KeithA

After Rome, we recently were in Florence for 4 days. Some of the highlights: 1. Trattoria Za Za - north end of historic area near Mercato Centrale. A reservation is essential here as it is super popular with tourists. They have a whole system for seating people where non-reservation people wait in a pretty slow and long line. Reservations wait a few minutes in a short line (just go up to the host and tell them you have a reservation as it isn't apparent at first). The place is known for their pastas and we enjoyed a nice pesto. The porcini mushroom crostini was only so so. We also learned about bad bread here. I don't know why but many Italian and Florentine especially restaurant serve you slice Italian white bread in a paper bag which is either almost stale or definitely lacks any salt or flavor in it. While we thought this was odd, we had the same experience at a few restaurants that we thought ok maybe it is just us and this bread is solely for mopping up pasta sauce. However as we went to better restaurants we learned that was a bad assumption - other places give you nice soft bread with good flavor, perfect for a swipe through olive oil. So beware the tourist places with their bad bread. On the positive side, we also got a grilled beef filet which was super flavorful and good. Florence loves steak and my kids ended up eating steak almost every night. Note this was one of the more reasonably priced filets of beef for one person and not the big Bistecca Fiorentina. The nice thing about the filet was they cooked it medium like the kids liked vs. the big Bistecca's are almost all rather rare. This place is busy and loud but most of the food was good so I would still recommend it. 2. La Gelateria - very good gelato near #1. Again so many good gelato places I didn't keep track of them all but we did manage to hit 1-3 each day in Italy 🙂 3. Nino and Friends - we happened upon this place on a busy street in the historic center. We were drawn in by the strong A/C and literal wall of chocolate waterfalls. Glad we did as that night they were giving out many free samples of small chocolates, creme filled cookies and little bon bons filled with limoncello. We bought a few different things for later. Good place for some food souvenirs. Everything was tasty. 4. I Fratellini Sandwiches near leather market - well known cheap but big focaccia sandwiches with a variety of options. I had them customized the bresaola with rocket by adding truffle cream. Really good. Lines but they move quick and they actually have two separate lines for identical storefronts next to each other so pick the shorter line. 5. Pizza O Vesuvio - pretty good pizza across from #4. It looks like a dive but like most places in Italy the pizza is made in a real deal pizza oven and surprised us how good it was. Not a destination place but good if you happen by. 6. It took us a while to get into Apertivo - happy hour but it is great. For the price of a drink you get free snacks - depending on the place you may only get some chips at a tourist lunch spot or you may get almost a full meal of specially made apps. We stayed at the Westin Excelsior which has a well known but really pricey restaurant/bar on the roof top. The views are amazing and for a really overpriced but good cocktail (20+ euros vs the usual 8-10) they provide a mini meal of snacks - cheeses, fried bits, nuts and chips. 7. Fumo Fiamme - we finally had a huge bistecca fiorentina here. You walk in past a case of sides of beef ready to be cut and cooked. They roll out a trolley with a scale and your mammoth steak and then like most places they will serve it cooked rare and presliced. The steak was seasoned a bit too lightly but still very good. Also it was served on a sizzle platter so my wife had the smart idea to turn some pieces and let them continue to cook a bit more for the kids. We also enjoyed a simple but good pasta pomodoro and mostly pecorino cheese plate. 8. Caffe dei Fossi / Caffe New York - on via del fossi - large variety of gelato - all homemade by the very friendly family who runs it. Some unusual flavors like passionfruit and vanilla with a pistatchio top, really good mint too. They also serve pastries that looked good and have a small bar. The friendly server encouraged us to take taste and made my wife a mint mojitio with mint gelato (it looked cool but the regular gelato was better). 9. Caffe dell'Oro - slow service and we missed the buffet at this hotel restaurant on our way to the Ponte Vecchio which is very close by, but ended up having a very nice continental breakfast with a variety of muffins and pastries and excellent pancakes. Breakfast was suprisingly hard to find unless you want a quick so so pastry at a grab and go so this was a nice find. 10. Osteria Pastella - a really popular and very good place made more so by Instagram as everyone wants their famous fresh made in front window tagliatelle pasta that get finished with truffle cheese sauce made in a giant wheel of grana padano set aflame. Definitely make a reservation. There is a long slow moving line for the non-reservations. The pasta was really good but definitely strong on truffles and is very rich. I'd suggest one portion to share and then get other things too (we did a double portion and it was a bit much). We also had a very nice pasta stuffed with smoked eggplant and tomatos and mozzarella. The steak fillet with wine reduction sauce and mashed potatoes was a hit too. They also provide some little drinks, amuse bouche, and ending limoncella which were nice touches too. The desserts are more creative and while I liked the two we tried, the rest of my group was ready to go out for gelato afterwards. 11. Antico alla Vinaio - probably most famous sandwich place with multiple locations in Florence and elsewhere. Long line at one near Galleria de Academia where the David sculpture is. Didn't move that fast, but the sandwiches were very good even for the vegetarian ones we had. #2 veg was crisper and thinner bread but great whereas the caprese style we had them made off menu was a puffier bread. All of the sandwiches are made to order with hot bread fresh from the ovens in the back. The #2 veg had the famous pistachio creme which really did make the sandwich. 12. Bandolino - really wonderful. Unclear why it is not packed except their AC could be better. Services was very nice and the food was exceptional. Second best meal we had in Italy. The bread was very good. The pastas, meats, risotto were all very good. Great wine too. 13. Gilli - historic candies and dessert and bar on the Piazza Republique that is open very late. Great cookies, cannolis and candies. The bartenders look legit too but we didn't have a drink as it was very late and we got desserts to go. Some of the candies are so beautiful, another great place for a food souvenir. Final recap will be of Liguria that I'll add in a separate topic soon.

