Marty L.

The fryer clams have been alternating in availability from Ipswich and local. There seem to be advantages of both. I like the salinity of the northern clams, and I like the fact that the locals are a day or two fresher out of the water. Ipswich doesn't produce enough clams any more for the demand year round, so it gets to be quite a crap shoot some days. And this is a day-to-day purchasing setup. Steamers, when we start them, hopefully this week, are being worked out. You have to find a purged product. Unpurged are quite gritty and not that pleasant. I am looking for local, since they don't travel well (hence "softshell").

So, anyway, we are on about a 60/40 local / Ipswich ratio. I can always look on the tag and let you know.

Jeff

Don't know which they were last night, but they were very, very good (and huge, almost to a fault); and they were fried very nicely. I'd only suggest just a bit more seasoning . . . . Also enjoyed the onion rings and lobster stew. And the extensive beer list.

In any place such as this, consistency -- especially in frying -- will be the key. But this was a very encouraging first visit, and the prices were not out of whack for what we got. Looking forward to the steamers and fried chicken!

Ditto comments on the space. Very nice. Also appreciated the half price on the pizzas! I will dissent on the crust. We ordered the Salame, Bianca, and rapini and sausage. I found all our crust really soggy because of too much cheese. The crust itself was charred without being crusty or brown, bready really. Not pizza expert enough to know if this is how it should be. Best of luck as this should be a popular place once they get the kinks out.

Ignacio

Four pizzas last night. The ingredients are fresh, and there was no problem with soggy crust -- the oven and pizzaiola did their jobs. Everything looked spot-on, and worthy of, say, Pupatella. But the pizzas were oddly bland, especially the crust. Suppose it goes to show that the starter really is key when it comes to a Neapolitan pizza. This places shows great potential; but something's missing, at least for now.

I was pretty excited about the clam strips, but what I got were a handful of small strips overshadowed by a ton of onion rings. On top of that, some of the clams were lukewarm, and I told our waiter as well as the host about them and they said they would pass it onto the chef. Again, it was the first day they were open so I'll cut them some slack, but they definitely need to fix the proportion of clams to onion rings/fries - and make sure they're hot!

I noticed both "clam strips" and "fried clams" on the menu. Is the latter (higher-priced) a reference to whole-belly clams? There ought to be quite a few of them to justify the fairly steep price. If the proprietors are looking in, do you have a New England platonic ideal of fired claims that you're hoping to emulate? (Trying to establish a baseline!)

" Prediction: Ths place is closed in a year.

I'd set the over/under at August or so.

Had a great dinner here on Saturday night. We note there were quite a few empty tables.

That's funny -- I couldn't get a reservation for Saturday because (i was told) it was fully booked. Ate there Friday night instead and had a terrific meal -- especially the burrata/pesto, the razor clams, the octopus, the short ribs, and the fennel ice cream. The tuna crudo and lasgana were good but I wouldn't order them again -- not as memorable as the other choices.

David Chang is absolutely right about the braised tofu at Wu's Garden.

Details forthcoming as soon as I can get caught up with my reviews at dcdining.com, but for now, suffice it say ... wow.

I swear by most things David-Chang-related (i.e., the Momofuku franchise), but in this case I have to think he was being at least partly tongue-in-cheek. I tried the braised tofu shortly after his rave, and found it to be very standard-issue, Americanized stuff -- nothing worth going out of one's way for, and nothing at all comparable to virtually anything at Chang's own establishments.

cost for such a tasting menu? (and that's with cheese but no dessert, right?)

Last night my family had a really wonderful night, all thank to Dave Presley who is just a wonderful guy. It was my brother's birthday and we booked a reservation at Aredo+Bardeo. Dave offered to have Chef Nate cook for us just whatever, so we said go for it!

What then happened was a level of gluttony only held back by the size of our stomachs. We had a couple rounds of small bites and I am sure in the insane stupper of gluttony that I am still in that I will not be able to remember all we had, but I will try: We started with all the small bites on the menu: pork belly skewers with pineapple- really well balanced little bites, Smashed and fried fingerling potato topped with steak and some creme fraiche- I love the potato bite underneath with the steak, disco fries- I love these fries, onion strings with their burger sauce which makes me want to go back for a burger like now, and a flatbread that I didn't try, but looked good.

