Toogs

So the Chat Samosa here is addictive.  Cut open a samosa and top with chickpeas, tomato/onion/cilantro, and green sauce.

Just had a feast there.  Thanks for all the info in this thread.  Order-ahead stuff was a mixed bag but overall worth it.  The whole fish with rice powder was probably the standout of the meal.  Tea smoked duck was good, and unique, but not mind-blowing.  The purses had a mix of reviews.  I preferred the broth and the baby bok choi more than the purse itself.

Finally had the amazing fried eggplant.  Sweeter than expected but awesome.    Braised pork belly with mui-choy I realized I had had before, and while good, it doesn't come close to the same dish at Chinatown Express by verizon.  Loved the tendon, also a repeat for me, some can't do the texture so more for me!  seasonal veg was a simple dish of chive blossoms and was an unexpected hit.  Fish noodles never fail and we should have had 2 orders for nine people, and left out the only relative disappointment, the pepper and salt pork chops.  Nicely fried and juicy but not a lot going on.

I realized it's much closer to my house than I thought, so I will be back soon and often.  More fish and fish noodles in my future.

I wish they served beer.

Has anyone tried any of the order-days-ahead dishes other than the tea smoked duck?   Planning a group outing here and wondering what else to get if any of those.

Evidently this is now named Little Deli and Cafe but the owner/manager/cashier is the same person and the tacos and pupusas are still awesome. 

I think the worst thing that I saw was 12 bucks for fernet.  I don't know what the DC wholesale price is but that has to be 800% markup unless they are pouring you a soup bowl of it.

I don't know.  I have liked it the whole time and don't think it's different now.  I hadn't read upthread when I originally responded to you.

The preview for this topic is "nice steakhouse for a well..." and I was just assuming it would say "...done steak served with catsup" but it didn't.

Makes sense.  I love Sardi's and was just reacting to the comment about chicken choices in Laurel.  Although I can't quite put my finger on why, but I think it's better in Beltsville than in Laurel.

I love to drive and am very good at it.  Fast too.  I'd do it for the cost of a one way ticket back.  Check with your insurance though.

but seriously yes those services do still exist.

I tried out Super Pollo Charcoal Chicken in Ballston/Arlington this past Friday. It is a small local chain that seems to have 4 locations all in northern VA. It was solid, but not exceptional. Certainly better than the offerings where I live (in Laurel, MD), but did not approach the quality of Chicken on the Run in Bethesda from my perspective.

are you saying it's better than Sardi's and/or that you don't like Sardi's?

No one is ever there.  Awful location.  But now a regular lunch spot for my crew.  I hope they do furious takeout at dinner or something.  Had the chicken taco for the first time today and it was really good, I think thigh meat and a nice marinade.  And they get the outside of the pupusa extra crispy which gets bonus points.

Went yesterday for lunch.  I never made it before the name change, closing, whatever the f happened over there, but one of my dining companions had.  He said it was cleaner and the food was better.  I'm terrible with korean menus but I had boiling kim chee soup, third from the bottom on the soup list, just the right heat level for what I wanted that day.  Generous banchan including one which was maybe fermented some sort of bean and brown and disgusting to some but awesome like stinky cheese to me. 

On 11/28/2012 at 3:27 PM, DanielK said:

Don, these guys have the solution to your perpetual problem about what to do with the second tortilla that comes wrapped in each taco.

Simply, they pile so much meat on each taco, that you can easily split it between the two corn tortillas, and still have well stuffed tacos. That means that you can get the two taco platter with rice, beans, and a soda, and land up with FOUR tacos and change from your $10.

I am years too late on this but anywhere that uses two torts, I just eat one while leaning over the other, and eat the other with the scraps, or plunk it back down if the first one crumbles.

This place is confusing, the food came out in no kind of order, but everything was delicious.  I think this is a place that will improve as the diner's experience with the menu improves.

On 1/6/2017 at 9:19 AM, DonRocks said:

 when I saw the first frozen patty plunked down upon the flattop

You sure?  They have always claimed to not even have freezers.

I too once thought he was going to strangle me; he overheard a comment about his timeliness/punctuality shortly after his iron chef fiasco.  Not nearly as dramatic as yours.

Great story thanks for sharing.

Second visit today at lunch.  Better than my first time but the XLB didn't have quite enough liquid and weren't hot enough.  Maybe they thought I didn't know what I was doing and served them a little cool.  No risk of popping these (a little thick but still very good).

The fried leek dumpling was outrageously good though, and the cold spicy beef and tripe was too, although not particularly spicy.

dammit I knew I forgot something, it was the eggplant.  I don't understand what a fish noodle is but it was the best thing we had.

Tried this a couple weeks ago after seeing it in the Wapo cheap eats breakdown and waiting because I was scared.

Everything here is delicious.  I have no idea what I had, other than samples of a ton of stuff and picking the ones I liked best.  

The seating situation is terrible.  We gave frank "get the F out" stares to people who were camping after their meals were long gone, but to no avail.  But that doesn't matter much.  Nor does having the choice of spring rolls being zero or 12+ for some reason--they would make a mint at a buck a pop for singles.

My biggest regret here is that when I went one day last week, probably Monday, it was their day off and they were closed.

But you shouldn't go there.  The line is too long anyway.

PS one of the lunch ladies high fived me when I said everything was great.  Imagine a 6'6 guy and a 5'nothing gal high fiving.  Luckily her vertical leap is better than mine ever was

my food rave above is still true, but given what others have said I agree--the breakdown of the menu and tipping the kitchen is a little too cute.

except the thing about the wings not fitting the menu--who cares--they are awesome wings

quick, tell me what to get or avoid

I have been getting my Indian delivery fix from this place and it's very good.  I have never been to the spot and don't really know where in Burtonsville it is, but it's delicious.  Deliveries have been prompt and accurate

Website

Garam masala wings should be a thing everywhere.  They should come with raita without asking, which they might but I ask for extra raita every time so I don't know.  The naan is as crisp as you could expect from delivery.  I bet it's great dining in.

I had never heard of Chicken 65 but I guess it's a thing.  A delicious spicy breaded chicken nugget thing here.  Curries are great, with various choices of rice, chickpeas, salad, etc for various charges or not.

Lamb curries have been excellent.  Tons of food for the money but also delicious.  Samosa and pakora are pretty standard but the standard is good.

As important as anything, the gulab jamun is great.  I love a small bite or two for dessert without being weighed down in price or calories.  Some Indian places can't get this right, but it's good here.

Without throwing any other local indian delivery under the bus, this is the one to get by far.  They are on grubhub but not eat24, which is great because you aren't accidentally encouraged to give yelp 2 bucks.

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Just ate the whole savory menu and wouldn't send anything back.  Stars were the congee, the 2 fish dishes, the fried tofu, and the offal salad.  Service was great from our main waiter to all of the others who attended us.  I'd trade back the marrow for a dessert we were too full for but you can't go wrong.  It's loud as fuck as other reviews have mentioned and you almost have to shout to be heard across the table--i hope they add some sound dampening features.  Oh and the coconut risotto is sublime but the scallops are superfluous just serve the ris.

Good tacos and pupusas at My Las Delicias Deli, near the old Swahili space at that hideous junction of rt 1 and Rhode Island.  Not sure what was there before. 

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