youngfood
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Everything posted by youngfood
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The Atlas Room has a new menu. They've dropped the 3 sizes organized by protein format in favor of a more traditional list of appetizers and entrees. It looks like most of the apps are on the larger size. They've added more seafood and as something of a regular here, I'm pleased to see it. We're huge fans of the place, but at times felt like the menu wasn't changing enough over time and I understand the new more traditional menu format is intended in part to allow more change. There's also a new sous chef in the kitchen whose pedigree I understand includes stints at Le Bernadin, West End, and the Oval Room. The cooking on our recent visit showed suggested that he's added more finesse to what was already the best kitchen in the eastern half of the city. If you haven't been recently, I'd recommend checking the Atlas Room out again soon. Their bartender is terrific, their service is friendly and informed, and their food never disappoints. And, conveniently, it still seems to be a pretty easy place to get a table.
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- H Street Corridor
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I wasn't suggesting that's where you came up with it, rather that the neighborhood blog that has been reporting heavily on Frager's post-fire was more likely to have picked it up from the note that Frager's sent to their list. Anyway, It was a good guess and I wondered / hoped the same when I saw that space might be available. Fingers crossed, we'll see the rest of their hardward store services available again soon. I know my house is suffering from lack of upkeep and repair in the meantime.
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Point taken, but I suspect this was picked up from the email excerpted below that Frager's sent it's customers announcing the new paint store on Tuesday.
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This is the same bread they've served since day one. You can taste the honey in it, so I suspect the suggestion that it is Dabo/Ethiopian honey bread is correct.
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We had a pretty disappointing meal at Le Diplomate last night. I'm sure it's tough being as popular as they are and I still thought they delivered reasonable value, but the flaws were far too many for somewhere that Sietsema granted 3 stars. First, we weren't seated until 30 minutes after our reservation. I gather they're popular, can't remove people from tables, and probably have a lot of customers who don't care about this sort of thing, but we did. And, there wasn't so much as a sheepish apology. I didn't expect a round of drinks, but some sense that they actually wanted us to stay and enjoy ourselves or cared about our time (and running babysitting tab) would have been welcome. Second, the food and service were both good, but not great. Our server was clearly new, and they were obviously busy, but there were a few notable flaws. I asked for the $27 bottle of rose that Sietsema recommended, but instead was served a different $40 bottle. The wait for our food suggested as HillValley inferred that the restaurant is too big for its kitchen. Finally, while I don't expect the server to have tried every dish on the menu, I do expect their staff to be able to tell me what it means that the Veal is "Escalope" or to at least endeavor to find out. Finally, the noise level was borderline unbearable and is probably what will keep us away until it is addressed. I realize folks have different impression of what is a lively atmosphere and what is too loud to hear, but we literally had trouble hearing each other even when leaning over the table towards one another. It's wonderful that they spent so much money creating a gorgeous restaurant, but I really hope for their sake that they will invest in some sound buffering. I don't think we'll go back until they do. Until then, I'm with Kliman's wife and am more likely to hit the less exotic Le Grenier.
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They're still doing daily chalkboard specials. Not sure if Ryan is creating them or someone in the kitchen, but the specials menu lives on.
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I don't believe they plan to hire another notable name as chef. That said, IMHO the fish n chips has always been one of the very best items here (we order it nearly every time we visit) and it hasn't changed a bit through the three different chefs they've had. So while some kitchen drop off seems likely -- I'll certainly miss Chef Bonk's daily fresh pasta specials -- I don't think you should assume that the food wont continue to justify coming here. The owners are food people, have always wanted to serve good food, and I'm certain they're not walking away from that.
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- H Street Corridor
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We had a very similar first visit here recently. I wish I'd been before the changes as our experience watching the Chef cook at his former restaurant was one of our all time favorites.
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The crab purveyor is Shells Yes. His crab cakes are not cheap, but 100% jumbo lump and quite delicious. We like them better than Chris' Marketplace from the Dupont Market. He also sells lump crab meat by the pound, which is a better deal if you can't stomach the price on his jumbo lump crab cakes. We only tried one of the Frenchie's croissants, but it was other worldly. They're quite large and very buttery, which is an extremely good thing as they use Tricking Springs butter. Both of Shells Yes and Frenchie's are very welcome additions to the market.
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Anyone been lately who can chime in on how crazy the waits are these days? We're planning to finally try it on Saturday, but almost will have to arrive after their 5:30 opening. I'm happy to grab drinks at Sushi Taro while we wait, but don't want to trek over there if the wait for 2 at 6:30 is going to be 3-4 hours.
