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KeithA

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  1. KeithA
    Since this thread was revived, I think it worthwhile to reiterate and update my prior comments. We still go to CalTor about every week or two and it remains consistently good for fast-ish food. The mango salsa is very good and fresh made. I like to get it in their Caribbean burrito/salads or just with chips. The fish tacos are also tasty, but better eaten there than carryout. A decent option if you are near one.
  2. KeithA
    Ok so nu what was good and what was not?
  3. KeithA
    Yep that is the place. I don't usually go to Dupont so I didn't realize this guy has been around for a long time and his speciality is seafood - which makes sense, I'd never seen so many seafood empanada before. Worth a try for something different and a pretty good price at $3 for a light snack.
  4. KeithA
    Anyone know the name of the empanada vendor last weekend at the market? Lots of interesting varieties - including a pretty good tilapia corn salsa one.
  5. KeithA
    Here is the website: https://www.mealage.com/2foodmenu8.jsp?sessionid=1400086320686A68149136191xgfnctaszivtvyiwhptxevadbggb&restaurantId=8042 It has the delivery rules in the bottom right. Looks to be pretty standard - min amount and limited zone. Can't tell from being there or menu whether there is a province. It seems like it is mostly standard Chinese American food but with an expanded, fresh made dumplings menu.
  6. KeithA
    Ok got back from early lunch at Bread Furst (my 3rd visit) and as I continue to try new things each time, sadly this was a disappointing trip. Started with the chicken tagine salad ($8, all salads are premade with good ingredients - if you come early you can watch them being made in the back kitchen in large batches). It was ok but various problems - biggest (maybe just my opinion) - it only tasted so so. The "spicy" chicken was anything but and didn't have much seasoning or flavor. The chicken was pulled and for the small but decent size portion I had in my salad, I also had about 20% gristle and skin. The rest of the ingredients like prunes, some type of pickled onion/leek/? were good but the whole thing didn't mesh great. The green olives were bland (I mean how do you even get bland olives) and the lemon vinagrette was basically lemon juice. The salad had croutons in it made from pieces of their fresh bread. Some of the other salads looked better (I saw them lined up after I'd eaten) - like the mixed olive/veggie salad or the lentil (next time I guess). I went for a salad today because there were only 2 sandwich options today. Again the bread type wasn't listed or known. I think if they start selling sandwiches on some of their fresh breads, it'll be a real lunch attraction that'll last past the opening days curiosity. Now on to the other disappointments. They sell both their oversized levain and palladin loaves by the pound. So I tried a thick slice of levain (the darker one) (approx. $1.5). I ate it plain which is maybe not the preferred way, but it lacked flavor. It was definitely well-made bread - crusty on the outside, a bit sour, and airy on the inside - BUT the taste was blah. Next time, I'll try the palladin and see if it is more to my liking. Or I should have just gotten a baguette for $3.50. The last sad news was the chocolate chip cookie ($1.75). I really am trying to like this place but come on you failed at a cookie. The cookie again looked awesome with overloaded, melty chocolate but it was only so so. I mean homemade Tollhouse is better in flavor. I don't know what exactly it was but it was baked fine but lacked any sweetness, or darkness to chocolate or butteriness - all different options that usually make a chocolate chip cookie good. Seriously, Potbelly down the street makes way better. So maybe it was just me - but I can scratch these 3 items off my list of things to get there. Per my prior comments, I have found things to like here - but so far it is hit or real miss. Also, it looked like they are working out a better line system for lunch and trying new things each day. One thing they still need to work on is signs for items on the counter. They have them but when they move stuff around or items change, they don't keep up with the signage. So there are lots of questions about what is that and how much is that. Slows down the lines and wastes staff times checking.
