DannyNoonan
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Everything posted by DannyNoonan
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I have been to Orso twice now in the post-Will era and have been encouraged by what we found both times. We ordered our standard fare and found no striking changes, except for a marked improvement in the calamari as noted above. Fingers crossed that the smooth sailing continues.
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- Falls Church
- American
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Sad enough that Eventide is closing. I loved that place, especially the bar. Making its replacement a meathead joint like A-Town would be just insulting and would dramatically change for the worse that strip of establishments.
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I have had two meals at Liberty since the announcement that Matt Hill would be taking over as Exec Chef and the new Chef de Cuisine took the helm. I noticed no slippage in quality at either meal, measured relative to a large sample size of meals here under the previous administration. Two visits ago, my recollection is a bit foggy, but I believe I had the beet salad to start and a scallops entree. The beet salad was solid, the scallops were fantastic. This past weekend, I started with the Tavern Salad, which was satisfying if not exciting, and enjoyed the brook trout entree, which was excellent. I do recall being told that the sommelier had also departed and that we could expect some changes to the wine list in the future. I was informed this as I found out that they no longer featured the Deangelis Falerio by the glass, which was a bummer to me. Overall, Liberty still seems solid to me and will remain in my regular rotation for as long as I can see.
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I stumbled across this article today and thought it was relevant to the discussion. Seems as if maybe Mario Batali and some others think similarly.... http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-09-11/batali-raises-minimum-wages-maximum-prices-at-tony-del-posto
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I heard recently, admittedly third-hand from a friend who knows the owner of the Italian store, that they were indeed planning to take over the 7-11 spot in Westover. Timing was less certain but thought to be later this year when the 7-11's lease runs out. Fingers crossed as it would be great for that end of the shopping center but we'll see. -Sean
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My wife and I dined at Dino on Friday night and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was our first visit without kids in some time and it was nice to find ourselves in such a relaxed, welcoming environment. As is my tendency, I sampled liberally from the Negroni menu (the Leone and the Bianco) to start. Try as I might, I can't make them this well at home. My wife chose the Rickey's Raspberry and enjoyed it as well. We also enjoyed the gratis crostini we were offered. One with tomato and the other slathered with ramp butter. We both started with the heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad. I am not sure where they sourced these tomatoes but they couldn't have traveled far as they were at the height of ripeness. Paired with the creamy mozzarella, such a perfect embodiment of August. A hint of basil, swipe of balsamic and a sprinkle of sea salt heightened the experience even more. One of my favorite dishes executed perfectly. As an entree, I ordered the risotto with corn, which featured corn (obviously), zucchini, and i think grana. Nicely cooked rice harboring just enough bite. Well seasoned too. Again, simple dish but executed very well. My wife ordered the pappardelle with garlic and tomatoes and enjoyed hers as well. We ordered a nice bottle of Soave (I believe), taking advantage of the discount offered on bottles over $50, and were happy with the wine and definitely the price. We finished with complimentary limoncello and desserts - I chose the trio of gelati (pistachio, chocolate, and cinnamon). I am not a dessert person usually but these were awesome. My wife chose the tiramisu and i dont recall seeing anything left on her plate as we left. Overall, a relaxing evening highlighted by lovely, comforting food. I think Dino is a gem and really value the thought they put into their efforts. They try to do things right and that's the kind of place I care to support. -Sean
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- Cleveland Park
- Italian
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I had drinks at TNT last Friday and can vouch for their ability to concoct both a Sazerac and a perfect Manhattan. Both sublime. I also had the falafel on flatbread and a mixed green salad. Both solid, not especially notable, but not deficient in any way. I would order them both again. I will return here soon, though the lure will be the well-crafted cocktails and knowledgable bar staff not far from home. The fact that the food is pretty good is a bonus too. Sean
