Apples & Bananas

Cava tends to be a good bet for wine and they've added some items to their menu recently which are a nice change of pace. Senart's has a solid wine list as well.

Does anyone know where I can find gooseberries in the area? Willing to drive out a ways to get them if I have to.

I have some friends in town from Chicago who have asked if they can pick up a case of Old Style (anyone from or who has been to Chicago will know what I'm talking about). Anyone know of any good liquor stores in the area with a good beer selection that might have it?

Thanks for the review, I've wondered about that place on 18th. Also wondered about Shawarma King on Columbia Road... up near the Safeway. Anyone been?

I went back in January soon after they opened. I was rather pleased with the Shawarma, but thought the service set up was slow and inefficient. Certainly a lot of potential there. It's good to have some competition in the neighborhood.

The roof is going to be the place to be during the spring and summer. I remember taking the tour over a half year ago (back in May or June maybe?) and I'm so happy to see this opening. I wish I could be in town for it.

Good luck Dave!

Ok. So what should one think when the GM of a major new restaurant appears way too relaxed on the occasion of the grand opening?

1) That he is way out of his league and just doesn't realize that he is on the cusp of the major "big wave" of his career.

2) That he is on some really good meds.

3) That he is quietly confident that he is in on a really good thing.

Based on my quicky tour of Eventide with Dave, I am betting that it is #3 above. My reasons are that this is a truly impressive space. He has one of the best young chefs in the kitchen. It is in an excellent neighborhood, where one more restaurant -- no a restaurant that is in a different league -- will be more than welcome.

Eventide is doing a slow roll opening, by reservation, so if you call you might get a table for sometime this weekend (I didn't ask if he is fully booked, so no promises there).

You've gotta love the smell of a new restaurant. As I mentioned, this is a lovely space. The second floor dining room features 18 foot high ceiling, really cool kind of mod oriental decor, the original terra cotta walls have been restored. Didn't get a chance to look at the wine list because my ride was coming, but the bar lounge on the first floor has its own menu and is also distinctive. The rooftop is not yet finished and is fully outdoors, so only available when the weather permits, but it has a nice panoramic view of the neighborhood.

My go-to place for sushi/sashimi at the bar was Sushi Taro. Now that it's closed for renovation, I am debating whether to go to Sushi Ko or Kaz Sushi. My MO is to sit at the sushi and request that the chef give me whatever is fresh and good. Which place would you recommend? I've been watching this Japanese documentary about tuna fishing---after each catch, they follow the fish to the restarurant it ends up at and shows "glistening" (from camera lights, i bet) toro and ever since I can't get my mind off toro.

I think it depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for straight up sushi, I feel that Sushi Ko might be the better choice. I've gone to Kaz when I want to mix things up a little.

You can't go wrong with either place, I think it just depends on what you're looking for.

So I'm in Chicago for the month on business, living in the Lakeview area (Belmont and Lakewood), and was wondering what's in the area that I shouldn't miss. I'm at work for most of the day (and night), so I don't have a lot of time, but I'd like to hit some of the highlights while I'm here.

Has anyone tried Obelisk recently? I have reservations on Friday and would love to get a preview if anyone has visited since March 2008. Thanks very much!

Tom on his weekly chat today said:

Capitol Hill: Hi Tom,

If you had to pick one Italian restaurant inside the Beltway that would make you think, "Wow, when did I arrive in Italy?", which would it be?

Thanks!

Tom Sietsema: Right now? Obelisk. The food coming out of that kitchen these days borders on enchanting.

So the Michael Mina place is just going to be another branch of his (pricey) steak chain Bourbon Steak ($22 for an American Kobe burger with duck fat fries in Miami ($25 if you click on another Miami menu link) though only $18 in Detroit). It doesn't sound that exciting. And does the lack of chat on this mean that others agree? Has anyone been to one?

The Arizona Republic just gave his location there 4.5 stars. Frankly, it doesn't sound like anything special. I'll just keep putting my name down at Ray's like everyone else.

http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dining/articl...729bourbon.html

Eric Ripert weighs in on the "perfect burger"

http://www.gourmet.com/restaurants/2008/07/ripert_burger

What are the general thoughts on his burger at WestEnd? I'm still saving enough money to buy it.

Artisanally crafted chocolates. On a stick.

How about just a place called "on a stick"? You've got your meat on a stick. Veggies on a stick. chocolates on a stick.

This needs to happen. and it needs to happen soon.

I am just curious, for all you Arlingtonians out there (and others). What would you like to see available at these kiosks? I guess lets focus on the food first, but if there are other things you would like to have avaialble, what would they be?

I for one think this is a great piece of news and I am curious as to who will take the proverbial ball and run with it....

Noodles, meat on a stick, pastries, arepas, etc.

The Arlington County Board has amended a zoning ordinance to encourage kiosks selling food and other goods. The press release says this is "designed to enliven County streets by encouraging small business owners who provide food, crafts and goods to set up shop in Arlington."

It sounds like Arlington was already ahead of DC in terms of encouraging food carts anyway. There was a Washington Post editorial in May discussing the bureaucratic hurdles of getting a food cart in DC and mentioned that was the reason why Pupatella was in Ballston. Hopefully Arlington will get more delicious little food spots like Pupatella.

What a great idea and great piece of news. It'll be interesting to see how this changes the dynamic in the main arteries of Arlington. Hopefully it'll bring some more diverse options into the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor.

I'm fairly current on area Ethiopian, but not up-to-the-minute current: Is there any reason I shouldn't go to either Etete or Queen Makeda tonight? Any other suggestions?

