Gemini and Happy Ice Cream (formerly Happy Gyro, formerly Komi), 17th & P Streets NW, 2013 James Beard Award Winning Chef Johnny Monis Rocks East Dupont

[mbalaver]

I'm heading to Komi tonight, and trying the tasting menu for the first time. I read the posts above, but don't know how often they change their menu. Any suggestions from anyone who's been in the last few weeks?

[Pete]

I'm heading to Komi tonight, and trying the tasting menu for the first time. I read the posts above, but don't know how often they change their menu. Any suggestions from anyone who's been in the last few weeks?

We were there on 12/2/2006 and it was goat night for me (Pappardelle w/goat ragu and the 72 hour Capretto) - both were fantastic. My wife enjoyed the Guinea Hen, but was not as enamored with the Boulettas (not bad, but not nearly as good as my pappardelle). The "chocolate and olive" dessert described earlier by ol_ironstomach was unusual, but very enjoyable. Also, pray that one of the Mezze courses that you get served is the gyro. When in doubt, ask your server for suggestions.

[bilrus]

I'm heading to Komi tonight, and trying the tasting menu for the first time. I read the posts above, but don't know how often they change their menu. Any suggestions from anyone who's been in the last few weeks?

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere above, but over the weekend I discovered Komi now has a website with a menu, this one from 12/2/06.

Simple, I like it.

[Cooter]

We were there on 12/2/2006 and it was goat night for me (Pappardelle w/goat ragu and the 72 hour Capretto) - both were fantastic. My wife enjoyed the Guinea Hen, but was not as enamored with the Boulettas (not bad, but not nearly as good as my pappardelle). The "chocolate and olive" dessert described earlier by ol_ironstomach was unusual, but very enjoyable. Also, pray that one of the Mezze courses that you get served is the gyro. When in doubt, ask your server for suggestions.

We went on the first and it was also goat night for me. I agree with Pete that both were fantastic. The wife had the black truffle risotto, which was very good, but not great, and the duck and foie gras ravioli (?) which was awesome. Our favorite mezze was the oxtail on puffed pita. The roasted dates stuffed with mascarpone and something else were delicious, too. I highly reccomend the doughnuts for dessert. These are delicious and warm puffy yeast bastards and come with a chocolate mascarpone thing. The wife had the chocolate and olive oil ice creams which were also good.

I enjoyed the wine pairings and found the sommelier (Andy?) to be very engaging and informative. I wish that, during the mezze, he had let me know how many plates an individual poor was paired with. Actually, I wish that they had explained the mezze a little better before we ordered. We were expecting a plate of different stuff and were surprised when single plates just kept coming and coming. Nothing wrong with this presentation, but we just weren't expecting it.

[DonRocks]

I enjoyed the wine pairings and found the sommelier (Andy?) to be very engaging and informative.

Adam Curling, ex-sommelier (ironically enough) at Inn at Little Washington.

[bbq4me]

From the current tasting menu (12/9) we thought the 72 hour Capretto and Venison rocked. By way of pastas, we tried the duck/foie raviloi and the boulettas; both were fine by me but wasn't wowed, my wife loved the boulettas.

[Heather]

Does anyone know if Komi is doing anything special for New Year's Eve, or is it the regular menu? I would prefer the latter.

[Stretch]

Site Web their on order backwards in them running on insists WETA when problems comprehensibility serious suffer Bites Mini the do or, me just it is?

[Wine Guy 23]

Does anyone know if Komi is doing anything special for New Year's Eve, or is it the regular menu? I would prefer the latter.

they are doing a five course dinner, but all new items that are not on the menu. features of caviar whimsically, and all the usual fun tastes, with spices, sure to be a success. as well the graces of sommelier adam to pair if needed

[DLB]

they are doing a five course dinner, but all new items that are not on the menu. features of caviar whimsically, and all the usual fun tastes, with spices, sure to be a success. as well the graces of sommelier adam to pair if needed

What is the price on this?

[mdt]

What is the price on this?

No idea, but I believe that they are totally booked.

[Heather]

Five course dinner is $125. Optional wine pairing is $90.

