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Get the desserts here. Don't have time to post a full review but we wound up ordering all three desserts and sharing;

Chocolate - decadent

Tiramisu - very creamy and luscious

Sorbet with grapefruit - perfect palette cleanser

I was very happy with service too - I think the small size is going to keep this a hard to get weekend reservation.

I can definitely cook better than 90% of "chain family restaurants" - I will just go because it is easier, I don't have to prep, have anything from the store and no clean up. not cheaper or better but easier.

Nice upper end - That is where I go for something I can't get at home.

All in all, it seemed a little expensive; I suppose the nice decor and 4 hosts need to be accounted for and if they ran a "$9.99 deal" they'd be too similar to TGI Fridays. I'm happy they've come to the 'hood and while I doubt I'll be a regular I'm sure they will do just fine.

I was in Gaithersberg tonight and think this sentence explains it -- an expensive TGI Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays -

The turkey is fresh from Maple Lawn Farms brined with Alton Brown's brining recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html

This is the first year that I am not stuffing the turkey so going to be careful not to overcook, I am going to pull the turkey from the oven when the breast hits 170 or the thigh hits 165 whichever happens first.

Saturday night 7:30pm almost turned around and cancelled due to the parking nightmare of Cleveland Park - I am so glad we did not. After twenty minutes driving around saw someone walking to their car and got a perfect spot one block up the street. The reward for going through the parking was an incredible treat - ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I HAVE HAD IN LONG TIME!!!.

Dino continues to be one of the best restaurants in DC!!!!

We started off with a plate of Burrata and Posciutto, the Burrata was creamiest treat that tasted like I was having pure melt in my mouth cream.

The Trotter Tots were flavored perfectly. Taylor Bay Scallops with black truffle butter - I think Dean said it perfectly "Scallops as delivery system for truffle and butter".

The Risotto Bianco with shaved white truffles - very very generous with the truffle shavings

Entrees of Snakehead fish over polenta with a safron sauce with mussels and grilled calamari - OMG, I am now a believer.

Don't come here and skip dessert either - We were going to order one and share but we wound up ordering both the tiramisu and Nico Gelato (a combination of dark and light chocolate gelato with hazelnuts) - Both were finished and plates clean leaving smiles on our faces.

Dean and his team continute to be welcoming gracious hosts and when I walk into Dino, I feel like I am being welcomed like family with people that are truly happy to see me. The service here is always top notch and welcoming, that really makes me looking forward to the next time I will get to come back.

I was just cleaning out some emails from last week and noticed a Groupon was being sold through yesterday for Crust?

Going to have to apologize for the last minute cancellation. - kid was up 1/2 the night with fever and now still sleeping,

Please post pictures so I can live vicariously though comments and pictures.

My business travel for next week was just cancelled due to the storm, count me in with +3.

Put me down for chocolate fudge brownies - you can never have too much desserts.

OMG - Life is way to f(*&^ing short...

I was at Quench last night using up a living social. I honestly did not have a high bar in my mind walking in and was not disappointed. There was nothing bad here, but there was nothing that I would call super special either.

Daughter had the hamburger and I thought it was ok, nothing special. I did have the steamed clams in a nice beer broth, it was very nice but to note there were two clams that didn't open. There was a nice breaded pork cutlet that had very nice taste and I would order that again.

Desserts might be there niche here, had an ice cream sandwich - Red velvet pressed into a cookie with cream cheese ice cream. Shared this with daughter and we very much enjoyed. Not over sweet but very pleasant. They also had a peanut butter dessert that I promised myself I would go back just to get that.

The service was nice, imperfect but very pleasant and suburbian.

This is not cheap eats, dinner for two $70 with tip and we did not drink. - Reasonable with living social, at full price not so sure.

The brunch menu caught my attentions and am going to make it a point to try the brunch menu one of these weekends.

I don't think I will be going at this price. I went once about seven years ago and it was fun, but not in the BEST MEAL EVER for that price catagory.

I haven't gotten here yet - Please someone tell me this place is good. I really want to like it...

It is ehhh - that is the best way to describe.

Edible better than domino's but nothing that I would go out of my way for. I had a slice from here a couple of weeks ago when I wanted something besides italian ices. Carmen's has been a regular on my list this summer and the only thing that slice has going for it is that it is next store to a place that I enjoy and brings a lot of foot traffic.

