Genevieve

Thank you for the tip -- I will absolutely do this the next time we go! (though my husband isn't quite as experimental as me, so probably he should get the Pabellon Completo again and I should get whatever he thinks is the best representation of Venezuelan food. So glad the post brought you some joy, Don. Your site has been so invaluable to me and brought me so much pleasure trying out places I never would've heard of, or knowing just what dishes to have at each restaurant to eat their best food -- and around my office I'm known as the person to ask for food recommendations, almost entirely because of your site. If you will forgive a sad-but-happy personal note, I had a dear, dear friend and colleague who was ill with cancer who we lost two years ago -- for several years, she came into the office once a week, and we made it our mission to have as many delectable meals out together as we could. She said that dining out together was one of her real joys. All the RockHeads' recommendations helped us have many marvelous, memorable meals where we were relaxed and happy in each others' company and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves trying new and fabulous foods (including the grasshopper tacos at Oyamel before one of her treatments, because she wanted to say "Quien es mas macha?!"). And I think of her whenever I go to Rasika, Oyamel, Siroc, Farrah Olivia, Zaytinya, Full Kee, and many other places.

I've been to the Pret at Farragut North a bunch -- their workers have definitely been cheerful and helpful and keep everything moving fast. And the food is excellent! I am partial to the chicken w/balsamic avocado sandwich and the egg salad -- I usually get a "Slim Pret" (half sandwich) and a soup, as the soups are very good (Moroccan lentil, butternut squash, curried chicken have all been good -- I didn't think the chicken noodle was anything special). The baked goods are all a notch above what you get at other fast food places (really tasty and light muffins, rich and delicious cookies), and I love the fizzy ginger beer.

So. Good. and such good hospitality. This place goes under my "Don hasn't steered me wrong yet" list. We found ourselves out in Falls Church last month on a Friday night and decided to stop and get dinner. I opened up this DC Dining Guide on my phone and looked up Falls Church (so handy to have it organized by location) and we settled on La Caraquena. My husband had been in that neighborhood on other weeknights and noticed it, but noticed that the parking lot wasn't full -- we foolishly extrapolated this to a Friday night. The place was packed and clearly we should've had a reservation. It's a small place. I told the waiter/host thanks and said we'd come by another time with a reservation to try their arepas, which I'd heard were amazing. We went out to the parking lot, and a minute later realized the waiter was running after us -- had I dropped my wallet inside? No, he said that a party was pretty late for their reservation, so if we wanted to stay a few minutes, if they didn't show up, we could have their table. We thanked him very much. We went inside, and they joked with us that the waiter needed some exercise so that's why they had him run after us. A few minutes later the party showed up. We went to the host and said "well, thank you so very much, we will definitely make a reservation to come again," and they said hold on a minute, they might be able to make some room for us somewhere else. I don't know how they did it in that tiny space, but they found us a table and we quickly ordered. We got what are described on the menu as milkshakes - mine was guava and it was fabulous. Light and a little frothy, like an Orange Julius, but the best Orange Julius ever with lots of real guava flavor. My husband ordered Pabellon Completo con Baranda (after I checked the RockStars' recommendations on our phone). Oh my goodness, I will definitely be getting something with that delectable pulled beef the next time. It was packed full of flavor. He said the egg was also wonderful. I had peanut soup, which was delicate (with little crisp strips - tortilla? - on top) and slightly spicy and tasted so different from the Virginia peanut soup I'm used to. Then I had the arepa with rice and beans and cheese -- lovely arepa, crisp outside and tender inside, and jampacked with filling (people above who mentioned getting one plain arepa on the side are right). I had it with some of my husband's avocado, which was perfectly ripe, and with a zingy green sauce that came with it. Next time I would get it with the pulled beef and cheese, or with the fluffy scrambled eggs. My side of plantains wasn't greasy and didn't have those nearly-burnt bits I like, but it wasn't dry like non-greasy plantains often area - it was full of flavor. We would've stayed for dessert (another table was enjoying theirs hugely), but when the waiter asked about dessert or coffee, I asked "Could you use our table?" and he said well, yes. Such great hospitality, they made room for us, didn't rush us but they got the food to us quickly, and didn't pressure us not to get a final course, but admitted politely when asked that they could use the table for the next group. We will go again, with reservation, and get dessert as well, and probably more food as we'll have more time to peruse the menu. Thank you Don and the RockHeads for the great recommendation!!

Is La Caraquena in Falls Church on the way back? They're terrific. Make a reservation, though, as Fridays are crowded.

Thanks, Don. The Latino dishes are the ones that sounded best to me anyway, so that's good. We'll go and try it out soon.