Recently got back from several days in Rome. We had some great food and some ok food. The highlights were: 1. Caffe Doria - small, fancy cafe connected to the Doria Pamphilij gallery. Great intro to Rome when your small cafe has a fountain inside it. Lots of fancy cakes and a few types of gelato to choose from plus cafe drinks and also looked like a great place for cocktails (big selection of different gins) - we skipped the cocktails since it was early afternoon. A nice hidden find that we happened on by accident. Very friendly service too. 2. Mastrociccia Osteria Bistrot - near Piazza Navona, very popular place in a busy part of town so I recommend a reservation. Great Roman style pizzas made fresh in the wood oven in the back. We especially enjoyed the rosemary focaccia (more like plain pizza dough). Also had a nice fish and oxtail ragu gnocchi. 3. Two Sizes - really popular Tiramisu place across a tiny street from #2 that serves a few types of small and large tiramisu and cannolis. The large pistachio tiramisu was really good but they only had nutella cannolis that night which weren't great. The filling was simply nutella (which I like but was hoping for a blend with usual cannoli cream). There will be a line but it moves pretty quick. 4. Fior di Luna -in Trastavere - probably the best gelato in 10 days in Italy. (however the runners up were close, there is just so much good gelato). The flavors here seemed to be fresher and the consistency was creamier but still light which is why I say this was the best. It has won several gelato awards too. Small place with a good selection of 10-15 flavors too. They also have good macarons and cannolis (didn't try the cannolis). 5. Capitoline Museum cafe - the food was pretty good - cacio pepe tonarelli pasta, bresaola with rocket and parm, and spritzes. The best part though is the great terrace view of the city. 6. Antico Forno - in the back of the Trevi Fountain piazza - this is actually a small but fully stocked grocery, deli, and bakery with pizza by the slice. We only got a few baked goods, but wish we had come back for more as the mini sfogiatella pastries were amazing. One word about gelato - we read a lot of advice to seek out the places where the flavors are covered and not displayed in big mounds as these are supposedly better. We ended up eating both and didn't find this advice held true. What was better was simply researching which places were more popular and which were labeled Gelato Artignale - meaning artisan/homemade vs. mass produced. That being said the worst gelato was still very tasty. The other bit of advice I would share which holds true from prior trips to Italy, stick to the fruit flavors or more traditional nut (like hazelnut or pistacio) or stracciatela (vanilla with chocolate drizzle) as they are usually better. Some places have unusual flavor which may also be great too - I had a really nice coconut in one. In the separate forums I'll share food from the rest of our trip in Florence and Liguria.

I never posted after we went last September but we enjoyed Oakhart Social and Orzo Kitchen. I can't say we were wowed by the food as I can't recall what we had but they were enjoyable. Good idea to get reservations in advance. I also recall we had a hard time finding a place for breakfast (we meant to go to the local bagel chain that has a few locations but they were closed that weekend). Lastly, the slightly run down old school ice cream parlor on the pedestrian walk was good and fun with a good amount of flavor choices.