  7. KeithA
    I went last week for lunch and tried the chicken and cilantro dumplings. The good they are made to order and so very fresh. The bad they are made to order and took about 25 minutes to arrive when there was only one other order ahead of mine. I did like the taste, but the dumpling wrapper was a bit thick for my taste. It was similar in thickness to others I've had at other Chinese restaurants so maybe that is just the style. Personally, I prefer very think like in a spring roll or some Japanese shumai. Also, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't mix and match dumplings (half order of 5 of veggies and half order of 5 of chicken) which seemed odd because they are made to order and the same price, but apparently that isn't allowed. All of the lunch specials looked to be pretty standrd Chinese-American fare.
  8. KeithA
    I went today for a mid-morning breakfast and it has a decent amount of business, but no lines during this off-hour. I asked and teased one of the sales people about selling challah for $12 as exorbinant. He corrected me that apparently there were two sizes a smaller, average loaf for $7 (a fairly reasonable markup from the typical $4-6 I pay) and a oversized loaf for $12. He also said the smaller ones sold out super quick, so it is likely they were gone when Ozgirl showed up. I'm curious though how big was the $12 loaf? On this visit, I got to see the breakfast bakery offerings - english muffins, plain and sesame bagels (more traditional - bigger hole and smaller), lemon mint mini-cakes, all of the same breads, mini-brioche, muffins and probably a few other things I'm forgetting. They also had a short prepared breakfast menu of english muffin with a slice of frittata with roasted pepper, potato, riccotta salata cheese, and something green - maybe asapargus, brioche french toast, grilled PBJ on brioche, and bagel and lox. (these ranged from $3-6 or 7 each). I wanted to try the bread so I got a ciabatta roll ($2.50) and a slice of the frittata ($3). The frittata was good, would have been better warmed up. The roll was a bit disappointing - it was good bread, but lacked flavor. I did see that had the same cocount chocolate cream pie I had last time, but this time was served as mini-pies vs. slice. Also the pastry kitchens was putting the finishing touches on some yummy looking lemon tarts.
  9. KeithA
    Checked out this new spot for lunch today. It was very busy at noon with a line to the door that ebbed and flowed over the next hour - looks like so far they are doing good business. I really love the space. You walk in past huge glass windows looking into the bread kitchen - I bet you could problem learn a thing or two just watching the careful work they are doing on each loaf. Similarly in the back up the steps near the parking lot back door you can watch the pastry kitchens at work. Definitely a treat for anyone who likes to watch open kitchens. Not surprisingly, I was a bit overwhelmed by the choices - about 6-8 different breads were available, many different pastries, cakes, cookies, etc. And some but not all of the salads and sandwiches on their website were available. My suggestion is that they have a sidewalk sandwich chalkboard where they also post their menu - as we waited in line we cook watch the breadmaking, but didn't really know what was available to eat/drink. I had the very good, portabella mushroom, eggplant, harissa mayo, and young pecorino panini sandwich ($10 like all 4 of the sandwiches, the rest have either roast beef, chicken or roast turkey). It was large but not too huge on thick cut whole wheat. Not sure if this is opening kinks or not, but all of the sandwiches were only available on this bread which was the least interesting thing they have. I would have prefered options of brioche, levain or paladin (both the last two were being sold by the pound - customer specified how much). Hopefully this will change because all of the whole loaves looked great. Since I wasn't having the fancier bread, I also tried a slice of the coconut cream pie with a bit of add chocolate cream on top. This was really good. Unclear on exact price but I think it was $3-4 which was a bargain compared to some of the tiny cakes for $5-6. The pastry styles and slightly high prices reminded me of Palena's defunct coffee shop (Breadfurst is only a 15 minute walk or 6 minutes on metro from old Palena spot). Service was trying their best and it wasn't too bad. The line was a little slow, but they came around and took orders before paying which meant a bit of a wait to pay, but then the food was ready right away. I know their aim is to be a neighborhood bakery and so far it looks like they are achieving it. Many UDC students and various neighbors saying hi to one another. I'll be back to try the really good looking Palladin, corn rye, and other assorted baked goods/pastries. Finally, a real reason to head up to Van Ness.
