before. I hope to do a better job going forward, but I realize it will not be the same as the Windy City. Also of note is my general attitude that while the DC food scene is changing quickly and drastically, it has a long way to go for consistent, high quality restaurants. My last post on Rose's Luxury remains my favorite experience to date, but my meal at Table was not far behind and the inspiration to breakout the keyboard once again.

The initial impression is memorable, inviting and fun. The first floor space is narrow and long with a garage door opening and full length open air kitchen along one side (reminiscent of a diner set up). There are wood planks hanging to create a make shift ceiling adorned with creative lighting. The color scheme features pink everywhere (is that seasonal or permanent?) with a full back wall painted solid, and pink accents in server attire, menu and settings. Wood is another theme with clean tables, walls and bar service counter. Since we sat downstairs I am unfamiliar with the upstairs design but would be surprised if different. The menu is robust but approachable without too many options to cause confusion or extended time wasted on decision making. They offer a tasting menu (good idea) with predetermined choices. Otherwise there is a first course section, a second course section and a cheese/charcuterie section. That's it and that's all you need.

In order to sample a little of every part, we started with the "goose egg" salad that our server recommended and had just arrived at the table next over. It was a play on the classic lyonnaise salad with a sunny side up goose egg, sauteed seasonal mushrooms, frisee salad and served with warm toast. I enjoyed the salad immensely and would suggest it as a staple to any meal at Table. The egg was perfectly cooked so that it was runny enough to be fun but with solid "whites" to eat with the salad and vegetables. The dressing was a perfect compliment and the warm toast with a hint of olive oil made for a great way to clean the plate. The salad comes in the warm sauce pan used to fry the egg and we sent it back clean. We also took the opportunity to sample the cheese and meat selection with two cheeses (kind of forgot which ones but they were fantastic - Taleggio and Fiscalini maybe) and some duck prosciutto. One of the best small charcuterie and cheese boards I've had in a while. The pricing structure encourages volume discounts so don't skimp and be adventurous.

To sample a little surf and air, I opted for the wild bass (with rapini, brussels sprouts, fiddlehead fern and garlic air) while Erin did the squab (pan roasted, morel mushrooms, green peas, sorrel, jus de cuisson). Again, both plates went back empty as the main dishes were quite tasty. I would not have changed anything with my bass as the fish was well cooked, soft and buttery with nice garlic notes. The sprouts were also a highlight while the fern and and rapini added interesting flavor profiles and texture. Some might judge the dish to be rich, but the flavor is great. I'm not a huge pea and mushroom fan so the squab would not have been my choice but the meat was nicely cooked medium retaining the slightly gamey texture and tasty seasonings.

After all of that we saved a hint of room for dessert, which worked out because it appears the desserts are not massive or over the top. To keep it refreshing on a nice spring evening we went with the roasted pineapple, served with a dollop of lychee ice cream, small squirts of jalapeno sauce, vanilla cake and toasted macadamia nuts. Lots going on, but nice combination of flavors in small and succinct package. If you're looking for a more full dessert experience I bet scoops of gelato or the brown butter chess pie would be more up that alley.

Table definitely ranks up there with a select few very good restaurants I've experienced recently. It has both a neighborhood charm and a fun, romantic, foodie destination. The food is top notch with a quite extensive wine list (but not too cheap). I would highly recommend it and suggest people to check it out. I look forward to returning for other seasonal menus, tasting menus or just good food.

Rose's Luxury

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 00:55:00 +0000

I think I found the first restaurant in DC that I am excited about and want a lot of other people to be excited about too. The name is Rose's Luxury and it is located on Barracks Row. It's a small ish restaurant that does not take reservations. I fully support that policy. The menu is small but has more than enough options. It fits the mood and mold of the establishment. There are four sections (cold, warm, pasta and other goods), plus a "family style" section with two large, share-able plates. Each of the other sections offer three, small and share-able choices with more than half available as or made vegetarian. In addition to a nice menu and small but inviting dining space, the staff was tremendous top-to-bottom. From the moment we walked in to put our names down (quoted hour and 45 minutes on a Friday night), the services was friendly, gracious, funny and attentive. They take your phone number to text you when the table is ready but since they were running late we got a phone call with apologies (I think unnecessary but welcome) and free cocktails when we sat down.

As you can see from the photos the china and flatware are flat out awesome. Vintage but classy, with detail on the spoons, and awesome use of the small copper pot. It just adds and compliments the complete aesthetic of the experience. What you can't see from the pictures is how good the food tasted, without exception. The bread with bacon bit butter was a great way to start the meal and required restraint to not ruin an appetite. Most restaurants with small plates suggest 2-3 per person. I think you only need 2 at Rose's because the food is rich and filling enough.

We started with the crispy sprouts (with tarragon, mint and winter citrus vinaigrette) and pork sausage, habanero & lychee salad. I loved the sprout salad and would eat that every night. The mint is a great touch with the vinaigrette. A really nice dish. I enjoyed the lychee salad but it's not a flavor or consistency for everyone. The habanero and pork sausage are fun when mixed well with the lychee and cream/onions. The "main" dishes, if you call them that, more like second round of small dishes was the classic french 'pommes puree' (with crispy potato skins and red wine sauce) and a pasta special with shaved white truffles. Yea, I was sold as soon as I hear white truffle. The pasta was fantastic and rich and delicious and I want some more right now. Not a cheap dish as a special but worth every penny.

I forget if we ordered the dessert or if they brought it out special. Since I don't' have any record of it or remembered exactly what it was I won't comment. But it was tasty. If we had room we would ordered the popcorn soup since everyone raves about it.

I've been somewhat down on the DC eating scene recently but Rose's has brought back the faith. It's the best meal I've had in the city and a very well rounded dining experience with great service, delicious food and a fun atmosphere. I'm afraid if too many people catch on the already long wait times get silly, but that's the price to pay for a great meal. Look forward to getting back soon.

