rarotonga's Profile
Paul bakery/restaurant coming to Georgetown?
Oooh! I've been to Pauls in the Gare du Nord and in South Beach Miami; what comes to mind are pistachio macarons and almond croissants. Tasty. (I'll probably continue to rely on Chinatown or Cowgirl for my coffee, though.)
Amorini Panini - 9th and F NW - Anybody been?
ha ha @Jeserf - that made me laugh. So, so true.
Portland, OR transplant to Woodbridge, VA moving to Adelphi, MD instead!
Woodlands, my favorite Indian restaurant, is in Langley Park, which is on University Blvd, one neighborhood to the west of Adelphi. El Salvadoran as well, though I've been off pupusas for a while so I'm not up on which is the best these days.
Good Mexican at places like El Tapatio in the "Little Mexico" neighborhood on Kenilworth Ave in Bladensburg - not too far - or at La Fondita in Riverdale. (I know others have been mentioned here - those are the ones I've been to.) There are also Ethiopian places in Riverdale (which I also usefully haven't been to... I live in Silver Spring so I just go to Addis Ababa or to Etete on 9th St).
Unfortunately, the bad news is the coffee... errr. There sadly is no Stumptown-y place anywhere near Adelphi. There's a new coffee place down in Petworth, which isn't tooo far (but unfortunately I haven't been to yet and so can't comment on). College Perk up in College Park is cute and a nice student-y hangout, but it isn't what you're looking for, probably. Peregrine down in Capitol Hill is wonderful but quite a commute! Oh, finally, the new mini-cheesecake place on Carroll Ave in Takoma Park had workable coffee -- again it isn't Stumptown but it wasn't bad either. There's a Mayorga there too, but I am not such a fan of their coffee.
Tips for eating in Bethesda?
The nutella crepe I had at Rita's crepes stand was good, but I find the menu for the savory ones bizarre and off-putting (tuna? falafel?). Have you eaten one yet? I do wish she'd just do something simple like apples and gruyere or tomato-basil-mozzarella.
tiffin vs woodland
If you MUST have meat, go to Tiffin; otherwise I'd say Woodlands hands down. Tiffin is good but has the same menu as most other North Indian places, whereas at Woodlands (especially when you go on the weekend for the extensive buffet) you can get things like poriyal, tiny eggplants cooked in cashew sauce, avial, payasam and other south Indian things that you can't find many other places. (I'm not a big buffet person but I think it's worth it at Woodlands because of the variety of dishes offered.)
Padron Peppers AKA Pimientos de Padrón
I just had some at Jaleo last week. I couldn't find them on the menu (though maybe I just wasn't looking carefully enough), but I asked the waiter because I know they have them in the summer and they did indeed have some. They're so amazing.
Tips for eating in Bethesda?
Hmph... well, it looks like they'll have a draft special, at least. But the prices for food look pretty high - might's well just go to Mussel Bar next door and get something really unusual to drink if you're going to be spending $15 on a sandwich anyway.
Italian in Bethesda Md - need help
That's sad! I used to like their chicken mole in the 80s, but that was a long time ago.... I haven't been there since about 2000; was just using it as a landmark since I can't remember what else is over there these days.
Italian in Bethesda Md - need help
It's at the far end of Norfolk Ave, like near Tia Queta etc; search tells me it's at 8102 Norfolk Ave.
I never have time to get all the way over there at lunch any more; must do something about that because the sandwiches and cookies are wonderful.
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Tia Queta Restaurant
4839 Del Ray Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
Tips for eating in Bethesda?
I haven't been to American Tap Room but I heard from some coworkers that their beer selection is meh? Which is bizarre from a place called "American Tap Room." Is this true?
Ren's Ramen CLOSING
We had lunch at Ren's today and were assured that they are trying to stay in Bethesda, so keep your fingers crossed! It was really a little too hot out for a giant bowl of soup, but we just had to.
In search of updated College Park dining
Agree as always re Woodlands... oh I love that restaurant. (But I'd call it Langley Park, not Takoma Park.)