Anyone been to Rome recently with any recommendations? We are headed there for several days in August. Thanks

Can you describe what this actually was? it sounds like thinly sliced cheese but what type of cheese and what is harry's bar way? Thanks. I'm always impressed with their non-pizza specials and apps.

I recently read the short, good history of Zabars written by one of the family members who own and still run the store, and so when I was nearby I had to stop in. Great selection of everything and there is a cafe next store for grab and go bagel sandwiches. I had just had breakfast and was returning to DC in a few hours, so this trip was mostly baked good. The store made rugelach sold by the piece/pound at the bakery counter was a mixed bag - cinnamon was soft and good (not great) but the chocolate was a bit hard and not so tasty. Much better were the packaged Zabar brand mini black&white cookies and the chocolate babka. The cookies were soft and so good - 100 times better than the one's I picked up in a touristy fancy bakery near my hotel in Times Square a few months ago. The babka was EXCELLENT!!! It looks like a pretty good Green's babka, but oh my is it good. Not fancy like Breads Bakery or other places - just classic, rich chocolate babka. I should have, but my stomach is glad I didn't buy 2.

Great looking bagels. It looks like you have no need to eat out but I had some relatives who recently lived in London for a few years and they really liked the bagels and gave high praise especially for the lox. Before London and presently they live in Manhattan for reference. So keep looking.

I like to see the love that the DC bagel seen is getting, but I kind of also hate these articles. They neglect to mention the many good bagel places in the DC area in the past and leave out some of the best current ones. A few longtime bagel places in the DC area that made good, sometimes great, bagels and sadly some are gone: Bagel City, Bethesda Bagels, Georgetown Bagels (also I haven't had them in longtime but people like Goldberg Bagels too). Sadly some of these have closed or are currently located solely in MD (I don't have a clue about VA bagels). While I like Bullfrog, Call Your Mother (except no onion bagels - boggles the mind), and Breadfurst (still haven't tried Pearl's), left off is my current favorite Baked by Yael, across from the zoo and carried at various other spots around the city). I will also say that I lived in NYC for several years and visit there pretty regularly - their best bagels have nothing on these good DC options - not that one is better, but rather they are equally good. Also, NYC has always had and continues to have a lot of crappy bagels even from stand alone bagel shops (not counting the mass-produced delis, bodegas, streetcarts). I think DC has less bagel options that NY, but currently plenty of good ones on par with NYC. It isn't the special water or anything in the NY air - it comes down to consistency and good craft in making bagels which can be done anywhere.

Just went for the second time yesterday to Guru Groceries and Chaat House in Bethesda on 7817 Old Georgetown Road. It is a small, but very well stocked Indian grocery that has every type of spice, spice mix, rice, lentil, grain, etc. that you could need for Indian cooking. The couple who run it are very friendly and happy to help you find anything you need. They also sell great vegetarian samosas and will make you chaats from a short list. Make sure to head to the back where you can find produce, fresh curry leaves, homemade tamarind and coconut chutney among other goodies. This type i checked out the freezer cases in the back and have really been enjoying some of the frozen Indian kulcha breads (they have a variety of roti, kulchas, parathas, etc.) I also saw they had frozen some common prepared Indian dishes if you don't feel like cooking. I highly recommend checking it out if only for good samosas and mango lassi but also for good prices on spices and other harder to find Indian ingredients (see curry leaves above and asafetida/hing). Once I got home, I used some of my super fresh okra to make bhindi masala. While the store is somewhat new to me, my Indian friends have been going since the location opened several years ago, and apparently they were in Rockville for almost a decade before that.

