8053 Leesburg Pike (Hwy 7), Vienna, VA 22182
I often skip noting big chains that I've eaten at. Heck I often forget them, especially those way out in the suburbs. On the Border was good enough to note though, especially considering the dearth of good Mexican in the D.C. area.
My team ate there after some sporting event and while everything about the place screams huge corporate chain, I enjoyed my meal. First, the chips and salsa were rather good. Not amazing, but light, warm, with spicy salsa. Second, although I skipped the margaritas because I was tired and driving, they were huge and people liked them. Primarily though, I ordered the beef brisket enchilada with cheddar and jack cheeses, and it was quite tasty. I also saw some other interesting options, including a cheese and chicken stuffed fried avocado and brisket tacos.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Granville Moore's
1238 H Street NE, (202) 399-2546
http://www.granvillemoores.com/
I previously mentioned Granville Moore's in my brief mention of places I had tried before starting this blog. Basically, I said that the burger and fries I got were very good as were the beers, although beers are pricey.
The ambiance of Granville Moore's is definitely casual dive-bar. Having been used to the downstairs for drinks, I found the upstairs almost too open for my expectations, which is silly because it is still quite narrow. I like the downstairs bar though.
One issue is that there are no reservations after 6:30pm (except M,T,W after 9pm) so we had to wait an hour. The door lady took our number, told us 45minutes, and never called us. When we stopped by an hour later, she said that she was "just about to call us" and then immediately showed us upstairs where there were two or three open tables... I'm guessing she lazily expected us to give up or eat elsewhere.
This time I came for the mussels, which have quite a reputation (all $17). I had read that the mainstay Bleu (Hook’s blue cheese, pork belly, shallots, spinach, white wine, lemon) was so good that it won some type of mano-y-mano chef tv show, but my date is apparently not a big blue cheese fan. So instead, we got the seasonal Autumn (butternut-sage cream, cayenne). Autumn did not seem to penetrate the mussels themselves or was simply too light to leave much notable flavor in the mussels, although the sauce itself was enjoyable when bread (or fries) were dipped into it. We also got a large order of fries ($8), which come with two mayo-based dips. The fries themselves were superb - a perfect level of crispy and soft with a delicious blend of spices. The mayo was unremarkable. We tried the truffle and curry options and both were too delicately flavored to leave much of an impact.
The beer options were quite good. There were several unique and very good options.
Bottom line: I like the bar, and I am going back to try the Moules Bleu, but before 6:30.
http://www.granvillemoores.com/
I previously mentioned Granville Moore's in my brief mention of places I had tried before starting this blog. Basically, I said that the burger and fries I got were very good as were the beers, although beers are pricey.
The ambiance of Granville Moore's is definitely casual dive-bar. Having been used to the downstairs for drinks, I found the upstairs almost too open for my expectations, which is silly because it is still quite narrow. I like the downstairs bar though.
One issue is that there are no reservations after 6:30pm (except M,T,W after 9pm) so we had to wait an hour. The door lady took our number, told us 45minutes, and never called us. When we stopped by an hour later, she said that she was "just about to call us" and then immediately showed us upstairs where there were two or three open tables... I'm guessing she lazily expected us to give up or eat elsewhere.
This time I came for the mussels, which have quite a reputation (all $17). I had read that the mainstay Bleu (Hook’s blue cheese, pork belly, shallots, spinach, white wine, lemon) was so good that it won some type of mano-y-mano chef tv show, but my date is apparently not a big blue cheese fan. So instead, we got the seasonal Autumn (butternut-sage cream, cayenne). Autumn did not seem to penetrate the mussels themselves or was simply too light to leave much notable flavor in the mussels, although the sauce itself was enjoyable when bread (or fries) were dipped into it. We also got a large order of fries ($8), which come with two mayo-based dips. The fries themselves were superb - a perfect level of crispy and soft with a delicious blend of spices. The mayo was unremarkable. We tried the truffle and curry options and both were too delicately flavored to leave much of an impact.
The beer options were quite good. There were several unique and very good options.
Bottom line: I like the bar, and I am going back to try the Moules Bleu, but before 6:30.
Graffiato's
707 Sixth St., NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-289-3600
http://graffiatodc.com/
I stopped in for a happy hour and stayed at the bar downstairs. After some inventive and generally very tasty drinks, we tried some of the bar food. The drinks I tried were tasty, but not overly sweet or girly. My favorite was the Hot in the City, which is a small mug full of pear cider with rye whisky, honey, and spices. It was extremely good. The Smashing Pumpkin was interesting, but just solid, the Graffiato Market Punch was very good. Others had the D.C. Mule and the Saged and Confused, with the Mule being very well liked.
The food was very good as well. First, some of us got some flat bread with dip at the bar. As simple as it was, the bread was impressively good. Warm, toasty, flavorful.
