Bella

I was there this weekend and was also told that there was a 45 minute wait. I couldn't believe it because there were at least four empty tables outside. The hostess acted like she didn't want people to eat there and she was annoyed that we were there. I explained that there were several tables open to which she replied that she was seating people in those right now. Fair enough, so my girlfriend and I decided to sit at the bar. We had a great time at the bar, the bar staff was very friendly and prompt with their service. The annoying part of the meal was that for the entire time we sat at the bar overlooking the water we were looking at a table that remained unoccupied during our entire meal!

In my opinion you should fire a hostess who makes guests feel unwanted and then hurts the rest of the restaurant staff by not seating people in open tables.

Positives:

The location is awesome. The flatfish sandwich was good. My gf had the mac and cheese and that was also nice. The rest of the staff was wonderful.

I would have to agree with you that a host/hostess shouldnt have an attitude, but there are a few things to consider in your scenario. First, there were probably reservations for those tables coming in and knowing that two people cant eat in 5, 10, 15 or even 45 mins she declined to seat you at an "open" table. Second, the table may have remained empty even after you left because of jerks that no-show, and theres nothing she can do about it. Given that you already made yourself comfortable at the bar, she wasnt really under any obligation to seat you, especially if you made it clear that you were eating/drinking at the bar.

Hey all, I know I dont post on here much but I am DESPERATE! I just walked out of my last job (irreconcilable differences we will call it) and it came at the WORST time. But I am happy I left, most people dont stay there for more than 2 months and I was there for 10! I have decided to leave town for the summer around June 1st but need some income before I leave. I have plenty of hosting/serving/managing experience, but its tough to find a place that will take you for about a month. If anyone can offer up some ideas I would REALLY appreciate it. PM me please!

'96? I thought it was '82.....

Haha didnt I mention those?! Thats completely up to the FWS! Im just the hostess.

Not to put in a shameless plug for myself or my own restaurant (but it is best when applicable) but Tabaq has a few different, great rooms that can accomodate you and the food is great, from Chef Daniel Labonne, and very reasonably priced. If you are interested please email me at the restaurant email as I dont know how to use this message board thing!

amber@tabaqdc.com

Note: I am working on trying to get a DR happy hour together, perhaps in conjunction with the french wine society, of which we are a member. But dont quote me on that!

Thanks guys. The whole messageboard/PM thing is like Russian to me, I cant seem to figure it all out!

I am wondering if you are looking for organizations to support with this or if you already have them lined up. I know a GREAT organization start at GWU this past summer, it deals with Darfuri students and I'm not sure if you are only looking for organizations that support this area. If not, Im sure the GWU group (BAANA www.baana.org) would love to raise awareness and funds as Trachtenberg who "supports" the program hasnt supported them at all.

Actually, the point was not made in Bella's above post, but that of DCDuck on Jan 13 as correctly attributed above. She just missed the "close quote" tag.

I don't what the circumstances were for DCDuck's visit (maybe that close to opening they wanted to limit bar eating?), but you can definitely eat at the bar.

Sorry, I dont post much and I am not so good with the quoting

My wife and I joined two friends at Central last night. There are definitely some service kinks to be ironed out, but our food was top notch. We didn't have a reservation and were initially told that it would be around a 45 minute wait, and that we could not eat in the bar. Not a problem, we grabbed some wine, and sat in the bar, and stared at several four-tops open in front of us for the next hour. The space is beautiful, by the way. After about an hour or so we were seated at one of the open tables we'd been staring at.

I feel that I really have to make a comment about this. I see this type of frustration a lot with diners seeing open tables but they are not sat. I also hear frustration that "clearly the server was busy and our table got the brunt of it" etc etc type comments. Apparently no one sees a correlation between the two problems. You can be temporarily appeased by having the illusion that just because you are sat right away you will get stellar service and right away. There are two serious reasons that people dont consider when complaining about their wait time. One, the kitchen needs to catch up and two, the servers need to catch up. So complain about your sevice, fine, complain about your wait time, fine, but when you do, think that if you were sat on time you'd probably be complaining about your service. And if you were to get good service but had to wait, make that consideration too.

i'm not sure where to post this, but i'll try here. i'm wondering if anyone out there knows how chaotic it gets at BdC for the Beaujolais Nouveau Party this Wednesday night. or is there someplace better to go for this event? thanks.

Well, after the fact...it was CRAZY. if you werent on the list, basically, you didnt get it. But as for other parties like it, there are none other in town. I mean, come on, the mayor showed up.

Tabaq Bistro has four different rooms that can accomodate a group of 50. Three of the rooms can accomodate a group of 50 seated. If you would like more information please email amber@tabaqdc.com!

Why does it seem that all the good buble tea places are in the burbs?

Anyone reccomend a good bubble tea house in the District?

Try Snap in georgetown. Its a tiny place off Thomas Jefferson between M and K in a townhouse. I havent had their bubble tea, but I have had their Bubble Tea Smoothies! Great for the summer and they go great with their crepes!

Meiwah is a block away from CB and they do carry-out and delivery.

thats actually where I ended up going! The lines were long so I grabbed a delivery menu and left, but my friend, by the time I got there, decided to order One Fish Two Fish, which is almost as good!

I stopped into Circle Bistro one night, decently dressed, and not looking like a hoodlum from foggy bottom. Since I know Notti Bianche does carry-out (execpt on fri and sat.) I was hoping they could do the same since my friend was working and I was sent out to bring food back for the both of us. There was no host and about 3 people passed by me while I was standing at the host stand. Finally a woman (who I am told has worked there for a while and is a bartender) asked if she could help me and I asked if they would please do a take out order for me. She said that CB doesnt do that. I asked her if she knew any place in the area that did (thinking Notti would be her reply) and she looked me up and down with snotty disgust in her eye and said "TGI Fridays." I thanked her and told her it wasnt my type of food and left.

I love Circle Bistro, but the service is oftentimes atrocious.