crazeegirl

What time does the kitchen close on weekdays?

We'll be in Chi-town for one, and only one, nice dinner in September -- so where should it be? It's been years since I lived there...are Everest and Charlie Trotter's still the creme de la creme? Or has Tru taken their place? How's Aubriot faring these days? We haven't been to Topolobampo yet -- is it worth making it our one nice meal?

I have tried Tru 1 1/2 years ago and until this day I think it is the best tasting menu I have experienced (Citronelle, Maestro, Le Bec Fin, Morimoto, La Mer, Clio, etc...) (I am secretly hoping that dinner at Per Se next week will top it!!).

The service was immaculate. My hubby was alittle "warm" after couple glasses of wine and tried to take his coat off. Instead of saying that he must have his coat ON, the waiter whispered to him that the temperature of the restaurant was high and that he will immediately adjust it so that it is cooler (btw, it was not warm...I had my shawl WRAPPED around me). Details such as: small tables next to the chairs for purses, versace tea cups to serve the chilled soup, the decor, pastry to eat with coffee the next morning made it a first class experience.

The food...we had the Grand Tasting...total of 10-13 courses (maybe more). Each of us had a different plate for each of the courses...meaning about 40 unique creations to oooo and ahhhh about! The cheese cart still makes my stomach grumble...

Massive download of everything related to Korean dining today in the Washington Post. Check out the links to restaurant info, too.

Annangol doesn't look like much outside, or in. Wedged in a tiny strip shopping center between Little River Turnpike and Columbia Pike, Annangol is a no-frills traditional restaurant specializing in pork. A few tables have built-in grills.

Korean was the only language heard throughout the room, though at least one server spoke fluent English. The restaurant's name is a play on Annandale's name. ( Gol means town in Korean.)

The menu is printed on the place mats, and not everything is translated from Korean, including the hot, spicy pork rib barbecue. The meat is cut from pork ribs, then marinated in a Korean hot pepper sauce before barbecuing. The grills are fired by gas, and traditional wire baskets hold the meat while cooking, creating smoke that flavors the meat.

The dol sot bibim bap is accompanied by what was described as a steamed egg: almost an egg soufflé, presented bubbling in its own stone pot. Annangol is a great place for anyone not afraid of trying new things. 4215 Annandale Center Dr., 703-914-4600.

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This is one of my favorite Korean joints for soju and barbeque. Get the spicy pork rib barbeque...the BEST in DC!!...the name of the dish can be translated as UGLY PORK RIB. If any of you prefer beef, try their paper thin beef barbeque. Make sure you ask to be seated at the larger tables (p.s. go with a bunch of friends who knows how to drink soju and don't mind smelling like barbeque afterwards) because only the larger tables allow you to cook in wire baskets. Believe me...it makes ALL the difference!

I am going to Nakwon Garden tonight, another hole in the wall joint tonight for thin beef barbeques and soju. By the way, Nakwon is one of the only...if not only....place in DC that uses coal to barbeque their kalbi and not gas.

Off I go to Regis for Happy Hour and then BBQ time!!

I think they have the best Indian food in the city, but I rarely dine in there because of the same service complaints you mentioned.  We usually phone in an order and pick it up.

The Dupont Circle location delivers to Logan Circle so I get my weekly fix of their chix tikka marsala and dal with naan at my place w/o being frustrated with service.

Just a reminder that they're closed on Tuesdays, but I've found better luck showing up around 8:30 or 9.  Or you could always try the bar (which is packed when Jamie is bartending, but otherwise has been available.)

Thanks...forgot that they are closed on Tuesdays!! Went to Ray's the Steak instead.

I think Citronelle makes some mean mojitos!!

What's the wait like around 7-8ish on a weeknight. I want to try it out but don't know if I am up to an hour+ wait outside in this weather!!

Today was my first visit to Reeves. Never even heard of it until today!!

The fried chicken with coleslaw. mashed potatoes and onion rings for lunch today was divine!! Can't wait to try the pies...I hear they have the best strawberry pies.

I'll bet Morimoto's place at Tyson's will end up on the list as soon as it has opened.