We then moved onto the pizzas, which are good sized,but thin brick oven style. My first taste was of the Countryman with black truffle, fontina, farmed soft egg ($18). It may be a bit pricey for a pizza, this is one of the best pizzas in DC (perhaps the best). Rich, but not too rich, flavorful, balanced. The other pizzas were also quite good, one was the Vermont with melted leeks, farmhouse cheddar, bacon, baby potatoes ($15) and the other is either off the menu or I don't remember it enough to identify it, but it was a more of a classic white pizza. Both were deserving of being pridefully served at any top pizza place.
Washingtonian's Full Review (October 2011)
Phone: 202-289-3600
http://graffiatodc.com/
I stopped in for a happy hour and stayed at the bar downstairs. After some inventive and generally very tasty drinks, we tried some of the bar food. The drinks I tried were tasty, but not overly sweet or girly. My favorite was the Hot in the City, which is a small mug full of pear cider with rye whisky, honey, and spices. It was extremely good. The Smashing Pumpkin was interesting, but just solid, the Graffiato Market Punch was very good. Others had the D.C. Mule and the Saged and Confused, with the Mule being very well liked.
The food was very good as well. First, some of us got some flat bread with dip at the bar. As simple as it was, the bread was impressively good. Warm, toasty, flavorful.
We then moved onto the pizzas, which are good sized,but thin brick oven style. My first taste was of the Countryman with black truffle, fontina, farmed soft egg ($18). It may be a bit pricey for a pizza, this is one of the best pizzas in DC (perhaps the best). Rich, but not too rich, flavorful, balanced. The other pizzas were also quite good, one was the Vermont with melted leeks, farmhouse cheddar, bacon, baby potatoes ($15) and the other is either off the menu or I don't remember it enough to identify it, but it was a more of a classic white pizza. Both were deserving of being pridefully served at any top pizza place.
Washingtonian's Full Review (October 2011)
Vapiano
623 H Street NW
I went here after a sports match. It has a different set-up where you stand in line to order food at a long counter of stations which each prepare a different kind of meal. The decor is trendy and lounge-y with an open feel.
They have either pizza or pasta. I got pasta with some kind of cajun name to it and crayfish and interesting stuff. I asked for halfway between the mild and hot level of peppers. The dish was pretty good, nothing remarkable. Mainly it tasted like the hot peppers, although at almost an ideal level of hotness. Unfortunately, this was too hot to really get a refined idea of the flavor, although the consistency of the pasta and the chewiness of the meats seemed to be at nice level. My friends enjoyed a pizza, which they really liked. I also tried a bit of one's mousse, which was very good.
Overall: It is a chain and there are a ton of options in Chinatown, so I'd go with something more interesting.
I went here after a sports match. It has a different set-up where you stand in line to order food at a long counter of stations which each prepare a different kind of meal. The decor is trendy and lounge-y with an open feel.
They have either pizza or pasta. I got pasta with some kind of cajun name to it and crayfish and interesting stuff. I asked for halfway between the mild and hot level of peppers. The dish was pretty good, nothing remarkable. Mainly it tasted like the hot peppers, although at almost an ideal level of hotness. Unfortunately, this was too hot to really get a refined idea of the flavor, although the consistency of the pasta and the chewiness of the meats seemed to be at nice level. My friends enjoyed a pizza, which they really liked. I also tried a bit of one's mousse, which was very good.
Overall: It is a chain and there are a ton of options in Chinatown, so I'd go with something more interesting.
Boundary Stone
116 Rhode Island Ave NW
http://boundarystonedc.com/
Just down the street from Rustik Tavern, this is another yuppie new addition to the Bloomingdale neighborhood of DC
I ate at the bar, not the upstairs restaurant. The bar was long, dark, and had the effortfully retro/old decor/style that is popular in DC. I went here to watch baseball playoffs with friends, but also for the bacon jam burger that they and people in the neighborhood had raved about. It's $10, a solid sized burger, bacon jam, and aged cheddar plus fries. The fries were good. The burger was good, but nothing remarkable, thus falling short of the hype. I also got fried pickles for $3 and they were quite well done - evenly and lightly battered at a great temperature. I remember the beer selection having a few good options, although not extensive. I'd say not a place to go for the beer menu, but it doesn't disappoint. I also tried a piece of my friends' quesadilla - Slow braised pork, sauteed onions, poblano peppers ($9), which was pretty good as well.
Bottom line: I'd say that it is an enjoyable place to eat with good food, but not a stand-out, special destination place. On the other hand, it's not far from my place.
http://boundarystonedc.com/
Just down the street from Rustik Tavern, this is another yuppie new addition to the Bloomingdale neighborhood of DC
I ate at the bar, not the upstairs restaurant. The bar was long, dark, and had the effortfully retro/old decor/style that is popular in DC. I went here to watch baseball playoffs with friends, but also for the bacon jam burger that they and people in the neighborhood had raved about. It's $10, a solid sized burger, bacon jam, and aged cheddar plus fries. The fries were good. The burger was good, but nothing remarkable, thus falling short of the hype. I also got fried pickles for $3 and they were quite well done - evenly and lightly battered at a great temperature. I remember the beer selection having a few good options, although not extensive. I'd say not a place to go for the beer menu, but it doesn't disappoint. I also tried a piece of my friends' quesadilla - Slow braised pork, sauteed onions, poblano peppers ($9), which was pretty good as well.