Lovely meal at Izakaya Seki last night. We arrived for our 7pm reservation and were quickly seated at the kitchen bar on the first floor. I don't know if they take seating requests but getting a seat right across from the chefs was fun to watch all of the cooking action. They now are back to having mostly printed menus with the specials menu accessible by QR code. IThis was a little confusing as we didn't realize there was an additional menu but the waiter pointed it out to us. He also very kindly walked us through some of the menu items and explained some of the specials and answered all of our questions. The specials menu is like a whole additional 1/3 of dishes - they had multiple options in almost all of the areas of the regular menu - raw/fried/obanzai, etc. We started with the tuna nuta (chunks of sashimi tuna kind of poke style) with a spicy miso sauce and some shredded shiso leaf. Wonderful dish and ample portion. My wife had the cooked salmon rice ball/onigiri which was also very good (I had to plead for a bite). We got the soba warm dashi soup which was a great portion for 2 to share and each have more than a cup but not a whole bowl of soup. Soba was very thin and fresh tasting with a great dashi broth. Then, we got an array of their vegetable sides / obanzai. We opted for the special nasu abetashi - chunks of very soft eggplant in a miso sauce, special asapargus with light sauce and garlic chip, and thin sliced lightly marinated cucumber. The eggplant was very good - rich and hearty, the asparagus was good too and the cucumber was simple but a refreshing contrast to the other rich flavors. We ate the obanzai along with chicken meatballs /tsukune and yakitori (each is 2 skewers). Both had the same rich tare sauce (similar to but less sweet that teriyaki). The meat balls were each one big meatball molded around the skewer and I enjoyed them, but the yakitori was better. The thigh meat and the small pieces of charred scallion were great. We also got the special steak with garlic fried rice. The steak was a good size piece of seared medium rare steak in a rich sauce served on a small sizzling platter. It was also tasty and good if you are looking for a bigger protein dish that isn't fish. However, neither of us enjoyed the fried rice that is served on a separate plate. It was fine but seemed to lack flavor and the flavor it had didn't seem to blend well or go well with the steak. It looked like it might have shredded shiso mixed in (and while we like that herbal flavor in some dishes - it didn't go well here). We finished with mango and adzuki/red bean ice cream (a small scoop of each) - they also had green tea and roasted green tea flavors. The ice cream was ok - it could have been creamier but still nice ending. Overall the food and service were great - lots of hits and only a minor miss with the fried rice. We saw lots of people getting sashimi and a few orders of the sauted mushrooms that looked very good too. One other thing we would do differently, we ordered everything at once and that meant food started arriving fast but they still managed to pace us somewhat. Next time, I would order a few things and wait to order more. Lastly, only tangential to Seki, but we started off the night getting tiki drinks at Archipelago which is only a 2 minute walk away. I'd do that again too.

Nice to see that the old Makoto space in Palisades has been resurrected as Kappo Makoto with an eight course Wagyu omakase meal. More details in the article below. However, I don't understand this part of the article when discussing an $150/person meal: "The relatively quick pace of the evening caters to a post-pandemic clientele that doesn’t want to stay put for too long—or pay a ridiculous prix-fixe price for a special-occasion menu. Kappo diners can be in and out in under two hours. “The age of the four-hour experience is now for once in a blue moon,” says Wilder [the owner]. “This is a monthly or biweekly dining experience. You’re able to come back frequently.” https://dc.eater.com/2023/3/31/23664716/polished-japanese-tasting-room-palisades-dc-restaurant-openings The pictures of the bare tables or counter stools with no backs and the above description, make it sound like a neighborhood casual eatery, but $150 is a ridiculous prix-fixe price for a omakase without course choice meal. I haven't been and it sounds lovely, but something is off in these quotes. Pick a lane - either embrace your special occasion expensive omakase or serve a la carte at reasonable prices. Or better yet offer both options.

We recently started getting carryout from Mr. Chen's in Cleveland Park and have been pleasantly surprised at the quality and consistency of the food. Recognizing it is Chinese-American and not authentic Chinese food, it is worth trying again. I say this having ordered on 4 or so occasions in the last couple of months. FWIW I we like the vegetable lo mein, sesame chicken, and recently I enjoyed the chicken with green beans. Most of the tables are empty and it has basically turned into a carryout only place which is a shame since it was pretty nice casual dining room that often was busy when it was Nam Viet. As for Woodley, I've also had some good carryout from Naanwise, and I agree Lebanese Taverna is very good and reliable.

Apparently the carrrot fritters are Havuc Koftesi and here is a blog with old pictures of the dish from Zaytinya and a recipe inspired by it: https://corkandspoon.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/lets-get-saucy-pistachio-sauce-with-havuc-koftesi/

Thanks for sharing the news. Griffin Tavern is my family's go to favorite when heading out to Shenandoah. It sounds like it will shift from British Pub to Irish Pub but still have fish and chips. Hopefully they won't mess with the recipe as the Griffin version was excellent. Here is a longer story I found with lots of details: https://www.rappnews.com/features/food_and_drink/flint-hill-s-griffin-tavern-sold-to-dc-area-restauranter-to-become-irish-pub/article_227a9dae-a46a-11ed-afaa-17e598dbef2d.html

Me too. That was great dish.