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Morimoto's opening a restaurant in Tysons? When?

CHEEEEERS TO THAT!!

'The Doctor said:

Also, has anyone been to 1789 lately?

They currently have this coupon on their website:

http://www.1789restaurant.com/coupon/index.cfm

I'm wondering if they have the full menu available. If so, I can put off my Restaurant Week meal there and try somewhere else. The deal looks nearly identical.

Was there last night!! We were seated in the main dining room...very romantic. We used the coupon, although most of us ended up eating the rack of lamb and filet so we had to pay an extra $10...which was definitely worth it!!

The appetizers we ordered were:

Scallop margarita: I thought it was the best ceviche I have had in DC. Way better than ceiba.

Mussels: garlicy and finger linking good...

Steak tartare: good but we didn't see the arugula mentioned on the menu. Just a mix of mache or baby greens.

Escargot: good

Softshell crabs: If you think you like Corduroy's version, try the ones at 1789. The citrus sauce drizzled on the top was amazing!! I didn't care for the tempura dipping sauce because it was good as is!!!

Main courses:

Filet: I had this dish. The beef was cooked to perfection...good...but not like Ray's...can't wait until I get by Ray fixings tomorrow!! I didn't understand what the eggs were supposed to do.

Rack of Lamb: Some of you may think it is gross...but I stole the bones from my husband and nibbled on it...all four of them!! Sorry, but that's the best part!!

Pork Chop: good.

Desserts:

Cheese plate

Chocolate tarte

Lemon something...

Sorbet

I encourage all of you to try it.

Do you mean a better location as in not in a hotel?  A better location within the hotel?  Or do you mean not at 12th and K at all?

The hotel lobby had this 1~2 star hotel feel to it so you wonder if the restaurant will be serving sub par food as you walk into the restaurant. I think 12th and K is fine. Unless anyone bothers to walk there, it makes no difference if you are driving or taking a cab.

Was there last night...we did a six course tasting menu...it went like this.

Lobster Salad: All four of us never really liked lobster...Mr. Powers converted us to lobster lovers.

Vidalia Onion & Foie Gras Soup: I was glad it was served in an espresso cup. The sweetness of the vidalia soup and the richness from the cream(?) was great but...I don't know if I would have liked a whole bowl of it.

Softshell Crab: By far the best I have had so far this year.

Roasted Chicken(?) Duck (?)...probably chix: I didn't really care for it. I thought the meat was overdone...did enjoy the crispy skin though.

Seared Salmon: I am not a salmon fan. I ate the crispy skin and left the rest...it was cooked perfectly...moist in the center.

Braised Beef Cheeks (for some of us) and Grilled buffalo (for some): No offense to the chef but by the time the plates came...we were sooooo FULL that I think we all took a bite and left it. Yes, the beef cheeks were falling off and good...but a little too sweet...probably a personal preference...i like my meat raw and untainted!

Chocolate tart and Sorbet: The best sorbets next to those at Citronelle. YUM... The chocolate tart reminded me of my favorite warm chocolate cake at Rouge in Philly.

Generally, $55 (I think) per person is a great deal!! I wish the restaurant was in a better location!!

Next time...I will try the lamb...I was sort of disappointed that they ran out of scallops and lamb was not part of the tasting...I will have to make another trip in the near future.

For her main course, she went with the lamb sirloin in red wine sauce with the side of goat cheese ravioli. As soon as I saw her lamb, I realized that it would be too rare for her and encouraged her to send it back - she refused and ate about half of the lamb and said that she really liked the flavor. As for the ravioli, she ate every bite (besides the one piece that I "borrowed") and absolutely loved it. And I would have to agree. For my main course, I had the scallops with potato puree and morels. Again, wow. As has been said by others, they were pan seared and probably the closest thing to perfection as far as scallops go that I have had. And I ate this while enjoying a White Burgundy.


I am going to Corduroy tonight...can't wait to get taste of the lamb. Does the ravioli have a strong goat cheese flavor? I love all types of cheese except goat cheese.

I was at Dino's Sunday night...

