DPop
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Everything posted by DPop
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Indique is not worth it for RW like JPW mentioned and I think Butterfield 9 is really mediocre. Also, they typically give very limited options for RW. I know it hasn't gotten glowing reviews on here, but I'd go to Viridian just because of Hartzer and the fact that he's had some time to settle in and potentially get things going at the restaurant.
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Is there any chef currently operating (DC area or elsewhere) whose work you enjoy in particular?
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I heard a rumor the other day that the former architect of the 2 Amys and Bebo pizza programs is now working at RedRocks and helping them with theirs. Any truth to this? -
At the price he charges for each visit to his establishment, you'd hope he'd iron and deliver as well
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This is a great call if you get there by 7, when the place is still quiet and fairly empty. I went there last night and got 3 small plates and 7 Chimays ( ) during happy hour all for under $50 if you can believe that. Last night the food was not as good as it usually is, but definitely a place to head to for a great quality cheap night. Antonio can cook. Tallula is also a nice option, but if you eat in the dining room and get a bottle of wine the meal can get pretty expensive.
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I can't say that I have ever tried myself, but I would have to think that Lost Dog Cafe in Arlington would be the kind of place where dogs are welcomed. Has anyone ever tried taking their pooch there?
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In my opinion this is the prettiest space in DC, but if you are coming here at any time other than HH (5-7) and getting anything other than sushi, you will probably feel generally disappointed in the food you get for the price you pay for it. Don't get me wrong, the salmon with beurre blanc is nice, but for half the size of the piece you get at Corduroy at the same price, why not just walk up the street and get something bigger and better?
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If I were leaving town, I'd be sure to make time for some of the places you have listed above along with either RTS or RTC, Vidalia, and Central for one more go at that corned beef sandwich .
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In Arlington, there are a handful places that one really must try if living in the DC area. Ravi is one of them. While I have never tried a bad dish at the place, the stars of the show are the Kabob Karahi and the boneless tandoori chicken breasts. The Karahi sits in an incredibly flavorful dark gravy permeates so well into the slow-cooked, soft kabob, which should always be eaten in a big scoop in one of their delicious naans. The chicken is a more subtle dish but just as satisfying, as the chicken is as moist as you will find outside of Pollo Rico. Other great dishes include the lamb kabob, the chicken tikka, the chole (chickpeas), and the veggie samosas done Pakistani style (yogurt, chole, and onions all mixed together in a bowl). Never had a bad meal at Ravi, although the service on its best day would be described as "surly" and the space could be much cleaner.
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No, it's still funny, I'm just slow on the uptake.
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What do you mean by that? I lived in Geneva for several years and found the Italian food (that did have a Swiss influence at times) that I had over there to be much better than the majority of the Italian-influenced fare I have had in the US. Is that what you were getting at or am I missing something?
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Based on the strong recent recommendations on here, I took the fiancee to give Willow a try last night and was very pleased. We sat at the bar to try out the burger that John recommended, which was very tasty if not a huge mess to try to eat. Tons of sauteed onions, mushrooms, and cheese and a tangy BBQ sauce that hit the spot on this plate. We also had the Orchid, which was a paper thin flatbread pizza with fava bean pesto, pecorino and fontina, lemon, and fresh basil. Again, this was a little on the greasy side, but very tasty and more than enough for two people to share as an appetizer. We passed on the fancier items on the menu, but everything we had at the bar last night convinced us that this is definitely one of the best restaurants in Arlington and will be in our rotation for the near future.
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Alpine, In North Arlington since 1966 - Closed
DPop replied to Josh Radigan's topic in Washington DC Restaurants and Dining
I feel the same way. When I first moved to Arlington, we got take out from Alpine (seafood ravioli) and I remember it being pretty damn good. I forgot about it for a couple years, moved close by, and then ordered again and was really disappointed. I got ravioli in the cardinal sauce and thought it had everything bad about pasta (heavy, messy) and none of the good things (flavor, texture). I tried it again a few more times at my roommates' urging and didn't like the pizza or lasagna, as they were both pretty pricey for what should be cheap Italian and were relatively flavorless despite the fact that both were really greasy and heavy. If I'm going to have a 3000 calorie meal, I want to be sure that it tastes good and is worth it. This place is not, in my opinion. -
I'm sure it is not what he's looking for, but the gorgonzola raviolini at Komi is just outstanding. A very small dish but I can't imagine liking pasta much more than I did this plate. For an ordinary ravioli, I think you are on the right path sending him to Eastern Market. They are not the best that I have had, but are definitely better than most you will get in the mid-range Italian restaurants in the area.
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I'd be lying if I told you it didn't take two hands to eat each slice (one on the crust, one supporting the collapsing middle), but it was surprisingly not soggy given all the variables listed above. That video made me really hungry. Jesus. I think next time I'm at 2 Amy's, I'm going to get a SuperMeat, which entails ordering the big charcuterie plate, not touching it until your Marguerita Extra comes, and then dumping the whole damn thing on top of the pizza. What results will most likely be my own personal heaven.