Next round we had all the charcuterie except the foie gras: Chicken liver mousse that rivals the faux gras and rillettes at Central the flavor was just fantastic, homemade mini bagel with lox and cream cheese, I didn't eat the bagel, but liked the rest, homemade mini english muffins with egg and ham and Tabasco, crispy head cheese with fried egg and lardons was fantastic I loved this, the head cheese had awesome flavor and the crispiness gave it great texture that I think would make it more accessible, it was really good. Another big winner was the Bresola with horseradish potato salad, the potato salad was fantastic and spicy, I really loved it, I will have to try to make a version of it at home, the bresola was really flavorful, it was a great bite.

Then we had the scallop schnitzel which again I really liked the flavors, the balance between the sweet scallop and salad and the crispy texture just balanced well, mozarella farm egg and house bacon was good, I really liked the homemade mozarella it was firm but so soft and smooth. Ceasar salad with gnocchi that I loved, I would never have thought to put gnocchi in the salad, but it was good, we also had this chicken soup with hominy and green chile broth that OMG had amazing Mexican flavors with lime and veggies and avacado, today with all the dreary weather I wish I had a whole bowl of it, it was so fresh and flavor packed. I know there had to be one more plate in that course but I can't for the life of me remember it.

We then had pastas: the oxtail ravioli with brown butter sage was really delicate, but very savory, the lobster with whole wheat spaghetti was a little sweet I think because of the squash, but done really well; the rabbit bolognese was a favorite the pasta was fantastic and the bolognese was so flavorful, the pork cacciatore was another favorite, the black pepper fettucine was really good. I was in fall off the wagon gluten heaven, but I was good and only ate a couple bites of the pastas and then ate braised leg of suckling pig with grits and black eyed peas, I loved the dish, the black eyed peas had a strong flavor int he dish, but I love black eyed peas, this was a dish that just made my Southern heart happy.

We couldn't do any more at that point and finished with some cheese, some on the list, some not- our favorite was this purple haze a chevre with lavender and something else which was really good. It was the crowd favorite, but all of them were really good.

At this point we were all too full for dessert. But it was amazing and so much fun. My family loves eating bites of everyone's stuff and getting to try a lot of things so this was perfect for them. And it makes me want to go back for more of the menu as so many things just knocked it out of the park. The chicken liver mousse and bresola with the potato salad and green chile broth soup and black eyed pea and suckling pork are all things I am still thinking about today.

Thank you Dave and Nate and everyone at Ardeo + Bardeo it was awesome!!!

A friend has been raving about the pork ramen that's served once a month here, so today I stopped by. WOW. A thick smokey pork broth. I actually thought it might have been a white miso base, given its body and depth, but the waitress assured me otherwise. Served piping hot, I had to let it cool for awhile. Ended up chatting with some nice randoms for about 5 minutes, looked down at my bowl, where a glistening layer of collagin had congealed on top. Don perhaps may not enjoy it this full-bodied, but I thought it was great ($12/bowl).

I also spied a gorgeous sushi platter a table over, and couldn't resist ordering a chef's choice. Sue me, I've been MIA the past 3 months and really wanted a decadent lunch. I got great sushi, great presentation. Sushi Taro is top of my list for a sushi fix now.

1. Is there a way to find out when the ramen is offered?

2. What's the price of the chef's choice platter?

thanks

It wasn't until after I left, in a conversation with someone, that I realized the travesty of a recent change. Chef changes the menu regularly--a great thing that made me not even realize what was missing when I was there: the small snack foods that had been on the menu and, especially, Chef's take on deviled eggs. If anything deserves to become an enduring menu item along with things like the cheeseburger, caesar salad, and gnocchi, it was those deviled eggs. Here's hoping they're back soon!

Sounds as if you were there for lunch, and I believe those items are only on the dinner menu.

[quote name='darkstar965' timestamp='1298784089' post='183342'

It wasn't until after I left, in a conversation with someone, that I realized the travesty of a recent change. Chef changes the menu regularly--a great thing that made me not even realize what was missing when I was there: the small snack foods that had been on the menu and, especially, Chef's take on deviled eggs. If anything deserves to become an enduring menu item along with things like the cheeseburger, caesar salad, and gnocchi, it was those deviled eggs. Here's hoping they're back soon!

