Central is quite a long walk from 20th & M. I think Firefly might do the trick (it has mac and cheese on the kids menu), or your 10-yr-old fight find something else to her liking (latkes? chopped liver? corned beef?) at DGS Delicatessen. Ris is another possibility.

True enough -- those suggestions aren't responsive. But it's also true that we'd be doing the OP a real disservice by pointing her/him to B&P, Chef Geoff's, LPQ, or Matchbox, all of which are generic or mediocre . . . at best.

Jaleo is a great choice if the CC location (which I haven't been to in years) is comparable to the one downtown. Alternatively, you could go to Ray's to the Third for excellent burgers, steaks, milkshakes, etc.

For Thursday or Friday lunch in Annapolis, choice is easy: Vin 909 -- but try to call ahead for reservations.

Many good options discussed at this site:

http://bitcheswhobrunch.com/

Also, the brunch at Le Diplomate looks very enticing -- haven't been yet.

Partial dissent: I love York Castle, especially the tropical fruit flavors and ginger, but I can't stand the swiss sauce.

Range (closest to where you'll be)
Little Serow
Mintwood Cafe
Ishikaya Seki (at the bar)
Eola
Le Diplomate
Estadio
redesigned and rejuvenated Jaleo
Fiola, but prices have skyrocketed there recently

Reminder: The CM banh mi is only available on Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. until they run out (usually before noon). And I'd recommend asking for them to go light on the mayo.

Based on this rave and others, and good experiences buying RA's actual pastrami at the farmer's market, I went to Union Market today just for the Porkstrami sandwich. Sad to say, it was nothing special -- and certainly not in the same league as the Cork Market banh mi. Perhaps I caught it on an off-day, though . . .

They aren't open on Sundays. Not sure whether Masa 14 is worth it. Try Estadio or Seki instead. Or either of those or Jaleo on Sunday. Skip Oyamel

Yes. I enjoy Sundevich, but I always come away thinking that the sandwiches there are very good, not great, and cost a bit more than they should. Nothing to sneeze at -- it's a really great spot; but it doesn't make anything as scrumptious as the Cork Market banh mi.

That's certainly the norm; but always? Don Rockwell raves today about the buffet at Masala Art.

Not the "thick, milky broth" sort, but I love Daikaya's ramen, and it's walking distance from you (and much easier to get a seat than at Toki).

Don't go to Sei or Mitisiam. Go to Daikaya or Seki.

No -- Matchbox is decidedly below par. The better pizzas in the city are Neopolitan-style. I'd head to 2 Amys (near the Cathedral) -- not only (or primarily) for the pizza, although it's very good, but also for the beer, the small plates (on the back of the white menu card), and the ice cream.

might be the pork-belly banh mi at Cork Market. Thank goodness it's only available on Saturdays, or it'd be a danger to my health. FWIW, the menu at Standard looked really good, too.

Little Serow
Mintwood Cafe
La Diplomate (including for brunch)
Ishikaya Seki (at the bar)
Daikaya
Cork
Proof
Eola
redesigned and rejuvenated Jaleo
Standard
Fiola great, but prices have skyrocketed there
2 Amys if you're out near the Cathedral
Mi Cuba Cafe
Zenebech Injera (haven't been, but I trust the raves)
the new Red Hen in Bloomingdale looks very promising

The xlb I had a couple of weeks ago were surprisingly delicate and delicious -- better than the other items I ordered.

Also not very close to OP's hotel. (It's actually west of Capitol Hill more than north.) Walking distance, I'd highly recommend Daikaya (for ramen -- but I'll bet the izakaya is good, too), Rasika, Jaleo and Full Kee.

What I wrote over on rockwell:

Like virtually all Starr restaurants, [LD] will be a huge success. Even at this early stage, the quality control is awfully high: they've got all of the details down, so much so that it seems as if it has been a neighborhood institution for years rather than a fledgling operation that opened earlier in the week. As my dining companion remarked, it's virtually the definition of "convivial"--everyone in the room seems happy and content . . . at home. The millions were well-spent.

