LizLemon

I'm so glad to see that, as I return to this site after a long absence to write a new review, Don himself shares the same opinion of Marcel's that I came here to assert! It's nice to know that my Marcel's experience wasn't just a dream. On December 10 my fiancé and I enjoyed an early dinner at Marcel's before going to see the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center. This was our first time dining at Marcel's, and it was an exceptional, unforgettable meal experience. As we were doing pre-theatre dining, we were some of the first guests to arrive that Saturday evening. Upon walking into the front doors, we were greeted warmly and had our coats taken. We were then seated at a corner table, and as we settled in and began perusing the menu, I was both enchanted and relaxed by the beautiful, classic decor. It's just right: sophisticated, elegant, very proper, and yet just updated and modern enough that it doesn't feel stodgy or old in any way. This is the epitome of a "special occasion" restaurant. Our server, whose name I am regrettably forgetting at the moment, embodied the heart of what it means it be a server. Fine service comes from the heart, a pleasure one takes in being of service to others, and our server embodied that ideal 100%. This is the type of service that knows what you want and need before you even know you want or need it"”anticipatory without being presumptuous, doting and thoughtful but never overbearing, sincerity and honesty in all interactions. He was, simply, delightful. I felt like someone had told our server that we were the secret king and queen of DC, and therefore act accordingly, but also act with discretion. He played the part with ease. We were given the choice to select our dishes from either the pre-theatre menu or the regular menu, as we were early enough to eat either type of meal and still make it to our show on-time. We couldn't help ourselves and went with the regular menu, opting to do four courses. Among the dishes we ate, I recall the lobster bisque being absolutely sublime, with an unbelievably smooth texture and a rich mouthfeel that is unlike any other bisque I've ever had. We also had foie gras, which was the best rendition I've ever eaten, as well as beef tenderloin, duck breast, and two desserts. I wish I could recall the finer details of each of our four courses but, even though I can't remember the details and the menu has since changed, I do know that everything we ate was magnificent. It was one of those meals that, the entire time you're eating, your tastebuds are so overwhelmed with goodness that you have to constantly refrain from closing your eyes and and moaning inappropriately. It's been a long time since I was so taken with any one meal in the DC area"”I'd have to say Komi, which I dined at about a year ago, was my most recent astonishingly good meal until I went to Marcel's. We dined at Blue Duck Tavern in October 2011, which was also a fantastic experience all around, but to put it in perspective, Marcel's is at least one notch higher in every regard. The atmosphere, the level of service, and the care taken with each dish seems results in perfection from the moment you arrive to the moment you depart. No detail is too small for the attention of the staff of Marcel's. As far as high-end DC-area eats go, I have eaten at Komi, Citronelle, Blue Duck Tavern, America Eats Tavern, Obelisk, Palena, Corduroy, 1789, and maybe a few others that are debatably not first-tier (and frankly, some of the ones I listed weren't first-tier in my experience). I'm not recounting these to brag in any way, certainly I have many still to cross off my list, but to give perspective. Among all of these dining experiences, Marcel's is probably second only to Komi, and even then it depends on what you're seeking. If you want a traditional wow restaurant, I just don't see how it could be done better than they are doing it at Marcel's. Over the summer I was in New York and ate at Le Bernardin, and although the types of cuisine between LB and Marcel's are quite different, I would say that the level of service I experienced between the two was very similar indeed. Marcel's is, simply, a gem in DC's crown and not to be missed for any special occasion.

I only saw one mention for Pitango on here so I'll chime in and second that motion. Although it is of course primarily a gelato shop (and a delicious one at that), the coffee beverages I have tried have really been excellent, including their cappuccino and straight espresso. I also am in love with their affogato, particularly when made with the Gianduja gelato. It's my absolute favorite way to cap off an excellent meal when I'm in Penn Quarter. My three other coffee house recommendations in DC would be: (1) Swing's, at 17th & G NW. They roast their own coffee, and right now, I'm really into their Embassy Row blend. I know blends are sometimes derided as sacrilege by the coffee cognoscenti but it's delicious, deal with it. The coffee house itself, with it's small high-tops and stools, is more for people who want to get in and get out, no lingering really encouraged, but the coffee and the baristas are simply top notch. Also, a little tip: if you can't make it to their shop to buy the beans you can pick them up at the Whole Foods in Logan Circle. (2) Peregrine, which I have enjoyed the couple times I was able to pop in. I appear to be in the minority on here in that I do enjoy Counter Culture coffee, so Peregrine was always good for me. (3) Chinatown Coffee. My neighborhood favorite! I just desperately wish they could find a way to expand the physical space, since it seems like it's always a zoo in their tiny place. These people take their coffee seriously and it shows. The pour over is perfection. Honorable mention to Pound in NoMa. The people are friendly and the coffee I tried was good. For someone who is really into coffee and wants DC's coolest/best coffee house in terms of highbrow coffee, this isn't it, but I enjoy the drinks and the scene whenever I go here.

