round hound's Profile
Ray's The Classics?
A quick search on this board will provide you with plenty of information, including a very recent discussion comparing and contrasting the two locations:
This: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/437732
This: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/467164
This: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/463461
This: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/390847
This: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/461442
etc.
Ray's The Steaks
From the horse's ("Ray") mouth, as posted on another board:
"Typical waits on a weekday, peak times (6:30-8:30), are 1 to 1 1/2 hours. To avoid waits, you can come by the restaurant any time after 4 (about 80% of the time either I or that girl, whatshername, will be there to take names from 12, and from 2 about 90%) and put your name down on the list for your choice of times later that same day. Once your name is on the list, you do not have to wait at the restaurant, simply return at that time and you will be seated right away or shortly thereafter. If we are on a wait, the party must be complete before being seated so that complete parties do not have to wait while otherwise available tables are partly occupied (I know that this is a touchstone for controversy and ire, but I also think that, when explained this way, the reasoning and fairness behind this system are quite evident).
The best strategy to dining at Ray's is to stop in on your way home from work, while out running errands, or before your movie, put your name on the list, go about your business, and come back later for dinner at the appointed time."
Wine and Cheese Bar in NoVA?
Dino's bar is really quite small. Almost an afterthought. And the reason that you won't find bars in the Commonwealth is that free-standing bars are not allowed - they must be part of a food establishment.
Agree with JoeHoya and others above about Proof , Mendocino and Central. Classy wine bars all. Also, I recommend you try the wine bar at Marcel's in Foggy Bottom. Between those four, you should find one that fits your taste and style.
Fried pickles in DC??
Del Merei Grill on Mt. Vernon Ave. in Alexandria is famous for their frickles: lightly fried pickle chips served with a spiced remoulade. The rest of the menu is good too!
DC restaurant itinerary 5 nights
If you consider $18 for a bacon cheeseburger to be a bargain ( plus 10% tax, tip and drink) then Central is a bargain.
I would highly recommend a dinner at Corduroy. It is exceptional food, superlative service and very reasonably priced. If you eat at the bar, try the steak frites or their off-menu burger. I am confident you will enjoy it. Also, Mendocino Grille in Georgetown is doing great things these days.
Finally, take a quick Metro ride up to Silver Spring and walk one block to Ray's The Classics for the best steak dinner in town.
Komi will blow. you. away. If you can get a reservation, by all means go!
Best Hotel Bar in Washington, DC
1. Citronelle at the Latham in Georgetown
2. CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental
3. Degrees at the Ritz in Georgetown
Brewpub near Reagan International Airport?
Not exactly a brew pub, but a place that specializes in beer and also features a cask of conditioned real ale every night. And, it's only 10 minutes/3.5 miles from the airport.
Rustico Restaurant and Bar on Slater's Lane in Alexandria. Really good pizzas too.
http://www.rusticorestaurant.com/
Whole Foods open in Fair Lakes, and worth a visit
Can someone provide some concrete information about prices in the "mini-restaurant" sections? Like the brisket sandwich, the pizzas, etc.? I'm trying to decide if I can realistically have lunch there. Also, can you buy beer there and drink it with your lunch?
Cazbar vs. Helmand?
Cazbar has gone way downhill recently both in terms of food and service. I certainly would not want to go there for a birthday celebration. They do make some good pizzas though.
Uber Swanky DC restaurant
PS7 and Central are two of the newest and trendiest, with decor to match. CityZen would be where I'd go though.
Best cheese plate in D.C./VA area
In no particular order, all of these offer superb and varied cheese plates:
Marcel's
Komi
CityZen
Restaurant Eve
Firefly
Dino's cheese plate, the one time I tried it, was very skimpy. Of course, if you are a friend of the house, like dinwiddie, YMMV. :)
dinner and/or drinks near eastern market?
Sonoma. It has a long communal table in the main room that could fit 10 comfortably, whereas Montmartre gets a bit crowded.
Here's more about Sonoma: http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=105&view=findpost&p=24940
Top Restaurants To Try in 2007 - Washington D.C. area
Pesce
Obelisk
Citronelle
Central
1789
Looking forward to returning again and again:
Komi
Maestro
Tasting Room
Ray's (both)
A&J - Rockville
CityZen Lounge
Eamonn's and PX (or PX and Eamonn's)
Joss is utterly not worth a drive from MoCo! It's just a noisy, crowded, amateurish place on the tourist strip of Main St. in Annapolis. Sushi-ko is so close and vastly superior.
Seafood butchers in NW DC?
I've seen monkfish on ice at Black Salt on more than one occasion. Hard to forget what that beast looks like.
Bakery for Breakfast in the D.C./Arlington Area?
there's a very new place in Alexandria called Buzz that has a nice selection of breakfast treats, and makes great coffee too.
http://www.buzzonslaters.com/
Quest for Mac n cheese
I second Rays the Classics, and add Rustico and Del Merei Grill's versions, both in Alexandria.
