DC in DC

Add me to the list of people who have experienced the rude sticker shock at Al Tiramisu. I think the special that one of us ordered was also about $10 more than the other items on the menu. It was a few years ago, but I was so turned off (plus kind of rude service and OK food) that we haven't been back. Call me naive, but it never occurred to me that restaurants use "specials" as a way to jack up revenue. I always thought the phrase meant that the restaurant got something "special" that day (i.e. catch of the day, etc.) that was being served. Although, has anyone experienced this: going to a sushi restaurant where everything was "market price?" In principle, I understand this (if fish/lobster etc can be "market price" then why not sushi), but I had never seen it before or since. Plus, this was not a fancy or particularly special sushi place, but a trendy neighborhood sushi joint in Philly.

An interesting question for us is when we've had a bad experience, under what circumstances do we decide to return anyway. My husband's tipping point is very low: i.e. if it's an upscale, moderate-to-high price point ($20+ entrees) kind of place, and he doesn't have a really good experience, he doesn't want to go back because we live in a city full of great restaurants. So why waste our dining dollars on a place that wasn't great when there are other places, at that price point, that are much better. (Obviously, a different standard applies if it's a neighborhood joint or a "cheap eats" place, etc.). I have a higher threshold-- if it seems like an isolated problem-- I will give it another shot. But, there is one high-end dowtown Italian restaurant where we were carded in a very rude manner (the waiter really studied our IDs and held them up to the light to ensure that they were not fakes, etc). Irrationally, I refuse to go back because I was mortified and did not appreciate being made to feel like I was a criminal. (I hate being carded--I am well over 21 but do look a bit young-- but I think a good server can handle it in a graceful way.) Sometimes I think I am missing out on this place, but I get so irritated when I think about going there.

We were at Jaleo over 4th of July weekend (downtown location) and our server was not pleased when we didn't order the full pitcher of sangria (opting instead to start with the half-pitcher since there were a few non-drinkers among us). He brought out the sangria, and one of the glasses had jagged chip in its lip...(it would have definitely caused a bloody lip had someone unsuspectedly drank from it). Anyway, we noticed it only after he had filled it with sangria. Server walks off with the remainder of the pitcher and the offending glass. He returns with a filled-to-the-brim glass (not pitcher) of sangria that was impossible to pour into the remaining glasses. We essentially took turns drinking from it. No apology for almost causing serious bleeding, and what was up with bringing out the rest of the sangria in a glass and not a pitcher? (The other service glitch was that one person never got one of her dishes.) Wouldn't cause me not to return to Jaleo and I didn't mention anything to the manager because we were in a group and I didn't want to cause a scene (we all thought it was vaguely amusing but yet indicative of some of the bad service we've all experienced in DC).

Went to Eli's last night before catching a movie at the Dupont theatre at around 6:30. It was mobbed with observant Jewish families and childrens' groups-- I had forgotten that it was a kosher place. We were seated right away. The service was not overly friendly, but prompt. My friend had the matzoh ball soup, which she said was fine (but not being Jewish, she may not had sufficient comparators...) and the reuben burger. There are NO substitutions, so she couldn't get a salad to substitute for the fries. She also said the burger was fine...but no raves from that side of the table. By contrast, I had the New Yorker, which I thought was fantastic. The meat was, as described above, not fatty and flavorful and you got a very generous portion. The cole slaw was also plentiful, and unlike others, my sandwich was not slathered in Russian dressing (though it was there). Typically, I don't like rye (much to the chagrin of my husband), but since there was no substitutions, I had it anyway and I may now be a convert. All in all, very good. Price for sandwich-- $11 (or so). ETA: You have to request the pickles (according to the menu). Definitely a family-friendly/casual/cheap-eats option for Dupont Circle!

I went to check out the 5 guys yesterday. As it was a late lunch (1:30 or so), there was no line to speak of. Very efficient-- I got my cheeseburger and fries in only a few minutes. You can choose from a bunch of toppings for free, but I went with just the mushrooms and fried onions. The fries, they say, are cooked in peanut oil (and there were boxes of peanut oil behind the counter to substatiate the claim), so "no cholestrol" (I have no idea if this is true, but they made for less greasy fries-- which, in my mind, is a good thing.) Fries were yummy after the addition of a touch of salt, but too much for me to eat alone. Burger was also very good.