I got to eat dinner at Mandu on K street for their soft opening on Saturday night (1/22/10). Having never been to the other Mandu, I cannot compare the two. But just evaluating this Mandu on its own merits, I think it's a great addition to this neighborhood. We started our meal with mandu, two of each kind on the menu (beef/pork, seafood, and vegetable). I enjoyed all of them, and while the veggie was my favorite, I think my dining partner preferred the pork/beef. Nothing revolutionary but I thought these were solid mandu. For our entrees I had the bulgogi, which is "korean bbq marinated rib-eye," and my dining partner had dduk bok gi, which is "thick rice cakes simmered in spicy chili paste w/beef, mushrooms, and onions." Between our two entrees, his was really the standout. I've had bulgogi at a few different restaurants before and we also make it fairly often at home, and this bulgogi ranked somewhere in the middle of all of those. It was very tasty but not the best I've ever had. I enjoyed it and would order it again at Mandu if I was in the mood for it, but it wasn't so incredible that I would say you HAVE to order it if you go. The dduk bok gi, on the other hand, was that good. The sauce is spicy but in a complex way, and the mushrooms and rice cakes really combine to make for a memorable dish. Also, for the price ($12), I think it's a steal. Good portion sizes on everything we ordered. Not overly huge, but you won't leave hungry. I also tried the peach sojutini, which is not the kind of drink I would normally order but was part of the free, but limited, soft opening menu. As girly drinks go, it was actually quite delicious. If anything ending in "tini" is your thing, you'll like it. They also had Great Lakes Beer on tap which is awesome and also highly recommended. As for the atmosphere, I thought it was very well-done. Simple, clean, modern, and definitely giving off an Asian-restaurant vibe without being tacky or cliche in any way. Medium-toned woods throughout, bright green accents, and two levels of seating (and two levels of bars I think also). I felt comfortable and relaxed, and it seems like it would be a good place to meet some friends for a night out or to bring a casual date for an interesting meal. Overall, we really had a great time, and I would have been happy to pay full price for our experience. Service was attentive, very friendly, and efficient. Some food was better than others but on the whole, we were happy with it from start to finish and there's no doubt in my mind that we will return to this place often. No more trips to Annandale for Korean food!

Apparently they will be serving lobster rolls and $3 beers with Chinatown Coffee tonight over in Chinatown (475 H, I think). Might be a good option for people who want to try this place out but have a hard time making it to the truck for lunch, like me. I might just pop over there...

Just thought I'd post on here that LivingSocial has a deal running right now--get a $60 Cedar giftcard for $30. Usually I'm a little leary of places on LivingSocial, Groupon etc. but having been to Cedar recently, I would say this is probably a bet worth taking. LivingSocial Cedar Deal

The bf and I tried HKP yesterday for the first time, and we were not disappointed. Got there for an early lunch around 11:00 and it was pretty dead inside, but the lack of other patrons doesn't comport with how good our meal ended up being. We started with the Dan Dan noodles, and they were some of the best I've had in a while. As someone who lives on the edge of Chinatown, I've been let down a lot recently and I'm somewhat resigned to not finding great Chinese food within walking distance of my apartment. But HKP's Dan Dan noodles were so delicious, with a nice latent spiciness that really creeps up on your. For an appetizer, the portion was also large and the price was very fair. A good start. I got a lunch special of General Tso's chicken because I wasn't feeling very well and I wanted something kind of bland and reliable--sad, I know, but sometimes you just want an old cliche standby. Bf got the Schezuan Chicken. For something like 5.95 and 6.95 respectively, we both got large portions of chicken, a heaping mound of white rice, and two large egg rolls. The value was unmistakable, and the food was awesome. Next time I go back I'll have a hard time resisting ordering the Schezuan Chicken--somehow it managed to taste both slightly familiar and totally new. Makes no sense, I know, but we loved it and couldn't stop eating it. The General was solid as well, but nothing revolutionary--the General is the General, though this was one of the better iterations of it I have eaten.

