jandres374

We ended up going Saturday night. Our dining companions canceled on us at the last minute - turns out they were the lucky ones. The babysitter showed up early which allowed us to get there early and check out the bar since we had not been there before. The bar is very nicely decorated and apparently no one has told the people of Bethesda that we are in a recession - the place was packed, standing room only in the bar area. Apparently, the $15 glasses of wine did not scare enough people away. It was restaurant week in Bethesda, the menu consisted of maybe 2 starters and 5 main courses and 4 desserts. My wife went with the restaurant week menu while I went with the regular menu. When we finally sat down the food was well disappointing. I started with the virginia oyster chowder, cornmeal fried oysters, bacon, potatoes, leeks 14. Call me crazy but when I read "cornmeal fried oysters", emphasis on the s at the end of oyster, I expect more than one oyster. I received one fried oyster on top of a flavorless chowder. I then had the ale braised long bone short rib, sweet potato apple puree, rapini, jus 24. This consisted of a basically flavorless short rib with an awful sweet potato puree that just did not work. My wife went with market lettuce salad, roasted apples, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, dijon vinaigrette 8, which was fine. Her main was flat iron steak, braised wild greens, house made steak sauce 20, which was cooked as ordered and flavorful based on the one bite I had. I forget the desserts but they are nothing but average. Service was fine and wine list is decent for MontCo County. Wife had to send her drink back as it was poorly made, I am drawing a blank on what she ordered. They handled it well without blinking an eye. Probably be a long time before we return.

From Kilman's Chat Today: Ray's the Steaks, Lowering Its Prices ... ... Ray's the Steaks, the David-like steakhouse that took on the big meat Goliaths and won, will reopen in its new location in the Navy League Building just up the street in Clarendon (2300 Wilson Blvd.) on Tuesday the 10th with a new reservation policy, two price drops and a new "bistro special." Reservations will be available by phone throughout the day for any of the 16 tables in one of the main dining rooms. For a table in the other, larger room -- which seats 90 -- there's a phone-ahead wait-list. Landrum has lowered prices on his NY Strip (down from $29.95 to $27.95) and his 9-ounce filet mignon (from $27.95 to $25.95), and has instituted a three-course bistro special (soup or salad; hanger steak or scallops plus mashed potatoes and creamed spinach; and dessert) for $23.95 Monday through Friday. Eight new items, priced between $14-$19, have also been added to the menu. RTS will also begin selling wines from the list for retail purchase, at a discount. ...

Any recent reports since the change in chef and retooling of the menu? Might try it out this weekend with some out of town guests.

Funniest line of the day by Reverend Joseph Lowery: "We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right,"

Dinner turned out fine - nothing special but I don't think they try to be special. Service was fine, no complaints from any in our party. Had a couple of the pizzas which were cooked perfectly with nice char on the crust. Pasta dishes were slightly undercooked but nothing worth complaining about. Wine list was workable. We will probably return with the kids but not for an adults only night out.

Any recent reports on this place. My wife just informed me that we are going there tonight with friends (their choice, not mine).

Just changed jobs and now working in Old Town Alexandria. Looking for some good lunch places in the area beyond the obvious (Eve, Vermillion, etc). Looking for some places with good sandwiches, etc. Thanks

My company is looking for a spot to hold a company dinner to accomodate 40 people. We are looking to try someplace that maybe has a private wine cellar to do somw wine tasting followed by dinner. Any thoughts?

Anyone have an update on the opening date? Walked by last week and it looked to be close.

Thanks for all great advice. We ended up at Proof with a table in the dining room (thanks Mark). My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We ended up splitting a couple of small plates: Roasted Baby Beet salad, white tuna crudo, beef sashimi, gnocchi (although I don't think I shared much of it). We then split the seared scallops. Everything was as good as expected. Our server (Sarah?) provided exceptional service and provided perfect wines to match each dish. The pacing of the dishes was perfect to allow us to enjoy our food and wine with each dish. I had the goat chessecake dessert, which was different then I what was expecting but very tasty. My wife ordered the banana dessert but after a couple of minutes we were informed they were out of it and if she would like something else. I'm not even sure what she ended up with but she enjoyed it. When the bill arrived we were informed that both desserts were comped because they were out of the bananas. We did not ask or even want anything comped. From the time we entered until the time we left we were treated like we were the only people in the place, despite the place being packed. We will be back soon.

I guess I need to end the speculation and "confess" that I am not that Jose Andres. He just happens to have the same last name as me. Funny, the couple of times I have been to Jaleo and make a mention of my name to the hostess she just rolls her eyes like she has heard that one more then once. Sorry to disappoint everyone. Just a regular guy here looking for somewhere to take his wife Saturday.

Just found out that we landed a babysitter for Saturday night. My wife and I do not get the opportunity to get out much but would like to hit up somehwere special. Since we just found out we can get out, getting a reservation will be next to impossible (at least according to Open Table). We are considering the following. Which would provide us the best opportunity to land seats in the bar area as that appears to be our only chance at around 7 pm. CityZen (never been) Mendocino Grill (never been) Palena (have been and really enjoyed) Central (never been) Rasika (never been) Proof (never been) Ray's the Classics (have been and really enjoyed, although we went with the kids so meal was not as relaxing as we had hoped)

Cava continues to produce very good food and drink and moderate prices. Had the following: Baby lamb chops (grilled to a perfect medium rare) - the bed fires just merely acceptable, little too thick an undercooked for my liking Grilled Meatballs - very tasty and a big hit with kids who thought they were hamburgers Grilled Octopus - just merely good nothing to really right home about Spanikoptia - big hit with my 6 year old Also had the calamari (little greasy) and Hummus for the kids which were also very good. All in all another great meal here. Good attentive service and good value. Arrived close to opening around 5 pm with a few tables already seated. When we left about 1 hour later place was packed and we had to fight our way out the front door.

My wife has asked me to purchase a bottle of Italian Red (I know very specific) for the owner of her company. Not much to go on but would like to get something that is drinkable now, in the $100 or so price range and readily available in this area. Thinking maybe a Barolo or Barbaresco. I know this is not very specific but thanks in advance for any suggestions. I am confident that I will get some great suggestions here.

We are going for dinner tomorrow night and I pulled up their website. It appears they have a new menu (at least new to me) and a tasting menu that I do not recall them having previously. Curious if anyone has tried the tasting menu.

Actually, it was not I (deleted poster) who submitted to Kilman. Sorry to disappoint.

My wife and I are traveling to Savannah next week with the kids for spring break. We will be able to dine out one night without the kids so we are loooking for a place to enjoy the best local cuisine in the area but also trying to avoid the tourist trap places. We were originally thinking Elizabeth's on 37th but were informed by a local that it is overrated. Someone else has mentioned Vic's on the River. Any suggestions?