DonRocks

11 hours ago, Pat said:

… they used to be great for coating a sore throat.

Ah! Viscosity.

I got lunch at the Wildwood Shopping Center Fish Taco today. A Steak Quesadilla was just how I wanted it - uncomplicated and super-tasty - and the Grilled Fish Tacos are as good as they were a few years ago. I wish I lived closer to one.

Had dinner at Daykaya Izakaya two nights ago, as well as takeout from Daikaya Ramen. The noodles were the best thing in both meals - they were exceptional (and the Izakaya items were uninspiring (although our server was wonderful)).

Do both Daikaya Ramen and Bantam King abut each other back-to-back? I recall Bantam King having its own kitchen, and I’m pretty sure Daikaya Ramen does also. Are there three kitchens at these three establishments, or is there some sharing?

19 hours ago, Pat said:

I knew they were good for sore throats ….

Do tell!

15 hours ago, alexandria1 said:

The Five Guys near my hotel in Seville last week was open until 1 AM on weeknights, 2 AM on weekends. A Granada location appears to be coming soon. The Taco Bell near the center of Seville looked nice from the outside.

The pringa and the churrasco at Bodega Santa Cruz were pretty good. Standing at the bar I guess that counts as fast food too.

First time I went to Europe (three-week backpack in 1989), I ate at the Nice, France McDonald’s two consecutive meals.

”Royale with Cheese”
(- John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction”)

14 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:

It's a big step below Nakazawa based on our experience tonight at 5:30.  Uchi is slapping shit together as fast as he can and then passing them on to his helpers.  The rice is hot and almost mushy.  The fish hasn't warmed to room temp.  For $100, it's still a bargain based on the ingredients but it's far from a Michelin star experience.  Dunno what Rooster and Owl is charging these days but at one point it was $85 for 4 courses and that was most definitely a Michelin star worthy dinner.

On a night when his counter isn't full and he's fully prepped, I can see this being Michelin worthy.

I think by today’s standards in DC, it’s one-star quality (food only). That said, your “slapping shit together as fast as he can” comment is funny and describes the general scene perfectly (although I’d substitute “sushi” for the word you used).

You also touched on one of my three criticisms about the food itself: I had one piece of nigiri explode in my hand because of the rice. I also think the entire meal has a very narrow palate amplitude. Finally, I found the sequence of maguro, chu-toro, and o-toro (really?) to be in descending order of quality. 

But there’s too much good here (like the $100 price) to be focusing on the bad. I’ve had numerous You’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me one-star meals in DC, and this wasn’t one of them.

Still, yours is a legitimate point-of-view shared by another friend of mine who tried it (I never went to Nakazawa, but I’d be crestfallen if I paid $190 for this).

Went there tonight … Michelin-star-quality sushi in the middle of a food court! Complete with a bad musician in the background, and free parking in the garage (you have to use the K Street entrance after 5PM).

$100 for this omakase is a steal. Listen to DPop - he’s right.

Has anyone tried Shinwari?

I’m intrigued, not least by the signage outside, also the menu online. The owners obviously have their sights on bigger things, but for now it seems to be a local restaurant.

On 3/29/2024 at 8:28 AM, dcs said:

Sign in the the window says a Kanji is moving in. 

[Thanks-I-Think emoji implied.]

5 hours ago, NolaCaine said:

quick note to add that it's terrible.

To be used as a counterexample in the “Burying the Lede” section of Journalism 101.

On 3/20/2024 at 3:41 PM, ElGuapo said:

The region's fifth Taco Bell Cantina opens Thursday in downtown Silver Spring:

https://www.sourceofthespring.com/silver-spring-news/2819300/taco-bell-cantina-arrives-downtown-silver-spring/

We need another emoji: ‘Thanks, I think?’

On 2/17/2006 at 9:44 PM, DonRocks said:

Pilsner Urquell = Fermented Skunk Piss

Old Dominion Lager = Club Soda Seasoned With Dried Caterpillar Fur

Bass Ale = Caramel-Colored Rhineroceros Nostril Juice

Sam Adams = 55-Year-Old Malted Milk Ball Shat Out Of Godzilla's Ass

Corona = Watered-Down Drippings of Infected Chihuahua Penis

Heineken = Diluted Pilsner Urquell Mixed With Giraffe Spit

Yuengling = Semi-Clear Liquid Extracted From Yak Colon During Stressful Bout Of Diarrhea

Remember when I always used to write things like, “Remember this post 20 years from now?”

We’re two years away …

… and nobody - nobody - has ever called me out on the Rhinoceros misspelling.

On 3/7/2024 at 7:11 AM, dcs said:

Tracy O'Grady is no longer listed as Executive Chef on the Green Pig website.  Anybody know what happened here?

She is now.

(If I knew Ramberto’s last name, I’d be happy to put him in the title.)

6 hours ago, noamb said:

Can everyone start mentioning specific locations? I’ve been happy with the south Arlington  location, and I’d be interested to know if these problems are location specific or not.

This is an important point (FWIW, every Pupatella post I’ve written in the past couple of years would have been from South Arlington).

Call me clueless, but I didn’t realize until just today that the “RAD” in “RAD Burger” stood for Ruthie’s All-Day (*).

PS: The lyrics in “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” aren’t “I get high! I get high! I get hiiiiigh”; they’re “I can’t hide! I can’t hide! I can’t hiiiiide!” How’s that for the ultimate Mondegreen?

So, now your day is ruined also. 😛

(*) They’ll substitute cheddar for American if you ask.