FYI-- This came in my in-box today: I had an excellent RW lunch meal there a few weeks ago. The calamari salad was perfectly cooked and tender, and it had a kick to it. I had the kobe beef entree which was phenomenal-- it wasn't quite medium rare (though, I don't know if kobe beef is supposed to be cooked like steak?), but the saucing made up for it. I might have held up the table a bit by cleaning my plate. Dessert-- I don't remember now, but no one at the table was too inspired by any of the choices. Service-- a bit slow, but reasonable given that it was RW. Server was nice and competent.

For Labor Day weekend, we're going to drive down the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, NC. Has anyone been, and can suggest anything? The egullet threads were a bit old. Nothing too fancy-- unless it's a must-go. (On the way down, we're stopping in Roanoke for the night, and on the way back, stopping in Charlottesville for dinner. If anyone has recommendations for either of those places, that's appreciated too, but we've already got a few places for C-ville, and Roanoke is really just a pit stop.) Thanks!

OK, I'll admit...I used to love those Red Lobster rolls they used to give out. One time, in law school, I had a craving and called them up to see if they'd sell me a few "a la carte." I walked away with a bag of 4...suffice it to say, I should've left those sleeping dogs lie. Not quite what I remembered them to be...especially on the 4th one.

What on earth is the point of nominating a chain anything (restaurant, bookstore, day spa etc) as a "best bet of washington DC?" I shudder to think that a visitor looking at this list would think that the list was all this city had to offer. Very upsetting. It reminds me of a conversation I was having the other day about going to places "where the locals eat, " and that sometimes the locals may not have good taste! Of course, the survey is unscientific, and prone to being influence by lobbying campaigns of restaurants, but is nonetheless a bit disturbing.

Well, now I'm even more glad that we went last weekend. Hopefully my post won't become irrelevant!

I have always found Majestic Cafe to be a nice go-to place when we are in Old Town. It's not too upscale/formal, yet not too casual, not too expensive (entrees hover between $19-$21), and fresh and seasonal cooking. We've found it to be a good place for our out-of-town parents, none of whom is a particularly adventurous eater. It's also been a great place to stop by for lunch-- we've had some good curry chicken salad sandwiches in the past. Our latest trip on Saturday confirmed that we have been away for too long. I had carefully-laid plans for an afternoon stroll in Old Town, an early dinner at Majestic Cafe, culimating in an evening tour of the monuments. Well, the first part fell through given the ungodly heat, but the dinner plan was stayed intact. I was initially turned off by the host who answers the phones. As Tom S. and others have pointed out, it's so important to have courteous people answer the phone as it's the first impression someone has of the place. When I called initially for the reservation, and gave my first name, the host said, rudely, "well, is there a last name?" I considered a retort that no, in fact, I was one of those "one name" entertainers, but refrained. Then, when our afternoon plans fell through, I dispatched my husband to see if we could get a later reservation. He was told, again, rudely, no, and "if we wanted to eat later with such a large group, we should consider going elsewhere or trying another night." I was amused when we did show up, on time, and waited a bit because our table wasn't ready... But any feelings of hostility quickly dissipated upon being seated. Our server was lovely, inobstrusive, and competent. We started with a bottle of the Philip Staley Zinfandel ($32), and shared three appetizers: CREOLE POACHED SHRIMP SALAD (with chayote squash, jicama and corn pancakes), GRILLED CALAMARI with Spanish romesco sauce and sautéed almonds, and HOUSE CURED GRAVLAX with a red and yellow beet salad and brown bread toasts. All three were big hits. The beets were outstanding, and we fought over the last pieces of yummy gravlax. The calamari was excellently cooked and tender. I did not try the shrimp, but my husband gobbled up the jicama. For entrees, my mother and husband had the SEARED TUNA with green olive tapenade and grilled summer vegetables. While my husband's came out a bit overcooked for medium-rare (as ordered), the excellent olive tapenade made up for it. My father had the SAUTÉED CORNMEAL CRUSTED HALIBUT with meuniere sauce and yellow squash casserole. He enjoyed this dish as well, and I was the fortunate recipient of the casserole...excellent! I polished this off even though I was pretty full from my entree. He and my mom also had a side of the broccoli spears, and both thought they were great. I had the SAUTÉED SOFTSHELL CRABS with East Indian coconut-peanut slaw and turmeric potato salad. The crabs were excellent. Crispy and flavorful, I savored each bite. The potatoe salad could've had a bit more turmeric for my taste, but was still very good. I have to admit that I did not like the slaw...perhaps the cabbage was too bitter for me, but it just didn't have any flavor. Just a LOT of cabbage and peanuts. My sister had the GRILLED SCALLOPS with charred tomato sauce, sautéed arugula and corn. I got to have a bite, and and the scallops were also excellent and well-cooked. She loved the sauteed corn too. She also ordered a side of green beans, which she finished off. Even though we were all pretty full, my husband and I convinced everyone to get the desserts. We shared the Boston Creme Pie (the American Layer Cake of the day), the peach and rasberry cobbler (seasonal fruit dessert), and the almond and plum pie. The cobbler was made to order, so we had a 10 minute respite. The Boston Creme Pie was great and not too dense. My husband loved the almond and plum cake. The cobber was also a hit. The place was pretty full of what appeared to be mostly locals, including families (with children), older folks, young people on dates, etc. We loved not feeling like we were in a downtown expense account type of place. All in all, the night was a success. It was very leisurely and well-paced, and were were never rushed. Total bill for the above was about $210, including tax and 20% tip. All of us agreed that for a meal of this quality, the price was very reasonable.

