bettyjoan

Boyfriend and I visited Rock Creek at Mazza Gallerie last Friday night, and overall, it was a pleasant experience. It took about 15 minutes for someone to greet our table, and the service was a bit pushy and rushed at first, but things seemed to smooth out once we ordered wine (I was pleased to see a Seghesio zin on the by-the-glass list) and an appetizer, which was a pan-seared soft-shell crab. It was tasty enough that I forgot it wasn't deep-fried! The "veggie medley" and hummus/eggplant spread that came to the table were both nice additions, and the wheat bread was warm and hearty. For entrees, we opted for a tuna (it was supposed to be salmon, but I was pleased with the substitution) with black bean and corn salsa and a beef striploin with potatoes and vegetables. Both of the meats were cooked perfectly (rare), and the accompaniments were appropriate. I didn't feel like the portion sizes suffered due to the health-conscious nature of the menu, though I did notice a (pleasant) difference in my post-dinner "fullness factor"--I was quite satisfied, but I didn't feel stuffed or bloated. Fresh fruit and white peach sorbet was a perfect dessert--sweet, but light and refreshing. Since my boyfriend and I are on a low-fat diet (our goal is no more than 15 grams per meal), we spent a good deal of time checking out the nutritional information section of the menu. While the kitchen does a good job of offering lower calorie meals, the fat contents of some of the selections were still surprisingly high. I might suggest to the creative minds in the kitchen that they ponder other options in that regard. With one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, 5 alcoholic beverages, 1 coffee, tax, and tip, the damage was $170. Not too bad for a Friday night out, and you could definitely do it cheaper (we should have ordered a bottle of wine instead of glasses, but we were indecisive about what we wanted). All told, it was a nice dinner--we'll be back. Interesting note: When I asked about Chef Lacoste and the kitchen and its inspirations, our server didn't seem too enthusiastic. He actually suggested that the Bethesda location was superior in its food, and that the chef there (I'm blanking on his name) was doing more innovative and interesting things to create delicious, healthy fare. Perhaps I'll try the original location next time.

Lefotover spinach ravioli, garden salad (Boston lettuce, English cukes, green bell peppers, grape tomatoes, sweet corn, catalina dressing, and croutons), and homemade lowfat banana bread. Yum!

It's very cool to hear about Restaurant Week from a (wonderful and non-bitter) chef's perspective--thanks! My boyfriend and I were in on Monday, and we had a lovely experience, as always. The peach-chardonnay dressing on the frisee salad was divine--I'd buy it by the gallon if I could. I rarely order poultry when dining out, but the roasted poussin was beautiful and satisfying. I'm allergic to peanuts, but my man raved about the "peanut butter crunch"--and, of course, my pecan pie was out of this world. I almost broke up with my boyfriend when, after a mid-dessert trip to the restroom, I found an empty plate upon my return! :-) As usual, there were plenty of affordable wines available to highlight your amazing food--yet another reason why Vidalia is our favorite restaurant in the city! Bravo, and good luck for the rest of the week.

The boyfriend and I tried Vapiano on Saturday night, and we were actually quite pleased. Considering that we are a poor public servant and an even poorer law student, it was refreshing to be able to eat (and drink) good stuff during prime weekend time for a reasonable price. We went to the bar first, where the happy hour lasts till 8 PM, 7 days a week, and consists of $2.50 Peroni draft, Pilsner Urquell draft, house pinor grigio, and house red (can't remember the varietal, sorry). We each had two beers, and then we tried both of the wines--not bad at all, especially given the price. To be able to get three drinks for $7.50 on a Saturday night in DC is nothing short of a miracle. The bartender was also very friendly and knowledgeable. We decided to try both a pasta and a pizza. For the former, we opted for a pomodoro with spinach over linguine. The sauce was tasty, the spinach was fresh, and the noodles were well cooked, at least for my taste (I like them just a touch softer than al dente). We wanted to try the pizza with the prosciutto, figs, and honey, but they were out of figs (grrrrr). So, we tried just a cheese pizza with prosciutto--the crust was thin and crispy, and the sauce had a decent tang to it. I would normally have been dissatisfied with the amount of cheese on the pie, but I'm trying to limit my fat intake, so it was actually perfect. There are no servers, but we didn't feel like service was lacking--our plates were cleared quickly, the cooks were pleasant to deal with, and the staff made sure that we had everything we needed. I actually relished the "do-it-yourself" system--it allowed us to have a nice chat without the usual interruptions. Don't get me wrong, I like to be waited on--but sometimes change is good. Our total, for 6 drinks, a pizza, and a pasta, came to about $34. After leaving a hefty tip (hey, I work in the biz, and I need the good karma), we left, full and tipsy, for under $45. Was everything perfect? Nope. Was it a sublime dining experience? Of course not. But, it was tasty, fresh food at bargain prices--and there's definitely a time and place for that.

