ArlFred

Yelp reports this as closed. Is there any Ethiopian in Crystal City at this point?

It isn't as good as it was when it opened 10(!) years ago but they are decent and I will give one more shout out to the pork and szechuan pickle noodle soup over then specials. They actually make decent bubble tea in-house--not the pre-prepared stuff in individual cups that some places sell. The quality varies depending on the day or who makes it. 

New in the sense that they moved a few blocks, from Broad Street to Park Avenue:

"Our flagship location in Falls Church is relocating to a bigger and badder space. As of Dec. 31, 2015, CD Cellar will live at 105 Park Avenue, just a hop, skip and a jump away from our longtime home on West Broad Street. What's more, we are moving our fantastic Arlington stock into the new Falls Church space, combining two stores into one super-awesome megastore. Arlington will close Jan. 15, 2016. "

CD Cellar in Arlington actually had a great vinyl selection. I haven't been to the new Falls Church location but I assume the stock migrated over there. Very fair prices. 

I had the Miso Porky the other night, and maybe I have a higher salt tolerance, but I didn't find it too salty. If anything, it was quite rich once the soft-boiled egg god mixed in to the broth. Had the celebrated Uni Waffle, and while the waffle was light and fluffy I thought that the salmon roe and (what's the dark roe) competing with the uni for attention. 

The Frederick version closed some months ago. I was never impressed. Is the burger craze* over?

*No relation to the ill-fated Kraze Burger.

 It's been nearly a year since I've been there, but it was still great then.

I've been there a couple times in the last year. I haven't detected a dip in quality. The specials are always interesting-looking.

Lunch is coming next week. I arranged an office Christmas party lunch there--will report back. A co-worker just stumbled into this place during the soft opening and thought it was great. 

Speaking of Isabella's, how has it been lately?  I haven't been there (for a full meal) in years after I got fed up with the decline in quality.  Stopped there for an appetizer with drinks a year or two ago and it was actually quite good, but it still fails to make my mental short-list when considering places to have a meal.

I've not been in a long time, sorry.

Went last night for the first time ever, before a show at the Atlas. The menu we had was the same as posted online 10/17, except they were out of the duck. The smaller dishes looked more tempting that the mains, so me and my companion made a meal of the starters. We both had the Late-summer salad to start, a lettuce-free salad with kale sprouts instead forming the leafy green. They were a little to big to eat in one mouthful and kind of tough to cut, and I think a saltier chunk of speck could have made a nice contrast to the general "pickled" flavor of the vegetables. It just seemed a little one-note.

No complaints on the valencian sausage (sensational) or the squid-ink tagliatelle. My companion had the squash soup, which tasted very cuminy (I am not a fan, he liked it a lot) and scallops (perfectly cooked, so tender you could cut them with a fork). So glad this place is on H Street, which otherwise has so little for my long-past 20s tuchus.

Heading to Frederick for dinner with friends in two weeks.  We head up there a couple times a year to meet with another couple as it's pretty much half way from both our houses.  We usually eat at Family Meal, but are looking to try something different.  Still want that casual vibe and mid-priced menu.  Right now, Tasting Room and Monocacy Crossing are both on the target list.  Can anyone make any additional recommendations or suggest which of these might be more appealing?

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The Wine Kitchen (dinoue)

South Market Sandwich Co. (lion)

I would say Tasting Room in a heartbeat, had some of the best meals in Frederick there. I went to Monocacy Crossing a few times when it was new, and thought it just okay but never returned after having a disgusting paella--nothing unsanitary just tasted bad in a way that I could not articulate, since I'm hardly an expert in paella (though the paella at Isabella's is okay). Maybe I should give them another chance, I don't know.

Website

Mon-Sat 11am-9pm

Closed Sundays

503 N. East St

Frederick, MD 21701

(301) 620-8858

Well here's a nice surprise, a great Mexican place right along East Street here in Frederick. Turns out this place has been here for years. I'm always on the look out for good places to get Tacos/Burritos/Etc, so I stopped in for lunch to try the place out.

It's a small place, it's got a decent number of tables crammed in, but it seems like Take Out is most people's preferred option. The service here was kind of exceptionally friendly and helpful, both my server and the lady working the register were incredibly friendly and helped me figure out what to get. I went with the Cancun Burrito, which is Chicken, Chorizo, Beans, Cheese, and Salsa Verde, with a side of beans and rice.

So yeah, wow. Might be the best Burrito I've ever eaten, amazing flavor, and a little bit spicy. It came out very fast as well, even another patron who came in after me was surprised how fast they got their food so I'm guessing that's just how they do. I also grabbed some Sopapillas to take home with me. Amazing, and obviously cooked to order since they were still very fresh by the time I got home. They also have Tres Leches and Churros which I will be sure to try on future visits.

They also have lunch specials, $9.99 for a whole lot of good food and a soda. It looks liked they used to have breakfast specials, but unfortunately they are no longer opened for breakfast, and instead open at 11am for lunch. So yeah, if you're in Frederick and need some quick and amazing Mexican food, give this place a try.

Have you tried the tortas? I have little experience with them so I don't know if they are authentic or not but boy are they tasty (and likely thousands of calories). I have been to Bueno twice (three times?) on the way home from the train station when I need a quick/cheap dinner to pick up, and all I've had are the tortas since you don't see them anywhere else on this end of Frederick. Thanks for the report, sounds like I'll have to try the burritos next time.

I am a fan of this place, it's well-made food and it's very efficiently run like all of Phil's places. I would add as a caveat to the general praise that I had a very rubbery grilled octopus several months ago, so much so that I complained (I am generally the type of guy who if I have a mild compliait will bite my tongue and say everything is fine) and they took it off the bill without fuss. I have returned since then and had fine meals, so I am still a fan.

Has anyone tried that Turkish anise liqueur (I forget what it's called) that turns cloudy over ice? I should have heeded their warning--it was like drinking Dr. Bronner's shampoo.

Hi--

I am a long time lurker feeling confident enough to post. I am a Frederick resident, but work in Arlington and frequently go out in DC and Baltimore so hope to contribute for all these locations. I'm a jazz and classical music obsessive (have season tickets to both the Baltimore and National Symphonies). I was a radio DJ through college and grad school (first punk rock, then electronic--my music tastes have gone on a journey).

Regards!