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I have been to Fuego twice since it opened and am so far impressed. I tend to first evaluate new places on how they do the simple things, in this case chips, salsas, tortillas, beans, and guac, as not doing those things well would seemingly not bode well for the more complicated menu items. In Fuego's case, all of the above elements were done nicely. The chips are light and salty and crunchy, not greasy. The salsas that accompany the gratis chips have a decent kick and deep flavors, clearly reflecting time spent in crafting them. The tortillas maybe a touch bland but texturally nice and made with care. The guacamole has a nice kick to it too and simple but good flavors. The black beans I have ordered are pureed, which I wasn't expecting, but quite good for eating on their own or dipping a chip in. I have ordered shrimp tacos both times. I like the portion size as it allows me to try other menu items without pigging out and I like the way the textures play against each other - nicely grilled shrimp, crunchy slaw, soft tortillas. The flavors are spot on too when you add a bit of salsa. I like the margaritas as well. I didn't detect any sour mix and would have been sorely disappointed if they had used one. Not overly sweet, still pleasantly tart, and very nice. Service has been cordial and professional on both visits, even when I was with my kids. I like this place and will certainly be back. Sean
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I ordered carryout from Thai Noy last night and, as I type, am enjoying leftovers for lunch today. I concur with Don's assessment of the Tofu Basil - it is my go-to order and I love it. Portions are at least generous as well. I tried, for the first time last night, the papaya salad as well and found it much spicier than I expected, but in a good way. It too was a very large portion for a salad and I enjoyed it very much. Also, regarding parking, I agree that is challenging to find parking in the small lots nearby. So much of a challenge that I rarely even attempt it. Instead, I park across the street near the school/library and bank or further up the hill on Washington Blvd and walk down. I really like Thai Noy and am glad that word has gotten around about how good it is. Seeing the crowds in Lost Dog dwarf those in Thai Noy time and time again is disturbing and says alot about how indiscriminate alot of folks are about where and what they eat. -Sean
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A lovely evening at Dino on Saturday left my wife and I pleased and our three first-time Dino diners pledging to return. Food, cocktails, wine, service, atmosphere all right on for a comfortable and satisfying experience. I can only vouch personally for what I ordered as I was too pre-occupied with my own meal to attempt anyone's dishes but I can report that everyone was pleased with their orders (which included big garlic pappardelle, linguini pesto, duck breast, eggplant parmigiana). Some details: I didn't realize it was happy hour until I sat down at the bar to await our fellow diners but was pleased to learn that I could have a Negroni Bianco (Plymouth gin, Cinzano Bianco, Cocchi Americano) for $5. I was rewarded with a sublime cocktail at a bargain price. To start, I heeded a friend's recommendation and ordered the Chard Pate. It was great. It seems to be essentially ricotta and chard combined, pressed into a mold, and served (2 generous slices) over a light herby, tomato sauce and topped with chopped tomatoes. Unique, satisfying, and very tasty. For an entree, I ordered the risotto with grilled corn and veggies. I was impressed with how well the components of this dish were individually prepared - green beans, corn, and rice were all al dente and stood out on their own. This dish was almost light for a risotto, very satisfying without making me too full. I also like the option at Dino of ordering various pasta preparations with polenta or risotto. It seems like a small gesture but I am sure it makes the menu seem much bigger to me and I appreciate their effort. For dessert, my wife and I split the baked peach which was served with vanilla gelato. Fantastic finish to the meal. Sweet, flavorful warm peaches, cool gelato, crunchy topping. Lovely. My fellow diners raved about the attention paid to ingredient sourcing evident in the menu and the welcoming atmosphere. They loved the fact that Dean came over to chat and seemed to be clearly passionate about what he does. Of course, my wife and I have known these things for some time which is why we continue to come back. -Sean
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Does this place have a bar? I need to find a place in Mclean to meet someone for a drink and thought it might be nice to try someone new. Thanks
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We had an unusually bad experience last night at Willow, much different than what we have typically found there. It seems as if a few forces (they extended Restaurant Week and had a large private party and our waiter was apparently having an off night) might have conspired to bring about the events so we won't hold a grudge but it might take a little while for this to wear off. I won't go into detail on the missteps but they ranged from really, really slow service, uncleared plates, and not being offered happy hour drink prices to me being delivered the wrong entree after a really long wait. The result was that we spent longer than we cared to spend at dinner and I ended up not even eating because I didn't have time to wait for them to re-fire my proper entree. They comped us two glasses of wine for our troubles and apologized profusely. All was not lost, however. It was a pleasant evening to sit on the patio, I drank two well crafted Negronis, and the heirloom tomato salad with basil mascarpone was quite good. We'll give Willow another try at some point but maybe not for a little while.
