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DMVDining2

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About DMVDining2

  • Birthday May 19

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    http://www.dmvdining.com/

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    Male
  • Location
    Bethesda, MD

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  1. DMVDining2
    We went for dinner at The Room at McGinty's last week and basically asked ourselves "what is this place doing in an Irish pub?!" because chef Nico Amroune is doing some amazing things in the kitchen. The spring lamb Provení§al was the highlight of the meal: perfectly-cooked, medium-rare lamb with a terrific herb crust. The prices are reasonable given the high-quality of ingredients and generous portions. Feel like it's a hidden gem tucked amongst an ever-growing dining scene in downtown Silver Spring. Great addition to the scene. More on the blog: The Room at McGinty's: Fine Dining within an Irish Pub
  2. DMVDining2
    So my wife surprised me with dinner reservations for my birthday at Crane & Turtle a few weeks ago, and I have to second the sentiments others have said already. It was my favorite meal of 2015 thus far and exhibits the same charm as Rose's - a lot of that has to do with Elizabeth Parker joining the staff, who coincidentally enough used to work at Rose's. The tuna tataki and Scezuan-style duck were outstanding. I'd love to come back just for the outdoor patio menu, which is basically all their crudos and appetizers. Another plus: no lines (this was on a Tuesday) AND they take reservations - we have a 2.5 year old and need to coordinate a sitter for date nights so Crane & Turtle was ideal for a night out. More on the blog: http://www.dmvdining.com/2015/05/a-birthday-dinner-at-crane-and-turtle/
  3. DMVDining2
    Well that's a bummer, they had a terrific craft beer list, especially for Bethesda.
  4. DMVDining2
    The wife surprised me with dinner at Roberto's 8 for my birthday and let me say, this was one of the best dinners we've ever had in DC - right up there with Marcel's and Komi. We never had the opportunity to experience Laboratorio del Galileo, but we were blown away not only by the dishes themselves, but also the gorgeous presentation and terrific pricing. It really is the best value in town when it comes to tasting menus. Our favorite course was the cream of corn with soft shell crab - it was simply transcendent. More on the blog.
  5. DMVDining2
    Is Vernon supplying to any other markets in the area? Miss him dearly at the Bethesda Central Farmers Market.
  6. DMVDining2
    Funny you should mention this. I too got the Beef Drunken Noodles on Opening Day. Maybe they still have to work the kinks out, but I can't see this kiosk succeeding considering almost every dish was made-to-order resulting in a very slow moving queue. You need to mass prepare this type of food if you're serving in a baseball stadium, plain and simple. Secondly, not only did they run out of chopsticks, but they didn't have any forks as backup! So after spending nearly half an hour waiting for noodles, I then had to walk around the concourse to find a fork. I couldn't find any after searching the four closest spots until I came across Box Frites, where they offered me a wooden utensil that's meant for stabbing fries. Needless to say, it was quite the challenge eating noodles with what was basically a wooden stick. The noodles themselves were pretty good, but the experience ordering/waiting for them while trying to find A SINGLE FORK was rather painful.
  7. DMVDining2
    We went a few weeks ago and was generally satisfied with our meal. The pacing of the dishes, however, was not ideal. We had our cheese and salumi delivered to the table first, but maybe five minutes later, the rest of our dishes came out nearly at once. It was then a mad dash to try and eat them before they got cold. It also took forever to flag down our waiter after we had ordered dessert. Obviously they still have a few kinks to work out but overall it's a very promising spot for downtown Silver Spring. Who would have thought that a place that specializes in meats has a great tuna ceviche? More here.
  8. DMVDining2
    Love love love the place. Their chocolate torts are heavenly while the baguettes are some of the best. It's a gem in Bethesda and I hope they thrive despite the so-so location.
  9. DMVDining2