I . . . had the steak tartare, which was very good, but very filling (especially when conjoined with the addictive breads in the basket). [Don R. had described it as such, and I concurrred: "Steak Tartare de Parc ($15.50), a hand-chopped cylinder of filet, served with capers, a quail egg, small side salad, and crunchy slices of baguette. This was a fine steak tartare, and I didn't realize that the slight zing I was tasting was due to bit a red chili sauce (tabasco-like) that I noticed had left a reddish complexion on the white plate. For me, there was no need to even touch the crispy bread (which I tend not to love in general) because Le Diplomate has its own bakery, and offers a wonderful bread basket with three types of bread, including the best baguette you'll find on 14th Street."]

The skate and frisee salad were both excellent.

Not cheap, however. Approaching, if not quite equaling, the price points at Balthazar [http://balthazarny.com/menus/dinner.pdf], which La Diplomate unashamedly mimics in almost all particulars.

Still, I doubt that will keep the crowds at bay. Not going out on much of a limb to predict that La Diplomate will be part of the local firmament for quite a while.

I've been four times in two weeks -- highly addictive. Agree that miso is my favorite; shio also excellent.

In light of Ipse Dixit's rave on another thread, and a rather stunning series of Yelp hosannas (yes, I know), I thought this thread warrants reviving. As noted below, my one experience there five years ago was mediocre, but now I'm hankering to go back to try the rice noodle soup.

Any other recent takes?

I have found that at abut 6 p.m. it is possible to get your name down for a late seating, such as 10ish (which I think is ideal here; the meal seems less frantic then) -- but I can't guarantee that that is the case every evening, such as on a busy weekend night.

This is very promising. The mughlai paratha is very good, indeed (but note that there is meat inside, too -- beef, I believe). Easily enough for three/four people for an appetizer.

Chicken biryani also very good, as was the goat curry. Best of all was the channa dal, not on the menu. All of this and a couple of other, small items, too, for about $20. One of the best deals in town.

I have a nagging sense, however, that perhaps this place, like other Bangladeshi spots I've tried, is going to have issues with spicing. My experience has been that even though it's very homey fare, this cuisine can be transcendent when there's the right mix, and volume, of spices -- or that was the case, anyway, at the long lost Mina's in Queens, one of the most magical restaurants I've been to in the past few years. But that it's a very difficult, complex balance to strike.

Last night, everything was very tasty -- as I said, a ridiculous bargain by any standards -- but I was yearning for just a bit more revelation in the spicing, something that transforms the dishes out of the ordinary. That's obviously not what the chef (the wife of the couple) was shooting for, however. Don't know if it was because we were Anglo diners or because this is how she usually cooks the fare; but I had the distinct sense there was more lurking there there than met the eye (or tongue). Definitely a place where I think they'd be amenable if you asked them to provide "authentic" spicing -- they're really very nice, and aim to please.

Having said that, here's the rub . . . . Although the dishes were not very spicy, there were a few chilis in the mix, which provided a nice background buzz, and . . . the two people I was dining with both had a rather shocking awakening when they (presumably) ended up with a pepper directly on their tongue (they looked to be in the habanero family), something that caused a slow and intense burn over many minutes! If the food had generally been very spicy, they probably would have been prepared for it -- but it came out of nowhere. I really hope they don't "tone it down" for the non-Bangladeshi eaters -- if anything, it needs more (or more complex) spicing -- but perhaps it could be better integrated, so that it's not all-or-nothing in any particular bite. (Having said that, I'm woefully ignorant of this cuisine, so perhaps I'm way off base here. Feel free to chime in.)

Pete Wells rave:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/din...

This looks fantastic; perhaps even better than Seki:

http://thisisgonnabegood.blogspot.com...

Reports? Some sense of cost per person before alcohol?

The Ravi Kabob empire for Pakistani.

FYI: They're on a well-deserved vacation through 01/16, in case anyone was thinking of driving out.

For those searching for it, I assume it's at 1116 North Rolling Road in Catonsville, which was the location for Pho Saigon.

Cork Market is distinct from (across the street and down the block) the restaurant.

If seafood/vegetables is your metric, definitely check out Seki -- and sit at the bar if you can. Plenty such options at Proof, too.

Cork. Seki. Little Serow, especially. And Proof, where I just had a really spectacular meal.