u-bet!

For a quick drive-by 'que fix, I like Jammin' Joe's BBQ on Route 29 in New Baltimore. It's a trailer on the side of the road with some outdoor tables. Good pulled pork & cole slaw; outstanding baked beans. Also had a nice meal last evening in downtown Warrenton at Black Bear Bistro & Cellar on Main Street.

Time to update the title of this thread.

You almost had me convinced, but I swerved at the last minute and went for the slightly cheaper Fried Beef Bologna Sandwich. It was tasty, unique, substantial, and relatively reasonably-priced at $7.50. The $4.50 Grilled Jalapeno & Salty Peanut Chocolate Bar got melty pretty quickly in my pocket in the Saturday afternoon heat, so I waited until I got home and popped it in the freezer for a few minutes. It was about as good a prepackaged chocolate bar as I've had. But then again, I've been a sucker for the salty/sweet combination ever since I discovered how good my lunchbox pickle tasted when eaten at the same time as my Sara Lee chocolate cupcake in oh, about sixth grade.

Some recent meals: Ray's Hell Burger (original): The Dogcatcher, medium rare; skin-on fries; cole slaw. I did not add anything to the burger, but think it would have benefited from one of the higher-end cheeses. The overall taste was quite rich, as expected, although I would have liked it to have held together a little bit better (I think ordering it cooked medium would solve that problem). The fries were crisp and fresh-tasting, but I wish they would go a little easier on the salt. Cole slaw was nice and creamy and flavors very well-balanced, with no overpowering mayo taste. Contrast the slaw at Ray's with that served with my North Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich at McKeever's Pub in McLean. Even after I dumped it onto the sandwich and doused the whole thing with hot sauce, the mayo in the slaw was extremely overpowering. Same went for the potato salad served alongside. The pulled pork was dry and tasted mass-produced, with no smoke flavor at all, although they certainly did not skimp on the portion which was piled atop the also mass-produced tasting bun. I had enjoyed a previous meal of the blue cheese burger with their signature home fries much better. Lesson learned. The Ropa Vieja Sub I recently picked up for a to-go lunch from Cuban Corner in Rockville was hot, tender, and well-seasoned. The panini-style toasted bread tasted fresh and was a sturdy vehicle for the meat. The Cafe Cubano filled about two inches of the large to-go cup into which it was poured, causing me to ask the server if they had made a mistake. I was assured it was the correct portion, since "it's strong". It was indeed strong, but lacking in coffee flavor and overpriced, I thought, at $2.50. There was nary a soul dining in the place at about 1:30 PM on a recent weekday. I finally got a chance to try Taylor Gourmet on H Street, and ordered the 9th Street to go. I'm a big fan of the subs at The Italian Store, and was interested to see how Taylor Gourmet compares. It took me about 45 minutes to walk back to where my car was parked near the Capitol and drive back home to Arlington before unwrapping and eating the sandwich, but the roll held up very well with no sogginess at all. Although the Genoa salami finished first by a head over the other ingredients in the flavor predomination race, it wasn't enough for me not to consider the flavors to be well-balanced overall. After one sandwich, I consider this to be a worthy competitor to The Italian Store, and I'm looking forward to trying some of their other offerings.

You can also click on "Hours and Address" at the top of each page.

Maybe this belongs in the Help Needed section, but I'm curious how others dispose of/recycle used cooking oil. I recall an episode of Good Eats in which Alton Brown advocated just dumping it in the yard, since it is biodegradable. That's not feasible for me, as I live in a condo. Anyone know of any collection centers or options other than the old "collect it in a coffee can and throw it out with the trash" routine?

I suspect hay-smoked anything is rapidly on its way to the Trite Food List (may already be there; haven't checked the thread).

I like the Breakfast Burger, which I had today for the second time (I found it odd that the brunch menu was still being offered at 2PM, and can't bring myself to eat an omelet or real breakfast dish while drinking beer). Speaking of which, this is the only place in the area where I've seen Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA on draft, so they definitely get props for that, as it's one of my faves. The thin fries which came with the burger were unremarkable; the burger itself was very good. I think it would have been just as good without the sunny side up egg and crisp bacon, but those ingredients certainly added to the experience. My total bill was $30.09 (before tip) for three drafts and the burger, but it certainly made for a satisfying brunch/lunch/whatever-it-was. This is a good bar for game watching, as they certainly get a great picture on their large Samsung HDTV's.