Chiko is still one of my faves. We had a really enjoyable delivery meal from them last weekend. Our faves are still great - soy-glazed brisket, spicy cumin lamb noodles (I've always liked this dish but this was probably the best it has ever been - more/larger pieces of tender lamb that usual), half-a-cado salad. We also really enjoyed the brussel sprouts. A few new things we tried which we also liked were the smashed cucumber side and the smashed salmon entree which comes with a side of white rice. This was probably enough for 4 people. The two of us enjoyed it for 2.5 meals. Excellent again. Already thinking that we should get again soon.

I know this isn't probably the answer you are looking for, but if you want a particular type of stock and are willing to drive to lots of different places, I'd recommend making your own. It is super easy - take whole chicken throw in stock pot with vegetables and seasoning - let simmer for a few hours and strain. The only special tool you need is a stock pot, but any big pot works - you may need to cut up the chicken though. Best way to get the stock you want and you can freeze it too (use ice cube tray for small amounts or larger containers).

Went to Belize for week before Christmas. Really nice time seeing Mayan sites, lots of birds and other wildlife. We lucked out and had great food while in Belize. Good friends were there at the same time but went to different parts of the country and found the food to be pretty poor. Our first taste of Belizean food was at a tiny roadside stand called Southern Highway Snack & Cafe (a bit south from the turn off for Hopkins). We had a driver take us on the 5 hour trip from the international airport to the south near Punta Gorda and this is the place he had us stop for lunch (he called ahead to place the order). It doesn't look like much but had super fresh home cooking - great sabuletas (fried small tortilla topped with stew chicken and pico de gallo), ok tamale with chicken, small fried chicken empanadas, rice & beans (the mixed one) with baked chicken. We are big chicken eaters and so are Belizeans so we were a good match. All of the above was good with some of the homemade habanero vinegar hot sauce on the table. We also enjoyed some fresh made soursop juice. Almost all of the rest of our meals were eaten at our resorts but the meals were really good so worth mentioning. We stayed at two Muy Ono resorts - Copal Tree Lodge in the south near Punta Gorda and Hopkins Bay on the north end of Hopkins. The resort group has its own farms where they get most of the food that is made - especially at Copal Tree which was the better of the two (food a bit better, but accommodations, location, staff, etc were much better) has most of its farm onsite where they said 80% of the food they serve comes from. At both restaurants (they are small resorts - only 1 restaurant a piece) - they offer a variety of dishes to meet American desires - chicken, fish, pastas, meat, etc. but not surprisingly the Belizean dishes stood out. We especially enjoyed fry jacks and eggs for breakfast (good pancakes too), and super fresh fruits and salads. Copal Tree also has a vanilla and cacao farm so any of the desserts with these were good - especially if you like dark chocolate. We also did a chocolate making class at Copal Tree that was super extensive - literal each stage of seed to plant, to harvest, drying, ferment, roasting and mixing the chocolate. We got several 70% dark chocolate bars we made which we are still enjoying (5 big bars per person and there were 4 of us). We had a final meal at the sunrise restaurant in the international BZE airport (before security, upstairs) that was rather good stew chicken, beans & rice.

We eat here at least once of month - often carryout - our regular go to order is the beef samsa, korma chop (same noodles as laghman but stir-fried which we like better than the plain noodles with the meat/veg sauce poured on afterwards), garlicky green beans, and kawa manta (pumpkin dumplings). I still like the kebabs too. The big plate chicken is very good but a bit too spicy for others in my crew and to large to eat alone (even the half order).

We go pretty regularly to the Cleveland Park one for dinner - they still do the second helping there - just as they've always done. Still great consistent - good food.

