Dr. Delicious

Cafe Tatti is a charming and quaint French Bistro located in a shopping center near Balducci's in McLean. I called around 2:30pm for a 6:30pm reservation on Monday night, and had no problem securing a table (not that I thought I would). When we arrived, we were seated at a two-top by the front window, a prime location, and the manager explained to me that they have a regular named Phillip, this is his table, and they weren't sure if the table was for him or not so they reserved it, and are glad to see it taken by another Phil. It was a nice, funny story (for which I'm not doing any justice) and a good introduction to the restaurant. Again, the restaurant is charming and quaint, with tiled archways, ceramics on the walls, other various artwork including many versions of a rooster which is the restaurants icon (of sorts), tablecloths and candles on the tables, formally attired wait staff. It describes itself as a French Bistro, but it has quite a few "Mediterranean" components to it as well. The staff, from top to bottom, provided excellent service throughout the meal (e.g. thoughtful suggestions, multiple unsolicited water refills, bread refills, checks on quality and taste, etc.). Prior to receiving our check, the manager came over with two (unasked for) shots of Amaretto (iirc), noting that on such a dreary day/evening (it had been raining all day and all night), a small digestif is the only response. It was very nice. Service started off with a small baguette, served warm, and was quite good. We ordered two glasses of the house Bordeaux, and were rewarded with hefty pours. For an appetizer, we had the Mussels Provencale, which was listed as a special that evening. We expected a pot of mussels that we'd have to work through, but instead were given a plate of mussels served open-faced (if you will) with the Provencale sauce added on top. I rather liked this presentation (much less fuss!), and the tomato sauce (tomatoes, chopped onion, garlic, among other ingredients) was very tasty. It wasn't ideal for bread-dipping, but we found a way. It was an ample portion split among two people. Entrees come with a Caesar salad (here, and example of the Mediterranean influence), amply and tastily dressed, topped by fresh ground pepper (if desired). For mains, we both got the Filet Au Poivre, which came with a side of roasted carrots and potatoes (these aren't mixed together). The steak was a large portion (the online menu says 7oz, which is probably accurate), and the gravy was delicious (with plenty for bread-dipping!). I didn't leave a bite. We got a slice of coconut cake and a slice of chocolate cake to go, and they were the only misses. I don't think these were made in-house, which is probably why. The cost was very reasonable, even considering we ordered wines by the glass (cheaper by the half liter or bottle), and both got the most expensive menu item. We look forward to retuning.

Went back again the other night, and had another excellent meal. We ordered the same things as above, with a few additions: Crispy Calamari: this was an afterthought when we were ordering, thinking we ought to get something we were sure our son would eat, yet it ended up being one of the best things we had. Large pieces of fried calamari, sitting on top of a bed of cooked vegetables (mainly onions, peppers, and some greens) with a side of lemon pepper sauce that was so tasty and worked so well with the fish. As absurd as it sounds, it would be totally reasonable to come here for the calamari. Caramel Pork: I ordered this by accident, forgetting that it was the pork & egg dish that we previously had. (Of course, this never would have happened had the website not been down all weekend, which left me unable to check my earlier review before heading out. Thanks, Rocks! :P) Anyway, it was very tasty and spicier than the description would have you believe (IMHO). Saigon Crispy Noodles: I really liked the meat and sauce included in this dish. This was a brown sauce, which was a nice change from the heavier sauces from the caramelized dishes. The noodles were prepared in a bird-nest style, which I wasn't expecting and didn't care for. The menu description states "Crispy pan fried egg noodle sauteed with shrimp...". However, these noodles weren't sauteed with anything, rather they were prepared on their own, having been simply deep fried into a bowl shape. So, that was a bit disappointing. For our next visit, I'd want to find another dish that has the same brown sauce, but different noodle preparation. Also, as an aside, Rice Paper was packed, with people waiting outside for tables to open up, while this place was at least half empty. What a shame.

