Merry Mary

Bacon of the month at Grateful Palate is priced reasonably, but the shipping will kill you. I now send one sister the 4 pack sampler every year at Christmas instead. I am not allowed to give her anything else.

For others who might be interested, there is a forum Full of up to date info from locals, ex pats, and people who have been visiting for years.

Anguilla Forum

The original Ernie's (in Mount Vernon) opened in 1943, and the business was sold to the Mao family in 1985. There was a second Fern Street location which closed. My question is: Does the original Ernie's on Route 1 in Mount Vernon still exist, and if so, is the King Street location a second branch?

Their website makes no mention of the Mount Vernon location, so I'm wondering if King Street is all that's left. If that's true, does anyone know if the establishment has operated continuously (in one location or another) since 1943? That appears to be the case.

Here's a 2007 article from the Alexandria Times which sheds some light on the subject, but still doesn't answer my specific questions (which have ramifications both for the Dining Guide and the Oldest Restaurants thread).

Cheers,

Rocks.

I grew up going to the Ernie's on Rte 1, my dad always liked chatting with Ernie Delvecchio. It is now a karate school, I believe. Also have been to Fern St. Not sure about the connection to the one in Old Town, saw the name and wondered because I think they have a different sign, different font or something, not exactly like the sign I remember. But I could be wrong about that.

Restaurant Associates runs that, I believe.

Has anyone been to Top Chef Wednesdays at Westend Bistro?

I will add some notes on the food, as goodeats captured the hospitality.

Rosemary bread with oils and herbs - the rosemary is light and just right, but I thought the oil with a mound of dried herbs in one corner of the plate didn't quite work. I stirred some of the herbs into the oil, but you really don't get the flavor in that short a time.

Gnudi pasta - light, flavored with just the right touch of anise, we both thought more sauce was needed. The greens were very garlicky and the shallots sauteed beautifully.

Zuppa di Zucca (Butternut Squash soup * Beet Cider) - beautiful colors as you can see, so rich goodeats thought it was made with beef stock, but we were assured it was vegetarian, I think a little overspiced, so the flavor of the butternut was lost

Maiale alla Griglia (Grilled Cinnamon Cured Pork Chop * Sweet Potato Puree * Apple Chutney) - this would be my favorite - perfectly cooked, carmelized edges, again the seasoning was just right, with the apple chutney so good. The sweet potato puree put me at the Thanksgiving table.

Salmone (Seared Salmon * Saffron Orzo * Creamy Basil * Saffron Butter * Asparagus) - and another beautifully cooked dish, our fish course was light yet substantial, there is magic in this food. You need to mix the basil into the risotto and then goodeats will clean the plate! She steals asparagus too

So go to Kora, go soon, and oh, the pizza guy needed some orders, he was looking a bit bored. Next time I am in the mood for pizza I am going back.

don't forget me

Edit: And I put a lovely typo in the title. How appropriate.

fixable!

A short note on a not-stellar experience.

The space is beautiful, the ambience, lovely. The service, poor. So poor that the waiter we had to flag down and ask for a drink menu couldn't handle an order for a martini and a glass of wine, and the manager tried to cover for him (some time later) by saying that he wanted to make sure he knew our order so that it would be correct, would we please repeat it. The manager then, within earshot and many minutes later, told the waiter our order and sent him to the bar to get it.

And then some time after a second glass of wine was ordered and not delivered, the manager, walking by our table, saying so that we would hear, "I don't think the wine is ready yet." Cue the waiter "No, the wine is not ready yet." ???

I really don't know how long this all took in steps, I wasn't checking my watch, and I know that when you are being waited on your perception can be off in terms of how long you have been waiting. But you know when something takes too long. Two people, three appetizers, two and a half hours. TWO AND A HALF HOURS. And expensive! $90.

[couple of deets: dining room lively but not full, apps ordered at same time]

and the food - spanakopita, good, nothing special but the guy was pushing it, not quite hot

crispy eggplant and zucchini with tzatziki - a must. thinnest slices I have seen, perfectly cooked, you can consider it vegetables but really an excuse to order something fried and crispylicious

lobster ravioli - squid ink pasta was the surprise and the sauce was lovely, just the right amount of tarragon, not much lobster in the 3 ravioli, I think they put 3 mussels in the bowl to fill it out, for $18.95 I would rather have a couple more ravioli

whiskey

Fresh baked (but not homemade) cheesy poufs and a glass of shiraz.

I had the Banh Mi yesterday, and I found it lacking. Pork sliced very thin, and it was very dry. The pickled vegetables did not provide enough moisture, but a good assortment, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, bell pepper and something else. There was an unusual taste to the pickle that I could not identify. No heat at all. The bread was very nice, great crust. The sandwich was $8.75 including tax, which is standard for this part of town - except Potbelly of course - but expensive in my book for what I got. And from home I can just drive a couple of miles to get the real deal for $2.50.

dark chocolate covered raisins

I'm in.

I just popped over after reading this thread, and yes it looks open. Two people inside, one wearing whites. Doors locked, no opening times listed.

I'm in, not sure what I am bringing, foodwise.

Gazpacho from the Falls Church Farmers Market

I thought I would stroll over there and see what's what, yeah right! Crowds, security, metal detectors, Jose Andres! Didn't get a glimpse of the First Lady, maybe I will get back over there in a hour or two.

Any idea what "burger-chicken-drinks joint near Courthouse metro" he means? I too am drawing a blank.

Rhodeside Grill?

I thought of both, though I'd describe either as a sports bar, not a "burger-chicken-drinks joint." And would you send somebody to either on a first date, particularly if the person wants "good food," "a great atmosphere," "low-key but classy," and "something along the lines of Liberty Tavern"? From what the poster wrote, I would be more inclined to say something like Eventide.

I agree with you, but Eventide is squarely in Clarendon, not Courthouse. Haven't been to Velocity 5, no idea what is on the menu. It is where RT's was.

Argh, I cannot remember the name of the restaurant that went into where RT's used to be, but perhaps that could be it. Adjacent to Toscana, but Google maps street view was too old to show the current restaurant name.

I know - frustrating. I want to say TS likes the wings there, it is a small (local?) chain, has a number in the name? can't find online ...

The bottle says "The Grateful Palate," Oxnard, CA.

Ah - the Bacon of the Month people. I thought the wine sounded good.

Love it!

I wonder if they were from the Lynnhaven River. I grew up there and such crabs were the hallmark of a good, caught-just-after-the-full-moon catch.

We got them at Margie and Ray's, didn't ask where they came from.

In the 20-some years I've been eating crabs this is something I've never seen - white-colored mustard. It was utterly pristine and happened to be the sweetest crab I've ever had. This made me think that because it was younger and hadn't filtered as much Bay muck it made it taste so much better.

I just had this experience with crabs in VA Beach, but they were the biggest honking crabs I have seen in a few years. White guts, but also some yellow. And they were sweet sweet sweet.