I couldn't find a thread for this now several year old restaurant so created a new one. Please combine if I missed the old thread. Muchas Gracias is very small (about 20 seat, cramped) but airy and nice restaurant with a small 4 or so table patio (some on a deep slant) serving modern Mexican food. The menu has the usual chips, salsa, quesadillas, tacos plus a few more less common options. That is where the comparison ends though to other taqueria. They make almost everything in house from the dark slightly thick addictive chips, to the great salsas, and fresh corn tortillas. There have a been a few stories in the local food press how the chef pivoted from a big space to this tiny pop-up that is now permanent due to the pandemic. We went on Saturday for lunch and really enjoyed the food which is high quality (but also a bit pricey too). We enjoyed a lot the chip service with cashew "queso" (seems to have a mix of mustard in it - I really liked it), chipotle-tomato salsa, tomatillo salsa, and macha salsa (this one was new too me and is mostly oil with seeds and a bit of chilies - very nice). All of the salsas were nicely flavored with a nice variety. None of them were spicy though but I thought the lack of spice really let the flavors of the chiles and other ingredients come through. We added guacamole which was also super fresh and tasty (again not spicy at all). We shared the taco platter with the short rib birrea. The platter is really a make your own taco setup with a platter of warm small corn tortillas, side of garlicly rice and black beans and a bowl with the meat/main filling. The platter was enough to feed 2 or more people if that is all you wanted. We also tried the completed charred sweet potatoes (you get 2 medium size ones each cut in half for 4 small servings) accompanied by the slightly spicy and sweet salsa negra, large salt flakes and chipotle-butter (not spicy). I thought the sweet potatos paled in comparison to the other dishes but I think I was distracted. I brought half home and on second eating thought it was great with the accompaniments. Looking forward to eating more from their menu on my next visit (or getting carry out - they offer the usual menu plus full taco family meals). We didn't try it but they have a big menu of tequilla/mezcal as well as other drinks too.

Reviving this old thread as I'm menu planning for Turkey day this year. I would love to hear about people's go to side dishes as we have a larger crowd than usual and probably will make extra dishes. So far our menu is: Whole turkey and extra turkey breast since we have white meat lovers. We usually make it per Ina Garten's recipe with fennel, onions, and other veggies cooked underneath the whole bird soaking up the schmaltzy goodness. Homemade cranberry sauce - usually I drop the bag in with water, sugar and maybe some orange peel if it is available. Very simple, straightforward. Anyone else have a favorite? Cornbread muffins, plain green beans for the kids, Stuffing (or actually dressing since I cook it in a separate pan) (I usually use one of those pre-made mixes of dried bread white/wheat from whole foods and add lots of margarine/butter, poultry seasoning/sage, and sauteed onions/peppers/mushrooms), a homemade pickle bar of the 5-6 different pickles I have on hand, roasted brussel sprouts, Potato knishes - I make my own using the Smitten Kitchen recipe online. I like them big but will probably make mini small hand sized vs. big doorstop ones so people aren't overwhelmed. I usually make caramelized yukon gold potato filling, but I may add poultry/sage seasoning too and possibly some sweet potato ones too. These knishes make a great leftover open-faced sandwich - split the knish in half horizontal and layer on turkey, roast veggies, and anything else you like. I need a vegan protein dish. I'm thinking some type of bean salad but open to suggestions. There will be lots of dessert too but my wife is handling that part.

Last week was in Vienna for a few days. Mostly stuck at a work conference but did have 2 really good eating experiences: Gmoa-Keller Very nice cozy place with mostly locals but they have an English menu. We were lucky to go during autumn goose season and chose the Martini Goose special which was excellent. I later saw that almost everyone in the restaurant was eating this dish. We also had a very good veal Wiener schnitzel and two glasses of recommended Austrian red wine. Very friendly and quick service - food came out very quick. We are around 6 and it wasn’t too crowded. Very close to the Konzerthaus too where we went for a show. They also take reservations. Neni in Nachsmarkt - I love Israeli food but didn't plan on eating it in Vienna, but we were wandering through the market and I had heard such good things. Happy we chose it. Food was so fresh and good. Hot from oven pita, great hummus, and the amba spiced chicken was really good too.