This has probably never been asked before, but do either allow BYOB with corkage? (Yes, yes, I know, there's this thing called a telephone...)

Thanks!

Rocks

I had a very good meal at Etete this weekend, no reason not to stop by there tonight or any other.

I don't want to keep adding to the idea that there's nothing but hate out there for Spike and this restaurant, but I just wanted to post a quote (along with the associated paragraph) of his from the article about him in the Express today and get reactions:

Tall and lanky, with a wiry beard and a rotating collection of pork-pies, fedoras, and panamas, Evangelos "Spike" Mendelsohn left his job and his digs for what he calls the next gastronomic frontier: "D.C. is the next big food city. It's like Vegas was a few years ago. And nobody is doing what we are yet. We're paving a way for ourselves here in D.C., but also, we're paving a new direction for the food culture here."

Discuss.

Nick - thanks for posting. I'm looking forward to stopping by when you open, so keep us posted. Best of luck!

They opened tonight. Stopped by randomly and was very happy with the product. I had the veggie pita which was everything you could ever want in a veggie pita. The veggies were cooked perfectly - just the right amount of crunch - with great goat cheese and a fantastic pita.

The girl got the chicken burger, which was very moist and very flavorful (which was surprising being it was a chicken burger).

The menu is very affordable, and the service was spot on, friendly, and informative.

They didn't have a dessert menu yet, but I'd imagine they will by week's end.

Also it doesn't look like they'll be open for lunch, but they'll be open late (2am-ish)

I'm so glad to see so many independent restaurants not only opening, but really thriving in Clarendon. In another year or two the stretch from Liberty Tavern down to Ray's (which is beyond Courthouse, but still) might be the place to be in NoVA. Makes me really glad I live there.

FroYo must be the new cupcake (or hamburger). The old CD Warehouse on the corner of 30th and M has Coming Soon signs for a frozen yogurt shop. Sorry can't remember the name, I was busy feeling sorry for the cd/record shop owners around the city.

It's an Iceberry shop.

Does anyone know anything about this place?

Ate at Amsterdam Falafel this weekend. I am at a loss as to why this doesn't get as many mentions as a burger joint. This is amazing stuff. Falafel is made to order and there is an infinite variety of toping you can apply, limited only by the space on top of your falafel. Toppings including some very spicy garlic dip, to grilled eggplant, to roasted cauliflower. Fries were very good as well. This reminded me of Falafel I have had in Europe.

Note..This is messy and can be extremly spicy. No plate is provided and neither are utensils. But they are not necessary, just be careful to eat over the table.

If you have never been here, go at earliest oppurtunity. Yes, skip the burger or flatbread and live on the edge.

Agreed all around. I think the fries are among the best in the city. With so many dipping options to choose from, it's hard to go wrong here.

Has anyone seen signs of activity or an opening date yet?

The last I heard, they're aiming for "Late July", but it very well may be early August. They should know more by later this week.

I don't know, that's not the vibe I am getting from this thread. Why does he need to come here and kiss the ass of every other DC chef? All the guy is doing is opening a burger and shake joint.

Also, in regards to him recognizing "the others before him" (i.e Richard and Ruta), I mean are these guys really known for their burgers (outside of this board, of course). When I hear the name Michel Richard I don't think, "yeah, that guy makes the best burger...". Also, Central opened less than 2 years ago, which doesn't really make it a DC institution. Comparing what Spike is trying to do at his place to Central or Palena is like comparing apples and bananas .

Well played sir.

Good points all around.

Wow. I have to say I have never seen so much hatred toward a place that hasn't even opened yet. Cut the guy some slack, let him open his restaurant, and then judge him and his eatery.

Also, the comments about him not knowing about Butterfield 9 closing. Should he really have his finger on the pulse of every restaurant closing and opening? I have nothing aganist B9, but it was a restaurant that flew below the radar. I would say that many long time residents of DC has/had never heard of Butterfield 9, why would Spike?

I don't think it's hate at all. I think we all want him to succeed, but we just want him to recognize that there were those doing this long before him.

Hmm...It seems to me that he has made it very clear that his main interest in the Washington area is as a less competitive and more easily star-struck launching pad for his franchise operations than New York would be.

Charming he may be, but his failure in his many media opportunities to recognize and show respect to the real chefs ahead of him who have worked here for years and have earned their accomplishments--most notably Mssrs Richard and Ruta, whose burgers truly are unsurpassed, if not unequaled (and Tom Power's too, if he ever brings them back!)--is certainly graceless, if not entirely enough to deny him the benefit of the doubt.

At least according to the terms of the restaurant world.

If you watch the actual video interview, it's amazing to see the look of confusion on his face when the interviewer mentions Butterfield 9 closing - not having any idea of what BF9 was. I understand he's been swamped with opening up the new restaurant, but if you expect to take a backwater city like ours by storm, you should learn something about it first.

And oh, they have Moxie. Haven't seen that stuff in a long time.

And Cheerwine! Every person from the great state of North Carolina (at least that I know) goes bananas over that stuff. Now if you only served cheerwine floats.

And for the viewers at home:

I think I was just getting in line as that picture was taken. What a gem you have here Michael. Yes the wait was a little long, but so worth it.

Also, just throwing this out there; but this might make that strip mall the best square block of food in the DC area. Want Pho? You got it. Want Mexican? You got it. What a burger? You've got the best. Want a steak? This is the only place for it.

Makes me glad I live in Arlington.

i can't wait to check it out

I think this just made my day/week/month/year.