estragon's Profile
One dinner in DC
So, I went to Estadio, and it was... just OK. I've had better tapas -- most recently at Pintxo in Montreal (www.pintxo.ca). And though the kitchen bar is very well set up for solo dining, I think the place is better for larger groups, sharing plates, and drinking (the beer list is outstanding -- wish I could have sampled a few of those!).
Things started off very well, with a great cocktail - the Spanish Variation (brandy & cava, bitters, sugar), a couple of pintxos (bite-size dishes), and the Andalusian gazpacho, all of which I loved. The open-faced sandwich with foie gras mousse, smoked duck breast and caramelized onions was also excellent -- just the right balance of the unctuousness of foie gras and the smokiness of the duck. But the rest of the dishes were middling. The sautéed morcilla (blood sausage) sandwich was far too chewy for my liking (liked the sausage, hated the bread), and the grilled octopus was tougher than I expected. But the worst was the soft-shell crab, recommended by the somewhat charmless server. It was over-battered and overdone -- more tough than crunchy, and tasted over-fried. The sautéed red kale was nice, but it would have been better as a side dish to share, rather than a stand-alone tapa.
I'd forgotten about the chocolate-dessert recommendation here, and the charmless server didn't go out of his way to recommend a dessert, so I got out of there and went (back) to Pitango Gelato. I'd come across it before dinner, and couldn't resist a local-strawberry sorbet as an "aperitif." For dessert, I had their excellent pistachio and spicy chocolate, and was much happier. Wish I could take some home!
I'm not giving up! I still want to go to Watershed, and Rasika, and perhaps Jaleo on my next visit... or maybe just wander around Dupont Circle and pick a patio...
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Pitango Gelato
802 S Broadway, Baltimore, MD
One dinner in DC
Well, it turns out that Estadio is five blocks from my hotel. So that makes it an easy decision. ¡Olé!
One dinner in DC
Wow! The chef's table Estadio and the local menu at Watershed are the two sides of my solo-dining holy grail -- a chance to watch, interact and learn... and a menu that I wouldn't find anywhere else. If only I had two nights!
OK, one more question. Any chance that we could bring a nine-month-old baby to either of these? I see that Watershed is housed at hotel. That suggests a more informal kind of place, no?
One dinner in DC
OK, I researched some previous threads on this topic, and almost settled on PS 7's... and then I saw these replies. The lounge at Citronelle sounds great. Estadio and Jaleo, too. So, between these four... which is likely to offer the best solo dining experience -- great service, sights and sounds as well as taste?
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Citronelle
3000 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
One dinner in DC
Jaleo sounds amazing. Thing is, I'm going to be in DC with my family for a few days later in the month, and I think I might have to go there with my wife. Same goes for Rasika.
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Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
One dinner in DC
Coming to Washington this Wednesday for a quick overnight business trip. Looking for a great solo dining experience. Budget:
Thoughts, anyone?
Good eats in Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia
Thanks. I think we'll stick with the River Inn. Hope there's a proper blue crab experience somewhere in our future.
But come to think of it, we'll be in DC for a few days too. Any recommendations there? Keep in mind, we're travelling with an infant, and long, leisurely fine-dining experiences are not in the cards. Preferences: original and local, seafood, BBQ. But we'll settle for anything delicious, not super-formal and close to a metro stop.
Good eats in Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia
I'd drive as far as Williamsburg for a great meal, but probably not for one that's just OK. Is there anything there that takes local seafood seriously?
Good eats in Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia
We'll be staying in Seaford, not far from Yorktown. Rivers Inn in Gloucester has been recommended. Also Harpoon Larry's in Hampton, and Crab Shack on the James, which I'm told is a franchise. None of these sound ideal.
Any other ideas?
Good eats in Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia
Spending a couple of days in early August somewhere along the Virginia coast, probably not too far from Richmond, though possibly as far south as Virginia Beach. Looking for the best dining experience we can find, preferably seafood-focused.
Recommendations, anyone?
authentic korean bbq in scarborough / markham
Went to Seoul Garden and it was fine, but it's no longer charcoal. Bulgogi and pork were nicely seasoned, and the sides were great. But I've had better short ribs and the chicken was... well, chicken. Service was friendly (still Korean), and it's a nice room. But next time I'll head to Yonge St.
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Seoul Garden
4350 Steeles Ave E, Markham, ON L3R9V4, CA
authentic korean bbq in scarborough / markham
We may be. What's the best place at Yonge & Steeles?
Nice Restaurant
What does your mom like to eat? Where does she live? Paris? London? Sudbury? Saskatoon?
And how old is she? 50s? 60s? 70s? 80s?
I second Globe and Globe Earth - very Mom-friendly.
authentic korean bbq in scarborough / markham
Need a place to go tonight. Charcoal grills, lots of meat options a must. Price not so important. Recommendations, please!
Thanks!
any bakeries open on christmas day?
Where in downtown Toronto do you get fresh bread on Christmas Day? Any bakeries open? Supermarkets that carry Ace Baguettes?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Australian in Miami looking for sushi and stone crab
Thanks, Southoccean. Any other recos around here? I hear the Cuban place in Hallandale Beach is good. What else?