Just got back from NOLA last weekend. First time there and I wholeheartedly agree to go to Peche - now! The food was excellent - we started with the hushpuppies and the kale/spicy peanut salad special which were great and a nice combo. Then the baked drum was divine - one of the best dishes I've had in a long time anywhere - and nicely inventive with the crispy rice balls. Apple strudel for dessert was pretty good too. Service was friendly and great. We also had a celeb siting of Willem Dafoe. Apparently the place is a real draw for everyone - our waiter told us of at least 3 different other movie stars who had dropped by recently. That being said we got an online reservation pretty easily about 2 weeks out. Really great. Very jealous of a friend who lives nearby. We also had a nice dinner at GW Fins. They have several items on the menu where they use up the non-filet leftover pieces of fish in creative ways. I liked the Fins tempura (see pic on their website but not listed on accompanying menu - https://gwfins.com/menus/dinner-menu/appetizers/) where they do a korean fried chicken treatment to the tender fin meat. Very good. I had the John Dory entree which was on top of a bed of grits that paired nicely with the sauce. My wife liked her flouder with mini gnocci. We also enjoyed the great hot biscuits from the oven (they bring around a pan to serve directly from). We also had the cornbread with blackeyed pea succotash which was very nice too. One morning we went to the Ruby Slipper branch in the Garden District for breakfast. Much quieter than the locations closer to French Quarter. It has a huge menu of every type of breakfast item you could think of and then some including many with creole twists. My smoked salmon eggs benedict on biscuits were good and messy. It is not a very fancy place but food is hearty and good. I'd go back but would probably see what else is available on my next trip. Lunches were at Bayonna and Shaya. Bayonna is a lovely location with a really pretty courtyard (apparently best to call and request that - we ate inside which was still nice). Service was kind but a bit kitschy with the upsell. I started with the baked goat cheese toasts with mushroom madeira sauce - it was tasty but I think they burnt the bread a bit and choice of bread wasn't the best - tasted like a seeded healthier bread whose flavor was zapped out of it by toasting too much. For main I had the recommended smoked duck PBJ sandwich - it was on the same toasted bread as the app which I think is why I only kind of liked it. The duck as advertised was cooked in the peanut butter sauce and had some pepper jelly with it. All of the other items overpowered the flavor of the duck. I wouldn't get this dish again. My wife enjoyed her salmon but didn't think it too special. We may have ordered wrong here although I apparently ordered two of their most popular dishes. Shaya was really good. Big fluffy Israeli style pita fresh from the wood oven in the back. Great creamy hummus with fried chicken pieces (no bones), all of the other salatim were good too especially the baba. We ate so many salatim that we split the chicken schnitzel sandwich with harissa mayo - very good and better when you add some of the celery slaw that comes on the side. We were at a disadvantage going in since we do not eat most of the traditional creole food (no shellfish or pork), but we found some great eats still. P.S. - the NOLA airport is very nice (revamped a couple of years ago) and has a bunch of good national chain but even better a bunch of local food options. The MoPho - pho place in the middle of the B gate part of the terminal hit the spot with a pretty good and quick beef pho (rare sliced flank and herb beef mini meatballs) - not the best pho - but really good for airport food.

Just got back from a long weekend in Acadia National Park/Mt. Desert Island - cold but beautiful. We only ate out at a few places: Bar Harbor Fudge at Acadia Country Store on main street in Bar Harbor was rather good. Lots and lots of choices and they'll let you buy however much you want in whatever flavors. We tried 6 or so different ones and liked them all. Havana - very nice and delicious but pricey. Warm, quiet and good service. The amuse bouche was bland but luckily that was the only miss. The bread basket had good wheat bread and blueberry bread (sweeter but mellowed a bit by the cornbread?) with 3 good dips, very hot chili oil, cinnamon butter, and white bean dip. Our entrees were really good - the adults got the halibut that was rich but lighter with nice accompaniments, one child got the filet mignon which was very nice (they offered to remove the coffee-rub for her too) and came with great potato side (crispy on outside and decadent, whipped inside) and other child got the roast chicken which was great with nice basil sauce and pineapple salsa. For dessert, my wife loved the blueberry bread pudding with Mt. Desert caramel ice cream scoop, kids got the same ice cream, and I enjoyed the good tres leches cake (big piece). Best meal we had on the trip. Worth making a reservation for in advance. McKays Public House - loud, slow service and ok food. It was decent but nothing special. Better than the super touristy places or fast food but probably would look for other options instead of returning. Bangor Timber Restaurant and Bar - very nice setting which is probably better for drinks. We went for lunch after our plane landed before heading to Acadia. Service was sloooow and food was good to ok. Nice pizzas in the wood fired oven and very good, ample haddock fish and chips. The beet, goat cheese salad was so so. It is a surprisingly nice decor for a restaurant connected to a Residence Inn. Also bonus it is across the street from the Paul Bunyan statue. Mason's Brewing Company across the river in Brewer was great. Big selection of food options, friendly staff, and nice view of the river (indoor and outdoor seating). I had a good footlong hot dog and great crispy brussel sprouts, kids' menu was good, and wife liked the mediterranean madness chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. Big cocktail and draft menus. Yes, I did try the blueberry cider and it was exactly what you think - a bit sweet and ok.