I stopped into Ted's Bulletin this past week on a weekday for a late lunch, and I had a great meal that contributed to an overall extremely pleasant experience. It was probably good fortune that I didn't go to the restaurant until about 2:00, because it wasn't very crowded and I was able to be seated right away. The decor is very thoughtfully done, but like others have noted, it's not too much. A lot of times having a restaurant with a really strong theme, if not executed properly, can be pretty cheesy. But I would call TB's decor and ambiance delightful, and even a touch whimsical. I also had very good service the entire time--nice, honest, attentive, efficient. The food really hit the spot. I wasn't sure what to expect because while I really do like Matchbox, I have had one or two experiences there that were a bit off. But no worries--at TB's, I got the short rib sandwich, and I thought it was really delicious. It came with onion rings, and as an onion-ring lover (one of my favorite guilty pleasures) I was impressed. Onion rings are obviously a very greasy food, but bad ones will leave pools of grease on the plate. These didn't though--they seemed really fresh, not overly oily, and had great flavor. The sandwich and the rings made for a really satisfying and indulgent weekday lunch at a fair price. To finish off the meal I couldn't resist one of the "adult" milkshakes, because I like any excuse to consume ice cream, chocolate, or alcohol, especially together. I know spiked milkshakes might sound silly, or like something packs of sorority girls would fawn over, but I was really surprised by how good mine tasted. It was the perfect ending to my meal. The consistency was spot-on--not too thick or thin, and there was plenty to share with my dining mate. I can't wait to try brunch here sometime. I bet it gets packed if the brunch food is as good as my lunch was. Now I just wish they would open a second TB next to the Chinatown Matchbox, so I wouldn't have to cross town to get a fix!

Wow, I had no idea that of the two posts I wrote about my recent night out, the one with the actual detailed restaurant review would be much less important than the one where I simply noted that the restaurant had interior temperature problems. I will clarify my earlier post regarding Poste in response to the many follow-up comments posted here. First: No possible way? That's a very arrogant assertion unless you were there that evening. As I stated, I arrived at the restaurant early in the evening when it was still sweltering outside, a heat index hovering around 100 degrees, and when I walked inside the dining room of Poste, I could not feel the kind of difference in temperature that you would expect to feel at a place in this price range. It is difficult for me to quote the restaurant interior's actual temperature since I did not see a thermostat, but I usually keep my home thermostat in the summer at 79 and it felt much, much warmer than that. The restaurant is very open, with high ceilings, a door to the lobby that is always open, and doors leading to the patio that are frequently opening, as well as what I mentioned before--a totally open kitchen right in the main dining area. Given all of these constraints, it is understandable why it is probably difficult for the restaurant to maintain cool temperatures during the hottest months of the year. But while it is understandable, it does not make it acceptable. All I can do is raise my concern to the people who work there and see what happens. Of course I do not think that the restaurant intended to have the dining room be a hot temperature, but maybe that temperature is normal for them in the summer. Maybe the A/C was broke but they did not want to tell me that for some reason. Maybe it's insanely expensive to properly cool the dining room given its many constraints. All I know is what I experienced, which I truthfully detailed here. I don't have any odd temperature sensitivities, and I have never before left a restaurant over the temperature, but I wanted to post about this issue I had at Poste because I don't think it was a fluke. I spoke with the hostess when we got up to leave and expressed my concern, and she apologized but did not say that anything was particularly amiss (no broken air conditioning, e.g.). The comfort of an expensive dining room is an important factor for many people when they go out to eat, and I stand behind my original post. Second: No sir, I believe it is you that gives these sites a bad name, with overblown knee-jerk reactions written anonymously so that you can say whatever you please. I wrote a detailed, fair review of my experience at Poste. You might even care to notice that I stated that I look forward to returning to Poste in colder months to give it another shot, and that the restaurant and its patios were enchanting (in their design). I meant those sentiments. As for your other claims: I did not trash this place, and I wasn't in a "bad mood." The food, while admittedly the most important part of a dining out experience, is still one part of an overall experience. In that experience, many elements affect one's overall assessment of a restaurant. Even if an expensive restaurant has the very best food, I would choose to patronize another restaurant if its service, ambiance, etc. was so terrible that I was unable to enjoy that great food. On the evening that I went to Poste, I recognized that the situation in the dining room was such that I would not be able to enjoy any dish that wasn't meant to be served chilled. Most of their offerings that night were heavy, hot dishes. As a result, I chose to leave, and I wrote about it on here so that maybe other people, many whom may not live within walking distance like me, are at least put on notice that this could be an issue for them. Additionally, you stated "I'm sure they were aware of it. They were working on it all day." Do you work there? As I wrote above, no one told me that anything was out of the ordinary. I spoke to two different hostesses about the temperature within a 15 minute time frame, as well as our server, and no one said anything that would even imply that something at the restaurant was out of the ordinary. Thank you to the few people who wrote in support of my post. I am a new member, and I was surprised to be attacked so harshly with my first few posts but I will remain on the forum, hopeful that not all reactions will be so negative. If this forum is strictly for reviews about FOOD and not reviews about RESTAURANTS as a whole, then the moderator is free to take my Poste review down. But that is not my impression of what this forum is, and until I get a definitive answer otherwise, I will continue to accurately and fairly report my impressions of the dining establishments I either patronize or attempt to patronize.

