Billy DeLion

Academy Award winning films have large crews. Some of the more obscure roles, like costume design or choreography, are relegated to a different day to get their Oscars while others aren't even eligible for such awards. Can we name the makeup person for uber-popular films like Birdman or Million Dollar Baby from ten years ago? No.

I haven't worked in LA for over a decade, but costume design and make-up are prominently featured in the awards show. Choreography is no longer honored ( a sign of the times). Those relegated to second class citizen status are the scientific and technical members. Sorry to interrupt, but the Academy leaving people behind is a bit of a sore spot for me.

Well said, jayandstacey. Long live the descriptive grammarian, as they long suffer the prescriptive grammarian.

More Yelp commentary from SFGate - Chef Wonders about Yelp

Stopped in Thursday night for an after work dinner. Found it to be a nice, familiar Ray's experience. Was quiet, about half the tables taken. We had the oyster app, one Gusher burger, Fried Chicken, and a Vanilla shake. The Fried Chicken and cole slaw/ mac n'cheese were really great. Moist chicken with a well done, thin and spicy batter. Very rich mac with great cheese flavor and texture, cole slaw creamy and also with great flavor. After all the raves, the oysters were a bit of a let down for me. I like a crunchier batter with a bursting briny flavor, these were a much thinner corn meal batter that, to me, seems to get a bit gummy while eating it. Partner had the Burger, Fries, and shake, which were all spot on. Ray's burgers are always a great treat. Waitress said they had just added the Lobster mac n'cheese and the menu was being modified on an almost daily basis. Can't wait to go back and try some other items.

Wow, that was brutal. Even when they were gracious enough to offer you another dish gratis, and you blasted them? And you were a former regular? And during Ramadan, no less, when the kitchen staff and the front of the house can't even sip a drop of water during the day. Wow....!

Allow me an attempt at rewriting your post for you....

I tried Mount of Lebanon last week. I was a regular at their old place before the fire and was looking forward to their reopening. The dining room was mostly empty, and I experienced some of their early growing pains. My shwarma was not quite up to their old standards, but they graciously offered to comp me another meal to compensate. That's the kind of people they are, and during Ramadan when they are all fasting during the day, it really impressed me. Despite today's hiccup, and given how many enjoyable meals I've experienced there in the past, I am looking forward to giving them another shot.

If shwarma sucks, it sucks more when it's sugarcoated.

For me it is neither morality or ethics.

I have just read your post. I've spent a big chunk of my life in Hong Kong, Taiwan and PRC, so I rarely eat in Chinese restaurants in DC area, I can't comment on how they are run and how the employees are paid. There is no little French restaurant on the corner that I go to in Arlington, VA, so I can't comment on that either, although I know from NYT reports that staff has had complains about Daniel Boulud whose recipes I treasure and whose food I hope to taste one day.

However, I know only too well that I am a minority of 1, but I won't eat at Graffiato. I am sure the loss is mine, but I don't care how amazing Mike Isabella's food may be, I won't eat it. I could NOT enjoy a meal prepared by a person who so rudely and crudely harassed a seemingly vulnerable human being. He was rude to a fellow contestant, supposedly his "equal." He did this knowing that cameras were rolling and the exchange would be broadcast urbi et orbi. If he can behave like that infront of a camera, how does he behave when there is no camera and no witnesses and he is dealing with an Asian or Hispanic who speak very little English, know nothing about their rights and desperately need a job? I could not enjoy a meal prepared by some one like that.

Similarly I have driven to Frederick to eat at Volt, and will do so again and again, but I won't patronize Michael Voltaggio's restaurant even if he opens one next door to my house. No matter how well Mike and Michael execute their dishes and how smoothly they run their restaurants their on camera behavior left a permanent bad taste in my mouth and even if they shower me with "all you can eat" complimentary boutargues (I normally would sell my soul for) I won't eat their food.

I would not recommend basing opiinions of personality on a television show. These shows are highly edited, designed to provoke the audience, and the personalities are most often contractually obligated to follow the direction and intent of the production company and director.

I've really enjoyed crackers from the Swiss bakery in Burke. Not sure if they always have them, but they were delicious.

Maybe it was the added saffron, I don't know, but I tried it once and not again.

I don't really now the value in this proposition, but I saw a 10 cup Zojirushi at Costco in Springfield for 88 dollars.

...and contributed to the overall negative impression imparted by the article..

I did not get a negative impression from the article, it actually added to the respect for this community and Don that I already had formed.

First of all, the one review that is not filtered is actually positive and gives the restaurant a 3-star rating. Secondly, I simply can not understand why you would want what appear to be shill reviews to appear on Yelp unfiltered. Six of the seven reviews that are filtered are first-time reviews and the seventh is a a second-time review. And by the way, they are still on the site for anyone to click on and read. I'm not sure how Yelp could be any fairer, especially to their users.

They should put out all the comments and let the user separate the wheat from the chaff.

Writer spends a shift at FL.

Article

Haven't been to Ravensworth in a bit, but they used to close earlier on Sat, and remain closed on Sun, if I recall correctly. The Burke location is open Sat and Sun until 5. It's smaller than ravensworth, not so much for eat in, but still a great product line.

I had a RW dinner there and it was very good. Full portions, nothing skimped and the server was gracious and accommodating. If I was forced to quibble I would say I've had better desserts, but my roast chicken & confit, swiss chard, and butternut squash puree were great. As were the shrimp & grits, really thought about getting the Gazpacho, but I've wanted to try anson mill grits for awhile before I ordered some and this gave me the chance. I will definitely return.