Founding Farmers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 20:41:00 +0000

I think an appropriate way to ring out the year is with a review from one of the most recognized and covered restaurant in Washington - Founding Farmers. Go out with the old, and start the new year fresh with a new restaurant (that's coming). Ever since I knew I was moving to DC, I couldn't go more than a few conversations without people asking or telling me to get to Founding Farmers as a pillar of the best available in the city. It took me a little while to make it happen (and only thanks to a friend from Chicago no less), but I did, and now I continue to favor by taking months to actually write about it. Happy New Year and cheers to more good eating in 2014!

Overall my experience at FF matched the expectations, but more appropriately matched MY expectations of a "fantastic" DC restaurant experience. Our service was top notch, very helpful, friendly, nice, etc. We even received a very nice and unexpected touch of a free dessert because our server like US so much. It's been a while since that happened. The drinks and cocktails were great and timely - we were well served. The entire theme and menu is really fun and refreshing. A menu crafted with sustainability and locally sourced ingredients is always a plus and variety of choices also welcoming.

From the small plate section to start our meal we went with the trio of Devil-ish Eggs Combo (Maine Lobster, Crab and Smoked Salmon). I don't remember which one I like the most, probably the crab with bay seasoning, because all were great and fun. I haven't had fun eating deviled eggs since childhood. That was joined by the fried green tomatoes and the skillet corn bread (with sea salt and honey butter).

The fried green tomatoes were only meh and kind of a let down, but the skillet corn bread was fantastic and just a great presentation. I love the mini cast iron skillet brought right to the table. We shared a main course of skirt steak enchilada and the seasonal fish (forget which one) with sides of kale and couscous. Both plates were solid, with the steak beating out the fish for flavor and sophistication just barely. The enchilada plate with avocado, corn, steak, etc was just a more well rounded and colorful experience. The fish was well prepared, but just less interesting. Can't go wrong with either, just depends on your mood.

The end of the meal featured some awesome cocktails and a free dessert of apple pie a la mode. Winners all around. I wish I remembered what the drinks were so I could order elsewhere, but I faintly remember asked the server for something fun and different and she responded with something that wasn't on the menu but used to be. Oh well. It's great and should be back on there. Apple pie? Yes please. Old school style with real large chunks of apple, and a crust that wasn't too sweet or doughy. Ice cream awesome.

All in all I can see why Founding Farmers has the following and reputation of high quality. It's good all around with a diverse and interesting menu for all to enjoy, good service and pretty reasonable pricing. I don't think anything really blew me away but for a reliable experience from top to bottom this is in the top of my list for DC thus far. I've also heard the brunch service is even better than dinner so that might have to happen shortly.

Doi Moi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 01:02:00 +0000

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize I've had less interest and time to devote to eating out and blogging about the DC food scene. Hopefully that changes eventually but can't make any promises anytime soon. There are two posts I'd like to get done with before the New Year and start fresh.

Taking the place of trying new restaurants all the time, I've spent more effort in just getting to know a few places I enjoy and can rely on. Doi Moi arrived on the 14th corridor with good buzz and has been quite busy since the doors first opened. Somehow I've managed to not only eat dinner twice, but I've also spent an evening in the cocktail lounge Two Birds, One Stone directly underneath.

I would say Doi Moi is exactly what I expect from an above average fun DC restaurant. It doesn't blow my socks off, but there are plenty of interesting dishes to enjoy. The ambiance is great with lots of people, not too noisy, a long bar for dining on right when you walk in, but also a drinking bar further down. The mostly white theme is also fun and clean. I don't love the floor to ceiling windows surrounding the restaurant. I personally would want to have more control over what diners see than just whatever madness is occurring on the streets and sidewalks. Plus, on top of that you feel like you're in a fish bowl as every passerby on the sidewalk gets to see what you're doing and what you're eating. Maybe I'm over reacting compared to others but I am rarely a fan of large expansive windows on restaurants.

The menu is plenty large for a variety of tastes and options. They let you know everything is share plate size (of course, right?!) - which is fun because you can order a lot of different things - but also not fun when you get the check. It's not cheap to eat there. Share plate size with full plate pricing it felt like.

This particular meal with photos is from so long ago that I can't honestly remember exactly what is each plate. It's not really important because a few were tasty with nice spices and heat, and others were duds (avoid the spring roll and the papaya salad only ok). I do give credit for offering items that you do not find most places and bringing an authentic feel to Thai/Vietnamese cuisine. It's also nice because there are many non meat or vegetarian choices. Just don't expect your standard pad thai as an option. I also have to admit I did not try anything from the cocktail menu - which is supposed to be a strong suit - and thus might be missing out on a nice part of the dining experience. Try it and let me know for next time.

Doi Moi is a nice and solid addition to the 14th corridor of ever expanding restaurants. It's large but fun with a diverse and interesting menu for everyone to explore. I like the decor and layout expect the windows, and found that our service was quite attentive and helpful with suggestions - but that the pricing is slightly more than I expected. I've already been a few times and I expect to continue that trend.

Corner Bakery Catering Experience - Sponsored Post

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 18:25:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of sampling a (free) catered lunch from Corner Bakery. I have always enjoyed my lunch breaks at Corner Bakery no matter if I was in Chicago, Washington or anywhere else because the menu and quality are always consistent. For all the years though I had never experience or even looked into their catering business (frankly I never had the need). I am glad to have had the chance and make some co-workers extra happy.

The actual catering options are quite extensive for all meals and occasions. The website is also very helpful and easy to navigate to place an order. I was offered a Medium Corner Classic that includes the following:

Lucky for me I wasn't given too many choices for the order and only had to choose my sides and dessert. They gave me the sandwich basket that comes with a variety of 12 sandwiches cut in half - which is more than plenty to serve 12 people. In fact, I think most only opted for half a sandwich given the sides and desert available. For sides I went with the classic soup/salad combo - Cesar salad and tomato basil soup. I was impressed with the quantity of both, and also impressed with the attention to detail regarding the soup. The gave us two large buckets that arrived in hot container carriers. Soup serving ladles, bowls and spoons. It was very easy to present. The salad was also large and came with all the fixings and dressing on the side. The sweet tooth in me chose the Sweets Basket - it came with an assortment of cookies, brownies, bunt cakes, etc. Deliciously unnecessary.

