DanielK

This is better for that addiction...

Look at the density of disposable income in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase. And yet, with a few exceptions, most of the restaurants there are still chains or mediocre. If that relatively small neighborhood can't support a number of really good ongoing, moderate-priced, local joints, how can Loudon County possibly do so?

Or, don't, and let the waiting list slide just a few more spots...

We made an unscheduled stop at Ceviche this evening. I was actually meeting my wife at Mazza Gallerie in Chevy Chase for a movie, but the 30 minutes it took to get from I-95 in Beltsville to NH Ave killed that idea, so we decided to meet halfway in Silver Spring. Tom's review is pretty spot-on. The lounge is what draws attention here; the dining room is not so much an afterthought as it is just not quite as attractive as the lounge. I actually liked the look of the space very much, though I wouldn't mind if the lights were turned up one notch higher. Strategically placed spotlights and oil table lamps made it possible to still read the menu, which was brought with a basket of fried plantain chips. For a starter, I chose the restaurant's namesake dish, prepared in the "classic" preparation. I thought it was a pretty small portion for $9.50, and had a little too much liquid in the bottom of the plate, but it was quite good. I would definitely order it again. The highlight of the evening was the Horneado de Costilla Encebollado, a slow-roasted pork rib with lime-braised red onions. I expected something homey and tender, but the skin was perfectly cooked, both chewy and crispy at the same time. It was also nearly a foot long - this was absolutely HUGE, especially when compared to the "small plate" sized appetizers. I entered starving, and could barely finish half of this dish. My wife started with the Latin-style Caesar salad, which she pronounced very good. A fairly traditional Caesar salad, with fried plantain chunks in place of croutons. She then had the Locro Ecuatoriano, a "stew" of potatoes, cheese, avocado, and egg. It came with a thick soup filling half the bowl, and the solid ingredients stacked into a tower in the center. A very attractive presentation, and my wife barely spoke as she sucked down the bowl in moments. All entrees come with a side of your choice (sauteed potatoes, fried yuca, vegetables in garlic, white rice, or fried plantains). We both chose the plantains, and they were very good. We decided to forgo the leftover Halloween candy at the house, and sample a couple of desserts. Considering how straightforward the dishes were to the descriptions, the desserts seemed out of place. I ordered a Orange-Chocolate Mousse, and my wife the Guava Cheesecake. The mousse came not in a small dish, but layered with a flaky pastry, almost like a Napoleon. It was very tasty, just unexpected. The cheesecake was deconstructed - the two scoops of guava cheesecake custard were scooped on to a bed of crust crumbs, and each scoop had a slice of Manchego laid on top. The Manchego had no taste at all - definitely not a sheeps milk preparation. The rest of the dessert was fine, but it was a very odd presentation. They had a decent cocktail and wine list; we didn't partake. The service was friendly and attentive. Every staff member we saw, except for the bartender and busboy, were the waif-like model types. I guess that comes with the territory when you want to be a scene first, and a restaurant second. Total damage was in the $70 range after tax and tip, with soft drinks but no alcohol. Definitely a good addition to the neighborhood, and will be on my regular rotation when I'm heading to the AFI.

For a weeknight - those who work downtown might go right after work at 5, 5:30, 6. I live in the close-in suburbs, but unless I telecommute, the office is in Baltimore...

I'm on both sides. From a quality perspective, Whole Paycheck and Cheesetique are miles ahead of Costco. But, no exaggeration, it will cost 3-4x as much, perhaps more. Sometimes, when you want the good stuff, and it's the right audience, it's still worth it from a value perspective. When I throw a special occasion shindig, that's where I'd go. Super Bowl parties - it's Costco all the way...

If I'm parsing this thread correctly, you're suggesting El Chalan on Thursday December 8th? Count me in, but it's gotta be on the late side - I couldn't get downtown before 6:30 or 7.

How about Saturday? And congrats on hitting ventworm!

After much prodding on my part, Scott has finally signed up for an account here on DR: vineguy. He was a bit too shy to start his own topic, so I have done this for him. Scott writes the weekly wine column for The Examiner Newspaper, as well as posts to his website The Vine Guy. He is a self-taught wine connoisseur, very plugged into the DC scene, and is becoming more of a foodie as well. I hope to get him out to a DR.com dinner at some point, and perhaps we can get him to do some wine pairings for us! I'm sure he'll scan the board and start weighing in on some of the other wine topics, but in the meantime, here's a link to a recent Examiner column. Plug away with questions or comments!

A few of us who can't make the 22nd are talking about this coming Tuesday, the 15th instead. PM me if you are interested in our smaller, but sooner, group!

I've had some mediocre servce there on occasion. And I've heard Bernard screaming at the staff more than once. But the food is fabulous, and it's better, cheaper, and closer than a lot of high-end places downtown.

I didn't make the cut on this one, and I feel no need for preference for the next one or some consolation prize. It's random. My odds are the same as everyone else's. It's perfectly fair. When I buy a lottery ticket and lose, I don't expect a preference the next time over people who won a few bucks in the previous drawing. If you didn't make this one, put your name in for the next one. If you miss that one too, put your name in for the next one. The odds will eventually catch up with you. There are plenty of HH events, $20 Tuesdays, dim sum gatherings, and other smaller group dinners that people can attend. Far more than any of us have time and money for.

Today proved that Szechuan Beef Noodle Soup, with an order of Scallion Pancakes to temper the heat, is still a GREAT great lunch.

My best friend's wife, who is from Brazil, lived in Miami for years, so I'm sure that she's been to all of the places in South Beach. She thought Green Field in Rockville was better and more authentic than any of the places in Miami. When they were living in Chantilly, they'd come across the border at least once a month to see us - strike that - to go to Green Field, and they'd invite us to meet them there...

Go see a dentist?

I guess that $20 I slipped to the guys who run the random number site didn't get into the right hands...

Give me until 12:15 - I have a meeting that runs until 11:45, and it could run a bit over. PM incoming with my mobile number just in case...

It's cold, it's windy, and it's Telecommuting Friday! I'm thinking either Pho 75 for a regular #1 with meatballs, or Joe's Noodle House for N16 - Beef Noodle Soup Szechuan Style. Anybody in? This is Rockville, if you don't recognize...

As long as he puts 66 in the number generator, it will do a random order for the entire list, so he'll have more alternates than he needs...

OK, I'm biased because I suggested the generating random numbers idea (and you really should use this page on the site, so your list doesn't have repeats), but I'm certainly fine with you generating the list, and then posting the results.

FWIW, having taken my kids to Colorado Kitchen on a number of occasions, I think the note on Gillian's menu is priceless. I think the same about the cafe in Chicago. People who are offended by it are probably the ones whom most need the reminder...

I think I remember this discussion somewhere else. I've eaten at a couple of their locations, when on travel for business. Not great, but not terrible. I think Green Field in Rockville ranges from somewhat better to much better, depending on whether it's one of their bad days (which are more common in the last couple of years, unfortunately).

Just to add more fire to this flamewar, chain vs. non-chain dining has no correlation whatsoever with dirty people and loud offspring. My young children are well behaved, because I have brought them up that way, whether I take them to McDonalds, Colorado Kitchen, Kinkead's, etc.

Rocks - You might want to check this out. Assuming that you want a completely random sampling from people who put their names in the hat, this is the way to go...

I think she means that 45 of the 60 asked to bring a guest, so the total is 105 seat requests. Still only 40 seats.