liz2041

As for Georgetown Cupcake? The line was already long before the store opened at 10am. I wait in line for no cupcake.

There appears to be a new entry for your competition. The bright pink building on M Street is now a Sprinkles cupcakery (is that a word?). I don't know if it is a chain. Since it is about halfway between Georgetown Cupcake and Furins and just up the street from Baked & Wired maybe your tasters could have a cupcake crawl up and down M!

So who didn't pay $80,000 in sales taxes? He's not much different from Donna.

Nice generalization. I see a guy who set up a business and it didn't work out, he couldn't keep up with the taxes and they shut him down. Not someone who continually and repeatedly screws workers, investors, the government, etc. I do not know Mr. Brock but wish him luck in his future endeavors.

I don't write often on this board b/c it seems over the course of last year or so there are several members that are SO quick to jump down others throats and sling wild accusations. I understand that the board is not just about food and what it tasted like to us and that it is by definition an opinion website, but for petes sake, can't people just chill the f out.

FWIW - I had drinks at Mendicino a few months back and enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Ah-ha! There's even a mac & cheese thread here! This is a great board!

This is a serious topic; this mac & cheese thing.

Have always thought Central was the best in DC. But, now, I think Birch & Barley may get the edge. I'm also quite sure Bourbon isn't top 20 though.

Thumbs up also on Central and Bourbon, but have never had B&B. I would throw Rustico's in there on a good day. Sometimes it is a bit greasy, but generally top notch.

Twisted Vines on the Pike now has a couple of full size meals on a revamped menu, including a mac and cheese. It was quite good as well with 2 kinds of cheese, penne and bacon. mmmmm bacon.

I also live in Arlington, and do exactly that. But then again, when I am going to have a nice dinner it generally includes copious amounts of inebriants, and even while drunk I know that a cab costs less than a lawyer.

Ditto. But even without getting housed, for us it is just plain easier to set aside or add in to the calculation an extra 40 bucks for the cab rides from and to Arlington. From the Pike it is about 20 bucks to anywhere in the city and that is usually with a generous tip to your friendly envirocab driver (save the air for the same fare!). I just consider it the opportunity cost for being more relaxed, not worrying about parking, and not risking it even if you only have one or two drinks.

All that being said, the big lot where the convention center used to be is only like 5 bucks. That gives you access to all the restaurants around Verizon. Whatever you do, don't park in the one attached to the center. I think it is like $18 even on non-game nights. There is generally sufficient street parking around the west end restaurants (Blue Duck, Ris, Marcel's) if you look up and down 24th, 26th or closer to N but I think the meters run until 8.

Nope, the $77 deal includes both the food and cocktails. It's an amazing value, and makes this "deal" slightly confusing.

I got an email from Corner Dish the other day saying they were done. The restaurants are still honoring the deals that haven't been used though, which is a good thing b/c I haven't used my Gina deal yet. But interesting that they tanked given all the press on Living Social and Groupon. I suppose limiting to just restaurants was too narrow? If you are a restaurant owner/manager, I suppose you would rather do your deal on one with a wider audience? I kind of liked that it was only restaurants and that I didn't have to deal with a daily delete of pedicure specials. At least I got one awesome deal out of it.

Perception is reality.

And perception must be managed. I imagine that successful places use a number of different strategies, even at different times, to ensure their perception is maintained...so at dinner where more patrons may be eating in the bar, a reservation system may go into effect. Later, it is dropped, and in fact later still the majority of chairs may simply be removed.

In the case of the original poster (OP), expectations either weren't managed well or the OP was in the wrong place. If the OP went a 1/2 hour and were miffed that someone got a seat before them, then clearly that 1/2 hour wasn't managed well by the bar - ie, it felt like "waiting time" rather than "bar enjoyment time" and expectations weren't met (again, either through poor management, or the OP being a customer who didn't get it)

For me, I'd walk into a bar with no expectation of seating except by luck. If i want something to eat but all seats are filled, I'd simply ask - "hey, I'd like to get a bite to eat - what's the best way to get a seat?"

Note that bartender's taking a list has a downside, namely that now the perception is that the seats are more valuable and you're in more "standby mode" (literally) until you're called for a seat. That potentially makes everyone standing an "impatient future sitter" and that won't work for most bars IMHO. Further, it ruins the time-honed tradition of favoring regulars that tip. So what that YOU came in 30 minutes ago and Bob just walked through the door? Bob's dropped $20K in tips alone last year...and YOU could just order a tonic and hog the seat for the next 4 hours. Bob gets the seat. That's the deal.

I 100% agree with this whether it is a bar in a bar or a bar in a restaurant. Communicating with the bartender that you would like to dine with him/her will help you gauge whether you will get their assistance in the next opening or not. Otherwise, it is every man for himself. Sometimes you get lucky and others you don't.