    Just went here for our anniversary last Saturday. I can't believe this was the first time we have been to Marcel's after all these years. Just an outstanding restaurant with some exquisite cooking by Chef Wiedmaier. The Boudin Blanc is easily one of the top dishes of the District, but I also equally enjoyed the Border Springs lamb chops. And then there was the Foie Gras Torchon - good heavens was that divine. Not to mention the duck breast with BRANDIED CHERRIES! The service was just as good as the food and makes the overall experience that much more memorable. One of the best dinners we have had in DC bar none. More on our meal here: http://www.dmvdining.com/2014/03/an-anniversary-dinner-at-marcels/
  10. DMVDining2
    Really enjoyed our meal there. The dishes run a little small but the pricing is very reasonable. It's like a casual Al Dente with a Piedmont twist. Highly recommend the Fegatini e Porcini just for the creamy polenta alone. The agnolotti al brasato was outstanding as was the gnocchi verdi. It's funny, we didn't even get a chance to try any of the pizzas because of all the other dishes we ordered - that's how big the menu is. The Polenta Blanca was one of the best desserts I've had recently. A little twist on creme brulee that was accompanied with some ridiculously tasty chocolate gelato. Great to have Chef Brandwein back in the kitchen, too! More here - Alba Osteria and Amy Brandwein are a Perfect Match
  11. DMVDining2
    Let me preface by saying that's it's SO refreshing to dine at a restaurant that not only is devoid of small plates, but is actually affordable to boot AND serves up some great fare. Now that we have a little one, our days of going to special occasion places like Minibar or Restaurant Eve are numbered, but we could not have picked a better venue to celebrate my wife's birthday than at Red Hen. First of all, the atmosphere is great. Very unpretentious with a nice, open layout. The grilled octopus could not have been better, while the autumn squash soup warmed us right up. The Creste de Gallo was excellent - loved the braised duck and wild mushrooms. Having been to Casa Luca just a few weeks prior, this dish was just as good if not better, while also being a slightly larger portion AND less expensive. So basically you're getting an entree-sized portion of pasta for $17. That, my friends, is very reasonable. Just as good was the chicken. I agree with darkstar965's comparison of Palena's bird. It's right up there with Ruta's preparation. I really, really liked the Brussels sprouts. They had just the right amount of crispness, but it was the yogurt sauce that made it stand out. Service was definitely slow at times - it seemed like they had a limited number of waitstaff, but nothing that warrants criticism. Anyway, I wish this place was closer as I would definitely dine here a lot given the great food and affordable pricing. You can read more over on our blog: A Birthday Dinner at The Red Hen
  12. DMVDining2
    Maybe it's just me, but I felt the prices at Casa Luca were rather expensive given the portions, most notably the pasta. I thought the food was excellent, but Casa Luca shouldn't be branded as an inexpensive option to Fiola. The majority of the pastas start at $22 - that is still a lot of money in my eyes. Meanwhile we had dinner at Red Hen last weekend and their most expensive pasta was $17, plus was large enough to be an entree. You can read more about our meal here: http://www.dmvdining.com/2013/11/casual-elegance-at-casa-luca/
  13. DMVDining2
    Surprising my wife here for her birthday next weekend. Can't wait based on all the glowing reviews!
  14. DMVDining2
    We went on Saturday night, and was able to get a table upstairs without a wait! We immediately fell in love with the place not only because of the cozy, unpretentious atmosphere, but also because each and every dish was great if not stellar. That popcorn soup was delicious and creative while both pasta dishes (Cacio e Pepe and the strawberry pasta) were fantastic. Oh, and the brisket was insanely tender - a knife was not necessary. I'm just astonished how flawless everything was given that it only opened less than a month ago. They had everything down like clockwork - very knowledgeable, personable waitstaff, timing of dishes out of the kitchen, etc. This place is a true gem in the District. I wrote about it more on our blog if you want to check it out. http://www.dmvdining.com/2013/10/roses-luxury-is-an-instant-classic/
  15. DMVDining2
    Well that's a bummer. Here's hoping they keep using their turkey burger recipe because it's really, really good.
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