They are fully booked, but you might be able to snag a last-minute cancellation.

[DLB]

Five course dinner is $125. Optional wine pairing is $90.

They are fully booked, but you might be able to snag a last-minute cancellation.

I have never spent that much in Komi! I will wait until after the holidays. I had it in my mind that they would not be as expensive as other places on New Year's Eve! I am sure the food will be better than most places, though.

[Heather]

If the food is better, might it not be worth more?

I wouldn't begrudge Chef Monis and crew making a little more $$ on a big restaurant night. And the menu will most likely include special dishes.

[mbalaver]

From the better late than never file, here's my post on my dinner at Komi last week. Thanks so much to Pete, Cooter, and bbq4me for their ordering advice. I've worked so much since that night that I'd have forgotten half the things we ate, but the day after our meal I emailed the restaurant asking for the names of the wines we had, and almost immediately Anna Koeckeritz, the Maitresse d', responded with the following detailed list (only the last of many nice service touches). Fortunately it also includes all the food we ate, which I tried, but failed, to commit to memory. (A cheese course also appeared before the dessert.) Among the wines we particularly liked the Nostos-Manousakis from Crete that was served with the last few mezze items. I'd love it if they offered a tasting menu that stopped after the pasta course, because although I liked the Guinea hen dish I had for a main course I was pretty satisfied by the time it arrived (my friend ordered the capretto, which was also delicious). I suppose when you go a la carte you could share a few of the first course items and order pastas. But something about that parade of small bites was fantastic.

Mezze Course:

-Clos de l'Epinay, Vouvray, Tete de Cuvee, Brut, NV (Loire, France)

-paired with the fresh olives and warm dates

-Prager, Gruner Veltliner, Federspiel, 'Hinter der Burg,' 2005 (Wachau, Austria)

-paired with the mackerel w/capers, crispy taramosalata, and grilled octopus w/ housemade mortadella

-Nostos-Manousakis, Roussanne, 2005 (Crete, Greece)

-paired with the foie gras crostini w/ cranberry mostarda, haloumi saganaki, crispy oxtail gyro, and blood orange with feta

Macaronia:

Pappardelle -- Conti Sertoli Salis, Valtellina Superiore 'Sassella,' 2002 (Lombardy, Italy)

Agnolotti -- Poggio il Pino, Negroamaro, 'La Corte,' 2002 (Puglia, Italy)

Meat & Fish:

Guinea Hen Saltimbocca -- Azienda Agricola Ceuso, Nero d'Avola, 'Scurati,' 2004 (Sicily, Italy)

72 Hour Capretto -- Guzman Aldazabal, Alavesa, 2000 (Rioja, Spain)

Dessert:

Chocolate & Olive Oil -- Bodega Olivares, Dulce Monastrell, 2003 (Jumilla, Spain)

Hot Apple Pie Spedini -- Marchesi di Gresy, Moscato d'Asti, 'La Serra,' 2005 (Piedmont, Italy)

************

Ms. Koeckeritz described the chocolate & olive oil dessert as follows: "It's two quenelles of gelato -- one is bittersweet chocolate gelato on olive oil streusel, toasted olive oil crostini, and Castello di Ama extra virgin olive oil. The other is olive oil gelato on a bed of chocolate streusel and a cocoa nib tuille with bittersweet chocolate sauce." The olive oil gelato is subtly flavored, but unmistakably tastes of olive oil. The whole dish is delicious -- thanks to all who recommended it. They served my friend's hot apple pie spedini (like a trio of square apple flourless fritters) with a birthday candle. Another nice service touch!

If you'd like more detail on any item, just let me know.

[DLB]

If the food is better, might it not be worth more?

I wouldn't begrudge Chef Monis and crew making a little more $$ on a big restaurant night. And the menu will most likely include special dishes.

I am not knocking the hustle, however we all know restaurants charge more on New Year's Eve because they simply can and some people will pay for it. It has nothing to do with the guality of the food, which is always great at Komi.

I love Komi!!