I went on Saturday (opening night). Here are my impressions: Ambiance: A. It's a big space, and was packed when I arrived a little before 6:00. At the same time, it was not impossible to move around, and there was no inordinate jostling and/or dirty looks when brushing past people (can't say the same for every crowded bar I've been to around here). The crowd was a mixture of young and not-so-young; roaming around the place, I determined that it would be less crushing at the smaller upstairs bar. Once I got a seat, I found it to be very comfortable. Patrons at the bar were friendly, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Service: A++ . The attractive, friendly, knowledgeable young staff exuded a feeling of “I really want to be here right now and serve you”, and were obviously very well-trained. Both bartenders (a guy and a gal) were Irish. As I approached the crowded bar, the female bartender immediately made eye contact and asked me what I would have. Later on (while I was still hanging around the crowded bar waiting to get a seat), a server who had responsibility for tables also greeted me and asked if I needed anything. By my observation, things went unbelievably smooth for opening night; if anyone got flustered, they sure didn't show it. Food: A+. The Lamb Burger (ordered cooked medium) was superb – the lamb flavor was quite intense, and the burger was topped with bleu cheese crumbles, shredded lettuce, and a slice of tomato on a nicely toasted bun. The accompanying fries (chips) were nothing to write home about; not bad, but not quite what I expected. They were not crisp; more like slivers of baked potato or home fries (maybe that's how they do them Ireland; don't know, never been...) Beer: B-. The draft selection is just not quite my style, although they do pour a proper pint of Guinness. I tried the Beckett's Ale, Guinness, and Smithwick's, none of which really did it for me; would be nice to see them add some local stuff, like maybe Dogfish Head 60 Minute. I noticed Sierra Nevada and Newcastle Brown in bottles in the cooler behind the bar. It was amusing to hear a customer being chided (in a good-natured way) by the male Irish bartender for ordering a Bass: “This is an Irish bar!” In summation, Beckett's certainly appears to be a viable addition to the relatively slim quality food and drink options in Shirlington. I expect the crowds will remain for some time to come; it will be interesting to see if they can maintain the same level of service.

Today's Weekend section. "Might" bring more people? Ya think?!

Not sure - whatcha got in mind?

Hmm. I'm intrigued by your calorie-laden flavor bomb and wish to subscribe to your newsletter. What if I roll in there about 10:00 tonight? Does anyone know what time their kitchen closes (either location)? I don't see hours posted on their web site...

Tonight I had the Deviled Egg, Chicken Wings, Bell's cask ale, and Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop Ale on draft, not necessarily in that order. Being Monday Night Football night, there were specials to be had ($4.00 cask ale, $3.00 nachos and venison chili). My mission, should I choose to accept it - and I did - was to try the wings after reading about them in the City Paper. The Sriracha Sauce makes for an interesting and unusual take on wing sauce, and these were a winner. Just as hot (maybe more so) as you would expect, given the main ingredient, but have a cold glass of something-or-other close at hand and you should have no worries. The julienned carrots and celery kept things interesting. The Deviled Egg was a single soft-boiled egg with no shell (think hard-boiled egg on the outside, runny yolk on the inside) served on a plate accompanied by thin slices of toasted bread (possibly baked with a hint of Parmesan - couldn't tell for sure and didn't think to ask). A squiggle of mustard sat next to the egg, completing the deconstructed effect. I think this would make a good brunch or breakfast item. After one glass of the somewhat bland but fresh-tasting cask ale, I switched to the Sierra, being the (all together now) hop-head that I am. One sniff of the floral aroma told me that I had made the right decision. Service from bartender Eric was efficient, friendly, and knowledgeable, and all courses arrived in timely fashion. If you're a huge football fan and are really psyched to have the full MNF experience I would advise you to look elsewhere, as the pictures on the TV's are quite blurry, as if they are trying to show a low-def signal on high-def TV's; at the very least, something isn't adjusted right. Then again, Eat Bar isn't a sports bar, and if you're looking for a satisfying, casual Monday night food and drink experience, I think you'll be happy here.

Any indication of whether this is a limited-time special, or will it be a regular menu offering?

I remember a place like that, but I thought it was named after someone, like "Tom's Bar", or something like that.. How about the old Keyhole in Clarendon, near where the Red Top Cab garage is now? They were known for their chili, served in styrofoam cups.

I'll put in a plug for the IBA (India Brown Ale) Chili at Dogfish Head Alehouse. I've only ever had it as a side with chips for dipping when I've ordered the Alehouse Bratwurst, but it's also offered as an appetizer (in two sizes) topped with gorgonzola and sour cream, which sounds damn good.

In the recent spirit of ultra-contentious locavorism, Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA. Where have you been all my life?!

I believe Bev's stuff is now available at the Butcher Shop at the Westover Market now (at least according to the thread in Shopping and Cooking).

You wanna get nuts? Let's get nuts!

1) I think the pizzas in the picture actually look good. 2) I'm interested to see how the egg cream compares to the toasted marshmallow shake at Good Stuff, which I find quite tasty. 3) I need to get out more.

I would be willing to give the place a try. Forgive me if I presume to be the judge of whether or not the Ubet Manhattan Egg Cream is any good.

Sunday, right?

Upon closer inspection, there is in fact a grill at the upper level location. I have yet to notice it in action, but it is there.

Among the draft beers being being offered at the Red Porch bar last night: Clipper City Loose Cannon. I'm spending way too much time here lately.

I recently had the schawarma, and it was quite good. The meat itself was forgettable (some kind of processed chicken, I think, cut into small cubes), but it was also loaded with other tasty ingredients, such as fresh cucumber, tomato, onion. The pita held up well. There are two Max's stands, the main one in the area behind the right field bullpen, and a satellite location in the upper level behind third base. The main location is the one with the grill, where the items such as hot dogs and sausages with peppers and onions are actually grilled (no grill at the satellite location, just big metal cabinets from which the food items are pulled). ETA: I originally reported that the knishes have been discontinued, but that is incorrect; they are still there, listed on the menu as "Kosher Knish".