I'm intrigued by the map with the neighborhood names. East End? Near Northeast? Are those things now? How long have I been living in the suburbs? --- Red Ginger (Pat)

Alas, it was for the 14oz. The 28oz-er was $95, iirc.

I was in France (Paris, Rouen, Amboise) back in April, and so it's all basically a blur at this point. So, here are some quick hits: Our concierge scored us a lunch seating at Septime, and it was a really remarkable meal. As we were seated they were doing some last minute prep, and i was watching how carefully everything was done, as we were seated right in front of the kitchen. In particular, there was one guy looking through and shelling something (beans, or bean-like). I was thinking this guy must be low on the totem pole to have this shitty task. Of course, when service starts, he's standing at the pass finalizing and checking everything, which i guess makes him head chef (not Grebaut). Shows you how stupid diners (in this case, me!) can be. Anyway, that's a well-oiled machine putting out incredible food. The wine pairings were thoughtful, as you'd expect, and I had some dishes served with an orange wine, which I'd never heard of. It worked, of course! The night of our Septime lunch we had dinner at Tomy & Co, and it was also great, but as we were sitting there, we remarked to ourselves that not many people in this restaurant that are no doubt loving their meal can say it was only the second best meal of their day. We spoiled ourselves for sure. The concierge recommended AG Les Halles, and it was a sleek, modern interior right by Pirouette. We had the tasting menu, which was fantastic, huge portions, i couldn't even finish the meal. Unfortunately we were one of 2 tables seated out of the entire restaurant, which was a shame given the tasting menu price and quality of food coming out of the kitchen. The chef came out to greet everyone and chat, which was nice. Pirouette was as delicious as ever. I ate sea urchin. it was creamy and delicious. Relais de Entrecote, as I noted in my previous post, serves amazing all you can eat steak and fries in this delicious sauce. Cafe Des Abattoirs was great. open on Sunday! Perhaps most importantly, we discovered Sancerre wines! And there's so much more!

Was at Requin a few weeks ago, and first let me say that the entire wharf area is beautiful, really impressive, and remarkably well done. I owned a house nearby in SW about 7 years ago, and if I only had the money to have kept it as a rental property! Anyway, DC really got it right this time. The food was good to great: asparagus salad, tuna tartare, gnocchi, and the fries that came with the steak were all things I'd order again (if I ever went back, which I wont). The steak itself was just fine. We got some other things but i don't remember what they were. The prices were outrageous. I believe the steak was $75, which is absurd. It's a small plate restaurant, but the prices don't seem to have taken these smaller portions into account, with many at $20-$25. Also, when we placed our original order, our server suggested we order one more item, which at small-plate-places is usually welcome advice given they know portion sizes, etc. However, after completing the meal, we had originally order plenty of food, so his rec seemed disingenuous in hindsight. Oh well.

I've been to the new location twice for take out, and both times got a really good sandwich, Middletown Mike's, which is pastrami, slaw, Russian dressing and cheese on pumpernickel. It is a really excellent flavor combination. The boy got a really good looking grilled cheese sandwich and hot dog. I can see this place being a good casual spot to take him out to eat. Their fries are terrible, alas (they've been changed from the old location, which had shoestring fries, if memory serves correctly). The new space is nice and bright, with many tables and counter service. Parking might be a problem; both times i got the very last space, which is located next to the dumpster. It's hard to determine where their parking ends and the car dealership's parking begins.

The entire family hit up Cafe Berlin the other day, and we all really enjoyed our meal there. We started by sharing the Pretzel appetizer, which was 2 medium sized pretzels with an assortment of 3 mustards (a spicy dijon, a horseradish based one, and another), sliced onion and a scoop of spreadable cheese (bier cheese, per the menu), all served on a wooden cutting board. It was a tasty spread with a nice presentation, if a bit overpriced at $15. Three of us got a Schnitzel sandwich for our main dishes. Each sandwich on the menu comes with potato salad or greens salad, and a cup of soup. For $12, this was quite a lot of food. The soup of the day was Split Pea, and was really good, and just the right amount of texture, that is, not runny. The potato salad was vinegar-based and served cold. It was good, but would have been great if they just cut back slightly on the vinegar. The sandwich itself was a large piece of flattened and fried pork, served on a sturdy ciabatta bun, and topped with grilled onions, lettuce, and a spicy mayo. We all enjoyed it very much. The other sandwich someone got was a Turkey Reuben, which got high marks as well. Also, great service, and very accommodating to the culinary tastes, or lack thereof, of our 6 year old, when they made a plain cold turkey cheese sandwich on white bread. We would go back.

