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Black Bear

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Jack Bauer

Jack Bauer (25/123)

  1. Thx. Have to say that perhaps we have different definitions of "local" as mapquest shows the trip from my home in Arlington to Thurmont to be 63 miles/1hr & 20 minutes; to Paeonia Springs is 35 miles/50 minutes. Rocklands and RH&B are both 5 minutes and we occasionally breakdown and get takeout from time to time. I mentioned Famous Daves only because someone else did earlier and I've eaten at the one near Potomac Mills a few times when down that way. If the stars align and I'm by either of your suggestions, I'll give it a try. Part of the charm of of someplace like Beans BBQ & the Shenandoah Valley is how different it is from the DC area. We like both, but it's a great change of pace and people. YMMV of course.....
  2. Beyond the mostly mediocre at best local BBQ places - Rocklands, Red, Hot and Blue, Famous Daves, I ran into a better than that place out in the Shenandoah Valley. We spend a fair amount of time out there as I'm a pretty serious fisherman. Next to Murrays Fly Shop in Edinburg, VA ( http://www.murraysflyshop.com/ ) is a place that only does take out, and currently only does so on Saturday mornings. It's called Beans BBQ and has a facebook website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BEANS-BARBECUE/168499416571 price is right, pretty decent vinegar based BBQ sauce, but most importantly the meat, specifically the ribs, are nicely smoked with a very visible pinkish smoke ring on the outer area of the meat. Anyway, its probably 2hrs one way which is a long way to drive for any meal, but if you are out there, worth a stop if you like BBQ. Lots of photos on the above website. One other mention is that many organizations raise money by selling BBQ chicken on Saturday mornings along the road in the small towns. Consistently is a non-tomato based vinegar BBQ sauce and usually also pretty decent - mostly $3.50 a half chix. Here's a link to the local newspaper which lists "doin's" if you click on the calendar weekend days.... http://www.nvdaily.com/calendar/ and this Saturday's events: http://www.nvdaily.com/calendar/2011/06/25/
  3. Had a Bells Two Hearted Ale someplace recently with dinner and still like it a lot. Certainly better than the Hopslam I bought this year for a significant premium. Had a glass of Green Flash IPA at the lost dog Friday (spent the day in the Westover library as it had heat and wireless internet and we had no power at home). Really like that beer as well. Don't know for sure, but there's a reason that places like the Lost Dog and Westover Market can sell hundreds of different beers and I assume that means not everyone likes the same thing. Bell's Two Hearted Ale is certainly top tier for me.
  4. There was press in the post about Hopslam: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/beer/beer-2.html That should fuel the fire. Just bought a six pack from Westover Grocery for $25 (I was down to pick up my dry cleaning across the street). Figured I'd see what all the fuss was about. Not bad, but $4+ a bottle? I don't think so. Rather prefer the Green Flash IPA on tap at the Lost Dog across the road, or for that matter the Northern Lights IPA made by Star Hill locally down near Charlottesville, VA. But for you Hop Heads on the trail of a source, there ya go.
  5. Pretty sure the folks that own/run Arax also own/run the dry cleaning/tailor shop next door. Always had good luck with the tailor and dry cleaning, so probably both businesses are worth your support. FWIW.
  6. It appears that the focus on finding restaurants with changing tables in the bathroom suggests that folks get it, but just in case you think this is the first time this issue has gotten any attention here at DR, I'll post this link: http://donrockwell.com/index.php?showtopic=8340&st=0&p=102246entry102246 The second to last post has some good advice....
  7. In this other related thread here: http://donrockwell.com/index.php?showtopic=15608 there are these two observations: "...Another example from one of Brochet’s unique tastings involved 57 French wine gurus asked to evaluate two red wines. The crafty evaluator, however, poured the same average rated Bordeaux into two different bottles. The first was an expensive Grand Cru bottle and the second one had previously been the lair of a cheap table wine. The one mostly highly rated by the experts? Of course, the pedestrian red poured from the more expensive bottle. And remember, these were experts. The mind is a terrible thing to trick. A common secret is that some bars substitute mid-range liquors for the leading brands when they pour mixed drinks. Almost nobody is the wiser because most cocktail sipping patrons simply cannot tell the difference. As long at the brand name is called out upon ordering, the satisfaction is achieved, even if the drink delivered to the table is not what was requested. It’s a bit embarrassing, but we all are susceptible to such chicanery...." Looking at your website, it's pretty obvious that food sourcing is important to you (the locavore movement being my favorite food trend) so I'd assume the "chicanery" above is unlikely. But if we agree no names/non-attribution, is this a common problem in the industry? I ask because beyond a few special occasions, we seldom order a bottle of wine when eating out - just a glass for my wife, maybe a beer for me. If she orders ______ merlot by the glass, much chance the bartender/owner makes a swap to save money? Regarding the second observation about swapping out liquors, I've swapped Patron for Cuervo Gold, Grand Marnier for Triple Sec, and at least for me I like the Margarita made with the latter better than the former. On rare occasion I go straight up, Patron and Grand Marnier. A bottle of Talisker lasts me a year most of the time, so the premium over a bottle of say Dewars is maybe $30-40 a year? On the other hand, we probably go thru a bottle of wine a week, more or less. If we make the price jump from $10 to $30 a bottle, that could easily add $1000 to my bottom line.