They say it serves 11-14 people but I'm skeptical that it couldn't feed closer to 20. 12 people would get a full sandwich, a bowl of soup, some salad AND a dessert. That's a lot of food. The pricing for all of this is $195 - which sounds like a lot but for 15-20 people is reasonable, especially for a catered experience. So for any office/family holiday parties that need food (and a lot of it) definitely go online and mix/match for an easy and affordable catered experience.

Kapnos

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:59:00 +0000

I admit, I used to be a huge Top Chef junkie. And it all started back on season 6 with Mike Isabella. Who would have figured four years ago watching a foodie TV show that I would later move to DC and then eventually eat at a new opening restaurant of a previous contestant. I know, maybe it’s not that crazy, especially given how many contestants there are now running around (especially in Chicago with Stephanie Izard), but just the DC location and way back memory of my Top Chef viewership makes it interesting. Haley and I showed up at 7pm with reservations but at that time the place was pretty empty. It’s a cool space with a neat bar area to the left of the main door, an open kitchen view with bar style seating for a front row action seat (Chef’s seats they call them? – not special reserved either), and plenty of large tables for groups or regular dining. And yes, Chef Isabella was in the house and working hard. I liked the extensive use of dark wood all around and the lighting felt good, even though we were sitting in the kitchen (practically) so was facing the large rotating spits and not the dining room.

I didn’t know what to expect other than “small plate Greek.” That seemed to be a meaningless statement to me since every time I eat Greek with my family we order a bunch of stuff and share anyway. But I got the idea after looking at the menu and seeing the plates flying off the counter next to me. I appreciate the way the menu is organized with many sections but a few options in each. It keeps it easy to pick what you want to try without giving an encyclopedia of options. The main sections are - spreads (with flatbread), raw mezze, cold mezze, garden mezze, ocean mezze, spit roasted mezze and phyllo pies. There is also a last section with four options “for the table” large format including whole lamb shoulder, roasted chicken or salt baked whole dorado. I bet that would be a fun way to eat with friends and something different.

We did a good job of trying something from most sections to get nice variety. We started with a sampling of three spreads (tzatziki, tyrokafteri and melitzanosalata), smoky beets, charred Brussels, fourno patates and finished with roasted swordfish and spit roasted spring lamb. I enjoyed everything and nothing was a dud. The brussel sprouts and beets might have been the best, and the spreads were very good. I didn’t love the lamb but it wasn’t bad, just not the flavors I was looking for. There’s plenty of other options on the menu I’d be curious to try and I imagine a small group is the ideal way to attack it.

I’m not well educated enough to determine if the food is “authentic” Greek, but I also don’t really care. The food is tasty and the restaurant has a nice and fun atmosphere. I am generally a fan of Greek cuisine because it has options for everyone no matter the preference. Vegetarians, gluten free, meat lovers, etc. can all find plenty of options on a Greek menu. Kapnos is a great option for groups or small parties looking for Greek or simply a different kind of meal. The food might not break any records or cause me to return day in and day out, but the overall experience is solid and provides good fun with good value.

Equinox

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 01:46:00 +0000

I’m a lucky guy that has nice friends. In this particular example I was the beneficiary of a work-gift to Kelly for a meal at Equinox – an upscale American restaurant serving downtown DC’s working professionals (i.e. not a place most 20 somethings hang out). The restaurant is relatively small but there is a side/private room that can add a bunch of seats if not booked. The décor is elegant and clean, and the menu reflects this desire with expensive pastas (~$30 each), “meat and game”, seafood choices and sides. There is also an extensive wine list to pair perfectly with your duck, yellow fin tuna or saffron papparadelle angus beef Bolognese.

Since we were in a celebratory mood (free food does that) we ordered a healthy amount: truffle risotto fritters, salmon, beef strip loin, fried green tomatoes and truffled macaroni and cheese. They also serve a small amuse bouche of tuna pate that was actually quite interesting. We were also expecting the risotto fritters as an appetizer but something went wrong and they brought us the mac and cheese instead. We didn’t really to eat that first but it was strange and our server noticed shortly after it came out as a mistake. No harm no foul. It’s deliciously rich and after we finished the entire side, realized we might not have as much room for the rest of the meal as intended. I’m not that upset though since it might have been the best thing I tasted all night.

The main courses of salmon and beef with sides of fried green tomatoes and fritters (and not mac) were all fine with my favorite likely the bbq salmon and interesting (forgot) sides. The fried tomatoes disappointed as the fried crisp fell off too easily without much else to write home about. The risotto fritters were very rich and creamy (as one would expect) and not likely the best “side” to eat near the end of the meal. It also didn’t have the same appeal as I would expect from a dish with so much potential (who doesn’t like risotto, and add some fried ball aspect to boot?). I remember liking the beef but I ate it later and don’t remember anything particularly wonderful or horrible. I guess that’s good.

Because of the previously mentioned goof of appetizer, they brought us a nice after dinner treat of shaved ice watermelon with two glasses of bubbles. Not too bad and a nice token recognition of a goof in service, and otherwise there were no issues. Equinox is an expensive restaurant that feels like most of that money goes toward décor and appearance and not the quality of the food (i.e. not great value). I find it hard to believe $30 pasta is worth it, and over $30 entrees means you’re in a category competing with the very best. We had a nice time but the food was fine, not great or amazing. There’s plenty of business traffic in the area to keep the doors open I imagine but it’s not somewhere I’d recommend to spend serious amounts of hard earned money.

Quick Takes - Ghibellina & B Too

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:33:00 +0000

When I first moved to Washington and I told people I was living near 14^th St., the first reaction was always, “there are so many new places opening there.” I obviously didn’t have much of a concept of what “14^th St.” was or what scale “so many” really meant. Now that I’ve been here a few months I have a much better picture of both phrases. I thought Chicago did a good job of opening new places, but I think this section of DC might take the cake. It seems every week you walk down the street there are not one, but MANY new spots to check out. It’s moderately ridiculous, and from what I’ve heard it’s not slowing down. If this was rappeats circa 2010 I would be in heaven and overwhelmed. Unfortunately the reality of full-time employment and a few years of wisdom (debatable) yield less available time to explore the local dining scene at the same pace as previous times would have allowed (maybe that can change when winter arrives and there will be less competing distractions??). In any event, I have managed to briefly check out two new-ish spots on 14^th for happy-hour and/or snacks – Ghibellina and B Too.