I needed a semi-special occasion dinner reservation at the last minute, so I made a 5:30 reservation at Poste this evening. My bf and I live close by, so we walked there. Of course, even during the short walk the near-100 degree weather was oppressive, and I was expecting that Poste would have adequate air conditioning to contend with the heat. Unfortunately, they did not. The kitchen is wide open to the dining room itself, and although I'm sure that fact greatly added to the heat, I am also sure that they could have turned the air up to achieve a more appropriate dining temperature. I am not trying to be a snob about this, but if I'm paying in the $30 per entree range, I expect the entire dining experience to be top notch. I don't know how anyone is supposed to eat dishes like Beef Bourguignon or Braised Rabbit in a 90 degree room. We certainly didn't want to try our luck on that gamble, so we left before ordering and walked around the corner to Cedar instead. Best decision I've made in a while--Cedar was amazing. I posted about it in the Cedar thread. Looking forward to going back to Poste for another shot during colder months. Their outdoor patios and the restaurant itself are pretty enchanting but the temperature issues were simply unacceptable.

My boyfriend and I got some unexpected great news today, and decided to go out for an early celebratory dinner around 5:30. We wanted to stay in our neighborhood, which is roughly Mt. Vernon Triangle/Chinatown/Penn Quarter, so we made reservations at Poste. Unfortunately, when we got there it was so unbearably hot inside that we realized we wouldn't be able to have an enjoyable dinner, so we had to leave. I think having an open kitchen dining room on a 100 degree day without properly adjusted air conditioning is insane, but you can read about that in my post in the Poste thread. Anyway, we had considered Cedar as well, and we were able to hop over there and get a table without a reservation since it was still very early in the evening. I am so glad that we did. Our meal was excellent in every regard. First of all, I really like the space. It's underground, so it was very cool inside temperature-wise, and it's a small, intimate space with a small number of tables and a nice bar area. The decor is simple and tasteful--white tablecloths but not pretentious at all. Our server was also great, along with the busboys who filled our water and cleared the plates. The service was timed just right, and she had great recommendations and was very knowledgeable about the menu. She was also genuinely friendly, so she really made the evening that much nicer. Now the food: delectable! I started my meal with a glass of Prosecco and a chilled corn soup with blue crab and creme fraiche. It was so smooth and tasted like the essence of the best corn you've ever had, and the crab really complimented the smooth corn soup base. I loved it, and I thought it was an especially appropriate and refreshing dish in light of the oppressive summer heat. My boyfriend had a scallop appetizer, grilled and served with tomato jam. I love scallops and I eat them frequently at restaurants, and these were outstanding. The grill flavor was just right, and they really seemed to be cooked perfectly. The tomato jam was complex but not overwhelming, and complemented the scallops very nicely. For our entrees, I had the butter-poached lobster served with edamame, potato puree, and a variety of gourmet mushrooms, while my boyfriend had the lemon-black pepper crusted duck breast. Again, both were executed perfectly, and were so delicious. I usually don't order lobster but I'm glad I did tonight. The dish came together much better than I ever though lobster, edamame and potatoes could, and the butter sauce and mushrooms put the dish over the top. The duck was superb as well, served with a sort of berry sauce and a few young carrots and pears. We both couldn't help but clean our plates. After such a large, great meal we opted not to get dessert, but the choices did look tempting and I have no doubt that they would have been great, judging from the rest of our meal. I was truly surprised by what a gem this place is, and I feel like maybe it's not getting the credit or notoriety that it deserves. In sum, if you are considering a meal at Cedar, I would highly recommend it. I've attached a picture of the scallop appetizer--it's the only food picture we took.

Thanks! And don't worry--some (probably many) of us are lawyers, so I won't judge your judicious use of legalese.

I don't know if I managed to miss this in the thread, but does anyone know when this place is opening its doors to mere mortals? I know there was a soft opening recently, but then I read that the real opening is July 19. Any confirmations on that? I guess everyone will crucify me for this but I enjoy Good Stuff Eatery, so I will at least give this place a fair shot. Thanks in advance for any info.

Hello to all the other lovers of delicious DC food and drink! I found out about this site from a thread on Chowhound and I am really excited to now be a member. I lived in DC last summer, and I can't wait to move there permanently in May. I'm not involved in the food industry in my career, but I do waste copious amounts of time daily reading blogs and articles that have anything to do with food, cooking, eating out, etc. I love weekends at the farmer's market, and I hope that one thing I can do when I move to DC is join a CSA. Where I live now, the CSA pickings are slim or nonexistent. When it comes to eating out, I'm as comfortable at Popeye's as I am at Citronelle--if it's good food, I don't care about all the other BS. I'm not a picky eater when it comes to ethnic food either--bring on the spice and new flavors! I do, however, think you should respect restaurants for what they are. When I was recently visiting DC with some friends, I took them to Michel Richard's Central for a memorable meal and they both ordered steak. I died a little inside. So that's just a little about me. I am really looking forward to being in DC and participating on this great resource of a site! -LL