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jpbloom

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  1. jpbloom
    Okay, I won't call anyone an idiot in big red letters but you are really missing out if you don't take advantage of the deal Jeff is offering. Tonight was the second time the schedule permitted us to go and again it didn't disappoint. Every course was very tasty and all of the wines paired beautifully (I'm not usually a wine pairing guy, preferring a bottle of my own choice, but it's tough to pass up this offer and the pairings were well matched). I don't think I've ever had fried quail before but it was a treat, the meat remaining moist and tender and flavorful. Thanks, Jeff, for making these dinners available.
  2. jpbloom
    Just back from Grapeseed and I have to say, that was a really nice meal and what a bah-gin [scroll up two posts for the details]. The prawns were the stand out but everything was very tasty and the wine pairings (slightly different from what is noted above) were perfect for each course. The only minor complaint is that even for one like me who likes bleu cheese, the cheese with the duck was a tad intense. To anyone considering this deal, go if you can. You won't regret it.
  3. jpbloom
    My wife doesn't do mushrooms or I would be there without question.
  4. jpbloom
    I don't know who was in the kitchen a week and a half ago on Saturday night, but whoever it was is worth keeping. All of the food was excellent, actually better than our last couple of visits. Service was good and it's nice to know this is worth keeping on our list.
  5. jpbloom
    Nothing like waiting until the last minute but we finally made it on Monday to Dino for the Montalcino anniversary dinner and I'm so glad we did. One tasty course after another with very good wines to match. A very good start with the free anniversary wine, a 1997 Ridge Syrah (I know, not terribly Tuscan but excellent nonetheless). I enjoyed my lamb crostini duo while my wife enjoyed her Bruschetta di Pomodoro. We both then had the Cinghiale Bianco, followed by the Scottiglia, which was great. The only bad part of the meal was that we were so full by the end, it was tough to appreciate the cheese course fully. If you see any of these on the menu, they are definitely worth your consideration. We're off to Montalcino in early September so this was a very pleasant hint of what to expect.
  6. jpbloom
    I'll join the chorus of moderately pleasant and decent service. While nothing has wowed me, it's a nice place to stop in for a casual dinner. Sure, stuff happens sometimes, but hard to imagine a "horrid" experience there on multiple occasions
  7. jpbloom
    I'm having a very hard time understanding what happened at our dinner at Marcel's. We were there Sunday night for my birthday. I had only been there once before, several years ago for lunch; my wife had never been. It was like we each had two different meals. For the first three courses of a six course meal, the service was impeccable and the food was excellent, such that we were ready to call it one of the top restaurants in DC. Pacing was good, water and wine glasses were refilled promptly, various people checked on how things were, and some courses made you go "wow" (like the lobster bisque amuse, my sardine with pesto, my wife's lobster pasta). For some reason, things just went south the second half of the meal, with both service and food. Pacing seemed off, such that dinner began to drag on (we ended up being there three hours, longer than the meal justified with people who came in after us leaving well before). My sweetbreads were burned on the bottom, my wife's lamb was overcooked and the phyllo burned on the bottom as well. Wine service became virtually non-existent, such that I had to pour for myself at one point after the glass sat empty for quite a while (which I don't really mind in some situations, but we had $250 worth of wine and the decanter was an interesting design but a type I had not used before). The table next to us had wine pairings with each course and I noticed that, at the time I was pouring my own, they were halfway through a course before the wine paired with it was poured. Despite those issues, nobody came by during the second half to ask how things were, or we would have commented. While I realize everyone has off nights, I'm having a hard time understanding the inconsistency on one night. At those prices, I am not likely to try Marcel's again to see if they can deliver the high level we saw at the beginning throughout the meal.
  8. jpbloom
    +1. We were there for dinner Wednesday night. After excellent drinks at the bar, we had a very good meal but I had hoped for more, in part from absolutely loving every meal I had at Maestro and in part from the buzz here. I had the seafood spaghetti and the veal chop, while my wife had the meatballs and the lobster ravioli. My pasta was very good, with very fresh and flavorful seafood. While quite tasty, the veal chop did not wow me either, and I don't think I would order it again. My wife really enjoyed the meatballs but was unimpressed with the ravioli. I'm sure we'll go back, because a number of things on the menu tempted us, but we'll go in with lowered expectations.
  9. jpbloom
    Chilhowie We had reservations at Town House at the end of March, but were just told that John and Karen Shields are pursuing "a new culinary opportunity" so the restaurant will not be re-opening after its winter break. Shame I didn't make it there in time. Any recommendations for an alternative in that part of the state? We'll be stopping on a drive down to Asheville for a wedding.
  10. jpbloom
    Very sorry we'll still be out of town on our Thanksgiving trip that night. Looks great.
  11. jpbloom
    We finally gave this a try about two weeks ago. Okay, maybe we went on an off night or you all have different taste in sushi than my wife and I, but we thought this place was just awful. Whenever we try a new sushi place, we order certain standards to be able to compare apples to apples. The rice on all of the nigiri fell apart and the fish had no taste whatsoever (except for a very good hokkigai). The worst was the spicy tuna roll, which had no spice and tasted like the type of canned tuna people often refer to derisively as cat food. When you add the higher than average pricing and occasional difficult parking in that area, it's very unlikely we'll give it a second chance.
  12. jpbloom
    That's been my experience each time I've been there. It has an appeal for me because it's close, but I wouldn't go significantly out of my way for it.