Top Restaurants 2006
1. Restaurant Eve Tasting Room
2. Maestro
3. CityZen
4. Komi
5. Sushi-ko / Passage to India (tie)
Ben's Chili Bowl vs Amsterdam Falafel for group of 12 guys on Jan 4. Or ...Corduroy? :o)
Let's see if I have this right:
1. Hate crossing the river into Virginia
2. Table for 12
3. Height of dinner hour
4. Must take reservations
5. No Chinese. No Korean.
6. No alcohol
7. Not adventurous enough for shabu shabu
8. Nothing that looks "scary" from the outside.
9. From cheap to "moderate"
Firefly and Montsouris both can accomodate a group of 12 with a reservation. Montsouris has a table for up to 16 in their back area. Firefly likewise.
Cross Kotobuki off your list - it is too small to fit all of you and it sounds like your group would not appreciate it anyway.
I'd avoid Dino for a full meal. They are good at their small plates and Italian wines, but none of you drink wine,much less appreciate the nuances of the various Italian varietals, so what's the point?
Did you bother to call Bistro du Coin? Open table reservation system rarely lists large table availability - you have to call.
Good luck. and if you need more info, try browsing the reviews over at www.donrockwell.com
Ben's Chili Bowl vs Amsterdam Falafel for group of 12 guys on Jan 4. Or ...Corduroy? :o)
Rustico in Alexandria for pizza and beer.
2Amys for ...pizza and beer.
Firefly, (ask for the back room) for a meal on par with Corduroy.
Bistrot du Coin for a noisy fun evening of mussels and steak frites.
Montsouris - the new bistro where Johnny's Half Shell used to be.
Caravan Grill, Lebanese in north Dupont. Out of the way, and worth a visit.
Black Salt
Kotubuki for really good, no frills sushi.
Chowish spot for dinner near BWI
Are we talking about the same place? Pachanga Grill is in a strip mall on Rt. 170 - the same road that runs along the west side
of the airport. The road changes names, but it's still the same road. Don't get me started about chains like Chevy's...
Chowish spot for dinner near BWI
G&M is 4.7 miles and Pachanga is 9.1 miles / 15 minutes by car from the terminals. IMO it's worth the extra cab fare. On the other hand, the restaurants in Federal Hill in Baltimore are 10 miles away from the terminals, so maybe that would be the best option.
Chowish spot for dinner near BWI
Pachanga Grill! It's a straight shot down the road at 8395 Piney Orchard Pkwy (Rt. 170)near the intersection of Rt. 175 in Odenton. 410-551-9318. Somewhat upscale Mexican fare and really good margaritas.
1 Year Anniversary Romantic Spot Needed
Two Quail? The only restaurant I can recall that Tom Sietsema gave zero stars to? And it deserved every one of them. Is it even still open?
I have never found either Restaurant Eve or the Tasting Room at Eve to be anything less than quietly hushed and elegant. The well spaced tables, with crisp ironed linens, soft lighting and comfortable seating make it a wonderful location for a rendezvous, clandestine or otherwise. On the other hand, the bar area, which is separated from the dining rooms by a long hall, can get downright raucous, as a good bar will on occasion.
Marcel's does have a "special" table for two - ask for it.
1 Year Anniversary Romantic Spot Needed
certainly not Palena! Not because of the food, but there is nothing at all romantic about the setting and service can be spotty. I would suggest Restaurant Eve, Komi, Vidalia or Marcels in a similar price range.
Just spent $50 for dinner for 2 at Ray's the Classics and we're stuffed, well fed, and smiling :o)
One appetizer, one entree, two sides, one dessert and one ice tea. That's not really dinner for two for most people. But the prices are very reasonable.
Black Olive
Ordinary Dover sole, a forgettable dessert... this reminds me why I won't go back and spend my hard-earned money there. And St. Peter's fish is tilapia: mild, sweet tasting white fish. And cheap. About $6/lb in the grocery store.
How was it prepared at Black Olive?
Best place for crabs near Inner Harbor?
The original post asked about crabs near the Inner Harbor. Which crab places near the Inner Harbor are selling these "out of this world" local crustaceans?
Best place for crabs near Inner Harbor?
Obrycki's is getting theirs shipped in from Louisiana. Costa's are coming from Texas. Bo Brooks are coming from Louisiana, Texas and the Carolinas. To me, the "season" means I can go to a Maryland crab house and get Maryland crabs.
Best place for crabs near Inner Harbor?
I agree. In any event, it is no longer blue crab season on the Chesapeake. Any crabs you get will be imported anyway. In which case you might as well go to Obrycki's with all the other tourists. On the other hand, what's left of the Bay's oyster population is in season now. Go to Nick's Seafood in the Cross St. Market for some good ones.
