Rieux

I will add to the chorus -- Why did it take me so long to get to Komi? (especially since I live 2 blocks away!) Went last night with a friend who sadly will soon be moving to NYC. There isn't much that hasn't been said already about the goat, the papardelle, and the dates -- all amazing -- so I don't have much to add there. But, the single best thing I have eaten in weeks has to be the "Caesar salad in it's own crouton". Hot, liquid earthy goodness inside a crouton -- it was so tasty I wanted to bathe in it. We also forewent the wine pairings for Derek's cocktail and beer pairings. So good. The initial earl grey, port, and sparkling wine cocktail was so fantastic that my friend, who does not like any of those ingredients on their own, said she loved it! The beers were really great too. From what I recall there was an IPA, something else really malty, and a Goulden Carolous. Yum.

I don't neccessarily endorse their views (well, I do agree with some of the choices, I guess), but post the link for those interested http://gridskipper.com/379564/dcs-most-ove...ed-restaurants# ETA: I don't agree with the statements they make about the quality in DC in general. Just that some of the restaurants they list (ahem, Sequoia, Lauriol Plaza) really are baffling in their popularity.

14th St. crawl. Italian reds and the amazing wild mushrooms at Cork (got there at 5:30 -- bar was already full. By 6:45 there were no tables and you could hardly move!) Then a glass of the blue franc and some roasted almonds at Bar Pilar. Finished up the night with pretty good ropa vieja at Rumbero's. The pisco sour was as good as the ones I've had in Peru, but the fried plantains were leaden, and the service, while nice to look at, was absent minded. Hello! We would like to order more $9 cocktails. PLEASE come take our order!

Had lunch here today (K st. location), first time since they opened. It is convinient, as my office is next door. I thought on the whole it was (somewhat surprisingly) very good. I had the poached salmon with golden beets, baby bok choy, and some sort of blood orange foam sauce. It was light, cooked perfectly, and delicious. My lunch companions had the roasted pepper spinach pizza and the turkey burger. The pizza got rave reviews, but could have been cooked a bit more. I think asking for a well-done pie would help. I tried a slice and liked it. The peppers were said to be outstanding (there were none on my slice). My other friend did not say much about the turkey burger, but she ate the whole thing and seemed to really like the fries. (I seem to remember that the fries at the G'town location were pretty good). We were out of there for $29 each, including 3 entrees, 2 glasses of wine, an iced tea, and three coffees. Not bad. The menu has a huge range of healthy-seeming dishes, so I will definitely be back.

Thank you all! As I was sitting on the plane on the way back I was thinking "Gee, the Don Rockwell folk will know exactly what to do!" The crowd here never disappoints!

I made a last-minute 2 day work trip to Paris earlier this week (not as much fun as it sounds). The upshot was that I had a bit of free time, and wandered down the main drag of the Ile St-Louis and bought some duck confit from a producer called Le Petit Scierie. It's 2 legs in a mason jar with the fat and it says it is good until 2010. Now, what the hell do I do with it? I am a huge confit fan when I eat out, but have never actually tried to do anything at home with it. Do I cook it? Just take it out of the fat and eat it? Any suggestions, help?

Ching Ching Cha in georgetown always has a wide selection as well.

There seem to be 2 chefs at Thaitanic. When the good chef is on, the pad thai is fantastic -- just moist enough, not too sweet, the best. (the panang chicken is also good). Then, sometimes, the not-good chef is working. The pad thai is dry, metallic, and too sweet. It's still my go-to place for delivery but I know that about 30-40% of the time I'll get the bad chef. And, no, I have not figured out the schedule. Sunday is usally Thai night, and I've had both good and bad on that night.