  8. I guess I'd agree and disagree. We've found almost all of their food is great, but especially the duck. One thing however, is that I'd make reservations. One year we went Christmas Eve with a group and at 8pm the place was truly mobbed. It's almost always busy - a table for two is sometime doable, but with a big group and no reservation you may wait forever.
  9. My favorite is the Talisker, but also stock Macallan. A related nice gift might be something like this: http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=9Y44 The Holy Grail is generally thought to be Longmorn 16yr which is available at Pearson's for $80. Never had it, but it's on my list.
  10. Decided not to try and start a new thread, but was amused by this piece in the NYT today: "Do More Expensive Wines Taste Better?" I'm a little more guilty of this with Single Malt Scotch and Single Barrel Bourbon, but a bottle lasts a long time at my house. We buy Milton Park Shiraz by the case, but enjoy most wines.
  11. Sadden, but not surprised. Quarterdeck used to get a lot of lunch business from Ft Myer pre 911 as there used to be a gate along the fence and no security at the main gate down by Iwo Jima. They closed the walk thru gate, and the security at the main gate adds 10 minutes or more to your lunch now. You'd still see a few retired military now contractors working at one of the beltway bandits, but to be honest haven't seen a lot of that the past year or two. They had a decent hamburger, or what we thought was a decent hamburger, before Rays came along and spoiled everyone. Hadn't thought in a long time about that Vietnamese seafood restaurant that was shaped like a boat located near where VA Square is now. They did have good crabs and fun outside dining. Really miss Little Viet Garden, but what can you say. Saw in today's post where Springfield Mall may go belly up and the article made mention of how 7 Corners used to be an indoor mall. We used to eat at that mall fairly often at the Italian restaurant there, the old guy that owned it was somehow related to Pete Sampras and had a photo of him up on the wall. That was back in the day when there were two Italian Stores (two brothers - Michael and Bobby) before they closed that store for the mall redevelopment. We almost put that Home Depot that went in there into Clarendon in the old Sears space. At least it might have blocked the Cheesecake Factory from coming in......
  12. Was back again, this time had a basic cheeseburger. I won't repeat my original assessment, only say this time around it'd be pretty much the same. Great selection of beers, looked pretty busy, the burger was on a scale of 1-10, maybe a 6 or 7. Rays Hellburger is a 9-10, the burger place over by the Italian Store maybe a solid 7, Best Buns burgers (also in Ballston) comparable or a step better. About the same as Teds or RBB. Just trying to give some reference points. Understand they're new, but usually the things that improve as the staff settles in is the service, food sometimes, but not as much. It should do well and I'll go again. FWIW.
  13. Stopped in at lunch for a pizza and beer. Haven't been to the Alexandria location, so can't compare or comment there. It shares some real similarities with Fireworks Pizza down at the Courthouse metro - a amazing number of beers, with at least 30 drafts, less apparent outside dining. Pizza I had was good, but not quite as good as Fireworks and not nearly as good as Orzo. Staff was friendly, look forward based upon some of the posting above to trying some of the other food offerings. In many ways I see them as more of a competitor to Rock Bottom Brewery (more meeting place and/or beer hall than upper end pizza restaurant). RBB has a loyal following in the serious beer drinking, party people set and their Wednesday happy hour attracts large crowds. I think the bartender at Rustico said the Happy hour there is $2 off the beers which doesn't compare well with the $1.50 pints at RBB happy hour. I'll be interesting to see how it develops and shakes out. I'll be back.
  14. Agreed. However, the din and chaos at Pie-Tanza from all the kids can be deafening. Like the Italian Store as well. Saw you in early with a review at Fireworks Pizza in Courthouse, but nothing substantive yet. Had a good meal and experience there last week, tried the pizza yet? Finally on the all pizza all the time channel, Rustico has now delayed their opening in Ballston until October (or so says the hostess at the Alexandria location....)
  15. Seems as if there is a push for more and better pizza (# of new and very good restaurants opening recently or about to open). Had a create your own sausage and pepperoni pizza and a pale ale. Both were great, nice space, good parking on the street. Hard to judge the wait staff as I was in early and mostly they were watching the world cup with me, so hard to see how they'd respond if the restaurant was full at night. I will be back.
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