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It had been a long time since I had been back to 2 Amys until we ventured back Saturday night. After a fantastic meal, we won't wait so long between visits. Small plates and pizzas were fantastic. The highlights: Roasted corn salad - there wasn't all that much to this salad other than corn, salt, and olive oil but it was awesome. The perfect time of year for this salad and it didn't disappoint. Sheep's milk ricotta & heirloom tomatoes - again, so simple but the combination of creamy cheese, perfect tomatoes, fruity olive oil and salt made this a home run Arugula salad - peppery arugula tossed with shaved fennel and a vinaigrette that complemented but didn't overwhelm Margherita pizza - as advertised, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil on a well seasoned, slightly charred crust with good texture (without being chewy) They also had a cocktail special called a Gin Sophia (Bombay gin, blueberries, sugar, sparkling wine) that my wife liked alot. The bartender made me a fine Negroni as well. Overall, a fantastic meal and a lovely evening. This place is a gem.
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[Please note that it was apparently a sequence of nearly cataclysmic, highly unusual events that resulted in the disruption in service at NH on Saturday evening. It sounds like Saturday was anything but ordinary course of business for the folks working there. That explains the hiccups we experienced that night and makes me feel better about returning, which we surely will now.] -Sean
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My wife and I celebrated our anniversary at New Heights on Saturday evening. It was our first time dining at this establishment. While there was much to like, likely enough to warrant a trip back, the missteps were enough to give us pause before rushing back. First, the good: The Gin Joint - this could easily turn into my favorite watering hole. I am a big fan of gin so I found their 45 offerings of various versions very appealing. I was proud to have tried 12 of the products on their list before my visit but I could imagine working my way thru the remainder at some point. I wanted to taste the different nuances in the gins I tried so I didn't try any of the housemade flavored tonics, only Fever Tree tonic, but I would like to try them too. For the record, North Shore and No. 3 were my favorite gins. I had never tried them before but I loved their peppery, spicy notes. The Bartender- spacing on her name, but she's an encyclopedia of gin knowledge and very personable. She also appeared on this evening to be responsible for holding service together downstairs (see below) in addition to dealing with a rather busy bar. The food-my wife and I both started with salads and tried the halibut entree. I chose the asparagus salad, which featured shaved asparagus, artichokes, frisee, a roasted peppery puree, and hard cooked egg. Not an especially large portion but nicely composed, tasty appetizer with high quality ingredients. My wife tried the field greens salad, which she liked, noting especially the vinaigrette which had a fruity quality. The halibut entrees were fantastic. A healthy portion of halibut cooked in hot pan to provide a nice sear, which provided a nice textural offset to the flesh, which was cooked just right. This was served over a very minty puree, English peas, some mushrooms, and a pea shoot salad. Very springy, very well prepared dish with top notch ingredients. The not so good: Service-as we sat at the bar downstairs, we got a hint of how the service was going to be that evening from listening to the servers sorting thru what seemed to be an endless flurry of missed tickets, mis-delivered drinks, late food, etc. It was literally non-stop and I guess we weren't meant to overhear that but we couldn't help it and felt bad for the bartender as she was the one being asked to deal with alot of the missteps. We were seated upstairs and dealt with a very nice waitress but everything took forever. Drink orders, apps, entrees all with substantial lags between. We weren't totally ignored - our waters were refilled and dishes cleared - so it wasn't an unpleasant experience altogether but the delays were notable and kinda perplexing as the dining room was far from full. The staff was pleasant enough but it seemed like the wheels came off that evening's service at some point and never got back on track. Maybe some key person was on vacation? I will note that we were pleasantly surprised by a gratis dessert of a very good chocolate mousse concoction and glasses of Muscat in celebration of our anniversary. We felt badly about griping amongst ourselves about the service earlier when they brought out this dessert as it was very thoughtful and also very tasty. In summary, we loved the bar and the food and the neighborhood-y vibe of the place and would like to return but the service will give us pause before doing so. -Sean
