LolaDC

Paranoia is the rule of the day. I just tried to make a reservation at Mendocino on opentable.com and for some weird reason the restaurant isn't listed anymore. I swear it was there yesterday. Of course, this BIG SECRET was the first thing I thought of.

Four hours in a smoke-filled dive bar ain't got nothin' on 2 hours surrounded by various forms of grease  in vapor form.

So true! I really don't mean to sound like a snob (okay, yes I do), but I just can't see what is romantic about that place. If I want to spend a romantic evening eating food I have to cook myself, I sure as hell would rather do it standing in front of my own stove wearing jammy pants and drinking my own stash of good wine. Now THAT'S romantic!

Good god.

Just browsing the restaurant section makes me want to cry... and somehow amplifies JoeH's very interesting point that the truly excellent dining options in DC need to bang the PR drum a little harder. Seriously -- Maggiano's? Ruth's Chris? I will now go hang my head in shame.

Ha ha ha...the Melting Pot as second most romantic restaurant behind the Inn at Little Washington. That's freakin' hilarious! Who ARE these people?

I am very partial to the pasta at Spezie on 18th and M to include their ravioli.

MMMM -- Spezie's ravioli is my favorite. The porcini mushrooms and pistachio cream sauce make a heavenly combination. Galileo has a nice first-course agnolotti with asparagus and mascarpone cream sauce that is also superb.

Is it lunchtime yet???

I'm decidedly on the fence about the stemless glasses that I've seen pop up. I know Tallula uses them, and like them for red wines more than for whites... anyone know of other restaurants that use them? I thought Sonoma did but wasn't sure, and I want to try them out a few more times before committing to buying a set.

Having been taught to ALWAYS hold a glass by the stem to keep the wine from warming, I can't bring myself to use these glasses. Frankly, I was shocked when Riedel put them on the market. For a company that is supposedly the authority on stemware, the stemless glasses just seem like some kind of weird joke.

I've lived in SMD for about 20 years, pretty much a culinary wasteland.  However,  we had dinner at The Westlawn Inn in North Beach on Saturday night - a great improvement over most places down here.  The menu leans toward southern foods, and the wine list is small but better than most in the area. I believe they won some type of best restaurant award. 

I have to second the Westlawn recommendation. I live about 20 minutes from North Beach and eat at the Westlawn about once a week. Can't say enough about the place, the chef, the staff...

They just put out their summer menu -- haven't tried it all yet, but I highly recommend the ceviche, the crab spring roll, the crab soup (a MUST) and any of the seafood entrees. The chef is at his best when he's working with seafood.

Welcome Lola. Sounds like a great place. Care to share the names of some of your favorites?

Thank you for the nice welcome, Joe!

Oh -- there are so many wonderful wines Wince Cellars has introduced me to. Let me think...for whites, I'd have to say Ken Forrester's Petit Chenin, Lawsons Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Moreson Chenin Blanc, Yalumba Viognier, Alice et Olivier De Moor Chablis Rosette...

For reds, Domaine du Dragon, Los Planos Grandes Vinos Y Vinedos Syrah, Summers Merlot, White Cottage Risa Cab, Bacio Divino Proprietary Red...

There are just SO MANY! I'm looking forward to the Fattorio Paradiso tasting this Saturday...

Hi, everyone. New member here -- posting for the first time and glad to be part of this group.

I'm surprised to see that Bell Wine & Spirits on M Street hasn't been mentioned. The staff is very helpful (especially Bo) and the selection is pretty good. It also doesn't hurt that it's practically across the street from my office, making it the most accessible wine shop in town.

Hands down, the best place in this area (I'm extending the DC area to include Annapolis) is Wine Cellars of Annapolis on Forest Drive. For those of you within easy driving distance, or those who are willing to travel to Annapolis, I promise this place will be worth the trip. They specialize in smaller producers from around the world and the inventory changes all the time. The folks at Wine Cellars have taught me so much about wine and have developed my appreciation for lesser-known affordable wines from all over the world.

Along with its fantastic staff, what sets Wine Cellars apart from the others is a willingness to open lots of wine and let you TASTE it before you buy. Every Saturday, they host a complimentary tasting focused on a region or a grape or a style -- and they always have a dozen or so bottles open for customers to sample.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. It really is a fantastic place. And, no, I am not affiliated in any way. I just spend a frightening portion of my income there.