Pappy's Profile
Recommendations around Smith Mountain Lake State Park? Roanoke? Blue Ridge, VA?
This doesn't really help the OP, but I thought I would post it anyway. I am there a few weekends a year, and would love to hear if anyone else has any intel on the area. We come from DC, so anything along that 29/460/122 route would be of interest.
First, avoid the FoodLion and the Shop-Rite at all costs. The Kroger in Westlake, instead, is a great supermarket and really can satisfy almost any gourmet shopping list. Produce, bakery, deli, cheese, meats, and even wine are well covered. Seafood is not. Frozen shrimp are OK and farmed raised salmon etc looks good on Thurs and Fri only.
There is a seafood truck on Sat AMs on Scruggs Rd just east of Rt 122. Again, everything was pre-frozen, but it is certainly better frozen. Fish filets, shrimp, crab legs, etc. We've also had the clams, which are great. Just wash them off, throw them on the grill, and scoop them off when they've opened.
For real upscale meat/poultry/etc, EcoFriendly Foods is located in Moneta. You can google them. Bev Egglston is considered a pioneer in this area. They supply almost all of the very, very top restaurants in DC with pork, lamb, beef, chicken, rabbit, etc. The plant in Moneta has a retail shop open weekdays 9 - 4PM. Everything is frozen, but there is a wide selection. Caution: this stuff is NOT cheap. Chickens are $22 each. We also had hangar steak and pork chops which we enjoyed.
There is also produce in Moneta on Rt 122 at the Flower Stand. It's fine but limited. There is a farmers market right in Westlake on Sat morninings during the summer months. There is a "community" market north of the Lake on Rt 122 also on Sat AMs. We enjoyed the amish produce stand just past Burnt Chimney on the left. "McGregor's" maybe (?). You will see an large old wooden wagon full of produce and a young lady in her long print dress helping buyers.
Do not dine out. Fallons, Jonathans, Blackwater, Water Front Country Club, Harrisons, pizza, etc are all awful. Awful.
The Bernard's Landing is pretty darn good, but it too is not cheap. $28 entrees. They opened up a bar/pu next door. Only open for lunch on weekends. Our favorite is the Duck In (Chevron Station in West Lake) for the BEST egg/ham/cheese biscuits and the Dairy Queen for ice cream cake.
Eloping in DC
Now there is a post topic that we don't see very often!
Adour would be nice. So would Plume at the Jefferson Hotel.
West End/Dupont with BOSS
Your having dinner with Bruce Springstein? Don't worry, he can afford it.
Moa in Rockville?
That is my 'hood and my family doesn't do Korean, so let me know and I'd be happy to help fill out the table.
Moa in Rockville?
I can not believe I am typing these words, but....the reviews on Yelp are overwhelmingly positive.
Fiola and Elisir - Lunch vs. Dinner - any experiences?
I think the food is probably better at Fiola, but I enjoy my dinner more at the sedate and mature Tosca. Bibbiana is also highly recommended.
Fiola and Elisir - Lunch vs. Dinner - any experiences?
I am familiar with both of them. If I could only do one, i would do Fiola. I think Fabio has settled into Washington and will be a force on the restaurant scene here for a long, long time. Fiola is also much more italian than Elisir btw. If you want to do both, I would recommend Fiola for lunch, and Elisir for dinner. Fiola gets a real good power-crowd for lunch that Elisir doesn't. Also, Elisir is best enjoyed a bit more formally at dinner with the starched linens and very professional service. Enzo shines best then too, with intricate and imaginative tasting menus.
Obelisk is different from both. I little more old school. A very small place with a very regular clientele. Very small menu, only a few choices. A real european feel where the table is yours, and dessert comes slowly, usually with a complementary apperitif.
FYI-The Hamilton is no longer open 24 hours
That is a VERY smart company running that group of restaurants. They understand volume and profit margins better than anyone. They had to know 24hrs wouldn't work. I think it was marketing, and I think it worked. tThey created a "buzz" factor that this wouldn't just be another Clydes (which in fact it really is).
Power Dinner Spot
New Steak = JG
Old Steak = Prime Rib
Italian(?) = Tosca
French(?) = Adour
American = CityZen
Seafood - Kinkeads
Three dinners in Bethesda
Black's, Grapeseed, and Jaleo are all great suggestions. Passage to India is great food, but not a lot of "fun". Assaggi is another nice spot with a bar.
