wristband
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Everything posted by wristband
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Kibbee, thank you for the rec on Nostos. Just returned from lunch, a lazy Thursday before the holiday weekend, and the room was packed. Service, ambiance and food were excellent! Whole grilled dorado perfectly done and expertly deboned, a mashed eggplant dip and the fava bean dip, Taverna salad with octupus and calamari, a terrific paper-thin zucchini fried and served with tzatziki. All in all, Nostos is a very nice new spot with a number of dishes to consider next time. I've read gripes elsewhere about the sound level. Today's filled up small sized room indicate the gripes are correct. The acoustics are less of a concern for me but clearly a concern for those hard of hearing. I would imagine the problem is exacerbated at dinner when louder conversation drifts in from imbibers in the bar area.
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I must admit I was skeptical at first but was proven dead wrong. I recoil at the notion of eating at large mall restaurants (Yo, GAR) but I was totally surprised today. Service was knowledgeable and excellent, menu offered interesting selections, ingredients were varied with many organic items, presentations were all nicely done. The room itself is appointed in darker shades with many booths. Unlike Coastal Flats & Legal, one does not feel as if you are stuck in a Greyhound terminal. The menu claim is S52 dishes are each less than 475 calories. Yey, if indeed true, its a big plus. A flatbread chorizo special was flavorful with just enough heat. Two fish entrees - grilled salmon atop a generously mixed salad and grilled snapper atop a SW base of black beans, jicama and green beans (odd, I admit) were winners. Decent wine list. Price points are reasonable. I would definitely return if going to a movie or seeking a pleasant meal in the vicinity of Tysons. And, yes, I apologized profusely to my lunch date who had to counterpunch to deflate my initial skepticism about going.
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Again, for those interested in factual discourse, do Google "George's" on Via Veneto in Roma. Read & ponder the delights. Then google many other Rome restuarants hollowed out by family gangster termites, a practice molto notorioso in the Eternal city. But here in DC? Huh? Dig and consider the interesting circumstances which are repeated, uh yup, ad nauseum documented in WaPo. Golly gosh, what does this mean? Could this simply be a folk tale about SKIM & THE CUT? Fear not! Up here in the peanut gallery reading WaPo articles detailing a well coiled operation, same folks nailed over & over, coughs up obvious clues. Namely, where precisely did all of that damn cash wander off to? Linen suppliers? Radio ads? Limos? Party favors? To "ownership"? Goodness gracious, I am amnesiac. Exactly who are the mysterioso Italian "owners"? Mr. Chapman please provide names. Corrado, might now you cheerfully spill where the cash went? If G3 is indeed kaput (how would I know?) after this article, why then certified cash flow statements a DC accounting firm will pinpoint the flow of G3 cash easily. Pray tell, which accounting firm handles G3 biz and will those CPAs now attest to the accuracy of the numbers? Thought not. Off the books cash activity is a fascinating forensic subject. Especially of interest to those who claim a piece of a cash flowing business. Caveat emptor and all that.
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From B.A.R.: "The reincarnation of G3 seems to be nothing less than one last sting, preceded by 15 years worth of fraud with wine companies, wine distributors, investors, payroll shenanigans, tax evasion, etc. etc. etc." That is "it" precisely! This oiled operation hollowed out the business like termites. M.O.: obtain fine wines and expensive liquors, stiff vendors and staff, pay de minimis taxes, dodge rent, funnel cash to...Say, wait a sec! Where did all that cash wind its way to? Since the cash was skimmed, a fork is now stuck in the business, the only issue that matters is the adequacy of the CUT. May I suggest Corrado is not now enjoying la dolce vita? Might well be sweating bullets in bella Roma. Such widespread adverse publicity can not be welcome by the "Italian" ownership. Rome offers numerous examples of well-known crime families hollowing out celebrity restaurants, laundering illicit gains, sucking them bone dry into insolvency. Google "George's" on Via Veneto for a particularly craven debauch by organized cutie pies. Might we also hypothecate an East Coast family-owned loan outfit is in contact with ownership about the books of account presented to justify the CUT? After all, based on WaPo articles, "Italian ownership" now knows it's not dealing with paradigms of veracity.
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"which demonstrate a repeated pattern stretching back over a decade or more....let's not forget the steady stream of emails from the chef offering cooking classes in his home - cash only, of course - ...while tax obligations and employees remained unpaid. Taxes that were collected from me and other diners and not delivered as they should have been. I'm not interested in being stolen from - as a diner or a taxpayer." Well put! Personally, I would not patronize this latest disgrace. After Bebo, I refuse to patronize a venture with Donna's name attached - even with the usual disclaimers he, like Sgt Schultz, knows nothing. Repeatedly fails to pay taxes, fails to pay hard working staff, stiffs vendors...a long and tawdry trail leaving whole lotta hurt yet again. Why anyone would justify subsidizing this outrageous conduct as a desire to sample fare from this chef is beyond me. I reread last year's posts clamoring here to "respect the craft." The only "craft" on parade is the exact same cunning that continues to exploit hard working folks living paycheck to paycheck, harming DC area businesses depedent on a customer honoring their obligations and municipalities now spending valuable resources to fight a tax evading scourge. Only one lesson here: those who patronze this unseemly behavior only encourage it and promote more pain.
