MODWOP

3 hours ago, DaveO said:

Ooh ooh. That is one for a DC restaurant/bar historian that dates back to the 70’s.  That predates me.  That person would probably have drunk a lot which would cloud his/her memory.  I’m sure the web and the google time machine would pull up good history—-or just get Jody Taylor to jump in.   

At one point in the mid 80’s I worked around the corner from a Blackie restaurant/ bar at 17th and L.  I can’t remember that name but I ate a lot of taco’s there

He also must have been the mid Atlantic   Franchisee for one of the National mid range steak house chains.  Not a ton in these suburbs but a lot on the DelMarVa peninsula 

That would have been the Ha'Penny Lion I think...just next door to Benjamin Franklin University "back in the day".  The Ha'Penny had a gratis taco bar during happy hour and fed a lot of broke nerdy accounting students, myself included.

Yes, it's definitely Rus-Uz coming:  https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/03/27/russian-restaurant-concept-to-replace-alexandria.html

Hoping this is location #2 and not a re-location because I selfishly love having them in MY neighborhood.

Well, this should be interesting...  https://www.popville.com/2017/09/owner-of-queen-vic-taking-over-granville-moores-on-h-street/

Making plans to visit when the weather finally gets cooler to check out post-transition.

Just seeing your post and reminded of a fantastic place in Kensington, MD; sadly, one of the last vintage furniture showrooms there, vs. just tchotchkes.

Pay Modern Mobler a visit there and you won't be disappointed:  https://www.modernmobler.com/about-us    

No, not Chris.  I was just reminded, hat tip to dcs,  that it was Brett.

SER in Ballston has an interesting three course brunch.  I've also had a lovely Sunday brunch at BlackSalt in DC.  Palisades is much more relaxed in terms of finding street parking and there's an actual tiny parking deck that patrons of that strip can use on the weekends (enter on V Street behind the storefronts).  In fact, one of the bartenders from Willow (in an increasingly common moment of brainfreeze I've forgotten his name) now works the bar there many evenings.  

Always a sad day when the reason a restaurant gets bumped up the timeline is because it's closing.  

I'm a little sad, Grevey's was always a friendly lunch spot or happy hour joint in the days when I toiled in the office canyons of Fairview Park.

Let's just say the ownership isn't exactly worried about endearing themselves to DC diners:  

"Why NYC's Most Acclaimed Sushi Bar Is Opening in Donald Trump's DC Hotel" by Richard Morgan on grubstreet.com

Yet another NYC view of "DC is a fine dining desert".  The Olive Garden comment and the "can you name any amazing sushi in DC?"...well, he might have jumped the line ahead of Shaw Bijou for most potential flames. 

Kellari Taverna used to have fresh whole fish grilled on their a la carte dinner menu.  Haven't been in a couple of years but it was very well prepared/grilled with lemon on the side.  Expect to pay handsomely for the privilege, as the fish are sizeable and meant for sharing.

Stopped by Mala Tang on my way home from the office last night to pick up some "street food" take away and was pleasantly surprised to find they've expanded their menu beyond the hot-pots and little dishes. Based on my quick review it looks like the menu now includes some favorite main dishes that I've seen at Hong Kong Palace, including the Cumin Lamb, Chengdu Kung-Bao Chicken and a large variety of vegetable dishes. I subsequently ended up over-ordering and now have some fantastic lunches packed for the remainder of the week. The spice is appropriately subtle at the onset but ultimately pleasantly numbing and the flavors were spot on. I have heard absolutely no word-of-mouth on this change but encourage anyone for whom the trek to Seven Corners is out of the way to stop at Mala Tang and try out the expanded menu. Since I live in Virginia Square I'm putting this on my regular rotation...once I deal with my backlog of tasty leftovers!

Far be it from me to make an "I can't wait to eat here!" post, but....well, I took one look at those photos and thanked the stars that I had the foresight to make my birthday dinner reservations over a month ago. This is the kind of culinary artistry that DC deserves. I'm betting that those dishes taste as spectacular as they look.

Sounds fantastic, and I can't wait for the opening day.....although it will be hard to match the charm of buying one's meat and pork products from the back of a Mitsubishi Montero.

If I'm not mistaken, Best Cellars has been in Chapter 11 since early this year, plus they are part of the A&P/Superfresh conglomerate which is also struggling. I was hoping they could pull it off and save the stores, but it seems like they've pulled the plug. A shame really, as I thought the recession had been having an inverse effect on alcohol sales. It was always a nice place to stop in and find a fun affordable bottle for that night's dinner.

I swear I had a pint of DC Brau American Pale at The Chesapeake Room yesterday for lunch. I don't have my bill anymore but I'm almost certain it was $6.00. They have a small tap selection (maybe five?) but a great atmosphere at the long clubby bar, so if that price point is more to your liking, head on down to Barracks Row before the keg kicks!

Anyone besides Ktmoomau dined at Lyon for brunch? I'm heading there Sunday with some girlfriends and curious what's worth ordering (haven't been yet for dinner, so this will be my introduction). From Kt's review and Yelp reviews it sounds like the doughnuts are a must. Some of the other dishes sound interesting.

We were just there last Saturday. I had the Sausage and Eggs, the sausage being their wonderful Hungarian Lamb Sausage. You really can't go wrong with any of the house-made sausages. The +1 wanted a lighter breakfast so he went for the muesli, followed by the smoked salmon, which turned out to be a quite substantial plate - enough to share. One unexpected standout was the bread basket, particularly their darker bread. I can't remember exactly what it was, but I recall it being a pumpernickle-style with coffee. The atmosphere was laid back and the staff incredibly pleasant; we're definitely adding this to our rotation.

