bonaire

Going to Dino tonight (hopefully!) with my Dad, his wife and some friends of theirs. Total group will likely be 6 or 7. I can't remember, is there enough room at the bar for all of us? Or should we sit at a table? I think they're looking to be there awhile... Also, my dad's wife is a vegetarian (but will eat seafood)...what should she not miss?

Damn. I guess it's back to dancing on my own kitchen counter....Thank you!

Right. I'd add, will I still get to make my own drinks at 2 am? Can I still lay on the bar and shoot the soda hose directly into my mouth? Will the staff still exude vaguely (overly?) anti-social tendencies? I want to find out the answers to all of these questions tonight, if it's open!

Anyone know if the "new" Stoney's is open yet over on P Street?

I "ate" at No 9 Park during the Democratic convention (2004). Usually not the best time to see these kinds of places, but they had an amazing spread for the event (fantastic food, great variety, lovely decor). I'm light on details b/c it was a while ago and, well, I was drunk for most of the convention. I remember hovering around the dessert area for a good hour or so. I'll gladly go back next time I'm in Boston...

I can do corn chips (along w/ beer and dip). I'll bring an assortment.

She's afraid of anything even remotely pink -- doesn't matter whether it bleeds or not. She actually squirms when I eat my steaks (almost all of which I eat rare) and it's awfully fun to chase her around the table with a forkful of red/blue meat...

I went to Rays the Steaks tonight -- my first trip to either RTS or RTC. I spent all day re-reading this thread just so I could know EXACTLY what I was ordering! As you would expect, I'm smitten. I started w/ the crab bisque -- I think that when I go back I'll ask for a vat and just dunk myself in it. My friend had the onion soup and loved it. I tried a bit -- I liked that it was easy on the salt (I think someone else had mentioned that) and that we didn't have to use a knife and fork to get through the cheese to the soup. For a main, I had the New York strip rare, diablo style. My dear friend, bless her tortuously messed up soul, had the sirloin well done, also diablo style. Despite my personal lack of understanding of charring meat to that degree, she loved it. I won't keep rehashing all the great stuff that's already been said...suffice to say, RTS has a new devotee. My friend and I spent a good hour and a half afterwards sitting on the glider. We saw Michael at one point (holy cutie Batman! ) but he looked like he was rushing in and out so we didn't want to bother him. Maybe next time!

Oh, I think I heart you. I'm DEFINITELY coming now....

Ok, semi-lurker coming out of the shadows for this one, with a friend in tow (in case you people are really crazy and I need back up). The last time I cooked I burnt my spaghetti o's, so I'll bring BEER and some dip! And I second the red velvet cake call..mmmm, red velvet cake....

I used Fresh Direct pretty consistently when I was living in NYC earlier this year. Sometimes their pre-made foods didn't live up to the hype, but I trust their veggies and meats far more than I do Peapods. Also, their bakery items were pretty darn good. I'm a loyal devotee of Peapod just for the true grocery items, but would love to see Fresh Direct show up here so that I don't have to brave the craziness at Whole Foods each week.

I've found that some of the entrees at Acadiana stand out, while others leave something to be desired. At lunch, I'm a huge fan of the shrimp and grits -- spicy, salty (not for those who don't salt their pizza/potato chips) and creamy all at once. The sauce is heavenly. At dinner, I'm a fan of the grillades and grits and while I haven't had their crabcakes, my guests have raved about them. As much as I've wanted it to, the grilled gulf redfish w/ seafood jambalaya has always just been bland for me. No real flavor from the seafood in the jambalaya, not a lot of spices and the redfish is just tasteless. The gumbo they have as an appetizer is missing something -- I have no idea how to make gumbo, but it could use something -- wine, sherry, something (maybe I'm just craving the booze). And the sausage in it could be spiced up a bit too. However, those shrimp and grits will keep me coming back time and again, as will the bread pudding. I'm bummed they took the root beer float off of the menu -- it was pretty good, and I loved the little ginger cookies that came with it. Their Bloody Mary looks wonderful -- I've just never been there in company that wouldn't frown upon me having six or seven.

Update: Roll Call is reporting that despite the event last night and the one tonight, the owners are saying it will be a few more weeks before the restaurant is open to the public.

