reedm

Thanks to ulrath's post, I stopped by for lunch today. Since I thought my wife would like me to bring lunch home, I ordered enough for two. As it turns out, she wasn't going to be home, so I ordered way too much food, but got to sample a variety of items. I'd rate the fish at least a 9, particularly since this is a fast casual (I don't really like that term) restaurant. The fish was perfectly cooked, fresh, and quite delicious. The fries were cooked properly, but unremarkable. Coincidentally, I ordered a barbacoa taco and a carnitas taco. Both were ample portions, and I agree that the fresh corn tortillas were tasty. I also ordered a chicken mole tamale, which was obviously house made. It could have used a bit more seasoning, but it was also satisfying. The lady running the register was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the restaurant was very clean and modern looking inside. Great to see a promising new spot in the area.

Plenty of great ideas already, and it certainly depends on what your guests are likely to enjoy. Rasika or Rasika West End Fiola or Fiola Mare Old Ebbitt Grill (Don't hate me--it can be a great spot depending upon your needs) Hill Country Barbecue

Fabio Trabbochi's restaurants have become a bit of birthday tradition in my family, so my wife's request for a birthday dinner at Fiola was an easy choice. Fiola remains a top choice in DC; the food, the service, and the hospitality is certainly first rate. Fiola is still very expensive for dinner, so for me, it will remains a special occasion destination. First, I incorrectly assumed the $40 negroni was the most expensive cocktail in town. I overlooked "Cocktail Bill", a drink featuring Willett 8 year cask strength rye, and priced at $45. (in the unlikely event anyone from Fiola reads this, Willette is spelled incorrectly on the menu.) I opted for the more reasonably priced Fiola G&T. It featured a "seasonal ice", which appeared to be a frozen berry puree, as well as some edible flowers. My wife enjoyed a seasonal mint julep, and my daughter really loved her Pom Pom Fizz, a tangy blend of pomegranate juice, lime juice, and ginger beer. The main dining are was packed, surprising for 7pm on a Wednesday, and there was also a large private party taking place. Our server, while friendly and polite, seemed a bit flustered initially, and the pacing was a bit off. It took quite a while for our appetizers to arrive, but Fiola's knack for hospitality turned a minor inconvenience into a nice memory when we were provided with half a dozen Shigoku oysters. Trabocchi's restaurants prepares seafood better than anywhere else I know of, and their version of oysters, served with a touch of caviar and a lemon granita, is one of my favorites. Another item Fiola has mastered is burrata, and predictably, that was what my wife ordered. Similarly, my daughter remembered the tuna carpaccio from a previous visit. Both were as delicious as they had been before. I opted for the "Flight of Duck", a decadent trio composed of a generous serving of foie gras, thinly sliced smoked duck breast and poached figs, and a beautiful duck egg. My wife and daughter chose pasta as their entrees, and selected the tajarin "Al Frutti Di Mare" and the cavatelli amatriciana. The pasta, prepared tableside, was full of perfectly cooked seafood, and the tangy brodetto accentuated the freshness of the seafood. The ricotta cavatelli was delicious as well, and the amatriciana sauce was velvety and rich. I had a tough time picking an entree, but my wife wanted to taste the signature veal chop, and since it was her birthday, I played along. The chop was impossibly tender, and enveloped in what I believe was a mushroom duxelle, and then wrapped in ultra thin prosciutto. The accompanying mushrooms were perfectly cooked, and made for a rich side dish. The porcini crema and ossobuco jus were incredible, and complemented the veal nicely. Since I was driving, I behaved myself and had a single glass of a super tuscan wine, but I don't recall the details. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening, and Maria Trabocchi chatted with us for a bit. She mentioned that they keep notes on their guests, and said we had the best seat in the house. That was certainly a nice touch, one that I appreciated and had not requested. The banquette provided a view of the entire room, and it was fun to people watch, and observe the staff as they went about their business. If I lived or worked closer to downtown DC, I'd visit more frequently for lunch and/or happy hour. Looking forward to our next visit already!

Heading there tomorrow for a birthday dinner. While scanning the menu, I noticed they now offer a $40 negroni. That price makes Capella's $22 Manhattan look like a bargain.