A little bit more casual is Freddy's Lobster and Clam, and the Burger Joint, and Bangkok Garden for ok Thai, Uncle Julio's for ok tex-mex, Mon Ami Gabi for ok bistro food, and there is a new pizza place called Haven that you might want to check out.
You might try Raku for sushi. Not the best food, but a good setting. I think Tako Grill though is the best sushi etc.
For a trip back in time, try Tastee Diner in Bethesda for breakfast.
Gaithersburg?
We have to pick up our son at 270 & Shady Grove Road on Saturday at 7pm. Looking for a place to have dinner. There hasn't been a thread about G-burg in a while, and I thought I would ask if anyone had anything new to contribute.
Kind of looking for something a little nicer, and probably not Chinese (we had a huge feast at Sichuan Pavilion last Sunday). And we would prefer to stay away from the chains, unless someone has something really good to say.
Italian? Spanish? Anything?
2 Specific Questions from DC Chowhound
We are from Washginton DC. Visiting Phoenix with wife and young son for the 5th or 6th time in the past few years. We have settled into what we like (FnB, Noca, Lons, In-and-Out!) and a few others, and we know what we don't like (Binkleys, Tarbells, Cowboy Ciao).
First Question: I really, really want to eat at Pizzeria Bianco, but I can't stand to wait in line or to eat at 4pm. My plan this trip is to land at PHX at 10:10am, get our bags, and go straight there, hopefully arriving before 12 noon. It will be 2pm our time, so we'll be hungry. Will I get a table at 11:30am on a Wednesday? Or will that still be a problem?
Second Question: Mexican food?. Franky, we probably don't even know what it is. We've been to a number of places there in previous trips, but I don't recall the names. The best was a place on the way to the airport, in a less-than-nice part of town, but when you walked in it was a very nice (forgot the name). We are busy with activities all day, so we want a place or two for dinner, that we can sit with a waitress, and that serves beer. We are staying north up Rt 51, roughly at Glendale Ave. We are open to any interpretation or version of Mex, Tex-Mex, AZ-MEX, whatever that is good. Please recommend a place, and exactly what dishes to order. Unusual dishes preferred.
Thanks 'hounds.
- Pappy
Mon Ami Gabi (Bethesda) Review
I'm okay with MAG for what it is. It's a good place to take the 75yo parents to lunch. They like it. They make a good bloody mary. And they have a nice wine/champagne cart on the weekends so a refill is never far away. The service is usually spot on. I can take the 10yo kid too, and he finds something to like. That is what it's there for.
My problem is those fries. They're awful. They are cut real real small, real real thin, and then fried until there hard. They come out tasting like the french's (?) potato sticks you used to get in a can when you were a kid. Why do they do this. A normal slender fry, crisp outside and soft inside would be so much more enjoyable. They may serve you a ton of them, but I don't want any of them.
Clyde's Tower Oaks Lodge (Rockville) - Review
The Clyde's at Tower Oaks is a stunningly beautiful setting. The service is extremely practiced. And the prices are exceptionally fair, and even cheap if you abide by their generous 1/2 off hours (Raw bar items and some wines I think. Hours are like 4 - 7pm weekdays, and like 11am -2pm weekends, and then again late at night, like 10pm to 1am. Check website.)
The food, on the other hand, is mostly awful. The key to an enjoyable eating experience is to remember that this is a bar, and limit your selection to bar items. The beer on tap is not a broad offering, but it is always fresh. The wines are adequate and reasonably cheap. The oysters and clams, raw on the half shell, are impecably clean and tasty. The chili is a bit sweet, but rich and comforting. The cream of crab soup is a bit thick, but does have lots of crab. And the chicken wings are meaty and crisp. And, if you are stuck, you can eat the cheeseburger no problem and the eggs benedict won't kill you.
Take this formula to any Clydes restaurant, be there during the 1/2 price raw bar hours, rejoice it the kitchy, but likable environment, and you will leave very, very satisfied.
Eola vs. Everyone else
Steve: Aren't there multiple BG locations? Does it matter which one?
