chris9b9

I believe the star rating system is based on context: Partner 1) "Honey I'm in the mood for European influenced fine dining." Partner 2) "This Place called Inox just got a very good review. The reviewer said he couldn't wait for a special occasion to go back and try out some of the great flavors he had had there. That's one of the best quotes he's given a restaurant in all the years I've read his reviews, and they featured that quote on the WTOP radio spot." Partner 1) Yeah, but this Ping Pong place got 2.5 stars too. Its cheaper so it has to be a better choice and you can play ping pong and throw down a beer while waiting for a table with several other couples and there cherrycoke(d)-up kids. Partner 2) Gee honey, you're right. Let's go to Ping Pong! I guess the other readers of the Post who don't blog are all morons and just don't get it? Why would you right about the economy two weeks in a row? That would be the sign of a really **itty writer. IMO, the review of Inox (steakhouses aside) puts it in the top 2 restaurants (IN THE CONTEXT of FINE DINING) in the area that it is in. Ironically, the other one... 2941.

Just returned from the Falls Church Farmer's Market. Bought some strawberries from one vendor that looked great. Tasted one as I walked away. No sweetness. Horrible. Returned them. Then went to two other vendors and tried them first. They were also flavorless. The strawberries at Harris Teeter/Giant are white with a touch of red, but still sweeter than these "fresh local" berries. I'd be ashamed to sell that. They shouldn't allow poor product to be sold at Farmer's Markets. This just reinforces my inclination to not by fruits or vegetables. They're outrageously expensive and the quality is hit or miss even at organic sources (Whole Foods) or farmer's markets. @#%!

Will be moving from the very north end of Van Dorn street (Alexandria City) to the very south end of Van Dorn street (Kingstown/Telegraph Rd.) soon. Is there anything decent besides GAR's Mikes Grill south of the beltway in this area? Any recommendations are appreciated. I've been scouring the web and coming up with mediocre cheap eats at best. Thanks in advance.

My wife and i finally made it to Thai Square Friday night. We expected slow service and it was a bit slow, but polite so this did not bother us much. We ordered the Flank Steak appetizer in a spicy sauce. This was very good and spicy as noted. The Fried Pork with Chines Broccoli was ok. I thought the Pork tasted like Chicharrones(sp) --overly fried pieces of fat. There was little pork flavor to me. The sauce was excellent. The much praised Fried duck with basil and chili was a disappointment for both of us. We asked for extra spicy. The pork with broccoli which was not listed as a spicy dish was more spicy than the duck. This was incredibly oily too. I never complain about fried foods, but there's always a first... this appeared to be an overly generous portion of duck, but after biting into my first piece, I sensed I was eating battered oily dough--sans duck. I found myself taking half bites to check if there was any duck in the piece I was eating. That was very disappointing. The Thai Iced Tea was excellent. Had two order another one after my wife kept stealing sips. We will give it another try, but stay away from the fried foods the next time and maybe ask for "Thai Spicy" so they know we mean business. It seems like you have to become a regular at traditional Sichuan restaurants for them to believe you really can handle the heat. I guess it's the same with Thai places.

Finally tried W Domku last night with my wife and her sister/brother in law. My wife and sister have Polish heritage and we have been to Poland 4 times in the past year. This is one of those places I really wanted to like. I knew this place was casual, but middle school plastic chairs at a cheap table by a drafty door? Our other option was a worn couch with two chairs that looked like they were bought at a fraternity auction. Nicely stained fabric. Not all of the chairs and tables were that bad, and the area by the bathrooms with the pool table is nice for drinking with a small group of friends. The food. Aps: The chicken mousse liver with toast was good. The Potato Latkes with gravlax not so good. Thin, dry and too dark (a few seconds from burnt) - Like they were made 6 hours early and microwaved. Beer: Zywiec for $7 a bottle (that I was buying until recently at total beverage for $11 a six pack! The selection of three drafts: Jever, Hennepin, and Dead Rogue Guy (sp) was not impressive, but we went with the drafts for the same $7. Main: My Hungarian Chicken Goulash over mashed potatoes was great. Meat fell off the bones. My wife got the potato onion bacon pierogies. I tasted them. We both deemed them "ok." Brother/sister in law both got the fresh kielbasa over kraut. It was edible, but nobody liked it. Had a funky flavor. We couldn't figure out if it was gamey or had a strange spice. Waitress couldn't tell us when we asked, but said it comes special from Baltimore. My wife said it was way too coarse and even grissly. Never had a sausage like that before and hope it was the last. This is from somebody who eats blutwurst an hasn't met too many sausages he didn't like(stop laughing). This is a good neighborhood bar, but a mediocre cafe at best. Its a shame because it has potential. A few thousand towards new furniture and maybe $10,000 towards fixing the entryway/ front area and tweaking the food could make this worth the trip to this neighborhood. We had a flight of Aquavit (flavored Vodka): Anise, black currant and Lemon grass. They were fine, but not as good as the Piatek family Cytrynowka that I was given at a DC United Tailgate in November.

Don, I think Ann could increase her business by 100%. I went in there around January of 2004 inquiring about an internship in pastry. I could see her in the back (and hear her). She sent the retail worker out to tell me no. Her curt response to the worker who had gone back to relay my inquiry was rude. The place was empty. The display case was almost empty. The place was bleak and uninviting. I did not try so much as a 60 cent cookie and vowed to never return. I don't doubt that her product is high quality. Product is only one part of a successful business. If she cared more about prospective clients needs, she would be raking in the "dough." Regarding the $20 bill issue: I would have a thousand singles in a vault in the back of the shop before finding yet another way to tell clients "no." There is ALWAYS a way. People are successful in the food/hospitality business because they find ways to say "YES" or at the least say "no" in such a way that it sounds like "yes." This is clearly not Ann's style. Conjures up an image of an unfunny version of a very funny SEINFELD episode. --"NO DOUGHNUTS FOR YOU! BALTIMORE CAKE FOR YOU!" Thanks, Chris