jpbloom

I used to eat lunch at Mister Days frequently in the late '80s, but I really liked Captain Days, their short lived seafood restaurant.  Clearly not many other people did, because it was always pretty empty.

Last service is tonight.  The notice said the new owners want to go in a new direction.  I always thought it was decent, but the limited and unchanging menu made me not want to return frequently.

That's a shame - I get sandwiches there every Saturday I'm in town (which I wasn't last week, so I didn't see anything about this).  That being said, it's usually pretty empty when I'm there.

It would appear, after a change in ownership last year, Le Mediterranean Bistro is now closed.

51 minutes ago, Pool Boy said:

He had higher expectations due to the cost. Yada yada yada.

I've only been to Mirabelle for a set menu wine dinner (noted above) so I won't venture an opinion on what it's like on a normal night.  But why is price not a reasonable factor to consider when reviewing a restaurant?  Personally I judge a restaurant differently if it's going to cost me $200+ or $300+ (wine always bumps up the cost for me) than if it's going to cost me $100+. I expect reviewers to do the same.  If I'm paying significantly more, I definitely expect more.  If not, why should I be paying more?

On 7/14/2017 at 9:54 PM, Go for Gin said:

MC Horoscope and I went tonight and thought it was fantastic.  We had the sommelier arrange wine pairings and each one went perfectly with our courses.  We hope to make it back before the end of the month.  We’re going to miss this place!

You might have been at the table next to us.  We got a bottle of white and a bottle of red - have to help move inventory. 

An excellent tasting menu made us recall how many great meals we've had at Grapeseed.  I'm sure we would have dined there much more often if it didn't mean crossing the river.  It will be missed.

Unfortunately can't make it on Wednesday but going for dinner tonight.

9 hours ago, Pool Boy said:

We went again with friends to the Peay Wine dinner there recently. A little tight, a little noisy, but food was great and a great time. Notes to follow.

I was there for the Peay dinner as well.  My first time at Mirabelle and unfair to judge based on a group dinner/set menu like that, but definitely interesting enough to make me want to go back soon. 

Quick additional point about La Perla.  My firm represented Chef Testa back in the 80s when he left Filomena and started Leonardo da Vinci.  As a result, I ate at Leonardo numerous times and based on that, although it's been close to 30 years, I have no desire to go to La Perla, particularly for a group dinner.

On 5/7/2017 at 9:19 AM, DonRocks said:

What happened is that when it opened, the three-person kitchen consisted of Peter Pastan, Frank Ruta, and Emily Kaiser. 

I was assured by someone in the industry that "Obelisk was back" about 7-8 years ago; it wasn't back.

Obelisk was the most interesting and possibly the best restaurant in the DC area in the 1980s (Don't forget we also had Jean-Pierre Goyenvalle at Le Lion d'Or, and that Gerard Pangaud was at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City not long afterwards). Obelisk would have held its own in New York or San Francisco as well - I cannot over-emphasize just how great and revolutionary this restaurant was, and the wine list was priced at double-wholesale: See if you can find anywhere in the area that does that now.

I'll agree with this except I thought Le Lion d'Or was overrated (but that may be because they treated young diners very poorly).  I would have put Yannick Cam at Le Pavillon in this list, at least for part of the '80s.

(Sorry for the thread drift.  To the original point, I agree that Obelisk was great then but is not back, not by a long shot.) 

I also renewed a few months ago, having signed up in late 2011.  Interesting how the interview timing has changed.  My wife and I got ours at Dulles about a week after we signed up and we did it together.  It was worth it even before the Pre-Check benefit (Pre-Check wasn't available then).  I've gotten very spoiled by GE and I'm only outside the country 4 or 5 times a year. 

I just returned from a very nice lunch at Iron Gate, my first time back in a couple of years since I no longer work downtown.  Very tasty stuff across the board, particularly the hummus, the smoked cod bruschetta, the chicken kalamaki and the house made cotechino.  Topped off with a nice glass of Xinomavro.  I have to say, though, that sitting by the fire would have been much nicer if the temperature outside really felt like March 1.  I'll definitely be back.

I didn't think twice about the name either (I have several Ah-Sos), but I can now see it being an issue if he's trying to appeal to a non-wine crowd.  Even some of my wine drinking friends are not really familiar with the Ah-So, for that matter. 

On 2/9/2017 at 2:06 PM, DonRocks said:

I have it on good word that Jason Maddens is no longer at Clarity.

This would appear to be the case.  He is doing a pop-up this week at Stone Tower Winery and is apparently planning a restaurant in Leesburg to be called Ah-So (as in the two-pronged cork puller).

39 minutes ago, lovehockey said:

If nobody knows, why change right now? 

I bet it's more of a get-backsides-in-the-seats situation.  And I give them credit for realizing they needed to change things now.

I agree with you 100%.  I was just commenting on the uncertainty of whether they will succeed with the new approach. 

