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Genevieve

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Everything posted by Genevieve

  1. Genevieve
    I meant to go in for a goodbye to Java Shack but wasn't feeling well this weekend and didn't go out anywhere. Sorry to have them leave, and I'm glad to hear that they gave their employees lots of notice as well as severance. The employees there were always very nice to customers, the shop was a great part of the community for a very long time (I remember when they opened, and we went there a lot especially when our kiddo was little), and we'll miss Java. I'm glad, though, that another independent coffee shop will be taking over the space after a while: https://www.arlnow.com/2019/11/14/sweet-science-coffee-to-take-over-java-shack-space/
  2. Genevieve
    We had a lovely meal at the Rosslyn location a couple weeks ago. The tastiest thing I had was the small plate of grilled spicy wild calamari in romesco (not too spicy, since my husband who doesn't do spicy was fine with it, but it was so flavorful). I was going to order it, but they gave it to us free because they had offered us free prosecco to celebrate (we were there for a big anniversary and also a birthday) and we don't drink so we said thank you but declined. They gave us mocktails instead, which was nice of them, but I didn't expect them to also give us a free appetizer. I will get that wild calamari anytime it's on the menu there. The one thing I didn't care for was the farro salad (Tuscan Grains, Plums, Roasted Butternut Squash, Pumpkin Seeds) - the plums were unusual in a salad, tasty, and plentiful, but apparently the one way I do not like roasted butternut squash is cold. If you don't mind that, you may like this salad. From the mozzarella bar, we shared burrata and strachiatella, and both were luscious. Also got marinated eggplant which was good but not extraordinary. You can get a half order of the pasta dishes even though it doesn't say so on the menu, and my half order of Squid Ink Linguine (Lobster, Roasted Tomatoes, Chilies) was the right size given all that had come before, and was delicious. My husband got the lasagna and it was extremely good.
  3. Genevieve
    I still enjoy Momoyama, although the prices have gone up some over the years. I'm not your best sushi recommender, since I mostly eat cooked items like Boston rolls, but their tables are usually full with people eating regular sushi.
  4. Genevieve
    I've been back once since I last posted, got the non-spicy pork tonkatsu again. SO good. The last time it had lots of woodear or similar mushrooms, which made me extra happy. I need to go again soon. They recommend the spicy if you like spicy, but I don't.
  5. Genevieve
    We went again last month with our big group (four families) and everyone agreed that their dim sum is very strong and one of the best places we've been locally. (I also recommended it to my mom who went with a group of her friends earlier this year and they all liked it.) Really liked the shrimp and scallop dumpling mentioned above. Regular turnip cakes very good, and special turnip cakes cut into cubes with XO sauce were great. Excellent variety, the carts kept coming and coming. We had the usual har gow, shrimp in rice crepe, steamed buns (pork ones, chicken ones, and another I can't remember), chive dumplings, and Chinese broccoli. We had other things I can't recall but we were very happy with everything. Finished with pineapple buns, regular sesame balls, and black sesame balls which I haven't had elsewhere and which were terrific. (Did not get the 2 pandan desserts which we had gotten last time and others weren't big fans of - not a quality issue, just weren't as fond of the flavors as of the other desserts.) Definitely will be going back!
  6. Genevieve
    We've been back twice more already. Such good ramen. The last time I had it, it didn't have the lettuce (which I was happy about), and did have strips of black mushrooms, which I was delighted to eat.
  7. Genevieve
    Thank you, @dracisk - I will be sure to get there for some softshells this summer.
  8. Genevieve
    Has anyone had the bao or pupusas at a game? Any other new things you've tried?
