AlexC

I scrambled in last night around 7:30 (post-Paradiso, pre-Borat) and enjoyed a draft Red Hook ESB and an $8 burger-and-fries. Though I was several Aventinuses (Aventini?) deep by the time I got to Stoney's, I can report that the burger was a juicy, cooked-to-order medium rare, there were a few cheese options and on a scale of greaseless-to-5 guys, it was appropriately greasy. Moreover, the place was packed, the staff was excited and, even though the bathrooms were all gleaming porcelain and unchipped tile, it felt like a nice, neighborhood bar, and one I'll certainly return to. Bonaire is right -- they're only a few months of wear-and-tear away from dive bar atmosphere. Sadly, I did not take note of the specials, the list of beers on tap or anything along those lines... Perhaps someone else can fill in these details? Alex

Tonight is the night, according to the very apologetic, hand-lettered sign I read on the locked door last night... Alex

Awesome! I'll be there in ~ 5 hours. Alex

Stoney's is dead, long live Stoney's. They took over the French Bistro (P St between 14th & 15th), papered the windows and are assumedly tarnishing the fixtures, nicking up the bar and adding layers of grime to the caulk in the bathroom as I type... So, does anyone have any dirt on when the they're gonna open up? I live so close and can't wait to have a seedy straight bar to duck into. Thanks. Alex

I'm sure I posted about this a year or so ago... but I'll say it again: The bento box lunch special at Sushi Taro is a great deal. For just $10, even a ragamuffin sweatpants-wearing unemployed schmo like me got six pieces of nigiri, four pieces of tempura, two gyoza (is that plural?) a sliver of pickled gourd, a mound of pickled peppery sprouts, a ginger salad and a miso soup. Great deal. Now, to be fair, I haven't been back for lunch in about six months (now I work, boo), but I can't imagine the quality has fallen off. Alex PS - They aren't open for lunch on the weekends, FYI.

So I went to Marshall's for Monday Night Football last night, and I tried the wings. The wings were larger than most bar wings, not your typical misshappen Perdue reject, and quite the steal for $.25 a pop. The traditionalists will be chagrined to hear that the wings came lightly breaded (I suspect they were rolled in flour, no crumbs). Also, the sauce was a little muted for my tastes and, should I return, I will ask for them "extra spicy" and see what happens. The provided blue cheese was thick, with hunks of actual cheese, and excellent. The wings were not accompanied by vegetables. Not to stray too far off topic here, but as for the rest of the experience... the burger was good (and 1/2 price on Mondays) though medium-rare = rare, they poured pitchers of Amstel Light for $10, the bartenders were inattentive and forgetful and I'll will probably try somewhere else before heading back. Alex

Now that football season is upon us and board membership has greatly expanded, I'll (again) ask the question that amounts to my own personal quest for the grail... Are there any good, inexpensive, spicy buffalo wing options available for delivery to the Dupont Circle area? Thanks! Alex

One thing that distinguishes Nooshi is their take-out express counter. It's one store front past the Nooshi restaurant, on the other side of the (extremely filling) Greek Deli. At Nooshi Express you can get excellent pre-prepared take-out sushi for eat-it-every-day prices. Six-piece spicy tuna rolls for $3.50? Six-piece salmon rolls for $3.25? When I worked in that area I grabbed take-out from Nooshi once a week. One tip to consider -- if you want to take out noodle dishes or soup, call ahead for pick-up, as it takes ten minutes for them to produce a cup of miso soup. Also, there's no price break on those items, just on the pre-prepared sushi (includes a variety of rolls, some sashimi, salads, etc,) Alex

Is there tasty, authentic mexican cuisine in the greater metro area? What about tex-mex? What about in northwest DC? I've been to lots of mediocre places, and read about lots of mediocre places here, some of which even suck ventworm nut... Suggestions? Alex

