Genevieve

We had a goodbye lunch for a coworker at AG today (his choice, he hadn't been there in years).  Had the carnitas tacos and they were the worst carnitas I've ever had. I couldn't finish. Greasy and foul-tasting.

Even the free chips were stale - the salsa was somewhat decent and was probably the best thing I ate (the black beans and rice were OK too).

Butterscotch cream in the Riso - man, that sounds good.

And butterscotch gelato! I've never seen that before, and I want it.  Got to get over there.

Had a really nice dinner here last week.  The details have faded, but we started with the steamed buns with beef burger - two buns to an order, and it really did have a little hamburger in each one.  Tasty bun, but I'd get the chicken or pork or tofu next time (but kids will like the burger, which may be the idea).

Four of us had ramen, and we all liked it.  I had tonkatsu ramen with pork shoulder - the broth was delicious and rich and layered in flavor (befitting their statement that they cook it all day starting in the morning). There are loads of additional toppings to choose from, and I like that so many of them are vegetables.  I ordered a Nitamago boiled seasoned egg, which was nicely cooked (less cooked than hard-boiled, but not runny) and tasty; marinated mushrooms, which always make me happy; bamboo shoots; and roasted sesame seeds. (I was tempted to get avocado but wasn't sure how that would be w/ramen.) Very good bowl of ramen, good quality ingredients, very filling (didn't quite finish mine). The noodles were good, though not quite as springy as Daikaya's.

I don't recall what everyone else had, but one friend (more of a ramen connoisseur than I am) got the spicy tonkatsu and kimchi as a topping, and loved his bowl (he commented on both the broth and noodles being very good).

Service was friendly and helpful. The room is more attractively done than when it was Kite Runner.  We all liked the food and will definitely go back.

Menu is here (warning, autoplay music):

My husband says Bar Taco in Reston has great service, though he's only eaten at the bar.

I'm with Don here. One of my staples growing up was bologna and cream cheese on a bagel. And when we had corned beef from the deli, that too. Not kosher, but we didn't keep kosher, and it's not far-fetched. And it is darned tasty. Also a fan of cheddar on apple and maple syrup on sausage. I think it comes from my Dad's side of the family and he's from Brooklyn.

Oh hey, I'm not the only person who ate bologna and cream cheese growing up! (Though I ate it on white bread - would've been better on a bagel.)  Not something I've eaten since elementary school, though.

For deli food, I'm not a typical customer - grew up Jewish in this area, but I've never been a fan of traditional Jewish deli meats like corned beef and pastrami, and I can't stand caraway seeds so I've never liked rye bread. I love good-quality turkey (like Earl's has) but otherwise can do without deli meats.  When I go to New York (or Florida) and go to a deli, I'm looking for good matzoh ball soup, latkes, whitefish salad, and pickles.  Locally, I satisfy the pickle craving at Brooklyn Bagel Deli in Arlington, and they have good whitefish too. (It's not a Jewish deli and not a meat specialist, but we ordered from them for a post-bar mitzvah brunch, and everyone liked the food: great bagels from NYC, several kinds of cream cheese, good platters with whitefish salad and lox and turkey and salami and egg salad, nice mixed greens salad, wonderful pickles, and excellent rugelach.) Since I'm not a pastrami or corned beef eater, I've never ordered those there. We often get their bagels, cream cheese, whitefish, pickles, and rugelach if we're having a family gathering.

Also, my mom says there's a pickle seller at the Courthouse Farmers' Market with fantastic pickles.

Me Jana has always had wonderful service when I've been there, both my first few times, and as I've become a regular (more like a once-every-couple-of-months regular than a true regular, but the owner always recognizes us and gives us a very warm welcome).  

Fiola Mare - went there last year for our anniversary, and I have rarely seen such attentive service (but not overly so) and warmth and attention to detail.  We're going back for our anniversary this year because both the food and the service made it so wonderful.