[Robert Rymarz]

Any truth to this?

http://washington.dc.diningguide.com/data/d100300.htm

[DonRocks]

Any truth to this?

http://washington.dc.diningguide.com/data/d100300.htm

Nope! They'll be closed the first week of January, and will reopen on the 9th.

Cheers,

Rocks.

[Pat]

Nope! They'll be closed the first week of January, and will reopen on the 9th.

Cheers,

Rocks.

I was wondering that if the fact they're switching format to tasting menu only after they come back on the 9th is the reason for the information appearing that way. That change may have been garbled along the way.

[mdt]

Excellent NYE dinner at Komi with their usual exceptional service. They did their normal dinner service and for those still dining at midnight they served a glass of champagne ring in 2007.

Here are some of the highlights from what I can remember.

Nantucket scallops with lemon(?), dill and red pepper.

Prosciutto that was made in-house and aged for 18 (yes that is correct) months. This was the perfect combination of pork and salt.

Tagliatelle with wild boar, cocoa, and mint

Agnolotti with testa and foie gras served in a sopressata brodo

Culotte served with porcini risotto and a coddled egg.

[Waitman]

Excellent NYE dinner at Komi with their usual exceptional service. They did their normal dinner service and for those still dining at midnight they served a glass of champagne ring in 2007.

Here are some of the highlights from what I can remember.

Nantucket scallops with lemon(?), dill and red pepper.

Prosciutto that was made in-house and aged for 18 (yes that is correct) months. This was the perfect combination of pork and salt.

Tagliatelle with wild boar, cocoa, and mint

Agnolotti with testa and foie gras served in a sopressata brodo

Culotte served with porcini risotto and a coddled egg.

They serve culottes there? I'm making my reservations now.

[mdt]

They serve culottes there? I'm making my reservations now.

Wise-ass! Did I forget an 'o' or something? I have seen it spelled different ways.

[Waitman]

Wise-ass! Did I forget an 'o' or something? I have seen it spelled different ways.

Actually, I'm not even really sure what the cut of meat your referring to is and it was my googling through the Internets in an attempt to educate myself which led me (as always) to the women's underwear section of cyberspace. You should have seen the links I didn't post. So, if you'll be kind enough to educate me, I'll take the other post down.

Or not.

[mdt]

Actually, I'm not even really sure what the cut of meat your referring to is and it was my googling through the Internets in an attempt to educate myself which led me (as always) to the women's underwear section of cyberspace. You should have seen the links I didn't post. So, if you'll be kind enough to educate me, I'll take the other post down.

Or not.

Leave it up.

Here is some info.

[dag556]

I called the other night to book a reservation, and it looks like they have moved to a tasting menu only format. I haven't been since September. Any recommendations on new things on the menu I should try??

[mdt]

I called the other night to book a reservation, and it looks like they have moved to a tasting menu only format. I haven't been since September. Any recommendations on new things on the menu I should try??

The menu changes weekly, IIRC, and can be found on the web site mentioned in a recent post. That said try anything with goat or game.

[Waitman]

Anyone been lately? I've loved Komi because it mixes great food with a casual atmosphere, with very competent but informal service. Just chatted with a friend with trusted taste and experience at Komi while he said the food was good the place seemed to have transformed itself into a hushed temple of gastronomy. Have necktie-wearing swells overwhelmed the neighborhoody charm of the place? Are the floor staff starting to believe their own press? Are they really getting bitchy about that extra splash of wine when your drinking is a little faster than your eating?

Or just one of those nights?

[mdt]

Anyone been lately? I've loved Komi because it mixes great food with a casual atmosphere, with very competent but informal service. Just chatted with a friend with trusted taste and experience at Komi while he said the food was good the place seemed to have transformed itself into a hushed temple of gastronomy. Have necktie-wearing swells overwhelmed the neighborhoody charm of the place? Are the floor staff starting to believe their own press? Are they really getting bitchy about that extra splash of wine when your drinking is a little faster than your eating?

Or just one of those nights?

I guess with all the press that they are getting the crowds may not be as neighborhoody as in the past. That said, my last couple of visits have been pretty much the same as what I have experienced in the past (excellent).

