hillrat

Any recent reports? I am looking for head-on shrimp, and don't feel like driving all the way out to VA for crappy product.

I don't doubt the veracity of the reports here of poor treatment at Slavin's, but I've been a long time customer and never had a problem with anything I bought there. In fact, I'm going there tomorrow to get a clam bake; the wife and I have been doing that as our Valentine's Day tradition for several years now and it's never been anything less than stellar.

After hearing and reading many raves I went to CPS last night with my college roommate and I have to say I was a bit disappointed; the service was just OK and the food didn't really blow me away. The tuna tartar app was excellent, but I thought the ribeye was kind of small for almost $40 (not that I cared, it was an expense account meal) and the chimichurri sauce I got was thin and far from being the best I've had; however, the baby bok choy was fucking amazing!

It seems kind of weird to me that the most memorable parts of my CPS meal were the apps and sides, not the wine or steak.

I'm a little irked by the way the article ended. I don't remember saying anything like that, but then I probably did... Everyone has subjective preferences, and I generally try to avoid talking too much about mine, especially about coffees from friends and colleagues. *shrug* I'm mostly really psyched that Walter was able to acculturate the readership about cupping coffee. It's a fundamental skill in our industry, and one that has (to my knowledge) never been highlighted in the press... at least not at this level.

Nick - Ignore the haters. The coffee at Murky is nothing short of divine and if people don't want to wait for quality, they deserve whatever type of swill they get.

Having discovered the jpy that is Tony Lukes, underneath the maze of concrete of I95 and other assorted roads in South Philly, I have not had a cheese steak since. What I have had is wonderful peppered roast pork, sliced paper thin and piled on a chewy roll, to which rabe, boiled till all the flavor is in the broth and the color is as gray as Rock's face after derinking enough to say he is selling his wine cellar, is added. The top bread is then dunked into the raab broth, and then sharp provolone is added. This is truly heaven and does not require the ingestion of orange paste or canned mushrooms. There is also a line out the door at all times of the day and night!

As I was reading through this thread I was wondering if Tony Luke's would come up. When I first met my wife I told her repeatedly about TL's "pork italian"; she didn't believe a sandwich could live up the hype until we went to Philly together and she finally had one.

I'm ready to get in my car and go to Philly NOW!!

I find all these comments about "attitude" from the staff at ala lucia remarkable. I've dined there maybe a couple of dozen times and I have never encountered a hint of attitude; the staff and owner have always gone out of their way to treat me like a VIP and trust me, I'm no VIP.

A Miracle of Alchemy

Recently at Blue Duck Tavern I ordered the bratwurst, because I was so in the mood for something like that. But it came with sauerkraut. What to do?

Let me explain: my earliest food related memory is sitting at the dining room table for three hours after the family had finished dinner, with a small serving of sauerkraut on the plate and a promise that Pop had brought candy home from work just for me, if only I would eat my sauerkraut. I think I was about four years old at the time. I was sent to bed hungry, without dessert or candy or anything else, feeling triumphant.

Over the years I might have developed at least a tolerance for the stuff, except for an unfortunate laboratory accident involving a 500mL bottle of glacial acetic acid (about 20 times stronger than white vinegar) that I tipped over, which ran all down the front of my shirt and jeans. It seemed like I was smelling vinegar for weeks. It was years before I could eat anything with vinegar in it, and now, 18 years later, I'm still nauseated by a strong whif of it.

So there I was in Blue Duck, with two beautiful juicy bratwursts resting atop a tangle of beer-and-white-wine-braised sauerkraut. No promise of candy, either. Jesus, I think, I'm not four years old any more, and I did order the stuff, and it won't kill me to try it, and it probably won't gag me either, so just ignore your inner child and try the goddamn stuff already.

Oh so carefully I forked a few strands, lifted it to my mouth (reflexively trying not to breathe), and...

Well, whaddya know? I like the stuff! At least I like what chef McBride served me. It's mild and a little winey and yeasty. And it's delicious.

The brats are damn fine, too. Perfect with some royal trumpet mushrooms and sweet dumpling squash.

The free form apple pies, with a rich flaky crust and lightly caramelized fruit (big enough for two people) are also much, much better than any candy.

Mom, Pop, you listening? Thirty seven years later, I finally ate my sauerkraut.

Cheers mate! Hearty congratulations to you for not being like these people.

I just remembered another good burger I had, in a most unlikely place: In the snack bar at the Hains Point golf course (East Potomac Park, in SW DC). I had previously heard that Bill Clinton considered it the best burger in DC. That may or may not be apocryphal. (More likely, Clinton considered the burger he had most recently eaten to be the best burger in town.) But after hearing that, I ordered one instead of the half-smoke I usually get there.

