Elyssa

Getting dressed up is a fun part of doing something special. It adds to the excitement of dining out. It's celebratory. I'd hate to think we're all so jaded that we can't even bring ourselves to gussy up for an experience at a nice restaurant.

100% agree with you! I'm sure because of my "old-fashioned" views I come across as older than I am. But I'm a female in my late 20's and I think it's great to get dressed up every once in awhile and enjoy a wonderfully made meal in a classy establishment.

Now some of my friends disagree. Maybe it's an age thing or just a different philosophy. But many times when I go out with say my boyfriend, our event for the evening, our entertainment is the meal itself. It's a 2 hour long meal at PS7 or Proof or some place else. It is nice to be dressed up and be surronded by people enjoying their meal and also looking nice.

That is not to say that seeing someone in shorts totally ruins my experience. Trust me--nothing is going to take away from the joy of eating the oxtail tots at PS7! But it certainly gives me pause and disappoints me a little. It doesn't reflect on the restaurant in my opinion, it reflects on the diner.

I like t-shirts as well but do they really have a place for mid to high end dining. Yes if you are going to the Bar at Matchbox but no if you are going to the Bar at proof. yes if you are dining at the Vienna Inn but no if you are dining at Komi or PS7.

I agree. I have all sorts of views on the casualness of dress at certain restaurants (and don't even get me started on how some people dress when going to the theater!). Maybe this makes me a dining elitist, but I think there is a time and place for casual dress, and as you stated Proof, PS7, Corduroy etc is not that place. Now I think dark or nice jeans and a button down shirt or cute blouse is fine for some of these places. But not your favorite t-shirt sporting the name of your college on it.

Maybe it's a more old-fashioned view point but I think it also has to do with respect for your surrondings and the food you are about to be served.

Looks like a new restaurant is taking over the 21st and P corner that was formerly Cafe Trope. Its called Scion. Was walking by today and a "Now hiring" sign is in the window. Anyone have any info?

I saw this as well. Never tried Cafe Trope (it was short lived and the menu didn't really strike my fancy) but I'm excited to hear about a new restaurant opening up in my neighborhood. Tried a google search and couldn't find any info, so I would also love to hear about the menu, concept, opening date etc.

This is all very exciting!! This is my neighborhood and I can't wait to try each and every one of these new restaurants. Their menus are right up my alley (let's hope the price range is as well).

I wish you all luck in your new endeavours. Welcome to the neighborhood! (Please keep us updated.)

Another over-priced steak house in a hotel...yawn.

I know...how boring. This city has enough steak houses! I would love for something new, interesting, and different. Or at least a duplicate of a cuisine category that we don't have dozens of.

Really bummed that I won't be able to make it. HillValley told me about it and I was planning on coming but no car + a bunch of other stuff coming up means I'll have to miss it this time around.

But I hope to make it to the next picnic (since I've never been and the menu already sounds delicious). Do you hold one in the Fall as well?

I actually really enjoy Lola's and think the pub food is really good. I work down the street and eat here often.

The place is pretty tiny so I usually get take out, but everyone that works there is very friendly.

I was surprised to hear Don say he thought the fries were frozen. Because I've been raving about their fries. They put some sort of seasoning on them that is purely addictive!

I stick mostly to the sandwiches. I really enjoy the Billy's Key Largo sandwich--a nice grilled piece of mahi mahi on a french roll w/ cheese and a lemon/caper tartar sauce. It's quite good and a nice size sandwich.

I also get the roasted turkey sandwich a lot. I like that it has a cranberry mayo sauce and avocado. For some reason those flavors work well together.

I agree that the food can be salty but I don't think they have a heavy hand on the salt. It's just bar food---meant to be salty and delicious!

I love the fries at Brasserie Beck. The fries at Lola's (on 8th St/Barrack's Row) are also very, very, very good!

Hands down, the palak chaat (crispy spinach) is a must-have appetizer.

I'm heading to Rasika tonight for the first time as well. The crispy spinach is already on my list. I also hear great things about the black cod.

Has anyone tried the duck? That dish really intrigues me because I have never had duck in an Indian restaurant.

I had these 'Oxtail Tots' -- basically nothing but pure ox tail meaty goodness battered very lightly and deep fried along with a sauce reduction to dip the suckers in. Course of the night for me So delicious. .

Aren't those Oxtail Tots out of this world?? I instantly fell in love with them. The bartenders and I talked about them for about 15 minutes. They are the perfect snack food! They only serve about 4 or 5 in the dish, but I could easily eat 10!

As my brother has told me "I've been to Dan's a number of times....I just don't remember any of them."

It's still there and is still probably the best dive in town.

What a cool concept for a restaurant! I look forward to checking this out.

g-d, I miss Zingerman's!

I am very lucky on that front...my boyfriend has been living in Ann Arbor, 2 blocks from Zingerman's for the past 2 years. While the long distance relationship sucks, getting to go to Zingerman's once a month is pretty nice.

Not to pick a fight with Elyssa, but I think Mark and Orlando's went down because it was rather expensive without being particularly distinctive and Cashion's is even more expensive (though more distinctive). More a special occasion than a neighborhood place -- though there is some money in that neighborhood, so maybe...