Thanks Alan and Jael for the tips! We started with the crostini sampler, which all of us liked very much. In particular, I liked the cheese and sardine one-- very fresh and complemented the cheese well. Unfortunately, each of us only got one bite of each so I'll have to remember what I liked for next time! I wanted to try the small plates, as I wasn't really in the mood for a whole entree. I had the octopus, the smoked mozerella, and the baby yukon gold potatoes. While each dish was very tasty alone, taken together, I don't think I created a particularly complementary meal. (I probably would've been happier sharing the small plates and eating half of each dish, and getting to try 3 more.) Nonetheless, I liked the chick pea accompaniment to the octopus-- very flavorful. The potatoes were very good with the olive oil and salt that's left on the table. (I'd been looking for fingerling pototaoes all summer at the store, so this satisfied my craving.) My husband had the Tagliata di Manzo...he loved the arugula salad (which I was eyeing enviously, since I love arugula), and the steak looked perfectly cooked (medium rare--nice and red in the middle). I think he liked the steak just fine, but it didn't say "wow" to him. He also got to have some of my potatoes, which he concurred had that nice earthy taste, brought out by the good olive oil and salt. Our friend had the lasagna, and didn't leave a drop behind. Even though it sounded like it would be a heavy dish (with all the meat), he said it was light and didn't leave him with a greasy feeling. Too full for dessert, unfortunately. Maybe next time I'll get to try more of the small plates, dessert, and sample some of the great wine that you all have been talking about!

We'll be checking it out tonight. I hope the wait is not too long; we plan to meet there at 7:30 (our back-up plans are either Spices or Palena Cafe). I can't wait to get the octopus dish...I love it! Any other must-tries that don't involve pork? Thanks!

We went to Makato two years ago for my husband's birthday. He loves sushi and had wanted to go for some time. It was a "dark and stormy night," we were considering placing our first bid on a house in the then (still?) overheated DC real estate market, and I had a nasty cough that signaled a possible case of bronchitis. Still, Makato fit the bill. The single word that I would use to describe Makato is "transporting." Like others have noted, it is a very serene atmosphere and really does make one feel like she has left DC. From the simple decor, the shoes at the door (I believe they give you slippers), it really is an experience. It is tiny and the guests sit on boxes (I think you store your belongings in the box). I have to concur in part with Dean's assessment. It isn't a lot of food (we did the fixed-price $50 meal), but what we got was awesome (in terms of freshness, flavor, preparation). I have to admit that I left a bit hungry even after the muti-course meal, and I am not a big-time eater by any stretch of the imagination. Nonetheless, I thought it was a unique experience, definitely worth doing if you are a fan of Japanese cuisine and are looking for something different and special. (We ended up not bidding on the house and I did develop a full-blown case of bronchitis....)