I don't know why it took me so long, but I finally made it to Dino last night. I had read all the good reviews here, but, since I live in Dupont/U st, Cleveland Park seemed like a hike, and I assumed I'd get there some time. Finally, we went there for a friend's b-day, on my suggestion, and everyone loved it. I had the buratta and the boar pasta, my friends had salads and the hanger steak and the lamb pasta. All were thought to be great, and to rival what we have all eaten in Italy. The plain green salad was a huge hit, with a dressing that was everything that you want a dressing to be, and more. Seriously, we all commented on the simple salad. It was that good. We ordered a wine from where my ancestral people come from, Abruzzo, and it was very good. Service was excellent and prompt. The only SLIGHT issue was that the espresso wasn't that good. But it was more than made up for by the gelato! I was shocked (in a good way) when we got the bill. With tip and tax the bill was cheaper for 3 people than what I have paid for 2 at other, similar, Italian restaurants in DC. Dino is entering my frequent rotation ASAP.

Thanks to all. I called around a bit, as a reservation is hard to come by this late in the game. I think we have settled on Montsouris.

Hello all, I have been tasked with finding a place for a family dinner on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Usually when it is just my parents we go to a place like Al Crostino, Brasserie Beck, Bistrot du Coin, St-Ex, all of which they have loved. But, this time there are 6 of us. Me + the parents + sister and her boyfriend + 83 year old grandmother (who is not adventerous, so no thai, etc). Looking for a place to go around 7 p.m., where we can hear each other, preferably near Dupont Circle/U st. The difficult part, is that Dad is buying for all, so lower price points is better (thinking entrees around $16-20). Any suggestions?

I think the dinner I had last night counts. When I have a nice piece of white fish (last night, cod), I mix 3 tbs of soy sauce with the juice of 1 lemon, 1 clove chopped garlic, and some scallions (If I have them lying around). Pour over fish, let sit a few minutes, bake. Enjoy!

Sadly, my second entry in this thread.... Last year, I was cutting a bagel that had been frozen and defrosted (I bring them to DC from CT because bagels here suck) to eat as an early morning snack on a Sunday before I was to head to a brunch about 5 hours later. In my early-morning fog the knife slipped off the bagel (which was harder due to the freeze/defrost) and sliced down to the bone on my left thumb knuckle. Definitely needed stitches. A friend drove me to Sibley, where I waited and eventually got stitches. The Dr. asked how it happened and I told him I fought a bagel and the bagel won. He said he sees a number of these bagel injuries at the Sibley ER on Sundays every month (note the different injuries treated at Sibley vs. GW). Talk about a yuppie injury. I missed the brunch with my aunt. For christmas she bought me a bagel slicer that requires no hands.

Went here last night. I really liked it. The cured meats and cheeses were very good, the wines were nice sized pours, well-priced, and (I think) well selected (I stuck with Italian reds). Ambience is great, classy without being pretentious, crowd was interesting and not all college students, and the staff was friendly. Really, it was one of the most enjoyable nights out I have had in a while. I think this will be a new regular spot in my rotation. My only concern is that the tube-top wearing hordes of sorority girls will discover it and it will become too crowded.

Went last night. It was nice, and would be in my regular rotation, but, it was LOUD!!! I mean really LOUD!!!! I ended up leaving early just because my ears couldn't take it. Both when it was complelely full, and later, when there were only about 25 people, it was just too loud for a conversation -- my friends and my ears actually hurt -- and we are all in our early 30s, and not usually bothered by the noise level in a place like Bistrot du Coin, for example. The space is nice, but I think all the hard surfaces are the problem. Wood floors, low ceilings, no wall hangings, hard chairs -- the noise just bounces. It's a nice additon to the neigborhood, but I won't be back on a weekend, and maybe even not during the week (since it was loud with just 20 people) unless they can do something about the noise. Also, it seemed like all of Georgetown class of 2008 was there -- the crowd was a bit strange for a wine bar. Finally, the glass partition in the entryway is a disaster waiting to happen. It's hard to see, and it will only take one person who over-indulged to walk into it and break it. On the positive side, the servers were very nice and knowledgeable, pours seemed generous to me, and my friends who ate the cheese plate loved it. Also, as a former Bostonian, I liked the subtle Harvard theme (the name, the crimson walls). ETA: These criticisms are only posted to give management some suggestions. My friends and I, who live in the neighborhood, all want this place to succeed. And, yes, we did also fill out a comment card at the bar too.

