Rieux

But what about the smell in the Bestworld? I want to like it, and I want to shop there, but besides some runs for quick staples or lemons/limes I don't because I feel like it usually reeks. Hearing a positive review of the meats may make me give it a second chance. You mention El Progreso. I like them, mainly because they have frozen fava beans in the freezer section, and it is the only grocery in the area where I have found them.

Headed to the arboretum an then to home depot later and want to make use of the excursion to have lunch somewhere different, that we wouldn't usually go to. Any suggestions in that area of DC? I know of Deli City (have not been) but any others? And, is there any seating at deli city? We are willing to drive a bit. Thanks!

Surprised there is not topic on Heller's. I used to get food from here now and again, and actually just bought a german chocolate cake there two weeks ago for my father's birthday. The cake was very good, and I thought i would start buying my cakes there. But, after having seen this PoP post about extreme mold in their cakes, I think I have sworn them off permanently... I was willing to put up with surly service and mediocre bread to support a local business. But, ew, gross!

Just to report back - 300 or so people showed up and all 4 trucks sold out. Indeed, Fojol had to bring in a second truck to meet excess demand. Hopefully this begins to show that Mt. Pleasant is, literally, hungry for new dining options in our neighborhood.

A number of local residents have worked to try to bring some evening food trucks to the neighborhood. So far Fojol Bros, PORC, Pleasant Pops, and DC Empanadas have confirmed. Even if it is raining Fojol and Pleasant Pops will be there. Please come out and show that our neighborhood wants more, better food! Thursday, April 26th, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Around Lamont Park We have some of DC's favorite trucks rolling up to cater to our foodie wishes and mobile-dinner dreams! Bring dinner home for your family, housemates, partner or pets! Or stay and eat al fresco and follow up with a beverage at one of our fine drinking establishments!

Just to report back - we went, I had the Aden, which was fantastic. I grew up eating Pepe's pizza in CT and I thought that this crust was even better!

Yay, that last post made me a ventworm!

I think the promise of Edan's pizza tips Local 16 for the win! Yum.

Thanks! Coppi's is an old favorite of mine - that might be my default. Or Bistro Le Bonne, if we are feeling French. I have not been to Eatonville yet, so maybe the bar there is a good choice. We love sitting at bars, so that could work. I've been to St. Ex, Pilar, Marvin a million times -- I just feel like I have not been keeping up on the new places that pop up seemingly every week. Thanks for the suggestions!

I used to be in tune with all the places on U st, but since moving out of Logan circle I have lost touch. I have tickets to the Trampled by Turtles show tonight and want to meet up with a friend for dinner beforehand. Looking for something near 14 and U -- not too pricey, good food, can get in without reservation around 8. If they have some lighter options, all the better, as I may not want to load up on a burger, etc.... Any thoughts?

Since Radius is about the only decent restaurant in my neighborhood, I tend to go there a lot, but always to eat in. Usually, it is quite good. About 90% of the time the spaghetti and meatballs are excellent. The other 10% of the time, they are inedibly salty. The pizzas, I find, are very good to excellent, depending on the type. Whatever pizza is on special is usually the best. The Spring Pizza, which is on special now, is something I crave each year, although I preferred last year's version with fava beans to this year's version with kale. Wines are generally good here too. But, has anyone else noticed that it is almost invariably too hot in there?

There are so few good dining options in Mt. Pleasant. Radius is a good neighborhood joint, and the various Salvadoran places can be fun now and again. Still, we are lacking a good diner, or a good local place (think Cork). We could also use an organic grocer in the neighborhood. The DC government renovated a spot for the temporary Mt. Pleasant library at 3162 Mt. Pleasant Street a couple of years ago, and it is really nice. The library is moving back to its permanent home soon, and the great space with lots of windows will be available. If there are any restauranteurs or grocers out there, please consider this space! I have no financial stake here, but the neighborhood needs more places, so I am just putting the word out! Should also add that there is another great spot for a restaurant just up the street next to the Bestoworld -- high traffic corner, big windows, for lease!

Expertos, I have to go out to Dulles tomorrow for a five pm appointment at Dulles to get my new Global Entry passport (yay skipping immigration lines!) That said, it will put me out near Dulles, solo, at around 6 pm. Since I rarely (never) venture out that way except to go to the airport, I figure I should stop somewhere to eat on the way back to Mt. Pleasant. So, any suggestions for places between Dulles and DC where a solo diner can have a good meal? Ethnic would be great -- Afghan, Thai, Indian, etc. Or, I am open to anything else not-fancy and not-expensive. Thanks!!!!