Bottom line: I'd say that it is an enjoyable place to eat with good food, but not a stand-out, special destination place. On the other hand, it's not far from my place.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Rustik Tavern
84 T St NW (by 1st & Rhode Island)
http://rustikdc.com/
I tried out Rustik Tavern on a weeknight. The atmosphere and decor impressed me right away. It isn't anything amazing, but Rustik has a nice outdoor patio with a open feeling due to its corner location. Inside, Rustik is dark, with an almost romantic ambiance.
The beer selection was pretty good. It wasn't a huge selection, but the 10 drafts were comprised of a good mix of solid microbrews (and Yuengling). For food, we ordered pizzas. To be adventurous, I tried the Ward 5 (mushroom, mozzarella, zahtar (spice mix), preserved lemon, tomato sauce). It was pretty good. I also tried a piece of someone's Chorizo (chorizo, pickled onions, mozzarella, tomato sauce), which was also pretty good. These were not in the elite, but they were well-done enjoyable pizzas. Rustik also has small dishes, salads, appetizers. Someone in our group got a salad, which was covered in cheese sprinkles.
For dessert I ordered the Ricottta Mousse Napolean (with phyllo and peaches. Topped with amaretto honey, pistachios, and basil.) It was different and quite delicious. I was very pleased.
I should check this place out for brunch sometime as they have an good looking brunch menu as well as bottomless mimosas and other drinks.
http://rustikdc.com/
I tried out Rustik Tavern on a weeknight. The atmosphere and decor impressed me right away. It isn't anything amazing, but Rustik has a nice outdoor patio with a open feeling due to its corner location. Inside, Rustik is dark, with an almost romantic ambiance.
The beer selection was pretty good. It wasn't a huge selection, but the 10 drafts were comprised of a good mix of solid microbrews (and Yuengling). For food, we ordered pizzas. To be adventurous, I tried the Ward 5 (mushroom, mozzarella, zahtar (spice mix), preserved lemon, tomato sauce). It was pretty good. I also tried a piece of someone's Chorizo (chorizo, pickled onions, mozzarella, tomato sauce), which was also pretty good. These were not in the elite, but they were well-done enjoyable pizzas. Rustik also has small dishes, salads, appetizers. Someone in our group got a salad, which was covered in cheese sprinkles.
For dessert I ordered the Ricottta Mousse Napolean (with phyllo and peaches. Topped with amaretto honey, pistachios, and basil.) It was different and quite delicious. I was very pleased.
I should check this place out for brunch sometime as they have an good looking brunch menu as well as bottomless mimosas and other drinks.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Zentan
1155 14th Street NW Washington, D.C 20005
202.379.4366
http://zentanrestaurant.com/
I went to Zentan for a late dinner after a strenuous scavenger hunt put on by a friend's gym. The decor in Zentan is very upscale and very enjoyable. The service was solid. The dishes that I saw my friends get were typical expensive DC: small portions for not a lot of food. The skirt steak that my friend got (Cantonese Marinated Skirt Steak ) smelled quite good, but was not at all substantial and came with no sides for $26. His Coconut Shrimp soup good size for a soup and $8. Another person got a watermelon salad that looked sizeable, but it was just watermelon pieces in stack with some brown dressing.
We ordered a small bottle of saki for $30. They had a decent selection with descriptions of the flavor of each. I definitely enjoyed the one we got. Also, our server was quite helpful in pointing out that we had picked a saki he was not a big fan off and helping us choose another.
The sushi was good, nothing remarkable. As the out-of-towner sharing sushi with me noted, the selection was very much just the basic options. The prices for the sushi were also on the high side, but the portions were typical of sushi. In fact, the specialty rolls were actually healthy in size, although the price is still high. Frankly, I'd take Sei over the sushi here every time - even if I found myself at the front door of Zentan.
Overall, this is a nice, fancy place, but I suspect that it is geared more toward high-end guests at the Donovan Hotel who want a convenient and fancy meal than a place that locals in the know should bother with.
202.379.4366
http://zentanrestaurant.com/
I went to Zentan for a late dinner after a strenuous scavenger hunt put on by a friend's gym. The decor in Zentan is very upscale and very enjoyable. The service was solid. The dishes that I saw my friends get were typical expensive DC: small portions for not a lot of food. The skirt steak that my friend got (Cantonese Marinated Skirt Steak ) smelled quite good, but was not at all substantial and came with no sides for $26. His Coconut Shrimp soup good size for a soup and $8. Another person got a watermelon salad that looked sizeable, but it was just watermelon pieces in stack with some brown dressing.
We ordered a small bottle of saki for $30. They had a decent selection with descriptions of the flavor of each. I definitely enjoyed the one we got. Also, our server was quite helpful in pointing out that we had picked a saki he was not a big fan off and helping us choose another.
