Principia

I've been to Pauli Moto's twice now: once with my +1 on their opening night, and once this past Saturday with my best friend. First visit: The +1 and I strolled in at about 7.00 pm, and were seated immediately, at the robatayaki bar. The atmosphere is minimalist, though not austere. We started with the Shanghai Vegetable Spring Rolls. They are, as one might guess from the name, a standard egg roll filling inside a spring roll wrapper. They were actually a bit too big for the supporting structure, which meant that cutting them was difficult - and that the contents readily oozed out when doing so. The +1 ordered the Kobe Beef, Shrimp, and Meatball robatayaki. The Kobe Beef was the most interesting of the three, although it could've been flank steak from what flavor was discernable under the marinade. The shrimp was overcooked, and the meatball was described as tasting like a swedish meatball without the sauce. He also ordered the salmon roll sushi, which was a real disappointment - the rice was dry and bland! I had the Salmon Steamed in Garlic, since all of the vegetarian items I was interested in ordering they were either out of or didn't have yet. This turned out to be a fortuitous move, because the salmon was delicious. It captured the essence of umame perfectly. I love hot banana dishes, so we had the Banana Spring Rolls for dessert. The red bean paste lent a depth of flavor to the rolls that we both really appreciated. Our server was personable, if not thoroughly knowledgeable about all of the dishes. For some reason the folks sitting directly next to us had a different server, who seemed a bit of a space case... Second visit: My best friend and I were finishing up some shopping at Tysons (well, more her shopping and me helping her with it), and stopped by to put our names in at about 6.45. The host told us to stop back by in 45 minutes or so for an "updated time", which I would guess means the restaurants downstairs are already running into the problem of list-bombers not showing back up for their tables. To make a long story short, we ended up waiting more like 1 3/4 hours, the last chunk of which was spent hovering near the entrance as we were told that we'd be seated "at any minute". Remember the service industry mantra, guys: Underpromise and overdeliver! At any rate, we eventually got seated in the "outside" portion of the restaurant. Our server, of course, turned out to be the space case the +1 and I had been happy not to have on opening night. Suffice it to say that service doesn't seem to be the strong suit at Pauli Moto's thus far. We started with the Shanghai Spring Rolls and Snow Pea Leaves in Garlic. The kitchen has apparently taken the constructive criticism to heart and started making the spring rolls a bit smaller, so they are now hot all the way through and not gooshy. The Snow Pea Leaves in Garlic were interesting in more than one way: since when does something ordered as a vegetable side dish get brought out as an appetizer? I would expect to be brought items in random order at a tapas restaurant, but this ain't Jaleo. The leaves themselves were a first for either of us. They had a texture closer to spinach, with a taste closer to kale. I enjoyed them more than my friend did, so I ended up taking the leftovers home with me. At this point they were out of the Wasabi Mashed Potatoes (again), so I settled on a couple of the vegetable robatayaki and the vegetable fried rice. The japanese pepper robatayaki had a nice, crisp texture, and wasn't overdressed - which I'd been worried about after the +1's experience with the Kobe beef. The japanese beet/gourd was just weird... I don't know what they did to it, but it came out like a cross between a water chestnut and okra. bleah The vegetable fried rice was fresh, sufficiently moist, and featured little crispy slivers of asparagus. As for my friend's entree, I'm afraid she didn't really comment on it although she a) didn't complain about it (as she is rather wont to do) and finished it, so that's the whole ringing endorsement, FWIW. Dessert was again the Banana Spring Rolls, which were even better than the first time. Overall impressions: The service needs work, they should make sure to have enough of their most popular items to carry them through the dinner rush, and they need to get a better sense of how long their tables will take them. If they're getting swamped now with tables that linger far longer than they expect, imagine how insane they'll be driven once the liquor license rolls in. All things considered, thus far I'd have to say I'd rather hit the P.F. Chang's at Fairfax Corner.