Remember back in the 1990s when Thai Square was, by far, the best Thai restaurant the DC area had ever known?

Elephant Jumps >> Thai Square, and has been for quite some time.

On 2/22/2024 at 10:26 AM, Josh Radigan said:

Had Pupatella two weeks ago- not good at all. Dough was undercooked- pizza was as bland as they come. Looks like a new Pupatella is coming to slaters lane and GW parkway where a dry cleaner was housed.

I had it last night, and it was the wettest, soggiest pizza I’ve ever had (from anywhere, if memory serves me). The panzarotti, however, are consistently good.

24 minutes ago, KeithA said:

We've been spoiled with good Pizza nearby from 2 Amys and Vace but I recently got my kids to try Pupatella as our new delivery pizza option instead of boring Angelico's. The Dupont Pupatella store is good and fast with delivery up to Cleveland Park. Glad to say I've converted the family after 4 or so orders in the past couple of months. The pizza is very good and similar to 2 Amys. I still like 2 Amys topping combos better (not to mention the non-pizza side dishes which rock) but it is hard to compare as I almost always eat that fresh from the oven in the restaurant vs. Pupatella has been solely delivery so far. The kids like the plain bimbis and wife is happy with the Margherita. I've been trying different ones and I like the pesto although I think I'll leave off the walnuts next time. The eggplant combo and the calabrese with salty briny anchovies and olives was good. I customized my calabrese and added cararmelized onions for a sweet/salty combo that hit the spot last night. I also have enjoyed their fried aranchini/suppli with roasted eggplant.  Now I just need to remember to preheat the oven while waiting for the delivery instead of almost every time getting the pizza and then waiting for my oven to preheat with the pizza stone to reheat the thin pizza that does get cold during the delivery drive.

As someone who’s had carryout from Pupatella more times than I can remember, I’ve learned from experience:

Always specify “Please cook well-done” on your online order, then when it arrives, have the oven, along with your best All-Clad baking sheet, preheated to 500, and then heat it for 8 minutes (depending on your oven - mine is pretty lame). It comes out about as good as it can be every time.

My build-your-own is fresh (not smoked) mozzarella, caramelized onion, sausage, and either pepperoni or sautéed mushrooms depending on preference - the pepperoni is small, crispy when reheated, and pretty mild.

Their Veggie Panini is good, keeps nicely overnight, reheats the same way (wrap it in foil), and *greatly* benefits from a drizzle of your best balsamico. I usually get fresh (not smoked) mozzarella on this also, but once I forgot, and noticed that their smoked mozzarella is nowhere near as aggressively (I would say inedibly) smoked as it was a few years back, so this is also a preference thing.

Don’t sleep on their Panzarotti either. They retain their heat during delivery, and will instantly silence young, hungry stomachs while the rest is reheating.

On 2/12/2024 at 12:22 PM, KeithA said:

Anyone been to Japan recently with tips on places to eat? We are traveling in the early Spring to Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Finding restaurants is overwhelming me a bit as I hear you should go to a local place but don't know them or get reservations, but I don't know where and every place recommended on line seems to instead have these huge lines. My family is primarily looking for good eats, doesn't need to be the absolute best or Michelin-starred or the hottest instragram site and we will not be waiting hours in line. Would love some suggestions for good quality food likely near the usual tourist neighborhoods. We are looking to explore most types of Japanese food - sushi, kushikari, katsu, ramen/udon, etc. Thanks.

When I had dinner with Andy Hayler, I asked him which three cities he’d most like to live in other than London: One of his answers was Kyoto. Go to his website, filter by “Japan” and whichever city you’re interested in, and then you’ll get a sortable list. Outside of Japan, you’re not going to find a better starting point.

On 2/11/2024 at 5:52 AM, DonRocks said:

Say hi next time! 🙂

I went on Feb 10, and got a couple pizzas to go (thanks, captcourt). It was packed and overflowing with families - Pizzeria Orso is the 2 Amys of Falls Church.

For neighborhood pizza, you can draw a legitimate comparison between Orso and Pupatella, but now that Enzo is no longer kneading dough, Orso has better pizza.

On 2/10/2024 at 10:53 AM, captcourt said:

On 2/10/2024 at 10:53 AM, captcourt said:

Have there really been no Orso posts since my last one in 2021?

We've been regulars at the bar for years.  Go this week to Falls Church and eat a pizza or some gnocchi with squash and sausage, have a generous alcoholic beverage, and pay homage to a local joint that started out as a proving/training ground for 2941 staff. 

Say hi next time! 🙂

PS - have you heard any inside rumors, about any restaurant that’s near to your heart?

1 hour ago, yeah said:

Checked in at the Shirlington location a couple weeks back; Cumin Lamb noodles are still meaty, spicy and fantastic.

Do you not find these as oleaginous as Danny Zuko’s pompadour? I ask in earnest because I’ve had this dish at least twice, enjoy the basic flavors, and could round-trip a carryout order in twenty minutes, but have actively avoided it.

In case anyone is looking for Huy Fong Sriracha (there was a big shortage awhile back), they have cases of it at the Falls Church (Seven Corners) New Grand Mart location.

On 1/21/2024 at 7:05 AM, dcs said:

This guy cleaned his plate of the entire 17” inch burrito with fixings in a little over 4 minutes.  I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it.

I’m convinced that competitive eaters (and I’m not sure this person is one) have some sort of dendrite and/or Schwann cell dysfunction that inhibits signals from traveling to their brain.