The sushi was good, nothing remarkable. As the out-of-towner sharing sushi with me noted, the selection was very much just the basic options. The prices for the sushi were also on the high side, but the portions were typical of sushi. In fact, the specialty rolls were actually healthy in size, although the price is still high. Frankly, I'd take Sei over the sushi here every time - even if I found myself at the front door of Zentan.
Overall, this is a nice, fancy place, but I suspect that it is geared more toward high-end guests at the Donovan Hotel who want a convenient and fancy meal than a place that locals in the know should bother with.
zpizza
806 H St NW, #2E
Washington DC, 20001
P: (202)347-8472
www.zpizza.com
Apparently this is a national chain, but the pizza was quite good. I came home from another meal to find an abundance of pizza. Specifically, a pear and gorgonzola pizza and a curry chicken pizza plus some kind of breadsticks kind of pizza. The pear and curry pizzas were delicious. They tasted very fresh and the curry and flavors had a good, but not overpowering bite. The breadsticks were cheesy and salty and enjoyable, although not nearly as exciting. I did not visit the location itself, nor did I pay for anything, but I'd put these pizzas up with the top tier of pizzas in DC.
Washington DC, 20001
P: (202)347-8472
www.zpizza.com
Apparently this is a national chain, but the pizza was quite good. I came home from another meal to find an abundance of pizza. Specifically, a pear and gorgonzola pizza and a curry chicken pizza plus some kind of breadsticks kind of pizza. The pear and curry pizzas were delicious. They tasted very fresh and the curry and flavors had a good, but not overpowering bite. The breadsticks were cheesy and salty and enjoyable, although not nearly as exciting. I did not visit the location itself, nor did I pay for anything, but I'd put these pizzas up with the top tier of pizzas in DC.
La Frontera Cantina
1633 17th Street Northwest, Washington D.C., www.lafronteracantina.net
(202) 232-0437
Another place along 17th Street that my team has stopped for drinks and food after a game. They have a nice happy hour with $4 margaritas, and they seem to enjoy indulging you with a free one if you have enough. The margaritas are nothing special, but the price is nice. The food is not horrible, but is fairly bland. I don't remember exactly what I got, but it was a common dish and "common" would also describe the flavor. One of my teammates had eaten a more difficult dish there on a previous trip and he said it was a pretty bad rendition of it. Our chips were solid, but the first set of them weren't warm, the second set helped. The salsa was decent, but again, not very flavorful. Our server was very eager, polite, and friendly, but the dishes took forever to come out of the kitchen. They didn't really understand how to make a requested drink. The patio out front is nice, but they are pretty strict about adhering to their table set-up, so larger groups cannot join tables together unless against the building. The inside looks like a small, unremarkable room with a bar. Prices are reasonable.
Overall, I'd say it is friendly place for cheap drinks on a nice day, but I'd eat elsewhere.
(202) 232-0437
Another place along 17th Street that my team has stopped for drinks and food after a game. They have a nice happy hour with $4 margaritas, and they seem to enjoy indulging you with a free one if you have enough. The margaritas are nothing special, but the price is nice. The food is not horrible, but is fairly bland. I don't remember exactly what I got, but it was a common dish and "common" would also describe the flavor. One of my teammates had eaten a more difficult dish there on a previous trip and he said it was a pretty bad rendition of it. Our chips were solid, but the first set of them weren't warm, the second set helped. The salsa was decent, but again, not very flavorful. Our server was very eager, polite, and friendly, but the dishes took forever to come out of the kitchen. They didn't really understand how to make a requested drink. The patio out front is nice, but they are pretty strict about adhering to their table set-up, so larger groups cannot join tables together unless against the building. The inside looks like a small, unremarkable room with a bar. Prices are reasonable.
Overall, I'd say it is friendly place for cheap drinks on a nice day, but I'd eat elsewhere.
Pizza No. 17
1523 17th St NW (between N Church St & N Q St)
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.17pizzas.com/
I went here after playing sports and to celebrate a good season, so our attitude and hunger may have improved the food, but we found this to be a good pizza place. Not among the elite of DC pizza, but not far off. The pizzas are wood fired brick oven and they come in either 8" or 12" sizes. The pizzas were very enjoyable, but not particularly filling, although we had played a double header and it was a rather late dinner sometime after 8:30. I think 6 of us (one person had only a slice or two though) ate five 12" pizzas. Among them were the Spicy Proscuitto $16.50, Meat Express $16.50, Pizza No. 17 (Tomato, Pepperoni, Squash, Green Peppers, Sweet Peppers, Mozzarella. Those were the three that I remember because they were all quite enjoyable (we also repeated one pizza). The crust was well done, the toppings blended well, and overall a good execution of this style of pizza.
We sat outside on their patio and the tables were reasonably nice, the inside looked small, but reasonably inviting.
The beer selection is not huge, but the beers that they had were interesting and good, including Paulaner Hefeweizen.
Definitely a very enjoyable place to enjoy good pizza outside on a nice summer evening if you're in the area.