Eola vs. Everyone else
Eola can certainly deliver the "unique food experience" you are looking for. Read the previous threads that are automatically listed under this one.
It isn't the prettiest place in DC. If you want something a little nicer, try Adour, Cordoroy or even Equinox.
Silver Spring
I need to host someone for an early dinner next Sunday in Silver Spring. Guest's taste doesn't run too ethnic, and we have done Rays.
Anyone been to Jackie's lately? 8407? Crisfields? Any other reccos?
Freezing Stuffed Cabbage
I am hoping to make a big batch of galumpki (sp?) this weekend. I want to portion some out to give away to friends. And I want to freeze a bunch for a party we are hosting next month.
Probably a stupid question...do I Cook First, Then Freeze? Or do I Freeze First, Then Cook before serving?
I plan on freezing the head of cabbage overnight to soften the leaves. Haven't tried this before. Then a mixture of onions sauted in butter, partially cooked rice, meatloaf mixture, little salt, pepper, paprika, and marjoram.
Any other hints welcome.
Seven Seas - Rockville
Are you speaking of Tony Lins? My experience, unlike Joe's Noodle, is that the menu tends to read alot better than what actually comes out of the kitchen.
And unlike Daniele, my sense, right or wrong, has always been that they put a lot less effort, care and flavor into cooking the dishes for non-asians.
Seven Seas - Rockville
My wife and son aren't big Chinese food fans, so rallying the team for Joe's Noodle House or Szchuan Pavilion just isn't an option. Usually we make our way over to Tony Lin's, where at least I can oder something for myself off the Chinese menu.
Tried Seven Seas on Saturday looking particularly for three of my old favorites there. Really disappointing. Didn't they used to have a large fish tank up front? No more. Plenty of empty tables on a Saturday night at 8pm. No asians. There is no longer a Chinese menu. Or at least they wouldn't give me one. Didn't they used to have the red menu and the black menu? Anyway, the new menu is a laminated, pre-fab piece with color pictures that looks like it belongs at a Food Court. I tried desparately to order the Oyster and Ginger Casserole, which was not on the menu but is one of my old favorites. No one there had any idea what I was talking about.
Clams with Blackbean Sauce was overyly corn-starchy, and overly stingy for the $14.99 price tag. Pan Fried Meat Dumplings, came out within minutes of ordering, which made me a little nervous. And rightfully so as the thick wrappers couldn't be cut with a knife. Pork with Yellow Leeks was palatable, though woefully underseasoned. First time I have ever been tempted to salt my food at a Chinese restaurant. Whole Steamed Tilapia with Ginger And Scallions (they were "out" of the bass written on the board) was skimpy and soggy and mushy, and a total ripoff at what I recall to be $23.99. Snow Pea Leaves Sauted with Garlic was forgotten by the incompetent waitress. We reminded her again. Still nothing. Reminded again. Finally, as we were done, a plate of wet Water Spinach arrives.
We were less than pleased. I assume it was the owner and his family occupying the front table. They sort of pitched in to help on occassion. But they certainly didn't care what we thought enough to ask, as we walked out disappointed and shaking our heads.
Anniversary Dinner for 10 in Bethesda / Rockville / Potomac
Tragara's has a small private room up front that is perfect for this size. They will custom a menu for you. Recco: Start with a sample of 2 or 3 pastas. Then maybe a filet of beef. with some accompanying vegetables. Finish with a tiramisu and champagne. Perfect. Easy. Elegant.
Short Trip Report
I posted a short note on the Grand Hotel on the Central South board.
Comfort food with an old unremodeled interior
Is that place in Arlington up Wilson near the VW dealership still open? I think it was called Carriage House or Wagon Wheel or somehing like that?
If not, I would recommend you try Tastee Diner in Bethesda. Classic food in a classic setting. Ask for David Your Waiter.
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Carriage House
4030 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207
Short Trip Report
My wife, 10yo son and I go away every Thanksgiving week to visit another city and avoid the extended family gathering back home. This year, we decided on the Gulf Coast.
