Any good eats near The Birchmere?

[Pool Boy]

Going to see Thomas Dolby and don't know what's around there. Obviously, they serve food at the Birchmere, but....

Well?

[mdt]

Going to see Thomas Dolby and don't know what's around there. Obviously, they serve food at the Birchmere, but....

Well?

Taqueria Poblano, Bombay Curry Company, Del Merei Grill, and Los Tios spring to mind. All are down the street on Mt. Vernon Ave. And for dessert you can stop by the custard place (Dairy Godmother, or whatever it's called).

Enjoy.

[Al Dente]

They blinded me with science.

Both joints are within a mile or two of the Birchmere.

[mame11]

Avoid the food at the Birchmere. It is not necessarily bad but really really really expensive for what you get. The portions are obscenely big as well.

If you end up eating there split everything.

[lackadaisi]

I always want to get food elsewhere when going to the Birchmere, but the seating policy prevents it. If you want a good seat, you have to show up soon after the doors open, if not before.

[Hannah]

Last time we were there we went to Del Ray for cheese and custard first, then just did appetizers/drinks at the show - that worked out well. The Birchmere has decent nachos and Shiner Bock on draft, which counts for a lot, and it's really not significantly more expensive than the TGIMcScratchy's of the world.

(eta: we'll be at Thomas Dolby too - could be good, could be bad, bound to be interesting one way or the other)

[Capital Icebox]

Po Siam for Thai is pretty close, and they have been consistently good the three or four times I've eaten there.

[mame11]

Birchmere menu

I think the snack idea is good. I think the prices are equivalent to an amusement park or stadium.

[Pool Boy]

Last time we were there we went to Del Ray for cheese and custard first, then just did appetizers/drinks at the show - that worked out well.  The Birchmere has decent nachos and Shiner Bock on draft, which counts for a lot, and it's really not significantly more expensive than the TGIMcScratchy's of the world.

(eta: we'll be at Thomas Dolby too - could be good, could be bad, bound to be interesting one way or the other)

I've read good reports from shows earlier in the tour, so it should be good. Kind of short setlist though (maybe 10-12 songs).

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions!

[Escoffier]

I've read good reports from shows earlier in the tour, so it should be good. Kind of short setlist though (maybe 10-12 songs).

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions!

Walk across the street to RT's or down the street a bit to Nam Viet for Vietnamese.

[DanielK]

Going to a show soon at the Birchmere - 7:30 show on a Sat nite.

Someone mentioned upthread about getting there early for decent seats - how does the seating work there? It's very hard to picture from the images on the website. I wouldn't really call this a concert - is the seating that critical?

We were thinking of doing an early dinner somewhere first - should we instead get appetizers at the show, and dine afterwards?

[lackadaisi]

Going to a show soon at the Birchmere - 7:30 show on a Sat nite.

Someone mentioned upthread about getting there early for decent seats - how does the seating work there? It's very hard to picture from the images on the website. I wouldn't really call this a concert - is the seating that critical?

We were thinking of doing an early dinner somewhere first - should we instead get appetizers at the show, and dine afterwards?

The doors open at 5:00 (generally-check the website). Prior to that, a line will have formed outside the door. When the doors open, the line enters and collects their tickets at the will call window. Everyone must go to the will call window regardless of whether they have previously purchased the tickets. At the window, you will recieve a number. Then, you hang out and have a drink at the bar or whatever. At six o'clock (generally), they begin calling the numbers and seat accordingly. Then there is about an hour and a half prior to the beginning of the concert to eat, etc.

So, in order to get a preferred seat, you really need to be there off and on from about 4:30. This is why I always eat there. But, keep in mind, there are actually very few bad seats, so such an early arrival is not really necessary (I am just overly picky).

[xcanuck]

Going to a show soon at the Birchmere - 7:30 show on a Sat nite.

Someone mentioned upthread about getting there early for decent seats - how does the seating work there? It's very hard to picture from the images on the website. I wouldn't really call this a concert - is the seating that critical?

We were thinking of doing an early dinner somewhere first - should we instead get appetizers at the show, and dine afterwards?

In the name of all that is good and holy....do not eat the food at the Birchmere. Smuggle in week old McDonald's leftovers if you must. The Birchmere's offerings are an insult to anyone that enjoys food. It's a limited menu where everything is mass produced a month or two in advance and kept under heat lamps. It's dry, flavourless, and overpriced swill. If you're not conerned about your seating, then eat somewhere else first.

On the bright side, they haven't managed to f*** up bottled beer (yet).

[Joshua Grinnell]

Everyone must go to the will call window regardless of whether they have previously purchased the tickets. At the window, you will recieve a number. Then, you hang out and have a drink at the bar or whatever. At six o'clock (generally), they begin calling the numbers and seat accordingly.

I've only been once, so this might have just been an aberration, but I think the seating system might depend on the relative popularity of the show. I came for an obscure act that barely filled half the seats, in which case someone at the front door checked the tickets and then you could sit anywhere you wanted. I got there late, too.

Food-wise, get dinner somewhere else (there are so many options down Mt. Vernon that it would be sick and twisted to list them all) and split a dessert at the Birchmere. Unless you're there to rock, in which case you should split a bottle of tequila with a stranger and bite the head off of something alive.

[DanielK]

Unless you're there to rock, in which case you should split a bottle of tequila with a stranger and bite the head off of something alive.

Normally, that's more my style (used to be a regular at the Bayou in G-town), but the show we're going to see is somewhat tamer.

[Escoffier]

Normally, that's more my style (used to be a regular at the Bayou in G-town), but the show we're going to see is somewhat tamer.

Eat at RT's just across the street or Nam Viet down the street towards Arlington. Either is better than what you'll get at the Birchmere.