orelena

I like the $5 oven roasted wings at America's happy hour. Cheap and good--lots of meat, not swimming in greasy sauce. East Street Cafe is good value too--plus unsecured wifi, but lunchtime is crazy--I would order carryout or go for dinner. The Indian place downstairs isn't bad either (cash only). But my favorite lunch spot in that neighborhood is Tacqueria Nacionale. Everything I've eaten there has been outstanding.

By the way, Nando's is Portugese--not South African. Peace

I love Nando's Peri Peri--LOVE IT! Not only because of the juicy, fire-grilled chicken, the roasted butternut squash, or the couscous salad. Not only because of the happy hour pitchers of fruit-filled sangria or the selection of good, affordable wines and beers. I love Nando's because, clearly, so much love has gone into it's vision and execution. The smooth wooden chairs in the front of the house are stylish and comfy. The farmhouse table in the window is perfect for large groups. The cushy booths in the back have extra lumbar support. Rustic chandeliers hang from the high ceilings. Latin music caresses the ears. The bathrooms are paragons of usability--with a sleek, beautiful design, water that comes out of the faucets at just the right temperature for getting your hands clean, and a high-tech hand dryer that gets the job done in seconds. Nando's is just north of the Chinatown Metro on 7th. Mine, all mine--but not for long.

A few months ago I had the good fortune of eating one of Zack's gyro sandwiches. The bread was delicious, the meat was seasoned perfectly--with a thick, feta sauce and fresh tomatoes. Very satisfying. So when I heard that Spike Mendelsohn had bought out the restaurant next door to Good Stuff Eatery, I ran over to Zack's with the hope of having just one more. I was too late! In the short time it took to prepare my order, I overheard three conversations that bode ill for Zack's. (1) Zack's house manager has left--he apparently had no interest in being one of Spike's minions. Go figure. (2) Another customer dropped by to ask if the sandwiches were still the same. They CHANGED the recipe! Now, the restaurant uses a tsaziki sauce that is too light for this sandwich, instead of the piquant feta sauce that so perfectly complements the seasoned meat and bread. Trying to cast things in a positive light, the server insisted that the sandwiches are "much better now". Not so! (3) Adding insult to injury, the management has raised the prices on some menu items--for example, an order of soup has gone from $3.95 to $5.95 for the same portion size. Must Zack's gyro sandwich be the sacrificial lamb? My guess is that Spike and his crew simply wanted the space next door to Good Stuff on Pennsylvania Avenue. Perhaps Spike's next book should be entitled "How to Close a Restaurant in 30 Days".

Hello everyone, I'm new to DC--moved here from the Southeast five months ago. I'm not in the food industry, except as an "end user" in the value chain <haha>... A fellow foodie recommended this board to me. Thanks to you, I had a great burger at Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington on the 4th of July. I ordered mine au poivre ... and I enjoyed the watermelon and corn on the cob. A perfect meal for celebrating our country's birthday! Anyway, thanks for the recommendation--I'll visit often. orelena