Tujague's Profile
One dinner in DC - Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Adams Morgan areas
Go to New Heights, just west of the corner of Calvert and Connecticut, south of your hotel. A lovely, quiet atmosphere, fine, creative cooking, outstanding bar, and probably an easier table to get than any of the other places you suggest. The current chef (who cooked under Frank Ruta at Palena) there is doing the finest work ever in the long history of this place that has nurtured some of the best talent in DC. It's the best restaurant in Woodley Park, and easily deserves equal consideration with these other suggestions.
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Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
New Heights Restaurant
2317 Calvert St. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Italian meats in DC
I think you can feel confident getting your meats at Eastern Market. Seventh Hill Pizza gets the meats for their pizzas and sandwiches there, and they're fantastic. Try the Italian sandwich at Seventh Hill, and let that be your guide. That's not to say they're better or worse than anyplace else, but they should be reliable.
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Seventh Hill Pizza
327 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Ezme vs. Agora
I've been to both, and I guess I'd say it's a toss-up. I had dishes at both places I liked, and some dishes I was less wild about. Ezme had a salmon kebab that was luscious--cooked to perfection, and a fine Adana Kebab. They do very creative wine flights as well. But the zucchini pancakes were a bit mushy, and a homemade bread a bit dense for my taste. Agora has a pillowy pita bread, a large, Piyaz salad (with perhaps a tad too much red pepper), and a nice cherry-sauced kofte. But the pide was small and blah, and the cigar borek like a Turkish manicotti--too much cheese, not enough phyllo. The wine glasses are cool, and the wine list is impressive. In the end, I think I'd make my choice on the kind of scene I'm looking for--Agora seems to attract a younger, hipper crowd, in keeping with 17th St. (and the interior acoustics are LOUD). Ezme has a slightly older, quieter vibe to it. Both are worthy checking out.
Best Peanut Butter/Chocolate Dessert in the VA/DC Area
The chocolate and peanut butter tart at Birch & Barley. Awesome.
Where to buy canned pumpkin?
I got a couple of cans at Yes! Market on Capitol Hill a few days ago--organic, and on special at $2.19 per can.
Italian Restaurant Near the Capitol
Actually, Barolo hasn't been open in years; that's where Sonoma is now.
You also might check out the new Bibiana Osteria, at 1100 New York Ave NW (12th and H) in downtown. Too new for reviews, but I've heard positive reports. Also check out Siroc on McPherson Square, just a bit north of the White House--I went there for Restaurant Week, and it was quite good, and reasonably priced.
Capitol Hill--Greasy Spoon Breakfast Spots?
The Tune Inn, at 4th and Pennsylvania, definitely has the greasy spoon, almost creepy, vibe (you may feel watched over, but not because you're lingering), but they make a really good corned beef hash, and do the el cheapo eggs and bacon thing also.
Capitol Hill Lunch? Grocery Markets?
It will be Cava, a second location of the Rockville Greek mezze restaurant, on Tom Sietsema's top restaurants list for 2008. Should be a good addition--nearly anything would be better than Marty's--and certainly better than Taverna over on Pennsylvania Ave.
Yes, Le Pain Quotidien is going into the B&C space. Also, Ben and Jerry's next to Montmartre is closing, and Montmartre will expand into the space. And an Italian restaurant is opening in the sports store space across from Eastern Market, near Tortilla Cafe and Tunnicliff's. Lots of things happening on the Hill!
Hankering for . . . Hash
The Tune Inn on Capitol Hill makes a surprisingly good corned beef hash, and I think they serve it all day. Its quality belies the divey surroundings.
Half Smokes and meat retail
There are two Canales at Eastern Market (they're brothers). Canales Meat Market (closer to the center of the Market) has Manger half-smokes (mild or hot), which I believe are the same that they serve at Ben's; at any rate, they were rated the best in the area by City Paper last year. I had them over the weekend, and they were good. I haven't tried their other sausages.