A friend wants to get a gift for another friend's anniversary. The anniversary couple loves to cook, so she would like to buy them a cooking class to be held in their own home, hopefully that will result in a tasty, romantic meal. Any suggestions for chefs that do in-home cooking classes? Thanks!

Thanks to all! I have decided to go with some turkey wraps and shrimp from Costco, supplemented with kibbe and felafel from Lebanese Taverna. I'm also going to pick up big vats of hummous, bruschetta, etc. at costco. I'll let people know how it turns out.

Hello all, I am having a James Bond themed birthday party next weekend and have decided to have some light food (not a full dinner, just some snacks). I'm planning on about 40-50 people, and have about $200 to spend. I figure I will buy some things at Costco (Hummus, Spinach dip, etc.) but want to get some food catered in. So far all I can think of are Whole Foods and Lebanese Taverna. Any other suggestions for good caterers for things like party platters, cut up wraps, preferably in DC?

Ciro and Sal's has always been a mainstay for Italian in P'town for my family, but I have not been in a couple of years. For Nappi's, make sure to ask to sit in the room with the bar. Way better ambience. The Chester House is supposed to be fantastic, but it is very $$$ and we usually don't want to meet that price point when we are in town. The portuguese bakery on Commercial st. is pretty good for to-go desserts.

My family has a house in N. Eastham, and I've been going every year since I was born, so I know the area well. First, I actually think that Arnolds is overrated. Mr. Cricket's (near the rotary in Orleans) has better fried seafood, I think, but there are very few tables. The Nauset Ice cream shop in Eastham is the best -- go there, not Ben and Jerry's. Avoid Serena's and Poit's. A must-eat are the donuts and especially the apple fritters at Flemings Donut shack in Eastham. The Eastham lobster pool is pretty good too. Bob, who owns Bob's sub 'n' cone on rt. 6 in Eastham is our neighbor, and if he catches anything in the morning (striped bass, etc.) he puts it on the menu. If you are on the way to the beach and want sandwiches, the cranberry chicken salad at the Nauset market in Eastham is amazing. The Box lunch also has decent sandwiches -- especially the porky goes hawaiian. Coast Guard and Nauset light are the best ocean beaches around. Also great for kids is First Encounter Beach on the bay side -- good tidal pools for wading. The best mini-golf around is in Orleans right next to the rotary. Kayaking in the Nauset salt marsh in Eastham is great. I think that you can rent in town. Biking through race point in Provincetown is also a highlight. 2 of my favorite places on the Cape are in Wellfleet. First, the Wicked Oyster is FABULOUS, but at big-city prices, and with a bit more atmosphere than your typical beach shack. The other place we go frequently is the bookstore restaurant near the pier in Wellfleet. If you can, either sit in the bar, or upstairs in the deck. Good place for kids, check out the used bookstore in the same building (lots of good comics). Also fun with kids -- The beachcomber in Wellfleet at Calhoun hollow beach. There is also a good fish shack at tNauset beach in Orleans. In Provincetown, Nappi's is very good (the scallop/pasta dish is great) and so is the Lobster Pot. The food at Bubbalah's is ok, but the drinks are good. Finally, I grew up in CT -- Pepe's over Sallys. Definitely.

I was 18 and in my bathrobe and bare feet. In our laundry room at home in CT there was a double cabinet above the washer and dryer. One side had all the cookbooks, the other had laundry supplies such as bleach. On top of the double cabinet was where my parents stored all 20 of my father's ceramic serving platters. No one else was home. I went into the laundry room to get a cookbook to make a cake for my sister's birthday. As I closed the cabinet door the entire cabinet suddenly separated from the wall from the top and was only connected at the bottom, like a hinge. It hit me in the face and my nose started bleeding. At the same time, instinctively, I pushed one hand against each door to keep the cabinet, and all the contents inside, from collapsing on top of me. (Cabinet is now higed out at a 45 degre angle). I am now holding the entire weight of the cabinet up with both arms above my head. All 20 platters fall, hitting me on the head, shattering on the floor, and cutting my legs and feet. As I stand there, holding the cabinet up to avoid being crushed and bleeding from the nose and legs, the bleach stored on the other side starts to leak out the bottom of the cabinet, down my arm, and into my leg cuts. Ow. Luckily my mom came home about 10 minutes later, where she found me still standing in a pool of bleach and blood holding the cabinet up, about ready to pass out from the fumes. She emptied the cabinet from the top, got me shoes, and to the Dr. we went. Luckily I only had 2 black eyes, a bloody nose, and superficial cuts. They cleaned me up and gave me a lot of advil. I came home, made the cake, and went to a summer job interview the next day looking like a racoon.