  10. KeithA
    We were in the Keys for week and mostly ate passable, but overpriced fish. Think high-end DC dining for a piece of plain fish with plain sides. Unfortunately, we never made it to either of the two recommendations above so that was partly our mistake. One place that is worth recommending was Morada Bay in Islamorada. It is literally on a manicured beach with tables in the sand and nice chairs, picnic tables off to the side to watch the still bay waters - perfect for sunset and a place to let the kids run among the palms. They had a decent guitarist playing music too and since they have two stages it looks like this is a regular occurrence. The food was better than most other places but still pricey around $25 for the daily catch with 1 sauce and 1 side (extra $5-7 for the second side - so you pick starch or vegetable or like us split it between the couple). I really liked the blackened grouper with thaichili dipping sauce and pretty good coconut accented rice. There is also a more fine dining sister restaurant next door called Pierres that we didn't try but we heard was popular. One night we went to a locals place called Castaway in Marathon which is pretty forgettable except for the bread they serve - honeybuns. These are small white bread rolls that are lightly fried (no extra coating, just drop in for probably less than a minute) and then served with a syrup jar of honey to dip in. Simple, yet delicious. I don't know if this is common or not, but something to try at home.
  11. KeithA
    Joe, I've never been to the Shark myself but it is my brother and sister in law's favorite place in OC (they've been going for years) and my in-laws who live their part-time, like it a lot too. We've actually been trying to go for the past few years, but haven't made it due to the hassle of hauling small kids to West OC and back. Check it out and report back. Enjoy!
  12. KeithA
    It seems like once a month at the Friendship Heights and Tenleytown whole foods there is a cava dip tasting. So I've tried pretty much all of them. I really like the tzatziki and the harissa. Not a fan of the eggplant and roasted red pepper (I wish they'd make a good babaganoush instead). The traditional hummus is pretty good - I especially liked the newish caramelized onion hummus. I personally don't care for the other hummus varieties but that maybe because I'm more of a hummus purist (who is a sucker for onions in anything). Crazy feta is ok, but I found it to be too spicy that the other flavors were masked.
  13. KeithA
    I tried the cauliflower sandwich today and while I agree it was a well made sandwich with quality ingredients, it was only so so. I guess I shouldn't have expected so much from cauliflower as the main element of a sandwich (we make roast cauliflower at home regularly and I love it as a side dish)- unless you are a strict vegetarian I'd recommend trying one of the other options here as this one was only good for the first few bites and then grew boring and the condiments only helped so much.
  14. KeithA
    Heading down to the Keys for the first time soon next month. I've read through the rather good thread above but there has been nothing in almost 2 years. Can anyone provide an update on any of the recommendations above or any thing new? We are driving down from Miami and staying a night in Key West and then several nights in Marathon with 2 adults and 2 toddlers. Thanks.
  15. KeithA
    Impromptu lunch yesterday at BDT was excellent. Apparently they keep pretty good tabs on their guests as they ask for my name "for their records" and then when my wife and I were trying to remember the last time we had been, the staff politely noted it had been back in 2008. Checking my own comments above in this thread that looks right. It also looks like BDT has not gotten much love from the DRBoard which should be rectified as soon as we all have the spare cash to afford it - really great food, nice atmosphere and good service albiet a bit pricey but not more so than other high end places and the portions are a good size here. My wife had the burger which comes with their good duck fat fries. It was very good, but not super exciting - I think she chose poorly. The fries are rather good and they come with their housemade ketchup, which I loved - note that it had very little if any tomato in it and is really more of a slightly sweet BBQ/steak sauce. The gratis crusty bread and butter were very good (worth noting since so many places are cutting back on it). I had the really nice duck leg confit which comes as two good size pieces with lots of meat (I took one home for leftovers), just the right amount of crispy skin in a rich reduction sauce with a little squash that goes nicely with it. We also shared the Daily Harvest Vegetables side which was a rather pretty and tasty mix of different carrots over a bit of hazelnut accented sauce. The waiter said the carrots were likely to be on the new menu. I say pretty because it was an interesting melange of roasted, shaved, and sliced different colored/types of carrots. We didn't have dessert but I saw the really good apple pies being made in the bakery section of the kitchen near the entrance. Definitely, need to remember to not wait so long till I come back again.