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I agree - the fajitas are the best item on the menu. The other items, in my experience, are oversalted and heavy on the cheese or lard accompanied the usual gut bloating suspects. The fajita platter is indeed huge but if one goes easy on the chips and has fajitas why, that can be a decent Tex-Mex meal which is a darn tootin' hard commodity to find in NoVa.
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American Flatbread, Broadlands - Closed
wristband replied to Al Dente's topic in Washington DC Restaurants and Dining
I love it - been buying & enjoying their frozen Herb & Cheese pies for years. I don't care for the Revolution pie but, hey, that's me. Cautionary notes: taste and texture varies from package to package. Don't mean to imply a range in quality but there is a difference from pie to pie for whatever reason. Also, take 'em out of the freezer 15 minutes before baking, then watch the baking process carefully. As there is no tomato sauce, pies can overcook after seven minutes and morph into a pita chip. -
Funny enough, I too had lunch there last week, ordered the same bento box and had a similar reaction as you. What struck me, however, was the shabby and unkempt appearance. From the entrance way littered with garbage to the carpeting, which seemed to have been installed in the Carter administration, it was an unpleasant welcome. I realize the quality of fish served is top notch but I must say I was taken aback by the environs.
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St. Thomas [Any recent meals in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas? The last and only time I was there was in 2004. Craig & Sally's in Frenchtown - open for lunch & dinner - is the best on the island. Excellent wine list and creative food. Parking is tough. Most restaurants on STT are absurdly expensive (ingredients must be shipped in) for the product offered and the product is decidely unsatisfactory. There is a luncheon place in the center of Frenchtown, called something like Hook, Line & Sinker, that has a pleasant setting on the docks and the food (esp. fresh fish) is not bad. Also, near the Tutu mall, Randy's offers a nice wine bar (and wine shop with a surprisingly good selection) with a menu highly praised by islanders. Ate there twice several years ago and I do agree that Randy's is a cut above most others on STT - but only average when compared to DC area. Caveat emptor with regards to almost all other STT restaurants. Choose a nice setting and bring low expectations. In Red Hook, you are best served by going to the upscale market and buying groceries/prepared foods/wine/booze to bring back to your room if you are staying on the East Side. Restaurants in Red Hook range from mediocre to awful.
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I had the sad misfortune of having lunch here today. While the room is nicely arranged and decorated and staff is cheerful and responsive, the food was decidely mediocre. NY Strip at $32 is billed as prime quality - tough, flavorless and nowhere near the quality of The Palm or Mortons. Or Clydes! This was one of the worst steaks in the area I have had. Butchering on the meat was odd - a nerve ran through the center of the strip. "Flakes" were sprinkled atop the steak which added no flavor (msg?) but created a strange impression. A $10 hamburger was also tough and flavorless, the bun more so. Big piece of lettuce and tomato. Highlight of the lunch was Cesear salad. Entree salad options were littered with unappealing ingredients (salsa, corn nuts - geesh). I get it - grilled slabs of beef and potent drinks in the center of McLean is why JG is popular. The bar area is inviting - tv, airy room, comfortable stools - so for a "conservative" club-like sensibility in McLean to drink and drink heavily, this may suit you.
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Hate to report this but we had a mediocre lunch at LT the week before Thanksgiving. Seemed the D Team was in. Sausage pizza with a specific mushroom was delivered without that mushroom. Far too heavy a hand piled on cheese which added to the bland flavor and overwhelmed the sausage. Atlantic Char was listed with black rice on the menu (served that way previously) but the dish delivered had bulghur (!) which was, when we questioned, identified as green lentils(uh, nope). Grilled octupus appetizer, usually stellar, had been sitting for a bit. Side of sauteed greens floating in butter and way oversalted. Ok, ok. Everyone has bad days, this lunch crew was off their game, someone may have had a bad hangover and the Tavern has provided terrific meals to us in the recent past. But this was a big disappointment. We let our server know - no scolding nor hope for a comp. Our feedback was offered to help them know they can and should be reliably great. Told communication between kitchen staff and front of house was not always what it should be. Hoping for better communication on our next visit.
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I want to thank you for resurrecting the Bistro in my addled mind. I used to patronize the place frequently before that tiny plaza had a refacement years ago. Then, with all the other options opening up in the vicinity, it dropped completely off my radar screen. I will head the battleship back towards Wilson Blvd and play Mad Max in that odd parking lot. Looking forward to the pleasant environment and reasonable pricing after far too many years.
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As for Indian AYCE, Minerva offers an extensive buffett in its various locations. I am not crazy about the flourescent lighting and bizzbuzzing around the wide selection (others love it). I greatly prefer Haandi in Falls Church - the flavors and quality of their lunch buffett items IMHO are terrific and reflect the high quality of dinner entrees (obv limited selection on the buffett). Cafe Taj in McLean serves a daily lunch buffett for $9.99 in a pleasant setting and parking is easy. Though the Taj's buffett items are good and the selection is enough to satisfy most area office workers, I think Haandi is superior.