Ghibellina

This was the choice for a Friday evening happy hour. And it was a good choice because the vibe is great, the bar is exquisite and the food (pizza) perfect for the time/place. You can only eat if you have a seat in or at the bar area which can be a challenge but since the bar is 30 yards long (literally) there is a lot of turnover. From what I remember the happy hour (ends at 6:30) is half off beer and pizza. It’s a good deal when beer is usually $7 and pizza $15. Of course we stayed long past the happy and made up for the savings with $7 Peroni, but c’est la vie. The two pizzas we tried were the sausage and Bianca (veggie with rapini, mozzarella, garlic, calabrian chilies, fennel seed and pecorino romano). Both were quite tasty, particularly when fresh, hot and firm crust. The Bianca had a nice spice kick to it and I enjoyed the combo of ingredients used. The sausage was equally nice and devoured. I’m not sure which on I would order again first. So from a taste of two pizzas and a lot of beer, and a good value for part of the evening I really don’t have any complaints. The rest of the menu looks nice too and a fun place to dine with great décor and a high energy atmosphere. I would definitely go back for happy hour and hope to get a chance for a full meal.

B Too

I had a shorter, but possibly more informative experience at B Too. We were looking for a quick spot to get a drink and walked past while two seats opened up at the bar right next to the wide open sidewalk windows. Perfect. The style is Belgium, which is admirable for the uniqueness but I’m not convinced it’s a concept that this side of the ocean is really craving for. Yes, the beer is great and BT doesn’t disappoint with the beer list (though, like all Belgian beers, NOT cheap). I just needed a snack so didn’t order a full meal but after browsing the menu, I’m not certain I would have anyway. It’s a strange combination of mussels, waffles (both savory and sweet), fries, various animal meat choices, and everything in between. There’s not a lot on the menu that screams familiar or comfortable. Maybe that’s the point and it is as authentic as you can be – I’m just not certain it’s for me (do you choose the frog legs or the blood sausage??). In that vein, Sharon ordered lobster waffle (kinda cool), and I supplemented with sides of mac ‘n cheese and brussel sprouts (couldn’t resist the irony). The bite of waffle wasn’t bad, for something I didn’t know went together (I’m more sweet with that stuff) and my sprouts were quite good, nice and crispy with good seasoning/flavor. Mac n cheese wasn’t memorable so not sure if it was good or not. And maybe I shouldn’t judge so quick for a place with a unique bent, great drink options and potentially tasty food. But again, I couldn’t find many things I actually wanted to eat, and the pricing of the menu is quite astonishingly high. So to get myself excited to spend a lot of money on food I’m not dying to try is a tall order. Maybe someone else will convince me otherwise, but with all the choices on 14^th now it might be a hard sell.

Rasika

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 22:16:00 +0000

Rasika was definitely my best meal in DC thus far. Maybe it's a tourist trap? Or everyone has already been-there, done-that, but I guess that's the beauty of living in a new city: it's all new. Another comment off the bat though is Raskia is definitely not what I would consider to be traditional Indian cuisine either - fusion is the best description but they also use "modern" which would apply. But don't mistake 'modern' or 'fusion' for meaning not delicious - just have the proper expectations.

Luckily there were four of us at the table so we could order a lot of food and try many things. Because of this I will highlight my favorites and least favorites but otherwise let the pictures speak for themselves. The first dish was also the most anticipated - crispy baby spinach. We ordered two. It lives up to the hype and is worth ordering at every meal. The crisp is fun and tasty served with sweet yogurt, tamarind and date chutney. A nice balance of sweet and savory and green crunch.

Our other starters included the mango shrimp, meen varuval (sea bass) and avocado banana chaat. The shrimp was probably the best of the three with a fantastic green sauce with a nice kick. We all went back to the sauce for other dishes. The avocado and banana was a let down as the avocado wasn't really that different than what you could do at home and the banana flavor didn't really seem to fit or make the flavors better. The sea bass was very meh for me, but well cooked and a nice compliment to the other plates.

The main show we went with a order of chicken tikka masala, seekh kebab (mined lamb), honey ginger duck, with sides of cauliflower, lentils and a bread basket of awesome naan choices. I absolutely loved the chicken tikka. It was delicious, great mixture and perfect consistency with chicken, sauce and spices. I poured that over rice and wish there was more. Add a side of the cumin/ginger cauliflower and garlic lentils and I could eat that all night long. The minded lamb wasn't my favorite but mainly because of the texture and presentation. It wasn't what I expected but it was served with that same awesome green sauce from before so it elevated everything. The duck was my least favorite, but everyone else seemed to love it plenty. Duck is a fatty bird and I'm extra picky with the texture and flavors so it's likely me and not the dish as it didn't last long on the table. The bread basket is also a highly recommended suggestion, and you might need two because the naan is all fantastic and perfect for the sauces and cleaning your plate.

Finally, we had to end the meal on a sweet note, even though everyone looked around the table when our server asked if we wanted to look at the menu. We all laughed because I knew a look at the menu has a 87% likelihood of ordering, and I was fine with that. Tova and I shared the ice cream while Cristina and Dan had the date toffee pudding. Next time I want the pudding - the ice cream was in exotic flavors that I didn't need.

Overall we had a great meal, good drinks, great food, solid service and fun company. Even if I didn't love ALL of the dishes there was an overriding sense that everything in my mouth was amazing. I think it helps to have multiple options to choose from, but it also speaks to quality of the presentation and cooking style. The price is on the higher end but worth the cost for the experience - which the decor of the dining room completely compliments (sleek modern feel, but classy and respectful of space). I don't know when I will return but I would highly recommend to anyone a try or return. A great meal in Washington.