We arrived into New Orleans Saturday morning on direct flight from Washington DC. Checked into the Ritz, and immediately walked over to Galatoire's for lunch. Very, very enjoyable and a wonderful introduction to the city. We had a great waitress who was charming and helpful. Best dishes included Shrimp Remoulade (better than we thought this dish could be), Salad with Creole Mustard Vinagrette (a surprising treat), Grilled Pompano (probably the weakest dish as we ordered it unadorned for my son), Speckled Trout Almondine (amazingly light coating and cooking), and the absolute standout....Redfish Yvonne with artichokes, mushrooms and crabmeat.
That afternoon we rode the streetcar out to the westend, walked Magazine Street, and visited the WWII Museum.
Saturday night we went to Cochon. Great table the back by the kitchen. Having done a little research, we ordered 9 of the small plates. The highlights were the Crabmeat Salad (nice and light), Fried Rabbit Livers (probably the best dish), Roasted Oysters (best rendition of this dish we've had), Charcuterie Platter, Fried Boudin Balls (great), Shaved Pigs Head, Mushroom Salad, and Smothered Greens. Swift service. No disappointments. And frankly, a very affordable dinner.
Sunday morning was brunch at Commanders Palace. Where do i start! First, all of you on this board owe visitors a stern word of caution about this place. I had made the reservation probably 3 months in advance, and requested the "Patio Room". We arrived, precisely on time, my son and I dressed in sportcoats and a skirt for my wife. We were led through the dining room, up the steps, and offered the table immediately at the top, in a small, plain room, clearly used for over-flow. I expressed my unhappiness, and a manager very professionally said two other tables were available, one in the Dining Room and one in the Patio Room! Well come on...why sentance me to Siberia in the first place. Then it gets worse. The manager says he will forward our drink order. No drinks. Long wait. I ask for the drinks. No clue. Long wait. Don't get me wrong, the waiter and staff are all smiles and running around energetically, they just can't seem to find me a Bloody Mary. It finally comes, and I wish it hadn't. Dull, metalic, underseasoned, barely drinkable. I order a bottle of white wine. And wait. And wait. It comes, but it is room temperature. Not chilled a bit. I ask for an ice bucket, and they have to go get one, because I guess they are surprised I would want one? We order lunch. The first course arrives in minutes. Gumbo for me. Awful. I mean awful. Dark, dark, dark brown and thick as school paste and not at all warm. It does have some shredded pork in it, but nothing else. Of the maybe 6 gumbos I had that week, this is the worst. I can't finish it. Wife orders the Shrimp Remoulade, remembering Galatoire's, and she regrets it. Shrimp are small and the dish has none of the many wonderful flavors of yesterday. Son starts with the Commander's Salad. Now I know no one professes this to be a specialty, but come on! His elementary school cafeteria wouldn't serve this limp disaster. And it is this total lack of pride in the food coming out of the kitchen that disappoints me so much. And so now we wait again for our next course. Still hungry by the way. And wait. And wait. Entrees arrive and they are worse. My Shrimp Creole has so much agar/corn starch in it that it has a thick film crusted over the top from sitting out. It was so pastey, I could cut it with a knife. Son's Beef Tornados look nice, but are as dry as cardboard without a hint of juiciness. Wife's Quail is way, way, way over cooked (tasted steamed, not roastd), and the stuffing is a completely homogeneous mass of damp bread. I am certain that nothing served to us that day was cooked that day. the sauces, the quail and even the steak had been made days or even weeks ago and then rewarmed for hours that morning. I wouldn't be surprised if it had been made in a warehouse hours away and trucked in. Nothing was at all worthy of a singe word of praise So now more than 2 hours later, we asked for our desserts, which we had pre-ordered and paid for. Thirty minutes later, no desserts. When asked, Waiter says, "Sir, I put the order in with the kitchen in a timely manner." What does that mean? It' takes 30 minutes to cut a piece of pie and put a scoop of ice cream on it? We pay the bill ($269 with a way overly-generous tip) and walk out in disgust without dessert. This place is a factory, not a restaurant. We are crushed that have wasted our only Sunday brunch in NOLA on this place, when there were so many other places that we considered.
That afternoon we took a cruise down the Mississippi. It was a great sunny day, and despite my grumblings, it worked out fine.