Something different (though not a "small gem" by any measure, but why not say it): If you're feeling nostalgic for your hippie roots (if you have them) and you're on campus, go by the Food Co-op in the Stamp Union and get the vegan hot lunch special. It's by no means chowishly gourmet but I'm always intrigued by what they manage to throw together, and for $4 I'd much rather have a big bowl of brown rice and freshly cooked bean and vegetable whatever than the fast food upstairs in the food court.
Tips for eating in Bethesda?
For Indian, a good bet for cheap eats is Shangri-La, which (if you're staying where I think you're staying) is just two doors up from your hotel on Wisconsin Ave. I think it's a notch above the standard north Indian place, and it also has some Nepali dishes. I had an interesting citrusy Nepali take on black-eyed peas there this past Wednesday, in fact.
If you're there during the day and want a cheap lunch, there's a falafel truck outside the Farm Women's Market about two blocks south of there. (The market's open Weds, Fri, and Sat - unfortunately the Turkish stand is gone, or I'd have told you to go there. There is a lovely cheese stand, though.)
Another really cheap lunch is to go down Wisconsin and turn right just before the Exxon across from the garish fur store and get pizza by the slice, an Italian sub, or empanadas at Vace's Deli.
Eastern Shore of Virginia -- Accomac, Onancock, Cape Charles, etc.
I enthusiastically second the recommendation for Sting-Ray's! Who can beat such good food served basically in a gas station?
To answer your second question, I don't think I'd drive all the way to Kiptopeke from Silver Spring just for that, but it's a must-do when I'm anywhere near it.
Vegan--- in Bethesda and Dupont Circle
More in Bethesda:
- Across the street from Sweetgreen is Organic to Go, which also has good vegan salad ingredients (tofu, edamame, chickpeas, etc) (I like it better than Sweetgreen because it's not as complicated & usually not as crowded).
- Ali Baba's Falafel truck, outside of the Farm Women's Market on Wisc. Ave.
- At the various Japanese restaurants you can easily put together a vegan sushi/app. assortment - age dofu, inari, cucumber, pickle, edamame, etc.
mini desserts
There's a new place in Takoma Park that serves tiny cheesecakes -- called Capital City Cheesecake, where Savory used to be on Carroll Avenue. I'm not a big fan of the usual massive wedges of cheesecake that you get in most places, but these are infinitesimal little things, just the size of a medium-sized cookie, maybe, or a small alfajor. I had the Key Lime and it was refreshing and just the right size. I can't vouch for their coffee, though.
Robert Weidmaier's Mussel Bar
Nice review, kallisti!
I had lunch at Mussel Bar yesterday after much anticipation. Being a solo diner, I sat at the bar; the service was wonderful and incredibly fast. I ordered the Classic mussels, which were tasty as described above, served in a cast-iron pan with a whole head of roast garlic and a nice panful of lovely sauce. Contrary to chicken_kabob's experience, I was given three sauces with my frites, though I'll admit that I don't remember what they were since I'm not a big frites fan... I must remember next time to just ask for bread.
Re the beer prices, a colleague who went in last week remarked to me today that she was floored by the high price of a lambic, so your experience with the pricey Chimay Blue sounds consistent with her report. I can't contribute to this at the moment since I had an iced tea (I know, a waste of a Belgian restaurant but I had work to do). They serve the less-sweet flavors of Honest Tea as their iced tea, so although a nice Trippel Karmeliet would have been better, it was a good accompaniment to the mussels.
Bethesda (Stromboli and Moby Dick)
I haven't been to them in a while, but before I decided that eating nothing but cheese for lunch was a bad idea I would always get the calzone at Stromboli that, I think, is called the Stromboli. It was cheese and cheese and spinach and garlic, served with a little pot of marinara sauce on the side. I've had friends who always ordered the Miss Piggy, which I think had sausage.
I've seen other reviews on here of Moby Dick, some good, some bad; you can search them. It isn't the greatest kebab in the world but it's fine, and inexpensive for Bethesda. When I go there I get the chicken kebab and these great big pieces of naan.
The other good thing you're probably driving past is the felafel truck at the Farmers Market, about a block north of that.