I'm going to an opening of some sort tomorrow (no idea if it's a hard/soft/over easy/one of many opening) but I assume full fledged service will follow soon thereafter.

I'm not a particularly regular poster, so I'll apologize in advance for butting into what looks like a big kids fight. However, I just wanted everyone to know that for the average reader, it didn't look like Smokey was trying to get anyone fired. It seemed like he had bad service. It probably was due to the pace of business that night and hey, stuff happens. But just b/c stuff happens doesn't mean it shouldn't get written about. People going to RTC might want to know that on a particularly busy night, service might be a little slow, etc. From all of the other rave reviews, I truly doubt that would bias them against going! And just one more comment -- as for sending Michael a PM vs putting it on the board, I think (just from a fairness point of view) that that's a double standard of sorts. Those of us in the lay community shouldn't use the board to get special treatment -- and nor should restauranteurs...Just my .02...

I eat at Acadiana regularly for work (tough job, I know) and have found that the servers routinely push the charbroiled oysters. I've had at least two interactions where they were pushed HARD, even after I said "I REALLY hate warm oysters." Not quite sure what the deal is. I love most of the rest of the food, so I'm willing to suck up saying no to the warm oysters like I say no to a new Banana Republic credit card every time I go in there....

Has anyone read the April 2006 Atlantic article on heirloom poulty? (I apologize in advance for bringing up an article restricted to those with subscriptions -- if you're interested in reading it, PM me and I'll give you my online login/password). It's a great article -- focuses on the differences in taste between today's "corporate" chickens and heirloom breed chickens, which have more muscle, a stronger taste and better breeding conditions. Here's a quote: "Pasture-raised chickens eat grass and peck for bugs rather than standing in miserably cramped pens; they spend the daylight hours outdoors. Their meat tastes so good it’s hard to believe you’re eating chicken and not some special game bird. The dark meat is much darker, because the birds have actually exercised; all of the meat has sinew and taste. The fat is a deep gold rather than an anemic yellow. Real chicken could practically be called “the other red meat.” The article also goes on to discuss how these birds are different from free-range chickens (given the different interpretations of free-range) and is pretty detailed about how heirloom birds are raised. So, my question -- has anyone here tasted "heirloom" chicken? The article gives a couple of places to buy it and I'm thinking about getting some -- my mouth was watering by the time I was finished reading it! I'm just interested in whether they're all their "clucked" up to be.

I've been living in NY for a few months now on a temporary rotation with my company. Have had a few memorable meals (and definitely a few not so memorable ones!). Want to recommend Jewel Bako to anyone looking for great sushi in New York. It's a tiny restaurant (only seats about 30 people) with melt in your mouth sushi/sashimi. What's particularly wonderful about it is that the sushi chef seasons the fish with slightly untraditional sushi items -- a small jalapeno slice added to a mackerel, a scallop seasoned with sea salt. I didn't think it was overly expensive -- for a plate of sashimi, a plate of sushi, a bottle of sake and some cocktails, it came to about $130. Miso soup is also included. (239 East Fifth Street b/w 2nd and 3rd) The much vaunted Esca, however, was quite a disappointment. Went after seeing "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway (gotta love a musical with gushing blood everywhere). The service was poor, despite it being a much-hyped after theatre dinner spot. I ordered the salt cod ravioli, which was supposed to come with a pesto sauce. I've never had a pesto that tasted so much like the wheatgrass shot you force yourself to do at the gym. It was actually inedible. I got some fancy version of a creme caramel for dessert and it tasted so burnt I couldn't eat that either. Disappointing for a place that gets talked about by so many New Yorkers. Last recommendation (I have many more but I don't want to fill up three pages!) is brunch at Felix (340 W. Broadway at Grand Street in SoHo). Oh, those yummy yummy mussels! I actually picked up the bowl and drank the broth it was so delicious. The service can be a little gruff and unattentive, but most of them are beautiful young girls and boys from South America, so I give them a pass. On Sundays, around 3 or 4, they clear out the tables and it turns into a free for all salsa (lambada?) dance hall, with everyone just kicking back. One final comment -- why oh why can't we get the restaurants in DC to deliver like they do in Manhattan? It kills me that after months of ordering fresh sushi, yummy Italian, delicious Greek, etc that I'm going to come back to pizza and a 30% markup from Takeout Taxi. This is one thing that could truly keep me in New York forever (that, and someone does my laundry for me and gives it back to me folded in saran wrap). If anyone Rockwellians come to New York for a visit, give a shout! I'd love to meet up to explore some more of the dining scene.