I hadn't been in awhile, and was please to see that the Falls Church location had expanded its menu to now include, among other things, Chicken Flautas. The serving included 3 tightly rolled, fried chicken tacos, smothered in lettuce, cheese and tomato. This was a meal unto itself, for the modest price of $6.50, but since I'm a pig, I also was able to cram a Black Pearl and El Gringo in my pie hole, both of which were as tasty as ever. Pro tip: If you get the El Gringo, make sure to grab plenty of napkins. Needless to say, I wanted to die when it was all said and done, but I would have gone with a smile on my face.

We've gotten their combo platters several times since my original post back in January, and continue to love the food. The kabobs and rice are still great, and their tzaziki, which i originally didn't care for, has grown on me. Also, underappreciated by me, until now, are their side dishes, particularly the tabouli, chick pea, and potato dishes they serve. They're really tasty, and not just after-thoughts. The best part of this place, however, are the people and the service they provide. So kind, so accommodating. Always willing to give extra sauces free of charge, even when offering to pay for them. Oh, and last time, we miscommunicated on my order, and so they gave me a free kabob, and even though i said over and over again that i would pay for it because i'd happily eat it for lunch the next day, they wouldn't let me (I tried to make up for it by tipping appropriately). Anyway, you'd be hard pressed to find a place with a better combination of great food and great service.

We had a delicious meal last night. For apps we got 2 rolls, Spring Rolls (#1) and Garden Rolls (#2), both of which were tasty versions. Two things of note about the Garden Rolls that I really appreciated, one is that they included both shrimp and pork, which my memory only recalls all shrimp versions, and two were the mint they added to the rolls, and the enhanced flavor it provided. For mains, we got Grilled Pork and Spring Roll Rice Vermicelli (#69), which was a skewer of pork with some good char on it, and ample noodles etc. It also came with 2 full spring rolls. So, that's 6 rolls if you're counting at home. We also got Caramel [sic] Fish (#78), which was sweet and spicy, ample portion of chunky and flaky white fish. This dish was incredible. I'd fight you for it. Lastly, we got Caramel [sic] Pork & Egg (#84), which was 4 large pieces of pork belly and two hardboiled eggs served in a tasty brown sauce (alas, I wasn't being thoughtful in the moment, and so can't describe why it was tasty. You'll just have to take my word for it.). The egg, particularly the yolk, and pork belly worked really well together, which I suppose shouldn't be a surprise. The dish ran the spectrum of good to amazing, depending on the bite you are able to amass on your fork, and the resulting proportions of egg white, yolk, belly fat, belly meat, sauce, rice. I was there last night and I already want to go back.

We got the Rasika cookbook, and it appears to have all the recipes you could want. I have a Black Cod order into McLean Organic Butcher (to be picked up on Friday), and also will be heading to the local Indian spice store to get the 20-odd obscure spices needed to successfully pull off this type of cuisine . I think our plan is to make the Black Cod, Palaak Chat, and Paneer Shashlik (all spellings approximate). Keep your fingers crossed!