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Fantastic evening at Majestic on Saturday evening. Gracious service, excellent food in a welcoming setting. We arrived with our party of 6, including two kids, and were welcomed like family. Some highlights - * Interesting cocktail list - I often like to start off a meal with a cocktail so a well thought out list like Majestic's is a godsend. Not that we should be surprised given Mr. Thrasher's pedigree but it's a great feature. I tried the Leap Year (gin, Grand Marnier, bitters) and liked it alot. * Guacamole - made tableside, great consistency, pleasantly limey with a bit of heat. My kids loved it too. * Blue catfish - this was my entree choice and it was great. Relatively mild flavored fish enlivened by sweet-sour sauce featuring black sesame seeds served over sunchokes and spring onions. Completely awesome, especially paired with the Albarino offered by the glass * Grilled branzino - my wife and MIL ordered this entree and really liked it. It is served with a fermented black bean sauce and jasmine rice. It required a bit of work to avoid the bones, but both plates were clean at the end of the meal. * Kids burgers - seriously, these burgers and fries were big enough for an adult. I know I always harp on this but places that make the effort to put out a decent plate for kids deserve commendation * Service - the entire staff could not have been more welcoming or accomodating. The way they interacted with our kids and were friendly all the while keeping the meal flowing and staying professional was fantastic. The Majestic is a great place. I feel sometimes like it flies a bit under the radar but it's not often that a place offers such a high level of food and drink in a setting that is so warm and welcoming.
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Lovely dinner at Lyon Hall on Saturday evening with my wife and daughter. We were in the neighborhood and decided to pop in for an early dinner. A quick call ahead and we were graciously accomodated. I think the word is out among parents who like to take their kids to eat at restaurants with real food on the kids' menu because we were among several tables with little kids in tow seated at that hour. Speaking of the kids menu, my daughter's meal was fantastic. It's such a nice thing when the restaurant puts thought and care into kids' food. Her burger and fries were, first of all, big enough seemingly to satisfy an adult appetite, but were also clearly not nuked and slopped on a plate. It's real food and you can taste the difference that their effort makes. I will always give preference to a place that makes this effort. Our meals were very nice as well. My wife planned to order the cocktail shrimp appetizer as part of her meal but was quickly informed by our very apologetic server that they were out of shrimp. No big deal, so she ordered the beet salad and scallop entree. I ordered the market salad and cornmeal crusted flounder entree. I think they felt bad about not having the shrimp because our salads were huge. I glanced around and it appeared that our plates were larger than some around us that ordered the same dishes. Seriously, my wife's salad must have had four beets in it. They weren't just big, they included top notch ingredients and were quite tasty too. Entrees were very good as well. My flounder was beautifully cooked with a crunchy cornmeal coating. It might have been the teeniest bit underseasoned (lacking salt) but that quibble was resolved by swiping each bite in the vibrant orange saffron emulsion. My wife's scallops sported a perfectly seared exterior, as usual. Another thing I like about Lyon Hall is their capable bar staff. I ordered a rhubarb negroni from their cocktail list and found it pleasant but wanted to compare it to a standard negroni so for my second drink I ordered a negroni with Plymouth gin. There were no quizzical looks, no "I am not sure we can make that" responses...they just brought me my drink. I love being able to order a cocktail with confidence that what I will get is properly made by someone who knows what they are doing. This criterion is becoming more important to me in choosing a restaurant.