We tried to stop at Acme for some raw oysters, but again the line was down the block. We walked over to Felix, and we sure are glad we did. Plenty of room at th bar. Three dozen big, plump, briny oysters and three beers in about 20 minutes! And cheap! I think they were $12/dozen and beers were $3? I pay $24 - $26 in DC plus $7-8 for a beer.
Sunday night was August. Wow! We had a wonderful evening. Great table in the corner. Great service. Great wine list. And the food was stunning. Starters included a perfect Shrimp Bisque and a sinful Gnocchi with Foie Gras. My Trout with Hollandaise Foam was delicious. Son's Sugar and Spice Duck was out of this world. And Wife's Redfish in Bullion was delicate and delightful. Dessert was a beautifully presented composition of Bananas and Cake and Candy and was very well liked.
After four days at the Grand Hotel in Alabama, we drove back to New Orleans to fly home. We stopped at Harbor by the airport for lunch. The place was hopping. We had more raw oysters, fried calamari, gumbo, shrimp po boy, and roast beef po boy. The LSU game was on tv. I would really liked this to have been the best meal we had, and we really liked the place, but frankly, the food was not very good. Oysters small and dirty, calamarie overcooked, and roast beef and gravy too salty and canned tasting. But we were warmly welcomed and well served and enjoyed our lunch none-the-less.
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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Gulf Coast Restaurants
1200 S Clearview Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70123
Old bars in DC - looking for suggestions
Town and Country bar is closed. (Sniff. Sniff.)
Good Reubin Sandwich in MD?
I think Parkway Deli on Grubb Road in Silver Spring MD would be most convenient for you.
And I think it is more often spelled reuben.
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Parkway Deli & Restaurant
8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
3 Specific Questions from DC Chowhound
Great replies! Thank you all! Sounds like Napolean House or Mena's Palace are great options for lunch. And Felix is a must for oysters in the afternoon. And I alreaddy have switched Monday dinner from NOLA to Emerils. And the WWII Museum and Kitchen Witch are two definite stops.
Last NOLA question....I know great boudin sausage is probably found outside the city. But is there anyplace in town that we could get a taste of a reasonably authentic version? Is it usually served plain in link form? Or is it incorporated into other dishes?
And an final, out-of-town question....we are then heaading over to Point Clear AL to spend a few days at the Grand Hotel (Marriott). We've never seen the Gulf Coast, and want to take a peak. We'll relax, play golf, and I've chartered a fishing boat for a day. Any must stops on the way east over to AL? And when we get there, any good eats (should probably post on another board)? Ever heard of Wintzell's Oyster House? Best dish?
And Bill Hunt et al: I look forward to more trips to New Orleans! But I wanted to mention I am very well practiced in some of the same DC haunts as you. Feel free to ask away. FYI: I've pretty much moved on from Citronelle and Marcel's. My new favorites are Adour (16th & K St) for high-end French/American, Tosca for Italian (14th & F St), Eola (22nd & P Sts) for pushing the boundries, and Le Chaumiere (29th & M Sts) for old, old, old school French. Give them a try next time you are up our way.
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Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
Gulf Coast Restaurants
1200 S Clearview Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70123
Mena's Palace
200 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Kitchen Witch
631 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130
3 Specific Questions from DC Chowhound
My wife, son and I are heading down next month for our first trip to New Orleans. I have made almost all of my reservations for lunch and dinner each day, including Cochon, Commander's, August, Antoine's and NOLA.
First question: We arrive about 12 Noon on Saturday. We are staying at the Ritz Carlton. Where should we go (walking) for a casual Po' Boy and a beer? I want a place where I can sit down and have waiter service.
Second question: Our last night (Monday) I reserved at NOLA. Should I change this to Emeril's?
Third question: Other than 3 meals a day, ...and staying pretty much within the city, what are your 2 or 3 favorite tourist spots to visit? Especially as I will have a 10 year old boy with me. (Btw, his favorite food is raw oysters on the half shell!) Any great food/cooking related shops or markets we shouldn't miss?
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Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Emeril's Restaurant
800 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, LA 70130
A heads up for Maine Ave shoppers
I'm surprised you ever got anything local from Maine Avenue.
Bethesda: venue for food-focused wedding reception?
Elliott is (again) spot on with this recommendation. Matisse is excellent. Fritz does a wonderful job with food and wine. He also has an upstairs dining room, which is ideal for private parties.