I wandered in to Alero tonight. I hadn't heard much and didn't have terribly high expectations. It's a restaurant that, unlike other U St restaurants, (from Ooohs & Aaahs to Tabaq Bistro to Busboys & Poets to Al Crostino) I haven't been to and has not been the topic of much web chatter. Still, I went in hoping for a delicious meal and to sing the restaurant's praises. The ambience was urban hip and it was definitely bustling for a Wednesday. To me, it felt like a place to grab a rail margarita after work and bicker about mid-tempo lounge DJs. That is to say a fine scene, just not my scene. Still, it clearly sang to some (or many) people. Debatable (though unequivocally popular) ambience aside, the food was disappointing. The mixed fajitas (I ordered beef and shrimp) amounted to an under-seasoned cup of 40-count and a few squirrelly strips of cow. The veggies (onions, green & red peppers) were as much steamed as grilled, and there wasn't any heat to speak of. I feel like a grilled jalapeno isn't too much to ask. I mean, Popeye’s will give you one for $.29. Alero, get on board, with or without the biscuits. Instead, I poured the medium-mild salsa (from the gratis chips and salsa) over my fajitas, just to get a little kick. Beans, cheese, simple rough chopped mild salsa, sour cream and guacamole were provided, though in such small portions (save the beans) that I found them largely irrelevant. In the past month I've had mixed fajitas from both Mixteca and L'oreal Plaza (chicken and beef, not shrimp, and both in the neighborhood). Of the three I would rank Alero's third, which is not to say that the other two represent the pinnacle of Mid-Atlantic Tex-Mex. On the plus side, Alero's enchilada plate looked both ample and delicious. However, I wasn't able to sample it. Other annoyances included that they had no printed beer list, but were happy to push the anejo tequilas, and that ordering a glass of vino required input from both a waitress and a manager (or at least some seemingly senior rep) before the correct wine was poured. I went to Alero on a whim, because the reviews of other U St establishments (Creme, in particular) had been middling. I can't believe I went with the unknown rather than one of the known, albeit here-and-there offerings described on this message board. I've learned my lesson. ¡Dio Mio! Alex

If your late-night Adams Morgan staples are The Diner and Pizza Mart, you'd be well served to head to Amsterdam Falafel for a post-bar snack... I've also heard that the newish Indian place (Chef's Kitchen, I believe) that took over from Burrito Brothers on 18th serves late night Indian, but my only experience there (dinner, take-out) was so awful that I won't go back, even when drunk. You can also get a half-smoke and some chili cheese fries at Ben's, if you're closer to the U St side of things. Oh -- here's an unheralded late-night option. There's a shwarma-and-kebab joint on U St. at 14th called "24-7" that makes strong-to-quite-strong gyros, kebabs and the like. Check it out. In the same genre, if you're out on 17th St east of Dupont Circle, Pasha Bistro between P & Q (right next to JR's) makes fine, inexpensive Mediterranean fare and provides a place to sit outside and enjoy it. Plus, they sell bottled beer. What's not to love? As far as options for a late night dessert with a nice Muscat, I got nothing. Alex

I enjoy N&B's Chicken Tikka, though I have at times run into disappointingly dry chicken in my tikkas there. Sheesh Tikka (it may be spelled shish there, now I'm not sure) is spiced, minced lamb shaped into tubes, like sausage with no casing. The flavor of the herbs is more potent (and different) in the sheesh than the chicken. It reminds me somewhat of well-grilled chorizo, in that the meat is very well seasoned and it doesn't feel slick or moist like some sausages. Other than that, the sheesh tikka has the same stuff as the chicken tikka. Thin sliced cabbage (I think it's cabbage, yes?) and a dab of mayo wrapped in hot naan. Alex - Edited to include other contents of the tikka... duh.

When I was working on 16th between L and M, Naan & Beyond was one of my staples. I'd nearly always get the Sheesh Tikka and load it up with hot sauce and mint. It's like nothing else available in that part of town. Instead of the potato chips, which struck me as oddly flavored as well, I would go with a Vegetable Samosa. The Ground Chicken Samosa is a little bland, but the veggie has a nice blend of potatoes, carrots and peas and a fried, crispy wrapper. Get an extra mint sauce, take a bite, pour it in the hole, repeat. A simple side that fills you up if the tikkas aren't quite big enough. As far as the half and whole tandoori chickens go, I think they're good deals quantity-wise. They slather on a neon red tandoori paste that keeps the meat moist in the oven. The chicken is pretty spicy, comfortably so for me but probably not for everyone. It's been about six months, but I believe their chicken is served with a fairly meager iceberg and tomato salad as well. I also can't believe that no one has mentioned the characters behind the counter. They've got a guy back there who looks an Indian cross between Mr Clean and Mr. T. Bald head, gold chains, big fat earrings. We used to call him Mr. Sheesh. Alex