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.17pizzas.com/
I went here after playing sports and to celebrate a good season, so our attitude and hunger may have improved the food, but we found this to be a good pizza place. Not among the elite of DC pizza, but not far off. The pizzas are wood fired brick oven and they come in either 8" or 12" sizes. The pizzas were very enjoyable, but not particularly filling, although we had played a double header and it was a rather late dinner sometime after 8:30. I think 6 of us (one person had only a slice or two though) ate five 12" pizzas. Among them were the Spicy Proscuitto $16.50, Meat Express $16.50, Pizza No. 17 (Tomato, Pepperoni, Squash, Green Peppers, Sweet Peppers, Mozzarella. Those were the three that I remember because they were all quite enjoyable (we also repeated one pizza). The crust was well done, the toppings blended well, and overall a good execution of this style of pizza.
We sat outside on their patio and the tables were reasonably nice, the inside looked small, but reasonably inviting.
The beer selection is not huge, but the beers that they had were interesting and good, including Paulaner Hefeweizen.
Definitely a very enjoyable place to enjoy good pizza outside on a nice summer evening if you're in the area.
Nooshi
1120 19th St NW # 2, Washington D.C., DC 20036-3686 (202) 293-3138
http://www.nooshidc.com
Asian fusion/sushi
I have eaten here a couple times now and I don't remember if I have every reviewed it. The last time I was there, I ate sushi. The sushi is solid, nothing remarkable, decent variety of rolls, but nothing stands out. The standard rolls are at a good price, while the rest of the sushi including special rolls are at typical DC sushi prices. The decor is nice, classy. Overall, a decent sushi place if you're in that part of town, but not a destination spot.
http://www.nooshidc.com
Asian fusion/sushi
I have eaten here a couple times now and I don't remember if I have every reviewed it. The last time I was there, I ate sushi. The sushi is solid, nothing remarkable, decent variety of rolls, but nothing stands out. The standard rolls are at a good price, while the rest of the sushi including special rolls are at typical DC sushi prices. The decor is nice, classy. Overall, a decent sushi place if you're in that part of town, but not a destination spot.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Ella's
901 F St NW, (between F & G on 9th).
http://www.ellaspizza.com/menus.html
202-638-3434
I've been here before, but I finally stopped by again. It's almost always quite busy, I thought waiting out the happy hour would help, but showing up at 8pm and I still had an hour wait for a table. The bottled beer selection is not lengthy, but well chose. I got a Duck-Rabbit Stout in a bottle and then got an Ommengang Quadrupel, with Schlenkerla being another option. My pizza was the Lombardi (lombardi
caramelized onions, gorgonzola & rosemary), which was disappointing. Some bites tasted quite good, but generally it tasted unremarkable and not even that good for a pizza. One of our party got the Wild Mushroom (wild mushroom
tomato sauce, mild goat cheese, wild mushroom & spinach), which I have had before, and it was quite good, but not at Rustico, or Comet Ping-Pong level. Another member of our party got the di mare (pesto, shrimp, roasted peppers & pine nuts), which he said was quite good, but I didn't try it.
The decor is nice here, but typical of Penn Quarter/Chinatown places. Our service was lacking as after waiting an hour to be seated, we had to frantically waive down a server after 30 minutes (at 9:30pm!). He had come by right after we were seated and still talking (which he used as an excuse after being waived down chatting with the hostess), but that is no reason not to come back for almost half an hour. The pizzas came out quickly though.
http://www.ellaspizza.com/menus.html
202-638-3434
I've been here before, but I finally stopped by again. It's almost always quite busy, I thought waiting out the happy hour would help, but showing up at 8pm and I still had an hour wait for a table. The bottled beer selection is not lengthy, but well chose. I got a Duck-Rabbit Stout in a bottle and then got an Ommengang Quadrupel, with Schlenkerla being another option. My pizza was the Lombardi (lombardi
caramelized onions, gorgonzola & rosemary), which was disappointing. Some bites tasted quite good, but generally it tasted unremarkable and not even that good for a pizza. One of our party got the Wild Mushroom (wild mushroom
tomato sauce, mild goat cheese, wild mushroom & spinach), which I have had before, and it was quite good, but not at Rustico, or Comet Ping-Pong level. Another member of our party got the di mare (pesto, shrimp, roasted peppers & pine nuts), which he said was quite good, but I didn't try it.
The decor is nice here, but typical of Penn Quarter/Chinatown places. Our service was lacking as after waiting an hour to be seated, we had to frantically waive down a server after 30 minutes (at 9:30pm!). He had come by right after we were seated and still talking (which he used as an excuse after being waived down chatting with the hostess), but that is no reason not to come back for almost half an hour. The pizzas came out quickly though.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Agora DC
1527 17th Street NW
(202) 332-6767
http://www.agoradc.net/
I went to Agora for late Sunday brunch. It is a Mediterranean fusion place focusing on mezze. The atmosphere, decor, and ambiance inside were nice, but typical dark classy dc. Similar inside to Cava Mezze. They had a decent sized patio space out front, but it was a hot and humid day so we ate inside.
We decided upon the following three dishes:
Labneh - Strained yogurt, diced apples, walnuts, Savory and endive ($6). Solid, but a bit sour. Not substantial, wouldn't be bad to have again, but can probably find better. Can be a nice light addition to a round of mezze.