Finally managed to make it there for lunch yesterday. I will agree the place is a bit challenging to sort out, but in the end, the food was delicious, and if I lived closer, I would be a frequent customer. As I may have mentioned in another thread, I'm a "customer friend" of James, and he always impressed me with his Union Market offerings. He was working when we visited, so I was able to talk a bit about the concept, ordering, etc. When we visited, the cooking/prep area was in full swing, but it was apparent customers were not seated in the area. I learned the area is used for seating only in the evening, as is the bar, and that the open areas, while used for lunch, are for socializing, etc. (I didn't ask him, but it certainly seemed the "controversial" plastic ware is for lunch only.) The soup was delicious, as was the num pang. The pork buns were great, as were the leek buns. The portions are quite large, and although we should have known better, we over ordered. Bonus points for the choice of still or sparkling bottled water that is free of charge (the name escapes me). The retail goods were interesting, and although I'm older than their target demographic, that part of Maketto did not dominate the space. Overall, I agree that this is a cool concept. While it is new, Maketto is unique in the area, and deserves some slack as it gains its footing.

I'd certainly consider Casa Luca. I'm a huge fan of Trabocchi's DC restaurants--they are pricey, but well worth the money. I've eaten at Casa Luca only once, and that was for lunch, but I think you'll find it is well regarded. I'll add Del Campo as well. Even though it features beef, I wouldn't categorize it as a standard steakhouse.

And I thought there was a dog connection... Are you going to post about Toki? I've been there a handful of times and found the ramen to be uniformly delicious.

My second and final guess; TKO burger.

Kangaroo Boxing Club

Green Pig was my local place for about a year. They endured a mediocre review from Sietsema, but survived and have thrived since. I have always felt the review was the best thing that could have happened, since it allowed them to grow a bit, work out the kinks, etc. Sietsema's follow-on review was much more complimentary and realistic. (More to that story some day) Best bacon cheeseburger in town, awesome "buffalo" ribs, snail toast, I could go on. I know many don't care for Rose's policies, but I truly enjoyed it both times I went.

Three very different ideas for you: Central serves up a high end and unique version that's hard to beat. I believe they used to serve it "to go", but I've never done that. Rose's Luxury's pickle-brined chicken is outstanding. Not sure if they serve it regularly, and of course the wait may be a factor. My dark horse is Green Pig Bistro in Arlington. It's their blue plate special on Monday's, and although I haven't had it in some time, it has remained on the menu for good reason. I'll add a fourth: Popeye's is really hard to beat, as long as it is fresh.

I haven't been to Rogue 24 yet, but I'm a big fan of Gypsy Soul. Sounds like an easy choice! (Note to self: get to Rogue 24)

Great post, but your first sentence made me laugh out loud. I certainly know what you mean when you are tempted to invoke the 5 second rule when overpriced food drops to the ground.

Great review. I fully agree with your comments about the high prices. The food should be memorable at $200 per person. In my mind, all of Trabocchi's places are a better value. Despite my brief description of dinner, our experiences were very similar, and you did a great job describing your meal. ( I thought the consomme was superb, and forgot about the annoying spoon! lol)

I didn't intend to take issue with your observations; I was merely adding my own opinion. Your point that my comments were based on one visit is well taken, so I will give them another go at some point. If I remember correctly, I had eaten something else at UM, and wanted a smaller portion of something, and the sausage seemed to be the logical choice at the time. Offline loyalties? I'm not quite sure what you mean. I'm admittedly a bit selective about the quality of barbecue, and I'm not bound to any regional variations, and I really don't care much about the background of a cook/chef/pitmaster. I'm certainly a bit biased because I lived in the Austin area for more than 12 years (all pre-Franklin), and I've driven my family a bit crazy with road trips to places like Cooper's in Llano and Kreuz's, Black's, and Smitty's in Lockhart. To my disappointment, great barbecue in this area is tough to find. In addition to DCity, I'm a fan of Hill Country, despite the DC prices. I've tried Willard's a few times, and didn't find enough to like to make me drive out of my way to get food there. As for "feeling the need" to return, I mean that I have a handful of personal favorites which seem to take priority when I'm at UM. If the BBQ Joint was close to Fairfax, I might be a regular. (My favorites are the Maketto pop-up, Red Apron, Rappahannock, and District Fishwife, not necessarily in order.) My "dodging the locals" comment was my attempt to convey my opinion that DCity is in a part of town that is less than comfortable for many. During one visit, a rather large "gentleman" followed me down the alley briefly and shouted at me asking for money. (His female companion convinced him to let it go). Parking is also hard to come by. In short, it's more challenging than UM, in my opinion. Finally, I've eaten at DCity four times, and found everything to be delicious. I highly recommend the Meaty Palmer, one of the best bbq sandwiches I've ever had, as well as the brisket champ, the pork ribs, and the wings. The pickles are delicious as well. I love to cook, grill, barbecue, and smoke (on my Big Green Egg, that is), but I'm not a chef, and I'm certainly not affiliated with DCity. Thanks for your comments.