Thai X-ing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 22:23:00 +0000

If you have ever dined at Thai X-ing and didn't have a good time, please call me or call a doctor to find out if you have any unknown health issues. Maybe a better way of saying this is that Thai X-ing is a very fun, affordable, unique and delicious place to have a meal. I've only lived in DC for less than three months and I've been twice. Before you even try the food, the fun begins (with reservations) with BYOB service, a super fun but hard to find walk-up house turned restaurant and a COZY (romantic even) eating environment (it's practically communal style depending on where they seat you). The next best part is that the entire meal is prix-fixe and a set menu family style - so you don't have to think about what you're going to eat and you know the bill (CHEAP! $30-$40/pp depending on day) before you sit down. The menu choice is determined by the day of the week - check it out - and they can easily accommodate vegetarian or other dietary restrictions. Once you sit down the food just starts coming - and really doesn't stop. You get a soup and salad (papaya) to start before the main dishes arrive. I wish I wrote down what we had because this post is long over due, but I know we had the standard pumpkin curry, an eggplant dish, a chicken dish and a tofu dish for the main course. Everything is authentic and tasty, with a good hint of spice depending on the plate. There was one flavor I really like and ate myself to pain to finish it but I don't really remember. It's also not that important because you can't order it anyway!

After the sampling of main dishes are brought out they give a little time to do some work before completely over doing it with a noodle dish (usually a pad see eew or pad thai). I also can't help myself to eating that because it's so good and fresh and better than any of the quick serve Thai takeout you'll find around the city. Finally, once you're certain to not be able to eat or drink anymore (remember you brought one bottle of wine per person...), they finish the meal with a perfectly balance sticky rice and mango. I need to learn that recipe.

Finally, once again you're reminded of how good a value you received for $30 per person when you still get to ask for takeout boxes to bring the remainder home. With great, fast service, delicious food and fun/quirky place to eat a meal - I highly suggest giving Thai X-ing a night of your time. I also think going with a larger party (4-8 people) would yield better/different results because you can add a whole fish to the meal and likely get other side dishes to share. Plus you'd likely have more privacy. In any event, one of my favorite meals yet in my new city.

Teddy and the Bully Bar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 21:56:00 +0000

It's been a while since my previous post (almost a month) and that's mainly because I've been traveling a lot on the weekends, and having a full time job (shocker!) really cramps my ability to write during the week. So with that lame excuse out of the way I'll quickly recap a forgettable meal (though with great company!) at a newer place called Teddy and Bully Bear (from the same folks at Lincoln - just went there for the first time this week). My first impression was that I couldn't quite figure out what the atmosphere they were trying to capture. Was it hunting lodge? Casual small plates? Upscale dining? It kind of catered to all of that, but not really deciding which one. The decor was simple and nice, and the space is very large. I was also surprised with such a large space that the pricing was as high (for the size of the food) as it was.

The bread basket (first one free....a little strange) was very tasty and came with three choices of butter/spread. The cocktails that Chris and Allie ordered were very mediocre, and Chris even had to send his first one back. Regardless, we went on to order the grilled romaine, melon salad, crab & avocado salad, sausage and pepper flat bread, mac and cheese and the braised pork (full MENU).

What we discovered was that many of the dishes were very small and not that interesting from a flavor perspective. The mac & cheese was the best and likely most reliable dish we ordered. I also enjoyed the flat bread, but for $13 I wouldn't order multiple. Everything else just hit the 'meh' category for me, especially the pork and crab salad. The melon and radish, etc salad was nice and refreshing but again, very small and $10.

I don't mean to hate on a new place, and I'm sure some of the other "heartier" dishes like steak and chicken are worth checking out - but I just didn't get the feeling that Teddy knows the identity it is striving to have and the atmosphere it wants to create. Add on top of that food that was just mediocre, I don't see myself returning anytime soon. Please send updates if you have them! Cheers.

Lauriol Plaza

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 02:08:00 +0000

I didn’t realize, when my friends booked a dinner at Lauriol Plaza, that I had already been there once upon a time during my many visits to DC during the spring. I guess that shows the popularity of a no reservation establishment consistently packed most nights of the week. And I was happy to return to get a full dinner service run down of this very fun and boisterous Mexican institution. The occasion was a fun friend dinner with locals Jed and Kelly, with out of town guest of honor Annie. What better way to get Saturday night off to a good start with pitchers of margaritas, bottomless chips and salsa, queso and sizzling fajitas?

In fact, that was the entirety of our dining selections, because honestly, what more do you need? The pitchers of margs were great and go down easy. I also have a love/hate relationship with endless chips and salsa. I simple cannot stop eating the chips, which tends to leave me full for my main course. Oh well. The chips are tasty, restaurant style, large and covered in addicting salt. And just to make sure we over did it, the order of queso (i.e. melted nacho cheese in a bowl), was not necessary but hard to stop eating. That was surprising because it really wasn’t that interesting of a queso dish and seemed rather low budget, but tasty none the less. A Kelly favorite.

I was immediately drawn to the fajitas, and so Jed and I decided to split a large mixed fajita for two (chicken and steak) that comes with beans, rice, fixings and plenty of sizzling peppers. The portions are generous especially if you are determined to eat all of the sides. The combination of meat, peppers, rice and guacamole was very very good. It has the mark of authenticity and plenty of delicious flavors to keep you coming back for more even after you should have stopped. I thought the steak had a little more flavor than the chicken, but both were tasty.

That was all we ordered, besides another round of drinks. No unnecessary sides, starters or dessert. I’m sure other items are just as tasty, and if there was any doubt just take a look around the place to see how many large groups were gathered to celebrate birthdays, engagements and the like. There might be better Mexican in the city with a less hectic environment, but the food is solid and the price is right for a good time.