At "restaurants with a bar", our M.O. is to put our name on the list for a table, keep our expectations low and have bar enjoyment time while we wait. A quick "we put our name in for a table but would rather dine with you if space opens up, in the meantime though, I would like a [fill in the blank drink]" when you order can go a long way if the bartender is so inclined. If he/she responds like they could give a crap, then just enjoy your drink and wish for the best.

Cheery holiday thought for the day - keep your expectations low and then you will always be mildly suprised when good things happen!

Has anyone used the Cornerdish 7 course deal yet? If you've been, how long did it take to get through all 7 courses/drinks? And did you call in advance like a regular reservation or just belly up to the awesomeness that is Gina's bar?

I really regret posting anything...

This sentiment appears to be recurring frequently on the board lately......

FWIW - I hit a trifecta this year having been to Eve's Tasting Room, The Inn at LW and Komi. The food and wine at Eve blew the others out of the water. In particular, the pairings at Eve were phenomenal compared the pairings at Komi. Thrasher is my hero.

We're trying to get a dinner together for some old business associates. We used to do the seafood buffet at the Mayflower, but apparently they don't do that anymore. Someone suggested the Old Ebbitt Grill, but.... meh.

Does anyone have any thoughts for something suitable in the Dupont area with an OEG price and an OEG "safe food for everyone" menu?

We didn't eat there because it was family style and there were only two of us [plus we bailed and went to Vidalia - oh holy shit was that such a better idea], but you might try Casa Nonna because it is family style and there will be several of you. The mains were priced family style but the bartender said they did single portions. The bar had a ton of happy hour specials for like 5 bucks. But be careful their definition of happy hour is from 5 to 6:30, which as an aside I think is complete bullcrap. Who leaves work at 5 anymore? I want that job. I digress. The food moving past us looked good. Oh, they had pizza too.

This sucks. It may never have ranked high in the Dining Guide, but it was sure a nice place to sit and crack crabs over a pitcher or two of beer. The whole thing sounds so stupid. The landlord will never find anyone else to rent that place. It is too old and weird. It most likely is a teardown to be replaced with something without soul. I am starting to miss Arlington.

+1

I have finally started to get over the demise of all my favorite dives in Clarendon over the last 10 years and now this? Granted service was always hit or miss and the crabs were insanely cheaper if you got them at Capt. White's and ate them at home. But sometimes you just like to go sit outside on a 90 degree day in a crappy plastic chair, drink crappy beer out of a plastic cup and have someone plop the crabs down right in front of you all hot and steamy and full of meat. There was no other place in town to do this but at the Quarterdeck in my opinion. I will add it to my list (Bardo, Queen Bee, Strangeways, Little Viet Garden, that place on Wilson that had the patio shaped like a boat, etc., etc.) and miss it terribly in the way you miss an annoying relative that is really fun to get drunk with 4 or 5 times a year.

Had lunch here today. It is apparently true - Eric Reid is running the show. The waiter said they reopened under new management 2 weeks back. I didn't even realize that it had opened and closed and reopened in such a short period.

Anyhoo - Sandwiches were great. Our table had a steak and cheese and meatball. Pizza was just ok and could use some help on the crust. It was fairly bland.

On tap they had magic hat, brooklyn lager, a couple other decent ones I can't remember.

I very much look forward to going back to try the main selections. Has anyone been for dinner?

Common conversation in the high school parking lot in the late 80s -

"old or new?"

"stupid question - old"

"front or back?"

"back's ok if front too crowded"

Everyone new you were talking about Anita's and whether to go to the shiny new one or the original. And whether sit in the crowded front or in the tent out back. It was reliable and relatively decent back then - for our tastes and wallets. Now, I would only go for the breakfast burritos. And probably only to the Herndon location. I was in Tyson's a few months back and jonesing for the chicken and cheese crisp (no longer on the menu BTW). Got a number 3 in a basket instead and my god, did I pay for it the next day. I think I will stick with El Paso Cafe or El Ranchero for my old school mexican from now on.

Fond memories of that place in our formative years though. And the rolls royce fitting in the tiny back lot!

If you want guinness, you could go up to the Four Courts in Courthouse. The left side has a smaller, separate bar and big back room area that is relatively quiet. Forget about the main bar.

Walked by here the other day and it was closed. Sign on the door said "SEIZED"

Anyone know anything about this? It was a good place for whiskey selection.

Well, that facebook quote sealed it for me. I get that many years ago iterations of his restaurants were the place to go. I went to Galileo several times and the meals were tremendous. In my opinion, though, there are plenty of places in town now that rise to the level of a phenomenal dining experience (or close enough to it) that I will choose to spend my money and time in those establishments. I have a list in my own head, but I am curious as to what others think of the top 3 or so that could go toe-to-toe with the ghosts of galileo past.

