bookluvingbabe

Any timeframe for opening for lunch yet?

Please remember that the price of the meal includes tax, BUT NOT TIP OR DRINKS.  Also, the meal is discounted (especially for what you guys are being served), so tips really should be based on a higher price.  There was no fee for reserving the full room, and extra staff will be working to handle the event.  Service will be terrific, I'm certain.  Even if you aren't drinking alcohol this evening, you can throw a little extra revenue to the house by ordering a non-alcoholic drink or some bottled water, or you could always palm the sommelier a portrait of Lincoln, Hamilton or Jackson on the way out.  These are all just suggestions, but they make sense to me.

Here are my suggested minimums, but you're certainly free to leave what you wish: 

Food only ($65):  $20 each

Food and wine ($100):  $30 each (don't forget you aren't only paying for the wine, but also the wine service, extra dishwashers, etc.)

I hate even mentioning this stuff, but it's better than not mentioning it.

Rocks.

Thanks! That was along the lines of what I was thinking....

Must go check cash situation...

Jennifer

I have been debating whether to recount this story or not, and your humorous addition had made me do it....

A few weeks after we opened, we experienced a mechanical problem at the restaurant.  The result was that the dining room was hot and smokey.  Kay and I made sure we visited every table to appologize for the conditions.  We explained that we had a mecanical problem with our ventilation system, that the restaurant was not up to its usual standards etc.  We told waiters that we would comp anything for any customer who complained, no questions asked.  Over the time affected, we in fact did comp several tables and a huge number of desserts etc. 

Mr. BLB and I stopped in that night and I remember it was a bit smoky but smelled yummy--cooked meat!!!! I suppose if I had been wearing my contact lenses I might have been more concerned but you'd been open what, a month? Was the place on fire? The A/C was working, you had fans on, and you, Kay and Justin were clearly on top of the problem...

I just don't get people sometimes...

Jennifer

Husband was dubious when I warned him to eat lightly today. Slight grumbling that we had to tape Survivor. Oh, and somehow I had failed to mention that a large group of people he had never met were going to be there. Oops! Can't wait!

Jennifer

How dressy?

Thanks!

Jennifer

Went for an improptu dinner last night. (Very happy day at work and my husband managed to leave the office on time--perfect reason to head for Firefly, right?)

Started with the oysters and the NO benefit cocktail which had quite the kick to it. Yum.

Split the steak frites and the lamb with Mr. BLB. The lamb is really perfection on a plate. I can't believe how good it is and want to see if I can recreate it at home.

The steak worked less well for me. I can't decide if it simply suffered in comparison to the lamb or if I am still grieving the departure of the Michael's Ribeye Diablo, which I simply loved beyond words. Either way, the lamb was the hit of the evening for me.

We shared the chocolate napolean--the chocolate was quite good but I realized I don't like puff pastry! Mr. BLB quite liked it and was happy to eat more than his share when I gave up trying to dig the chocolate out from around the pastry... But that's just my quirk...the flavors were very nice.

As always terrific service from the crew. I remembered to peek at the check to get our waiter's name--Virgil--who as on previous visits took splendid care of us.

Jennifer

I would start now.....it's only two days away

So I made a special trek out to the apple farm (nameless because I'm going to whine...) to buy my beloved Jonathan apples this past weekend. I always go the second Saturday of September and buy enough to get me through November.

Got them home and eagerly tried one. Awful! Hard, tart and generally impossible to eat.

Okay--maybe one of those other yucky apples got mixed in. I'll wait and try another before I get nervous.

Nope. Sitting on my desk is another inedible apple.

I called the farm to ask if it was possible the apples had been mislabeled. Unlikely. They only had Jonathan and Galas this past weekend and there is no way on earth this was a Gala. Most likely it's the dry season.

So what is a broken-hearted midwestern gal supposed to do with a peck of inedible apples?

I see lots of applesauce in my future.

Sigh...

Jennifer

I got a sneak preview of the tentative menu.  All I'll say is this:  make sure to tip well.  And someone bring a camera.

Cheers,

Rocks.

Most tof the times that I have gone (either Fri or Sat night) I have thought that the place could double as a day care center.  If it is that bad around 8-8:30 on a Sat night I would hate to see it on a Sun evening.

But I think there is a difference between a post that says "I had dishes x, y and z and I thought that X and Z were really great but Y didn't work for me because of 1, 2, and 3."

And a post that says that "the service sucked, the order was wrong, the room was 50 degrees, the wine was poured on my head and no, I didn't mention it to the staff at the time."

The first post shares the food experience and what the poster liked and didn't like.

The second post is someone who doesn't know how to communicate effectively in real time and needs some help.

I like the first type of post and I want to know what dishes are working and aren't working from a variety of diners. It's like movie reviews--eventually you figure out that if Anthony Lane liked a movie I'll like it too but Stephen Hunter's favorites are to be avoid at all costs.

Did that make any sense at all?

Jennifer

Is there a microwave?