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I am just back from one of our family' s frequent Friday evening visits to Orso. A few items to report: * new menu items include a slider burger (house made bun, grilled onion, bacon aioli) and a sweet corn and crab agnolotti - we tried both. My kids pounced on the burger and ordered another. I didn't try it but it sure looked good. The agnolotti was a perfect spring small plate: corn, crab, maybe peas ( or fava beans - sorry for not being more discerning), red pepper delicately combined into a ragout and served with two agnolotti stuffed with puréed corn. Lovely combination of spring flavors and different textures. * for the first time I ordered a martini at Orso and was pleasantly surprised. Gin, trace of vermouth, shaken table side - it soon made me forget my week of work. It is rare,and quite nice, to find a place where you can eat nice food, have a proper cocktail, and be in such a relaxed kid friendly environment. * I tried the romaine salad tonight too for the first time: baby romaine leaves tossed with Caesar dressing (with dill I think), Parmesan, anchovies and grilled onions. They dont refer to or as a Caesar salad but it is a version. A nice salad overall, though be prepared for rather assertive anchovies. Another lovely night at Orso. As always the staff was so welcoming, service was efficient, and we had a great time.
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I really like Java Shack too. It has this weird vibe to it that makes it a unique neighborhood gem. My wife and I went there every Sunday morning between going to church and yoga for a long time and we loved it. Coffee and muffins were great, people were nice, and a nice setting to relax in. That's all in addition to its main redeeming quality: it's not Starbucks. Alas, we had kids and our schedule changed so we don't get there as often as we would like anymore but always stop in when we are down that way. I wish there were more places like this around to compete with Starbucks.
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Another solid meal at Orso this past weekend. The highlights: crispy Brussel Sprouts - salty, crunchy, awesome beet & carrot salad - the carrots weren't quite as transcendent as last time but this is still a really good salad mixed greens salad - fresh greens with subtle vinaigrette, though unevenly dressed this time grilled octopus - nicely grilled, not rubbery; will order it again next time seared scallop - served over well seasoned couscous; again, perfectly cooked; great small plate fried calamari - perfectly fried; my kids love the basil aioli Service was welcoming and pleasant and efficient on what seemed to be a busy night. I think they might have a new floor manager as well. I saw a gentleman at the host stand whose face I had not seen before and he seemed to be in charge. We did not, alas, receive a visit from the Chef but we will return nonetheless because the food is awesome.
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I ate in the bar here this past weekend with my wife and kids and had a wonderful meal. Since they have re-arranged the deck chairs here, there is really only one table really conducive to our party of two adults and two young kids. We entered on Saturday to find that very table (the round one by the door) available and settled in for a nice time. I started with a Dark & Stormy (have I mentioned that I love their housemade ginger beer here?) and my wife had a nice Sidecar. To eat, we ordered the pretzel bites for the kids, though I ate some too as I can't resist dipping in that seriously potent mustard. The kids love the other dipping sauce though I can never quite place what it tastes like. I started with the Grilled Gulf Shrimp appetizer, which is served over quinoa with cilantro and avocado. The shrimp were nicely cooked and the quinoa was really tasty. Overall it worked well together. My wife had the Salt Baked Beets and loved them too. For entrees, my kids split the steak frites and pretty much devoured it. The fries were so good and the steak was well seasoned and perfectly cooked. My wife and I both had the Carolina Flounder that was served over grits (I think) with bok choy. The flounder was cooked nicely and the cornmeal crust gave it nice texture. A really nice dish. Service was, as usual, friendly, personable, and efficient.
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Another great dinner at Liberty this evening. I love this place. Great new spring menu recently unveiled. To start, housemate scamorza cheese. No idea what this was before ordering but it was good. Kinda like Halloumi, grilled with firm texture. Micro greens, some kind of lemon curd that didn't add much. A nice dish though, made by the salty grilled cheese. My wife loved the asparagus salad made with asparagus, shaved fennel, strawberries, and dressed with a creamy yet light dressing made with goat milk. It comes with whipped chèvre too but she did without. Entrees of asparagus risotto (me) and scottish salmon (her) were both great too. The risotto was spring on a plate: white and green asparagus, fava beans, pea shoots, pecorino, and an herb purée with perfectly al dente rice. Fantastic. The salmon came with sautéed kale, some kind of black rice, and perfectly cooked fish. Nicely Washed down with a glass of Passerini for me and a Pinot Gris for my wife. Also, I love the thought they put into the kids menu and the fact that they make the effort to serve kids real food. My kids wolfed down a pizza and a beautifully sautéed Branzino (!). Friendly service on a busy evening made for a nice outing all around.
