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I got back recently from Spain and was shocked to see a Five Guys in Madrid and in Barcelona.  Talk about feeling right at home (in a bad way).  Also plenty of Burger Kings scattered about.  Of course, I was all about the tapas so was not remotely interested in trying these burgers.  I have to say though that the  Egg McMuffins in China are much better than those at home.

The first floor is the Mongolian  Restaurant where they serve the Hot Pot.  Second floor is the Chinese Restaurant (where the dimsum is served).

3 minutes ago, Bart said:

How was it?  The meal I had at Vinh Kee was fine, but it didn't seem any better than Sampan Café, or Hong Kong Pearl, or Fortune (RIP).  

There was just the two of us ladies and we didn't want to stuff ourselves.  We got the turnip/radish cake  (lu bok go) which was surprisingly good.  We also had shrimp and chive dumpling which was pretty good but a bit bland.  Finally we had egg tarts which were some of the best I've ever had.  I would definitely go back there and try other things if I was in the neighborhood like I was yesterday (for the Travel Show at the Convention Center).

21 hours ago, Bart said:

 I’m here now (11:25 am Sunday) and the place is only 1/3 full and there’s plenty of parking.    Just an FYI. 

Could it be because it was St. Patrick's Day and the usual customers were out and about with the wearing of the green?  I was at dimsum at Tony Cheng's for the first time (not bad by the way) yesterday at 12:30, also pretty empty.

I usually order the Gambas al Ajillo during happy hour.  Sometimes it is excellent, sometimes chewy and the garlic is burnt.  We went there for Restaurant Week last month and the meal was terrific.  I had turnips appetizer which was unusual but satisfying.  We both had snapper filets for the entree which were delicious.  For dessert, husband had flan (which he loved although not a dessert person) and I had some chocolate mousse thing which was good but I was hoping to have the advertised churro with chocolate sauce which was not available that evening.  I was impressed but unfortunately the snapper is not available on their regular menu.  Oh well.

Good to know about the Crystal City location.  I went there about 8 years ago and thought it was terrible.  Never went back.  Now I may give it another try.

😭😢😰Boo hoo.  I really liked the pizza here.  Luckily I've found other good places like Wiseguy, Pupatella and Pete's aPizza.

20 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Will be back on Open Table on Jan 7, 2019.  I think ditching OT in DC is very short sighted.

I am curious why you think that.  When I reserve online, I don't mind that it is Resy or Yelp or Reserve.  Are some patrons loyal to OpenTable for some reason?  Maybe they are familiar with the process and/or get points?

I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago to Cafe Bonaparte in Georgetown and thought their onion soup was excellent.  I've been disappointed at onion soup at:  Cafe Tatti, Le Chat Noir, Mussel Bar.  The onion soup at La Madeleine was better than those 3 restaurants.

Anybody know what is going on with this restaurant?  I walk by it all the time and it has been closed since August and it is still closed.  How can a restaurant temporarily close for 4 months? Here is the latest article about it:

"After Brief Hiatus, Ballston's Stageplate Bistro Plans To Reopen next Month" by Alex Koma on arlnow.com

Based on DaveO's recommendation, we went here for dinner tonight.  Wow!  Delicious burgers.  Even my picky husband liked his burger.  The bacon was made fresh and the blue cheese was good too.  French fries nice and crispy.  The service wasn't the greatest, but for those burgers I can suffer a bit.  We'll be back!

I like Mon Ami Gabi in Reston Town Center.  When we stay at the Dulles Marriott overnight for a park and fly, we eat there for dinner.  From the website looks like they serve weekend brunch as well as lunch.  It's sort of a French version of Carlyle Cafe. 

Hi where is the best place to eat Branzino in Maryland or DC?

I've also had nice branzino Greek style at Greek Taverna in Mclean.

What do you make of this strategy? 

"Stageplate Bistro Closes Temporarily in Ballston, with Plans to Re-Open this Fall" by Melanie Pincus as arlnow.com

I've been here a couple of times.  OK, it's not Pupatella, but it is a pretty decent Neapolitan-style pizza.  You pick your own toppings (like Chipotle, etc.) and they put it in a 1000-degree oven.  They have a ridiculous loss-leading promotion:  "Monday Tuesday & Thursday  All Day, Unlimited Topping 10" Pizza For $5.99"

I guess I'm supportive of them because it seems like an Indian family's franchise.  I've seen the father and his 2 children working there.  Maybe I'm just imagining this.  The place is always empty-ish when I am there so I don't know how long they will last.  It's a mystery to me why they are not more patronized.  I'll have to do my best and go there more often.

