hopsing

Booeymonger at Ballston is closing or has closed to be replaced by a Nepalese restaurant.  Booeymonger Ballston couldn't survive with the empty office buildings.

https://www.arlnow.com/2023/12/05/new-nepalese-restaurant-in-ballston-appears-to-be-replacing-the-last-remaining-booeymonger/

This place opened up about a month ago and I've already been there 3 times.  The dumplings are very fresh (the lone exception being the soup dumplings but probably a 1-off issue).  They don't have their liquor license yet but hope to have it by Christmas.  I highly recommend the Tiger Signature dumplings, Tiger Signature potstickers, scallion pancakes, cod dumplings, fried fish filet.  I haven't ventured out beyond my current favorites yet.  It's a very nice looking place too.  Service is friendly and kind.

https://www.tigerdumplings.com/

I went here for the first time for a group lunch.  I knew what to expect because it was a GAR restaurant and the menus overlap.  I had a cheeseburger, terrific as usual.  Their prosecco was really refreshing too.  What surprised me though was how crowded the restaurant was on an ordinary Tuesday and it is a big place.  $$$$ for them!

La Union is my go-to for Mexican food these days.  I was on a Uncle Julio roll until a few months ago when their enchiladas took a turn for the worse.  La Union food tastes freshly made plus I want to give mom-and-pops more business.  I get the Enchiladas Trio and my husband gets the Combo Platter.

We've eaten there 3 times, all since Cherry Blossom Festival.  My friends wanted to eat there after walking around the Tidal Basin.  I groaned because I thought it was one of those ripoff expense account restaurants.  I was so wrong.  It was great.  Since then, we went on our anniversary in May and just Saturday for hubby's birthday.  We had tapas all 3 times.  Our favorites are:  eggplant chips, shrimp in garlic oil, squid ink on risotto, crab cake, and fried calamari.  The 2nd time we went, I was bracing myself for disappointment.  It was great.  Saturday I braced myself for disappointment.  Again the food was great.  I do get nervous ordering wine as their cheapest bottle of red is $55.  I managed to pick a good one so we will just order that one in future.  Their bread was really good too.

I visited the Ballston location soon after it opened. Although I was hoping for Peter Chang quality, I found the food to be more like PF Chang’s. The food was not particularly fresh or tasty. The only good thing was that I could donate my old tea cannisters to them since they use them to store chopsticks on each table.

Did carryout from A Modo Mio last night.  What a great meal. Caprese, minestrone soup (same as the old Joe's soup), lasagna, and paccheri bolognese with added meatballs. My husband said the meatballs were better than the old Joe's meatballs.  My husband enjoyed his paccheri bolognese and I thought my lasagna was excellent. Unfortunately I forgot to take a pic of the lasagna I was so focused on eating it.   I'm putting this restaurant in my regular rotation.

Had lunch here yesterday and was very impressed.  Impressed enough to contemplate what I would order next time I go there.  My friend and I both had the spaghetti del mare (fresh big juicy mussels, shrimp, scallops, and octopus).  Felt like I was at the Amalfi Coast.  They have a great lunch deal ($11 for any pizza or  pasta).

On 4/5/2021 at 1:58 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

 However, I don't agree that the duck at Cho Eden is "Vietnamese roast duck."  It's a standard Cantonese roast duck.  They also make other Cantonese "BBQ."

Yeah, I was wondering about the duck description myself.  Hmmmm.

I'm interested in trying this twice-cooked chicken that Carman raves about.  Wondering if it is the same as my beloved Cantonese fried chicken (炸子鸡).

Quote

Com ga chien gion at Pho VA (6765 Wilson Blvd., 703-944-7373, pho-va.business.site😞 five-spice chicken ($12), a double-cooked bird that holds its own on the menu. Poached with aromatics, then fried, this turmeric-tinted bird can be eaten straight off the bone.

Article about the new owner in the Washington Post magazine today.  Scroll down to near the bottom:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/interactive/2021/one-year-pandemic-people-who-made-big-change/

It takes guts to buy a restaurant during the pandemic.  He deserves a chance!

