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JBag57

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Everything posted by JBag57

  1. JBag57
    My wife and I went in late Friday night, after a long hiatus. The staff said that they had been slammed earlier in the evening, which is probably a good thing in some respects. Hopefully those feeling the effects of the "slamming" had some bright spots in their experience. The pizzas are top notch. (the dough/crust is slightly better at Pupatella, IMO) We had the Filetto and The North Beach (which sounds like what the above poster may have had). The Filetto was meatless, so while it was not my cup of tea, my wife loved it. The North Beach was terrific--the not quite jalapeno-hot Fresno peppers, the green olives and the salami made for a delicious combo! We also had the Crispy Brussels Sprouts (Brussels leaves) and they were fairly addictive. I can see why Don is predicting that this is going to turn into a small plate destination out in Falls Church! As the above poster mentioned, the staff and chef were quite welcoming, even though we could sense the weariness from having handled a big spike during family dining hour. I am glad to see, if Orso was ever on a downswing, that the pendulum is swinging back in their direction!
  2. JBag57
    A pretty reliable source told me that Chef Steve Mannino is leaving Rustico to become something like "Director of Culinary Program" for American Tap Room.
  3. JBag57
    I don't doubt that you have run up a larger tab at M&S than at Monterey Bay. The rest of your claim needs to be substantiated, n my mind, because it does not appear to match up to the reality that I have encountered. Regardless, if the service at these non-national chains is less than perfect (which, by several accounts, it was not), you cannot afford (even on expense account) to take your valued clients to these relatively unknown restaurants. Aside from service, Maestro, Inox, etc., were food destinations, not business dinner destinations. If the investors in those ventures believed that business dinners would be their mainstay, l seriously have to question their business plans, at least before their restaurants had gained a widespread reputation. I would not risk taking that valued client to a new, but possibly "all the rage", restaurant unless I knew that the entire evening would be flawless. That is possibly why the Morton's of the world survive and thrive, they are the "safe bet"!
  4. JBag57
    What exists in RTC has, as you say, and by and large, been "inflicted upon us". Probably a large number of people that frequent RTC meet your description, but I assure you that there are plenty of people, including me, who patronize RTC and who would be offended if you tried to characterize us in that way. I also think that many of those who currently meet your description would experience a maturation in discernment for finer fare, if given the chance. I (and we) go to RTC (not as frequently as I (or we) otherwise might), because Tysons is a disaster and, if you, like me, were to actually live out this way, you could not make the trip downtown or to Old Town Alexandria at the drop of a hat. I do not hesitate to say, on my behalf as well as on behalf of a pretty wide circle of friends and acquaintances, "build it [something akin to the Town Center that you pine for], and they [we] will come [much more often than we go to RTC]." By the way, upthread a little ways, I am not sure how you surmised that I was wishing for a Ray's the Steaks at RTC, when I specifically mentioned Vermilion and Estadio--unless you are equating the three places to each other, or are just struggling with reading comprehension...
  5. JBag57
    I am right there with UStifosi and Joe H. The 20-somethings mentioned by Kibbee Nayee will continue to keep Jackson's and America's Tap Room flourishing, and even M&S seems to have become more of a bar scene for the next age group up. I cannot tell you how happy I would be to have a non-seafood-exclusive (and non-Morton's) counterpart to PassionFish. I would be willing to pay about double what I now have to pay at Mon Ami Gabi and Il Fornaio to be able to frequent an Estadio or a Vermilion, or the like. I had heard a rumor quite some time ago that NRG was looking at RTC and other locations in Reston for a third iteration of Rustico. I have not heard anything on that recently, however.
  6. JBag57
    I realize that I learn far more here than I contribute, but was it really a good idea to encourage bumping up threads like this?
  7. JBag57
    As a former trademark attorney, that was the first thing that came to mind after reading (assuming, based on lack of announcement from the Armstrongs) that this venture was not theirs. While we are ruffling feathers, what about the Majestic Bar at Evening Star Cafe?
  8. JBag57
    Subtle change in the name of the thread noted, with approval! Or did someone hack it? If so, also noted with approval!
  9. JBag57
    I hope you mean the rear "nether regions". I am having trouble visualizing the humor otherwise.
  10. JBag57
    My son and I went to PNC Park 3 years ago. A beautiful stadium and great baseball experience, had more the feel of Camden Yards than our new digs, but possibly even better. I told my son that I saw pierogies listed on the stadium website as being offered. I went off one inning and finally found some in the upper deck down the LF line. Possibly I just went in the wrong direction. He loved them, however, and he is a pretty discerning pierogi eater. For my part, I had never had a Primanti Bros sandwich, so I easily found one of their several concessions and had an outstanding hot capicola sandwich. Last night, I stopped in Pittsburgh on my way into America's heartland, and stayed, yes, at a Holiday Inn Express, just off the Pa. Turnpike. An actual Primanti Bros satellite location/franchise was 5 minutes from my hotel. I had gotten in late, but they were still open. The capicola on the sandwich there was barely edible, and the sandwich overall paled in comparison to the one I had at PNC Park. Enjoy your visit to a great baseball stadium. One good thing about the low attendance is short lines at some good concessions!
  11. JBag57
    I also saw a storefront sign for one coming soon in Reston, in the Home Depot shopping center at Reston Parkway and Baron Cameron. I hope they have some simpler pies than those specialties noted above. I, too, thought they sounded like pretty awful combos, for the most part.
