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My husband and I had a delicious meal at West End Bistro on Friday. I went in with low expectations, given some of the recent reviews on this site, but it was the only restaurant near our apartment we could reserve on short notice. We shared the "molten goat cheese" as a starter, which really was more like goat cheese fritters served with a tasty beet salad. Very tasty. My husband ordered the short ribs, which came with a side of seriously rich mashed potatoes. Not a huge portion, but rich and delicious. My salmon was perfectly cooked (medium-rare), as were the brussels sprouts that came with it. I think our favorite part of the meal, though, was the hazelnut millefeuille we had for dessert, an ethereal tower of puff pastry and hazelnut creme. Not the easiest dessert to eat (we made a mess), but one of the better desserts we've had recently.

I should note that neither of us ordered wine; given Don's excoriation of their wine program, I thought we'd better steer clear. But I enjoyed my cocktail, and my husband enjoyed his beer.

All in all, we had a wonderful meal and wouldn't hesitate returning soon.

Anyone been to Blue Duck lately? I'm thinking of taking the tourists on a foray there tonight, but I've never been.

I took my husband here last night for his birthday, and we both really enjoyed our meals. I had the roast chicken, which was impossibly moist and delicious, and my husband had the guinea hen, which he contends is some of the best guinea hen he's ever tasted (I only tasted the leg roulade and not the breast, but the roulade was outstanding). The cocktails were also killer -- $15 price tag and all...

I'm headed to Cafe Atlantico tonight for drinks... Can you order food at the bar?

Does anyone remember "the Commissary" in Philadelphia, next to the Frog restaurant. Was a Philly staple for years and years, I think it dissapeared in the early 80's.

Best. Carrot cake. Ever. (The Commissary in Philly, that is.) I have the cookbook and it has some really solid recipes, particularly in the dessert section. I'm pretty sure my version of that carrot cake is one of the reasons my husband proposed to me .

I gave the unrelated DC Commissary a try on Sunday and thought it was so-so. The breakfast potatoes that came with my eggs were pretty flavorless, and my friend's oatmeal was clearly of the instant "pour-on-boiling-water-and-stir" variety. Eh. The atmosphere was nice, though -- reminded me a lot of Logan.

Has anyone been here for brunch?

I haven't been to Hook in a few months but I'm heading there tonight. Anyone been recently? Recommendations?

My boyfriend and I ate at Circle Bistro last night and it was overall a wonderful experience. We started with 2 appetizers to share- I had the scallops and he had the crab boudin. That scallops were delicious- they were served on a bed of sweet pea puree and tiny, crispy cubes of fingerling potatoes. They were a bit overcooked for my taste but I think it was really was just a personal preference thing. The boudin was very tasty- a faux sausage of scallop mousse and crab served on a ginger cream. Our only complaint was that the crab and scallop flavor overpowered the cream and it was a little hard to discern ginger. Our entrees were amazing. He got the halibut, which was simply prepared (served with aspargus and a soft-herb salad), perfectly cooked, and perfectly light. I got the potato-crusted fluke, which was the best piece of fish that I have put in my mouth in a long time!! Dessert was the chocolate bread pudding souffle (wow!) and some kind of a crumble (I think rhubard/apple) served w/housmade ginger ice cream, which was my favorite part. The service was also great. We left wondering why it took us so long to try this place- we will be back.

I went last night and ordered the halibut -- fantastic. Really light and perfect on a warm spring evening. My fiance ordered the bass, which was also excellent. We hadn't been in a while, but I think we'll definitely be back again soon!

New Years Eve Menu

5:30-8:30 a la carte and

prix fixe $75 w/wine pairings $125

8:30 to 11:00 prix fixe only $95 wine pairings $170

amuse bouche

first course

duo of tartares, hamachi with hackleback caviar, beef with quail egg

second course

hand cut tagliarini, poached lobster, cockles, urchin cream

third course

crispy parsley crusted halibut, potato mousseline, chantrelles, veal jus

fourth course

pan roasted muscovy duck breast, turnip, artichoke and truffle gratin, armagnac duck jus

fifth course

apple beignets, pear-chestnut confiture, cinnamon ice cream

Sounds great. Anything special at midnight??

I've made the shortribs out of Daniel Boulud's "Cafe Boulud" cookbook, and they were excellent: http://www.danielnyc.com/recipes/shortribsbraised.html

High praise from my taste testers .

I had a very tasty dinner here last Tuesday, but I must say...the service was atrocious. I know they're new, so I'm willing to cut them some slack, especially since the food was quite good. But considering I rarely ever complain about service...this was pretty bad. Our server took our cocktail orders and then disappeared for 20-30 minutes. He then disappeared until we ordered dessert. Our entrees also came out before we'd even finished our appetizers, which we had to scarf down in order to make room on the table for the entree plates. Definitely something to work on...