At Garrison, the bartender was wonderful while I was waiting for my table since my friend had trouble finding parking - she made me a marvelous mocktail that wasn't on the menu, asked what I knew about the menu and what I was thinking of ordering, and made great recommendations.

I'm always happy when a bathroom has a hook for a purse, and when it doesn't, it's annoying (you have to hang it on the door handle which doesn't always work).  Women almost always bring their purses into the bathroom rather than leave them behind, so this should be accounted for when designing a bathroom.

I mentioned issues with the bathrooms in two of my reviews on this site:

Garrison:  not a fan of the bathrooms - only two of them (it is a small place, though), frosted glass doors through which I could see people outside (not perfectly clearly, at least) and hoped they couldn't see me as well, and no hook to hang a purse.

China Chilcano:  One annoyance to beware of:  the bathrooms contain chalk in the main outer area, and the stall walls are completely covered by many people's chalk writing - including on the stall door.  I hung my new purse on the hook on the back of the door without noticing this, and took it down covered in chalk that had rubbed off.  Luckily it came off with water, but if you have a delicate bag or jacket, do NOT hang it on the door.

They're broadcasting the musical of Billy Elliott on PBS on Friday the 23rd. Not the movie w/Jamie Bell, but the stage musical, broadcast live from the West End (I think on Great Performances).

This Friday they're showing Show Boat (stage musical, not the movie) on Live From Lincoln Center -- Vanessa Williams, the extraordinary Norm Lewis, Fred Willard (?), and others.

To me, a place that doesn't take reservations is being difficult, not neighborly.I just don't see the neighborly aspect of it at all. I have neighborhood restaurants that I love, and that's never something that would occur to me as being neighborly - it means people can't plan in advance easily, for one thing.

I can't physically stand in line for two hours, but I'm not disabled and Rose's wouldn't excuse me because I have some back and foot pain (not that I would expect them to, but I don't think it's more "open to all," just more open to people who have two hours to spare before dinner and the physical ability to stand for that long). People who might like to join me at this restaurant are not people who want to stand in line for two hours either, holding a place for our group, and not knowing if we'd get in at the first sitting or not.

A place that takes reservations is "open to all," generally. The issue is when they are so popular that it takes time to be able to dial over and over to get a reservation. But that still seems like less of a barrier than requiring people to stand in line.

Maybe a good compromise for restaurants who were interested in doing something like this could have certain nights that are no reservations?

I ate at the Penn Quarter Cava Grill yesterday and had an excellent lunch. My first time at the fast casual (I've been to Cava Mezze and liked it, and have bought the eggplant/pepper and tzatiki spreads at Whole Foods).

I heartily endorse the suggestion above that there be some kind of "first time here?" card or other explanation of what the choices are.  I looked at the online menu and this thread before I went, which helped, but I missed a few things that weren't on the online menu, that I didn't want to hold up the line asking about.  (Even around 2:15 when I got there, there was a line - I wonder how long it is at prime lunchtime?)

They apparently have a black lentil special for fall - I didn't order that (didn't know exactly what it was till I looked it up on their Instagram afterwards) but it looked intriguing.

Loved the variety of options available. I got a mix of arugula and brown basmati rice for the base, then half braised lamb (saw the mentions in this thread about how good it is) and half grilled chicken, three of the spreads (especially liked the roasted pepper hummos, which I hadn't tried before), and a bunch of the vegetable toppings (having mint as a topping is great - lots of flavor, and not something most places offer). They had a fall roasted vegetable topping that I kind of wanted but I do not like brussels sprouts and didn't think I could ask them to serve me a portion without (and it seems like it would be hard to pick them out of my lunch since you get so many different things - maybe I could ask for it on the side of the bowl), but the other three veggies were favorites of mine, butternut squash, cauliflower, and carrots.

