tentimesodds

I finally had the Hellboy a few weeks ago and it is ridiculously delicious. I've gone to Smoked a couple times now and it is really good. I also like the mustard sauce (which is my preferred style) but the other ones (save east Carolina vinegar style, which I hate in all forms) are great too. The fried chicken is also incredible and I have read that the burger is the best thing on the menu. If only they would serve it on their rooftop (they have a separate menu there) (https://smokedkt.com/the-rooftop/) which has an unbelievable view. On sides, the mac and cheese is great but I didn't care for the baked beans, probably a personal preference (had sausage in it and was just different than any other beans I've had).

Certainly don't mean to question you on your post--but is it really the case that $10.95 for a deli sandwich with chips is a reasonable price downtown nowadays? Genuinely interested in the answer--I have been gone from the DC area for almost 5 years, so I have no idea how food/drink prices have evolved in that time. What does a beer cost at a non-dive, non-fancy bar nowadays? When I left I think the normal price for a pitcher of Miller Lite at Ragtime in Courthouse (you can tell what a connoisseur I am) was $13, and last week I saw on their Facebook page that a $16 pitcher was a happy hour special. Has the inflation been that severe elsewhere?

Only been 11 years or so since the last post in this thread. Anyone have any recs in Beverly Hills? Staying at the Beverly Hilton for a wedding in October with the wife. Will not have a car, but can uber around. Looking for somewhere fun and not too fancy, Italian or American (or Californian) cuisine. Thanks

You guys are too kind! (And I'm a dude.) Glad to hear you had a good visit to our little town. I need to get back to Lampo to try that Hellboy...

Friday, the 19th, begins UVA move-in weekend, which has historically been a godawful traffic day in town but has been mitigated the past few years since they have split the dorm openings into two days. As I'm sure many folks here are, I'm happy to make suggestions, but it would be helpful to know what type of places you are looking for. Off the top of my head, I'd recommend Beer Run (craft beer, great black bean nachos), The Shebeen (south african pub), The Virginian (classic bar on the UVA corner, just bar food but amazing mac and cheese), Lampo (neaopolitan pizza, in a tiny place so there is usually an awful wait, get there at 11am), South Street Brewery (good local beer), and, of course, Bodo's bagels (heaven on earth).

Anything in Downtown Montreal worth seeking out? I know about Schwarz's, but other non-fine dining places? Staying at the W this weekend for a bachelor party. Thanks in advance...

I read this and thought it couldn't possibly be right, but apparently they use "dynamic pricing" for these things. Completely agree with you, that's ridiculous. "In-Flight Wi-Fi Prices Jump As Demand Surges" by Brian X. Chen on nytimes.com

Luke Bryan played John Paul Jones Arena that Saturday night. I am not surprised that all the hotels within walking distance of the Corner were sold out/exorbitantly priced.

Could be an off day--the beans really are good, despite appearances, but the best side are the hush puppies. It's a beautiful drive and I'd recommend going back if you are passing through 64 or 29 and have a hankering for barbecue.

More likely that you are a proper critic and that I don't know what I am talking about.

I took your advice and got to Lampo at around 11:05am on Saturday. Man, I knew it was a small place, but had no idea it was this small--there might be 5-6 tables and a bar. But we got a table no sweat, though the restaurant was full at 11:30. We shared the Polpettine Al Forno ($6) to start, and good God, I wish we had just sat there all day eating as many meatballs as we could. Every element of the plate--the sauce, cheese, and meatballs themselves--was delicious. So much so that I wish we'd continued with a Polpettine panini or Abruzzo pizza. Went with the Margherita D.O.C. ($15) and were a bit disappointed. That is not to say that this is not a fine Neapolitan pizza, but rather that authenticity probably didn't mix with our palates that day. The flavors from the San Marzano were very light, and the olive oil made things a bit wetter than I'd prefer. The crust, while nicely leopard spotted, was a bit doughy, which (for all I know) could be part of the D.O.C. process as well. More enlightened readers can set me straight--but I saw pizzas come out after ours that were a little more done and looked like the crust had a little more bite. I think we would have been happier with the Hellboy special, which looked great, or the aforementioned Abruzzo. Zeppole ($7) for dessert were delightfully light doughnut balls covered in cinnamon sugar. I especially liked that there seemed to be more cinnamon than sugar as they were flavorful without being too sweet. Service was pleasant and unassuming. We'll be back, if for nothing else than those damned meatballs...

Anyone on this board have a recommendation for what time of day to go when it won't be so crazy? I have a birthday coming up and want to go, but have a newborn and probably don't want to spend a precious in-laws babysitting hour standing outside a restaurant in the cold...thanks!

I have not been there, but would very much like to hear about your experience if you go. I am not a fancy restaurant guy but liked Public Oyster House when my wife and I went there last year. I'm not sure when the last time I went to a "new" Cville restaurant was. I really want to try Lampo, but from what I hear it's always super packed.

I am new to grilling/smoking, but my experience went something like this: "Do you have any flank or skirt steak? I want to make fajitas." "All out of those, but we have a nice bavette that would work well for that purpose. It's $23.99 a pound." I googled it when I got home, feeling swindled. 24 bucks a pound for flap meat?

JM Stock is insanely expensive. Mind bogglingly expensive. And I don't get why they have that huge space when most of it is just empty floor.