LaShanta

So I finally went to Ray’s Hell Burger. In fact, I’ve been twice in the last week. And I am a believer!!! It was every bit as good as people say it is. Although I do not like the Diablo sauce….it was way too spicy and it overpowered the taste of the burger. The second one I got was Diablo, the first one was just grilled and it was much, much better. The first burger I got was cooked all the way through (I guess it was technically medium-well). The second one I got was rare…..and terrible. So now that I have had both ends of the temperature spectrum, what I do want to comment on is this whole temperature debate. I know we have had this conversation on this forum a million times…so forgive me for starting it up again. But I just don’t get it…… I do not understand for the life of me why a rare burger is supposed to be of superior quality than a medium-well burger. The rare burger was juicer yes, but because it wasn’t cooked very long, the juice was less flavorful. So more tasteless juice is supposed to be better than a smaller amount of flavorful juice. And not only did the rare burger have less taste, the texture was kinda gross. It was so mushy. Growing up, I never had mushy burgers, so that texture is neither nostalgic or tasty. And again, because it hadn’t been cooked very long, it didn’t have as much of that nice, charbroiled flavor. Now, maybe I can agree that the rarer the meat, the more nutritious it is because you haven’t cooked out all of the nutrients. But other than that, I just don’t think I can get with a rare hamburger. Ever. And I don’t think I’ll ever understand people who look down their nose at people who like their burgers cooked all the way through. You say "tomato".......... Maybe at the end of the day, red meat is like wine…..the best kind is the kind that you like. It’s all just a matter of personal preference. On another note…… I think that RHB has THE BEST music selection I have ever heard at any restaurant!!! Sooooo fun!!! I really wanted to get up and dance! Oh, and even the tomatoes and the watermelon are stupendous!!!!! Do NOT skip them. This place really does have it all!! Peace & Blessings, LaShanta

The food is indeed very, very good there, but the atmosphere was very stuffy and uncomfortable to me. Very "old money" and stodgy. And because you can get the same (if not better) food quality elsewhere, why sacrifice if you can have both. Also, zoramargolis has already narrowed her choices down to 3 places. So I would assume that she has already considered the plethora of other dining experiences in the city and has narrowed her choices to one of those 3. I vote for Restaurant Eve's Tasting Room.

Now, (stepping off of my soapbox...) in answer to your original question. When I asked a friend in DC the same question, she highly recommended Nicaro 8229 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring/Takoma Park, MD 20910 Phone: 301-588-2867 I have not personally been there yet. bUt my friend lives in downtown Silver Spring and she goes to Nicaro about once or twice a month. She LOVES it. And she swears by the Sunday brunch. ....especially if you like Southern cooking. So I would say that they are definitely worth checking out. Happy dining!!

Bettyjoan, I was just at home in DC after having moved away in May of 2007. I was wondering about new bars/restaurants that have opened up since I left. So I was VERY excited when I saw this thread because it is exactly the info I was looking for. But then I read the responses...... I just wanted to say that while reading through the various replies, I also got VERY frustrated with the amazing lack of direct responses to bettyjoan's question. So..... I am now posting to 1) publicly show support for bettyjoan's position and feeling and 2) to remind the DR faithful that many people (other than the person actually posting the question) rely on these threads and the experience and valued opinion of DR members to direct us readers to new and exciting gastronomic delights. So it would have been nice for people respond in helpful ways--like Rocks and Lizzie and Waitman did. If you don't feel like sharing, that is totally fine. But to lecture about crowd size when the real (same) question was clearly about new restaurants is frustrating for other readers as well as the original poster. We (people who have moved away; new, wanna-be foodies; new residents in the city; and the many readers-but-not posters) value your opinions and your experiences. Us soliciting your advice should be seen as a flattering show of respect and appreciation and not an attempt to annoy you. And bettyjoan, I guess if we ask this type of question again, now we know to omit the time period in which we will be going out. Because I suppose if we wanted a good new restaurant on New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day, we would probably get the same unhelpful and snarky responses. Just my $0.02.......