Has anyone eaten here lately? We're looking at it as a possibility for a bar mitzvah party (thanks to a recommendation from a kind boardie [Rockwellian? Rocker? what do we call posters/members here?). We're going to go and check it out, but I'm sure we won't be able to try everything. The duck quesadilla doesn't seem to be an option on the party buffets -- we could select several options from chips/salsa, guacamole, huraches (I've never had those anywhere), quesadilla, mixed green salad with queso fresco, quesadillas, and possibly Nagadoches meat pies (haven't had these either) and smoked veggie enchiladas. We wouldn't be ordering the pork or seafood, though we're not kosher and I'm okay with meat quesadillas. They have mango empanadas on the dessert menu, which sounds intriguing. Any thoughts from people who've eaten there would be welcome! (We are also looking at Spider Kelly's and Clarendon Ballroom, both of which would be easier transportation-wise. Don't know about the food at either, but we're eating at Spider Kelly's later this month, so I can try it then.)

I've found my new favorite lunch in Court House -- a cup of gumbo (flavors are richer and deeper than when I had it months ago, a biscuit (I asked if I could order one solo and they said 'sure,' though it's only listed as an order of two biscuits plus cream cheese and pepper jelly -- marvelous but too much for this lunch combo), and the salad with nice perky mixed greens (lovely mix of lettuces, not romaine/iceberg like "mixed greens" often is), spiced pecans, and absolutely marvelous soft goat cheese. Lots of pecans, plenty of dollops of goat cheese, nice balsamic vinaigrette, alternating with spoonfuls of gumbo and bites of perfectly flaky and tender biscuit - I was in heaven.

Had lunch at 701 yesterday, ordered badly and therefore didn't get much to eat. The "Small Plates" were really, truly small, especially compared to "small plates" I've had elsewhere. I got one small plate and shared a small plate with a friend, who had gotten the seafood chopped salad. (the website doesn't show small plates, only apps, but I know the menu said small plates - it's possible I had one app and shared a small plate). I often get two appetizers instead of a main dish (they're so often more tempting and I would rather eat smaller portions - just not this small) so I thought an app and half a small plate (or 1 1/2 small plates, since I can't recall) would be enough. I wish the waitress had advised me that that wouldn't be much food (I did tell her we planned to share the mushrooms). The funny thing is that the plate the mushrooms were on was massive -- huge expanses of white encircling some very tasty mushrooms (maybe 8 or 9 of them? I had 4 or 5), little red beans ("red peas" were on the menu, these were bean-like but I've never had red peas before) and a nice sauce. Then I had the Bee Gee shrimp (app on the online menu, I thought I recalled small plate), which was delectable -- two largish shrimp, pineapple vinaigrette that was sparkling with the pineapple flavor (on the less acidic side, or maybe it seemed that way when tasted with the shrimp), ginger sabayon. The flavors were in perfect balance and I made sure I got every last bit of it. But next time I would get this appetizer and either get an entree or share an entree. My friend said her seafood chopped salad was very good, though the taste of it I had didn't excite me.

An app that works on a Droid would be very welcome -- but my guess is that's not as easy as doing the + for the iPhone, and an actual developer would be a big deal to get (investment of time and money). An app would likely help to bring people in, though. I went and 'liked' dcdining.com on Facebook. If you had the option to "like" a DonRockwell.com facebook page, I'd do that and promote it to my local friends via facebook. And people could say in their facebook posts things like "DonRocks (most-informed local dining website, bar none) gave [this restaurant] a strong review, so I went and I loved it. DonRocks doesn't steer me wrong." And then some of our facebook friends would click on the DonRocks and go to the DonRockwell.com facebook page, read about it, like what they read and come here to post! The Facebook page could have the statement (under 'info', maybe) that nonmembers can search but only members can post, and that DonRockwell.com has compiled over X number of reviews, ranked X number of restaurants handily arranged by location, for X number of years. Something like that, maybe. Love the idea of stickers (upscale window ones for reviewed places and cheaper ones for forumites to tag the restaurant with -- even if people don't usually look for restaurant recommendations in bathrooms, if it's done as a blitz over the course of a week or two, it might get picked up in the news by Eater or the Post or something, and get some eyeballs here.

My husband told me that last night, and I felt so dumb for what I'd posted! It sounds great if our group would fit -- I will take a look. Thanks!

and thanks for the list of possibilities, sparkycom! Arena could work (if they allow it on a weekend afternoon or evening). Eastern Market is a great idea but unfortunately for us doesn't allow private weekend events - what a great room that would be. Didn't know they rented it out, so that's very cool. Will look at Botanic Garden and at Hill Center (I'm not familiar with them).