[porcupine]

Anyone been lately? I've loved Komi because it mixes great food with a casual atmosphere, with very competent but informal service. Just chatted with a friend with trusted taste and experience at Komi while he said the food was good the place seemed to have transformed itself into a hushed temple of gastronomy. Have necktie-wearing swells overwhelmed the neighborhoody charm of the place? Are the floor staff starting to believe their own press? Are they really getting bitchy about that extra splash of wine when your drinking is a little faster than your eating?

Or just one of those nights?

I was there four or five times in '06, and each time I saw casually dressed people. However, "hushed temple of gastronomy" is a pretty good description. Clearly you need to go with three really raucous friends.

[Waitman]

I was there four or five times in '06, and each time I saw casually dressed people. However, "hushed temple of gastronomy" is a pretty good description. Clearly you need to go with three really raucous friends.

When I've been there, we were hardly hushed. Gleefully buzzed would be more like it. There were a few hushed-type gastronomes s clearly identifiable by their vague befuddlement at paying $70 to eat in a room that was probably hosting group house parties ten years ago (and hads changed little since), and by their ties. But there were plenty of fun neighborhoody-types, too. I think to the extent that it does become more temple-like, I will like it less, and hope that my friend's experience was an aberration.

(And promise to check it out soon).

[Tweaked]

I would say the vibe has definitely changed since they did their redecorating (and subsequent price increase)...more subdued, candle sconces on the walls etc. as opposed to the more energetic neighborhood vibe Komi had in its first couple years

That said, the last time I was there we were so blitzed at the end of the meal we couldn't figure out the bill. So some things don't change

And I would argue the food has only gotten better as the years have passed.

[Nadya]

I would say the vibe has definitely changed since they did their redecorating (and subsequent price increase)...more subdued, candle sconces on the walls etc. as opposed to the more energetic neighborhood vibe Komi had in its first couple years

That said, the last time I was there we were so blitzed at the end of the meal we couldn't figure out the bill. So some things don't change

And I would argue the food has only gotten better as the years have passed.

I would also argue that Komi was never meant to be a "neighborhood" restaurant in the same sense that 2 Amys or Monmartre are. It happens to be in a neighborhood, yes, but its appeal is much greater. What was the last time you walked into Komi for dinner (as opposed to a reservation)?

[The Hersch]

On the other hand, I would think that one factor that would tend to keep Komi at least semi-neighborhoody is the total lack of any parking in that neighborhood, and the fairly long walk from the metro.

[Spiral Stairs]

I would also argue that Komi was never meant to be a "neighborhood" restaurant in the same sense that 2 Amys or Monmartre are. It happens to be in a neighborhood, yes, but its appeal is much greater. What was the last time you walked into Komi for dinner (as opposed to a reservation)?

I've never been entirely clear on what people meant by "neighborhood" restaurant anyway, except that it is kind of an "I know it when I see it" thing.

Now that I've sat at my desk and thought about it for more minutes than I will admit, I think it is meant to describe a restaurant possessing all or most of the following characteristics: (i) affordability; (ii) casual, friendly atmosphere and service; (iii) accessible, rather than avant garde, menu; (iv) small physical footprint; (v) popularity primarily generated among local neighborhood folk, as opposed to destination-seeking foodies; and (vi) integration in the surrounding community by virtue of civic involvement.

I've only been to Komi once. I enjoyed it, and would describe it as satisfying a couple of these criteria. But its expense (in an absolute, not relative, sense), relatively quiet and formal atmosphere (at least in its post-renovation state), somewhat experimental menu, and status as a foodie destination mean its not what I think of as a neighborhood place.

[/pointless masturbatory exposition]

[youngfood]

I've only been to Komi once. I enjoyed it, and would describe it as satisfying a couple of these criteria. But its expense (in an absolute, not relative, sense), relatively quiet and formal atmosphere (at least in its post-renovation state), somewhat experimental menu, and status as a foodie destination mean its not what I think of as a neighborhood place.

Particularly now that they seem to only offer a tasting menu all week long.