I picked up menus today at B&W, so here's the skinny on the baked goods: Since people seem more interested in the Baked than the Wired, here's their current list of goody types: Pies Apple Crumb, Banana Cream, Fresh Blueberry, Very Berry, Cherry, Strawberry Rhubarb, Chocolate Cream, Coconut Cream, Lemon Meringue, Fresh Peach Cream, Pecan, Fresh Strawberry, Vanilla Cream Breakfast Cakes Banana Bread, Zucchini Bread, Pumpkin Ginger Bread, Mocha Coffee Cake, Cardamom Coffee Cake, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Pear Walnut Cake, Apple Cake, Coconut Chocolate Chip, Banana Mocha Cake, Sour Cream Coffee Cake Muffins Blueberry Lemon, Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pecan, Apple Cinnamon Walnut, Raspberry Almond, Cranberry Orange Walnut, Chocolate Chip, Lemon Poppy Seed, Apple Cranberry, Blueberry Cranberry Bars & Brownies Brownies, Cream Cheese Brownies, Jolt Brownies (espresso), Raspberry Apricot Bars, Square Buckeyes, Soccer Mom Bars, Lemon Bars, Pecan Bars, Bee Stings, Caramel Macadamia Bars Cookies Chocolate Chip, Espresso Chocolate & white chocolate chips, Ginger Sugar, Monster Cookies, Molasses, Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Bomb, Butterscotch Oatmeal, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Butter Big Ass, Kahlua Mocha Dunking, Almond Anise Biscotti, Snickerdoodle Cakes & Cupcakes Carrot Cake, Carrot Cake Cupcake, Cheesecake, Texas Sheet Cake, Coconut Layer, Yellow or Chocolate Layer Cake, Yellow or Chocolate Cupcake, Chocolate Raspberry Layer, Orange Poppyseed, Lemon Pound Cake, Karen's Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cupcake, Strawberry Cupcake, Black Bottom Mini-Cupcakes Other Stuff Cinnamon Rolls, Macaroons, Whoopie Pie, Lemon Curd Tart with fresh fruit If you want to find out what they've got in on a given day, the store's number is 202.333.2500. To place any special orders, Teresa Velazquez can be reached in the kitchen at 202.333.5506. In addition to the excellent hot chocolate, tea and coffee drinks on the go, they also sell coffee and tea in bulk. Coffees run between $12 and $15 a pound; teas run from $2.25 to $11.25 per 2 oz. I've got the lists here with me, if folks want info on varieties. They also carry some coffee and tea paraphenalia, such as tea canisters and travel mugs.

But that's assuming that the people on this event's waitlist can go or want to go to the next one, blah, blah, blah. You can see where this would quickly turn into a total pain in the keister. I'm thinking DR might have meant that he'd try to organize something else for the same night, since by definition anyone who's asked for a slot at Ray's would be free to attend?

The walk-in business is from all of the workers in the nearby offices (just down at the bottom of the hill, for instance). I Baked & Wired.

It's at 1052 Thomas Jefferson Street, and shares its space with Zap! Graphics. If you're walking downhill from M Street, it's on the right side of the street with the mule corral, just a few steps down from it. If you're walking uphill from the waterfront, go up the left side of the street past AIR and U.S. News and World Report, and there you go. If you come to the canal, you've gone too far. You can also stop by Snap (crepes, belgian frites, bubble tea, etc.) if you're so inclined... same side of the street, other side of the canal.

Guajillo... mmmmmm.

Why am I envisioning a fine-vintage-wine version of a suicide? I think Jennifer's idea is that the people who get to go to this event don't put their names in for the next one. Or they can, but they're automatically bumped to a second, separate drawing for any leftover slots after everyone else has had first crack? Of course, we could always turn it into a restaurant version of 'Let's Make A Deal'... Gee, do I want to take the dinner at Ray's, or do I hold out for whatever's behind door #2?

When I worked as a page at the Reston Regional Library in the late 80s, we had regular problems with parents dumping their kids off in the children's books area and just leaving them there. Not while they were somewhere else in the library, mind you, but when they were going to work or off to shop somewhere. The problem disappeared almost completely when our higher-ups just started calling the cops when we found abandoned kids. Nothing like strolling back in to the library hours later with your shopping to find Child Services has your kid, and you're being arrested. You'd think the dips might've predicted this as a consequence... since the RRL is right across the street from the police station, but then again they may have just moved to Chicago.

