hillrat

Any suggestions? many thanks.

There tons of places in the immediate vicinity of Union Station, what kind of food are folks looking to eat?

If you want pub food, check out the Irish Times two blocks west of Union Station. For a place that sells more Miller Lite than anywhere else in town except the Verizon Center, the food is amazingly good; the cod & shrimp basket is my favorite.

For Tex-Mex, check out La Loma about three blocks east of Union Station. Tasty and pretty inexpensive, if the weather is good they have a nice patio to eat on.

It has its foibles but I think it merits your giving it another try.

You're probably right, but I'm so used to having to leave the Hill to eat (decent food) that Montmarte is largely off my radar screen. Add to that, the fact that the wife and I probably go out to eat less than once a month (we have an 18 month baby we really can't stand to not be around) and I'm sure you can understand why when we actually have the opportunity to go out, we're not in a hurry to throw the dice at a place where we didn't have a good time in the past.

However, based on your comments and others I think I'm ready to give it another try. Thanks for taking the time to chime in!

Best regards,

Hill Rat

I'm not a big fan of Montmarte. The one time I went the food was good, but the service was for shit and I haven't been back since even though I walk past the place almost everyday.

I'm taking my girlfriend here for our 2 year anniversary on Tuesday. Any recommendations? I can't decide between the 5 and 9 course menu.

I recommend the 5 course menu, it was actually 7 or 8 courses if you count the various amous bouches that show up at just the right time throughout the meal. I'm a big guy (6'3", 280) and I can't imagine that I would have been able to eat all nine courses.

Lunch can be done under $20...which I think for a sit down lunch at a nice environment, it is not too bad. FYI...the churros are addictive.

I think saying you can get lunch there for less than $20 is misleading, I went there today and spent twice that with no cocktails or dessert. I started with the shrimp cocktail that wasn't that good; the gazpacho like sauce was a little too much like ketchup for my taste. The tuna OTOH was excellent, the fried rice was flavorful and a perfect compliment to the tasty, moist tuna.

Indeed. I think that the Argonaut is just far enough off the beaten path to remain more of a neighborhood joint (we are up on 14th and Constitution), especially with the publicity surrounding places like the Rock and Roll Hotel, Palace of Wonders, etc...

I certainly hope so! I was there on Saturday night and ran into a whole bunch of different people that I know from around my neighborhood (10th & Maryland NE). I can't tell you how nice it was to be able to run out for a "short one" on a Saturday night and not have to fight a huge crowd and have the opportunity to catch up with some neighbors.

I've only been to the Argonaut 3 or 4 times, but it may become my new nieghborhood tavern. My only complaint was that cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon cost $3.50, scandalous IMHO.

Is this the newish place on King St? I ate there once maybe about 2 months after they opened (which was maybe 5-6 months ago now). We thought the sushi was okay but not great so we haven't really had a reason to go back. Usually if I'm in the Old Town area and looking for sushi we head over to Tokyo Japanese Steak House near the water, not that it's really all that special either but it always does a fine job for my tastes.

I'm not sure how long they've been open, but I had a roll with an interesting texture that I really enjoyed; smooth and crunchy at the same time. You may want to give them another shot.

Soon to be trite: frites fried in duck fat.

[read in Cockney accent] Not bloody likely!!

Flying Fish on King Street. Anyone other than Grover and I gone there? Surely we're not the only ones...anyone?

I had a wonderful lunch there yesterday and I just love the art deco style of the place! It was pretty empty and they were having problems with their POS system (I guess you could say that their POS is a POS), but that did nothing to distract from our meal.

I haven't been to Jimmy T's in a while, I think I'm going to take the fam this coming weekend.

but I agree with Tom on the marrow. It is so delicious.

I was at Blue Duck last night and started off the meal with it based on what I had read. I was not disappointed, they were exquisite!! Sorry if I sound like a gushing school boy with a crush, but they really were just that good. Unfortunately, I was also forced to share my marrow bones.

As a relative n00b, I'm unsure how to relate my experience 'cause so much of it centered on the fact that my 17 month old was with us. Is that the sort of thing people care to hear about in the general dining thread or is there a dining w/ babies thread I should be talking about this kind of stuff in?

On vacation...they reopen after Labor Day...still not sure how they survive but I still love their grilled lemon chicken over noodles.

Thanks for the tip Tweaked, I'll be calling there after Labor Day.

I once had a corned beef sandwich from the NY Deli at the corner of King & West St. in Alexandria. The special ingredient that day? A fingernail, BLECCH!

Yeah, that or Fill in the City's Finest.

In DC I always ask for Anacostia Springs

To be honest, I was just a little bit disappointed in the somewhat smallish piece of cod I received (though this could be because it tasted so good and I just wanted more).

I felt the same way when I got my fish too, but by the time I was done eating I was quite full. It was so perfectly cooked and flaky, that I just really wanted to keep eating.

BTW, Todd was working the fryer when I went in early evening (5:30pm) on Saturday.

Yes, they've run a $20 three-course lunch special year round for a couple of years now. I assume they'll continue it again through this year. Might be the best deal in DC.

Excellent! Thanks for the 411.

Is it true that Charlie Palmer offers their RW menu or some sort of similar lunch special for $20.06 year round?

I have a theory that franchised operations are not nearly as good as the company owned versions and the further you get from Atlanta the product does not hold up as well.

The Chik-Fil-A in Reston is outstanding! Lightning fast lines serving hot, hot, hot sandwiches and fries.

I looked in the window this afternoon and there was a flurry of activity. I saw Todd in there with a different sort of work attire, with a whole bunch of others working on getting things set up. And, I already have my special cards for gaining admittance to the PX.

Yo! Any word on when the Chipper is opening? I've been dying for some fried fish all Summer long and I'm trying to wait for the Chipper, but I don't know how much longer I can wait!!