Went back last night. Service was still a bit strange, and slow, but the food was good to excellent again. The pickled deviled eggs were great, even if the strange red color from the pickling made them look a bit strange. I tried the cassoulet this time -- it was warm, rich, and tasty. The selection of meats in it was excellent. My one quibble is that it was VERY salty. I probably drank ten glasses of water throughout dinner, and I am still thirsty this morning. My friend liked her salmon and lentils, and my other friend's steak frites was pronounced to be very good, and the fries were crispy (which means that they probably were not sitting under the heat lamp for 5 minutes as they were in my review above.) Complemented with a bottle of DeTour Oregon Malbec, the meal was good. I love the interior, if it is a bit loud. Also we were sitting right next to the servers station and the servers kept knocking into my friend's chair. All in all, the food is still good, and the service is bound to improve. A keeper!

Ate at the bar last night. While it's clear that it's a new restaurant (service hiccups, I saw part of our order sit in the service window for about 5 minutes), I expected that since it was the first real night they were open. In general, I love the design of the space, and everyone is friendly, if getting their bearings. We split the flammekueche, which was cooked in a wood-fired oven. We both have traveled a lot in Germany and France, and thought this was as good as what we have had in Alsace, etc. The bread and butter were among the best I have had in DC. I had the tagliatelle bolognese, which was rich, hearty, and soul-satisfying. Big chunks of beef, nice pasta. My +1 had the steak frites, and while the steak was great, and cooked to just the right temp, the fries were awful. We both thought they tasted like frost-bitten frozen fries, and they were limp and soggy like the fries you get at Burger King. This was probably due to the fact that I saw the steak sit in the service window for a full five minutes waiting for my pasta, and that is a sure-fire way to kill fries. The Grenache I had by the glass was lovely, and a generous pour. The bartender was a bit harried, and seemed more interested in talking to his friends at the end of the bar than serving us, but he was nice enough. The desserts looked interesting, but we are dieting, so none for us. I am psyched to have this restaurant nearby, and especially happy that they will take reservations. I am sick and tired of never being able to plan a night out with my parents, or with friends, without the crapshoot of waiting forever to get a table. I love to eat out, I love to meet up with friends, but I hate the uncertainty of not knowing if we will be 6 people waiting in a cramped bar or not. Bravo to Mintwood for being a reservation restaurant!!! I will definitely be back, several times! As the service settles in, this will be a top-notch bistro!

There used to be a restaurant near the United Nations in New York called the "Pu-kee Restaurant" My dad and I would laugh every time we drove past it on our way to visit my uncle who worked at the UN.

And this too!!

I second this!!

Went to Komi last night. Monis was not in the kitchen, but I didn't think that the meal suffered at all for his absence. We had the wine pairings, which were excellent, and the young male wine steward was great fun to talk to, and really knowledgeable. As Rovers said above, the spätburgunder was amazing, and I really enjoyed the smoky white from Campania. There is no way that I can remember all the things we ate. I'd say there were 2-3 misses, 6-7 great things (I used the word transcendent a couple of times, to much ribbing from my friends), and the rest was very good. For excellent, I'd say that the raw scallop with truffle and sea urchin was great, as were the dates, the half-smokes (I could have eaten 100 of these), the gnocchi with rabbit ragu, the gyro with foie gras, the goat (as always) and the peanut dessert. A couple of the first raw fish dishes needed more flavor -- they just seemed kind of bland, although they were light, and given the progression from light to heavy in the meal they made sense.

Thanks all!

Last night was the Beef Rendang recipe from Molly Stevens' All About Braising. It was tasty, smelled great, and felt exotic. It did take about an hour longer than the recipe said it would to braise, though. This is a reverse braise, where you cook the beef and spice paste in coconut milk before browning it, let it cook down so all the coconut milk evaporates, leaving only the coconut oil, and then fry the beef in the remaining oil. I was frustrated that I couldn't find the galangal and kaffir lime leaves anywhere in DC. No whole foods, no Bestway.

Tried a new one last night -- the parsnips and sweet potatoes with dijon caper sauce. I improvised and added some carrots and brussels sprouts. This was delicious. I ate it as a main course over some quinoa, but it would also make a great side.

Ok, I am pretty sure that this is not going to elicit any suggestions, but, hey, it's DC so you never know. I am off on my second trip this year to Guyana for two weeks. Most of the time will be spent working in Georgetown (except for Thanksgiving, which will be spent at a lodge in the interior with the famous naturalist Diane McTurk and her orphaned giant river otters!). Anyone have any suggestions for good food in (the other) Georgetown? Last time I mainly ate at the Cara Lodge and at Shanta's. Looking to branch out this time!

Thanks! I will make the trip. You are a font of knowledge!

I think it is a surface area:mass problem. I have always made full batches, in my 11.5 inch le creuset braiser and have had no issues. I also use arborio rice, as I can never find paella rice (even at Rodman's, World Market, or at my various neighborhood bodegas in Mount Pleasant). What rice did you use?