BTW, they have a delivery promotion via Grubhub if you are interested, but I don't know how well these pizzas fare with delivery.  I think they need to be eaten there.

We tried them a couple of times (long ago, right after Hsian Foong closed).  I liked it (esp. beef/broccoli) but my husband didn't like it.  Don't remember why and he probably doesn't either. Perhaps we ordered the lemon chicken which we loved at Hsian Foong and it was not good.  I think it is time to give them another try.  Thanks!

1 hour ago, DaveO said:

Possibly I'm not that discerning, or possibly because I invariably pick up take out orders, or possibly both, I don't have problems with their takeout. or its probable I don't order beef with boroccoli and sweet and sour pork. (shrugs)

Can you tell me what you like there?  I'm willing to try different dishes (although it will be a fight with my husband).

33 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

It seems you can avoid the crap shoot by not ordering sweet & sour 😀

True, but that is my husband's favorite.

9 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

I'm wondering just what possessed you to make that fifth order.

I don't know.  Desperate for a good Chinese carryout, I guess.  It worked that time, but every order is a crap shoot.

I've been a regular go-er here for years and years.  They always plop my usual drink down before we order.

My favorites: 

• chicken satay
• fried tofu appetizer
• wonton soup
• mussels (although would like them to add a bit of coconut milk in the broth)
• goong pad eggplant (flash-fried eggplant, shrimp, Thai basil, peppers with a great sauce)
• red curry (love the sauce here)
• pad see ew with beef (outstanding!)

Husband's favorites:

• Crystal Thai Fried Rice
• Drunken Noodles
• Pad Lard Na Talay

I should venture out beyond my usuals and try the new dishes but I am happy with these.

On 8/25/2016 at 12:29 PM, DaveO said:

TNR virtually never fails.

When it is good it is very, very good, and when it is bad it is horrid.  My experiences with TNR take-out delivery:

• 1st time:  pan-fried meat dumplings, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork.  Everything top-notch
• 2nd time:  pan-fried meat dumplings, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork.  Pork meat tasted very old and off
• 3rd time:  pan-fried meat dumplings, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour shrimp.  Rationale:  they can't give me old shrimp.  Guaranteed fresh.  I was so wrong.  Apparently, they had taken some old sweet and sour shrimp, re-battered it and fried it again.  Disgusting big lumps of old shrimp and tons of old and new batter.  Had to throw out.
• 4th time:  pan-fried meat dumplings, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork.  Keeping fingers crossed pork will be fresh.  Pork was indeed fresh but full of gristle I couldn't eat.  Oh well, better than old meat, right.
• 5th time:  everything good again.

I haven't given up but wish I knew how to get them to give me better consistency with sweet and sour pork.  Dumplings and beef/broc always great.

On 7/17/2018 at 5:58 PM, Kibbee Nayee said:

 the forgettable Piola?

I know I am the apologist for Piola here.  Although I haven't been there in a year or so, and their non-pizza dishes are not very good, but I usually order a pizza with Greek olives and that has always been very good!😋

^{I just walked by this afternoon and the place has re-opened.   I feel bad that people will think it is closed and won't patronize it.  On Yelp, it says it is closed, but you can make reservations on OpenTable.  Best of luck to them.}

18 hours ago, dcs said:

I vaguely recall going to a Scholl's Cafeteria in Rosslyn in the mid-1980s.  You could sit down there. 

When I started out in the workforce, my office was in the GAO building and I shared a ratty old apartment in Cleveland Park.  My commute home:  take subway to Farragut North.  Get off and eat dinner at Scholl's.  I used to love liver and onions in those days (wouldn't touch it now) and that is what I had there along with their incredible pies.  Peach was my favorite.  Then walk back to Farragut North and transfer to the bus to get me to my apartment.  At the time, the bus route was a war zone as they were building the rest of the Red Line then (Cleveland Park stop did not yet exist).

18 hours ago, DaveO said:

McDonalds (first of the newer places in) replacing its long long standing stand alone building across from Metro.

At McDonald's, check out the mini-chocolate croissants called chocolatines.  Only 79 cents so it is small but satisfies the chocolate/sugar craving.