5 replies to this topic

[qwertyy]

Of the new crop of restaurants on Columbia Heights' 11th Street strip, I've been to Kangaroo Boxing Club the most--four times. This isn't by design, but it's easy, comfortable, welcoming, and has enough high points that it's easy to look past the weak ones.

The pastrami, for instance. I'm no expert, but this is by far the best I've ever had. I mean, outstanding, off-the-charts, off-the-hook terrific. The rye bread holds up to it and I don't know how it's possible, but the mustard makes it all even better. Seriously: get the pastrami.

I'm not as wild about the other meats. The Smokey Joe is okay--too much, too strong, too salty sauce mixed with over-shredded beef that's only remarkable if you get a couple of the awesome smoky end pieces in the mix. The chocolate BBQ on the pulled chicken is also pretty spicy, and the chicken is fine. I don't remember much about the pulled pork (not a good sign, but it was a couple of months ago) except that I couldn't really find a sauce I liked--I think they all were too spicy for me*--and the bottom bun was soaked through with grease. I clearly need to give it another go. Those sandwich buns are good though.

The beans vex me. They vex me so. The first time they were amazing; the second time they tasted like someone had spilled a bottle of vinegar on them; the third time, amazing again; the fourth time vinegar again, plus something else not so good. What the hell? Seems to me that we've got two chefs making two different recipes, and it makes me sad because I've clearly got a 50-50 chance of getting a ramekin of yuck, and those odds just aren't fair.

But when they're done right, the beans are the best side on the menu, along with the johnny cakes. The mac and cheese is pretty darn good, and the greens and salad are run-of-the-mill. The garlic fries are nice, but it's the dipping sauce that makes them dangerously addictive.

I think they only have three beer taps, but they're stocked with good stuff (the Redtober and Mojo are my recent faves) so I haven't explored the bottles. I stay away from the cocktails, which, even when on special, just aren't that well made.

The service is across the board terrific, but the joint is seriously tiny. The bar has been full pretty much every time I've been in, and every seat in the place tends to be taken by 6:30.

*Is BBQ usually this spicy? I'm sort of on the mild-to-medium end of the spectrum, but I was surprised that every sauce was so firey. Sigh. Guess I'll have to stick with the pastrami (poor me!).

[CrescentFresh]

I love the name of the joint. And the humor on their website is great, too. That's enough to consider checking them out if I find myself in Columbia Heights.

[Waitman]

My first impression on walking in was "Oh, God, the assholes have discovered Columbia Heights." You know, baggy shorts, backwards baseball hats, frat boy vibe despite the fact that they're pushing 30. On the other hand, the help was pretty friendly and the bartender and I had the same tattoo. Didn't try the food but it looked tasty and with quertyy's recco I'll have to go back, when I'm in a rowdier sort of mood.

[Craig Erion]

My first impression on walking in was "Oh, God, the assholes have discovered Columbia Heights." You know, baggy shorts, backwards baseball hats, frat boy vibe despite the fact that they're pushing 30. On the other hand, the help was pretty friendly and the bartender and I had the same tattoo. Didn't try the food but it looked tasty and with quertyy's recco I'll have to go back, when I'm in a rowdier sort of mood.

What does one wear in order to be deemed not an asshole? I guess I just dont like generalizations. I wear shorts that are baggy and sometimes, if the mood strikes me, I turn my hat backwards. Guess I'm an asshole. Or is it only if I'm at a bar in Columbia Heights?

[Waitman]

I am wearing baggy shorts at this moment.

When an establishment starts to feel like Delta Tau Delta (or Adams-Morgan) on a Friday night, and it appears that spontaneous beer pong is about to break out on the middle of the bar, then there's a strong possibility that assholery is about. Characteristics include overloud drunkenness, ostentatious masculinity, playing horrible songs on the jukebox and knocking into you while you're carrying beer without noticing. For better or for worse, this behavior is is often undertaken by those dressed as noted above, particularly once a critical mass has been reached.

[qwertyy]

The beans vex me. They vex me so. The first time they were amazing; the second time they tasted like someone had spilled a bottle of vinegar on them; the third time, amazing again; the fourth time vinegar again, plus something else not so good. What the hell? Seems to me that we've got two chefs making two different recipes, and it makes me sad because I've clearly got a 50-50 chance of getting a ramekin of yuck, and those odds just aren't fair.

Oh KBC beans. Why you gotta do me like you do?

Fifth time was NOT the charm. In fact, in the spectrum of extremes I've experienced--which runs from Perfect Amount of Vinegar to Holy Cats Who Spilled the Vinegar in the Beans--it was exactly in the middle. Just a little too vinegary to be good.

I think they see me coming and do this on purpose.

On the bright side, if you're wolfing down a whole delectable pastrami sandwich along with half your brother's johnny cakes, you probably don't need to eat your whole side of beans.