Patlıcan Közleme - Charcoal smoked eggplant, green and red peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, dill ($6.50). Pretty good. Not great, but enjoyable. Better than many eggplant dishes, but not nearly as good as the best.
Cilbir - Two Poached eggs topped with yogurt, sumac and spicy oil ($7.50). This is actually under their omelettes. Really good. The good goey, runny yolk with a nice mix of pungent spices. Definitely worth having again. The accompanying potatoes were in fried little cubes and were pretty good.
Overall, not a bad spot. The Cilbir, which we got just because it sounded interesting, was good enough to suggest that there may be other worthwhile dishes on the menu.
(202) 332-6767
http://www.agoradc.net/
I went to Agora for late Sunday brunch. It is a Mediterranean fusion place focusing on mezze. The atmosphere, decor, and ambiance inside were nice, but typical dark classy dc. Similar inside to Cava Mezze. They had a decent sized patio space out front, but it was a hot and humid day so we ate inside.
We decided upon the following three dishes:
Labneh - Strained yogurt, diced apples, walnuts, Savory and endive ($6). Solid, but a bit sour. Not substantial, wouldn't be bad to have again, but can probably find better. Can be a nice light addition to a round of mezze.
Patlıcan Közleme - Charcoal smoked eggplant, green and red peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, dill ($6.50). Pretty good. Not great, but enjoyable. Better than many eggplant dishes, but not nearly as good as the best.
Cilbir - Two Poached eggs topped with yogurt, sumac and spicy oil ($7.50). This is actually under their omelettes. Really good. The good goey, runny yolk with a nice mix of pungent spices. Definitely worth having again. The accompanying potatoes were in fried little cubes and were pretty good.
Overall, not a bad spot. The Cilbir, which we got just because it sounded interesting, was good enough to suggest that there may be other worthwhile dishes on the menu.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Astor Mediterranean
1829 Columbia Rd NW
I have a few spots to add on here, but my second dinner stop of the night is worth noting now. I stopped here and had their Mediterranean pizza. Olives, spicy peppers, chicken? and a crust with an unique fennel and maybe other seasons in it. It is in the top echelon of pizzas in DC. I wouldn't put it at the top of that echelon, like the Rustico pizzas, but it is good stuff. It was a mere $15, although $10 with a Groupon or something. Their other stuff looked pretty good. S.K. said that the menu overall is pretty good.
WEBSITE HERE)
I have a few spots to add on here, but my second dinner stop of the night is worth noting now. I stopped here and had their Mediterranean pizza. Olives, spicy peppers, chicken? and a crust with an unique fennel and maybe other seasons in it. It is in the top echelon of pizzas in DC. I wouldn't put it at the top of that echelon, like the Rustico pizzas, but it is good stuff. It was a mere $15, although $10 with a Groupon or something. Their other stuff looked pretty good. S.K. said that the menu overall is pretty good.
WEBSITE HERE)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Rustico - Ballston
4075 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA (Ballston), right off Ballston metro stop
Perhaps my favorite restaurant/bar in the DC area has a new location and it does not disappoint. (Alexandria location review HERE)
I stopped by after some athletic practice and I was the only one wanting a full meal, so we ate only the bar menu. Everything was amazing, so all food orders will be rated to degree of amazingness. I suppose I was pretty hungry after practice and not eating much that day, but I am pretty sure it would be amazing regardless.
The location has less of the brick and less of the neighborhood setting than the other location, but the interior is still nice. The Arlington location is definitely bigger than the Alexandria location - at least the bar area, which is a big plus. The beer list is similarly expansive.
Food-
SPICY BEEF JERKY with cheese dip and shallot rings
I ordered this one. It was not a lot of food, but it was the highest degree of amazing. The sauce was fine, but the jerky and shallots without the sauce were as good as anything one can eat.
PEI MUSSELS & HOUSEMADE CHORIZO belgian strong dark ale, sweet potato puree
This was my main entree. It is hard to say this is the best mussels dish I have had in DC (Brasserie Beck gets that honor, although I have not been there in a while). Still, it was really, really good. I love chorizo, dark ale, and sweet potatoes. So while the mussels themselves were good, the sauce and meat that I ate from the bottom with a spoon and the Texas toast they provided was awesome. The dish involved a good number of mussels.
HOMEMADE THICK-CUT FRIES tossed in your choice of caesar or ranch
One of my friends got these. They were very, very good and very ample in size. I know fries are easy to do well, but these a real treat.
BUFFALO CHICKEN BREAD BOWL DIP
My friends also got these. Again, a very tasty rendition of something that is not difficult to do.
Because I was ordering a good amount of food, I got a less exotic and less strong beer, I believe a dark one from Michigan which was good, but not great.
Worth noting on the menu: (Pizzas)
FIG & PROSCIUTTO sweet & sour fig jam, gorgonzola cheese. The Churchkey rendition of this pizza is one of the tastiest pizzas I have ever eaten.