A few months ago, we were at a well regarded restaurant, when our 2 mains (scallops and cioppino) came out while we were in the middle of eating our appetizers. The server said he thought the kitchen was more backed up than it was, and so put in for our entrees early. Would it have been reasonable for us to ask the server to take the mains back until we were ready? And if we did that, is it further expected that these things would just be put under a hot lamp in the interim? Obviously our meal would not have benefited from sitting under a lamp for 10 minutes. Or, was it reasonable to expect that since it was their fault, they should have made us brand new entrees when the time was right? What could/should be done in this scenario? [I wrote a version of the above as an aside in another thread, and so it didn't generate any thoughts, but I really am curious, hence my re-statement here. It's also likely this has been asked/answered before, or belongs in another section. If so, my bad. -- Phil]

Huh, I just realized I forgot to note in my earlier post that we followed Joe's good advice and had an excellent meal at Sello's. We were there early (5:30ish), so had no wait issues. The wife had homemade pasta, in purse form, with a pesto cream sauce, and they were great. Huge portion as well, plenty fo lunch the next day. The boy had a cheese pizza, and had no complaints. I was watching the pizza guy, and he seemed to be very skillful, to an amateur. I had a pasta with sausage, also very good, and also plenty left over for a full lunch the next day. We will definitely go back. Sorry for the brain fart!

My pleasure! Also, I wouldn't say we were pleasantly surprised, since it mostly gets positive reviews (Yelp, Open Table, TripAdvisor) and is in italics in Don's dining guide. Still, it's next to an Econo Lodge, near a Rte 66 overpass, and borders a much trendier area, leaving some room for suspicion.

We had a very good meal here last night. For apps, we started with the cheese board, which had 4 cheeses (ample portions of Manchego, blue, brie-style, other hard and smoky) some fruit, and apple sauce-type thing (went very well with the blue cheese) and peach/tomato compote. There's nothing obscure, or what you couldn't get yourself at Whole Foods (or wherever), still it was a very nice plate, and easily shareable among 2 people. It's also listed on the dessert menu, and would be a nice way to finish your meal, instead (as the couple behind us did). After we finished this, the wait staff brought out our 2nd app, Devils Eggs, which was a nice touch from a service standpoint. As an aside, service was good and attentive throughout the meal (multiple water re-fills, wine pourings, utensil changes, bread offerings, etc.). The Devils eggs were awesome; 2 eggs halved, with a really good flavor to the egg, nicely accompanied by a small piece of lox. It also had this amazing tear drop thingy filled with horseradish, that was a wonderful flavor bomb to go with the bite of egg. For mains I had the Beef Bourguignon, also an ample portion, with a tasty sauce, that might have been a bit too heavy on a 90 degree August day. My wife had the Beef Bavette, also with a tasty sauce (black peppercorn cream), and amazing fries. Those fries were done right, double fried, crispy, and maybe some of the best we've had, tho I know that sounds crazy. The steak was good, but a bit tough for my wife's liking. I don't know if we got a more fatty-than-average piece, or if it's just the cut of steak they use for this dish, but neither of us would order it again. She could only eat maybe half of what was on her plate. It was even tough to cut. Anyway, change the cut of steak, and it's a winner. The good news? Wednesday's deal (half off the 2nd entree when you order 2 entrees) meant we paid less than $12 for the dish. I would have paid that for the fries alone! For dessert I had a perfectly adequate piece of bread pudding (a little bland, actually), while the wife had a sampler of chocolate mouse (excellent), profiterole (very good), and peach creme brulee (very tart and not good). The dining room was quaint, clean, seemingly freshly painted, and allowed for easy conversation (that is, it wasn't loud). That last point might have something to do with us being younger by 15 years than anyone else in the dining room (and we're in our 40s!), even tho the dining room was mostly full during our meal. The restaurant also seems to have deals for every day of the week. Anyway, overall (food, service, price, ambiance) it was a great experience and we will definitely return.

There was a "Grammar Geekery" moment on Game of Thrones last night (ep. #64): "How many men do we have in the North to fight him?" Jon Snow asks Davos Seaworth of the Night King. "Ten thousand? Less?" "Fewer," corrects Davos under his breath.