Sounds as if you were there for lunch, and I believe those items are only on the dinner menu.

Bubby's is a sit-down restaurant (take out available) open 7 days a week, for both lunch and dinner.

Website says you're open until 9:00 on weekdays -- based on which, I came by at 8:30 last night, but the door was locked and it appeared it had been quite a while since the kitchen was up and running. All of which is simply to say that you should edit your site accordingly to reflect your actual hours. Looking forward to trying it out. (First report I've heard is that the corned beef is distinctly superior to Uptown's, but not so the whitefish salad.)

This is also the quite-fleeting time of year when, if you get lucky, SP might have its homemade sausage available. If they do, order it.

Mr. S and I were out doing errands that took us to Bethesda and Rockville. Having a late breakfast, we both were starving about 2pm and were trying to decide where to get a bite for lunch. Our recent visit to SP with fellow DR's before the tour at Baying Hound Aleworks a few weeks ago had us both craving some tea smoked duck. So we beelined north on 355 and had the restaurant almost to ourselves. Perfect late lunch/predinner. We started with the delicious sweet and spicy cabbage salad, followed by seafood mixture with crispy rice cakes and the aforementioned tea smoked duck. Plenty of leftovers to take home, and we were quite sated. They even recognized us from that last DR visit!

Are the dry-aged cuts available only at RtS, or also at Ray's the Classics?

People have already gushed plenty about the dry aged, and the pornographic case of transmogrified cow parts is now filled to the gizzards with soon-to-be-steaks, but I just wanted to relate something my wife said after eating the dry-aged porterhouse: "this is the second best thing I've ever eaten."

FWIW, the first first best (ichiban) was the A10 grade kobe beef from the DR.com event at Vidalia a couple years back. I gotta say, the RTSDAP-house is in good company...

I'd skip Locanda Verde -- nothing special and not worth the cost. I'd replace it with something else downtown at the same or lower price-point, e.g., Txikito, Kin Shop, Hung Ry, Ushiwakamaru (although that'll be more $$ if you go omakase with Hideo, which you should). I've also heard great things about, but have not eaten at, Sushi Azabu (right near Locanda Verde), Scarpetta, and Fatty Crab.

- Show quoted text -

Okay, I think we have a tentative eating itinerary for this weekend's NYC voyage...

Friday - lunch at Jean-Georges, dinner at Locanda Verde

Saturday - Long Island (i.e., eating whatever my 88-year-old granny wants)

Sunday - Brooklyn - I definitely want dinner at Fette Sau, but are there any good lunch gems?

Monday - lunch at Shake Shack (if they're open - not sure about winter hours), dinner at Ssam

Other than Jean-Georges, we don't have reservations - most of these places are pretty casual, and my hubby and I actually prefer sitting and eating at the bar.

Have we bitten off more than we can chew, so to speak?

I'm headed to SLC for 5 days at the beginning of February. I've read the thread--any other recs? Are Red Iguana's moles still considered good? no limits in location or price, but I'm a pescetarian, so BBQ places off the table.

Smokey: Was just there and (surprisingly) have three solid recs.

As Lizzie says, Himalayan Kitchen is, indeed, great, and unlike what you can find here, especially if you stick to the (extensive) Nepali/Himalayan dishes (more than what are described here: http://www.himalayankitchen.com/menu) -- apparently there's a burgeoning Nepali/Sherpa population in SLC! -- including for the vegetable choices. We had a spectacular fried lentil dish, and the Onion Bhaji appetizer was addictive. Don't hesitate to ask for authentic levels of spiciness, if you can handle it (it's serious).

Pho Tay Ho is a great, hidden, mom & pop pho joint on South Main Street, but unfortunately I can't vouch for the non-beef-stock pho there, as I tried only the standard broth.

Finally, a new joint, the Copper Onion (http://www.thecopperonion.com/), was excellent all around.

There are fairly consistent raves for a couple of new, upscale organic places -- Pago and Forage -- but I wasn't able to go. Also heard good things about Tony Caputo/Tipica, described above.