I've got to tell you Andrew Evans' reheated barbecue is nowhere close to being as good as DCity Smokehouse's offerings. I'm willing to write some of that off to the logistical challenges, but very little given the prices. More than once, I've driven out of my way to go to DCity, and I've found parking spots after long searches. I've even dodged some of the locals who were less than welcoming. On the other hand, I've been to UM on a regular basis, and after my first experience, I've never felt the need to return.

Four of us enjoyed a great evening this past Saturday. Two of us ordered the tasting menu, and our wives ordered a la carte. I don't have time to provide details now, but we enjoyed every minute of it. Highlights included the duck (incredibly complex sauce featuring harissa--much more like a mole), the consomme, and the goose egg ravioli. I'm don't typically focus on desserts, but their offerings were incredible. In particular, the madeleine offering was superb. Buttery, crunchy, not too rich, and smooth. Their pastry/dessert chef is amazing. To top it off, Keith is a master sommelier, one of only four in the DC area, and he hit a home run with the wine pairings, as well as with the by the glass offerings. Service was beyond my expectation, and I'd return again. Prices were fair, but be advised we spent about $200 per person, inclusive of tax and tip. Cheers.

There are a few excellent spots to eat in Union Market, but one of us usually ends up with a bowl of soup from James at the Maketto pop-up whenever we stop by on the weekend. Some time ago, we also had the Laotian fish curry, and while delicious, it was incredibly spicy. James is indeed as nice as they come, and every soup he produces is exceptional. Last weekend, it was "Cambodian Pho"; not spicy, but it was perfect in every way. We're also big fans of Toki, and my favorite is the Kimchi ramen, which when compared to the Lao fish curry, is not nearly as spicy. (Getting hungry as I type this...) Stop by Honeycomb, their small asian goods store in UM. They make many of the products themselves, and there is always something new and creative, including pickled vegetables and kombucha. I'm looking forward to checking out Maketto when it opens. Word has it that it should be open in a matter of weeks.

It's certainly not a restaurant, as there is no indoor seating. (The clam chowder will taste delicious while eaten in a car, though...)

Been there a couple of times, and I'm a fan. A family-owned business whose regular trips to Maine developed into a business. I've ordered live lobsters and they were fresh and delicious. I've also had their excellent lobster rolls as well as their clam chowder. They do supply lobsters to many of the area's name restaurants (Jose Andres restaurants, for instance) The comment about the industrial park was spot on. I initially stumbled across the place while I was on the way to an auto body shop.

Not sure about the first web site, but I used online ordering from the second, and it worked just fine.

I'm not sure, but I do know everything they make is fresh and delicious. They also appear to quietly partner with other Union Market vendors.

Their fresh seafood is undoubtedly excellent, albeit expensive at times. That said, fresh seafood is worth the price. I believe their prepared foods are under appreciated. Don't miss the fried cod and chips whenever they have it. Their curry dishes are also quite delicious.

I must have visited on an off day. Shortly after they opened, I tried their sausage, and it was unremarkable. The cheese permeated the sausage, but it was in very small cubes, and the texture was much too fine for my taste. The corn muffins are vastly over priced, even at $1.25, since they are tiny. Union Market can be pricey, but this outlet does not offer much value, particularly if you know DCity Smokehouse serves up much better barbecue at a better price, and it's a short drive away.

Chuy's is not only good--it's great. They make everything from scratch, the prices are good, and the food and drink is tex-mex without apology. I spent some of my best years in Austin, and ate at the original Chuy's in the early 80's. A few years ago, I lived in a town just north of Austin, and the Round Rock Chuy's took me back to the original location.