BRAISED DUCK & POACHED PEAR red onions, arugula, blue cheese, port reduction. Damn, just sounds really good and one of my friends who was there said her friend got it and loved it.
UPDATE
I returned to the Ballston location just a week later with a different friend. We got two pizzas: BRAISED DUCK & POACHED PEAR (above) and a Bacon Cheeseburger pizza. The bacon cheeseburger was a good rendition, but nothing special. The Duck & Pear pizza was quite good. Not as good as the fig & prosciutto at Churchkey or the Smokey at Comet Ping Pong, but very good.
UPDATE 2
I returned to the Ballston location in June and split a Fried Green Tomato pizza with someone. It also had arugula on top, ricotta cheese, ripe tomato slices and summer squash. It was a good and unique pizza, but not spectacular. I enjoyed the ricotta and squash and excellent crust as well as the green tomatoes; however, there was a bit too much arugula, although the arugula did add something. Definitely a good choice to try something different, but not on the level of most Rustico special pizzas.
Perhaps my favorite restaurant/bar in the DC area has a new location and it does not disappoint. (Alexandria location review HERE)
I stopped by after some athletic practice and I was the only one wanting a full meal, so we ate only the bar menu. Everything was amazing, so all food orders will be rated to degree of amazingness. I suppose I was pretty hungry after practice and not eating much that day, but I am pretty sure it would be amazing regardless.
The location has less of the brick and less of the neighborhood setting than the other location, but the interior is still nice. The Arlington location is definitely bigger than the Alexandria location - at least the bar area, which is a big plus. The beer list is similarly expansive.
Food-
SPICY BEEF JERKY with cheese dip and shallot rings
I ordered this one. It was not a lot of food, but it was the highest degree of amazing. The sauce was fine, but the jerky and shallots without the sauce were as good as anything one can eat.
PEI MUSSELS & HOUSEMADE CHORIZO belgian strong dark ale, sweet potato puree
This was my main entree. It is hard to say this is the best mussels dish I have had in DC (Brasserie Beck gets that honor, although I have not been there in a while). Still, it was really, really good. I love chorizo, dark ale, and sweet potatoes. So while the mussels themselves were good, the sauce and meat that I ate from the bottom with a spoon and the Texas toast they provided was awesome. The dish involved a good number of mussels.
HOMEMADE THICK-CUT FRIES tossed in your choice of caesar or ranch
One of my friends got these. They were very, very good and very ample in size. I know fries are easy to do well, but these a real treat.
BUFFALO CHICKEN BREAD BOWL DIP
My friends also got these. Again, a very tasty rendition of something that is not difficult to do.
Because I was ordering a good amount of food, I got a less exotic and less strong beer, I believe a dark one from Michigan which was good, but not great.
Worth noting on the menu: (Pizzas)
FIG & PROSCIUTTO sweet & sour fig jam, gorgonzola cheese. The Churchkey rendition of this pizza is one of the tastiest pizzas I have ever eaten.
BRAISED DUCK & POACHED PEAR red onions, arugula, blue cheese, port reduction. Damn, just sounds really good and one of my friends who was there said her friend got it and loved it.
UPDATE
I returned to the Ballston location just a week later with a different friend. We got two pizzas: BRAISED DUCK & POACHED PEAR (above) and a Bacon Cheeseburger pizza. The bacon cheeseburger was a good rendition, but nothing special. The Duck & Pear pizza was quite good. Not as good as the fig & prosciutto at Churchkey or the Smokey at Comet Ping Pong, but very good.
UPDATE 2
I returned to the Ballston location in June and split a Fried Green Tomato pizza with someone. It also had arugula on top, ricotta cheese, ripe tomato slices and summer squash. It was a good and unique pizza, but not spectacular. I enjoyed the ricotta and squash and excellent crust as well as the green tomatoes; however, there was a bit too much arugula, although the arugula did add something. Definitely a good choice to try something different, but not on the level of most Rustico special pizzas.
Lebanese Taverna - Woodley Park
2641 Connecticut Ave. NW • Washington, DC, 20008 • (202) 265-8681 (directly across the street from the Woodley Park metro stop)
http://www.lebanesetaverna.com/
MENU (as of 3/6/2011)
So I finally revisited the Woodley Park location for Lebanese Taverna. First off, I should admit that I wasn't as impressed with the decor as I remember having been. I would not put it above the Bethesda decor.
In all other respects, Lebanese Taverna was as good as I remembered it. The server was even particularly attentive and charming.
Just as I have done on every other visit to a Lebanese Taverna, I split a bunch of mezze with someone rather than try an entree. I had a white wine with my meal and it was good to solid (really I just remember the food).
Lebanese Taverna had a hummus menu where you could choose and customize your own hummus. We had the Spicy Hummus and topped it with the Tomatoes & Feta. It was amazing. I have never had a better hummus in my life.
I also got the makdous (cured baby eggplant stuffed with walnuts, garlic, lemon, olive oil, pomegranate) again, which my date was curious about. She didn't seem to like it much, although I thought it was pretty good. It was a bit too strong in spice and garlic though and should have been more subtle. Not their best dish.
