Josh Radigan

I can only assume his partnership in Pork Barrel BBQ has given him some thought to doing his own BBQ at Mango's.

After a bite at the bar down the street at Cheesetique, walked down to this spot. Not bad at all, small but not cramped. I get the idea from the minute you walk in, this is not the stroller crowd spot. Both bartenders were upbeat and the place was packed. Took a spot at the bar. WBG selections were ok, that is if you enjoy every product from Michael Downey. There are other wine distributors in the area. Food was good, not great. Roasted roma tomatoes on a salad, this time of year? As well, they are somewhat clumsy on a salad. Both my salad and wife's salad were lightly dressed, something I like, not for my wife. I have the arugula and raddichio salad, lemon dressing, pecorino cheese, good bite, simple acidity. I had the capresse pannini, needed something....salt. Somewhere, and that seemed to be the common as my wife ordered the flatbread. Decent portion, but dough seemed very..meh. Needed again salt. Overall again, food was decent, will go back if not just for the bar. Good spot to get away in DelRay.

Hit up the DelRay location yesterday. Gotta say, again, long wait times for service, and portion sizes for cheese that make my eyes hurt they were so small. One suggestion, how about rotating the WBG selection? Bummer of a visit to close out the year.

The Majestic Lounge (Evening Star) was in use well before the Majestic Cafe.

First observation, the 2up Shiraz listed at $36 bones is a 4 times mark-up. I understand Hotel restuarants have a slightly different margin to work with, but...

The old fridge concept is very similar to the ones they have at The Standard Tap as well as something common in traditional Irish Pubs. Reason being is that most traditional Irish Pubs were located within someones actual home. Cool I guess.

I live up the street and see Mike in there from time to time. Not sure as to what the hold up is, but anticipation is leading to flat out frustration. More restaurants is what the neighborhood needs, but at this rate........

Locally Ace Beverage is great. Short drive out of town, The Wine Seller in Richmond, The Wine Merchant in Baltimore, near GreenSpring.

http://www.tarara.com/LongBombEd1 looks like they initially did due to a poor yield with fruit, at least the first edition Long Bomb. Not sure after that year.

I believe if my memory serves me correctly that the first vinatge of Tarrara's Long Bomb Red wine was actually made from grapes that were produced in Washington State and shipped to VA. I am not sure if they still continue with that tradition.

I support local wines that I find appealing and as well through quality. But one of the biggest issues that has been at hand for the local industry is simple found in the ground and above. The climate is truly much tougher on vines in this region than anywhere else, not because of its cooling nights and ashorten growth period like one would find in Burgundy, but because of humidity and rain. One wonders why its so hard to predict weather in this area, simply drive west on I-66, go the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mts and find the answer. many weather fronts either bloom or bust due to the winds that travel along the ridge of that mountain line, thus making it hard to predict systems moving in and out, especially during the budding season in the early part of growth. One other note, red clay. Virginia is known for it, especially down the route 29 corridor. Red Clay is one of the hardest soils in which to grow vines. besides all of that, some great wines are being produced in Virginia. I am proud to say that Virginia winegrowers are making great strides.

The spelling aspect of his/her story alone is an embarassment. Part 2 for those keeping score.

To Mr. Strasburg, may your stay in Hagerstown be short lived, and the next steps in your progression only get better with time. Excited to see that 95 MPH fastball, and with movement. Pudge, give him the chance to open up the cutter.

I told them to do simple food, no steakhouse, no huge portions. Just simple food that limits ingredients so as not to get flustered by the impact of pre- and post theater show. No one listens.

I know some of the owners and investors, none of which have any connection to the Kennedy Center, yet work in the same building for a law firm. With the right combo, the right kitchen and PR the place could succeed where others have failed. It will struggle because those looking through the rose colored glasses don't see the water coming from the bottom of the boat. I know they did some renovations to spruce up the place which was needed, but they just didn;t do enough it seems like. A shame.

2nd time in 3 months, walked in, waited....waited..waited for service at the cheese counter, 10 minutes later, and out the door. 3 staffers behind the counter,4 customers, and Ileave empty handed. I understand that its the Farmers Market morning in Del Ray as i should know since I live in Del Ray, but when customers taste out 6-7 cheeses, its time to move along. It doesn't mean I will never go back, but its frustrating.

