cheezepowder Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 It's everywhere, but which restaurants have really good fried calamari? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pizza man Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 Uh, shouldn't this be in the trite foods thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordanu Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I really like the fried Calamari at Capital Grill. Lots of hot peppers and always very tender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baccala Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 West End bistro, Dino and Al A lucia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiclet Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 Best I’ve had recently was at Locanda. Served with salsa verde & spicy anchovy aioli. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synaesthesia Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I like the Asian-style salt and pepper squid. Probably at Bob's and the Full Kee in Wheaton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam23 Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 Sadly, my favorite place is Carlyle in Shirlington. That being said, I really liked the calamari i've ordered at Dino and Bebbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starfish Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 I really like the fried Calamari at Capital Grill. Lots of hot peppers and always very tender. Having had it as recently as last Monday - been meaning to post about that meal - I think that Cap Grille has the best "traditional" preparation of this dish in DC. But this raises an interesting question (to me at least) none of the high end restaurants/big name chefs would ever do this dish. Is the Grille's calamari the best because Richard, Power, Ruta, Monis, et al functionally cede this area to them? Sadly, my favorite place is Carlyle in Shirlington. That being said, I really liked the calamari i've ordered at Dino and Bebbo I also like their preparation too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Foodie Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 I don't know if I can speak to the best calamari itself, but I think one of my favorite dipping sauces for the breaded, fried squid rings is from Cafe Asia. I've figured out I prefer a spicy type of sweet and sour sauce to marinara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Addie's makes a damn good fried squid-- not at all greasy and nicely seasoned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acevedo81 Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I believe Jaleo's fried squid is excellent, not sure if the best in town, but the most memorable on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synaesthesia Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I believe Jaleo's fried squid is excellent, not sure if the best in town, but the most memorable on a regular basis. I've personally found it to be inconsistent - sometimes cooked at the right temp, but sometimes not so the coating gets extremely greasy. It does help that there is the yummy aioli to go with, which is rather redemptive. I wonder if the ones at Taberna del Albardero are better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohstate Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 West End bistro, Dino and Al A lucia. The last order we had at A La Lucia was disappointing. Bland, not crispy. I prefer the calamari at FireFlies (Del Ray). They serve it with a sweet spicy sauce. One sauce that is good w/ fried calamari is Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce. http://www.amazon.com/Ploy-Sweet-Chili-Sau...s/dp/B00016UX0K I'd swear it is what some restaurants are using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demetrius Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 I think that Chadwicks in Georgetown as well as the location in Old Town Alexandria does a good job with serving its fried calamari with marinated peppers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monavano Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 The popcorn shrimp and fried calamari at Hank's is very good. Tender calamari, nice dipping sauce and a light tempura-like batter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmmboy Posted December 10, 2007 Share Posted December 10, 2007 For many years my favorite fried calamari (as well as fried scallops) in DC has been at Teatro Goldoni. Not sure if it has changed now that Fabrizio has left for Florida. I also used to enjoy a ver different fried calamari at Yanyu. I guess I'm living in the past with this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foodlover007 Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 For many years my favorite fried calamari (as well as fried scallops) in DC has been at Teatro Goldoni. Not sure if it has changed now that Fabrizio has left for Florida. I also used to enjoy a ver different fried calamari at Yanyu. I guess I'm living in the past with this post. clyde's in gtown and Reston, have always delivered consistent delicious calamari (at least in my opinion).. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Wells Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 clyde's in gtown and Reston, have always delivered consistent delicious calamari (at least in my opinion).. I will second Clyde's. Their fried calamari has always been one of the best items on their menu. Huge portion, crispy, plenty of tentacles, zippy remoulade-ish dipping sauce instead of boring marinara -- what's not to like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 plenty of tentacles Color me jittery from the Dick Confit posting, but I did a double-take when I read this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillvalley Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I second the Locanda vote. And the ones at Talberna del Albero are excellent. Get a couple of plates during Happy Hour and you are enjoying one of the best happy hour deals in town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Wells Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 Color me jittery from the Dick Confit posting, but I did a double-take when I read this... Well, Don, with fried squid you can get either tentacles or c-rings -- your choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuasorDC Posted December 12, 2007 Share Posted December 12, 2007 I had truly amazing Fried Clamari at La Tabernadel Alabardero in DC. A very authentic Spanish restaurant. the place is on the pricey side, but if I remember correctly, they had half off tapas at the bar happy hour every weekday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol_ironstomach Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Well, Don, with fried squid you can get either tentacles or c-rings -- your choice Not at 2941, it isn't. You get allllllllllll mantle, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sthitch Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 The one dish I have found at Coastal Flats that makes me return is the Crispy Sweet & Spicy Calamari. Not the best squid I have ever had, but still good. The worst I ever had was at the craphole that was replaced by the equally as bad Overwood, I think they were picked-up from a bargain bin at Aldi's, truly horrible stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaRiv18 Posted November 2, 2017 Share Posted November 2, 2017 My daughter really loves calamari, and I wonder what places serves decent versions of it. So far, Pete's Pizza has the strongest version, but then I am stuck eating pizza which is getting pretty old for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arlingtonkabob Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Out of all the places in the NOVA,DC area I think filomena in georgetown. I've yet to find anywhere else that can compare to not being oily, over battered, soggy or bland. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 The crispy squid with basil at Thai Square just might be the best calamari dish in the DMV...IMO. --- Thai Square (arlingtonkabob) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Wells Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 We've always enjoyed the fried squid at Clyde's. It's a nice portion with plenty of tentacles. I'm from RI, so I know my squid. Capital Grille (founded in RI) also does a nice job with "RI-style" fried calamari with hot peppers. I'll definitely second the idea of Thai restaurants for squid too. Can't vouch specifically for that one, but definitely something I'd look for on a Thai menu. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericandblueboy Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Asian calamari tend to be seasoned heavily in salt and pepper - you can find them in Chinese restaurants and Chinese influenced restaurants like certain Thai and Vietnamese joints. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dracisk Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 18 hours ago, Bob Wells said: I'm from RI, so I know my squid. Capital Grille (founded in RI) also does a nice job with "RI-style" fried calamari with hot peppers. I'm from RI, too, and I always love seeing RI-style calamari on distant menus, especially when the menu notes that the squid is from Point Judith or some other specific place! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Wells Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 56 minutes ago, dracisk said: I'm from RI, too, and I always love seeing RI-style calamari on distant menus, especially when the menu notes that the squid is from Point Judith or some other specific place! I'm pretty sure "RI-style" calamari was created, or at least first appeared on a menu, at a place called Trattoria D'Antuono on Federal Hill in Providence in the 80s. Nice little homey place. My dad, a trencherman of some repute, loved it. Chronology-wise, it would make sense since it then went "big time" on the first Capital Grille menu in 1990. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 I enjoyed the calamari served at Sfoglina ($16). Good sized portion, meaty body parts, served grilled with a romesco sauce. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genevieve Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 Zaytinya has excellent calamari. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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