laurentobias's Profile
Eataly To Open In DC During 2012
Just read that Cap City Brewery near Union Station is closing. Could that be where Eataly is coming?
Need special occasion restaurant near Chatham with vegetarian options and 2-mo. old welcome
Is it appropriate to bring a 2-mo. old to Ocean House?
Need special occasion restaurant near Chatham with vegetarian options and 2-mo. old welcome
Thanks for this idea. Anything else? Has anyone been to Ocean House in Dennis? Would that fit the bill?
Need special occasion restaurant near Chatham with vegetarian options and 2-mo. old welcome
I know, it sounds difficult. The baby is good and will be well-behaved or taken outside (we're not THOSE kinds of parents), but I think there are some places that will not be very welcoming, regardless. We want to take out friends for their engagement, and one of them is a veggie, so the vegetarian options can't just be afterthoughts. Oh, and it must be open on a Sunday. Any ideas? Please help!
Asian Restaurant Recommendation near Dupont Circle
Malaysia Kopitam is unique and a VERY good deal. Penang is a chain, so you can get it in a lot of cities. I prefer Rice to any other Thai place in the city. It's New York in style, but the flavors are much more Thai, if you are looking for something authentic. Mandu is the only Korean place in town, and it is pretty good, if you are not looking to grill at your own table (to do that, you need to go out to the VA suburbs).
Cozy coffee shops in DC or MD suburbs?
I am a huge fan of sitting in a cozy coffee shop for a few hours and reading/hanging out... there are a few great places for this... Tryst, Mischa's in Alexandria, Java House in the summer... but some, like Sparky's, are closing. Are there any other places like this - particularly in the Maryland suburbs? I love Quartermaine's coffee, but the Bethesda store is not really designed for lounging. Mayorga's coffee is okay, but I was very disappointed in the environment in Silver Spring. Starbucks is more personal than that space. Any ideas?
Hidden gems in Bethesda?
Tried Pines of Rome, and I have to agree... the calamari was definitely from a box and still was not cooked right. They left a paper towel on the plate, and it could not handle the leftover oil. The homemade lasagna was fine but nothing I would go back for.
Hidden gems in Bethesda?
I'm looking for great food in Bethesda - not a fancy meal, just a yummy hole-in-the-wall would be fine - and not a chain. I'll try David Craig and Black's one of these days, but right now I am looking for something low-key. I was thinking of Louisiana Express but have seen recent posts that it is going downhill. How is Pizza Zero? Love ethnic food but have not found anything wonderful in Bethesda yet. Does anyone know of any hidden gems?
ISO Fig salad dressing recipe
Is the fig puree (for dressing or BBQ sauce) literally just the figs, peeled, whizzed in the food processor?
Gyros downtown DC
Greek Deli is a DC classic, with lines out the door all summer long. Gyros are great; hummus and feta is great; the meatballs are great too (oddly).
Best Seafood, DC Area?
Sea Catch also has a sleeper happy hour. At least three of the oysters are $1 apiece until 6:30 or 7 on weekdays, and rail drinks are half price. The deals used to be better (all the oysters, all the drinks) until too many people caught on... I guess posting on Chowhound does not help matters. :)
romantic suggestions around DC
Over the summer, 1789 is doing a special - 3 courses for $36. It's a wonderfully romantic restaurant, and $72 for the two of you (+ drinks) is a great deal. http://www.1789restaurant.com/coupon/index.cfm
Best Pizza in DC Metro Area
I haven't been to Tony's but have heard from a couple of people that it's the closest to NY that you can possibly find in DC. I met someone in an elevator in downtown DC who had gone out to Fairfax for lunch b/c he had a craving for NY pizza. Vace is great if you order it ahead; usually the pies sitting out have gone stale.
Dinner and "sure things" in DC
Malaysia Kopitam is low-key, low-cost and a good bet. It's on M and maybe 19th.
why so difficult- moderate fun dining on a Sat night
Zaytinya recently announced they'll take some reservations. What about Indian? Heritage? Curry Club? Jyoti in Adams Morgan? Or Rice on 14th for Thai. Viridian.