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Though I love PassionFish, excellent point on menu covers that don't close. Small but irritating as it lies "inflated" up on the table. Guess one could plop down the sugar packet box to keep a lid on 'em.
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I agree with Don's assessment. Been twice but there are other, better options elsewhere. Plus, getting in/out of that lilliputian parking lot off Old Dominion is a challenge. I find it interesting that Irani friends and acquaintances (esp. ladies at Hair Cuttery who rhapsodize about the rice scrapped from the bottom of the pan whilst clipping my auburn locks) are black-or-white opining on the (de)merits of Amoo vs. Shamshiry. Personally, I like Moby Dick for the convenience but Shamshiry is my preference for taste. Though traversing Route 7 these days is no fun. An old govt hand once based in Tehran claims the Saffron Grill - off Route 7 in Great Falls (in the Calico Corner lot) marinates the meat "authentically," the food is very good and reminiscent of his days in Iran. I have not been to Saffron but it is operated by a former owner of Moby Dick.
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And landlord, DC Sales Tax, Washington Gas, FICA/Social Security and IRS. At least credit card companies cream their cut off the top before sending a cent.
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Having never been to the Leesburg site, could someone please fill those of us who are clueless as to the merits of FW? I am interested in trying the Arlington spot but there are a plethora of wood oven pizzerias in the area all of which tout their cutie pie specialness. Plus, the FW site lacks a description of their product. What say ye posters? Why should I spend time and money on the FW Arlington pie vs. the nearby robust competition? Pizza lovers, start your engines!
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Dining in Tysons Corner
wristband replied to Monica Bhide's topic in Washington DC Restaurants and Dining
I'll prob get bashed for this but Clyde's does a superior job featuring local produce and offering thoughtful but straightforward choices. Clyde's, at least for lunch, consistently pleases me. Coastal Flats and Leb. Taverna (in the Malls) - you have to be very selective when ordering b/c there are duds - can be quite good. I don't care for the bizzbuzzing enormity of both rooms. For ease of getting in/out and pleasant service, I also like Nortons next to Banana Republic. Its like a local version of Houlihans or Chadwicks but the food and pricing are easy on the palate and wallet should you be in the Mall. The Palm offers surprisingly good deals and far more modest pricing at lunch with a variety of choices apart from the retinue of steak. -
Of course, it goes without saying Lot 12 is in Berkley Springs which is a hop, skip and a jump from Shephedstown and within the range of the poster's query. I have done the trip many times to/from Shepherstown and its approxy twenty minutes. My belief is Lot 12 is far and away the best in the area. But, heck, if you dig the Bavarian Inn glad to hear it. Personally, I would not go back.
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I have to endorse the above comments as reflective of our experience today. Salmon tartare had no taste, mostly onion and a too large chop tossed with mayo and capers with no seasoning. Flavors had no time to macerate and the chunks were too large for a tartare - fried chips were nondescript. Flat iron steak was perfectly fine (not distinctive) but the server kindly warned us anything ordering anything other than medium rare would be a tough chew. Accompanying fries were limpid and nondescript. The salmon entree was a large serving but totally average on a plate dominated by sliced new potatoes, a less-than single spear of asparagus and a single quartered baby beet the size of thimble. The much-touted olive oil chocolate cake was a disaster and the figs/dates were a gummy sweet mess. Coffee was pretty good. The menu is extensive, not but not that imaginative, and quite pricey. I think one can do far better in Tysons. BTW, the parking situation is an annoyance. Either valet park for $2 + tip or dodge endless "reserved and restricted" signs in the lot and the garage - you pass countless rows of endless empty spaces with such dispiriting signs - until you are ready to give up and head to McDonalds. Chef Geoff should impress on the landlord the parking situation needs to be made far more hospitable and less frustrating to patrons.
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BI has a nice location on a bluff overlooking pleasant scenery. Dining room was too stuffy for my taste but the Octoberfest lunch I had several years ago, with wild game and schnitzel etc, was not bad and the service was very accomodating in making certain changes. On the other hand, if you are looking for the best option in that area, consider Lot 12. Damian, the chef, offers interesting twists on any number of dishes and streses use of local organic produce, fish and meats. Lot 12 is in Shep proper in a restored manse. Never had a mediocre experience there with multiple meals over the past ten years. Nice bar area also.
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I am amazed at the throngs that flock to Greenberry's. The coffee is dreadful, tastes burnt, and its been that way for years. Admittedly, I have only been to the branches in NoVA but that's more than enough for me. Others obviously relish the ambiance as much as the coffee (and frozen yogurt!).
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I was in yesterday moning w/ several others - we really enjoyed cappucini, french press coffee, muffins and (as above) the egg sandwhich. This was the best cappucino I have had (w/ extra shot of expresso) in the DC area period. Outside seating and menu choices are nice pluses. Only concern is getting a seat!
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I agree with the key point above. Why should I/we as patrons support Donna with such a spectacularly nasty history stiffing staff and suppliers? Thought not.