For other kinds of sausage, I go to Canales Deli (next to Paik Produce); I think the prices are a little better and they have an interesting selection, including an excellent Boudin Blanc and a spicy andouille.
Dinner for 12 Near DuPont/AM
Try Straits of Malaya--they have large portions that are easy to share, and they're usually not so busy that you won't be able to get a table set up for your group with advance notice--maybe even on the roof. Service can be erratic, but food is usually very good.
Weekday Breakfast?
Johnny's Half-Shell at 400 N. Capitol does breakfast, has a few southern and seafood items amidst the more traditional fare, and it's walkable from the Newseum. Or, if it's a nice day, get some of the breakfast burritos from Tacqueria Nationale next to Johnny's and have an al fresco breakfast in one of the parks across the way.
Recs for four gents near Union Station
If you're open to seafood and it's not Sunday night, check out Johnny's Half-Shell, more or less in between Charlie Palmer's and Bistro Bis, same price range.
D.C. Italian
Tosca in downtown DC (1112 F St. NW), just a block or so from the Metro Center Metro station may be the best authentic, upscale Italian in DC. Spezie, at 1736 L Street NW, just a few blocks from the Dupont Circle area, has a somewhat similar menu, but slightly cheaper (the same person designed their menus) and less elegant.
Filippino food near Chinatown?
TenPenh (at 10th & Pennsylvania, duh) has lumpia-style spring rolls on their appetizer menu for lunch, dinner, and at the bar. The chef there is Filipino, and on Wednesdays they offer a $21 Filipino "Bento Box." Other than that, the only other place I know nearby is East Street Cafe, upstairs in Union Station, which has a number of Filipino dishes on their pan-Asian menu. Food is just okay, but otherwise, the only Filipino places are in the Virginia and Maryland burbs.
Favorite NEW restaurants of 2007
Another vote here for Central. Two visits there have been fantastic: the appetizer tarts (especially the ham and onion) are wonderful, and I loved my beef cheeks and short ribs entrees--and I actually think it's a good value, given the quantity and quality of the food.
A distant second would be Locanda on Capitol Hill. I have mixed feelings about the price points--some dishes are a better value than others, but most of the food, particularly the pastas, is very well done. It definitely is in the Hill's top tier.
A RW visit to Cafe du Parc showed good promise, though the atmosphere didn't wow me--it's hard to rate it on the basis of a promotional special. And, on the other end of the cost spectrum, the fish tacos and agua fresca at Tacqueria Nacionale are wonderful.
At the bottom for me would be Station 9 and Inti. Neither was terrible (well, the seafood stirfry at Inti was close), but neither did they prompt a desire for making a return visit soon.
Orange bitters - local source needed - DC/NoVA/MD
I got them at Schneider's on Capitol Hill; I seem to recall they had a couple of brands on hand there.
Need your help
I don't know when your b-day is exactly, but keep in mind that some restaurants close for the last few weeks of August so owners and staff can get some r 'n' r. That said, don't forget Vidalia, with its James Beard-award-winning chef, or the new Proof, especially if your folks like wine (and I'm hearing good things about the food as well). I think Cafe Atlantico's brunch would be a great group event.
Am looking for dinner suggestions for Capitol Hill area, moderately priced.
Johnny's Half-Shell near Union Station might meet your needs; it's more or less in that price range, maybe just slightly higher.
Eastern Market, what is it and where is it?
Yes, it does. I was just there a few weeks ago. They announced a year or so ago that they were ending it, then changed their mind.
But, Rick, keep in mind that the lines for breakfast are HUGE, the accomodations spartan, and lingering is not permitted--so budget your time accordingly and keep your expectations low vis-a-vis comfort.
Any responses to Sietsma's Dining Guide?