It was all delicious.  I think in future I might just get the chicken and maybe a little of the braised beef, just having confirmed for myself that lamb feels a little heavy for me at lunchtime, but it was cooked beautifully.  The chicken was flavorful too and not overcooked as so many places do.  And it was an excellent mix of healthy vegetable and yogurt-based options to go with the meats and lighten them.

And I didn't know about the fresh juice drinks until I got there - I had a cucumber lime mint drink that was so good.  Very cucumbery and fresh tasting. Yum.

For recent movies:  Hairspray was well done, and MTV filmed a stage production of Legally Blonde.  Either now or in a couple years if that's better for your kid.

Look here for more filmed stage musicals:  http://www.playbillstore.com/brmuplondvd.html

One of the Les Miz anniversary concerts might be good if the full movie would be too much right now.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is good for this age.

They've filmed Billy Elliott, which I didn't realize (I never saw that one and would like to)

Shrek the Musical (stage version) actually has some really good songs and performers - it's Sutton Foster and Brian D'arcy James, with a score by Jeanine Tesori (composer of Fun Home, Violet, the musical of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline or Change, and other strong shows).

Singin' in the Rain was a huge hit with my kiddo from a very young age.  It's funny with some slapstick and terrific dancing and singing. There are a couple songs I could skip, but overall it's wonderful.

The TV musical of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is really excellent, and is a funny show with great songs, not Disney princessy (my son liked it a lot when he was younger).  It stars pop singer Brandy, who was surprisingly good; Whitney Houston, who I was mixed on; and Bernadette Peters, Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Jason Alexander, and others who were terrific.

Another excellent one:  the TV version of Annie, from the early 2000s, if that's not the one you watched with him.  Rob Marshall directed it, and he's generally a wonderful director. Great choreography, great singing - I personally liked this version Annie much better than the one from the 80s, though some people love that one.  Victor Garber again, Audra McDonald, Alan Cumming, Kristen Chenoweth, and Kathy Bates (!) as Miss Hannigan.

My son also liked Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Into the Woods (there's a filmed version of the Broadway play with Bernadette Peters and others, a fantastic cast - your son might like to see that and compare w/the movie - I liked both), Little Shop, Les Miz (we took him to the play when he was your son's age - depends how you feel about the Lovely Ladies scene and how much he'd understand), On the Town, Oliver!, and the filmed stage version of Oklahoma! with Hugh Jackman.

I highly recommend a book by Ty Burr:  The Best Old Movies for Families.  He recommends older movies for various ages (all ages, tween, and teen).

http://smile.amazon.com/Best-Old-Movies-Families-Watching/dp/1400096863/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444147807&sr=1-1&keywords=ty+burr

We had a pretty good meal at Agora.  Would go back if going to the theater nearby (the Keegan).

They had what they called "Turkish Restaurant Week," with $30 for a trio of appetizer dips, two courses where we could choose from a several options (mezze-size), and choice of 3 desserts.

The dips were htipiti (roasted pepper, feta, thyme, olive oil), which was my favorite; cacik (yogurt cucumber dill etc.) and hummos.  All tasty, with nice fresh-baked-tasting pita that was replenished when we ran out.

Next course - my husband had borek, and the bite I had of the cheese one was excellent (he preferred it to the spinach one, which I didn't try). Son had kibbeh and liked but didn't love it (I think we liked it). I had arugula with feta, tomatoes, dates, lemon juice, and olive oil, which was a nice-sized portion and a good salad.

Next course - son had his go-to at Lebanese/Turkish restaurants, shish tavuk (grilled marinated chicken with some veggie sides he didn't eat). Not sure what husband had - it was fish, maybe steamed or grilled bass. I had the one real mis-fire (in my opinion): lamb loin with butternut squash puree, fresh mint, toasted hazelnut and sour cherry sauce.  I love all of those non-lamb elements, so I chose that over a sauteed shrimp dish I'd considered, but while I liked the sides, the sauce did not seem to me to meld well with the lamb.  I ate all the sides (not much) and left most of the lamb for my husband.