I have to say, I really like Spices. I'm a bit of a sushi addict, so I stick to that menu in general, meaning I am not able to comment on the other food items. But for solid, fresh sushi, it's pretty darn good. And there's a good variety too. I'm also addicted to the Wafu dressing (salad itself could be improved a bit but the dressing is wonderful). Delivery is a plus, too.

As a Terp, I spent a lot of time eating at a place called Ratsies on the corner of Route 1 and Knox, I believe. It's a pizza joint -- decent 'za, calzones, etc. I think I spent the majority of my time there devouring something called "Fried Balls"...not sure I actually liked them -- just liked saying I ate them. (to be clear, they're fried dough with powdered sugar -- not some weird sorority task)

So, my company is sending me on a 4 month rotation in NYC. They'll be putting me up in Manhattan and I'm looking to this group for recommendations of the "best of". I've read this thread and will definitely try out a number of the suggestions here. Sampling the city's restaurants is probably going to be my primary activity (well, maybe I'll go to work now and then). I'm looking for recommendations in a number of areas. Dive restaurants, pizza, sushi, martinis (yes, I consider them a type of food), upscale, italian, desserts, etc. Plus, I'm planning on making cupcakes a daily "must have". I'm headed out in mid-February. If any Rockwellians make it to the city while I'm up there, I'd love to meet you and grab a bite. I've yet to make it to any of our gatherings here but am anxious to make up for it! Thanks in advance for your culinary wisdom...

I'm a big fan of San Marco in Adams Morgan. Pretty inexpensive, good food and a large selection of grappa.

I had a great RW meal at the bar at Acadiana today. I apologize in advance because I can't remember everything they are offering (the bartender announced the selections, rather than handing out a menu). For the first course, the choices are any of their soups (a gumbo and a turtle soup are two that I remember), a deviled egg in a shrimp remoulade or a salad with a maple vinaigrette and fresh goat cheese. For the main course, they are offering EVERYTHING on their menu. The only exception is that there is a $10 upcharge for the crabcakes. And for dessert, they're offering a praline creme brulee, a bittersweet bread pudding with bananas foster and banana cream and one more option that I can't quite remember. Now, for the food (I promise, I'll link to this description in the Acadiana section too!). I started with the gumbo, which was fantastic. My only comment is that it was served way too hot for me to start eating immediately so I had to sit and stare at it longingly for awhile. It has a slight kick to it, and they offered some extra spices to take it up a notch if I wanted. For my main course I had the southern shrimp and grits. Now, I first had this dish when Acadiana opened and I wasn't that impressed. After today, I'm not sure I'll ever order anything else. They've done something with this dish that makes it extra special. There are about 7 or 8 decent sized shrimp, and they are covered in a wonderfully spicy/salty sauce. I couldn't identify all of the ingredients but there were definitely chunks of bacon floating around in it. The center of the plate (bowl) had a wonderful mound of cheddar cheese grits that were sharp enough to complement perfectly the high saltiness flavor of the sauce. These grits weren't watery either (a complaint I've had -- perhaps I'm not southern enough -- of other grits I've sampled). They were perfectly formed, and solid enough that they were easy to keep on your fork. Quite creamy, though. For dessert, I had the bittersweet bread pudding, which was also fantastic. I'm a sucker for anything with bananas, and adding a dark chocolate, not too soggy bread pudding to it made me a very very happy girl. All in all, one of the best RW meals I've ever had.

I actually agree with your office mates that the menu is somewhat limited. However, I can always find something to eat AND the red velvet cake, when it's available, is the best in town. I honestly believe I could eat an entire cake. In about ten minutes. And sometimes I feel like crying when I get there and they don't have it.

I work half a block away and feel like Andale has slipped lately. The food I've had has had an almost stale flavor to it, like it's been sitting under a warmer for 3 hours. The service is generally pleasant, but not stellar. I'd recommend Rasika for a pre-game meal if you're going to be in the area. Or, a few orders of the tuna tartare at Indebleu's lounge is a great treat! ETA: I'm a clam! And a clam who can't spell well, apparently.