AlexC

Still haven't heard anything by phone or by email.  I went ahead last week and just booked a new reservation on OpenTable, although the time isn't ideal and I would prefer to reschedule.

I got a call about an hour ago -- they are definitely working through the list.

Well, they're now taking reservations for September and October and I did not get a call, so that answers that question. I'm booked for September 5. 

I also haven't received a call (and my res was cancelled too), but just did a little poking around on Open Table -- seems like they are taking reservations up until September 16, and then don't start again until Oct 1.

Maybe they are holding back those two weeks for people who had their reservations cancelled?

I called but no one picked up, so clearly this is wild speculation...

Facebook is wrong -- I popped my head on Monday, and they were open.

Have been to this place a few times since it opened, and the cocktail program seems to have changed substantially over the past few weeks -- they've begun making their own bitters, liqueurs and shrubs and making some interesting, delicious

Definitely worth a second trip.

Dropped into Hogo a few nights ago for dinner and continue to enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Mellow weekday meals are a real pleasure at this place.

Two MD natives thought the crab cake was very, very good -- one said it was better than his mother's.

Though I enjoyed the chicken-fried steak, I wish the gravy was a little thicker -- I found it a little soupy, and it quickly reduced the crispy breaking on the steak to something a little mushy.

Also, their $30 punch bowls are a lot of fun.

Count me in.

We've ended up with reservations at Sette Osteria -- walkable for everyone, including the older crowd, they can seat us at a single table, Italian is totally unobjectionable, etc.

Dino was very high on the list, but I selfishly nixed it because I have plans to go there with a big group next week.

On the hairy question of corkage and appropriate wine volume, my basic response is that relying on the good graces of a costumer to drive profitability is a lousy model, but I'll try to be more graceful going forward.

And, yes, I was jesting about bringing a case of wine. I meant it as a comment on the nature of my family gatherings and sort of thought it was absurd on the face of it, but I guess I should have said three cases to really drive the point home.

Alex

Is that inappropriate?

I thought the whole point of a corkage fee was to make that an appropriate thing to do.

Sorry to be insensitive/unaware of restaurant protocol in this regard. Lemme know why this is so gauche.

Alex

Ha. That was perhaps a little flippant... We'll probably bring four bottles for twelve of us.

I've been going 'round and 'round on this... we need something simple enough to appeal to ages 21 to 90, with good food and a reasonable corkage policy, because we'll have a case a couple bottles of wine with us.

Less formal is better than more formal, and something in the world of American or European cuisine is gonna be go over best.

Any ideas?

Thanks so much.

Alex

Ethiopic? I have never been, but everything looks so nice/clean/new...

Woohoo! Simul-pic time!! No cheats from FB post!

Bonus if you can guess where the words, "Yummy, yummy! In my tummy!...there's a party in my tummy!" came from. :-)

I'm betting Song Que on this one...

Stachowski's? Last night we cooked up a duck breast from them that was fantastic, and I think I saw some of those lollipops in the case.

Though it's very safe to assume that my disappointment at the closing of Suna is a pale, pale shadow of what anyone involved with the restaurant is going through, I'm still very bummed out by this.

The one meal I had there was so excellent and so memorable that I'd put a reminder in my calendar to book a mid-April reservation, so I could check out the spring menu.

This sucks.

The oven at Urbana is definitely a significant factor, in that it's gas-fired, not wood-fired.

Simon -- Is it Ancora? I have to confess that I haven't ordered the dish there, but I did see it on the menu...

Thanks! The closer I can get to Logan Circle, the better. Really appreciate the offer.

Can't wait!

Could the pork belly and egg be from Ripple? I had a dish with a similar soft egg-and-pork preparation there maybe nine months ago, but it certainly didn't come in such a cool bowl.

Baltimore-loving DR faithful,

Through a strange twist of participant availability and geographic convenience, my entire extended family is meeting in Baltimore this May, to celebrate the 90th birthday of my grandfather.

He's on old Jew from Southern Jersey and loves basic Italian cuisine -- lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, etc.

So, I'm looking for the best spot for 15 of us to reserve a big table and give Grandpa a plate (or two) of what he loves.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Alex

What a deal! Thanks! See you there at 445 on the 12th.

Feb 12 works... as long as there is a way to get there via metro. I'm a carless urbanite.

Please add me to the wait list, if such a list exists.

I had a birthday dinner here last night that was outstanding. The food, the service, the atmosphere... what a wonderful place to have a meal. We all scraped our plates.

The dishes have been described and photographed above, so I won't give you the run-down, but good lord did we enjoy them. Generally, the food is highly refined, modern and beautiful without resorting to whimsy or cuteness and still retaining a natural earthiness/rusticity -- a very challenging chord to strike. The shocking green granita melting over the butter with the beet dish, the smoked eggplant sauce painted on the mackerel plate, the incredible texture of the ice cream... even as I write this, I am thinking about my next meal there.

The atmosphere strikes a similar balance -- comfortable veering towards casual, but certainly not informal. It's a bit like a more elegant Little Serow, with much more focus on pacing and orchestration of service... and no sun dresses.

It's hard for me to imagine you're gonna be able to get a reservation, or pay just $78 for 8 courses, at Suna for long. So go now.

Alex

I know that the online ordering for the DC website was down as early as last week, the "Washington DC" location has disappeared from the Upper Crust website and that I couldn't get through on the phone, either.