I have a dinner reservation here tomorrow night. Any recommendations for dinner?

I haven't been there in almost a year, but the lamb chops were some of the best I'd ever had.

Better stock up the freezer, because they will be closing in January to make room for Barton Seaver's new place, Tackle Box.

Oh no!! Where am I going to get my bagels from??

I stopped in last night with my SO. We each ordered a tartine, and both were very, very tasty. The pastries we tried were just so-so, but I'd definitely go back for a tartine or to try one of their salads (or to have bread and hazelnut spread for breakfast...mmm...).

It seems that a certain Michel Richard was also interested in checking out the LPQ buzz... As we were waiting for our food, he walked in, sat down at the communal table and began chatting with the manager. On his way out, the manager insisted that he take a pastry or sweet with him, and Mr. Richard (pastry chef extraodinaire...) politely refused, but finally settled on a Belgian sugar waffle to appease the insistent manager...

I don't know if Mr. Richard will return, but given the freshness of their food and their proximity to my apartment, I will definitely be back.

I'm headed here tonight. Anyone been recently? Any recommendations on what to order?

What's the word on this place? Read a blurb about it in Washingtonian - anyone a regular? How do you order your burrito (heard there was a special way, kinda like In-N-Out Double Double Animal Style)? How does it compare to Mixtec (which, IMHO, is the best take-out burrito in the city)?

Apologies if there is a post about this somewhere, didn't find one... Thanks!

My boss is OBSESSED with Pedro and Vinny's and goes as often as he can manage. I've only tried them once, and I thought the burritos were good but not out of this world. The guy (who is named neither Pedro nor Vinny) offers a range of sauces -- rated from 1 to 10 for heat -- as well as a special mango sauce in a Grey Goose bottle, which is very tasty. I haven't been in a while, so I forget the ordering procedure, but it goes something like: order your tortilla while still in line, along with what size, then when you get to the window you say what else you want (black and tan beans, guac, sour cream, etc etc etc). But I'm rusty. Anyone else remember?

I shop at the Bailey's store and have found the produce pretty disappointing. I no longer buy any pre-packaged produce unless I can get a good look at everything in the package. I've had to throw too much out. I like their nuts, olive oils, chocolate, and some of the prepackaged items (e.g., tuna curry and this one kind of excellent bread sticks I forget the name of). I've never bought meat there or frozen goods. I've bought the occasional piece of cheese when it's something I need and I don't want to make another stop.

I go to the West End TJ's, and while the produce isn't great, I've had luck with their meat and poultry. The chicken sausages I bought were excellent, and the chicken breasts, kosher chickens and filets I've bought have been good. And they carry Garelick Farms cream, Fage yogurt and lots of other products I regularly buy in their dairy section. But to be fair, on some level my buying those things has to do with convenience; I live a block away.

When is it supposed to open?? I'm excited to try it .

Ooh, and so close to my apartment! Any idea when they open?

Dish gets a new name (kinda sorta) and a new chef.

Has anyone been here since the new chef took over? Any reviews?

Heritage India, Malaysia Kopitiam, and Daily Grill are all close by. Panache is close too, but the food there is sort of "eh."

What is brunch like here? What's on the menu?

I went last night with some friends and had an unbelievable meal, as expected. The "fried orbs" were fried fish roe (cod, I believe), and were delicious. Other winning mezze: butter poached lobster, foie gras napoleon, charred octopus, and, of course, the mascarpone stuffed dates. I hadn't tried the wild boar pasta before, and I'm so glad I ordered it this time. Heavenly. I had the turbot roasted on the bone with cockles, and it melted in my mouth. Mmmm. Desserts were great.

My only criticism would be that the service was much slower this time than in the past. I typically love the leisurely pace at Komi; it gives you time to talk to your dining partners, digest, enjoy the food. But they got really behind last night -- to the point where the servers came over and apologized to the table. However, in Komi's typical classy style, they offered us complimentary glasses of wine and other small goodies, so I'm not one to hold it against them .

I was just there yesterday and had a great meal, which echoes the other experiences I've had there in the past. I had a smoked fish platter, which was very tasty, and an Esterhazy for dessert, which was delicious. The four others I was with had nothing but good things to say about their food as well (which ranged from tea sandwiches to bratwurst). I know there have been issues with service in the past, but our waiter was very attentive!

and the ship goes captainless again...off into the dark night she goes.....where she'll stop no one knows

Yes, I'm intrigued... Care to explain??