Smoke & Barrel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 18:16:00 +0000

One reason I love eating barbecue– besides that fact that I can’t get enough of good sauce – is that you can order these massive platters and literally try everything on the menu in one sitting; all the while sharing those many varieties of smoked meats and chicken with a group of people. BBQ is meant to be a social experience, a shared experience and an experience served with a lot of sauce and a lot of booze. Smoke hit on all cylinders with a very fun and casual atmosphere (downstairs – no wait service but they do have games!), coupled with tasty bbq options, great sauces, a healthy bar selection AND even a very robust VEGETARIAN/VEGAN menu so EVERYONE can participate in the fun. It’s really a great idea that I wish I thought of, and Smoke executes it well.

Along with a simple ordering strategy (Platter for 2 shared by 3 people), there is only one picture since everything fit on the same plate. The platter for 2 (which could really serve 4 easy) includes a half rack of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, sausage, half chicken and choice of four sides (we went with sweet potato fires, grilled asparagus, cole slaw and cheddar jalapeño grits). The sauces available include a regular, spicy, special habanero and something else I can’t remember because I only used the spicy and habanero. They were all delicious and I especially appreciate a BBQ master that loves a good spice with the sauce. I really love good, thick, spicy bbq sauce and they did a tremendous job.

My favorite cuts of meat include the brisket and sausage (and I’m not normally a sausage guy). The pulled pork was also very nice and I had a few good bites of chicken. The ribs definitely disappointed and I only ate one. Way too tough for my likening and the wet rub wasn’t nearly as good as the bbq sauce available. Everyone agree the sweet potato fries were some of the best ever had, and I enjoyed my few bites of the cheddar grits – though they are so rich and dense I could only do a few. The asparagus and cole slaw were standard fare.

That sums up my experience downstairs with a nice group of seven friends enjoying a casual Friday night BBQ meal with drinks and awesome sauce. I don’t know what the dining experience is like upstairs but so long as the food tastes just as good, you can’t go wrong. Smoke and Barrel is definitely worth checking out, especially since you can bring both meat and non-meat eaters along for the ride.

Daikaya Izakaya

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 22:01:00 +0000

I’ve always had a mixed reaction to the latest trend that is Izakaya dining - at least when I was in Chicago. There was a new restaurant every month or week that was the ‘new Izakaya’ on the block, and each time I tried a new one I couldn't quite understand where the market was – particularly for them to keep coming. Maybe it’s different in DC and there are only a few and I've only been to one so far. What I’ve never particularly liked was the idea of exclusively only being able to order items that came on skewers, and particularly items that most people I know wouldn't be fond of eating (exotic choices from tongue to liver to skins to everything in between). I understand it might be more authentic Japanese than the typical neighborhood take-out sushi place, but I never caught on. So where does Daikaya fit in?

Daikaya does everything a little different than what I had experienced before, and this is mostly a good thing. What makes Daikaya successful and interesting is that they do a great job of really getting you out of your comfort zone and not be prepared for the expected outcome. This starts with the décor and surroundings, which are done extremely well and really fun. Tables are tight but the whole dark atmosphere, private lounges, dark woods and exotic patterns all work to transport to you another place. And then you sit down and can’t quite figure out why there is a Japanese style/culture magazine on your table where you would normally find a menu. Flip through the pages and maybe you’ll find the menu – but look hard – it’s just stapled to a few of the pages inside. And then there is the menu itself. It’s divided into various sections including starters, fried, grilled, specialties, rice/noodles, etc. The entire experience is tapas like where each dish is very small, meant to be shared, and encouraged to order plenty. I like that part because we ended up with 13 different samples of food. Very few items are things that you would be able to recognize or predict the flavor profile, and that is probably a strength of the menu/experience because each bite is a new adventure no matter what the ingredient list suggests.

I won’t detail each and every dish as that would take too long and ruin some of the fun for first time experiences. Try everything that looks intriguing because it will be hard to understand what you’re in for until it hits your mouth. However, my favorite dishes are –fried garlic, chicken thigh, crab croquettes and the brussel sprouts. We finished our meal with the chocolate ice cream (delish! With chocolate pop rocks!) and accompanied our meal with the dry and crisp Chokara sake (very tasty and great value).

The service was very good and attentive all night – a nice compliment given how many dishes were coming and going throughout. The total cost was exactly what I expected, and exactly appropriate for how full we were leaving our chairs. I can admit I didn’t love each and everything we tried but I’m glad we did. It’s not an experience I need to rush back to but I would definitely suggest it for the more adventurous and exploratory diners out there. Daikaya truly does a nice job of transporting you to a different time and place for the unexpected delivery of flavors.

La Madia - Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 21:01:00 +0000

Literally my last meal out before I drove out east was at a long time staple of the River North scene that for some reason had always evaded me. Perhaps that's my fault for always seeking out the new without spending as much time on the staples. Either way I was thrilled to try it out before leaving and having friends Kate and Jon show me the way with one of their neighborhood favs. The other awesome aspect of going with friends that know the place is that I could sit back and relax while they did the ordering. And they chose well.

We started with a grilled artichoke, that had some delicious seasonings and dipping sauces. Artichokes have always been a standard feature of any summer dinner growing up. My mother loves to make them simply steamed so any comparison to childhood memories are hard to make but La Madia does a nice job - a good way to wet the palette. The main course was pizza. All kinds of pizza that I didn't choose, but ate too much of. I don't remember the specifics or which one I like most because they were all delicious. I think one was a pepperoni and truffle oil, one had goat cheese and bacon and I know the last one was tasty with hot peppers. They come out fresh and hot, super thin cust authentic style and ready to go. Even though they have a solid take-out business, these are not pizza's I can see doing too well away from the over and transport over long distances. Even by the end of our meal I noticed that they cool off fast, and the thin crust can lose its firmness with the tasty oils and cheese doing their work. So just eat good and fast! We finished off the night, after over eating pizza, with a surprisingly amazing little dish of chocolate polenta cake. Never would have thought of that but it tastes great. Must try. Aside from having a very good pizza oven and a nice wine selection - I think the most understated aspect of La Madia that makes it successful is the ability to truly make it an every night, neighborhood restaurant. It's family friendly, inviting, broad options of other Italian items on the menu, and affordable - easily a place you could call home, or come by yourself, etc. Not sure how I made it living in Chicago without ever trying La Madia, but better late than never, and now I know where to go for good thin crust pizza when I visit!