Thank you so much for chatting with us, and for the wonderful work you do at Vidalia. It is truly my favorite restaurant in DC (as it is for my out-of-town parents as well, who always beg for a reservation when they come to visit), and I always leave sublimely happy--you and your staff have never given me anything but a superb experience. Bravo, and keep up the good work! One of the greatest things about Vidalia is its use of seasonal ingredients. From a culinary (and not a climate) standpoint, what is your favorite season? What are the aspects of that season that most excite and inspire you in the kitchen? Looking forward to visiting during Restaurant Week next month!

Even at 7, I don't think you'll have TOO much trouble getting a table at Health Bar--and even if everything is full when you come in, people don't tend to have 3-hour dinners there, so I doubt you'll wait too terribly long. I'm not working on Friday night, but there are a couple of (non-vegetarian) specials--the steak burgers are $5, and the turkey burgers are $6. Both are pretty darn good. I don't work till Saturday and Sunday this week, but if I happen to stop by and check out the beer selections, I'll post an update for you. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I work at Health Bar. Now that I've disclosed that potential bias, the restaurant does not suck (and it has no affiliation with Results Gym, besides being located next to it). Whether or not it is the ideal choice for you and your friends is a totally separate question. As far as beers, Health Bar is owned by Capital City Brewing Company, so you can imagine what we serve. :-) We have four rotating taps; I'm not sure what we have this week, as I've been out of town, but we usually have the Kolsh and the Amber available. The other two could be Hefe, Porter, Pale Ale, who knows? You could certainly call and ask. In terms of food, we try to be healthy and tasty, and I think we do it pretty well and pretty affordably. The asian tofu with rice and vegetables is popular for vegetarians, and the homemade hummus is quite good. There's also a veggie burger--I like it with pepper jack cheese and homemade pico de gallo (which I put on nearly everything, it's so yummy). Sweet potato fries are a customer favorite as well. Health Bar is comfortable and casual, and it has a lot of regulars--so, whether or not you decide to take your friends, I'd definitely suggest trying it sometime. I'd also second the previous posters and recommend The Saloon (on U), The Reef (in Adams Morgan), and Bar Pilar/St. Ex (14th Street). When is this get-together taking place?

For anyone who may be interested, here is my full-length review of wd~50. Pictures should be up shortly.

Before Memorial Day, I had an amazing meal at Morimoto (full review can be found here). If you're looking for high-end cuisine in Philly, I would definitely recommend it. The short story: I got the $120 omakase, which contained the likes of toro tartare, Kumamoto oysters, Japanese scallop carpaccio, Kampachi sashimi salad, Eight-Spice Lobster, Kobe beef with grilled abalone mushrooms, and a to-die-for sushi board (there was a dessert course, but I wasn't very impressed). I also opted for a beverage pairing, which I probably wouldn't do again (due to my pickiness with wines and liquors). The flavors were thoughtful, the presentations were absolutely lovely, and the quality of ingredients was apparent in every bite. The service was also quite impeccable--they really went out of their way to accomodate me, and I felt like I was the only customer in the place. Definitely try a cocktail in the small but cool lounge space above the main floor--I chose the cilantro gimlet, which was perfect for an herb fanatic like me! And, if you can, grab a seat at the sushi bar--it was fascinating to watch the chefs prepare my food and that of the other patrons. Like dinner and a show! If you go all out and order omakase, Morimoto can be very pricy. However, I took a look-see at the a la carte menu, and I think it's possible to get out of there with your paycheck still in tact. It all just depends on how creative a meal you want and what kinds of ingredients you prefer. All in all, great experience--I hope to return (on someone else's dime)!

I haven't been to any of Chef Colicchio's establishments, but I had a fantastic experience last Saturday night at wd~50. I plan on writing a full review soon, since there really is no way to succinctly summarize that sort of culinary experience. As long as your fellow diners are openminded, I think it would be a lot of fun.

I'm going to NYC the first weekend in June--despite being born in Long Island, I probably haven't been to Manhattan since I was 6. So, needless to say, I'm trying to cram in as much as possible! I already have reservations at wd~50 (sooooooo excited), but after splurging on Mr. Dufresne's tasting menu, I'll probably be looking for some more bargain-oriented places. Any recommendations? I'll be staying in the NYU area, so bonus for close proximity. I can't wait to have black & whites and GOOD bagels...

Going to Philly next week for the first time ever. I already have reservations at Morimoto, but after splurging on omakase, I'll be looking for some more bargain-oriented places. I'm staying at the Marriott on Market Street--any recommendations? Bonus for restaurants where both meat-eaters and vegetarians can be happy!