I was advised by reliable sources to avoid all Chinese in SLC except perhaps the dim sum at Hong Kong Tea House, particularly given the options in your home nabe (and I do hope you've made Sichuan Pavillion part of your regular rotation).

Have fun!

Got the bread, which was wonderful, mainly to have available to sop up the broth of the Brodetto.

Yes, it is a mistake to decline ordering the bread basket just because they're charging $3. Every table should have one. Agnes Chin (who I assume is baking the breads) might actually give Ann Amernick a run for her money!

But while I am staycationing for the next two weeks I am going back for lunch again- the Chestnut Soup is calling my name.

Chestnut soup only available at lunch (for now). I've had it twice. Today it was merely excellent; last week -- the best soup I've had this year.

I did make reservations for an Early Christmas Eve dinner at the Rockville location.

It's not as great as it used to be, but still overall pretty good. I still prefer Grace Garden at this time, by a pretty wide margin.

Apples and, mostly, oranges. The chef at GG does have some Sichuan training, and it plays a supporting role in his cooking . . . but it isn't the focus, as at Joe's. The real comparison is at Rockville's Sichuan Pavillion -- much as I have a soft spot for Joe's, it's very hard to opt for it when there is such consistent, delicious Sichuan fare just down the street.

I'll call ya, 'n Ray's ya dubble, pardner.

When is the last time you've heard of a restaurant boast of using sous vide on their menu?

http://www.jacksbistro.net/A_sousVide.html

Had a nice time talking to Kas (Quas?), the owner/manager, of this new Indian place based on the Chipotle concept - you pick a base (chaat, rice, naan, salad), then add a protein and various sauces/toppings. He festures an option of rotisserie chichen, served in large, on-the-bone pieces, which is seriously yummy. I had that chicken on chaat (sauteed peppers and onions and chick peas) with the raw onion condiment and the hottest sauce offered. It's not Rasika, or is it trying to be, but it's a really good quick meal. The plate was under $8, the owner is charming, and all of his food is made to be lower in fat than traditional Indian food. Check it out if you're in Penn Quarter (7th and D, just north of Oyamel). However, Kas (Quas) said that he's slammed at lunch, so go early or late if you disdain lines.

As an aside, his rotisserie chicken, without sauce, is as good or better than Nando's, and the other flavor options will likely make me choose this over Nando's if I'm feeling like roasted chicken.

Haven't had the rotisserie chicken, so can't comment on that, but if my watery, spiceless lamb chaat is any indication, "Indian Chipotle" is about right -- well-intentioned, and probably a moneymaker, but entirely generic; not worth a stop.

This place is getting better every time we go, which is far too often.

Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches on that outrageously good rye were excellent tonight.

Do they bake their own rye? If not, what's their source?

I'll admit, I haven't been to La Canela because it's pretty light on vegetarian options. I have heard good things about it. I was disappointed in Oro Pomodoro the time I went. I didn't think it was terrible, but I wasn't eager to return. Lebanese Taverna is ok, agreed, but a very different restaurant from Bobby's in terms of quality (even price-adjusted).

 
Smokey, it's not technically in the RTC (just across the street) but Sichuan Pavillion is amazing -- I drive up regularly from Bethesda to dine there or to carry out. I can't help but significantly over-order -- and then I have great leftovers for several days thereafter. A vast menu, with many treasures, including vegetarian and seafood. Highly recommended. (P.S. Free parking, and I get the impression it's doing great business-wise.)

NNNNNOOOOOOOOO!!! I confess, I go (er, went) to Kotobuki more for the kamemeshi than their sushi (much better sushi is available to us without having to drive clear across town). But we found nothing that compared to a steaming pot of Kotobuki's kamemeshi on a bitter cold night. Crap!

It was still there a couple of weeks ago and is still on the website:

http://www.kotobukiusa.com/speciality/speciality.html

I keep attempting to try Sauca when they are on Mass at North Cap, but each time (have made 3 attempts so far) they are not ready to serve. I have made at progressively later attempts (11:30, 11:45, noon). I should mention that Sauca is not the only truck that seems to be a little off the ball as to when areas begin eating lunch, so far at that corner I have never found one effectively offering hot food before noon. This seems to be a distinct advantage even the crappier brick and mortar establishments have over the trucks.