  16. KeithA
    Had dinner at a work event at Nopa last week and I left unimpressed. First, I miss Zola and its funky spy-related decor that used to inhabit the space. Now Nopa is a very nice place but it is synonomous with every other fine dining place in DC, nothing stands out special about its look. Second, the food quality was high but it was really hit or miss with odd combinations of flavors that didn't mesh. My starter of hamachi tartare was nice fish with a mixture of tiny diced vegetables and jalapeno slices that went well, but then it had a blob of green cream on the side that I couldn't figure out what to do with. I'm guessing it was supposed to be a play on wasabi but it didn't have much flavor and took away from an otherwise tasty dish. My main was salmon which again was a nice piece of fish but nothing special and the mushrooms that came with it didn't go at all (and I love mushrooms). For dessert I ordered the coconut ice cream sandwich which turned out to be 3 small cream puffs filled with coconut ice cream. The ice cream was good but the puff shells were rock hard and inedible. Much better was the taste of chocolate cake that one of my table mates shared with me (but it looks like that is not on the regular menu). Unless I hear good things from others, I don't think I'll be going again. Such a shame as the other restaurants in this group were very good and I have enjoyed for years (including a very good meal at Bombay Club last Monday).
  17. KeithA
    Had an excellent business lunch at Equinox on Monday last week. So happy they were open during the snow. I'd been here before but it has been years. Based on this meal, I need to find the time and $$ to head back soon. We started with the gougeres cheese biscuits and the truffle risotto fritters. The fritters were really, really, really good - among work colleagues we are trying to be polite, but we almost had a bit of fight over who got the last one. They are little one bites with a nice dipping sauce but there are many bites (about 8-9) so good for sharing (although I could easily have eaten them all myself). The gourgeres were lighter than expected but still flaky, buttery biscuits with a nice cheese accent. Also worth ordering and it comes as a good bread basket size. Everyone said they liked their entrees, but I only had mine - the 24 hour braised short ribs. A large portion of succulent meat, fork tender meat with a really nice glaze over a bed of lots of what I thought were only mashed potatos but according to the menu are a mix with parsnips too (yeah for sneaking in extra veggies). It also comes with a fried goat cheese ball which is rich and delicious. Service was nice and welcoming. Worth going back to if you either haven't been or its been awhile.
  18. KeithA
    As a nearby neighbor, I continue to regularly go to Palena coffee shop at least a few times a week and almost all of the pastries/savories have and continue to be delicious. Last week and yesterday, I had really moist and good coffee cakes (one plain and one with some pineapple slices). The monkey bread continues to be a gooey, rich delight. The cranberry-pistacio scone had a nice and bit more unusual combo of flavors that you typically find in other coffeeshops. My one food gripe is that the donuts (both the holes and the full size) have become very oily - so much so that a chocolate glazed tastes like oil-soaked chocolate and it becomes unappetizing. However, the drink quality and service continues to need improvement to echo Dean's comment above. I personally don't drink coffee but my neighbors regularly complain to me and now to Palena that their capuccinos and other drinks are very inconsistent and it seems to due to lack of proper training of the staff. Sometimes you get a great drink and often you don't, depending on who is making it that day. They also don't seem to have a consistent idea of how to serve the drinks. My wife has ordered the same green tea that has been on the menu from day 1 at least 3 different times in the past 2 months and each time it is served in a different type of cup/glass with or without a side kettle of water. Each time, I am told this is "the" way it is served there. I have sampled the chai a few different times and it also varies in quality. So Palena if you are listening, drain the donuts better, more training on the drinks and keep churning out otherwise excellent food. It has become a very popular spot in the neighborhood as I regularly bump into neighbors there during the week and the weekends and on more than one occassion we have been served or served your treats at people's houses.