Definitely any place that pricey is going to need a name and a buzz.

I should have mentioned that I like the idea of Cashion's, but I would prefer a slightly lower price point, if I was to dine there on a regular, say monthly, basis.

The upstairs part of Mark and Orlando's was very affordable. I don't think there was anything over $12 or so. And in the upstairs part you can also dine off of the downstairs menu.

But I think you are right on the fact that Mark and Orlando's wasn't distinctive. I liked the place because everyone there was always friendly and the food was good. But I always had to make an effort to remember to a) go there and b ) recommend it. It didn't have anything particularly memorable that made me recommend it over other places in the area.

I think the former Cafe Trope location with its potential for shaded outdoor seating could do great brunch/lunch/happy hour business if they have the right price point, menu and acceptable food.

That's the location that's really been doomed. I think 3 restaurants have been in the space in the 5+ years I've been living in DC. Although I think all closed for different reasons. And that silly Stars place next door (the place the use to...or still does...have singing waiters) is still open for business.

Does anyone know if they have a website (w/ a menu)? I left my menu at home and I want to order lunch from here today. Even though it's basically across the street, it's a busy day and I would love to just call in my order and pick up.

If no website---any good recommendations for lunch? I tried the pan-fried noodles with shrimp a few days ago and that was pretty good. Any other noodle-type dishes?

a) rent (landlords on that street think they are in Times Square NY)

b)taxes

c) no beer, no wine, no liquor, no more...

d) no lunch traffic

e) no tourists

f) constant road construction

I don't agree about the no tourist comment. There is at least 1 hotel on that street (I think there might actually be 2) and 2 more hotels less then a 5 minute walk away. I don't think that's the issue so much. (Not that I want that area to turn into a tourist trap....I don't at all!)

I live 1 street over from P St., so I'm delighted to hear about any restaurant that might be opening in the area. But 100% understand your concerns since so many restaurants closed there recently.

Something to consider is the fact that there was a long road construction project that took place on that section of P St about a year ago. It was reported on some local blogs and papers that this greatly affected business. They were literally tearing up the entire street. It was difficult to walk down, let alone drive or park. Talking to some local businesses they said it most definitly hurt business for the quarter or so. I think perhaps some businesses just never recovered from that.

That being said I think the places that have closed might have been good (especially Mark and Orlando's) but they also were sleepers in a way. They didn't generate buzz---they were just classic neighborhood restaurants.

Personally I would like to see something new, affordable, and comfortable. Maybe a nice American bistro with seasonal produce---think Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan. Just a nice neighborhood restaurant with some outdoor seating, a bar(where I can sit if I'm dining alone) and a friendly, well-trained waitstaff. I think small and comfortable can also be good--like a Hank's.

You also should consider offering up something that the neighborhood doesn't currently have---or even the city. A really good Mediterranean restaurant on that street would be nice. Or maybe a noodle bar--like the ones they have in NYC and other cities. Perhaps a restaurant influenced by California cooking...just something different with a hook that people can get behind and talk about.

And I'll just throw it out there because I always have to mention it when people ask me about what type of restaurant I would like to see in my neighborhood---if you opened a REAL Jewish deli I can guarentee I would give you a lot of business--and so would others. Especially if you were open for breakfast, had a deli counter, and maybe stayed open late. Bring someone down from NY to show you how to do it right. If you invest the time and money and I think this could be a huge success. One of the major things DC is missing is a really good deli inside the city. I think the people of Dupont, and the surronding neighborhoods would love this!

What a shame that this great neighborhood spot is closing. I personally feel guilty because I live nearby and haven't eaten there in a couple of months.

Sad to see it go.

Also ate here for the first time last week. I was so excited to find good Chinese food (that also delivers!!!!!) in DC. I've been continously disappointed by the options since moving to DC. But I really enjoyed everything I had at Sichuan Pavillion.

I played it safe with my first order and got General Tso chicken, spring rolls, and spare ribs. All was quite good (of course Americanized but still good). Happy to have discovered this place.

MUCH better the Mei Wai (sp?).

Those pictures look incredible!! Thanks so much for sharing. It's a bit out of my price range for right now but it is on my list for a special occasion spot. The chef's table looks amazing!!

Try the cold sesame noodles. I use to order these a lot when I lived in the area. They also have some sort of peking duck roll (appetizer) that is quite good.

Anyone know if they have a website up yet or a menu floating around? I did a basic google search but couldn't find much (besides this thread of course )

It's not going to happen: Prince Cafe, Felix, and Spy Lounge (contiguous restaurants, save for an alley) have all closed.

Cheers,
Rocks.

Any idea of what will be filling their space? If they actually put some decent eats in those spaces I might actually venture to AM more often.

I'm looking forward to this restaurant opening. It's right next to my office and now knowing that its owned by the same people as Lola's I'm very excited.

I eat lunch at Lola's at least twice a week and its the best addition to the neighborhood in a long time (at least in terms of lunch options. Matchbox isn't open for lunch right now). The food is some of the tastiest "bar food" I've had in DC, so hopefully they'll be doing something similar at Molly Malone's.