Tujague

3 hours ago, genericeric said:

I know, I was just so aghast at the choices.  Growing up in Iowa, I know Flemings is popular in Des Moines but I would be surprised if many would say its the best steak - its just a nice place to have dinner.  Kansas City is still proud of its barbeque and beef (and recently, beer).  The problem with Foursquare ratings is they confuse popularity with quality.

In Iowa, Archie's Waeside in LeMars would have to be a top contender--I mean, hell, it's already a James Beard honoree, and the steaks really are a phenomenal deal even if the atmosphere and side dishes are cheesy (but I hear they have an impressive wine list if you ask for it).

I've never been to a Mike Isabella joint, until last night. Perhaps I've been unfairly suspicious of his Food TV background, and assumed he was more poseur than real chef. My bad: Arroz is a really fine restaurant showcasing a versatile chef turning out food with surprising finesse. Dinner last night was the salt cod croquettes, sweetbreads, and veggie bomba rice; I can't add much to what others had said, but my sense is that the small plates are not a great value, but that bombo rice is really terrific, and more than enough for two for $42. Desserts here may seem pricier than some places but they're pretty good sized: Bob's chocolate custard came in a tagine and had many different textures without being overwhelmingly chocolatey; my sundae was a pretty dish with a variety of flavors and textures (mint, white chocolate, meringue, strawberry, rhubarb) that seems odd but came together nicely. The Mencia rosé is terrific, and the Abogado cocktail very nice, but smallish and pricey at $15; the Sour Sherry cocktail ($13) is better--very refreshing. Service was sort of confused--not at all overly friendly, as Sietsema noted, but with odd gaps--the drinks menu was delivered and removed three or four times before dessert. We were lucky to snag a keyhole booth, which cut down some of the hotel-ish atmosphere. All in all, we were impressed, and I'm embarrassed I didn't believe he's the real thing. I was wrong: Isabella put his work into this place and it deserves attention. (BTW, I saw him walk through last night, and I gotta say, he looks like he could use a break. I hope he is not overextending himself into bad health.)

Brief edit: Michael Rafidi, the executive chef, deserves the major credit here. Isabella is hiring some good talent.

On 5/5/2017 at 0:22 PM, Tweaked said:

NMWA has announced their next free community day:  Sunday June 4, 2017 12PM - 5PM

Actually, the next one is Sunday, May 7. Every first Sunday of the month is free there.

Nopa (at the Spy Museum) is another good choice, at least based on my meal there a few months ago.

7 hours ago, Pat said:

Belated thanks to Tujague for mentioning elsewhere on the boards that Beuchert's has half-price burgers on Tuesdays.

I honestly don't remember ever saying that--I've never been for the Tuesday special, though I always intend to go--but Yay, me! It's got to be one of the best burgers on the Hill.

Capitol Hill location now closed (from their Facebook page):

"We would like to send our good-bye's and thank everyone for their well wishes today and over the past two weeks when learning of us moving on as tenants at the carriage house on the grounds of the Hill Center. Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery will no longer be present at this location and will not be operating at this location starting Monday, April 17, 2017.

"Please come see us at Bayou Bakery in Arlington, Va where we have been a longstanding community gathering spot for residents and visitors alike for the past 6 years. Also, we welcome you to follow us on Bayou Bakery's Facebook in Arlington to learn about the special offers we have for our guests. The DC location Facebook will not continue after Monday, April 17.

I like Alaska Airlines also, but their stranding us on the tarmac for two hours last Wednesday prior to our 5.5 hr. flight to Portland due to a technical issue was a serious pain in the ass.

21 hours ago, Pat said:

I hope Silverman succeeds with getting the lease from the Hill Center. Since he's already got a good reputation in the neighborhood, that should help.

I trust that this will work better than when the owners of Pound down the street tried to do that.

Having the kitchen upstairs seems to me one of the difficulties in serving people at the Bayou Bakery carriage house space, but since the current P&P cafe is situated in front of a black curtain at the very front of the building while the food is prepared in the back and shuttled out in a takeout package, conquering the multi-level situation shouldn't be incredibly challenging. At the very least they're swapping one logistical challenge for another.

One thing I hope he or one of his staff does is simply hang out in the front space and watch how it flows and how they might make it work better, including reconfiguration. Right now, it's often confusion. As far as the wine bar idea, one of the things that they will need to overcome is the fact that the Hill Center does not get the same kind of foot traffic as the main commercial spots on Capitol Hill (Eastern Market, Barracks Row, Penn Ave), though it's adjacent to those. That was one reason Bayou's efforts at evening service didn't work. But with Silverman's reputation, I imagine that it will attract more people, especially if it puts out Rose's quality food and service.

50 minutes ago, Tweaked said:

Aaron Silverman in talks to take over Bayou Bakery Capitol Hill.  Will move the Pineapple & Pearls daytime menu to the Hill Center.  

Glad to hear that someone with a real eye for customer service will take over this space. And I'm willing to bet Silverman can make a better biscuit than Guas.