  13. jpbloom
    When this was a test concept restaurant in Orlando, it was excellent. The menu changed each week (hence Seasons 52) and it was designed to focus on what was fresh at the time. As the concept developed, though, it went to a "seasonal" menu and has now fallen into a corporate sameness that mars their other chains. While they're better than their other chains and they do offer healthy items, they are serviceable and functional and completely unexciting. It's a shame - I had hopes for the concept. I end up going to the Boca and West Palm outlets relatively frequently (the in-laws and co-workers love it) and have been to Orlando and Atlanta several times as well, and they're all pretty much the same. Decent wine by the glass program, though.
  14. jpbloom
    This is really a shame, and I really do wish the best for a bunch of very talented people. In addition to reduced expense account dinners and Tysons traffic issues, though, it's potentially people like me who contributed to this. I really loved 2941 when Jonathan Krinn was there, and thought nothing of dropping a couple of hundred dolars for a spur of the moment dinner there, doing so on a somewhat regular basis. I was so looking forward to Inox that I made sure I was there on the very first day for the soft opening. That being said, times have changed. I only made it to Inox a relatively few times and while I really enjoyed my meals, I'm much more hesitant to spend that kind of money than I used to be. I'm sure there are others like me and when you add in a road situation that gets worse every day, it seems this was inevitable.
  15. jpbloom
    Boy, I go out of the country for two weeks and things fall apart. Inox and Sakana both closed? Ouch. While I rarely ate at Sakana in-house, I was a regular carry out customer, going several times a month. MJ and Ken were great. I wish them the very best of luck wherever they end up.
  16. jpbloom
    I understand and agree with this conceptually. Personally I just don't think Cafe Renaissance delivers well on what it tries to do. P.S. Gushing over classic French at Le Canard might be difficult, as it's been Maplewood Grill for close to a year now (albeit with some of the same stuff still on the menu).
  17. jpbloom
    I live within walking distance and have just never gotten the appeal of this place. "Competent" chef does not mean good chef. Presenting classic dishes in an old school environment can be wonderful, but every dish I've had there has been dull and uninspired. I've also never been that impressed with the service, which has also tended to be competent but nothing more. It really seems as if Cafe Renaissance survives on long time repeat customers who may get that homey welcome, but it has been there a long time and continues, so more power to them.
  18. jpbloom
    I'll join the chorus. Food is okay but nothing more, and it's significantly overpriced for what you get. Service is always quite weak. I went a number of times hoping things would improve (and because of a lack of worthwhile Italian options nearby) but I finally gave up.
  19. jpbloom
    The huckleberry lemonade was really tasty yesterday as well. Accompanied excellent seared scallops and a very nice soft shell starter (although looking at the grilled octopus at the next table, I think I may have made the wrong choice). As everyone has said, one of the best deals in town.
  20. jpbloom
    Continuing the effort to try to bring this thread back to the restaurant itself rather than the reviews . . . Dinner at Inox last night was a little disappointing. Don't misunderstand, it was very good, but a few service lapses and a few weak spots from the kitchen (overcooked beef, flavor combinations that didn't quite work) left me less than wowed. That being said, now that the tasting menu has been reduced to $68, I'm more forgiving. It's been mentioned before, but John Wabeck is a great sommelier. It's a joy to deal with someone who has really interesting wines on the list at a variety of price points, knows how the wines are drinking currently, and discusses the wines with patrons, rather than talking down to them.
  21. jpbloom
    I was going to say Cuzzin's and Gladys' are pretty inexpensive. I have to admit, sometimes when I'm there I just go over to the Hard Rock for a burger, because the good restaurants tend to be a bit pricey (but remember most ingredients have to be shipped in). [Oops, just remembered the Hard Rock closed.] Charlotte Amalie will be a schlep from where you're staying, but that's where most of the restaurants are. If you're driving, be forewarned - even in the summer, driving in town is a mess, particularly when cruise ships are in. Also remember to drive on the left. I've never been there where I didn't see an accident apparently resulting from a mainlander driving on the wrong side. If you don't want to drive in to town, consider the Old Stone Farmhouse. Again not cheap and it can be hit or miss, but when it's on, it's excellent. Again if you like wine, ask what they have that's not on the list. I've gotten some great wines at very reasonable prices there that way.
  22. jpbloom
    Don't know if you're still checking, but a couple of thoughts. Craig & Sally's is the best on the island, particularly if you like wine. Great food and Craig has some really interesting wines on the list. For local food downtown, we like Cuzzin's, though most people will send you to Gladys'. If you're out near the Marriott, Havana Blue at Morningstar is very good, although I've heard some complaints that it's too expensive for what it delivers. Up on the hill above town, I liked Herve a lot on my first visit, although not quite as much subsequently.
  23. jpbloom
    While I agree with your premise, steakhouses aside, Inox and 2941 are the only two restaurants in the context of fine dining in the area they are in. Being in the top 2 doesn't mean that much, in that context.
  24. jpbloom
    Put me in the hopeful but skeptical crowd. I had some great meals at Donna's restaurants in the (distant) pass, but more recent experiences (going back to a couple of years before Galileo closed) have been consistently disappointing. I do miss the Grill, though, and the new location will be too far to walk at lunch.
  25. jpbloom
    Sadly that's not saying much. Personally, it's definitely worth the longer drive to Passionfish, though. (Sorry for the thread drift.)
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