Finally tried Urbana last Saturday night, and I was pleased overall (though there are definitely some spots that can be improved). We needed a reservation for 4 at the VERY last minute, and the staff was incredibly accomodating and courteous. The hostess was the friendliest I've encountered in all of DC. Our server was wonderful--attentive and knowledgeable without hovering or being pretentious. For appetizers, my sister and I went for soup--I tried the minestrone, which was average. The roasted tomato soup, however, was lovely--great flavor and texture. My boyfriend got the mozzarella with polenta and arugula, which I thought was good but not great. My sister's boyfriend had the special grouper appetizer, and I sadly cannot remember how exactly it was prepared. It was cooked perfectly, though, and it was probably the first item to disappear from its plate! For mains, my boyfriend went for the pizza charcuterie, and everyone seemed to enjoy it (not being a huge Italian meat fan, I decided not to try it). It was absolutely HUGE. Sis had the sweet pea agnolotti with lobster, which was probably my favorite dish of the evening--the peas were tender and flavorful, and the lobster (which was very plentiful) was buttery and delicious. I had the gnocchi with seared tuna, and I was very torn about it--on the one hand, the tuna was fabulously seasoned and seared, and it was a very sizeable portion. On the other hand, the dish was pretty much completely overwhelmed by garlic--and I LOVE garlic, so that's saying a lot. My sister's boyfriend had a fish dish that I again can't remember in detail--but, as with the grouper appetizer, it was cooked perfectly and seemed to be enjoyed by all. We tried an order of duck fat fries, which were pretty darn good--but I couldn't decide if they were really any better (or different) than my current favorite fries, which come from Cafe St. Ex. For dessert, we had tiramisu and a very decadent chocolate "bombe" of sorts. The tiramisu had exquisite texture, but the liquor flavor was VERY overwhelming. My favorite part about the chocolate dish was the banana sauce that accompanied it. We had a bottle of King Estate Pinot Gris (Oregon, 2005), which was refreshing and tasty and reasonably priced ($35). I also had a glass of Teruzzi e Puthod Vernaccia di San Gimignano (2004), which was not quite as dry as I would have liked but enjoyable at $10. All in all, Urbana was a pleasant dining experience. With some more subtlety in the kitchen, it could end up being a favorite. Depending on what you order and how much you drink, you can definitely enjoy a reasonably-priced meal in a chic setting.

Sadly, I can't go on this trip, but I thought I'd mention that another bus option that I really enjoy. It's called Vamoose, and it's the nicest DC-to-NY bus that I've found. It's $25 each way, and it picks up in Arlington (Rosslyn) and Bethesda. It also drops you off at Penn Station in NYC, which is (in my opinion) WAY better than Port Authority. The buses are pretty darned clean and new (they usually show a movie), and the drivers/staff are really nice and helpful. I've ridden probably 5-6 times now, and it's always been a great experience. Since the company is run by Hasidic Jews, their service is somewhat limited on Saturdays. However, they do have a 7:30 AM departure from Rosslyn (8 AM from Bethesda, as it is the same bus), and the return leg leaves Penn Station at 4:30 PM. So, if you're planning on a dim sum lunch, it's certainly something to consider. Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy! Wish I could join you...

I had my fourth meal at Vidalia last Friday night, and it was incredible. I wrote a lengthy review here, but the highlights: Apps--cured pork jowl and shad roe (amazing), rabbit sausage. Entrees--seared tuna with morels, rabbit with veal sweetbread stuffing. Desserts--Vidalia onion and pineapple upside down cake, pecan pie (never disappoints). Lunch or dinner, Restaurant Week or not, Vidalia never ceases to amaze me with its quality and finesse--from start to finish, from wine to service to food, I always leave impressed. Well done! Anyone have any special occasions to celebrate? I'm ready to go back!

Good morning, and happy Restaurant Week! I'm a new member, and this is my first post, so hopefully I won't mess anything up. I usually try to hit 3-4 places during RW, but due to an expensive trip this coming weekend, I've only got one reservation on the books. But it's at PS 7's, which I'm very excited to try--their RW menu is available here, in case anyone is interested. I've done three or four rounds of RW, and so far the best experiences have been at Vidalia (my favorite restaurant in DC) and Acadiana/DC Coast. The selections were plentiful, the food was delicious, and the service was lovely. IndeBleu was so-so; they made up for their lack of options with superior execution, but the service was nothing to write home about. My least favorite RW visits were to Taberna del Alabardero (but the previous posters are correct that Taberna is excellent when it is NOT Restaurant Week) and Palette--very underwhelming. Good luck, and have fun!