I finally visited RTC this past week that I was home for the holidays. I was planning on sitting in the dining room (had reservations and everything!) but when I took one look at that Bistro menu......... Wow!!! I mean who can pass up the choice of a $7.95 burger (which rumor has it is the best in town) or a $23.95 3-course prix fix menu???? I mean, who???? I cannot imagine wanting to sit in a booth that bad. Here goes....... APPETIZER - On the trusted reviews of the reliable DR folks here, I got the iceberg lettuce wedge. (Which was a stretch for me, because I hate iceberg lettuce). But when I realized that the lettuce was only an excuse to eat blue cheese dressing and bacon, I became a believer. The wedge was just, OK. Not great. The in-house made blue cheese dressing was probably the best I’ve ever had. But the bacon bits (though large and chunky) were a bit too hard and chewy for me to really enjoy. On a second visit, I would probably go with the crab bisque that my friend got. She said it was wonderful. MAIN COURSE - On Nick the Bartender’s suggestion, I got the Delmonico steak (I had already gotten the hanger steak at RTS before). It was superb!!! Sooooo flavorful. I ordered it medium (also after a very helpful discussion with Nick) and it was just right. With just enough spicy punch to it. And I loved the complementing sweetness of the caramelized onions on the side. And the portion was HUGE!!! I had enough for a full dinner the nest day. I highly, highly recommend this steak. Now, I will say that all the flavoring masked some of the greatness of the steak. But I like my food extra-seasoned, so I didn’t mind. But carnivores and true steak purists might be disappointed because the marinade was such a strong flavor. DESSERT – key lime pie. It was perfect! Light, but a generous piece. It was very smooth and velvety. Not grainy at all. I loved it!!! Nick suggested a glass of red wine to go with my steak (I am still utterly clueless about wine pairings other than the basic red with red meat and white with almost everything else.) I can’t remember what it was but it was wonderful. It matched perfectly. In other words, trust Nick. He knows what he is doing. Oh, and we did get the side of macaroni and cheese. The cheese was great, but I wasn’t keen on the use of spiral pasta. I would have preferred elbow or Orecchiette pasta. The spinach and mashed potatoes were (as usual) superb! I had a wonderful, wonderful experience!! Nick and Elliot were very nice and patient with me and my 3 million questions. I can’t WAIT to go back!!!

I had an absolutely amazing experience there back in May of '07 (before I flew the coop to live down here in sunny Florida) and I absolutely LOVED it!! The food was fresh, imaginative..... great atmosphere. I am a huge fan!! As a matter of fact, that may make my short lists of places to visit hwile I'm home for Chrismas this week. Along with Georgetown Cupcake! yes!! Yummmy!! But yes, Walrus, I was definitely in the minroty back then..... Unfortunately.

Mostly for cakees. Every now and then I bake bread from screatch and I need to use the dough hooks. But mostly cakes. (and the occassional whipped potatoes and egg whites) I could REALLY use it for egg whites. They take forever to get "stiff peaks to form".

I am desperate for a standing mixer. I bake about 3-4 times a month. Even more when the holidays come around. I am thinking of hinting around for a standing mixer for Christmas, but $300 seems like suuuuch a high price for the famous Artisan So I need some advice. I know that it is one of Oprah's favorite things, but is it yours? What is YOUR favorite standing mixer? Best value for money? Peace & Many Blessings, LaShanta

I saw this movie with my husband last night (there's not much good food here in Gainesville, FL but they DO have movie theaters!! ;-) ) and I thought of the DR.com gang right away! (It really made me miss you guys….. ) I REALLY liked the monologue at the end about the power and significance of reviews. And how many of us like criticizing things and people as a way to make ourselves seem better and more important than we are. Even if you are not a animated movie fan and even if you (like me) are totally grossed out by the sight of a bunch of rats scurrying (ICK!!!), please try to make it through the movie if for just the last 20 minutes or so. The final “review” of the restaurant that the critic gives is totally worth it. You will see many of the people we know and know os represented in his “critique”. Peace & Many Blessings, LaShanta