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Finally gave the the Pork Sausage a try on Saturday night and cannot see myself ordering a pizza from 2 Amy's again without that and pancetta on it. Throw on the polpettine's and you have the best pizza that I have tasted in the DC area. Perfect char and nice strong, acidy (word?) tasting sauce to even out the copious amounts of pork grease swimming on top of the cheese
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Shows you how much I know about Greek food, I guess. Any other places that you know of in the area that offer some variation or the other of this dish? I'd be very interested to try others to see what they're like.
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One might then want to read through the posts over the course of the last month and a half in this thread and find one dish where there is a consensus that it is very good or even "must have" when dining at Beck's..... Heather, I appreciate the recommendations, but I have to respectfully disagree with you on the rabbit and skate. I did, however, forget how much I liked the pea soup, which is probably the best thing I have had at BB. With that, hopefully my future experiences at Beck's are as good as all of yours seem to have been. Cheers.
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Where to start. It's funny, one would think that they would have so much to say about one of the 5 best meals that they have ever had, but I'm really struggling to find words. I think I will stick to the theme of this thread and just list the highlights. 1. Derek the Sommelier - I think enough has been said about him here and on other threads, but I just wanted to note what a delight he was throughout the meal. Accommodating, incredibly knowledgable, and the perfect level of attentiveness throughout the meal. The champagne he started with was heavenly and such a great beginner to this extraordinary meal. I wish I could remember some of the names of the 6 or so different glasses he poured, but I will say that there was not one in the group that I would call anything less than 'excellent'. 2. Date stuffed with marscapone and Greek yogurt - I asked our waiter if we could have a crate of these to go at the end of the meal. He laughed and walked away, not realizing that I was totally serious. It should be illegal to serve someone just one of something this good. 3. Mini oxtail gyro with Greek yogurt and yellow beets - Again, my only complaint about this was that I could not get the rest of the gyro that this one sliver was taken from. I will not even try to do this justice, but I will say that gyros will forever be ruined for me because I will always compare any one that I get in the future to the tiny one I had last night. I feel safe saying that they will not come close to measuring up. 4. Watermelon slice with soft cheese and a hazelnut - Who thinks of something like this? I swear Johnny Monis is a goddamn genius. The flavors meshed so well that I can see myself yearning for any creamy cheese and some hazelnuts the next time I come upon a slice of watermelon to try to replicate the joy that happened in my mouth last night. 5. Gorgonzola raviolini - Derek's deep red wine pairing really made this dish, going so well with the powerful cheese and balsamic drizzle that accompanied these little raviolis. Best pasta dish I have had in DC, hands down. I left last night so disappointed in myself for having lived in the area for 5 years and never experiencing Komi before. If you have not been, I cannot recommend strongly enough that you go as soon as possible. And when you do, treat yourself and get the wine pairing. It is worth every cent (and that is a lot of pennies).
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It's funny, you three are the first people I have heard that do not like Acadiana. I personally love the fact that they carry Abita on tap and can't get enough of their shrimp and grits, blackened tilapia, their trio of pies, and those f-ing biscuits. Good God are those things great. However, I am a big fan of Cajun food, so maybe it is just my taste. But, back on topic, tell me what you all have had at Beck's that you loved (outside of the bread and beer)? Is there something I am missing?
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A famous chef? In all seriousness, I think the best 3 dishes that I have had at Central (the salmon, shrimp burger, and corned beef sandwich) are all cheaper and much better than anything I have had at Beck's (the tenderloin, beef carbonnade, rabbit, duck roullade, charcuterie, skate wing, and mussels). Don't get me wrong, Beck's is fun and close to where I work, so I think I'll be a semi-regular customer for lunches and happy hours, but when the best things at the restaurant are the free bread they give out before your meal and their lengthy beer list, shouldn't it really only be a two-star at best? In my opinion, it's not even the second best restaurant in a 3 block radius. Corduroy and Acadiana are both much better in every way in my opinion and easier to get seats. Beck's is a good option, but certainly not the top in that area.
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If his experience is anything like the last 2 I had, I would say zero. This is a fun place with a couple nice dishes and really good bread and beer selection, but is not nearly as good as a couple of the places that Sietsma has given 2.5 stars to as of late.
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My suggestion is to call up Philadelphia (the city) and see if they deliver. I have still yet to find a sandwich in DC that I would call "good", but maybe that's just me. On a serious note, though, if you really want to order sandwiches from somewhere, the best places in the area are the Italian Store (Arlington) and Cafe Phillips (Chinatown and Union Station, amongst others). For the most part, the rest of the places are overrated or chains.
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Crisp & Juicy, Pio Pio, and Super Pollo all suck in comparison to El Pollo Rico. If you have the choice, El Pollo Rico wins out every time.
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If you get there between the hours of 4-8, you will not find a better price for the quality anywhere in the area IMO. Happy hour specials are outstanding and even the plates that are not discounted do not go north of $13/per (and most are cheaper than that). Highly recommend this place for the type of outing you are having, you will not be disappointed.
