susantf

I lost my money and I can't find it. Oh, that's right. I gave it all to CityZen. Now I knew that I was in for a pricey meal at Cityzen, but pricey is not quite the word for it. My situation is that I can't eat sugar (poor me), so a desert course is really not my thing. When I asked if I could order just two courses, instead of the prix fixe menu, I was told, no. When I asked about the desert, I was told they could make me a bowl of fruit. I'm thinking for what is effectively a $25 desert ($75 for a 3-course prix fixe), I want your pastry chef out back with the creme brule torch, making that fruit special. They did modify a desert and what I ended up with was 4 tiny pieces of pineapple in coconut juice. Yeah. Then there was the bread in a box. Apparently, the brown and serve rolls served in a tiny box are very tasty. So when my table asked for another serving, we were told, "Well, we're not sure. We'll check." I'm thinking, for these prices, you should cover this table with bread in a box. We did get one more box of bread (like I said, it's tiny), but the bread episode only added to the Soup Nazi ambiance. And then there's the food. To be honest, I've had about the same or better at Oya, Vidalia, and Charlie Palmers. The food is good at CityZen, but nothing to die for. So if the Soup Nazi attitude of CityZen is based on the sheer excellence of its menu, perhaps this attitude needs to be re-thought. I certainly won't be going back to Cityzen. I do prefer my dining to be less controlled, with less attitude, and for that kind of money, the food to be of superior, superior quality. The food was just not worth this kind of money.

Friends and I went to Taberna last night, some of us partaking in the Restaurant Week menu, others just partaking of the menu. I have to say, although the food is good, I can't quite justify the prices. A friend and I split an artichoke shrimp appetizer that was good, but not fabulous, and came awfully small in portion and cost a whopping $16 - I've had better for less. The gazpacho at Taberna is first-rate, but $11 for a bowl? Geez. So overall, good food, great atmosphere, but far more expensive than the quality of the food and experience would dictate. I'll pay for good food, but once you charge me $11 for a bowl of soup, it had darn well better improve my complexion, make me really, really happy and then wash my car.

Today, Christmas brunch, was my first trip to the Blue Duck and it won't be my last. Like many on this forum, I was also intriqued by the bratwurst and sauerkraut on the menu. Being from Wisconsin, it's rare to see a good old brat on the east coast. But being from Wisconsin, I also know it's hard for an east coaster to beat a Wisconsin brat. The Blue Duck did it. This was by far the most incredible brat I have tasted. Tender, succulent, perfectly seasoned. It melts in your mouth. Sigggh. I've had brats all over Wisconsin, in Germany, in Denmark. I've brated around. Blue Duck. You beat them all. I'm, as soon as I finish typing, off to make my Restaurant Week reservation for the Blue Duck Tavern. Gotta have another brat. On another note, I booked this reservation through Open Table and had no idea that the offering for Christmas was an $80 buffet brunch (oysters, shrimp, etc.). While I love to eat, I've never been a fan of the buffet. I just can't eat that much. I politely asked the manager if my party could simply order the items offered on their entree menu for the brunch and be charged for these a la carte, and we were courteously accomodated. I'm a big fan of fine food, but an even bigger fan of fine service. I'll be back.

Fabulous!!! I love restaurant week. Last time I hit 8 restaurants, one of them twice (Oya). I ate my self sick but loved every minute of it.

I'm a Hillie and have dined at every place on the Hill (maybe I missed one). Anyway, I've been to Sonoma only once and had a decent cheese plate and a mediocre pasta dish. But based on the fact that the owner of Sonoma monitors and replies to this thread, I think I'll be going back. If only every restaurant specific thread were monitored by the restaurant chef and/or owner, this would be a happier dining world. I'll give it another shot. :-)

Southside is tasty, best southern food in the area that I've had (certainly better than Georgia Brown's). A great brunch place not too far off King Street is Bilbo Baggins, which serves homemade raisin bread. They also have a very good bar with a solid collection of beers. Union Street Pub is a solid selection. And Cafe Salsa is good but not memorable. Oh, and if you're looking for classy Broadway piano bar, try the Morrison House on St. Asaph. The piano player quietly works the crowd, the crowd surrounding the piano belting out classic Broadway tunes (think Guys and Dolls). Add to this a well-made drink from the talented bar tenders, and you've got a perfect parent evening.

I'm sorry that I didn't get my chance to reply to this thread during Restaurant Week. This was one of 8 restaurants I dined at that week, and the highlight of this experience was the gazpacho (heavenly) and the sangria (nummy). The entire group of 8 co-diners all lingered over both. The meal was good, but the gazpacho, ooo la la. I'll be back again.

A La Lucia in Alexandria. The food is good, but not worth the maitre'd's attitude. My party of 7 had reservations for 8:45 and was told our table would be ready shortly. After 30 minutes and several inquiries, we were finally told that there was only one table at which we'd be seated, and the party at that table was simply not getting up. We asked whether we could be seated at separate tables, but simply told that we would have to wait for the one table. After 45 minutes, we finally left. The staff was not apologetic at all, told us we hadn't waited long enough, and finally just dismissed us. None of us will be returning to A La Lucia.

This little joint I believe no longer has that waitress. We go there all the time. The food is cheap and good and the service always wonderful. Guess they got wind of this waitress and dumped her fast.

The Morrison House in Old Town does have a piano bar with a wonderful player. And the setting is lovely. However, a crowd gathers around the piano to sing show tunes, so it's not a quiet event. If your mother likes old show tunes sung by sometimes very good singers (professionals and semi-professionals do show up to just have fun), then go for it. Oh, and the bar does some very good drinks. It's sort of elegant and eventful all at once. My Broadway loving pals seemed to just love it.

We just tried to dine at this "little gem" the other night. Sketchy is not the word for the service for this out-of-the-way restaurant. The food is good, but not worth the maitre'd's attitude. My party of 7 had reservations for 8:45 and was told our table would be ready shortly. After 30 minutes and several inquiries, we were finally told that there was only one table at which we'd be seated, and the party at that table was simply not getting up. We asked whether we could be seated at separate tables, but simply told that we would have to wait for the one table. After 45 minutes, we finally left. We sure won't be returning to A La Lucia.