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Marty L.

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Everything posted by Marty L.

  1. Marty L.
    As Ericablueboy says up above, if you ask Chef Seng for authentically "Lao hot" at Bangkok Golden (I've never done so), she guarantees it will make "Thai spicy" seem like congee (well, that's my translation, of sorts, but you get the idea).
  2. Marty L.
    What a fantastic, inviting space. Huge but somehow intimate. Hot dog was very good -- and there are three Tom Power soups on the menu!
  3. Marty L.
    That'll be $13 plus tip and tax for two ordinary sized tacos -- sure you're still "down" for it?
  4. Marty L.
    What Zora said.
  5. Marty L.
    Boy, how I wish I could rave, given that this place is much closer to me than all my favorite taquerias. But first try today was not promising. The fish tacos were very deeply fried, overwhelming the taste of the fish, and the pastor tacos were overwhelmed by chunks of pineapple, making them sickly sweet (with little discernible pork flavor). What's worse, the pricing is fairly unconscionable. One must order two tacos (of the same kind) in an order, and the prices for a pair are almost all in the $12/13 rage ($9 for the pastor). That's far, far more than I've paid in recent weeks at four places where the tacos were much better: La Bamba (really, really great on my first visit -- see Zora's post), Tortacos, Mama Chuy's, and Distrito Federal. I assume that the rent in Cabin John is higher than in those other locales, but still . . . . Not that this will likely make a difference in terms of their success -- the area is so starved for good food that it was packed today at 2:00, late in August when many are away on vacation.
  6. Marty L.
    I just had the pork sandwich. Very good, not great . . . but humongous. I don't think I'll need to eat anything more for days. It would seem to make much more sense if it were half the size and half the price ($13 plus tax).
  7. Marty L.
    Concur. This is a great happy hour deal -- hope they don't jack up the prices after a while. Really good pizzas, cocktails, beer. Also had the Arpaccio di Piovra off the main menu -- chilled thinly sliced octopus, chickpeas, braised arugula, smoked paprika and (nice touch) crispy capers -- which was also excellent, although not bargain-priced ($13).
  8. Marty L.
    Had fantastic carnitas and pastor sopes at Tortacos recently.
  9. Marty L.
    I've still haven't gotten to Zenebech! Now you have me worried that, when I do, it'll be a case of "Oh, you should've been there when . . . ." Do you think it's gone downhill, or just that, perhaps, they've added some less-than-stellar cooks in the kitchen, so that it depends on who cooks your meal? Would you say Axum is a better bet at this point?
  10. Marty L.
    Hmmm . . . everything I've ever read about Yamazoto emphasizes that it's a place specializing in, well, humongous "specialty" rolls, which I've found to be a surefire sign that I won't like it. But if other Rockwellians would confirm its quality . . .
  11. Marty L.
    This is quite a distressing report. Hard to believe there are so many misses in a place that is so attentive to quality and consistency downstairs in the ramen joint. I haven't been yet; but in light of accounts such as this -- and the options of ramen here or remarkably consistent izakaya at Seki -- I'm somewhat reluctant to risk the $$. Has anyone had better luck?
  12. Marty L.
    Exactly the point I was trying to make nine months or so ago -- some of the very best sashimi in town (and plenty more seafood besides) . . . but no sushi. I doubt that all the fish Cizuka lists are available as sashimi. The Ayu, for instance -- grilled? Can't wait to try that.
  13. Marty L.
    Putting aside the dinner omakase for a moment, I had the Bara chirashi for lunch the other day . . . and it's by far the best chirashi I've had in town. A bit steeper than most at $18.50 or so, but worth it -- impeccably fresh, and a generous serving, even apart from the chawanmushi that comes with it (also very refreshing).
  14. Marty L.
    ?? Leaving the area? (hope not) Or only Range? Or merely vacation?
  15. Marty L.
    Stopped by yesterday for the two -- and they're the only two (far as I could tell) -- Xi'an items on the menu: the Rouga Mo and Liang Pi. Both very good, and basic, but not as good as my memories of the same at NYC's Xi'an Famous Foods. Both under $4 -- very good deals. The Sichuan menu, on the other hand, is very extensive -- and most of the patrons appeared to be ordering both the Xi'an snacks and some Sichuan dishes, many of which looked very tempting. Next time . . . .
  16. Marty L.
    Please also post here, and in the Seki thread, when you're serving it, Cizuka -- we'll rush right over! --- Skate (Shopping and Cooking) - dinoue
  17. Marty L.
    Notice, however, how the owner (apparently) wrote a comment to the article stating "Taan is not closed we will be open tomorrow at 4pm for dinner."
  18. Marty L.
    Le Diplomate.
  19. Marty L.
    Was this tasting dinner on the menu, Matt, or was it special-ordered? And do you know whether Chef Seng would prepare a vegetarian but not necessarily vegan version?
  20. Marty L.
    Very similar to my first visit a couple of months ago, simulparikh -- except that I, uh, didn't go with a GOP operative, local or otherwise. The chilis in the biryani and elsewhere are very, very deceptive -- the food is generally not very spicy; just a nice, low-level buzz -- but if you bite into the wrong thing . . . man, it's several minutes of serious burn. Most importantly, I'm a Detroit native, too, and would love to know where the great Hyderabadi/Biryani can be found there!
  21. Marty L.
    Very strange -- I had the usual "Koshary bowl" from the Krazy Koshary truck itself on Wednesday, May 1st -- the date they allegedly changed over to frankfurters!
  22. Marty L.
    Typically I agree with Sam. But I actually prefer shoyu least of the four -- a bit too strong in soy for my taste, too intense. Just had the vegetarian for the first time -- surprisingly hearty and tasty. And shio is the "purest." But if I could only have one more bowl . . . miso.
  23. Marty L.
    I had excellent xlb at Nan Xiang recently, FWIW. East Dumpling is serving a much doughier, heartier kind of dumpling, no soup inside. It's Manchurian cuisine, from Harbin, up near Siberia. I thought the dumplings were fine but nothing special. The real action is in the tofu dishes there -- the tofu is homemade and (based on a single visit) delicious. Others also rave about the kebabs.
  24. Marty L.
    Went last night and basically agree with Don -- this place, like virtually all Starr restaurants, will be a huge success. Even at this early stage, the quality control is awfully high: they've got all of the details down, so much so that it seems as if it has been a neighborhood institution for years rather than a fledgling operation that opened earlier in the week. As my dining companion remarked, it's virtually the definition of "convivial"--everyone in the room seems happy and content . . . at home. The millions were well-spent. I also had the steak tartare, which was very good, but very filling (especially when conjoined with the addictive breads in the basket). The skate and frisee salad were both excellent. Not cheap, however. Approaching, if not quite equaling, the price points at Balthazar, which La Diplomate unashamedly mimics in almost all particulars. Still, I doubt that will keep the crowds at bay. Not going out on much of a limb to predict that La Diplomate will be part of the local firmament for quite a while.
  25. Marty L.
    I second this, for those willing to drive to B'More for their posole fix! (While there, you might want to also pick up a bushel of tortillas, and chips.)
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