Um, look again, Mnadel--Kinkead's is indeed in the Guide, with 2.5 stars, under "Old Reliables." That said, I was surprised it was included rather than Colvin Run Tavern. As far as 2941 goes, in both of last week's chats, Tom explained its exclusion--what he considers less than stellar cooking for the prices charged.
Restaurant in downtown DC
Oval Room, just off of Lafayette Park, is getting good reviews these days. Bombay Palace is across the street if Indian suits you--an elegant and spacious place.
Staying at Hotel Monaco for wedding - any nearby recs for LA hound?
The Hotel Monaco's restaurant, Poste, can be very good, and has a great bar. I hear good things about its brunch also. Zaytinya is good, as is Jaleo (tapas), one block away, and Cafe Atlantico (Caribbean)--all Jose Andres's restaurants. Atlantico has great mojitos and a reasonable pre-theater menu. For Indian, check out Rasika near 7th and D. The Monaco is close to DC's Chinatown, but its not the best Chinese food to be found (need to go to the burbs for that). Most prefer either Full Kee or Eat First, and the Chinatown Express (?) on 8th St. has pretty good dumplings. I like Burma, just a few doors down from there, for a different Asian experience.
Is Johnny's Half Shell still good?
Actually, Rosco1, Martha posted back in 2001, when Johnny's was still in Dupont! Don just added his post to this old topic rather than starting a new topic chain. That said, just from peeking in the windows of the new Johnny's, it is significantly larger than the old location and looks to have a fabulous patio...
Anyone know where to buy tasso?
I buy it at Canales Delicatessen at Eastern Market. (202) 547-4471.
DC Cocktails
Here's Agraria's classics menu. $12 each.
Tart, bitter, strong and flavorful is how we like our classics. If you’re looking for sweet and easy, ask your bartender for a non-traditional version.
The Manhattan
Wild Turkey rye, Carpano Antica Formula vermouth, Angostura bitters,
garnished with a Kirsch-soaked cherry
The Martini ($2 supplemental)
Millers Westbourne Strength Gin, Vya dry vermouth, Fee Brothers orange bitters,
served with a pickle tray
The Sidecar
Hennessey VS, Cointreau, lemon juice, simple syrup with a raw sugared rim
The Jack Rose
Laird’s apple jack, lemon juice, "American Beauty" grenadine
The Margarita
Patron Silver, Cointreau, fresh squeezed lime juice, with a salted rim
The Bronx
Millers Gin, Vya dry vermouth and Punt e Mes vermouth, fresh squeezed orange juice,
Regans orange bitters
The Americano
Campari, Punt e Mes vermouth, soda water
DC Cocktails
Acadiana, near the convention center, does a great Sazerac. I've been hearing very good things about the bar at Agraria (in Georgetown) doing classic cocktails as well. (The restaurant itself is getting mixed reviews so far, but everyone seems to love the bar.)
Rave reviews, but I don't get it
This may sound like sacrilege to Jose Andres fans, but for me, it would have to be Oyamel and Zaytinya. That is not to say that I think either one is bad, but neither one is as good as Jaleo or Cafe Atlantico/Minibar at their best, which I love. I've only really liked about half of the things I had at Zaytinya, and I find the service often to be subpar and confused (love the pita bread and the carrot fritters though!). And at Oyamel, I found the food underflavored and portions small. In both places, the atmosphere trumps the food and service, in my opinion.
Cheap(ish) Date on Capitol Hill
White Tiger is probably your best bet on that side of the Hill, but Taverna is one of the worst places on the other side. Since the best place at that end of the Hill, Sonoma, is probably outside your price range, you're pretty much relegated to so-so Chinese, Tex-Mex, or pub food over there (also avoid Thai Roma). A much better bet is to go farther down Pennsylvania Ave. SE to Meyhane (between 6th and 7th)--they have $4.00 martinis and half-price beer and wine (including bottles) until 7 PM, and a decent selection of meze (better than the entrees). While the service can be erratic, it fits the cute and reasonably priced criteria very well.