Care to share your recipe? (I trust it's deliciousness isn't dependent on the Vitamix)

The A.V. Club’s guide to the best cookbooks of the century so far By Kevin Pang

Yeah, it's not 4 stars because of its affordability! Why that ranking?: Newness; modern, comfortable, and big rooms; proximity to beach; proximity to boardwalk; hot and cold breakfast (including 2 mini waffle makers!); friendliness of staff; easy and ample parking.

My wife got the oatmeal, and I remember comments like, "there's no blueberries in here", "finally found one" and then I may have started to tune out She also mentioned it not being made the same as previous times, something about how it used to have some kind of creamy center. Again, don't quote me here. All i know is that she used to go out of her way to get this one dish at this one place, and could only manage a few bites before sadly pushing it away.

Hah, yeah, that was partly our intention when we first went (after realizing there was no shower/hose), and we weren't the only ones...that tiny pool was filled with sand. I was surprised there was no shower/hose, which strikes me as pretty standard for a "beach hotel". After our first day on the beach, the floor of our room was gritty. There's a shower at the last boardwalk entry to the beach, not far from the hotel's 25th St entry to the beach, that is key.

FWIW, the Hershey Pantry has undergone a significant renovation, such that it is now "pantry" in name only. The food, which used to be good top to bottom, had some clear misses including a baked blueberry oatmeal (only 1-2 blueberries, and they may have changed the previous recipe; it didn't have some sort of expected cream filing) and cinnamon bun (still giant, but dry and now just an icing delivery system). A meat lovers omelet and cheddar biscuits and gravy (new menu item, $10) were very good.

Location and Rates for Tonight - Website with Best-Rate Guarantee This is a new hotel, on the bay, at 25th Street. It's a very easy walk to the beach, even though it traverses a couple main roads. Also, it's aligned with the end of the boardwalk, and thus provides easy access to that aspect of OC. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Rooms come with a solid full, hot, buffet breakfast. Beware that the pool is a sham: sure, there is one, but it's so small I doubt you could fit more than 8 kids in it. We like to regularly incorporate the pool into our beach vacations, so this was disappointing. They are also in dire need of an outside shower or hose, to assist with getting off the sand. Still, the hotel is shiny and new, with breakfast, and in a great location, so you could do a lot worse.

Hooked: Another excellent meal, and our "go-to" for OC trips. Strangely we hit the full spectrum of service. On the one hand, the server specifically went to the kitchen to ask them to prepare the "hotdog octopus" that is no longer on their kids menu, which they we able to do. On the other, our 2 mains (scallops and cioppino) came out while we were in the middle of eating our appetizers. The server said he thought the kitchen was more backed up than it was, but we'r not sure what would give him that indication as the restaurant was 1/3 empty. Oh well. [Also, in general, is it reasonable for the diner to ask the server to take the mains back until the diner is ready? Is it further expected that these things would just be put under a hot lamp in the interim? I'm not sure our meal would have benefited from sitting under a lamp for 10 minutes, so maybe there are no winners here...] Shark on the Harbor: We had an excellent meal here as well, contrary to our last visit a couple years ago. We started of with Mako Bites, which was a plate of 4 (maybe it was 5) large medallions of mako, dressed in a soy-based sauce. This was a meal itself! Contrast that to the squash blossoms filled with lobster, which while delicious, was a small 4-bite portion. The wife had a large piece of rockfish for dinner, and I got a filet mignon, both were perfectly cooked. The filet also came with lobster mashed potatoes that were amazing. Great service as well. Mother's Cantina opened up a tortilla shop next door, which has added seating to the dinner rush, as long as you don't want a mixed drink (you can get beer and wine). Rosenfeld's Deli: This was our first time here, and we really liked it. My son particularly enjoyed their grilled cheese on challah. They do a pretty good, if slightly sweet, chopped liver, and my only quibble would be the meat to liver ratio on my double-decker sandwich (more chopped liver, please! I didn't ask for only a schmear!). Still, i see us putting this place into our regular rotation. Also hit Anthony's for subs and Trattoria Lombardi’s for pizza, both of which are solid, but I don't have anything more to add to what I've already said above.