  9. Genevieve
    Takeshi Sushi and Ramen has had a soft opening in Courthouse, at the corner of Wilson and Barton (under Rooftop and next to Delhi Dhaba), where the Subway was for years. We are likely to be regular customers for their terrific tonkatsu ramen. They have not had their official opening yet, so for example, their soda machine had not been delivered yet as of last night (though originally it was supposed to have been there last week, they told us, but the vendor changed the dates at the last minute). They do not have a sign up yet with their name, though you can see Japanese lanterns in the window. According to Arlnow, they will be adding more dishes by the time of their grand opening sometime in June. Currently, the menu has multiple ramen options, some don options (fish or meat or vegetable on top of rice), and a page of sushi options. We had excellent ramen there last night. I had the shoyu ramen as I wanted something very light last night, and it was excellent. The abundant noodles were very good and springy and the broth was light and very tasty. Although I ordered chicken shoyu ramen, they asked if I wanted to try some pork as well, and the pork they put in was so good (better than the chicken pieces, which were perfectly good, but couldn't match the rich flavor of the pork). The toppings included a very nice soft-boiled egg (I think cured or marinated), scallions, a fish cake with a pink swirl on top (I liked it though I wasn't sure what it was at the time - I've had them before in ramen but never looked up what they were - after googling I think it was narutomaki), corn (I wondered if that was a gesture to American palates, but looked up ramen toppings afterwards and it looks like they're often used in Japan), and pieces of lettuce or cabbage (that seemed unusual to me and I didn't end up eating them, but again I see on looking it up that cabbage is not an uncommon topping in Japan). From the pictures on yelp, it looks like they sometimes have microgreens on top. My husband had the tonkotsu ramen, which is what I tend to order at ramen places, and it was outstanding, creamy and rich and flavorful and delicious. I will get that next time and we are definitely going back. We both tipped our bowls to get the last of our broths. They asked if we wanted our ramen spicy, and neither of us eat spicy food (I eat a little spicy food but not last night), so we declined. Another customer got the spicy ramen and they asked him how spicy - he said medium this time and he'll see if next time he wants more. That customer also got some avocado-topped sushi. I must admit that for sushi, I will not be your reviewer, as I am not a raw fish eater and generally stick with Boston rolls (which they have on their menu), eel (which they have), other rolls with cooked shrimp/crab/lobster, and tamago. But I hope to go with a friend who loves sushi and hear what she says. The owner or manager was friendly and chatted with us a bit, and told us that the chef had trained to make ramen (and sushi, I think) in Japan. The owner and chef apparently moved here from Japan not that long ago, and this is their first restaurant in America. https://www.arlnow.com/2019/05/24/takeshi-sushi-and-ramen-now-open-in-courthouse/
  10. Genevieve
    I'm curious about the Bao at Bao Bao.
  11. Genevieve
    Looking forward to trying this soon! Sounds like a great place to have in the neighborhood.
  12. Genevieve
    We went on Sunday at noon and all found parking without trouble (though the lot was moderately full near the restaurant, there were spaces, and there was plenty of room elsewhere in the lot). It's our new favorite dim sum place. More details later.
  13. Genevieve
    Thanks so much!! That's very helpful. Looking forward to the dim sum!
  14. Genevieve
    My group wants to go at noon - I'll see if this makes a difference. Thanks!!
  15. Genevieve
    We're going there this weeked - @Lydia R thanks so much for posting the menu! How is parking there? Only thing I could find is a yelp review saying parking is tight.
  16. Genevieve
    Has anyone been to Olivia?
  17. Genevieve
    My recollection from talking with the Cafe Dalat family around the time they were closing was that the parents were retiring rather than opening somewhere else while the building was being renovated, and their kids had been working there as second jobs while they had busy first jobs in other fields (including one in a medical field). So while I was so sad to see Dalat close, I understood that the second generation might be somewhat relieved. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of this recollection, or whether anyone who worked there might have decided to open another place, but that's the conversation my husband and I remember having. Miss them very much still! This was in 2005, before I had found this site, and I posted on Chowhound when they closed: "I'm very sad to report that Cafe Dalat, on Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon, is closing for good at the end of this month. According to the Clarendon Chronicle, the building's owner reached the point where he had to renovate or tear down, so he's renovating. The businesses in his building will need to close down or move elsewhere (at least for the duration). I asked at Cafe Dalat last week and they have decided to close. They have great Vietnamese food (including the best pho I've found -- even Pho 75's pho doesn't taste like this, with the hint of anise and the wonderful restorative smell and flavor). They have tons of vegetarian choices (love the cari chay, tofu curry with a good variety of veggies) and great crispy spring rolls. Prices are cheap, and the room is bare-bones (it used to be a pizza joint and looks it). A great place to take kids. So sad to be losing this neighborhood treasure!"