  19. KeithA
    I was there last week for a happy hour and was there about 6 months earlier for another HH. This time we sat inside the shop and only had wine flights - no food. The atmosphere is kind of like a busy bar - you sit among the shelves of wine, there is a TV in one corner and it was loud and boisterous (partly due to cramming so much stuff in a smallish space). I had the flight of red which was ok - price was par for the course ($15 for 3 types of wine = approx. 1 1/2 glasses total) and the quality was ok. I thought 1 of the wines was weak (in flavor and seemed watery) but the other 2 were enjoyable - one very much so and different from South Africa. My fellow drinkers generally enjoyed their flights as we tried a few different ones - I only recall they seemed to like the pinot grigio on the italian primavera flight. When I went before it was warmer and we sat outside for food and drinks. The patio is nice, but the services was so so, and I recall the house wines weren't great, plus the food was hit or miss. So I wouldn't by any means seek it out as a destination but if you are nearby looking for a glass of wine, they have lots of options. If you like beer, I think you are better off around the corner at World of Beer. If you want food, head elsewhere (if it is casual dining, go next door to Big Buns for rather good burgers with lots of options in proteins or bun/salad, etc.).
  20. KeithA
    Check out this article on a guy with a very regular diet of pizza: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-02-25/features/bal-ellicott-city-man-has-eaten-pizza-every-day-for-the-past-25-years-20140225_1_pizza-tomato-sauce-domino At first, the title makes one think that this may be an odd unhealthy diet but surprisingly someone made it work. But when you think about it, he eats a vegetarian diet (no meat) so it isn't surprising that he can maintain his health with exercise (maybe added vitamins, not mentioned in article). What really got me though was that this guy is missing out - his diet is so boring because he lacks variety - as is shown from this quote: "I remember about four years ago I ate a peach and it was amazing," he said. "I just never think to do things like that."
  21. KeithA
    After working downtown for a long time, I was surprised I had never heard of this hidden gem. It is open to the public - entrance on M St between 16th and 17th street. My buddy turned me on to it and we ate lunch there today. I believe it is run by Sodexho but I think the assessment of "sometimes delicious" and cheap is definitely true. My middle eastern-style chicken (i forget the name) was a steam tray but it was moist and flavorful with a slightly sweet sauce, the sauteed kale was good, and my roasted eggplant with a drizzle of yogurt, pomegranate sauce, and fresh mint leaves was excellent. The chickpea pilaf was only so so (cooked fine but bland) and the pre-grilled piece of thick pita was good too. All of that at 44 cents a ounce was a steal for a full plate at under $7 (after tax). They also have a pretty good selection between premade stuff, sandwiches made to order and "gourment" premade, soups, a nice salad bar, and a changing menu of international foods. Definitely worth checking out as a cheap option if you are nearby.
  22. KeithA
    So happy you enjoyed and good to hear that they are still serving up tasty grub. I haven't been in NOVA for a while to sample their stuff. Looking forward to getting some as the weather warms up.
  23. KeithA
    I agree with many of the above comments. Fresh Med is better than Byblos but neither is great. My favorites at Fresh Med are the baklava and the kibbeh. Most of the sandwiches I've had are so so and brought down by the thin, bland pita. Some days I miss Yanni's for a good gyro with thick tzatziki. A better option all around is Lebanese Taverna down in Woodley Park (one of the few times where WP beats CP).
  24. KeithA
    As with all of the less than a handful a kosher places in the DC area, I wish them the best of luck - my strictly kosher friends need more good options. I will also say I checked the menu and the current prices are great for kosher food (i.e. pretty normal in comparison to non-kosher food). A $10 hamburger seems pretty standard at a sit down restaurant these days.
  25. KeithA
    We ended up at Lebanese Taverna in Bethesda and had a nice time. We actually didn't get a private room (theirs is rather large and I believe was too big/expensive for our group). They did put us separately with one big table in the back of the restaurant and had a semi-private feel. Good food and fun by all. Food highlights were the pumpkin kibbeh (a veggie spin on traditional meat version), babaganoush (my favorite version around), chicken kabobs (sounds simple, but they are cooked perfectly to juicy perfection every time), great pistacio baklava, and good vanilla cardamon ice cream.
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