It was, indeed, a juicy, tasty burger. It was very basic -- basic bun, basic toppings, basic slab of grilled ground beef -- but the price is right, and it gives you an excuse to spoil a good walk on the golf course.

The secret is the grilled onion pieces that are on every burger . . .

Oh sweet mystery of life at last I found you!!

My mouth is happy right now. I finally made it to Deli City for a Reuben and I would have to say that it lived up to the hype. I'm not really enough of a wordsmith to really put that corned beef into words; it was so supple and salty, fatty and delicious, tender and tasty, that I'm not eating another horrible Reuben. I'm just not going to do it. Reuben's will be reserved for when I'm at home during the week and can go there for lunch. Thankfully I have Monday off for Columbus Day, the baby and I will be having Reuben's for lunch at Deli City.

Let me just say though, noone is going there for the atmosphere; and, as other posters have noted, it is no way, shape, or form a delicatessen.

Crap and crappier.

Starfish is just plain bad, I've eaten there twice and it sucked starfish balls both times.

So much hate . . .

I said DECENT, that garbage isn't even pizza.

I think the wrath comes because the space and location cries out for a charming little bistro that serves homey dishes and interesting little wines at a reasonable price and instead Park Cafe serves pricy crappy food that plain sucks

I'd settle for a decent take out joint.

I've been thinking of trying that place [Fusion Grill] recently but just didn't get the opportunity, and was wondering when a thread would start up here. Of course, my worst fears were confirmed. When will the horror end?

Probably when we stop going to these crap restaurants . . . at all . . . ever . . . for any reason.

I haven't been to Banana Cafe or Starfish lately, how are they holding up?

Oh, hardly. Not for this overpriced and mediocre excuse for a restaurant.

Damn! Why so much hate for the Park Cafe?

I've only eaten there once, the food was OK and the service was a little less than OK; I guess the fact that it's a 10-12 minute walk from my house and I've only eaten there once tells you about what you need to know though.

They must be passing out free dog food.

Low blow Banco . . .

Last night I was at the Argonaught, they have $3 wings & Yeungs on Wednesday nights. The wings were a little small, but very tasty and at $3 for an order of 12 who's complaining?

There used to be a Wingmaster's in Cleveland Park that also sold edible barbecue and was seemingly run by an an Indian guy. Munchies heaven.

At some point, they cloned into the Union Station location, so they may once have been a chain of two places. (I might bnever have known of this, but I used to Red Line to the Senate in my younger days).

Unfortunately, rising rents forced out the Cleveland Park guy, who held on with a combination wings/Indian food carryout (wings and pappadum: excellent combo) for a few months near the basement Woodly Park McDonalds and then disappeared, leaving the Union station all on its oddy-knocky.

A quick googling reveals no corporate website or other trappings of chain-dom, so I claim ideological purity on this one.

Ahh, that must be it; when I first moved to DC in '96 I was subletting up on Connecticut Ave, that's probably where I recognize the name from.

I've also had an excellent Steak Frittes at Bistro Bis.

Sadly, I think your best option for traditional Buffalo Wings is still to get on the Red Line at Dupont, head to Union Station, hit Wingmasters, and ride back. (Maybe next time I get desparate enough to drive over, you can tip me and I'll drop off a couple dozen).

If you find something, pleeeeeeeease post.

Wingmaster's you say, isn't that [audible gasp] a chain? I'm on the Hill and I've never tried them, maybe I'll check them out this coming weekend.

I was at an event over the weekend at which the catered food was provided by "Famous Dave's." The St. Louis- style ribs were quite credible -- meaty; tender; flavorful. Pulled pork was smoky-nice (but with weird rolls); potato salad was delicious, tasting home-made rather than industrial. Catering team was pleasant. Alltold, good eatings for a large group outdoors. I notice from its website that "Famous Dave's" is a chain with a number of outlets in the suburban DC area. Are they worth a visit? Thanks.

As far as chain BBQ restaurants go, it's not bad but I don't know if I would drive more than 15 minutes out of my way for it.

5 course or 9 course? Which would you recommend?

Go for the 5 course, with the amuse bouche and candies they give after dessert it's really more like 7 courses. Keep in mind that this is coming from 285 lb. man who eats like a starving bear.

400 North Capitol St. 202-737-0400.

The old La Colline location? Thanks!

Do you guys really want to know what happened?

But of course!!

Johnny's Half Shell opened today. That's a solid option.

Where is it located?

Can we please go back to talking about real food?

Oh, don't be so snooty! Taco Bell and all other fast food have their place in the food continuum.

Yeah, what the dilly?