Robert Rymarz

On 12/8/2023 at 9:45 PM, DonRocks said:

I agree. 

i think they had a “one-day-only” special the day after Thanksgiving, but I have no other information about what were undoubtedly the best pizzas I’ve ever eaten. And I mean that if I was asked to rattle off the ten best pizzas I’ve ever had in my life, all ten would be the Happy Gyro NY-style pies. I miss them terribly.

In hide sight I should have made the drive. 

It’s all I needed to make the drive. Soon! 
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/03/18/ekiben-restaurant-baltimore-cancer/%3foutputType=amp

20 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Last night, we got the five-cheese pizza - every bit as good as the asparagus, albeit in a different way. Each piece has one, impossibly mild, ultra-thin slice of jalapeño which enhances (rather than detracts from) the piece - I wouldn't think that was possible.

These are six of the eight pieces. This may not look like much, but these are some of the greatest pizzas I've ever eaten:

We got tacos too, but I didn't have any (lunch report: "They were great.")

The sourdough was had with a five-hour roasted lamb shoulder this evening, bought from Georgetown Butcher - as good as sourdough bread can be.

The sourdough-and-fig gelato is still in the freezer, waiting to be enjoyed, probably tomorrow. I've pondered the moral ramifications of making an ice-cream sandwich (literally, an ice-cream sandwich), with the sourdough-and-fig gelato in between two slices of the sourdough bread, or maybe open-faced atop one slice. If that sounds revolting, ask yourselves how it's any different than bread pudding, pain perdu, a bowl of cereal, or for that matter, a regular old High's Dairy Mart ice-cream sandwich which is made with cocoa-wheat bread wafers encasing vanilla ice cream.

Would you happen to know what time the takeout menu comes online? I assume daily and not the day before, correct? Seems the items sell out fairly quickly. Would be quite the drive only to be rewarded with (no pizza for you.) 

3 hours ago, DonRocks said:

No, no - this is not the type of experience you'd drive 4,000 miles round-trip for; Pizzeria Bianco in its heyday was worth the journey (as long as you enjoyed the journey itself); driving down I-95 for this otherwise-wonderful pie - only to scarf it down in your car - just doesn't seem to have the same romance.

Understood, though I would love to support Johnny. We have some of our best memories ever at Komi. Although I’m not sure I’m capable of a DC trip now even under the best of circumstances. Would you believe my profile pic was taken at Pizzeria Bianco? That little girl is 18 years old now. Time is flying by. 

14 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Thirded. (It should be mentioned that the pizza is $32, but it's easily enough for two hungry adults (eight pieces), and this is so good that it almost doesn't qualify as pizza (although pizza is exactly what it is) - it reheated beautifully in the oven after being left out overnight.) I'm clearly biased towards recency, but I don't know that I've ever had a better pizza than this - as good, sure, but better?

Haven’t we been here before? Sending me off on another pizza journey. Although, it’s a few thousand miles closer to home. 😉

With neither open 30 days yet. Imagine after giving them a full year of service. 

I am not surprised at all; potential diners like me are approaching this place with trepidation given Chef Silverman's penchant for "southern/comfort" cooking. For $250 a head, I first want to see the menu and hope that it includes the likes of caviar, foie, wagyu, etc... The fact that P&P operates as a morning cafe serving fried chicken sandwiches also cheapens the brand for me personally.

I was there on opening night. I had a fantastic meal, but also think opening night is to premature for a review. I uploaded all the courses on Instagram for those curious.

Nobody writes a review quite like Don. Nobody!

Makes one want to jump out their chair and go. Actually, I have done exactly that.

I hope that is not their intention as the Michelin Guide doesn't cover the DC area.

Is the New Years Eve menu the same dishes we have had over and over? It's my understanding the menu has not been released yet.

It isn't just time and/or money.  Can I say that there is nothing more annoying in DC's restaurant world than waiting in line at Rose's Luxury?  Mostly it's the fucking hecklers who walk by and hassle you, the captive audience.