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Same. Proof is my go-to (though I am less found of the recent preps with veal tongue), but Boundary Road's are a nice alternative as they are grilled, which I've not seen elsewhere.
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The Navy Yard with house made sausage is pretty terrific. The specials are usually good. We enjoy the sandwiches almost as much as the pizzas, especially the veggie one.
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I've been wondering what that construction was about.
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For my money, this place might have the best pizza in town. The crust is just about perfect in every way. The sandwiches though are every bit the equal of the pizzas here. I particularly recommend the veggie sandwich, which is hearty enough to satisfy even the most carnivorous among us. They bake the bread for each sandwich fresh and the ingredients are of the same quality you'd expect to find at Montmartre next door.
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Pattison Ave is my go-to at Taylor and I've probably had it about 20 times. They are a bit inconsistent, but it's a great order there and I prefer it to any of their cold cut subs by far. I also prefer the chicken cutlets to the cold cut options. Hoagies aside, their risotto balls, cookies, and cannollie are very good. Some of the salads, such as the Love Park with pastini, are quite good too.
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Making my first trip here for a celebratory meal soon. Any advice on what to eat, drink, or otherwise? Hope the paucity of recent postings isn't a sign we waited too long to finally try this place.
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Eataly DC - Possibly To Open in The Area
youngfood replied to weinoo's topic in Shopping and Cooking
It's hard to figure out where it would/could work. Could it work for the boarded up spot at the corner of 7th & H NW? That'd be a great location for it though it might be too small. If not, it seems like you need to compromise a bit on location/foot traffic to find that kind of space. Maybe an unbuilt building on the close in edges of the Hill. There's something slated for 2nd & H NE that would fit that billing, provide good access to Union Station/Hill staff/NoMa and which would suit me well. Where else can you find an entire city block of ground level retail available that is readily attainable by a lot folks? -
Chris is a good bartender and can make whatever you like for the most part. My usual order is an off menu manhattan like drink he calls the Omerta. If you like the Palena manhattan or a Carpano Antica Formula manhattan, you'll love this. IIRC, he's behind bar every night, but Tuesday.
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Agreed. Love asking for wine pairings here. Also, if you are celebrating and like cocktails, Adam puts together some really incredible cocktails. He made me a birthday whiskey sour a couple years back that might be my all time favorite cocktail. Consider starting with a cockail and enjoying it over a leisurely read of the menu. We were there over the weekend and I'd been meaning to post a few new highlights. First, they're making their own mozzerella in house now, fresh daily. Apparently they prep it right before dinner service, so it's super fresh. This seems to have replaced burrata on the apps menu and comes with heirloom tomatoes, basil, a la caprese. It's very good. Second, the current prep of the gnocchi is my favorite in quite some time. Very summery with tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, and corn. We've always liked the gnocchi here, but this version is especially good. Third, they still have softshells on the dinner menu and they're simply prepared, but meaty and not overly fried or breaded the way some places do. Overall, order whatever looks good to you. We love creating our own tasting menus and letting them surprise us with wines when we have the time and the money to enjoy a big night out here. I continue to be thoroughly impressed with the staff here, which has had incredibly little turnover over the years. I still recognize not only the managerial level folks, but a handful of the servers and even a busboy who I think have almost been here since they opened. It's impressive and surely one reason why they always do such a good job.
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Meh on the lobster rolls. A welcome addition to the area, but surprisingly uninspired for a place that's supposed to specialize in them. I've had worse, but I've had many that were much better. Can't compare to Freddy's, but I strongly prefer the ones at Liberty Tree on H Street.
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It's a heavier sandwich, but I've never found it bland. Sounds to me like you may have had a poorly executed sandwich. I'm firmly convinced the Pattison Ave is the best sandwich to get at Taylor.
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We've been once and liked it. Holding off on saying much until we've been again, but the crabcakes and shrimp and grits are both very good as you would expect from a Chef of Todd Gray's caliber. The crabcakes are more like the ones you get from Chris's Marketplace at Dupont or Penn Quarter Farmers' Market than any others I've had, which to me is a very good thing. It's good, not fried seafood at reasonable prices, which I've found is almost nonexistent in this town.
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Their pastrami is to die for. The hot dogs don't do it for me, though I understand they are popular.
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Cheers, Don! The guy's rhetoric is a bit much and his burgers are Five Guys caliber, which is to say not first or second rate. If you want a good burger in the Capitol HIll neighborhood, try Smith Commons or Queen Vic on H Street or the mini burgers at Matchbox all of which can be ordered to medium rare and exceed the offerings at "Good Stuff" in my experience.
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Dangerously Delicious Pies (1339 H St NE) does a pretty good one.