  12. JBag57
    Not that you need support, as you answered the charge very well, but I will chime in that it is not a big step from Miller Lite to whatever pilsner or kolsch or other lighter-bodied style that they may offer (I have not been in a while, but I believe that they had either Full Circle Kolsch or Scrimshaw Lager/Pilsner on their bottle list). They can probably move a decent number of patrons toward these tastier beers, but there will be those who insist on the "old familiar". Just be glad that Miller Lite is not joined on the list by Michelob Ultra, PBR, Amstel Light, etc., etc., ad infinitum, at the cost of crowding out other micros.
  13. JBag57
    I am no expert on this style of pizza, but my taste buds have Pupatella ranked WAY higher than Pizzeria Orso. The dough/crust is fantastic, taste and texture, and the Margherita is packed with honest flavor considering the simple, basic ingredients used. Orso is no slouch, either, but these guys have nailed it, in my book. Orso does get the upper hand in ambiance, if one is looking for a restaurant-style dining out experience. I am very happy that these two options are out there.
  14. JBag57
    I am a regular carryout customer of CafeSano, and I would have to say that, in my experiences, your experience was well out of the norm. Possibly, as Paul noted, the staff was having a rough night, and it sounds like they had an unusual shortage of ingredients for the menu items they offer. The kitchen and counter staff normally have their act quite together, and they have a huge and loyal customer base to show for it. CafeSano is an oasis in the desert of fast food and chain restaurants out in the area between Tysons and Reston Town Center.
  15. JBag57
    Replying to my own post, Rustico Ballston ran a three day soft opening this weekend, and they say it will be open for business on Tuesday, October 26. Prosit!
  16. JBag57
    I had thought about commenting previously, but some of the most traditional Oktoberfest beers emanating from (and served in) Germany, are not what we know of here as marzen style, and do skew toward a drier, less sweet, style that can resemble a lightly hopped pils. I think that this may account for the above review from 2007: Not recommended: Weihenstephaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau (though they aren't bad beers), ... All of those are in the more traditional style, and are quite good, but are not the copper-colored marzens that have come to connote Oktoberfest style beers in the US.
  17. JBag57
    Greg must be doing too much globetrotting to stay abreast of current events at Rustico, or is possibly gun shy from his long delays in getting the doors at ChurchKey opened. The target date for Rustico Ballston remains October 25. Initial training for the new staff (those that are new hires--not those transferring over from Rustico Alexandria) is at a fever pitch over on Slaters Lane. I have no idea about the status of Buzz.
  18. JBag57
    Quite possibly the epitome of "product placement"--- As Jimmy and the Coral Reefer Band broke into "Cheeseburger in Paradise" Saturday night out in beautiful downtown Bristow, VA, the screen spanning the stage behind the band displayed a photo of the storefront of this venerable establishment (1725 Wilson)! For a brief moment, I thought that we might be treated to a visual rendition of "Burger Wars", via a slide show displaying other local contenders. But, no, the Ray's photo remained on the screen for the entire song... Pretty remarkable, considering JB has his own Margaritaville Cafe thing going, as well as presumably a licensing agreement with the "Cheeseburger in Paradise" chain.
  19. JBag57
    Can anyone explain or defend Againn's action in reporting RWBooneJr as a no-show? In reading the post, that appears to have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
  20. JBag57
    So the non-owner executive chef (or whatever his title) had some wildly (and possibly widely, as you allege) speculative run-ins with a landlord, even though he did not own the business (and, I am guessing, was not personally liable on the lease)... Care to be a little more factual with your statements, or at least elaborate on the wide/wild speculation that you were privy to?
  21. JBag57
    Whitey's--where Tallula and EatBar now reside--does "Hawaii Five-O" strike a chord with anyone??? Jenkins Hill and Nards DJs--mostly blurry but great memories--one night they had a contest to name bands/musical acts containing the name of a U.S. President--our group of four came up with about 35 and won the contest (shooters and Nard's bicycle hats as prizes, wheeee!). The Dead Kennedys were just then receiving attention, and made our list.
  22. JBag57
    I have been underwhelmed by the Moo Thunder Stout. (purchased in can "to go" from Rustico). It tastes tinny and thin to me, not drinking straight from the can, but rather from one of my regular beer glasses. Anyone had this stuff recently that can say whether quality may or may not have slipped?
  23. JBag57
    Churchkey tweeted that it would be on tap Monday. Probably long gone by now. Maplewood Grill in Vienna is halfway through the half-keg they were allotted after one night. I am sure that others are popping up and going quickly. Virginia distributors for 6 packs will probably not get it out to retail until Thursday or Friday. BTW, I have been in a hop funk for about 6 months, and have been enjoying more stouts and porters, but the HopSlam at Maplewood tonight was sublime.
  24. JBag57
    150K. Shameful... Roberto won't be getting any of my future business, if he does end up opening some new place.
  25. JBag57
    How can the two entities seriously allow each other to continue using the name? I mean, come on, the earlier user has rights, and the latecomer should adopt a new mark pronto. This is worse than the cigar fiasco, with rights in certain traditional Cuban brands being granted to and used by non-Cuban producers. At least in that situation, you know that if you are purchasing from a law-abiding US business, you are getting the non-Cuban stuff. Who is going to remember one stag vs. more than one stag on the label, or where the apostrophe is placed in the name, when looking to purchase wines?
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