"What are you waiting in line for?  Rose's what?  It's just a restaurant?  Why is it called that?  Is it really worth it standing out in the cold/wind/rain/[sunshine when you could be out doing something fun]?  What kind of food is it?  What is modern American?  Wow, I've never seen so many people standing in line before!  How long have you been standing in line?  FOR A RESTAURANT???"

Money spent avoiding idiots is not money unwisely spent.  I don't mind the time spent, it's just the quality of life in line.

When those passing by stop and ask me if it's worth it. I point to my license plate if I'm parked in front of the restaurant. I usually get a eye roll as they move on.

Recently visited Roses Luxury for the fifth time. That adds up to 4000 road miles and its worth every mile to me. I can't say enough about the restaurant, simply one of my all time favorites . 

Random note:  I walked past at 3:15 today and there were about half a dozen people outside who looked like they might be queued up for the 5 PM open.  I really hope they weren't, since it was a gorgeous day with plenty of opportunities for doing stuff, and 1:45 wait time seems insane even to me.  End random note.

Some people spent big bucks on some form of entertainment in Vegas last week. Its all so mindbogglingly subjective.

I can only imagine the national press Johnny Monis would get if he only had a Twitter account and tattoo sleeve.

Top two restaurants on my bucket list are Faviken and Etxbarri. Excellent post, and thank you for sharing!

I have been to Roses Luxury three times in about 60 days. Big deal, right? Except I live 400 miles away and its worth the journey to my family. Congrats to the whole Roses Luxury team!

No shows are the least of the problems that restaurants who take reservations suffer. Every single person who calls for a reservation wants to come at 7:00. This is not possible for obvious reasons ( go to Outback Steak House to see what I mean). The table times have to be jockeyed so that there is time to turn the tables at least once in the night. Every night I see people with 8:30 reservations show up at 7:00. Then there are the "campers" who think the table is theirs for the entire evening. And the people who call to say they're running a half hour late. And the last minute cancellations after you've turned 20 people away on the phone. Taking reservations is like gambling that people will be honest with you.

Well said, Sir. And you will find people are even "less" honest then usually with the preconceived "master-servant experience" perception already in place.

deangold, pretty much said it all.

Seat incomplete parties and you are putting your faith in the honestly of mankind. You will get your feelings hurt! The friend who is parking the car is actually 45 minutes away, now the next party expecting to be seated is mad as hell, and is counting the hours until they can write their next Yelp review. Service starts to tumble into chaos and it becomes a nightmare. The general public tends to look at restaurants as their own public sanctuary, escape from a busy stressful day. Truth is, they are a business as any other. Don't turn tables and you will find yourself putting the closed sign on the door, especially in a restaurant with limited seating. Start accepting reservations now with the demand of seats as Rose Luxury and you can expect 30+ days out. Then you face the problem of no-shows and scrambling to fill lost seats. I think Chef Silverman is making very smart choices and it surely is proving to be a success. If its not broke....

Twitter is jumping with this news. Last night for popcorn soup until next season.

https://twitter.com/RosesLuxury

So glad you enjoyed Nightwood, darkstar965!

Chef Vincent is finely beginning to get the reconition he deserves. Such a humble, down to earth guy. I can't help but cheer him on.

Can't agree more on Nightwood, one of my best meals this year. I sat at the kitchen counter and let J.V. cook what he wished. Must have had 90% of the menu.

Photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84954050@N00/

Based on my experience at Zahav, it's entirely unnecessary to partake of their tasting counter - just go to the bar and order. I don't think you could spend $90 there on food if you tried.

Likely my best option. My daughter will be turning 21 soon and thinking Zahav will be a good choice to celebrate her birthday.

Is the "tasting counter" menu different than the regular tasting menu? They normally have two flavors of tasting menu - Tayim (choose apps and a kabob) or Mesibah (a parade of apps and the lamb shoulder). My review of Mesibah is here. One of my best meals of 2012.

Yes, but not a easy task getting a reservation. http://philadelphia.foobooz.com/2012/08/01/reservations-for-zahavs-chef-counter-going-live/

Has anyone tried the tasting counter menu at Zahav? Thanks in advance!