Rasika, Bombay Club or Indique?
I would add Curry Club into the mix as well. Very cozy space in upper Georgetown toward Glover Park. The menu is new everyday and very good.
New Job = New Lunch Places
Meiwah is not too far away, and they'll do carry out. And how about Bread and Chocolate for coffee?
Does Authentic Italian Food Exhist in the DC Area?
I Ricchi is very authentic Tuscan cuisine - but it's fairly simple (as Tuscan food is pretty simple) for the price. Still, I'd love to go back and try their pomodoro soup (tomato and bread - yum!).
Good (or even great) Korean, Balt
There's a great place in Ellicott City called Shin Chon. Very authentic.
Good frozen yogurt in DC...seriously
The best frozen yogurt, IMO, is oddly at Thomas Sweet in Georgetown. Of course, once you're there, it's hard to avoid the ice cream, but I think some of their yogurt is pretty good.
Bulk spices in the DC metro area?
In the meantime, you can order from Penzey's online. http://www.penzeys.com/
Help! Birthday celebration with 10-15 friends in May
Hope you don't get my reservation... then again, if no one ever responds, I have few ideas. Have any you're willing to share?
Where do I find a cup of Illy or Lavazza Coffee in DC
Java House on P Street and 17th serves a delicious cup of coffee. Not sure off the brand... but wait for spring because the inside of the place is not enjoyable. In good weather, sitting outside there is a terrific scene.
Help! Birthday celebration with 10-15 friends in May
I'm trying to plan a birthday dinner for my 30th for a Saturday night in May. If all goes well, many of the guests won't know each other. I'd like a casual location with reasonable food and wine. The budgets of the group range widely. I had been thinking of a family style place like Carmine's or Sambuca because I know they won't mind if we lounge around for awhile. Also thought about Cite's wine dinner. Does anyone know if that is going on before Memorial Day?
I've looked through a lot of the posts on this, and the top choices seem to be 'inoteca, Stanton Social and the Batali restaurants. Question is: will these places let us linger for most of the night? We'd probably arrive around 8pm.
can i bring a yogurt cup on board an airplane
I was just flying last week, and we had yogurt taken away. It's not legal.
NY Hound Not Fooling Around
Just went to IALW, and the food was incredible. But so was the cost. Truly, think about the best food you've had in NY (Per se, maybe?) and then think of how much more they would charge if everything had to be carted 90 miles away, and the only diners they served had to make a weekend (or overnight) out of it. That's about the difference in price. The markup on wine was by our estimation 4x retail. The food was amazing and did not disappoint, but the value really did. If you do go, don't miss the cheese plate. The options and amount provided were incomparable.
CityZen is excellent, and I disagree with the negatives on Palena. Their food is incredibly imaginative. Service could be better, sure, but the food is worth it. Komi is terrific but not an all-night affair, if that's what you are looking for. I really have enjoyed Blue Duck Tavern, which is not as high-end as some of the others, but is in keeping with the organic trend now. All the food is assigned to its origins, farm, etc. It's very fresh and delicious.
The best oysters are at Sea Catch in Georgetown, with Hank's a close second. But Sea Catch also has a great happy hour, so if you want to have a drink with your oysters, go there. I agree with some that Pizzeria Paradiso tops 2 Amy's. One more idea with chow-adventurous kids - try Ethiopian. DC has excellend Ethiopian, and no kid I know does not like to eat with his hands.
As an aside, keep an eye out re: the Cherry Blossom Festival, expected between March 31 and April 15 this year. Tourists pour into town, so you may want to lock down a few things (including a hotel) early.
Hibachi steakhouse in DC?
I think there are a few in Bethesda, as well, along Wisconsin Ave.
Uber Swanky DC restaurant
Blue Duck is definitely a swanky, trendy place that does not feel too swanky or trendy. Agree that a lot on this list are not trendy except by DC standards - Cafe Milano among them. Seeing political stars only counts as hip in DC and not for visitors. Marcel's is delicious but pretty old school. City Zen is lovely, but as far as trendy, I'd definitely go with Blue Duck or Rasika's.
