NolaCaine

On THursday we had a restaurant week dinner at PS-7s. Yummy, beginning to end! For 25 $, we started with a bottle of Cab Sav. (Turtle Creek maybe). It was good but nothing special. 1st Course: mussels in a thai curry broth. The broth was so good that we used the bread to sop it up. We also had a pickled fennel and beet salad. It was light and refreshing and perfectly well dressed. 2nd Course: Beef tenderloin (perfectly well cooked and it melted in my mouth...how do they do that?) and Cod. My plate of cod was great. The flavors were strong enough to stand up to the red wine and moreover, the cod was perfectly well cooked. I had a tilapia earlier in the day at Acadiana that was dry, really bland too so I was pleased to have such a great experience. Also on the place was a fabulous cucumber spaghetti(I"m guessing at the veg). IT was so tasty, I wanted more. The only disappointment was the black rice. It was sort of mushy and bland but I make it at home a lot so didn't miss it. 3rd Course: I didn't love the selection of sweets. I don't like fruit-tasting sweets unless it is a fruit. But my husband cleaned both plates so he loved the orange cream cake and the banana crunch (my preference of the two). I hope to check out the lounge soon.

Last night I started out at Science Club but had no tolerance for the loud crowd. We began to walk to metro peeking in doors, looking for dinner at an under-crowded place, downtown, on a Friday night, at about 6:30pm. Not easy until we got to Spezie. Although it was Restaurant week, it was not at all crowded when we arrived. The bar tasting menu looked interesting (and the bar empty) but we opted for dinner. When I opened the menu I was pleasantly surprised to see a restaurant week menu! Wine specials offered up a Sangiovese and a Carta Negroamaro wine. Our server was an older Italian man and he said that the Carta Negroamaro was a fine wine that offered great value now, but he suspected that it would be discovered in the next couple of years. We're going to buy some today, it was so good. Soft tannins even though it was a 2007, and had a complex flavor without being overdone. As for food, I started with the veal cheek appetizer while my dining companion started with a radicchio salad. The veal cheeks over polenta with a rich red sauce was fantastic and soothed my soul. The polenta was fluffy, creamy, and had a lot of nice flavors and the dish was topped with some crunchy green (Fried parsley perhaps). It added an interesting twist in terms of taste and texture. As for the main dish, the rockfish and lintels were good/fine even. THe broccoli rabe, however, was next level; perfectly well cooked and seasoned. My husband's venison, though ordered medium-rare, was a bit more rare but we'd prefer that to overcooked. He loved it although I thought it was under seasoned. The greens under the venison, however, were for me, excellent. Baby spinach leaves were mixed with a cream sauce (wine & garlic in there I think). To finish, we had cannoli (3, bland) and a slice of passion fruit mouse cake served with chocolates. The cake was surprisingly light and the perfect finish to the meal. BTW: The wine stood up to all dishes and even finished nicely with the mouse cake especially. I"d go back.

I’m a 14K regular and would like to report some changes: the space has been renovated and a happy hour has been instituted. From 5 to 7PM the bar menu and drinks are half price. Rob and Jose, who staff the bar, are very attentive. As for food, I am only familiar with the bar menu. The flat bread, for a long time, was tomato-basil and as one would expect, it was fantastic in the late summer but bland otherwise. The flat bread now changes daily and last-week’s salmon flatbread with sweet onions was quite nice. The cheese-plate changes as well. I always enjoy it although I’m not really that into cheese. They pair four with fruit and nuts. Wednesday was a goat, brie, gouda, and one I did not recognize with cashews, strawberries (bland), grapes (good/red), and some figs (really good, small, not too sweet). I have eaten many burgers there are they are good, though overpriced. The mac-n-cheese is super creamy and not overly “cheesey.” I really like it although I’m not that into mac-n-cheese. If memory serves, their sliders have that butter-flavored crap on them and their crab-cakes are good but small. I go for the relaxed atmosphere, good snacks, and great service.

Okay. Second post. I want to Cafe Milano last night in GT and I was overall, under impressed. It was loud and crowded and for a Tuesday, is that normal? The waiter got my order wrong. I did not complain as the food was great but all I know is that it was Chilean sea bass with greens and another veg underneath. I got elbowed in the back of the head by a waiter. The wicker bottomed chair was uncomfortable. I was looking for reviews of CM and didn't find any. I"m sure it was my poor search effort but, here it is, a very brief review. This review is pretty negative so I should reiterate, I LOVED my dinner. I'm curious what others think...

Hi All: I work in DC, live in arlington, love to cook and eat, I was introduced to this board by a professional associate and at at Mark's duck house on his advice. Very GOod Dim Sum. Want to try the duck next. Ate at Cafe Milano yesterday. Very good, very loud, waiter got my order wrong but I loved the Sea Bass so no harm or foul...Thanks for adding content. --A.