  18. Genevieve
    Some of the NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour folks tweeted in the fall about eating there and how terrific it was, and particularly how incredible the crispy stuffed sage leaves were. Because of that, I ordered them when we went in November and they were fabulous. If anyone reading this goes to eat there tonight or tomorrow before closing, get the sage leaves.
  19. Genevieve
    Oh, that is so sad!!! We went in November for a celebration and it was as wonderful as ever, or better, in both food and service. We've been for a bunch of celebratory meals in the last few years and will very much miss it. It was always a special evening. And a lovely space as well. If Rob Weland's new restaurant is in DC or NoVa, we will absolutely be there with some frequency. (If in MD, we'll get there sometimes, though it'll be harder.) I hope he keeps the focus on fresh local vegetables, as that was my favorite thing about Garrison (and the lovely ethereal pastas). But everything we had at Garrison was terrific and we will look forward to his cooking wherever he goes!
  20. Genevieve
    I went to the Penn Quarter location on Tuesday and was extremely happy with my lunch - so psyched to have this nearby for weekdays! (same disclosure as before - I have a relative who works at the other location, but that does not affect my view of the food) I had the taco trio and ordered two roasted butternut squash tacos (goat cheese, caramelized onions, chipotle yogurt, and mint) and one braised mushroom taco (feta, salsa roja, and cilantro) - love the mushroom especially and would get two of that next time (or one of each plus a cauliflower if they had that - the other choices on Tuesday were vegetables I'm less fond of but many people like: roasted beet, creamy kale and potato, and sauteed green cabbage). Butternut squash was great, I just like the mushroom more and would get two of those to one squash. Quality was top notch, the same as at the original location. Also had green rice with feta and toasted pepitas, and a caneta cookie, and a lemon ginger shrub. They'll have more drinks, but only had the shrubs and iced teas on opening day. They will be adding some add-ons that are on the printed menu but weren't in stock yet -- beet-pickled egg (chiles, caraway, and apple cider brine) and cilantro-lime jalapenos. There is a roasted celery root tlayuda on tostadas with pipian and black beans and feta - I will have to try that. Definitely will try the sweet potato soup, and the pumpkin and spice cake (queque). The space is quite a bit bigger than the original location, and is open and airy (lots of natural light). Adding this to my regular lunch rotation!
  21. Genevieve
    That's a shame. I've always enjoyed meals there: food, service, and atmosphere.
  22. Genevieve
    Thanks all! The Penrose Giant in S. Arlington has them and we will get some tonight. They were my first guess, but didn't pick up the phone last night when I was calling around (no one did at any store - lesson learned, don't press the number for the produce department, just press the number for customer service instead, as they answered this morning).
  23. Genevieve
    Where can I find fresh tomatillos, preferably in Arlington? I struck out at Whole Foods Clarendon (where I've found them before), Mom's Organic Market, and Trader Joe's. I'm hoping the South Arlington groceries will be more likely to have them because of more demand. No one's been answering the phone at the ones I called (probably too late in the evening to be as fully staffed, can try again tomorrow), but I'd rather not have to go from store to store to store to find them. Thanks!
  24. Genevieve
    Ooh, I have to get over there sometime and have the roasted squash with pomegranate molasses etc.! I love all four of those ingredients, and I haven't been there yet to try the hummus. Thanks for the tip on timing.
  25. Genevieve
    Nice! I am the parent of a baseball nerd (now a freshman in college) who's been co-commissioner of his fantasy baseball and football teams for a few years.
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