Takito Kitchen - Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 20:35:00 +0000

Even though I now reside in Washington, there are a few lingering posts I forgot to do before leaving Chicago, particularly at the end when I was scrambling to get everything together. There are two places - one is a newer Mexican spot in Wicker Park, and the other is a classic Italian pizza palor in River North I never went to for some reason.

I don't remember when Takito Kitchen opened but it wasn't too long ago. It joined the booming craving for Mexican tacos and street food that I didn't realize could last as long and as strong as it has (is it still happening??). The challenge for me is that how can you really attempt to top Big Star for that style of food and ambiance? AND is it smart to try and do it just a few blocks away when the comparisons will be rampant? Unfortunately the answer is no to all of the above, and particularly for Takito (as I've heard good things about Antique Taco just down the street). I like that the menu is simply and to the point with not an over abundance of options - and tacos taking the share. But I thought it was in contrast to the rest of the restaurant that had the feel and appearance of wanting to be more. And that also came through with non-traditional (read fancy and expensive) margaritas and other menu items. Example - who doesn't serve salsa with tortilla chips at a mexican restaurant? Or at least have them available? We were only given rice crackers and some other kind of cracker. Also, not a huge fan of their "take on guacamole", which was more like an avocado and pine nut spread with a LOT of lemon juice (also no chips). Strange.

The tacos were ok, a few good a few meh. The fish was the best by far but I don't remember what was inside. If we had a beef taco that was good too as I don't recall the pork being anything to write home about. We also had sides of asparagus and polenta - both were quite tasty but kind of over ordered at that point in the night so was hard to enjoy. Finally, the thing that also really threw me was how poor our service was. Everything took forever, our server was AWOL most of the time and we had to ask multiple times for things. Needless to say we had a long meal with food we didn't love. Oh well. It happens. Go to Big Star or Mercadito other fun places for a good taco meal.

Room 11

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 21:56:00 +0000

I guess it should be no surprise I've had more than a few meals up in the Columbia Heights region - there's been a lot of growth and development recently (so I've been told). Add Room 11 to the list of places that always finds a crowd and a nice place to enjoy the glass of wine or beer outside on their patio. There were a few highlights from our meal, and a few things that were just ok. I really like the vibe of the place with the patio on the corner that feels like a front yard of suburban house right on the corner watching the cars and people go by. I didn't love that they extend the patio along the side of the building next to the sidewalk because the tables are against the wall and feels very cramped. Maybe it's ok for just a drink but it was an awkward dinner setting - especially on the cheap feeling metal wire chair and tables without any barrier to the sidewalk. It worked out, would have preferred the patio. Inside is cool and small with a long bar that encompasses two rooms. I enjoyed the menu layout - just one nice list of food to choose. No gimmicks, no breaks, no directions, just food and prices with plenty of variety (and very open/transparent about vegetarian/vegan options).

We started with the heirloom tomato panzanella and the cauliflower salad - of the many salad choices available. The tomatoes were nice but we were sort of expecting cheese (maybe because panzanella sounds like mozzarella ) and the dish definitely needed salt to bring out the flavors. But summer refreshing none the less. The cauliflower was 'charred' and served with garlic and tahini dressing. Again, I don't think I was expecting whole heads of cauliflower blacked (more like roasted and sliced) - but that's my fault not theirs. I think they were slightly firmer than I would have liked but the garlic and sauce were a nice touch to round out the dish.

I've read a few places that the pork chop is a great dish to get - and watching it go past me to another table I can see how that might be the case. Next time. We went with the pinoy boy sandwich and classic grilled cheese instead. The pinoy is a big sandwich with filipino adobo chicken, jalapeno, sriracha puffed rice and asian slaw. Tasty and spicy and nice but kind of messy to eat. The best dish though was by far the grilled cheese (they didn't say which cheeses but raclette or other delish white creamy cheese possibly), with great bread, oozy cheese, shallots and a side of spicy marinara to dip. So good, best grilled cheese I've had eating out in a very long time. Definitely a must try. All of that food was washed down with some very tasty Mother Earth Kolsch - a nice compliment to the warm and humid evening.

The food was nice overall with better sandwiches than salads and a great grilled cheese. I would be curious to try the brunch menu that others have commented on but more importantly it might be the best place to go on a nice night to have a glass or two of wine and some light fare. Maybe not worth a trek around town for, but a nice option to have. Room 11 does a nice job of combining the elements of simple, casual and elegant sophistication of what they do at nice price point.

Le Diplomate

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:23:00 +0000

Yes, everyone in the entire city is talking about this place. Good thing I live a few blocks away AND was able to grab a table for a birthday dinner with friends. I had to see this place for myself and what better way. I won’t go into great detail about what we all ate and what I think because frankly I wouldn’t remember that well aside from the photos. We had a very nice meal, I love the space (much larger than expected) and the food is good (but not the over the top greatness most people talk about). I was lucky and was able to enjoy a few bottles of champagne with the group curtsey of my sister – so I’m sure that didn’t hurt my ‘objective’ thoughts on the place (and might have kept the value component reasonable without everyone ordering cocktails…).

A real birthday dinner in my book starts with bubbles, oysters and crab legs (jk jk – sort of). Good thing we had all three to get our night going. The oysters were very nice and the king crab was fantastic as expected. They have a nice seafood program (though I can’t help but think that Bavette’s or Maude’s does a better job…J). We also couldn’t figure out why a French restaurant that bakes bread serves cold bread at the table. Maybe it’s the French way? Would have been better warm.

After getting some good raw bar food we started with the steak tartare, radish crudité (must try) and salade lyonnaise (a very nice rendition of that dish). And if that wasn’t enough food already, we all ordered an entrée. I was highly recommended to try the veal escalope so that’s what I went with. Everyone else ordered something different, which was nice to see many presentations. There was steak frites, soft-shell crab, beef bourguignon and a grilled loup de mer. We also had sides of fries and spinach. Solid dinner, not many complaints around the table. I liked my veal but was not wowed. Nice but not $27 nice. My tastes of other dishes were better so I would try something different next time.

