wahoooob

Awesome, thanks for the update Dean. Going to stop in tomorrow for the mushroom tasting, so now it looks like a pre-dinner cocktail/wine will be mighty nice!

Heading over tonight - does anyone know if you can order from the full menu at the bar? Thanks!

News for those who believe it is a crime to serve a hamburger without beer:

We will, beginning tonight, be serving our Butcher Burgers at Ray's: The Classics in the bar and lounge area. Not all of the toppings or cheeses at Ray's Hell will be available at The Classics, at least for now, but all the standard choices for a great steakhouse burger will be.

O

M

G

!

Crossing the river didn't keep me away from Hell Burgers, but did limit my frequency of visits. Methinks that being able to get them within a 5 minute walk will change all of that...

Depending on your taste in pizza styles, one of my favorite cheap eats standbys in Bethesda is Vace. Sandwiches are always yummy as well (I always order with non "standard" filling so they make it fresh).

Headed in the other direction, Cornicopia has some various sandwiches as well.

I saw more than a few people eating inside on Sunday - didn't try and go in however. Are you now "unofficially" open Eli?

Anyone know if hell burger is going to be open today?

OMG! This sounds fabulous. Will Silver Spring ever be so blessed?

Ditto! I can only dream...

Stopped by a few weekends ago (after a few other stops along the way ) and had some sliders and fries. Personally I thought the sliders would have been better off not pressed thin, but the fries... the potato fries were decent - I could sense the effort, but they just weren't 100%. The sweet potato fries.. ohhh yessssssssss. I have been thinking about them for the past 2 weeks. So much so that I am going to have to go for some tomorrow.

PS - While the flexible closing hours are cool, not so sure that having the smoke alarm go off to chase out the boisterous group is exactly best practice.

Does anyone have a ballpark range for prices/portion sizes in the downstairs lounge area for dinner and/or lunch? Thanks!

Went last week for a few bites and dessert. Had the bacon mac&cheese (with chocolate covered bacon - even better than Vosges bacon in a chocolate bar) and the swordfish slider. I would say both were above average in taste, and definitely on the smaller side.

We then did the 5 course Aztec dessert flight - the details of all 5 escape me now, but out of the 5 I would say about 2 were wows, 2 were good, and 1 was meh.

Finally we did a 3-flight of the hot chocolate - this I would definitely recommend. Not quite as thick as say the european style hot chocolate at Jacques Torres, but almost as rich. The ducle de leche was spot on if that's your thing.

Overall I would say they are on the right track here - a few tweaks here and there perhaps, but regardless CoCo Sala fits the bill for the dessert bar that DC desperately needed.

Where exactly is the taco stand on Half St? I was thinking about getting some Julia's @ dupont before the game, but that would be even better! Are they there/open for all games?

4838 Bethesda Ave - I think this is where Centro is/was?? Anyone have the scoop?

mbucher, great info - glad you are on! after the first initial comments i admit i was not so sure, but i will definitely be in now. and vertical beef patties just sounds cool =p

Does anyone who's gone in the past know approximately how many brews total (I assume most breweries will have multiple ones) are usually represented?

edit: nm, i think i answered my own question via the online pairing menu

Dolcezza cannot come soon enough - goodbye diet!

Thanks and congrats Jason - been waiting for this one since I got the email!

On a whim, we decided to try to get $5 grand stand tickets, but by the time we got down to the park at 2.30 pm, the line was really long. While one of us waited in the $5 line, the other went over to a ticket kiosk, and low and behold, we were able to get really great tickets, 6 rows from the field. Presumably, they had been holding these for last minute season ticket purchases, and dumped them last minute. We were very happy.

Do you have any more info on these $5 tickets?? Thanks!

Thanks for the input guys - looks like I will head over to WF after work. Just might do a dry-aged vs. regular tasting!

Anyone have any input on the price range for lunch - nigiri, sashmi, rolls or other? Thanks!

Planning on making a nice steak tonight (not my usual thing so I defer to the experts) - is there anywhere in SS/Bethesda to get something nice besides paying the premium at Whole Foods or Balducci's? I usually frequent Sniders, however haven't bought much beef there. Do they have any good stuff?

Second question - is there a significant difference between choice and prime cuts, as well as regular and dry aged?

Second that on Biagio and/or Whole Foods for Dolfin. Curious Grape in VA has some as well.

My current frou-frou favorite: No. 6

scottmcl - if it's the exact same item, but lower price email amazon customer service. within 30 days they are good about refunding price difference.

Update from metrocurean - apparently Mio's kitchen is now being headed by Stefano Frigerio (previously of Maestro's). Anyone have more details? Not my neck of the woods, but might be worth a looksee.

Jacque Torres.. although I was rather dissapointed that they skimped and sent the 25 piece box instead of the 50 like last year.

Wahoooob + 1: either time works, thanks!@