I went to Central last night and ate at the bar for the first time. I got a burger and my friend got the lamb & potato stew. The burger was STUPENDOUS!!!!! The bun is much, much better now (more even and not super thick in the middle) and it was not greasy/buttery! WooooHoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was able to eat it with very little mess. My friend's lamb & potato stew was also very, very tasty. Heavy and comforting. And just the right amount of spices, salt and herbs. Perfect!!! My only complaint, if I had one was that the cheese puff thins were a bit overcooked and dry. They were still tasty, but they should have been more of a golden brown than a tan. My server was very, very busy so he didn't give us as much attention as I would have liked, but we were at one of the high tables not AT the actual bar, so I didn't expect much. Hey, we were at a bar. He did check on us twice after the meal came to see how we were doing. That more than made up for him taking a few minutes to bring me a menu. But I did see my favorite waiter there, Mikey. He was not working in the bar area, but he saw me and came over to say hello and chat. He was very sweet and happy as usual and he brought over some champagne to help me celebrate my recent nuptials. He is the best waiter I've had in the whole place. (I've only had 2, but the first guy sucked.) Mikey is very knowledgeable, very patient with questions and totally friendly and enthusiastic. I love him!!! He does an amazing job finding the balance between personal and professional. Absolutely fabulous!!! So I officially rescind my previous complaints about Central. I LOVE it!!! And I will definitely make my way back there just one more time before I head off to Florida in a couple of weeks. (if you know anyone in Gainesville, PM me and let me know. Not exactly a foodie destination spot, I know, but a girl can dream can't she? ) Peace & Many Blessings, LaShanta

Do you have a specific sparking rose to recommend? Something under $15 a bottle? I don't want the labor of adding something TO the wine to make it pink. We are NOT that high-maintenance. Not for 150 guests anyway...

My wedding reception/cookout is on Saturday and I need to buy a case of wine to use for our toasts. I have no idea what to get. I like Rieslings and other sweet wines. I think something pink would be pretty since we will be outside. Since I have to buy a case of it, I don't want anything TOO expensive. Please, please point me in the right direction

I really don’t understand why Agraria gets slammed so much. I had an absolutely amazing brunch there last Sunday. I started with the beet & goat cheese salad. Now, I am not a huge fan of beets, but the freshness of the arugula and the goat cheese was superb! Yes, the dish is a bit cliché these days, but I LOVED the way the tastes and textures complimented each other. superb!! My fiancé got the smoked salmon, which was also yummy and light. Perfect for a warm Sunday afternoon sitting outside, watching the world go buy…. wondering if they knew what they were missing by passing up such a great place. Then as our mains, I had the omelette. It was kind of puny in size, but the herbs mixed into it and the light cheese sprinkled on top more than made up for the size. My fiancé had the French toast and even without any maple syrup, it was absolutely fabulous! Whoever invented vanilla-citrus bread deserves an award all of their own! YUMMY!!!!!!! For sides, we had the lamb sausage which I hated. It was overcooked and weird tasting. We ordered the beef sausage as well, but it never came out of the kitchen so I don’t know how it is. We also had a side of potatoes and grits. The grits were WONDERFUL!!!! And I don’t usually like cheese in my grits. But these were perfect! Oh, and they had one of my most favorite wines in the whole wide world—a Dr. Loosen Riesling (can’t remember the year). This place is alright with me! OVERALL – A surprisingly pleasant and very enjoyable afternoon in the sun eating really great food. Forget Sequoias or any of those other places down at the harbor. The next time I am there, Agraria will get my business (not only for the food, but I LOVE the concept!). Gosh, I sure hope they don’t close soon……

The mussels were wonderful. And the striped bass was also a hit at our table. I can't remember much else.

OK, so in spite of my reservations a friend and I still went there for lunch today. I thought that if I chose smartly, I might be OK. Now at the risk of being pedantic, here is my analysis…. For 1 spinach salad, the shrimp & grits (appetizer), 1 oyster po’ boy sandwich, the chocolate angelfood cake, the chocolate peanut crunch thingy, and 2 iced teas the total was $53.86 (this is the total after tax, but before tip). That came out to 26.93 per person before tip. That is compared to getting a choice of the following at $20.07 before tax at Charlie Palmer: 1st course 1. Potato and Leek Chowder with crisp potato croutons, chive oil 2. Brandade Stuffed Calamari salad of baby arugula and fennel, grapefruit and rosemary vinaigrette, balsamic gelee 3. CP Steak Cesar Salad hearts of baby romaine, garlic and parmesan panna cotta 2nd Course 1. Grilled Angus Strip Loin with wild mushroom risotto, caramelized root vegetables, red wine natural 2. Pan Roasted Fillet of Mahi Mahi, cannellini beans, chorizo, and puree of preserved lemon and parsley 3. Pecan Crusted Pork Loin slow braised mustard greens and puree of Hernandez sweet potatoes Dessert 1. Chocolate and Hazelnut Pave - chocolate caramel, frozen praline custard, candied hazelnuts 2. Classic New York Style Cheesecake with citrus scented blueberry compote and crisp sugar cookie And to top it all off the sandwich only had about 9 oysters (Now I never had a po’ boy anywhere before so I don’t know if this is a normal amount of oysters, but it seemed rather puny to me.). Now we can split hairs about which one is actually more expensive, but believe me, psychologically I would have felt MUCH better gabout etting 3 full courses of food from Charlie Palmer than ½ a salad, a fried oyster sandwich and chocolate cake for almost the same price. But maybe that’s just me……

