Davo99

Congratulations to Wendy Buckley and her capable team for screwtop's 10th anniversary this Sunday!  Screwtop's ability to thrive, and not merely survive, speaks volumes about the passion that Wendy brings to the bar and has instilled in her staff.  Screwtop remains an outpost of smart and fun wine enjoyment in the Clarendon dining scene.  Here's to 10 more years 😊

Try Paula Deen's 

My nomination for the "Kiss of Death" location is the northeast corner of Wilson Blvd and Quincy Street in Ballston, most recently home  to Republic, Leek American Bistro, and Thai Terrace.

22 hours ago, DanielK said:

This is pretty much the reason CP restaurants are closing in record numbers. Petworth/Columbia Heights/Shaw/etc are all hot dining spots, and a lot of these diners used to head to CP frequently.

It's easily solvable - just add some parking and drop the rents a bit, but as long as there are chains willing to take those spots at the current rate, or landlords willing to sit on vacancies, this will only accelerate.

I think it's not just CP but Clarendon and other areas that used to thrive but have fallen victim to higher rents and the ease with which diners from the suburbs can get to Petworth, Shaw, H St. and all the other innovative areas thanks to Uber and Lyft.  Why should anyone stick around Arlington to dine with the bros when the city is only a $10 Uber ride away?

My bride and II dined last night at Marble and Rye, and we were both very pleased with our meal. We shared the Mediterranean salad (I think from the specials menu), which featured browned goat cheese rounds, prosciutto and dates, followed by a flat iron steak and a grilled chicken sandwich. The steak was nicely cooked and had a tasty char that played nicely with the richness of the meat. We've been here a few times since the Boulevard Woodgrill team came on board, and it's always reassuring to see Kent Lawson behind the bar, with Paul Murad in the kitchen.  We will certainly be back!

And yet the place is consistently packed, bringing a much-needed energy to the Sargasso Sea that is Montgomery Mall (and surrounding environs of North Bethesda/East Potomac/South Gaithersburg). Still, there's an awful lot of competition for some of the venues, and it's a headscratcher on how some of them survive - thinking about the waffle place and the crepe joint in particular.

What brings me back are the margaritas - for my 5 cents among the best in the area - and the tacos al carbon (for me, either steak or pork), which are fine by themselves but come with an absolutely delicious side of cheese-topped grilled veggies that are placed under the broiler.  Their sour mix is nice and tart - and steeps overnight with lime zest for a nice pop.

On 1/2/2017 at 4:45 AM, DonRocks said:

Jackson 20 is no longer run by Kimpton Hotels - it's being run by the Marriott Autograph Collection, and Hotel Monaco has been sold, and renamed The Alexandrian.

FWIW, Marriott doesn't manage the hotels in its Autograph Collection - hotel owners pay Marriott for the right to participate in Marriott Rewards and Marriott's reservations system, but the owner either self-manages or hires an independent hotel operator to manage the hotel.

The Montgomery Mall Caribou Coffee kiosk shut down in anticipation of its reemergence as a Peets and then . . .  (poof) . . . the entire kiosk disappeared and now something else is in its place.  Perhaps the Starbucks on the second level flexed its muscles?

I went to Essy's in early December when my bride was out of town.  Everything I ordered (lobster bisque and short ribs) was pretty tasty although a little saltier than I prefer.  As noted above, it's not cheap - my dinner, with a cocktail and a glass of wine, came to +/- $60 with tip.

PS - that older waiter mentioned above?  That's Essy himself!

For my money, the best bar in the city is Quill in the Jefferson Hotel. With dark panelling and low ceilings It has an intimacy and a tranquility that are often lacking in bars located within restaurants, where conversations are often drowned out by the chatter and clatter of busy restaurants.

My wife and I just moved into the neighborhood and are thrilled good Thai is nearby. We've enjoyed a couple of visits to Ravi Kabob and hoped Thai Curry would be good as well. Thanks for the news!

Thanks to Chef Kinkead for many memorable meals at his restaurant. As an aside, I wonder if he is merely stating the obvious after the Mayan doomsday....

Harth likely is a Hilton-run restaurant, as Hilton's worldwide headquarters is located next door. Its proximity may also explain the $50 million refurbishment - to serve as a template for other Hiltons to adopt.

I was blown into the Euromarket at Wilson Boulevard and Veitch Street in Courthouse yesterday and found Batch 10,000 Ale @ $17.99.

Get it while it lasts:

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA

I love Sierra, but this one is not for the weak: 100 IBUs & 10+% ABV. All I could get was a 1/6keg, so it won't last long.

Wow - what a beer! It started off a little overwhelming with hoppy accents but mellowed after the first few sips. I surmise that was the 10+% ABV doing it's work! FWIW, this was my first visit to the "new" Spider Kelly's, and I was impressed by the energy of the bar late on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon.

This weekend I've been drinking to the memory of my wife's grandfather, Roy "Jack" Gregory (1925-2011), who passed away last week. In keeping with his character, I'm alternating between the tartness of a Bell's Oarsman and the sweetness of the Hopslam.

No Shit... it certainly seems that this line must be premanently etched on all restaurant press releases nowdays

Well, if it works for Silver Diner...

What a tragedy. Good food but, more important, good people who deserved better.

And miss the Texas Toast filled with more chemicals than a typical industrial park in New Jersey?

which might also describe the frozen custard in the dessert bar . . .

I still miss the Zebra Room - not just for its tasty pies with the incredibly flakey crust - but for the jukebox, which featured not one but two versions (with and without vocals) of "Hail to the Redskins"...

I spoke too soon - the red velvet cupcake was the bomb as was the pecan chocolate cookie!!

I stopped by this afternoon and tried the coconut cupcake. It was good but not particularly memorable - other than the size, which seemed a little small for $3. I'm looking forward to trying the oatmeal-blueberry cookie.

Can't speak to any location other than Arlington, but great sides, including the unconventional coleslaw (peas, carrots, cabbage) and mac and cheese. While the pulled pork can be both dry and watery (how do they do that?), the house barbeque sauce is pretty tasty - tangy with a touch of heat - and perks up the offering considerably.

When I went to Austin on an internship in 2000, I discovered the joys of BBQ (despite visits to Ruby's and a nearby Rudy's). It was enough to take a self-designed BBQ tour with my dad a few years later. From my experience, Cooper's and Louis Mueller's are extraordinary while Black's was also notable. I don't think I'll be headed back to Austin anytime soon though, so if Hill Country is even decent I will welcome them with open arms. And if they are better than that, it'll be gravy.

My wife and I head down to Austin each fall for the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and a few years ago we drove out to the since-closed Salt Lick 360 for dinner. While the smoked meats far outshone anything I've experienced around here, the star of the meal was queso with shredded brisket, jalapenos and grilled onion. Oh goodness! Just a little piece of heaven on every bite of tortilla.