jstevens75

What Id like to see is someone to take accountabilty for the total lack of quality control and oversight. Two groups, one pretended to own this, and the other pretend not to, just tell the truth and they may have been able to have success. If you have a bad experience and you want to give feedback in order for a place in your neighborhood to succeed who do you give it to at this place? Better yet, who would even take the responsibility to make things better. Places shut, yes, however, this seemed like more of a get rich quick, then a thought out idea,

When are the "owners" going to fess up to this miserable failure?

Went this past Saturday and follows is the report

1. No Tables althought place was fully staffed and about 10-15 tables empty so sat at bar with Wife

2. White Wine was nice and warm

3. Guac was also nice and warm, and tasted like it was beat by someone who was really angry

4. AC was broken, or simply underpowered. Heard they are fretting at the cost at replacing, I think it is much less than the cost of losing customers for good

5. Lobster taco size is a joke, you can get practically half a lobster at lukes for the same price you get two microscopic tacos, the flavor was good, but for half the price

6. Crab tacos were probably the best thing that I had, not exceptional but at least not offensive

7. Pork Rinds and chips both tasted exceedingly stale, again not trying to be vindictive, I really wanted to like this place, just cant overlook eating a chip and hurting my tooth

8. Enchiillada was okay, nothing to write home about and crema is not a food product people, its a condiment

9. Flauta pork cheek was good, however flauta itself was over cooked

10. Service was passive at best, abrasive at worst

All in all fits right into Georgetowns mix of overpriced mediocre restaurants. Not ever going back, I'd rather be hungry.

I guess I need to better understand what your ratings mean. My interpretation of 3.5/10 is that the sushi is nearly inedible, which just doesn't jibe with my Sushi Ko experiences.

Assuming you've eaten at top sushi restaurants outside of DC, how would you rate your favorites?

I just came back from NYC and had dinner at the sushi bar at 15 East, one of the most fabulous sushi experiences of my life, 8 or 9 out of 10. I had similar quality at Sushi Yasuda a few years ago. Both were fresher fish and better rice than I've had at DC's best sushi establishments, but not enough to rate Kaz a 5 or Sushi Ko a 3.5.

I have eaten at 15 east., while a great experience, I would rate it about a 9/10 maybe 8.5. Yasuda, Matsuhisa, Nobu London, Im not trying to proclaim Im an expert, again Im simply expressing my personal opinion. There are few sushi places in DC that I feel are worth my money on a consistant basis and the ones I listed are ranked accordingly.

You shouldnt have to sit in front of the executive sushi chef for the food to be good at a sushi restaurant. While omakase with Nobu at Sushi Taro is closer to a 9.5/10 I didnt rate the restaurant that. While Sushi Sono with King is close to a 8/10 I feel like the place overall is closer to a 6.5/10.

I understand what you are saying but if 90% of the diners are not sitting with Kaz or Koji, it is not fair to grade a whole restaurant with that.

As for Kushi me an a well regarded international executive sushi chef watched their "expert" sushi chefs do some things that would never be done at the highest levels. I am not here to bash other places, I am here to give a guide to people who are trying to find a place to not waste their $100-$200.

As a homage to the previous poster I have ate at all the restaurants listed a minimum of five times.

Thanks,

J

Sushi Taro is a 8/10

Kaz is a 5/10

Sushi Ko (Both) is a 3.5/10

Kushi is trying to be a 6/10 but is more like a 4.5/10

If you want Americanized Rolls the VA spots are the best, except for Sushi Sono in Columbia

Had an amazing Lunch at Ris this Monday. Was with some international food industry vets, and everyone loved what they had. Items included the Ceviche, the spinach Salad, and others. Please forgive my poor skills of description, yet I wanted to make sure that everyone knows what an terrific meal, service, and environment DC has at this wonderful restaurant.

I too am in the hunt for a location to house a bistro concept ny buddies and I have been tossing around since college.

If you are still looking PM me and I would be happy to throw some ideas your way.

His sources are correct. That is where they are opening at last notice.

So still no fresh fruit?

Just had Pho 75 today for lunch, and all I can say is that pho hot blows them out of the water. Next time it will be the drive to annandale no matter what. Pho 75 had 1/2 the amount of food including maybe at best 5 fatty thin (paper) slices of beef...just plain boring. Not a Pho expert, but Pho Hot was excellent.

Get the Chicken Nachos, they are great, and one of the few places that I have seen that use fresh cut jalapeno

Pulled Pork-Great...maybe second or third best I have had, next to BBQ House in Laurel and Apple House in Front Royal

Brisket-Just too fatty for my taste, could have been that one cut that one day, so try for yourself

Sauces-I agree combine them, great flavor, but taste a little processed to me

Ribs-Havent tried them yet but will

Owner-Very friendly and interested in keep quality and product top notch, however does seem a little understaffed when they are busy

Next want to try Black Hog in Frederick

Dollar for dollar the best steak meal I have had in DC in quite a while. Service was good, steak was exceptional, sides were a 7/10 (fries and sauteed spinach) and deserts were solid. Great space, and tremendous sommelier.

Go to BBQ house in Laurel. Best I have had in the area.(DC and Balto)

Just went back and had live Uni. Great stuff!! The only had it for two days, but apparently they get it in once every few weeks.

I agree. Great place and great fish, especially for 12.95. There is a place in Chicago that I used to go to that had made to order sushi as much as you could eat for $17...This is as close as you can get to that out here and everything is fresh. Worth the drive if you have the time at lunch.

Omakase the other night. Worth every penny, funny that I did go to Maneki Neko in Falls Church for lunch and had Asian Beetle and Okonomiyaki. Also had my new favorite Echigo Beer at Taro. The Kobe Beef Sushi at Taro was ridiculously good. Cost for Omakase at Taro was $110-$120 a person and you got your moneys worth, especially compared to my recent meal at 15 east in NYC.

Average at best, while the meatball sub had a good amount of flavor the quality and freshness that they clamour on about just wasnt there. Would rather go to Literris or Al's in Del Rey any day, for that matter every day. It wasnt bad, it just wasnt 20 dollars worth by any means. I dont think I will go here again for a long time. Too bad the food didnt live up to the hype.

Is there a place in the DC Metro area that does Bubble Tea with fresh fruit like at http://www.joyyee.com/?

Are you still looking for a space?

Did this friend ever find a location?

I stopped in with a friend last week, and I think the quality of the fish here is good. Same size issues with the sashimi that we ordered. The rice doesn't seem all that great from the rolls we ordered - Alaska (salmon, cuke, avocado) and Eel and Avocado, which were both rolled in tobiko. Could the tobiko be at fault? Sure. But I would be hesitant to order any nigiri given the state of that rice. Still coming in at $40 (just sushi and an extra miso soup) for two of us was a pretty good deal, it's one of the better slightly less pricey options in Chinatown.

Had another great meal here. Unagi is currently my favorite in the city. The toro literally melted in my mouth. The rock and roll was great. They even have fresh wasabi now if you ask the chef. If you want delicious salmon make sure to ask for Salmon belly. On top of it all I was going to have Uni and the chef told me not to have it cause he knew it wouldnt be to my standards that day. Also good for them, they had every seat taken last Friday night at 8pm.

The Italian place in Chicago is Spiaggia, where the Obamas apparently had a regular table for their "date nights."

There was a story someplace recently on the caterer that the Obama campaign used for everything here in DC. The head of Avalon Caterers (chosen apparently because they are a union shop) reported that Barack enjoys a lot of fish.

Spiaggia is similar to Tosca. I wouldnt doubt that it would be near to top of the list.

Anyone eat here recently? Is it still as good and fresh?