[Tweaked]

When Komi opened it had every intention of being a neighborhood joint, and the prices reflected it, I remember a quote when they first opened where they wanted the place to be the sort of restaurant someone could visit one or twice a week, not once or twice a month, and entrees were rarely above $20. Then there was a significant jump in prices and entrees hit the mid to upper $20s...then the redecoration...then the change to tasting menu format.

It's all been the evolution of Komi and the concept that Johnny wants...I believe he has been quoted as saying now he wants Komi to be like restaurants in Europe where the table is yours for the night.

Let's also remember that this is his first restaurant and he opened when he was 25, obviously as he has grown as a chef his vision of what he wants to do and what he can pull off and what the market will support has changed.

[Waitman]

On the other hand, I would think that one factor that would tend to keep Komi at least semi-neighborhoody is the total lack of any parking in that neighborhood, and the fairly long walk from the metro.

It's only three blocks from the metro -- most people who drive there probably don't get a parking space that close.

[Nadya]

For me, a neighborhood restaurant is the place you are happy to patronize for promixity reasons, but would not travel to visit.

Scenario 1:

I am visiting a friend who works near the Nat'l Cathedral.

"Hey Nadya, wanna hit 2 Amys?"

"Sure, man."

Scenario 2:

I am hanging out at Eastern Market with a friend who lives on the Hill.

"Hey Nadya, wanna drive to 2 Amys for dinner?"

"Nah, too far. Let's go around the corner instead."

[Waitman]

Informal. It was/is an informal place.

And, for a time, it was clearly more a Dupont/A-M/Logan crowd than a Metropolitan Area crowd.

[JLK]

Having made that walk in the cold, those are some LONG blocks that feel like more than three. I took a cab for my next visit. Also, be warned that at least one of the nearby lots closes early so if you linger over your wine and delicious food, you could be (and perhaps should be) coming back for the car in the morning.

There's definitely an evolution taking place at Komi, but for me, as long as the food keeps up in terms of quality, I'm there.

[DonRocks]

News Flash: Police arrested seventeen women masturbating on the rooftop of a building located on the southwest corner of 17th & Church Streets NW this afternoon. The women were said to be holding binoculars. "I've never seen anything like it," a police spokesman said. "They were all lined up, just sitting there in beach chairs like it was summertime."

[mdt]

News Flash: Police arrested seventeen women masturbating on the rooftop of a building located on the southwest corner of 17th & Church Streets NW this afternoon. The women were said to be holding binoculars. "I've never seen anything like it," a police spokesman said. "They were all lined up, just sitting there in beach chairs like it was summertime."

Good Lord! It is going to be even harder to get a reservation there now!

Congrats there DB.

[JLK]

Nuh-uh. Note to self: schedule next Komi meal with gaggle of girlfriends, not a date. Such dreaminess all in one place.

[RaisaB]

News Flash: Police arrested seventeen women masturbating on the rooftop of a building located on the southwest corner of 17th & Church Streets NW this afternoon. The women were said to be holding binoculars. "I've never seen anything like it," a police spokesman said. "They were all lined up, just sitting there in beach chairs like it was summertime."

Hey, the link is broken! Fix it! (In answer to Mike below..all I get is a little gray screen). Any of you computer wizards know what is going on? PM me.

[mdt]

Hey, the link is broken! Fix it!

It works fine for me.

[hillvalley]

News Flash: Police arrested seventeen women masturbating on the rooftop of a building located on the southwest corner of 17th & Church Streets NW this afternoon. The women were said to be holding binoculars. "I've never seen anything like it," a police spokesman said. "They were all lined up, just sitting there in beach chairs like it was summertime."

When does he come? When does he come? Soon? By the 17th maybe? My mother will be thrilled!

[jparrott]

One little issue. Doesn't Komi only have a beer/wine license? I mean, it'll be great that Derek has a list to run, but no Sazeracs?!

[mdt]

Hey, the link is broken! Fix it! (In answer to Mike below..all I get is a little gray screen). Any of you computer wizards know what is going on? PM me.

Um, the gray is part of the fun. Look closely, very closely.

[The Hersch]

Is it my imagination, or doesn't this guy stay in one place very long?

[Barbara]

Have I correctly deduced that the Dreamy Derek Brown has moved from Citronelle to Komi?