Very true. I just assumed that they would be giving me a smaller portion at lunch. It's just me being unreasonable maybe. I will keep this tidbit in mind the next time I go to Eurpoe.

Meaghan, I should assume that this was for happy hour, right? I just can't get over having the exact same prices for appetizers and entrees at lunch as they have at dinner. I gues sif I am only going there for the sandwiches then it's OK (since they don't have them on the dinner menu). But I think that Charlie Palmer is much better value for money.

I went here on a whim on Thursday night. The food was actually pretty good. I had the arugula salad and my boyfriend had the shrimp salad and then the halibut (I think) on some risotto. The fish was pretty good, if a bit bland. The risotto was yummy though. (maybe a tad overcooked, but basically good). The arugula salad was just OK…not bursting with flavor. It didn’t blow my hair back or anything. Another friend had the lobster ravioli and some kind of sandwich with fries. The ravioli was nice and fresh. I would order that next time. I though the wine-by-the-glass selection was extensive. But I don’t get why the waiters bring that little bottle of wine to the table and set it beside the glass without pouring it in. Does it have something to do with making sure that extra air gets into the wine right before I drink it? I sure hope it has some kind of practical purpose because I don’t particularly like it. It makes me feel like I’m doing the waiter’s job…… (I know, I know…. I am such a elitist foodie person). Now for the space and atmosphere. I really liked the music videos playing on the screen and the sound being piped through the restaurant. It gave it a fun, loungy, chill-out feel. This is a place to go to with friends to have a fun night out. It is not romantic or cozy, or suitable for visiting relatives. A great place to start a fun-filled evening with friends you want to catch up with and have a few laughs, not the friends whose eyes you plan to gaze into. Oh, and I LOVE all the seats outside. Peace & Blessings, LaShanta

Thanks to Dean and my new favorite bartender Chris, I have found TWO new Italian wines that I will be placing in heavy rotation. (and they weren't even Rieslings!) WoooHoooo!!!!! I don't think I have ever met a bartender that knew so much about wines (grapes, regions, production) let alone how to explain them to the wine-challenged me's of the world. Thanks for looking out for a sister. You guys are the greatest! See you in 7 days!

Absolutely. But my personal concern isn't as much with the taste as it is with the practical difficulties of handling slippery bread with such a big burger. It make for a more cumbersome experience. It doesn't actually take away from the taste, but just makes it more difficult to eat. (especially since the bread is so much thinner around the edges than it is in the center) I have never ever seen a restaurant add extra butter on the top of a burger roll. It seems wierd and unnecessary. Especially if (as dmwine nicely pointed out) brioche is an "inherently buttery bread".

I will definitely be there tonight, if anyone else is interested in coming through. I'll probably get there about 7:00 or so and I'll be sitting at the bar. (I am an African American woman with shoulder-length curly hair.) Stop by and say hello.....

Anybody going to Dino tonight for the $25 wine & food deal. I'll be there about 7....at the bar if anyone is interested in meeting me there.

You are absolutely right about the grease! I was there for dinner last night and I ordered the burger. The bun was so greasy and slippery that I could barely hold it still while I cut it in half. ...especially give that there is a big slab of cheese AND those crunchy things on the burger. It was still yummy but with confusingly oily bread. Maybe they're using greasy hands to move the bread onto the burger. One good thing that happened is that they finally stopped putting those random crunchy things on the mashed potatoes. WoooHoooooo!!!!!!

I am so glad someone else mentioned these crunchy potato thingys. They were sooo annoying......

Hey Dean, can you remind us of what the 3 wines were? I especially liked the first one (the one on the left as they were set in front of us); it the lightest of the 3.