Had an amazing meal here last week with my mother and grandmother. While a bit loud, they both loved it. My mother and I both had fantastic beers, but I can't recall the name. (due, in part, to the alcohol content of said beer). They came in a mad-scientist-like beaker in a wooden holder. The mussels we shared as an appetizer (the basic ones with garlic and wine) were the best and largest any of us had ever had, and between us we have 184 years of mussel-eating experience. I had the charcroute en croute which was good, but not earth-shatteringly so. It could have used a bit more of the sauce. My mother's trout and grandmother's steak were excellent, and the steak was cooked perfectly medium-rare. As stated upthread, the bread was the best I've had in any DC restaurant. The frites were good, but the three dipping sauces were a little bland, and the size of the sauces was too small for the amount of frites. For dessert we had the pear tartine, which was phenomenal. I would eat this every day if I could. The cinnamon ice cream that came with it was also amazing. The french press coffees were also great. The service was uniformly wonderful, with the waiter giving good recommendations on wines and beers, and anticipating our needs well. He was able to size up our table fairly quickly as a son out for mother's day weekend with his mother and grandmother, and could tell that my grandmother is usually not a big-city bistro gal. He made her instantly comfortable, was appropriately flirty with her and my mom, and even spoke italian to grandma when he found out she was the daughter of immigrants. He really made the night, as the Rieux-women all felt cosmopolitan, special, and well-cared for. I think I have a new favorite restaurant in town. I've already made a reservation to go back, although I think I'll order a different main dish next time.

Quick question. Mother and 84 year old grandmother coming to town this weekend. We have a reservation at Beck's at 7:30 which I am psyched for, but I'm wondering if people who have been there think that an 84 year old (albeit an active one) would be comfortable? She's not an adventurous eater, but usually likes chicken, steaks, etc...

Not to quibble, but shouldn't it be nacional, not nationale? Nacional = Spanish, Nationale = almost Italian. (this brought to you from the member currently in Honduras for a week who is being subjected to Honduran food, which is mainly American chains such as Dunkin Donuts, TGI Fridays, and Tony Roma's -- a real Taco would be welcome right about now)

Went to Oyamel last night with 5 friends. I travel to Mexico City a lot and love the food, so I always made the trek to VA from DC for mole, huitlacoche, etc. at Oyamel. The food, just as it was in VA, was very good. They've added some new items like chilaquiles and chiles en nogada that used to be specials to the regular menu. But, the service was simply bizarre. The waiter was friendly enough, but when he asked if we had eaten there before, and some people in my party said no, he launched into a 5 minute explanation of the menu. Literally, 5 minutes, even though it was obvious that we were bored and wanted to get back to our conversation. I understand a brief "this is like tapas" lecture, but there is no need to explain every single category on the menu. We know what the words salads and soups mean. You don't need to tell us that salads are listed under, well, salads! Also, the waiter poured our pitcher of margaritas from so high above the table that he spilled a lot of the drink on the table each time he filled one of the six glasses. I think $10 of margarita ended up in our napkins. Finally, I understand that this is tapas style and that all food comes out when it is ready. Still, some people received all three of their plates at once at the begininng and I and other friend had to wait AN HOUR until even one of ours came out. We asked several times what was going on, and the answer was "I put the order all in at the same time, sorry." I understand maybe 15 minutes between different items, but AN HOUR? I had to sit there watching my friends eat, starving, while waiting. I still love the food, and it's nice to have Oyamel in the city, but man, the service is ROUGH!