The Halloum cheese (with tomatoes, olive oil, olives and sauteed) was pretty good too, but nothing special.
Sadly, I cannot remember the other mezze or two that we had, despite remembering at least one being quite good.
Overall, I escaped with a $41.25 bill before tip, which included wine, and was easily enough food (more than my date could eat).
Summary of all 3 locations
Review of Bethesda location
http://www.lebanesetaverna.com/
MENU (as of 3/6/2011)
So I finally revisited the Woodley Park location for Lebanese Taverna. First off, I should admit that I wasn't as impressed with the decor as I remember having been. I would not put it above the Bethesda decor.
In all other respects, Lebanese Taverna was as good as I remembered it. The server was even particularly attentive and charming.
Just as I have done on every other visit to a Lebanese Taverna, I split a bunch of mezze with someone rather than try an entree. I had a white wine with my meal and it was good to solid (really I just remember the food).
Lebanese Taverna had a hummus menu where you could choose and customize your own hummus. We had the Spicy Hummus and topped it with the Tomatoes & Feta. It was amazing. I have never had a better hummus in my life.
I also got the makdous (cured baby eggplant stuffed with walnuts, garlic, lemon, olive oil, pomegranate) again, which my date was curious about. She didn't seem to like it much, although I thought it was pretty good. It was a bit too strong in spice and garlic though and should have been more subtle. Not their best dish.
The Halloum cheese (with tomatoes, olive oil, olives and sauteed) was pretty good too, but nothing special.
Sadly, I cannot remember the other mezze or two that we had, despite remembering at least one being quite good.
Overall, I escaped with a $41.25 bill before tip, which included wine, and was easily enough food (more than my date could eat).
Summary of all 3 locations
Review of Bethesda location
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Comet Ping Pong
5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008 (intersection of Connecticut and Nebraska)
http://www.cometpingpong.com/
MENU (as of 3/6/2011)
I had long wanted to visit Comet Ping Pong for their pizza, decor, and ping pong. The pizza was worth it, the decor was not that special, and I did not wind up playing any ping pong.
First, I found the decor definitely low-key artsy with parts made to look neglected and parts made to look fancy trendy. The bathroom entrances are amusing. The ping pong is in back. Pretty unique, laid-back, but nothing special. It was a weeknight, so a mix of kids, couples, and dudes hanging out.
I got a pizza while my date got a Greek Salad. My pizza was The Smoky, and it was very good. There are many places in DC offering good gourmet Neapolitan style pizza and I would place the Smoky right in the top tier, but behind my absolute favorites. The Smoky consists of: Smoky Mushrooms, Smoky Mozzarella, Smoky Bacon, melted onions, garlic and costs $13. I easily at it myself, and it was a good size for me, or for two less hungry people to share. My date said her salad was quite good and it was quite large as well.
The beer offerings were quite good as well. Only about on tap, but a bottle/can list of about 15-20 good microbrews and imports. I had the Bell's Kalamazoo Stout and the Tommyknocker Butthead Dopplebock (NY State), which were both pretty good.
Overall, I would deem it a great place to stop if you're up in that area, but not necessarily worth a special trip up to unless you're hankering for some ping pong.
Location is street parkable - not easy, not hard, about 1 mile from Tenleytown metro or Friendship heights.
Earlier text update:
Comet Ping Pong - Good beer in bottles. Got Smoky pizza, quite good. Greek Salad, quite good, large.
http://www.cometpingpong.com/
MENU (as of 3/6/2011)
I had long wanted to visit Comet Ping Pong for their pizza, decor, and ping pong. The pizza was worth it, the decor was not that special, and I did not wind up playing any ping pong.
First, I found the decor definitely low-key artsy with parts made to look neglected and parts made to look fancy trendy. The bathroom entrances are amusing. The ping pong is in back. Pretty unique, laid-back, but nothing special. It was a weeknight, so a mix of kids, couples, and dudes hanging out.
I got a pizza while my date got a Greek Salad. My pizza was The Smoky, and it was very good. There are many places in DC offering good gourmet Neapolitan style pizza and I would place the Smoky right in the top tier, but behind my absolute favorites. The Smoky consists of: Smoky Mushrooms, Smoky Mozzarella, Smoky Bacon, melted onions, garlic and costs $13. I easily at it myself, and it was a good size for me, or for two less hungry people to share. My date said her salad was quite good and it was quite large as well.
The beer offerings were quite good as well. Only about on tap, but a bottle/can list of about 15-20 good microbrews and imports. I had the Bell's Kalamazoo Stout and the Tommyknocker Butthead Dopplebock (NY State), which were both pretty good.
Overall, I would deem it a great place to stop if you're up in that area, but not necessarily worth a special trip up to unless you're hankering for some ping pong.
Location is street parkable - not easy, not hard, about 1 mile from Tenleytown metro or Friendship heights.
Earlier text update:
Comet Ping Pong - Good beer in bottles. Got Smoky pizza, quite good. Greek Salad, quite good, large.
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