Coming down Backlick and hungry last night, we opted for Tommy Thai instead of a messy kitchen. Unfortunately there is nothing good to report. We had gone when it first opened and although there was no impressive dish, we had no real complaints. The menu is fairly limited and there did not appear to be any specials offered. We ordered Larb Gai, Satay, Pad Thai, and Drunken noodles. I was undecided between the 5-spice braised pork and something spicier, and the waitress recommended the Drunken Noodles. I thnk that should have clued me in, but I agreed to it. The larb gai was not good. It seemed like it was fairly old. The chicken had a texture that was quite mushy, the citrus was not sharp or acidic, and the heat was dull. it was not distinct tiny nuggets of chcken, but more akin to wet grains served with a wedge of iceberg lettuce. The chicken for the satay was very overcooked and very dry. Lest you think what happened next skewed our opinion of the apps, I assure you it didn't. We had discussed them and come to our conclusions, we had plenty of time. We waited about 25 minutes for the entrees and when they hadn't arrived and the ice had melted in our glasses were about to inquire. That's when the waitress brought us our bill. We mentioned that we were still waiting for our entrees, and she then assured us they were coming. After 2 more repeated assurances and another 15 minutes had passed, a gentleman came over, apologized and mentioned free sticky rice and mango. But still no word on our entrees. We waited another 5 minutes, went up front and asked for the bill for our apps. They didn't charge us and we left. A mistake with the order is fine, but to repeatedly tell us the food was coming in one minute, disappearing, and taking 45 minutes after we had apps to still get us nothing, shows a bit too much of an attitude of not really caring about the customers and the dishes they turn out. Meh, can't recommend it and won't return.

Do we question the value of a $150/$200/$400/hour attorney? $40/hour mechanic plus parts?

I do.

I think it was all about the way it was edited....again.

Typical Release Language, my emphasis added. It's all about the advertising revenue, not so much the food.

...the Producer, the host of the Program (if any), and/or the Network) may reveal and/or relate

information about me of a personal, private, surprising, defamatory, disparaging, embarrassing or unfavorable nature, and that my

actions and the actions of others participating in the Program may be embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature that may

be factual or fictional. I further understand that my appearance, depiction, and/or portrayal in and in connection with the Program

or otherwise, and my actions and the actions of others displayed in and in connection with the Program or otherwise, may be

disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature, may expose me to public ridicule, humiliation or

condemnation, and may portray me in a false light. I further understand that any information regarding me that Producer may

disclose during the Program may be more or less favorable than similar information disclosed by Producer regarding other

participants....

No, thankfully, short-smoked salmon and sun-dried cranberries appear to be unique to Mike's (and all other GAR kitchens). Also can't find a cowboy rib-eye marinated in salt and sludge and more salt, except at Mike's. Also can't find that abominable pasta jambalaya dish anywhere except Mike's. You're absolutely right, there are no other restaurants in Springfield that serve similar food, and I am very grateful for that.

I'm sure there would be no prejudgement involved in your "specific" challenge. I'll have to pass.

I've eaten at all the Springfield destinations mentioned as well as some of the other recommended "favorites" left off the list. From wildly inconsistent food, to fluorescent, health inspector worthy interiors, I can be comfortable with a burger and fries at Mikes or a lobster roll at Coastal.

More than happy to tilt with you on this one. I have had many horrific meals at GAR establishments, and have seen the Sysco truck parked at all of them throughout the mornings. And in the case of Mike's and Sweetwater, the kitchens are somewhat on display. Never saw the trained monkey flinging sun-dried cranberries or salt at any of the dishes coming out of the kitchen, but they sure taste like he's back there. And as far as service is concerned, the robotic feel at the GAR places in no way compares to the genuine mom-n-pop friendliness at the family-owned places.

Never once saw a Sysco truck at the family-owned establishments I frequent throughout Springfield and Burke. There's honest food and a family feel at Aabshaar, Ravi Kabob III, House of Siam, Tommy Thai, Canton Cafe, Delia's, Village Chicken, El Sabor Bolviano and a dozen or so others. And you can actually carry on a conversation with your dining companions at these places too!

This is a really tired assertion. Where the heck are these great Springfield restaurants ? I'd love to find them. I've eaten at all the one's mentioned and can't put them above the GAR restaurants.

As far as the lobster rolls go, I've had a few lately and I would rate them Hank's, Tacklebox, Coastal Flats.

Coastal Flats adds a good bit of Mayo and Celery, the other two were straight up Lobster with some seasoning on a buttered roll. To each his own !

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05/17/10 - Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck (Miami Danny)

05/17/10 - Tackle Box (ktmoomau)

05/17/10 - Bobby's Crab Cakes (bobbyz)

The only bit of thought I can add to this discussion is that some people are prescriptive grammarians and other people are descriptive grammarians and it's always gonna be that way. I'm a descriptive grammarian, I think we're a little less stressed.

5 years, wow. Thanks for all.....................the dinners, the posts, the knowledge, the laughs...........This community may be the greatest asset that welcomed me to DC.

Atwater's (of Baltimore) was selling hot cross bun at the farmers market on Easter Sunday, though not the day before.

I've had some tasty ones this season at the Swiss Bakery in Burke and Springfield, I know that's not much help for the DC bound, but just in case anyone else glimpses the thread.

Sometimes it's difficult to fully enjoy a meal in a restaurant where questions may linger over the treatment of employees. I've enjoyed meals at Hook but have a feeling I'll be exploring Blacksalt's offerings for a while. Thanks for the informative update.