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My wife and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Marcel's on Friday evening. Our experience reminded me why I like this restaurant so much. It is understated and subtle but refined in every way. We were to be attending an event at the Kennedy Center later in the evening so we were seated promptly and able to place cocktail orders straight away. I ordered a sidecar and my wife a French 75. Both cocktails were well crafted and quite enjoyable. The sidecar did have a more orangy flavor than I expected, different from the usual lemon. Nonetheless, it was good. We opted for the $65 pre-theater menu. We each started with the perfectly dressed, peppery arugula salad and both enjoyed. I ordered the rockfish, which came accompanied with roasted parsnips and black trumpet mushrooms. The fish was perfectly cooked, the accompaniments earthy and complimentary. My wife ordered the roasted chicken and was impressed by the intense flavor of the bird and the accompanying jus. She even liked the gruyere potato cake on the side, despite not being a cheese fan. Glasses of white cotes du Rhone paired well with both meals. For dessert, I chose a trio of rhubarb preparations - a macaron, panna cotta and a third that I am forgetting. Regardless, fantastic dessert. My wife opted for a chocolate ganache concoction that was heavenly. Service throughout the meal was the perfect balance attentive without being obtrusive, even more impressive when you consider that they kept up perfectly on schedule to make our show. Whisked off to the KC after our meal and picked up afterwards, we popped in for a nightcap at the bar to round out a nearly flawless evening.
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We returned to Orso after a relatively long time away and for the first time with the new chef in the kitchen. Our experience was enjoyable across the board. The new menu is divided into a Small Plates section and a Pizza section. In all my numerous trips her in the past, I had never ordered anything but pizzas so I thought I would branch out in this visit to explore the small dishes. My adventurousness was richly rewarded. I tried a number of dishes, all of them successes: Baby lettuces salad - tender lettuces, pickled onions, poached egg tossed lightly with a dressing that somehow had the kick of jalapeno. A nice salad Crispy Brussel Sprouts - addictive, salty snack tossed with parmesan and salt. So good for munching on. Baby carrots and beets salad - roasted beets and baby carrots tossed with chunks of blue cheese and a dressing. Honestly I hardly noticed the dressing because the carrots so we explosive with carrot flavor. Completely fantastic salad. Smoked chickpeas - another completely addictive snack food. Salty, smoky and unexpectedly delicious. I could have ordered 3 of these. Seared scallop - perfectly cooked scallop on a bed of couscous with maybe a ring of pesto (?). Lovely dish. My wife ordered a marinara pizza and I sampled a bite. We both agreed that the pizza hardly missed a beat vs. those produced in previous administrations here. My kids had mac & cheese and a Bambino pizza, both above average kids food. It seems as if the kitchen here is off to a good start and doing some things that should give us reason to be excited, especially those of us lucky enough to live close by. I love this place and hope that the turbulence is behind it and that the neighborhood fully supports the restaurant because it is a gem. - Sean
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My wife and I paid a visit to the bar at Eventide on Saturday evening and found, thankfully, that not much has changed after the name change and re-concepting. Similar crowd, same comfortable vibe, and excellent cocktails. I ordered a Martinez with Plymouth gin and was convinced after tasting it that my fears of Eventide changing into a frat house were overblown. We ordered a couple of the mushroom sliders and the roasted olives to munch on and were pleased with both selections. The mushroom sliders were especially fantastic - buttery roll, earthy mushrooms, caramelized onions and a blue cheese topping. The olives were good though I expected roasted olives to be served warm. Overall, I was pleased to learn that not much had changed at Eventide and that it would remain my favorite bar.