Bacchus in Dupont Circle. We hosted our rehearsal dinner of approximately 50 people there 2 years ago; virtually all were out of towners and generally not adventurous diners (approx. 1/2 Midwesterners and 1/2 Taiwanese-Americans, including 2 children, one of whom typically won't eat anything other than chicken fingers). It was a big hit. Very pretty but casual setting, plus with the proximity to Dupont, you can walk around the neighborhood afterwords. And, if your guests are not used to "ethnic" food (like our guests), they will think it's pretty cool without it being too "strange." I second the 2 Amys suggestion. I always see families there, especially on Sundays. The only downside is the no-reservations policy...I wouldn't want to have 14 out-of-towners glaring at me while we waited. Spices is another possibility with its long tables, something for everyone pan-asian cuisine, and also seems kid-friendly. Not necessarily traditionally "DC," but you could hit the zoo before or after (or drive by the National Cathedral).

I heartily concur with this statement. I have conveyed the same sentiment to many people: that one thinks it is going to be an "old man" place (our term for stuffy places), but the food totally belies that feeling. As Waitman said, not "cutting edge" but still feels fresh and modern. For two summers, we have taken advantage of the $35 coupon and were never once made to feel like we were interlopers. As others have said, the service is excellent without being snooty or overbearing. We went last summer for our wedding anniversary because we knew we could count on a special experience without any service or food glitches to mar the evening. We have plans to return again this summer. [The only thing I would add is that it was simply freezing... like most modern office buildings, the A/C was set on high mostly likely to accomdate then men wearing their requisite jackets... I huddled under my skimpy shawl and thought, next time, no sleeveless dresses!]

REALLY long-time lurker, first-time poster. My husband took me to Komi for my 29th birthday last month. It was a very special night with excellent service in a casual setting. First, we were treated to complimentary glasses of champagne for my birthday, which I thought was a very nice touch. Our server did not interrupt us and try to hurry us to order while I opened my birthday gifts and we caught up on our day. I've too often felt in DC that we are being rushed in order to turn over the table, (granted, this was a Thursday night). I was torn between the gnocchi and the sea urchin risotto as the appetizer course. I decided that nothing could compare to the gnocchi at Palena Cafe, so I went with the risotto. Imagine my dismay when our server told me that they were out of BOTH courses! Fortunately, she came back a few minutes later to let me know that there was one order of risotto left and it was mine... Much has already been written about the food, in much more eloquent words that I could muster, so I will only add that the risotto was the highlight of the evening for me. It tasted like the essence of the sea. My husband had the oysters, which, he confirmed, also tasted incredibly fresh. We both had the bronzini (sp?), which we also both enjoyed. What we found so notable was the freshness of the ingredients, and that the chef's preparation complimented those ingredients, instead of drowning them out (and being "heavy") or not doing enough, leaving a dish too bland. We shared the doughnuts for dessert, excellent as well, which came out with a birthday candle. What impressed us most about Komi was not only the food, but the whole ambiance. It felt like a casual, neighborhood place, but the food and service were both tremendously "upscale" and elegant. Yet, there wasn't an ounce of pretention and snobbishness that I feel at places at that price point. Around us were people in shorts and sandals, but I didn't feel out of place getting a bit dressed up for a special occasion. (In that regard, when we went to Seattle the following week and dined at Lark, we both thought of Komi-- the excellent food and service but in a casual setting.) We both concluded that it was one of the best meals we've had in DC for a while. I'd love to go back for the tasting menu that I've read about--- is it only on certain nights, or did I have to ask for it?

I go to the Breadline almost every Friday for challah and the fried cod sandwich. I have never experienced anything other than pure yummy-ness with the cod sandwich. The cole slaw and remoulade sauce compliment the fried fish perfectly. Prior to eating this sandwich, I was not a cole slaw fan until I realized that what I had been eating before only posed as cole slaw... I need to try to go to BreadLine on a day other than Friday, because otherwise, I can't bring myself to get anything else. Though, I did have the soft-shell crab sandwich once-- with the same remoulade sauce, I believe-- and it was also excellent. The challah also makes for very good french toast for the weekend. I also love the efficiency of the breadline. I've waited much longer for my food at Cosi, Corner Bakery, etc. ..and it doesn't hold a candle to the Breadline.