Australian in Miami looking for sushi and stone crab
OK, 'Hounds, is this reply for real, or does it smell of self-promotion? I am staying in Hollywood, and have the same question: where, anywhere between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, to go for stone crabs. Food in Hollywood is mostly horrible to mediocre, looking for help....
Union vs Bohmer
Funny, I just got a very apologetic phone call from Christopher as well, who said they'd misplaced my message and offered the table I had requested. I accept the explanation that a message got lost, but I still don't appreciate having to wait for a call back from the manager when I've called for a reservation and reached a live person. I think all restaurants that require a reservation should be on Open Table. That makes things easy and transparent.
Union vs Bohmer
I called last week to book a week in advance and was told the manager would call me back. Called the next day to inquire, and was told the same thing. I still haven't heard back. I've moved on -- am taking my business elsewhere.
Union vs Bohmer
I'd be inerested in hearing about Paramour in this comparison as well. Having been unable to secure a reservation to Union on the appropriate night, I have to decide between the other two.
Brunch in S. Etobicoke, Port Credit or points west?
Heading in the direction of Niagara on Saturday morning, would like to have brunch outside our normal grazing grounds. Doesn't have to be fancy, but prefer to avoid greasy-spoon breakfast joints. Somewhere around Port Credit would be perfect distance, but we can probably hold out as far as Oakville, and are open to stopping in south Etobicoke too.
Recommendations, anyone?
pre-theatre near distillery district
Weezie's it is. Thanks! (Mengrai Thai next time.)
pre-theatre near distillery district
Now that Perigee is gone... looking for the best combination of excellence and proximity for dinner before seeing a play in the Distillery District. Anything great in Corktown? A little farther afield?
Brunch/Lunch near Four Season's Centre
Conviction, formerly Bite Me, formerly Thuet, has a great brunch but iffy service. Worth it if you have time, which, with a 2 p.m. start, you do. Get ready for botched orders, lukewarm lattes, etc. But when they get it right, it rocks.
Closer to the Four Seasons Centre is the Queen Mother. Here's their brunch menu: http://www.queenmothercafe.ca/brunch.htm
Chow-worthy in Amiens / Arras
I am looking for some recommendations of decent restaurants in the Amiens / Arras (WWI battlefields) area. Will be there for two days in late March, hoping to have one great meal.
Thanks!
Amaya Winterlicious
Oops. I think I need to clarify. We were overcharged $5 on the total bill, not on one Visa vs. the other. I'm not cheap -- had this been handled with grace (and had we not felt rushed from the moment we put down our forks), that $5 would have ended up in the tip. But given the attitude, not a chance.
Amaya Winterlicious
I can't say I wasn't warned. A Chowhound regular had told me that Amaya isn't what it was when it opened, and that the service was generally atrocious.
But, undaunted, we headed up there for a Winterlicious meal. The food... OK, but nothing spectacular. Apps: nice chunks of moist tandoori chicken and lamb, ungreasy pakoras, and a disappointingly bland chat salad. Mains: vegetarian trio was good; seafood xacutti... slightly mushy scallops, but nice shrimps and fairly flavourful. Butter chicken... um, butter chicken? I thought this was a "progressive" Indian place that didn't serve the usual cliches. Well, anyway. Our friend enjoyed it - that's all that matters. And the mango lassis were excellent.
Dessert? Spiced chocolate brownie had the consistency of a tootsie roll. Rice pudding? OK, but I've had better at lunch buffets downtown (e.g. Little India).
And that's where things went off the rails. The food had come flying out as if they'd had it waiting for us under the warmer. (OK, I understand, limited menu, everyone is having the same thing, and the kitchen works quickly. But really, guys, this isn't lunch service -- we're not in a rush.) The check was on the table exactly an hour after we sat down. We discovered that our rather average masala chai was $4 for a tiny cup; no refills offered. The waitress came by twice in about 10 minutes to check on our bill. Finally, we took the hint and paid -- split 2/3-1/3 between two credit cards. When we got the Visa chits, something didn't look right to me. Turned out they'd overcharged us $5 on one of the cards. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she took everything away, voided both transactions, and returned with new chits. Fine. But no apology, not even a smile. Meanwhile, the original itemized bill had gone missing, and when I asked for it back, she practically rolled her eyes and turned on her heel. Nice.
Don't think we'll be going back anytime soon.
Summerlicious Help Please!
Funny, I've been to Globe at least half a dozen times and I've never had a bad meal.
Summerlicious at the Corner House is pretty good. Lots of menu choices (unlike many places), a lovely setting -- try to get a table on the patio -- and they don't scrimp on the portions (I've left many a 'licious meal still hungry). The food: enjoyed apps - gazpacho, mushroom tart) more than the mains. Striploin was a bit overdone for medium rare, and covered in too much "jus" (um... gravy?). Others liked their veggie dish and fish. Dessert - strawberry-rhubarb crumble - was excellent.
Indian food in Toronto
The last time I was at BBQ Hut, 3-4 years ago, that was indeed the case. The food was barely edible, and the place looked like it needed a good steamcleaning.