This place is so on my list for if/when I visit Chi-town. I recall a time (regrettably long ago) where keeping a watchful eye on the little ones was the regular expectation for parents taking their children anywhere. To that one lady: You know what, you may be out for a break, but guess what? The gentleman that owns this coffee shop isn't being paid to babysit your kid, and neither are its patrons!

That, or not wanting to be around drunkards, or wanting to be able to taste one's food and not cigarette smoke...

There are a ton of industry magazines that follow that sort of thing to varying degrees, and I think most of them have websites. Rather than give you some huge laundry list, here's a few lists of links for many of the usual suspects:http://www.restaurant.org/business/resources_magazines.cfm http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/...rade_Magazines/ http://dmoz.org/Business/Food_and_Related_...News_and_Media/ Hope this helps!

The +1 and I caught this and the "Coco's" episode and couldn't help but be reminded of Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" series. At least the Coco's people appreciated the decor work... and if nothing else, the fix-up would get them a better selling price if/when they decide to pack it in.I wonder what kind of a visit GM got from the local health inspector after the show aired up north?

I recall reading articles (either in the Post or City Paper) when Oyamel was under construction where one of the owners explained that he lived in Crystal City, and noted that it was become more residential and less of a commuter town. He thought part of the reason CC turns into a ghost town at night is because there aren't many places there where one can get any sense of community. Perhaps he ought to have opened a pub instead?

Made a successful trip to EB yesterday afternoon.I was happy to see that they'd made a point of adding a big 'Closed Sundays' sign to the door (although their web guy is slacking; the hours are still wrong there). Apparently they're trying to set some time aside for training on a day when they won't be up to their ears in customers. It appeared that they're trying to cross-train their staff now, which is always a good idea, even if you wouldn't normally have your shake maven running the register. It's so pretty and clean inside too, very bright and cheery, versus the Early Bathroom look common to every 5G's I've been to. As for the comestibles: If I hadn't been heading to Moorenko's right afterward, I'd have gotten one of the shakes. Their list of add-ins was sorely tempting. I got a Veggie #2 with caramelized onions, the +1 got a regular cheeseburger. I enjoyed my burger thoroughly, with the caramelized onions as a particular highlight - the flavors melded in such a way that it tasted like I had bread and butter pickles on the sandwich, which I love. The +1 enjoyed his burger, but was slightly put out by 1) the use of actual cheddar on the burger (gotta love him) because it didn't melt completely and 2) the uniform appearance of the patty, which threw him off because both he and I are pretty sure they patties aren't bought preformed. Perhaps they're using a patty cutter? We both liked the fries a great deal, and appreciated that they're served in portions suitable for a single human being rather than the entire 83rd Airborne. They're quite a different style from those at 5G, and are definitely for those who appreciate a very browned fry - and preferring thin fries doesn't hurt either. Although we did go at an off time of day, we were both a little worried that the location may not be well-trafficked enough to support EB in the long term. The +1 opined that Elevation would do obscenely well in a food court, especially given how reasonable their prices are.

Yup, went this afternoon with a friend who lives in McLean, and we'd have driven right past it if she hadn't been with us.I had the Megajolt, my +1 had the Cookie Overload, and our friend had the Cookie Dough. I'm afraid I wasn't offered an articulate opinion on the Cookie Dough, but for what it's worth my +1 thought the Cookie Overload was far superior to anything he's had at Thomas Sweet. The CO contains cookie dough, plus broken-up bits of chocolate chip cookies and Oreos. My +1 wasn't able to tell whether the base was vanilla or sweet cream, and I wasn't able to get a taste 'cos he finished it just that fast. The Megajolt is a coffee ice cream with chocolate chunks. I've found that coffee ice creams that use the real deal tend towards a consistency like that of gelato, and this version was no exception. For those who enjoy the sweet-cream-with-a-little-espresso-powder varieties of coffee ice cream, this would not be your thing. It was most delicious. The +1 and I also enjoyed the French Hot Chocolate, served in a sizable bowl that is (according to our friend) normally reserved for the large servings of ice cream. I half-expected a pain chocolat to come with it. I loved it, but my +1 found it a bit odd - he ordinarily takes his hot chocolate very sweet.