We of course had some sweets to end the night – including apple tarte tatin (AWESOME) and the rum cake (meh). After all that food we still didn’t touch the cheese selections, cocktails, other fruits de mer or other enticing entrees. I’m not surprised Le Diplomate is in high demand because they do many things right and create an environment that is welcoming, fun, lively and tasty.

El Chucho

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:09:00 +0000

Who doesn’t like good Mexican fare in a very causal fun environment that has specialty margaritas, tacos, tortas and appetizers? I hate to make comparisons to what I know in Chicago, but that’s going to happen for a little bit I imagine. El Chucho reminds me of a cross between Big Star and XOCO. You can go there for a drink, a little food, some of both or whatnot. There’s a great roof top patio area that is nice on a summer evening (and that’s exactly what we did).

I really enjoyed whatever the margarita our server chose for me. It was tart and had a lite smoky flavor enhanced by the flavored salt on the rim. I’m sure they are known or want to be known for their tacos but they were the weakest link actually for a solid meal. Which is a little disappointing because they go to a limited menu later in the night that only features tacos and salsa. The vegetarian was by far the best between that, the chicken and al pastor. If there’s one huge difference between Chucho and Big Star it’s the tacos.

However, we started with chips and salsa, corn on the cob, shrimp and mushroom empanadas. The shrimp and corn were quite impressive and stand out dishes. The shrimp is served with onions and peppers and a spicy delicious green sauce. VERY GOOD and MUST TRY. If you find a way to bottle that sauce up please let me know. The corn on the cob (aka Elote Callejero) was also very good. The sauce and spices on the corn was great.

All in all we had a nice and relaxed Mexican meal on the roof during a pleasant summer evening. I would definitely go back to chill, have some chips, margaritas and some of the starters. I think you can find better tacos elsewhere and I didn’t try the tortas. Value is very good as well. Worth checking out.

Cork Wine Bar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:00:00 +0000

A good wine bar nearby is very much like having that get out of jail free card in your back pocket. Date night? Check. Family in town? Check. Just need a drink a small bite? Check. We had a very nice meal at Cork and some tasty wines as well (kinda important). The plates are appropriately sized, some were outstanding and over all well-paced. Our server was very helpful and attentive.

We did two different ‘flights’ – three glasses of a similar style. We had a white burgundy flight and a rose flight. Needless to say the white burgundies were all very, very good. The roses were mostly average, but not bad. I don’t recall all of the dishes we had and for some reason forgot to take pictures of them (there were only 5 or 6 really). The avocado bruschetta was one of my favorites and would order again (must try). It’s thin sliced avocado on bread with toasted pistachio, sea salt and olive oil. We also really enjoyed the braised kale with roasted garlic and pecorino. It had the right amount of garlic and salt and cheese. A true standout with an ingredient hard to make awesome. I also enjoyed the salt roasted local beet salad with pine nuts and feta and we also tried the grilled artichoke. We probably should have stopped there because the last dish we ordered was the grilled mackerel which was only mediocre. There are other things I would try but the menu is on the small side if you’re looking for a spot to return to often. We also didn’t try any of the cheese or charcuterie so that’s an entire section that they pair well with the wine.

We skipped the dessert but some things do look intriguing like strawberry short cake or warm apple crostada with bourbon ice cream (yum). I wouldn’t say the value is amazing and not a super cheap place but would you really want a wine bar to be the low cost provider? It was a nice meal with some highlights and some ok-lights. Great wine selection too.

Commissary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:52:00 +0000

Everyone needs a nice, local gastro pub with tvs, a bar, free wifi, lounge area and outdoor seating. Right? Well lucky for me Commissary fits the bill and is very close so that I may utilize many of these features. The menu is solid neighborhood joint with plenty of burgers, salads, sandwiches, bar food appetizers main course dishes, AND pizzas. Pretty much everything you need, right? And don’t forget the solid beer list, smoothie bar, coffee bar and some sweets for good measure. Nothing here is going to change your world but I do enjoy the idea of having a one stop shop for many of your local, quick, causal, or lazy needs.

The one meal I’ve had so far included some hard core nachos, a veggie burger and some bites of the mac n cheese (oh so wish it was a little better – but maybe my doctor doesn't…). We also tried the bread pudding because we couldn't resist, but that too was a minor bummer.

Everything is good, nothing is great but it does have EVERYTHING so that’s a win.

Jaleo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:43:00 +0000

I went here a VERY long time ago (like January) but wanted to at least add my two cents to the world that already feels this place is very good – because it is. We only had a handful of plates and I would definitely want to return with a huge appetite and a larger group to really explore the expansive menu. The tapas is some of the best flavors I’ve had of that style. It might not be considered traditional and more of a modern/fusion take but the food is top notch. The space is fun and interesting and the service knows exactly what is going on.

It’s been so long I don’t know exactly what we ordered but I know we had the spicy potatoes, scallops, sausage and a spinach salad. All fantastic and worth ordering again. I’m sure you pay more for the name, location and chef, but from what I can tell it IS worth it and I do want to return in the near future.

RappEats Moves to DC

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:39:00 +0000

I’ve learned that it is quite difficult to continue writing a food blog when you A) move cross country B) start a new job C) don’t have internet at your apartment to write said blog. The last one might be the largest drawback, besides not having the time in the day to navigate work, new apt and writing. I guess I’m discovering it was much easier to go out and eat and write when I didn’t have full time work a few years back. Who would have known?? Anyway, as I write this in a coffee shop because I need internet, I am going to post a lot of small and quick entries of some of the places I’ve tried as I left Chicago and relocated to DC. It will be much more of a “Where has RappEats been” and less of a detailed critique and examination of what works or doesn’t. Apologies but just too far backed up to detail and I would rather post some pictures and locations vs. extreme detail. I hope as I get more settled and into a routine I will be able to A) explore more restaurants in my new city of DC and B) have the time to write about them! A smarter blogger might want to space these posts out over a few days or something but I don’t have the patience for that. So enjoy them all right here, right now.

Feel free to inquire about specific places/dishes if I do not get to them.