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.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)