My dinner consisted of:

Crostini: Baccala; dall'orto, carciofi, salsa asiago and toscano.

I loooooved the toscano (chicken livers) I could eat buckets of it.

Chicetti: Baby octopus

Maybe it's just me...I thought the octopus was tough.

Antipasti: Calamari Fritti

Our calamari is bunched together...probably the coating stuck together in the fryer. The pomodoro sauce on the side was so good...i asked for more and ate it with everything!!

Salumi: Affetatti Misti

Nothing spectacular....I should have had the proscutto instead.

Primi: Mussels

The best part was the grilled bread soaked with heavenly sauce from steamed mussels and clams.

Secondi: Branzino

I thought it topped the grilled whole fish at Pesce. I love it whole...with the head and all! YUM.

Insalata: Insalatona Tricolore

And the wine: 2 bottles of Sangiovese

This was shared amongs "3" of us...imagine how I was feeling at work the next day.

I'd say go to Corduroy before Zola.  I think the offerings at Corduroy are more innovative and the presentation more artful.

Does Corduroy have a menu online?

I schlepped out to Colvin Run a few months ago and it was not worth it. The only memorable part of the meal was the prime rib of beef and that was because it was so overcooked and dry.

Save your gas money and order in a pizza instead.

I was at Bob Kinkead's and his brother collaboration joint in Boston, Sibling Rivalry. A big disappointment. We had raw oysters, tuna tartare, foie gras and beef tenderloin. Middle of eating our "skinny" oysters, my husband bit into the most FOUL smelling oyster. My 1/2 dozen were okay but the mignonette sauce with sesame oil? a big faux pas...sesame oil overpowered the taste of the oysters so much that I just had mine without any. The tuna and foie gras were above average...nothing spectacular but no disappointments. The beef tenderloin came out medium when we ordered rare...The restaurant offered to take the oysters and steak off our bill...which was graceful of them. But don't restaurants get it???? It's not the free meal I am looking for. I will pay for quality. Bob Kinkead should not be opening up restaurants with his name if he is not capable of ensuring the quality!! To Bob's credit, his wine list was excellent. We ordered a New Zealand Savignon Blanc (name, which I forget) and a Cab from Kelman Vineyards.

Did you do the tasting menu + wine tasting? Or should I just order wine by the bottle?

In the new issue of GQ magazine Alan Richman details his 23,750 miles traveled and 162 burgers eaten across the country to deliver to us his opinion of the top 20 burgers in the country. Surprise surprise, not one with-in 100 miles of DC. The closet one is the Rouge Burger from Rouge in Philadelphia, it is ranked #4.

What was number 1? It was the Sirloin Burger from Le Tub in my home town of Hollywood, FL.

I used to live next to the building next to Rouge...not only were the burgers great, but their chilled curried carrot soup....to die for.

Shirlington THAI's lunch menu's ares good. I am addicted to their Tom yum gai sum...without noodles and LOTS of bean sprouts wih condiments (green chilis in vinegar..HOT HOT HOT)..although not exactly the noodle soups I used to have in Thailand but good enough or more like cheaper than an airplane ticket to get me there!

My wedding anniversary is coming up in August...after going back and forth whether to go to Maestro or Citronelle...I got reservations at Per Se in New York. I hope Per Se lives up to its reputation. I still have reservations for Maestro that I have not cancelled yet...I shouldn't forgo the Per Se experience, right?

Do they still have fried oysters and panna cotta? I will be soo soo sad if not.

This is a lot more expensive than its Anandale counterparts, and while I did not find the service more unfriendly than anywhere else (which doesn't say much), it does tend to get more crowded.  I too would stick to Hee Been and Sorak Garden.

Woolae oak is going nowhere...the one in Pentagon city will remain open and they will be opening the one in Tysons corner in couple weeks.

being asian, i have had my share of ramen...the broth at merkado is clearly made from seasoning inside a ramen package (lots of MSG...uck). Also, udon without broth? After one meal at Merkado, I am not compelled to go again and shell out my money for instant food.

I am about to make reservations at Maestro...what was the price tag for the tasting menu + wine?