Thanks, all! Excited to look at these possibilities, and any others people post. Top of the Town has a limit of 180, so even though I don't think we'll go over that, it definitely could happen. I think "Country Club" in the name is a nonstarter since family members very much want it to be laid-back and significantly less formal than a wedding (me too, though I could perhaps get past the name if it wasn't actually that formal). I had thought Virtue Feed and Grain might be perfect (pool table and all -- something like that would be much appreciated), and was greatly annoyed to find out that there's no elevator. We went there to take a look and apparently they're ADA-compliant just by having a small dining room on the first floor -- never mind that people with disabilities can't get to their other rooms, which is where they have all the fun stuff. Grr. (sorry, that made me really cranky.)

Hey all, I'm planning a party for after a bar mitzvah and am having trouble with venues - was hoping the knowledgeable minds here could help. We have large families so we expect a large group - we're guessing 155 will come but we have 200 to invite (we should put the venue on the invitation, but we won't know the group size till we get the responses). Having more than 180 possible seems to knock out a lot of places. I'd love to have some place a little different, with a view or some history or just an interesting looking space. But we definitely don't want it to be really fancy or lavish -- our temple is not into lavish displays and neither are we. But that knocks out a bunch of classic wedding venues. (One cousin in another town had his at a cool bowling place - I think we're too big for that?, but something offbeat like that would be welcome, particularly by the bar mitzvah boy. We don't need to spend on this what we'd spend on a wedding, and we'd like it to be fun and enjoyable and a little laid-back.) We'd love for it to have good food (or we'd get it catered if it was a historic house). But, while we do not keep kosher and don't need kosher catering, we're not going to serve pork or shellfish. We have lots of out of town guests, so we'd like to keep it reasonably central in location to where they'll be staying, which means DC or Arlington. We may end up having it at the temple (which would be fine - it's a pretty nice space) since I'm not finding much. The Artisphere looks to be a little too small. Is the Clarendon Ballroom too fancy? Is the Knight Conference Center at the Newseum too boring/conferencey? Any suggestions or thoughts welcome!! Thanks very much.

Y'all sold me. I was looking for a nice place to go next week for our Valentine's Day Observed (we rarely go on the day itself due to crowds and restricted menus) and your reviews sent me to make a quick reservation at Vermilion. Looking forward to it! Will have to try the lobster tortelloni (though roasted forest mushroom ravioli also sound lovely).

That sounds terrific, and I definitely want to go to Mio when she's there. Thank you for the update! I've had Puerto Rican friends ask me if there's anywhere to get good Puerto Rican food locally, and I haven't had a good answer.

We've gotten carryout from Rabbit. Well-packaged.

Thanks! I'll check these out. I've never heard of Sea Pearl - the menu looks great.

We're going to dinner for my birthday next week, and I would love to get a slice of coconut cake, or something coconutty, for dessert. The Majestic's menu isn't thrilling me, and I'm not sure who else has this. A couple places have a whole coconut cake for special order (Willow), but I really don't want that much left over for noshing on during the week. NoVa definitely preferred to DC (MD is out). Any ideas happily accepted! Thanks very much.

Yes, we've called in our order and done carryout the two times we've eaten from there. Good phone service (one item I'd had before, the prosciutto and grilled peach salad, wasn't on the online menu, but I asked and they still have it).

As of today, Boccato Gelato in Arlington is selling Julia's Empanadas. I haven't been yet so I don't know specifically what flavors -- I saw they have "beef" and I'm hoping that's the Chilean beef with egg and raisins. A handwritten sign listed beef, chicken, pulled pork, veggie, and ham and cheese.

Wow. I need to eat there. Having trouble finding their website or twitter feed, to know where the truck is.

It was a bit far, but she said it was fine, and the good thing was taxis were available if she'd needed one to go the few blocks. It was a great choice, food and drink-wise -- my foodie relatives were very happy with the mini crab cakes, the lobster salad sandwich (a tiny bit nutmeggy, or some other unidentified tasty space), and the caprese salad with yellow tomatoes and fried disks of mozzarella. Drinks were lovely, though the one I had with passion fruit puree should've had a stronger flavor of the fruit. Sitting outside was perfect (not the terrace in the afternoon, but it's sidewalk seating and that was fine). Thanks again for the recommendation!!

Has anyone had brunch here, or eaten here since the chef change in winter 2010? I made a Fathers' Day reservation (changed it from Firefly after realizing everything my husband and I would like at Firefly is only on the weekday lunch menu or dinner menu). The menu looks good, and restaurants in Kimptons I've been to have always have lovely food.

We're going this Sunday for Fathers' Day, based on this thread's reviews and Don's ranking in the Dining Guide - thanks y'all for always being terrific guideposts!

Perfect! I didn't realize they had an afternoon menu. It's a lovely day for outside seating, they apparently have non-alcoholic spritzers (which always makes me and the kiddo happy), and my other family member can take a taxi the four blocks to the museum if she's not up for the walk. Thanks so much!!!!