I have been to Woodmont Grill twice in the last month and both times were really good meals.

The seafood has been fresh and flavorful. Last night daughter had the ribs and they were falling off the bone tender with a light bbq sauce that had a nice kick. Noy cheap eats by any standards but definitely a nice consistant meal with quality service.

I brought a cooler to the park last weekend, the park food is a disgrace and disgusting

Is the muffulata only on Wednesdays? I remember that being one of my favorite lunches when I was in NO about fifteen years ago (from Central Grocery). I have not been able to have that replicated since.

Any reports on the muffulata?

I watched the show tonight just for some entertainment. I remember going there once with the kids about five years ago, think it looked like the same dump I never wanted to go back to.

Sounds like the owner got what she wanted and the hell with the money, what is a million dollars between friends - lol

From what I hear:

Jade Billows will be occupied by another Asian restaurant (not sure if it will be Chinese), locally owned by someone with a track record.

Pomegranate is going to become a fresh seafood place (think Black Market Bistro).

Pomegranate's landlord got over 200 requests to keep it open, so they reopened it. In 30 days, less than 50 customers went.

A fresh seafood place should do very well there. I know Pomegranate was kosher but it was very expensive and priced themselves out of the market.

Next week is their last week of operation. Not sure what happened.

Wow they had been there many many years

These are line cooks that somehow got thrust into the spotlight and are way above their abilities in both talent and personality. I can't believe any of them would be even remotely considered for a management position in a busy quality restaurant. The person I feel sorriest for is the chef that will get stuck training one of them.

Stopped in for lunch today - Would not go back;

Crab - Don't think it was Maryland Crab (they never claimed to be), very shredded and little taste.

Shrimp - I would swear that shrimp was frozen and maybe that explains it (texture issues and flavorless)

Lobster - not sweet meat

While not cheap pricing on par with Freddy's but when I eat at Freddy's I have a smile on my face - this lunch was a disappointment.

Prices are really beginning to creep up.

I have noticed prices creeping up in almost all of my regular restaurants compared to a year ago.

One thing I've noticed about Popeye's is that it's pretty inconsistent between franchises. The chicken at the Tenleytown location is tastier and less greasy than the 14th St location.

I find the same thing. The Popeye's on Rockville Pike I enjoy for a treat, while the Popeyes that used to be at the Cabin John shopping center (shut down last year) was TERRIBLE - I would drive past Cabin John and go to Rockville Pike!!

FWIW -

Tomorrow (5/19) we will be having a bit of a one year anniversary party. Yipee.

We are gonna stand out front and Grill stuff and sell it pretty cheap. Oysters, shrimp, Lobster Tails, Burgers, dogs and stuff.

Happy first!

Jeff

The BBQ Shrimp ROCKED - Happy Anniversary

Had a nice dinner here Thursday night, There were some hits and misses - Wow not a PERFECT restaurant on their second night but damn good meal with very enthusiastic owners that will have a nice destination restaurant (and a mile from my house).

Everything is tapas style or pizza;

Prosciutto - Forgettable sliced prosciutto, not bad for any reason but missing punch

Pork Belly in a cherry sauce - Standout item that melted nicely in my mouith, cherry's had nice sweetness to offset without being sicky sweet

Gnocci in truffle parmesan cream sauce - The gnocci was a little overcooked and gummy but the sauce was the standout here!!! - Truffle flavor of just the right amount would really like to see this sauce with some homemade pasta or even a baguette dip,

Short Ribs - Major Highlight item - SPOT ON perfectly cooked with the flavor having an incredible punch, nice beef flavor and more tender than butter.

Pizza - Margharita - some nice charing on the outside but a little soupy in the middle. Felt like it was missing something (more salt?)

Dessert - In the interest of full disclosure dessert was comped - above average cheesecake with chocolate sauce and salted caramel popcorn on top. I don't think these were blending well together. The chocolate cheesecake part was well above average and creamy.

Service felt a little disorganized and clumsy. I think they will get this part together in the coming weeks. Not bad service, certain items took a while to come out and waiters seemed to have some confustion (asked what the risotto was and got the answer - "I forgot" and never came back to tell me) he was very nice and definitely everyone was really trying but no one had the "system down" I don't think many restaurant staff have everything firing on all cylinders on night two.

Welcome to the neighborhood and I am betting we will see a lot of each other.