Rocks & Co, I'm putting together a bachelor party for 15-20 people, scheduled for Labor Day 2006. The destination is Montreal and the prospect is a little overwhelming. I'll need to come up with places for at least two group dinners and a brunch on Sunday. I would prefer to find private rooms and prix fixe menus, so we can monitor costs better and not mortify the locals. I don't really know where to begin. Any help is welcome, even if it's simply a good place to do some research. Also, feel free to PM me with any activity suggestions. Merci. Alex

I have the same problems living east of Dupont Circle. No decent, or half-decent wing delivery OR pick-up. Someone help. For traditional semi-spicy buffalo wings, I think the ones at Big Hunt are fine, especially on $.15 Tuesdays. I don't think you can take out there though. For large orders, I used to pick up wings from Red, Hot & Blue in Arlington. They were big and meaty, and cost $20 or so for 50 of them. Good for football season. Had to ask for spicy barbecue sauce though.

So I went to the questionably named "Restau-Lounge" last night for this Pork & Pinot affair... I was a little skeptical when I walked in, first because of the title of the place and then due to the the atmosphere. It just seemed a little urban chic for a place that purported to devote itself to weekly porkgasms. In short, I was wrong to question their devotion to swine dining. With ten standard offerings on the small plate "Pork & Pinot" menu and three special additions, this Restau-Lounge loves pig. The four of us split ten of the offerings, ordered wine individually and everyone left sated. For me, the must-have-again standout was the pork soft taco. Cut right off the pig roasted that afternoon (brined, started off at a skin-crackling 475 or so, then dropped to 225ish after 30 mins and slow-roasted for several hours, sorry details foggy) and wrapped up in a flour tortilla with fairly neutral veggies (maybe it was a cabbage? The pork was clearly the star), it was simple, delicious and the two-taco portion was generous. The other definitely-will-order-again-when-I-go-back item is the Pork Quesadilla. Again, a delicious, generous portion, but this time the marriage of the beans, the guac, the salsa and the pork worked out wonderfully, though I wished for a little more of the heat-spiked sour cream sauce they drizzled on top. I also enjoyed the bacon tempura, especially when paired with what seemed close to an orange marmalade and the barbecued pork, which was prepared fairly traditionally and came on a biscuit with a spoonful of good, peppery, rough-cut slaw. Oh -- and the pork belly special was excellent. Grilled and served over what I recall were a lump of mashed potatoes and a lump of sauteed spinach. It was the last dish I dug into, so forgive me for not recalling all the specifics, but I was very glad to have taken a stab at the special this time. Things to avoid -- the bacon-wrapped shrimp skewers seemed a little pu-pu platterish to me, the bacon risotto was too granular (but I'm comparing it to that creamy risotto that comes under the pork shoulder from Komi, so I could be a little tough on them) and, um, those were the two. On the drink front, it's important to note that when one orders wine by the glass at David Greggory, it comes in a small carafe and the diner can refill at his or her discretion. I'm no expert in liquid measures, but they must give close to an eight ounce pour. Great deal. Beats the bag out of their flight, which (according to our waitress) consists of three one ounce pours for $16.... ouch. Also worthy of note, before tax and tip and excluding wine, our ten plates cost our four-person group exactly $60. Total. As a "between-jobs" 20-something, that really sung to me. Also, with a $15 corking fee, you could make Pork & Pinot into an inexpensive, fun and delicious night out. Oink. Alex

In defense of Black's, their half-priced burgers on Monday are a treat. They include nicely shaved onions and very good fries. Also, during happy hour the oysters are (or were the last time I went) freshly-shucked and $.50 a pop. Well worth the trip. Still... pre-shucked oysters? That's criminal. Alex