10 hours ago, DonRocks said:

David Guas is, I believe, from NOLA, but he can't be cloned - how good are the restaurants with him splitting his time? The Clarendon location wasn't perfect even with him there full-time - very good, but not perfect, though it was bordering on being great during the first few weeks.

Sorry to piss on people's parties, but I see these as legitimate topics for discussion which perhaps deserve their own thread.

I can't speak to your larger issue, but I do see Guas at the Capitol Hill location, and he even staffed the booth at the Barracks Row festival last fall. But the place still seems like it has weak or erratic management; my partner reports similar service issues. And I wish they would either add smaller tables to the patio or police them better--when I was there, most of the four-tops were taken up by table hogs who appeared to have set up office for the day, while the main dining room was almost uninhabitable due to the sun and a lack of air conditioning.

Decided to try the "Port of Call" New Orleans-style burgers that Bayou Bakery at the Hill Center has been advertising ahead of Mardi Gras, as my Fat Tuesday indulgence. Big mistake. The "fat, juicy" burger they promoted was fat, but not really juicy--cooked to at least medium-well (they didn't ask how I wanted it cooked), the patty seemed to have been overhandled and was mostly just dense. The bun was decent as were the toppings, but they fell apart after a few bites. The loaded baked potato on the side was huge, but lacked most of of the promised "loaded" toppings--only cheese, no sour cream, bacon bits, or chives. Super disappointing. For less than the $15 I spent here, the burger at Beuchert's is far superior (and half price on Tuesdays).

But disappointing is often my feeling about this place. Placing an order is often a shit show, with no menus of lunch items available as you queue up, no prices for specials listed on the board, and frequent confusion. Most of the bakery items I've had here have been tooth-achingly sweet; the biscuits dry and crumbly. Only a few items, like the pimento cheese, seem consistent. Bayou Bakery, unlike its New Orleans influences, is making temptation easy for me to resist.

This is a pretty impressive list of DC restaurants that are closed or operating at reduced capacity today in support of immigrants' rights. 

"A Day without Immigrants" Promises a National Strike Thursday" by Bill Chappell on npr.org

11 hours ago, DonRocks said:

The third course was the Gnocchi Bokki ($15), with pork-kimchi ragù, sesame seeds, and smoked pecorino. "Bokki" (and the related term "Bokkeum," which you'll also see on this menu) is Korean for "stir-fried."

Anyway, as you might imagine, "rabbit with peanut sauce" does not go with "gnocchi with kimchi," and when I say "does not go," I mean "pizza doesn't go with hot fudge" - that's how awful the combination was. To rub salt in the wound, kimchi does not go with pecorino: not in any way, shape, or form, and even within that single dish, the clash in flavors was almost too much to bear: It was quite literally disgusting. Why did I order it when it was clearly spelled out on the menu? Because I'm an idiot, that's why.

I had about 2/3 of my dinner remaining, and it had instantly become something very close to inedible. I went back-and-forth - concentrating on one, then the other, then trying to mix the two, and was almost literally choking down both items - especially the Gnocchi Bokki, which was one of the most poorly conceived dishes I've had in a long, long time - there was nothing that could have saved this dish: It was horrible. Not quality-wise, mind you; just the complete, total clash in flavors - I went from being so happy, to being so miserable, all in a matter of minutes. But I was starving because I hadn't eaten all day, and knew I wouldn't eat again that night, so I just choked it down, and left in a state of something not far from nauseated. I took the rest of the wine home with me, and enjoyed it later that evening, left my kindly bartender a good tip, and headed on home, wondering what in the hell had just happened.

I wasn't fond of the Gnocchi Bokki on my visit there this past August, and couldn't understand the raves for the dish--I agree with the clash of flavors. And I found the lighting to be awkward, partly because I was facing the setting sun with inadequate shading on the west side. But overall I liked Hazel, largely because of its commitment, similar to Convivial, to medium-size dishes at reasonable prices. I think Convivial does it better, but Hazel has some strengths and is on the right track.

Another point of comparison and perhaps the gold standard is the roast chicken with bread salad at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco, $58. One of the best meals I ever had, as well as the most filling. Of course, you can make a reasonable facsimile at home for much less, but I doubt many people have blinked at the price. (I thought the chicken at Kinship was very good, though not up to Zuni standards; the panade may add moisture, but not much flavor, and the bread salad at Zuni is much more substantive than the comparatively meager portion of salad at Kinship. Great potatoes and rolls, though.)

13 minutes ago, Tujague said:

Ouch.

"None in my party are linebackers, but all of us end the meal less than sated. The beautiful, custom-made plates from Cloud Terre don’t ferry more than a bite or two per course to the table. Dinner at the Shaw Bijou feels more like extended hors d’oeuvres.

Mulling the meal, a companion asks the rest of us, 'How would you rather spend $2,000?' That’s the sum for four, once tip, tax and wine are factored in. . . . As my party stands outside one of the most highly anticipated restaurants of the season, currently all but obscured by construction fencing, I take a vote to see how many would return on their own dime. Head shakes all around confirm my hunch.