A quick FYI for those investigating the Elevation website: the site lists their Sunday-Thursday hours as 11.30-9.00, but they're in fact closed on Sundays (a little lesson learned the hard way this afternoon). le sigh Ah well, I'll have to give them a try again next time I'm out in the Tysons area.

I second the recommendation for Minerva!

My vote goes to Baked & Wired on Thomas Jefferson Street - although you ought to call ahead if you want to be certain they have them in on any given day. You can also custom order them.

Hi all, The +1 and I are looking to get our knives professionally sharpened, and I'm hoping y'all would be able to point us in the best direction. Thanks muchly!

I'm considering Coggins local since their first stores have opened here. A bit of background: the lawsuit is essentially sour grapes over a PB buildout at GWU that went bad. Potbelly was supposed to have their store done by the opening of the school year last year, and when they finally 'fessed up to Charles E. Smith that it wasn't going to happen, CES yoinked the location out from under PB and gave it to Coggins. The lawsuit features such highlights as claiming that having a beverage cooler, assembly-line style sandwich building, and a bin to hold chips constitutes trade dress infringement. If PB thinks CES did them wrong by their contract (which is entirely possible), then they need to go sue CES, not Coggins.Since Earl of Sandwich has set its sights on the DC market, it may be a moot point - if the extent and quality of EoS's offerings is the same here as at Disney, both PB and Coggins will suffer greatly by comparison.

I'm afraid I can't offer any opinions on the The GIF, but I've now hit the Gordon Biersch and the Brio Tuscan Grille - the former twice and the latter once. The GB was tasty, although the kitchen is still working out some issues: to their credit, they've held off on adding brunch to the repertoire until they consider their lunch and dinner fare to be consistently up to snuff (according to their managerial types). I would suggest avoiding their truly boring caesar salad. Brio was surprisingly good, although they suffer from the same excuse me miss, I believe I ordered the large over-portioning that plagues so many chain restaurants these days. I have to wonder if the delay in the opening of the Pauli Moto's has to do with staffing difficulties. They were still taking applications each time I've been by; I imagine they're going to expect rather more of their waitstaff than the aforementioned McScratchy's. As for the Food Court, I've only hit the Famous Famiglia thus far. It's certainly no Two Amys, but it was good, fresh, and not greasy. Plus they have these evil little garlic rolls-cum-gutbombs that can be had in packets of 5 or 10... quite well suited to, ahem, supplementing one's theatrical food purchases should one be so inclined. A bit of comedy on that point: the coupon book which was being distributed during the expansion's opening days had a coupon from CVS advertising its "theatre packs" of candy. The AMC popcorn - which I had free on opening night while there to see Serenity - was indeed fresh, and impressively ungreasy. However, it was way oversalted. I miss the old UA airpopped popcorn. le sigh I concur that they need to improve the entrances to the 3rd floor area - the placement and configuration of the escalators is just bizarre. Since our first time there, we've avoided the problem by coming in at the Food Court level.

I don't know what got the OP so riled, but I'm currently not eating at Potbelly's because they're trying to squeeze a local competitor out of the market via a frivolous lawsuit.

My +1 and I attended their Indian cooking class in June, up at Heritage India, and had quite a good time. The class was well-organized and informative, so I'm guessing that any of the more... fluid events others have mentioned have more to do with a particular event's venue or attendees than anything else.

Having been to Mall of America when out in Minneapolis for a friend's wedding a few years ago, I have to note that MoA gets a lot of its size from having a miniature Knott's Berry Farm amusement park occupying the middle of the place. In terms of its actual stores, it wasn't all that different from Tysons. I would say that both the aforementioned Atlanta-area shopping venues are better than MoA - not to mention Palisades Center up in West Nyack, NY.

My point was that I believe that they're eventually going to be owned by the same company (probably Macerich), and that we're either going to see them combined (like KoP) or see the owner successfully cultivate distinctive personalities for the two locations.