To a large degree the success under the new approach may depend on how much the old approach turned people off.  I would have thought nothing of dropping $95 pp for a tasting menu from a chef whose style looked interesting if the early reviews suggested the quality was there, knowing the total tab after wine, tax and tip could be $400 plus.  I will not do so at Shaw Bijou, though, because the arrogance of original concept left such a sour taste (no pun intended).  There are plenty of places in town where I know that kind of money will get a great meal.

There is also the new administration to consider.  Those of us who have been here a while know the city, and particularly its dining scene, can change dramatically with a new administration and the people it attracts to town.  At this point nobody has any idea what changes may come our way.  

On 12/23/2016 at 3:23 PM, JBag57 said:

Chiming in on the "help people park" aspect.  There is a small lot directly behind the Chase building that is for patrons of the four (?) businesses in that small strip.  Maybe about 10 spaces, but I have usually been able to park there.  The driveway to the lot is on the West side of the strip (to the right, when facing the strip, opposite the end that Chase is on).  There is no rear entrance to Chase, you have to walk back up the driveway to the sidewalk.

Actually there is a rear entrance to Chase and parking in the back is definitely the way to go.  The entrance is at the far right of the back deck, just past the pottery studio. It lets you into Chase in the back near the restroom. 

Pho N More is no more.  While never great, it had decent and reliable noodle soups that I'll miss.

On 9/14/2016 at 2:21 PM, dracisk said:

in Kansas City, KS, so I can tick Kansas off as a state I've visited ... it's the important things in life)

We were there over Labor Day weekend primarily for this purpose - had never been to Missouri or Kansas.  Have now been to 48 states.

We had great barbecue at Q39, which has the major advantage of taking reservations (I don't handle hour plus waits well).  We had wanted to go to Bluestem but couldn't get in, and instead went to Rye, their new Southern comfort food outpost.  An excellent meal but not upscale (specialty is fried chicken).  Our upscale meal was at Story, which was a big disappointment, service issues not overcome by food that was just okay. 

Well that didn't last long.  Basillini is closed.  I only went once and was not very impressed.

We had a couple of very nice pizzas and a bottle of decent and relatively inexpensive wine last night before the John Oliver show.  This is a very good option for a quick meal before a show, particularly if you have trouble walking long distances like I do.  Literally across the street from the parking lot entrance.

On 7/3/2016 at 9:20 AM, DonRocks said:

"Medford's ITA101 Serves Up Seasonality and Refined Simplicity with Fresh Pastas and Seafood" by Craig LaBan on philly.com

For those of you wanting a taste of Italy in New Jersey, even closer to the city, last autumn I had the pleasure of dining at another BYOB in Collingswood: Zeppoli - it's a 35-seat restaurant, and *very* popular in Collingswood, so make sure to get a reservation - dress is extremely casual, but the food and service are both terrific (it has been a James Beard semifinalist for four consecutive years (2013-2016), even though you wouldn't think it when you set foot in the door).

Zeppoli is a very good restaurant indeed.  We've been there several times when staying in South Jersey on the way up to see my dad.  Be forewarned, though - it is VERY tight quarters and can get quite loud.

Heading to Evo Bistro for an early dinner last night, I remembered Social was in that strip so we decided to give it a try.  Not cheap (with a similar wine but with one extra glass and for the same number of courses, about 40% more than our tab at Requin the night before), but everything was good enough to make us want to return.  I started with an assortment of oysters, all very rich and briny.  Strange accompaniments, though - a kind of sweet cocktail sauce and a tom yum sauce - they were better on their own.  My wife enjoyed her crab cake - very little filler and good quality crab.  Personally, I thought it was good but could have used a little more seasoning.  The mains were both very successful.  I really enjoyed my sauteed soft shells - big crabs prepared very well and lightly but nicely seasoned.  My wife really enjoyed her rabbit dish, which I did not taste but the extra of which I will have this afternoon for lunch.  Portions are big, neither a positive or negative for me but just an observation worth noting.

Overall a very positive experience and we will definitely return.  At least on a Saturday night, it pays to have reservations because it is small.  We got a table because we were there before 7:00 but others without reservations who came in later got seated at the counter or turned away.

We had our second visit to Requin Friday night with the same feeling as before - good enough to want to go back but not good enough to make it a rush.  My wife really enjoyed her onion soup and would definitely order it again.  My baby octopus, on the other hand, were very tough to enjoy (literally) - with the slightly burnt ends, it was like eating crispy rubber bands.  I expect baby octopus to be somewhat chewy but this went too far, and they had no flavor.  The snapper saved the meal.  Whole fish, very nicely prepared, served filleted with the head and tail, accompanying by well seasoned and crispy vegetables.  The pork chop (which we had considered) at the next table looked much less satisfying, so we were happy with our choice. 

Not sure when it happened, but Olivia's Diner is closed.  Based on my two visits several months back, I'm not surprised nor upset.  Very weak service and meh food each time.