We’re also of one mind when it comes to our mood: Pizza, anyone?"

Ouch.

On 10/18/2016 at 7:12 PM, Pat said:

Thanks for the input.  Watching them cut back the hours more and more makes me concerned.  At this point, I wonder what it will take for them to survive and (I hope) flourish.

A friend has been there for group meals, including neighborhood gatherings, downstairs, and has had very positive things to say.  It seems to be a difficult location in practice while looking good in theory. 

They were actually fairly busy both times I was there, with a number of people who were clearly regulars, so I don't think cancelling brunch is a significant indicator of their overall health. Their strength is probably in serving the neighborhood in the evenings; I think Sunday mornings people are more likely to venture farther afield unless you're offering a great value or something otherwise exceptional. So, Eastern Market and Barracks Row have a more buzzy atmosphere and a chance to tack on shopping/errands, which Lincoln Park does not.

6 hours ago, Pat said:

They have now dropped Sunday brunch as well.  I've been meaning to get back in here for a meal and hope to do it soon. I check the menu posted outside occasionally and it has been updated a bit recently, though some of the older dishes (the root beer short rib, flaxseed artichokes, etc.) are still there.  

I've finally been there a few times now and they're . . . OK. The pasta dishes and appetizers I've had have been pleasant, but not exceptional. Wine (rosé and red) has often been served warmer than desirable. But the bill always feel larger than the value. Par for the course with this location.

On 9/10/2016 at 7:00 AM, DonRocks said:

The Bakken Pipeline (also known as "The Dakota Access Pipeline") is a nearly 2,000-km pipeline that's to run from Northwest North Dakota to Southern Illinois. However, a portion of it is going to run underneath the Mississippi RiverMissouri River near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation - therein lies the conflict.

That would be the Missouri River, not the Mississippi (as you note below).

My heart is broken over this tremendous loss. The giant red negative portrait of Chef Richard on the back wall of Central--from anyone else, that would seem like hubris or arrogance, but from him, it was an invitation to partake with the same sort of joy and delight that he took in food and repast. I doubt that DC--or any other US city, for that matter--will ever see another like him. May perpetual light shine on him.

Don, I know about the Auto-Saved Content feature; I've used it before. I looked for it. IT WASN'T THERE--any of those times I lost my work.

Is there any way to create a warning signal, so that one can avoid unintended deletions--sort of like on Facebook, which asks if you want to leave the page you're on? I wouldn't complain so loudly, but that auto-saved feature did not appear anywhere, so I assume there must be some sort of keystroke I made that eliminated it somehow.

Three lengthy posts in succession swallowed into the unrecoverable zone, all because of one bad keystroke. I'm done.

This is a valuable conversation, but the Riggsby is hardly the worst offender here; all these posts follow from a single report. Overall, I found the quality/quantity/price balance here to be above average, at least on the food side. (The sardines were off the menu the night I was there, FWIW, so perhaps they aren't getting the size or quality of fish they hope for right now, and that's connected to what Josh experienced.) Just trying to bring the conversation back to THIS restaurant.

This is the place Tom Sietsema currently is going gaga over. I just don't see it.

First, it should be noted that Todd Kliman seems to be even more sold on it than SIetsema; TS gave it 2.5 stars, Kliman 3 stars.

That said, I have to agree with you. Bob and I had our belated anniversary celebration here on Friday night, and while the meal was perfectly fine, there's a lot here that doesn't add up for me. The "filled-to-the-brim" cocktails that Sietsema crowed about when it first opened are actually pretty small pours now, particularly for $13 a pop (though well made--I had a lovely Sazerac and Bob a Manhattan). We split the chopped salad as one of our appetizers, and it was our favorite dish of the night--fresh, light, and well done. The sauteed calamari with cranberry beans was fine also; both dishes, however, we thought would have been too much of one thing for a single diner.

For entrees, Bob had the spaghetti with tomato, Italian bacon, onion, and pecorino; it was clearly fresh pasta and perfectly cooked. I went for the double-cut pork chop with Italian sausage, hot cherry peppers, and tiny potatoes. It was a huge portion for $28; they slice the chop in the system, leaving the bone on the side, then pour the sauce over at the table. I liked it though it was rather spicy, and the sausage seemed like porcine overkill. (Looking over the menu, the chef seems to have a penchant for spice and chilis; Bob balked at a number of items he would have otherwise ordered. Our two glasses of wine by the glass (Barbera and Pinot Noir) were just okay, but decent pours.

Service was professional, but often veered toward the slightly awkward, particularly when they tried to be more elegant. And no question, this place is LOUD. If we would have been any closer to the bar, I would have walked out. This is not the place to go for an intimate meal. So, despite decent food, in the end, it just didn't feel like a special as the reviews have suggested. It's a good-enough place, which is nothing to sneeze at, but not so good that I'll be back again soon.

Thanks for this report, Pat. I've been wanting to try it, but have been waiting to hear a few more reports. This encourages me maybe to go for a meal this next week.