Bummer.  This wonderful restaurant closed on Valentine's Day.  Couldn't pay the rent due to the pandemic.  We will miss this place with its nice grapevine patio.

https://patch.com/virginia/mclean/greek-taverna-close-after-28-years-mclean

Although I had a bad experience here some years back, I gave the new owners a try.  Verdict:  decent, good enough to be added to our rotation for weeknight carryout.  I had eggplant parmesan with linguini and that was pretty good.  Eggplant was homemade not frozen.  Husband had fried calamari and spaghetti with meatballs and meat sauce.  He also liked his meal.  We shared a tiramisu which was very good.  The spaghetti sauce is not super-garlicky like it was in the old days which is a relief.  The mom&pop owners are friendly and eager to make a success of this restaurant.  Inside is renovated and inviting - hope to eat inside one day.  I wish the new owners the best of luck and I will try to patronize them regularly (easily done as they are just up the road from us).

Looks like it's in Falls Church and not Vienna.  Thanks for the tip!

20 hours ago, Dr. Delicious said:

the Peking Duck, which comes with an ample amount of sliced scallion, sauce, and pancakes, and is packaged with thoughtful care with meat separated from crunchy skin via foil, which i appreciate. They also give you the duck carcass, which is ... interesting.

Good to know Peking duck will survive the carryout journey.  China Wok has been my go-to Peking Duck place for years but haven't been back since the pandemic started.  We boil the duck carcass to make duck broth (much more flavorful than chicken broth).  Other dishes we like are the tofu-eggplant combo, braised pork with tofu skin, salt and pepper shrimp.  One waitress there speaks my Toishanese dialect - it's embarassing how much I've forgotten.

This place opened, I believe, during the pandemic.  It is place is near my house so easy to walk in and do takeout. The falafel is amazing- fresh and soft - not like the deep-fried hockey pucks I get elsewhere.  My husband's chicken shwarma also delish.  That was for lunch but I can see doing takeout dinner here too - just pick up before 6.    This will be my go-to Middle Eastern place from now on.  It is targeted for the office lunch crowd since it is located near a bunch of office buildings off of Glebe Road near Booeymonger.  It's a great option for people tired of Cava or Sweetgreens.  Here's the menu.  It doesn't have prices but the prices are reasonable, even for a cheapskate like me.  Give it a try.  They need the business!!!

https://www.oliveexpressvirginia.com/olive-lebanese-eatery-menu/

I've read that landlords can offset paying taxes on revenue with losses from their vacancies.  Otherwise, I don't understand why it is taking so long for the place to be rented.

I'm excited about bringing the Il Canale pizza over to Joe's!  Maybe some other dishes too.  We went once to Il Canale a few years ago.  We liked the food but not the parking situation in Georgetown nor the cramped confines of the restaurant.   Neither one will be a problem at Joe's.

That commercial is hysterical.  I don't recall every seeing it.  The wife in pigtails and wearing a Chinese top. Classic!  My father had a laundry in Brooklyn back in the day.  Secret:  he didn't use Calgon!

Interesting.  I mentioned this to my husband and he says he used to buy musty old books there.  It was run by a Miss Marple-type lady and it was indeed a house that sold books, so aptly named.

Here is a photo of Pupatella patio and parking lot (Wilson Blvd location).  No need to sneak parking at Safeway anymore.

Wilson Blvd. location has a nice big patio in the back (converted parking lot).  They settled with the landlord about the lease so they are staying in the Bluemont location.  https://www.arlnow.com/2020/08/07/pupatella-is-staying-put-in-bluemont/

4 hours ago, DonRocks said:

I enjoyed many a meal in this shopping center - the parking garage was never a problem, and was actually downright serene on the bottom level.

The serenity, at least on Saturday nights, ended when Aracosia opened up.  It became hard to find a spot down there.  That was pre-pandemic when we used to dine-in at Greek Taverna.

I had to cut through their outdoor seating to pick up my Greek Taverna takeout a month and a half ago.  The patrons sitting there looked at me like I was a leper walking by -- I couldn't maintain 6 feet from them.  Oh well, I don't blame them.

On 9/22/2007 at 10:45 AM, smiller said:

I'm looking for the best Thai restaurant in the DC-area. Any suggestions?

I'm probably alone on this one, but I like Crystal Thai in Arlington Forest shopping center, next to Outback.  Granted, I always get the same couple of things there so don't know if other dishes are good or not.  We get:  goong pad eggplant, pad see ew with beef, tofu tod, drunken spaghetti, Crystal fried rice, red curry chicken.  Staff is very welcoming and they have fun decorations for various holidays:  Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc.🙂

I remember that Roma patio fondly with the shade and the grape arbor.  I worked in that area for many years and looked forward to that lunchtime oasis for good pizza and a break from work.  We still went after it converted to Firehook but the food was never as good as Roma.  Patio still nice then though.