Is there a place in Washington DC that serves massive steaks?
Ah, just noticed that you'd decided to go to Ray's, so I've deleted what I was going to say about there being a huge steak at Mortons.
I think Ray's has moved from that address - the search I just did tells me they're at 2300 Wilson Blvd now (but maybe a Virginian will confirm that - I'm walking distance from the one in Silver Spring, so I've never been to the original one in Va.)
Assaggi Mozzarella
Yep, I go there once a month or so I guess.
The things I've liked best there are that mozzarella appetizer plate; whatever is their fish of the day - I had a John Dory there once that was pretty tasty; and the zeppole for dessert. I adore that zeppole - it's a little mound of what amounts to freshly fried mini-churros served with a dish of zabaglione to dip them in. Yes, it's not enough to have donuts, let's put 'em in custard too!
looking for inexpensive, tasty, and eclectic in Baltimore and Bethesda
Doh - "Inexpensive, tasty, and eclectic" doesn't often fit in the same sentence as Bethesda." Ha - took the words right out of my mouth.
To add to other recommendations (Bethesda):
- there's a Turkish food stand at the Wednesday farmer's market that's eclectic and cheap
- Shangri-La has some Nepali dishes and is good; not my favorite Indian in town, but workable
- Tako Grill has good nabeyaki udon
And wow, I had no idea Chela's was still there; I never get that far up Wisconsin Ave. I remember going there once back in the early 80s but being disappointed because they used American cheese so I've never been back.
Black Pudding in Washington DC?
It's also a component of the "Irish breakfast" at Ri-Ra, the fake Irish pub on Elm St in Bethesda. (I'm just making fun of the place - actually I think that fry-up is pretty good.)
Have you tried the butcher at Eastern Market? I haven't tried to buy it there since I like it in very small doses only so I don't know for sure that they'd have it, but they do have a wide variety of sausages.
Cherry Pie
It's not particularly near the White House, but I had a gorgeous piece of cherry pie for breakfast yesterday at the cafe at Politics and Prose... don't know where they get their pies from, though. Maybe they'd sell you a whole one or let you in on where they get them?
Great place to get dessert
I had a wonderful strawberry rhubarb shortcake the last time I was at Proof.
Best Jose Andres restaurant in DC
I still like Jaleo too; especially right now when the pimientos de Padrón are in. And I love their summer drinks, the Sol de Limón and the lemony gin drink. It's true that you never have to worry about getting a table anymore, though.
Anyway since I still haven't been to Minibar, I can't really answer the question.
Hot Tip: Udupi is giving out Coupons - Takoma Park, Maryland
Well, I still like Woodlands across the street better - but with a coupon I might be convinced go back to Udupi! Thanks.
Best Artisan Producers Western Mass
Just need to thank you for posting that - yesterday as I was driving back here to DC from Northampton I remembered seeing this post, so I decided to take a detour and find the Berkshire Mountain Bakery. Wow. I got a loaf of still-warm potato onion bread that had the texture of a brioche, a loaf of chocolate bread that was about 2/3 gorgeous chocolate, and an herb-cheese mini-ciabatta that I ate greedily in the parking lot... absolutely spectacular. The only catch is that now I'm always going to have to take a side trip through the Berkshires when I'm driving to New England!
Your 10 favorite DC Metro restaurants
Oops, missed this thread earlier... well, anyway. In no particular order -
Woodlands (THIS is the best Indian - Langley Park)
El Tapatio (Bladensburg)
Mandalay
Proof
Granville Moore (only been there once so far but I adored it)
Poste
Etete
Sonoma Wine Bar
Dolcezza (finally, good coffee in Bethesda)
And lastly, I'm going to vote for the Sunday special dinner at the General Store in Silver Spring because everyone else is always hating on it.
Fried dough, Connecticut style...
Oh, oh, oh... I've been craving "pizza frite" (as my grandmother called it) for ages - ! It's been years. Decades.
Too Much Food
Yep, this is one big reason why I now go to Dolcezza instead of Gifford's - they have a tiny kiddie size portion.
I should think you could use the leftover fries in something along the lines of lomo saltado?