Went in a couple of weeks ago, the Del Ray outpost and had a blah kind of meal. Nothing great, but then again nothing tow rite home about. I had the vegetable tacos, hard shell and they were ok. Bland flavors, but then again it could have simply been the vegeratbles themselves. My wife had the Bean burrito and it was cold on the isnide as well as the queso with it, cold. Will go back and rsutle up another try. Just waiting to see how the Los Tios expansion takes off.

Agreed, its stupid that one who makes the hardest decison of choosing a restaurant, and walking in, shouldn't have to lie about getting a table, nor encounter staff that treats you as one of another million that will eventually walk in the door. The company that owns Circa is a construction company with no restaurant experience and this time it showed.

Spoke with a colleague of mine yesterday at a birthday party who had the same experience with the table. All but one of the guests had not arrived, hostess had attitude, refused to seat table, yada yada yada, they left. As he pointed out, there are so many other options in Clarendon. I did point out to him that on the slightest chance the reasoning on not seating the table could have simply come from people coming in,waiting for another guest, sitting down, and holding the table for another 20 minutes while the guest arrived. Thus causing a possible back up or delay in turning tables. The attitude is ocmpletely and totally not needed, but a thorough explanation of their policy. That is where the manager should have stepped in to explain, if that is truly their policy.

http://www.arlnow.com/2011/03/29/ruffinos-spaghetti-house-hopes-to-open-soon/ more movement

Over the years my dinning out locations have become way too sterile, or just too far away. My wife and I like to eat in Philadelphia it seems more than our hometown of DC. Strange? Thats for another day I guess. We live in DelRay and while we do have our favorites and our 'go-to' spots on the avenue, we decided to venture into DC. I don't know why, well actually I do as a recommendation from a member that belongs to the Club that I help to manage suggested this place. Well, I have to say that although the food wasn't revolutionary and why should it be, it was a good meal. I will have to say on 2 points pros and cons. Our server, Cherie I believe, was great. On point the whole night, in when we needed her, out when we wanted to talk. Knew the menu, as she should, but allowed us to explore. The portions sizes were spot on as well, just enough for a meal, not too much that you leave feeling overwhelmed, but not too small where you feel cheated. Something I am big fan of late when dinning out. The cons, noise... eh... yeah, its noisy, but its one thing when noise is dubbed in to make a place feel 'hot' or the place to be, or its simply poor construction layout, but this is simply a small, narrow space, that was packed at 930Pm, when we left, as well as when we showed up at 7PM. Other con, wine pricing. I am snobbish when it comes to it simply because when I know how much they pay, and how much they are up charging, its tough to swallow. Its a part of business, I know it, yet it doesn't mean I have to like it. As quickly as I make that remark, I did enjoy the bottle of Barbaresco that we picked out, a 2006. I don't typically write food experiences simply based on the fact that I feel somewhat amateurish when expressing my thoughts on a dinning night out. Sure I could tell you my thoughts on the upcoming baseball season, who i think will be a sleeper team, who is over paying for talent, and why the Nats are a year away from being the 'it' team. As well as explain why Football players are acting like crybabies over the NFL lock-out, especially the ones who have a $5million dollar contract bonus and as well as a 5th grade reading level. What I will say is this, the meal and service were great, and isn't that what it is all about. Greek salad, and Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce for my wife. Caprese salad, ugh tomato out of season..I know, I know, and Bronzino with mushroom risotto.

Yu should see the world I work in then for special requests. I run the Food and Bev. for a Country Club. You want an omelette at 9PM, sure. Filet on the bone at breakfast, sure. You name it, we do it. Special requests are all that we do it seems sometimes.

and to add to that note simply look at the Chesapeake Bay. Much of its decay has been brought upon for 2 reasons, industrial meat farming and over development of the coast line for residential housing. The industrial farming issue is simply waste that is pouruing into tributaries that lead into the Bay. Thus casuing alagae blooms and depleting the bay of oxygen and killing underwater life, thus oysters and crabs, as well as fish. 2 of the biggest violators are the Smithfield Pig farm, and Perdue.

under the table. How does this change the scope for VA restaurants. I know in Philly BYOB's are the norm due to strict liquor regualtions in the state.

http://www.arlnow.com/category/news/ As reported on the arlnow.com website this morning, the bill passed in VA.