JLK

I had a somewhat accidental dinner at IndeBleu last night. Accidental in that I suggested it to friends who were in the city from Crofton, MD for drinks and when I wasn't looking, the man of the couple got us a table upstairs. I had mixed emotions about that move given that 1. I know the place is expensive and 2. it's not easily confused with any of DC's more serious dining establishments. After a drink and a snack (short ribs for me again - no doubt! lamb lollipops for my friends which they enjoyed), we moved upstairs to the main dining room. Between the decor, and the smooth moves of the servers, the restaurant seems significantly more formal and serious than the bar and lounge downstairs. That's probably not news to anyone, but as someone who has spent plenty time at the bar, it was a jolt dining at IndeBleu for the first time. My friend got the three-course tasting and her boyfriend (aka FBF) got the four. I didn't feel all that hungry, but got strong-armed and also ordered the three-course. I thought a lot of the food was very, very good. Note: I'm working from memory to avoid the restaurant's super-high-tech-super-annoying web site menu. My first course, one giant gnocchi stuffed with veal and chanterelles, was spectacular. It was rich and comforting and delicious. My friend was swooning over her tuna tartare, and FBF's beef and lobster carpaccio was excellent. Fresh flavors with a zingy vinaigrette that had a little heat toward the end. FBF, for his second course, had a wild mushroom dosa with blue cheese gratin. I had contemplated ordering this, but in the end was glad I did not. In my mind, I had pictured a dosa composed of mushrooms surrounding the blue cheese. Instead, it seemed like rather ordinary phyllo dough (huh?) filled with mushrooms. The blue cheese was surprisingly not a big presence. FBF loved it but my friend and I were kind of "eh." Our main courses were tasty, but overshadowed by the first courses, IMO. FBF and I both had the rack of lamb, served with a side of "mojito sauce." Syrupy and sweet, I had one taste and pushed it to the side. I ordered the lamb medium and it arrived rare, but I didn't send it back. If the error had been toward well-done, I would have. The flavor was good, and the meat was tender. I liked the accompanying green lentils served atop a portobello mushroom. But for some reason, I just wasn't blown away. Perhaps I was too full. And yet we had more food coming: dessert. My dessert, menage a trois of apples (ugh to the name), was truly phenomenal. I liked all three preparations, but their take on tarte tatin was my favorite. Friend wasn't crazy about the oreo kulfi profiteroles. The 'orgy' or what have you of chocolate was very good. A note on the service. After all of the talk about "movement training" and other bs, I was prepared to mock our server relentlessly. But the guy was great. His food recommendations were spot on (see: veal gnocchi) and I was extremely impressed by his knowledge of the wine list and his observation that I was squinting from the bright street light (he closed a curtain without a word, only a brief glance confirmed that it was me he was attempting to please). FBF picked up the tab, however if I had to guess, I'd say our dinner, with cocktails to start and a bottle of wine, fell somewhere in the $350 range before tip. When I'm at IndeBleu on my own dime, I'm pretty sure I'll stick with the bar menu, however the meal, for the most part, was a pleasant surprise.

"Liliputian" alert! I noticed it as a descriptor on IndeBleu's menu last night and apparently it shows up on CK's menu too.

I was there on Tuesday and we dined at the bar. At various points during the meal, my friend and I were fanning ourselves. The bartenders seem to have control over the ceiling fans, and for whatever reason, they sometimes slow them down. A lot. Anyway, we had a good meal. I wasn't all that jazzed about the potato and ham croquettes, but dessert was incredible: blackberry tart with cardamom ice cream. BLISS!

Heading to 2Amys tonight. I can't wait!

So, Il Crostino - anyone been yet?

Wow! I know where I want to dine when I'm next in Baltimore. Thanks for sharing, MissCindy.

I didn't see any progress when I walked by on Sunday. You can see in the windows, and there are the old chairs from the Bricks era scattered haphazzardly. A few bottles and cans sat abandoned on the bar. I felt like shouting 'come on people, wherever you are you should be working on this space!'

Homemade guacamole, chunky like at Rosa Mexicano. First time! Loved it.

The food court at 13/F Streets NW has reopened and I braved today's oppressive humidity to check it out. I had low expectations, thinking it would be more or less a lighter, brighter space (it was) but with the same players as before (wrong!). Five Guys has an outpost there. The line was LONG. I've never been that impressed through my visits to the H Street location so I kept looking. A sushi/Japanese joint (name forgotten) has not yet opened, but looks as if it's ready to. There's a pizza-by-the-slice spot that was doing heavy business, next to an also-popular Quizno's franchise. Meiwah Express is set to open tomorrow. Finally, there is Naan and Beyond which is where I picked up lunch. The menu is pretty brief - a few salads, a few sandwiches and entrees, all with Indian accents. The meat is spiced as you'd expect from an Indian restaurant and the sandwiches are served wrap-style on naan. Feeling hungry, I got both a vegetarian samosa ($1.25, I think) and a chicken tikka naan sandwich. The samosa was pretty darn good. I missed the light saucing that you tend to get in a sit down restaurant; instead I dunked the crisp fried crust into the "spice" sauce that came with my sandwich. A chicken samosa is also available. The sandwich ($5.95) is offered with chopped cabbage (I passed), tomato (not the best) and mayo (is that Indian??). Chunks of marinated, tender white meat were used and if you eat quickly, the bread will hold up. If, like me, you take a phone call during lunch...well, you're on your own. You can also get paneer, lamb, shrimp or beef versions of the sandwiches.