I bought Mr. BLB a lunch sack, and frozen gel packs and send him with sandwiches. I occasionally will send partially frozen soup that he can nuke.

I have also had luck freezing those nalogen (sp?) water bottles from Eddie Bauer and they would keep your lunch bag cold for a while.

I also have my eye on this: Mr. Bento

Good luck!

Jennifer

Work is interfering with life again...

I have two tickets for the Nat's game tonight (Thursday) that we can't use. They are great seats in Sec. 323 and I'll pass them along to someone who can use them.

My office is on Cap. Hill and I'll have my car so I can meet someone pretty easily to hand off the tickets.

PM if you can use them~!

Thanks!

I've received meat free at Whole Foods when there was a price but no UPC code to scan. I told them to just enter it in manually. Nope--they had to give it to me for free.

On another visit I tried to buy a loaf of bread that had been given a sticker making it a $30.00 torte. They gave us the bread free too.

Alright, am I really the only person in the town who doesn't like the fries?    The lemon slices?  Good and crispy.  The fries?  Soggy every time I've been there.

Had a lovely lunch at the Grill today. Mr. BLB met me there and I think he enjoyed his first Grill experience.

One pork shoulder for me; grilled chicken and soup for him.

This go round the green sauce seemed to be less garlicy...Also had green peppers and onions this time. (Didn't last time and I don't think I changed how I ordered....Must watch for that. Not a big pepper fan...)

What a lovely way to spend lunchtime!

Le Cresuet Bean Pot

I bought one of these last year during the post-wedding, must buy everything green or jade Le Creuset.

Now what do I do with it?

Thanks!

Jennifer

Any truth to the chatter's report that Reidel's is gone?

I liked their brisket, especially for carry-out.

I know Mr. BLB had carry-out a few times while I was away two weeks ago.

Sigh...

Jennifer

My husband loves Al Tiramisu.

Me--not so much.

They lost me forever when my server failed to mention the lamb special during Mr. BLB's birthday dinner.

I'll almost always order lamb if it's an option. Price be damned.

Management waved off my complaint when the table next to me was offered the lamb special 10 minutes later.

Fortunately we don't live in the neighborhood anymore so the urge to go is much less.

Jennifer

Add me to the list of people who have experienced the rude sticker shock at Al Tiramisu.  I think the special that one of us ordered was also about $10 more than the other items on the menu.  It was a few years ago, but I was so turned off (plus kind of rude service and OK food) that we haven't been back.

Call me naive, but it never occurred to me that restaurants use "specials" as a way to jack up revenue.  I always thought the phrase meant that the restaurant got something "special" that day (i.e. catch of the day, etc.) that was being served.

Although, has anyone experienced this: going to a sushi restaurant where everything was "market price?"  In principle, I understand this (if fish/lobster etc can be "market price" then why not sushi), but I had never seen it before or since.  Plus, this was not a fancy or particularly special sushi place, but a trendy neighborhood sushi joint in Philly.

I understand Nadya's point about the kitchen being slammed and needing to space things out. Or at least I'm trying to.

But really, can't I just sit at the table and read the menu? The bars are smoky, crowded and generally not my cup of tea. Especially if I've got guests or in-laws with me.

Jennifer

This is the second Tuesday in a row I have spent much of the day dreaming of Dino, fondly choosing cheeses and weighing Rosato vs. ESB, only to realize midafternoon that it's Tuesday and I'm out of luck.

I'm thinking it might be time for me to try Palena's chicken. Which means the day might be salvaged yet.

If anyone's at Palena post-6-ish, I'll be at the bar, reading an absurdly large and conspicuous book.

Jael

The Grill will be open Wednesday and Thursday this week.  Dress up as Chef Donna and get half off your lunch.

I'm beginning to think it's dangerous to live only a few block's from Dino's.

Sunday night--tired, exhausted, sweaty from an afternoon at RFK. Cooking is beyond me at this point.

A plate of prosciutto and cheeses beckoned. A parking space was open out front.

Had a lovely early evening with a little wine, a little chat with Dean and Justin, admired the downstairs and went home satiated.

We expanded our horizons into the crostinis--finally! The cod was a bit salty but quite nice and the pate was a clear winner for me.

I'm terrible at remembering the cheeses--I know we had the cheddar and two other mild ones. I'm very much a girl who doesn't want her to cheese to taste much like cheese so I'm a fan of the milder stuff. St. Andres is my idea of a good time. Mr. BLB liked the cheddar and the others, I only really liked the mildest and softest one we had. (The first step is admitting I have a problem, right???)

The stewed fruits and the pickled veggies are a wonderful new addition.

Thanks for a wonderful meal!

Jennifer

I would vote for any house cured meat, the cheeseburger and any of the desserts.

Next to the liquor store at Van Ness and Connecticut?

Used to be...I don't know, something stupid.  I can't tell if it's leased again or not.

Bad food--Passport or something.... Semi-decent Thai before that.

Has anything gone into the old Radio Shack spot right at the Van Ness Metro?

I suppose C-W would be a negative factor for our neck of the woods.

Sigh...

Jennifer