Dessert:  Two of us had kadayif - phyllo disks with vanilla milk pudding, orange blossom honey and pistachios. Very nice.  Not sure what the other one had (may have been baklava).

So I was wrong. Or not, because you invited them, but they may not have reading before. But they are now, so that's good!

I don't think they're reading here, but I am sure they're reading their Facebook page (from some posts I've seen there).  (Haven't been yet but have been planning to go on a weeknight, but a better schedule would definitely be an improvement.)

Thanks! That's what I had thought.  

Hm, looks like Hank's doesn't take reservations? That'll knock it off the list.  (It wasn't on the list in the first place because as usual, I was using the dining guide for the area we're going to, and so I missed any that are in "Multiple Locations".  I understand from previous posts that that's been raised as an issue before but hasn't been changed b/c it would take more time than Don has to move them into each location; just noting that it's a factor that typically causes us to miss seeing some listings.)

Is Trio's decent? I had thought not, by reputation, but I've never been there.

Thanks, all!  Lighter is better so I'm going with Agora - though I hadn't thought of Hank's (never been there), and am now offering that to the family as option #2.

Thank you, that's very helpful!  Rest of the family would prefer less elegant, more down-to-earth, so Agora will suit well.

Double-posting here and on the Agora thread, particularly because there's no recent reviews of Floriana:

Trying to decide based on these reviews whether to eat at Floriana or Agora for pre-theater dinner.  (Komi and Little Serow won't work with our constraints, and I don't think the others will want Sushi Taro.)  If I thought we'd have time, I'd eat at Pesce and then walk over, but the theater is a 2 minute walk from Agora and only a little more to Floriana, so why tempt fate and make us rush to curtain if service runs slow.

Agora and Floriana both seem reasonably good ("Sure, okay," as described by someone above [in the Agora thread].).  So we're probably fine either way.  But any recent positives or negatives would be great to know.

Trying to decide based on these reviews whether to eat at Floriana or Agora for pre-theater dinner.  (Komi and Little Serow won't work with our constraints, and I don't think the others will want Sushi Taro.)  If I thought we'd have time, I'd eat at Pesce and then walk over, but the theater is a 2 minute walk from Agora and only a little more to Floriana, so why tempt fate and make us rush to curtain if service runs slow.

Agora and Floriana both seem reasonably good ("Sure, okay," as described by someone above.).  So we're probably fine either way.  But any recent positives or negatives would be great to know.

The latest recall was only a few states, but the recall reported on Sept. 5 extended to 22 states, with illnesses reported in states where the further distribution may have occurred.

NYT on Sept. 5: "The cucumbers were shipped to 22 states, 18 of which have reported infections: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Infections were also reported in Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, though the products were not shipped to those states. Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and New Jersey also received cucumber shipments, but health officials in those states have not reported infections."

2-If this was related to the larger cucumber salmonella they will confirm by doing a genetic comparison of the strains of salmonella associated with F&O DC and the larger outbreak. Since they haven't said the strains are the same and because the cucumbers in question were only sold in California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas this scenario seems unlikely.

I enjoyed reading her latest cookbook, "Milk Bar Life," which had a smidgen of memoirish feel, as she talks a little in each chapter about things like foods she grew up on, what they eat at Momofuku while working, etc.

Haven't tried to cook anything from it, though (got it from the library).  She says in the book that these are easier and quicker recipes than in Momofuku Milk Bar, and they certainly appeared to be doable without needing a ton of skill or patience.

I saw this and am passing it along:

"Ray's the Steaks Affiliate Seeks Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection" by Rebecca Cooper on bizjournals.com

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Here's hoping for a good result and a soft landing.

Nooooooo!!

(In the restaurant business, does filing for Chapter 11 usually mean the restaurant is closing?  I so hope it doesn't.....for Landrum's sake, and also after losing our regular Mothers' Day spot this week in Willow, I would be so sad to lose my son's and mother's favorite birthday spot!!!)