[posted in response to backlash re: a Restaurant Eve post] I'm having a flashback to when I posted on the other board about my first visit to Palena. Didn't have a good experience (sacrilege!) and received lots of negative feedback about my negative feedback. I *thought* I had noted sufficient conditions and caveats, but I was skewered for speaking my mind nonetheless. In my situation there was a happy ending: I returned to Palena (many time) and had mostly positive experiences. Still, that does not mean that I didn't correctly, or appropriately, post about my first experience. I really don't think the poster was trying to slam Restaurant Eve, and don't think he or she should be criticized or required to elaborate. My 2c.

Already committed, I believe. We discussed it in a different thread (and I'd post a link...if I could remember which! )

Picture it: Hot Saturday morning. Standing outside the car wash waiting for BF's filthy car. Parents due to arrive in town around noon. I really need coffee. Alas, stupid Sips still hasn't opened!! I peered (or attempted to peer) in the windows, still papered with logoed "coming soon" messages or some other nonsense. Lies!

Evan from Palena is/was employed by Komi too.

I got sucked in my aforementioned affection for corn chowder, my love of avocado and my newfound, uh, "interest" in lobster. But this was truly awful. The avocado was a little clump in the middle with something crunchy and oniony tasting. And the soup itself...irredeemable. I was hoping they would notice how little I ate and quietly remove it from the bill. They did not so I take responsibility for our paying for it - the dinner was one I was nervous about for non-food0-related reasons.

That's a very different menu than I remember seeing at Saint Ex. Then again, I have rarely been there sober.

I had another fabulous dinner at CPS last night. The hanger steak, served a perfect medium rare, creamed corn and the goat cheese pasta gratin (the first time I'd had it - so great). The only low point was the chilled corn chowder with lobster and avocado. I think someone may have tried to warn me (and the group) here or elsewhere, I have a hard time saying no to corn chowder. Damn, I should have listened. I really don't see how anyone can find this soup edible. We stuck with the cooler dessert menu options. Dad and BF both had the sorbets - I ate most of the raspberry. Mom had her own little sundae of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge. It's not on the menu, but our server was happy to oblige her request. A bit of weirdness: the presence of two separate really, really intoxicated folks, and one nearly naked prostitute (separate from the drunkards). One of the drunk guys nearly took me out as I headed to the ladies room and he was walking back to his table. He really couldn't remain upright and walking. The other guy was making all kinds of crazy animal noises as he and his friend dined at the table adjacent to ours. We ignored him, but on our way out, we saw the lovely host Martin trying to reason with him. Apparently he had paid his bill ($1,045), but not left a single dollar tip. Poor Martin somehow got charged with the task of conveying this information, and the guy was so drunk that he just didn't comprehend. As for the hooker, she was wearing a stretchy blue dress, kind of like a figure skater would wear, but cut down to...well, THERE. She made out intermittently with her really homely date. I don't get the logic of taking a hooker to CPS, but that's just me, I guess.

How I wish I remembered your heads up! Tried to have lunch with my mother at Palena yesterday. Does anyone have any guesses as to when the minestrone soup might make an appearance on the cafe menu? Are we talking...October maybe?

Is Corduroy open on Sunday nights?

Buck's has had a lobster roll (salad style) frequently this summer. Call ahead though because the menu changes daily.

Link to Weekly Dish re: Bar Pilar. Which I still haven't been to, by the way. Anyone wanna take me?

In brief, it was good, but not great. I liked the food, but the service was an abomination. And yet, my always generous friend who has been dining at Nora relatively regularly for a decade, tipped 35%. I'm having a hard time figuring out why the service was so bad, if we did something that made an initial impression of "this table will be a lousy tip" or what. We ordered quite a lot of wine (3-4 bottles for five people...I can't recall which it was. ), a good deal of food, dessert. We were polite and friendly. It's a jovial bunch. But our service actually seemed scornful and for that reason alone, I can't imagine choosing to go back. More later about the food...work calls.

Some friends and I are stopping at Helix for drinks before dinner at Nora. If anyone else is there, make sure to toast "To Rocks" loud enough so that I can hear you.

It's criminal that Ceiba isn't offering the churros as a dessert choice for RW.

I'm dining at Nora tonight for the first time. It is kind of a relief that the restaurant does not participate in RW.

Brunch there is pleasant. Especially when you consider that there aren't many (any?) options in Cleveland Park. Palena has lunch on Saturday, yes, but what else is there? I'd put it in the "moderate" category. Not cheap, but also not a $50 brunch-at-the Ritz either.