kirite

Has anyone ordered America's Seafood's fresh fish? Looking for an alternative to Whole Foods in Clarendon and Balducci's in McLean. Among my favs are bluefish and trout.

There is a PA Dutch restaurant/market in Harbour Centre in Annapolis. Take US 50 to Exit 22. Turn left onto MD #2. Turn left at the light.

Good for you! I love your "signature." I've been there twice. The first time was about a year ago, and I ordered pasta with basil and garlic. The pasta and basil were very good, but all of the garlic was burned and inedible. The second time was for dinner last summer. I ordered the two color pasta. The dish was so oversalted that I had to send it back. To their credit, they comped the dish. I like the ambience and the staff.

Assaggi Osteria was only a trifle better.

We just made New Year's Eve reservations for Assaggi Osteria, because we live in McLean and the options are very, very limited. Fingers crossed.

Without wanting to condemn with faint praise, this is the best Italian restaurant in McLean. We went there last night and had a mostly positive experience. The Cozze e Fregola with mussels and fresh tomato on fregola was excellent. The mussels were plump--though one had not opened--and the fregola and broth were, respectively, chewy and subtle. Also very good was the Paccheri Corti with shrimp, mussels, and oyster meat. Again, the broth was exceptionally sweet. The La Chitarra with blue crab meat and a light spicy tomao sauce was good. Pasta cooked al dente, sauce a bit bland, crab OK. This dish was a bit needs a bit of work. Our salads were disappointing.. The Carciofini was essentially a pile of bagged hydroponic arugula (they could have gone next door and bought the real thing at Balducci's)--tasteless--and the Finicchio e endiva seemed to lack the advertized fennel. The wait staff was professional and attentive, although we felt a bit rushed. The ambience is very appealing. Unadorned walls painted a soft orange. The restaurant is divided into a large and small room to accomodate--surprise--large and small parties.

Has anyone been to this place? The website is enticing. Fresh fish and great sandwiches.

We recently had the legendary brunch at CA and it was great. Although the venue is a bit the worse for wear after twenty years of traffic , the food and wait staff were outstanding. The little plates were exceptional and very inventive. We each ordered three--four would have been better. This is a labor intensive restaurant with servers delivering and removing at just the right pace. I plan to return and try the vegetarian tasting menu.

We tried their place in McLean. I remember three things about the pizza: salt, salt, and salt.

Escoffier,

Your credibility further declines with every post. Can we move on?

Open Table lists this restaurant as one of the top three in the DC area, but neither Todd nor Tom includes it in their "best" lists. I am confused. In a Tom chat a couple of weeks ago, someone asked him if he had eaten there. He had not. What, if, anything, am I missing? I may be mistaken, but I don't think that Don Rocks has weighed in on this place.

Thanks

Don,

You ARE honest! I suggest we form a book club and read "The Misanthrope." It's a wonderful and still wise work.

Thanks so much for all that you do.

Tim Carmen has posted a long interview with Ellen at Equinox, and it is not at all clear that they will continue to serve at Aria. Damages are now estimated at $300,000. I reserved a table at Equinox on Open Table for December 28, but when I tried to cancel, Open Table said to call the restaurant. When I called, no one answered. Until I cancel, Open Table will not allow me to make another reservation on the 28th at another restaurant.

How awful!! We have reservations for the 28th and intend to keep them. Does anyone know if they will be automatically transferred to the Aria venue?

Has anyone had lunch at Farmers and Fishers?

Wow! Per Se and Oceana. The best of Manhattan. When will the new chef and menu be in place?