Trying to find a non-66 fast way out of the disaster that is Tysons back to Arlington on saturday afternoon, we cut up Anderson Road heading toward Westmoreland and lo and behold what did we see. I big shiny new Safeway where that sketchy one used to be and an empty store front with a "coming Fall 2010" painting on it.

Yep, Lost Dog 3.0. It's on Anderson between 123 and Magarity. I think they will do well with all those govt. contractors in buildings north of the beltway and Cap One, etc. who don't want to venture over to towards the mall or into downtown McLean. Thought I would mention it because it is such an interesting location.

By the way, that new Safeway is HUUUGGEEEE and had a sit down sushi bar.

I think it may be a restaurant (I have never eaten there) but you have to check out the Rainbow Place ( I have no idea what the name is but you can't miss it) on 211 outside of Luray. It's on the left hand side as you travel west out of Luray. I stumbled in there looking for wine when we were staying out near Stanley. Cross the threshold and you enter into a world of magical crystals, sno-globes and all kinds of f-ed up fairy stuff. Hang tough through that section and make a right after the weird stuff part and they have this insanely unbelieveable wine selection. All unique stuff from all over the world, most of it covered in dust. It was truly a bizzare experience, but I got 3 or 4 great bottles of wine there. I think it is an ice cream parlor also. I made my group go back with me on the way back out of town b/c no one believed me.

Eat Bar. Or at least they did last month. I assume they still do. Wifi and cartoons on Sundays!!

Great dinner upstairs at Liberty Tavern. Insanely good mussels in a smoky tomato broth with basil. I wanted to cancel my dinner order and get another bowl of them. 3 out of 4 dining companions want to go back tonight and get them again. Pizzas were good too, as usual. I am finally letting go of my grudge over the demise of Queen Bee and Atami. Liberty can stay.

I needed a semi-special occasion dinner reservation at the last minute, so I made a 5:30 reservation at Poste this evening. My bf and I live close by, so we walked there. Of course, even during the short walk the near-100 degree weather was oppressive, and I was expecting that Poste would have adequate air conditioning to contend with the heat. Unfortunately, they did not. The kitchen is wide open to the dining room itself, and although I'm sure that fact greatly added to the heat, I am also sure that they could have turned the air up to achieve a more appropriate dining temperature. I am not trying to be a snob about this, but if I'm paying in the $30 per entree range, I expect the entire dining experience to be top notch. I don't know how anyone is supposed to eat dishes like Beef Bourguignon or Braised Rabbit in a 90 degree room.

We certainly didn't want to try our luck on that gamble, so we left before ordering and walked around the corner to Cedar instead. Best decision I've made in a while--Cedar was amazing. I posted about it in the Cedar thread. Looking forward to going back to Poste for another shot during colder months. Their outdoor patios and the restaurant itself are pretty enchanting but the temperature issues were simply unacceptable.

Thank you for your entry on this restaurant. While it will not stop me from going there, it is useful information about your experience with "Washington DC Restaurants and Dining," the topic of this section.

I am taking my parents, 3 sisters and 2 brothers on a Tour de Force of the Motherland in 3 weeks. We will be 3 days in Killarney and 7 days just outside Galway City (in Kinvara). Any recommendations are greatly appreciated - particularly those that serve meat. Dad doesn't eat fish or any other seafood (except for the filet-o' during lent) so he is my biggest concern. Thanks so much in advance! As for me, I will be at the pub wondering what the hell I was thinking getting myself into this....

I heard a rumor that they are opening a location on Columbia Pike in the new building across from Bob & Edith's. That would be quite nice for pub food, particularly if they import the honey pepper wings from Rhodeside and Dogwood! Clearly P Brennans absolutely fails in that area with food that is wildly overpriced and not even mediocre.

Closed. Tonight was the last night. Last call for all. Nice renunion for many of us. More news to come. The space has apparently been sold. Not sure what the new owners will do.

That makes me sad. Many, many years ago, we reserved the entire patio for my high school graduation dinner. I have fond memories of the Alpine. It wasn't the greatest, but it was reliable and consistent. I wish them well.

Firefly is noisy, but the lounge area not so much.

Firefly would get my vote too.

I like this little place. Great reds by the glass. Very informative wait staff. Food is decent, but I was there for the wine not the food. We split a goat cheese flat bread and the bruchetta. Way too much vinegar or something in the bruchetta but the flat bread thing was good. I would order that again. The daily special charcuterie was also tasty and just the right size for two. I really enjoyed the tempranillo and the shiraz. Shiraz was layer cake, can't remember the tempranillo.

One note - with hardwood floors and a tin ceiling that place is crazy loud when it is full. We were basically shouting across our two-top at each other.

All in all a great addition to the Pike. We've got the ethnic restaurants more than covered over here, but this place helps to fill a great big gaping hole in an area that is starving for places to relax, hang out and have a decent meal/drink. (nudge, nudge to aspiring restauranteurs - people either are completely missing or greatly underestimating what the demand is like on this end of the Pike).