Heritage India delivers. The minimum order is $25, but if you're ordering indian for two you can get there pretty easily. Mmm. Lentils. Check the Heritage thread for recommendations. Heritage India Conn. Ave just south of Dupont Circle / Georgetown. Limited coverage. 202-331-1414 Delivery Menu

I was lucky enough to spend Chinese New Year in the company of two Hong Kong natives at A&J on Rockville Pike. A&J is not a traditional Cantonese dim sum restaurant, but serves northern Chinese cuisine. Let me apologize for not knowing the proper names or ingredients of almost anything I ate. The trip was somewhat of a whirlwind and interactions with the waitstaff were conducted entirely in Mandarin. The meal began with a bowl of sweetened soy milk, which we sopped up using fried bread -- a traditional breakfast, from what I was told. Soon thereafter, small plates began to appear. The food was uncomplicated and delicious. Highlights included: Cucumber in Hot Garlic Sauce: Fat slices of raw cucumber with a thick, too-spicy-for-some (I loved it) sauce loaded with pepper flakes and chili oil. Noodles in Peanut Sauce: This dish seemed almost Korean, with bean sprouts, thin strands of cucumber and noodles served cold. The peanut sauce was on the bottom, so be sure to mix it thoroughly. Pork Egg Roll: Eight of these crispy fried treats came out stacked like lincoln logs, each the size of, well, all I can think of are fairly indelicate comparisons. They're long and girthy. The skin crackles and the meat is well-seasoned. Mustard Greens with Soy Beans: A light, sweet salad. They must have stir fried the mustard greens, but the salad was served cold. The wilted greens and the dense beans made for a nice contrast. There was a brief stare-down over who was getting the last soy bean... it was a tasty salad. The kicker... including tax and tip, the meal came to $9 a person. NINE DOLLARS! We had other things as well, but those were the ones I remember most clearly. I've had Cantonese dim sum all over town, and A&J is worth the trip. Oh, and please include me for dim sum! Alex *Edited to include cost.

On the Bistro du Coin front, I am firmly in the camp that appreciates a rocking bar scene and happily overlooks a gruff or, ah, indisposed waiter... However, one thing I couldn't overlook was the coq au vin I was served there last week. It was inedible. The sauce was decent -- unsophisticated, a little too sweet, but fine. The chicken, and I'm not sure how they did it, was comically dry. I would have sent it back, but by the time our waiter reappeared, most of our party had finished eating... Still, I'll go back. I'll just stick with the mussels. Alex

Pork Shoulder Sandwich. Provolone. Red Sauce. Water. Best. $7. Lunch. Ever. Thank you, Don Rockwellians, for cluing me in to this. If there's anyone out there who, for whatever reason, hasn't made it to the Grill, you are missing out. Also, if any of you have any hot tips on a good place to eat the sandwich I will be picking up there tomorrow, that would be appreciated. I had some trouble finding a table. Thanks again. Yum. Alex

I caught a late-night burger at Town Hall in Glover Park last night and wanted to fill the in the troops... They serve food until 11:00 and the menu looks surprisingly well put-together -- I almost went for the house-cured pastrami on rye and considered a club with avocado. They also had substantial $20-range entrees, but six beers in at 10:45 I wasn't looking for grilled salmon. Anyway, I thought it was just a bar, and I was wrong. Cooked-to-order, medium-rare, loose-packed patty in a soft, airy bun. The grilled onions I asked for came on top of the patty, with the lettuce and tomato tucked underneath. I thought that was a little weird, but it helped prevent the bottom half of the bun from soaking through with grease, five-guys style. No complaints there. They didn't offer any additional toppings (I asked for the grilled onions on a whim), but our server was accommodating and the service was speedy. Yes, the kitchen was closing and they probably hadn't had an order in thirty minutes, but still. Good service. The fries were twice-fried shoe strings, equivalent to Black's fries. Another quirk is that they served me one of those mini-bottles of Heinz ketchup, which I approve of. Who knows what people do to those shared condiment bottles or how long they've been knocking around. Good burger, worth the $8, check it out.