I've seen the Pork Slap Ale cans served at Clare and Don's Beach Shack in Falls Church, Va. In fact, if memory serves, they have quite a selection of microbrew cans. Haven't been in three weeks, so I can't vouch if it's still on offer.

Went with a work colleague to the Bistro at Open Kitchen for lunch today, as she needed to place her Thanksgiving catering order and we were curious about the place. What we discovered was a little gem, and a spot that will definitely go into our regular lunch rotation! The Bistro setup is essentially a handful of high-tops (2 and 4 person), a patio with tables (currently tented and with heat lamps), and a long curvilinear chef's bar that's right on top of the action, although the kitchen is visible throught the Bistro. The staff were pleasant and efficient, and the owner very enthusiastic. The menu consisted of various small plates (including charcuterie and cheese selections), salads, sandwiches and larger plates, including loads of vegetarian options. We, however, went nuts and ordered Chef Henry's special of the day which turned out to be Choucroute. We later learned that Chef grew up in Strasbourg and his dish was an epic take on the classic. We knew we were in for a treat when Chef took a cauldron of simmering sauerkraut and ham hocks (knuckles too, perhaps?) from the oven. The picture below does not do it justice - there were potatoes, sausages, bacon, a whole smoked pork chop and other goodies, and it was accompanied by house-made remoulade, beets, and the requisite mustard. Perfect for a rainy November day! Everything we saw coming from the kitchen looked tempting - especially the lamb burger had by the folks down the bar - and I'll be back to try more.

Another "hear, hear" for Earl's. The Spouse and I stopped for lunch/late breakfast on Sunday morning. His "Wilson" was a masterpiece; I should have taken a photo. Scrambled egg, cheddar and corned beef hash (you heard it right) on grilled sourdough. The Veggie Wrap was superior as well: whole grain tortilla with a brush of pesto mayonnaise packed with field greens, roasted red peppers, green apple slices, sliced mushrooms and walnuts. Seriously, grab a sandwich, pull up a stool at the window counter and watch the world go by on Wilson Blvd.....great way to spend a lazy weekend.

Prior to word that Bayou Bakery would not be opening, we noticed a Stop Work order pasted to the building's windows when walking by. The order was dated 16 July, I believe, and right next to another notice regarding a county hearing the day before. Memory fails me but I think it had something to do with the historic nature of the property. Aren't the Liberty Tavern people still planning to put something in there, if not Bayou, and does anyone know the story behind this?

I'm having a sudden craving for the grappa of my "youth" - those bottles that always came home with me after visits to my Zio Nini in Italy. I know I've seen some bottlings in restaurants this year, although memory fails me if they were in DC or NY. I'm hoping one of the congnoscenti on this board can point me to a stockist in the greater VA/DC/MD area. I'm specifically speaking of the Nardini Acquavites (especially the Riserva bottlings) or the Vuisnar Nonino grappa that's aged in wild cherry wood.

We visited briefly this past Monday (yes, during pre-Inauguration craziness). It's in a little alcove to the left as you head into the Round Robin Bar entrance. The scotch selections were visually impressive, but it was difficult to procure a list to peruse at length as people had been making off with them as souvenirs that day. I had a Port Charlotte, which apparently is a new Islay, produced under the auspices of Bruichladdich. It was only six years old (!) but surprisingly complex and very enjoyable. The spouse had a Caol Ila, but memory fails me as to the year/aging. The space is essentially a "pocket bar", with about four/five seats at the bar proper and a handful of low round tables with chairs. I should have taken a photo, but the alcove was packed to the gills with excited revelers and harried bar staff. I look forward to returning on a very quiet night (a Sunday or Monday, perhaps?) and settling in for multiple ounces of peaty, smoky goodness!

You can't go wrong there, but consider going to L'Ile Noire (down the hill at 342 Rue Ontario, E.) for after dinner drinks. A superb scotch whisky bar/pub that's wonderful this time of year.

Am I the only one getting a flashback to Divine stuffing a sirloin in his/her knickers in the opening segment of "Pink Flamingos"????

I scooped up a box load of pastries and muffins last Wednesday to bring to the office. They were a huge hit, particularly the cinnamon rolls and the coconut-pineapple muffins. The one thing I particularly appreciated was the "right-sizing" of the pastries, pardon the doublespeak. You know, I don't want a muffin as big as my head. Their muffins are similar to the size you would get if you baked in a muffin tin at home, wrapped in paper somewhat resembling a pannetone, and the perfect crumb and consistency. Next time, I'm going to try the breakfast brioches!! (Looked like they had scrambled eggs and bacon baked in...)

QUOTE(clayrae @ Oct 23 2006, 04:43 PM)

My mom and her husband are going to see Wicked in NYC this weekend.

They called me up and asked me for restaurant suggestions, with the following qualifiers (ugh):

“Someplace close to the Gershwin Theater 222 West 51st Street, because we don’t want to travel far, and someplace at least a little vegetarian friendly, either for lunch or for dinner.”

Anyone have a suggestion for this challenge?

Becco? , food and wine is awesome. Don't know how veggie friendly it is, but it's not a barren wasteland if you don't like meat, if I recall.

We were just at Becco (POST-theatre) two weekends ago. Somewhat vegetarian friendly: a fair amount of starters to pick from including salads soups and vegetarian appetizers, but the entrees are almost exclusively meat/seafood based. They will however, fix a "vegetarian plate" of the contorni or vegetable sides for $18.00....including their polentina, mushrooms, broccoli rabe, etc. It's low-maintenance homestyle italian (part of the Bastianich empire) experience with a very reasonable wine list. Word of warning - it's always packed pre-theatre and well after; best bet for "walk-up" dining is lunch or after 10:00pm.