LemonLauren's Profile
The Works - coming to The Danforth
it's all relative. I'd go back to try other options, because it's SO close, and because my partner liked it.
TO to DC - new/best for foode tourist? 3 days in summer
NPR-y is to DC as hipter-y is to everywhere else. love it.
Your Top 10-12 favorite DC Metro restaurants?
right.... hence my other post. I'll keep my questions there :)
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/850556
TO to DC - new/best for foode tourist? 3 days in summer
Thanks! I figure, the more specific my requests, the more on-point the responses will be. Thanks for these recommendations!
TO to DC - new/best for foode tourist? 3 days in summer
research is key. with only four days (and as I'm not a huge fan of museums, unlike my partner) i want to maximize the awesome.
thanks!
Your Top 10-12 favorite DC Metro restaurants?
since i'm planning my first visit to DC this is a great post. which are the can't-miss spots for visitors?
TO to DC - new/best for foode tourist? 3 days in summer
Birch and Barley Googled and it looks perfect! I am a runner, there's always room for dessert and few more k's the next morning :)
Love the idea of Ethiopian and then various bars. How pricey is Etete?
Thanks for the tips, I'll definitely add them to my list.
TO to DC - new/best for foode tourist? 3 days in summer
We are visiting a Thursday-Saturday, so Eastern Market sounds great. What kind of food/which vendors are best there? (or, feel free to link to another thread)
The Works - coming to The Danforth
My recent experience...
We went on Sunday night of the long weekend, and were seated right away. It's bigger than I thought it was with the front room (visible from street) an elevated area toward to the back. We were seated in the galley by the bussing station so it wasn't great.
They were busy and our server did her best. We started just with pop to drink, which comes in measuring cups. Not sure what that's all about.
We were interested in the starters but weren't hungry enough for them. I ordered the "After Works" (garlic, tomato, feta, olives, wilted spinach) on the turkey patty with no bun, and the side salad. Partner ordered the "Three Ring Binder" which includes 3 onion rings and various cheeses and sauces on a standard beef patty. I have to admit the variety of toppings and the choice of patties is overwhelming but welcome.
It takes 20 minutes for the burgers to arrive, but they warn you. I've ordered no bun at Shake Shack and Burger's Priest, where they wrap your whole patty in a lettuce wrap instead, but here it was just served on one wilted piece of Boston. The topping was yummy but it was luke warm and the patty was dry and uninteresting (I chose turkey over chicken breast because thought it would be more seasoned...nope). The side salad was a mixed green with two cherry tomatoes, two slices of cuke, and shredded carrots and raw red onion. McDonalds makes better. Partner liked his burger well enough, and the fries (thicker, skin-on cut) were yummy.
I finished with a shake (when in Rome) - they do vanilla ice cream and you can choose your mix-ins, so I did oreo and butterscotch. Holy yummy, but 16oz (the standard size) was too much for me. Next time, kids size.
Overall it was a decent experience. I'd go back because I want to try more and I live walking distance and there's not much decent sit-down non-Greek food nearby.
Brewpubs
While Steam Whistle, 3 Brewers and Mill Street are more centrally located and will appeal to first-time beer tourists in Toronto, I'd say a much better, new, unique and exciting experience can be had Bellwoods Brewery. A little heavy on the hipster factor, but great brews and if you sit at the bar great service, and tasty unique snacks.
TO to DC - new/best for foode tourist? 3 days in summer
Hi DC Hounds,
I've spent a few days reading the content of the boards here and am not exactly finding what I'm looking for so thought I'd start a new thread to get the best answers.
I am visiting in August (admittedly down the road a bit) and am looking for a few tips.
WHERE: We are staying at the Donovan Hotel which I gather is "downtown", not far from "the Mall" (please tell me if there's a better way to characterize this neighbourhood). We are willing to take public transit far and wide for the best food, especially if there's other things to do (places to drink before/after meals) in the areas we might be travelling to.
WHAT: We have no dietary restrictions but I prefer veggies and seafood and my husband prefers pork or beef. Not too crazy for all-out-offal but we have dined at Incanto in San Francisco and Publican in Chicago and enjoyed them both. We love all varieties of ethnic cuisine but coming from Toronto have had our fill of good pan-Asian. Love traditional Italian but it has to have some non-pasta options. My favourite meals recently have been at ABC Kitchen in NYC, for reference. Husband loves microbrew/craft beers and I love good wine and wines-by-the-glass selections.
WHO: We are in our late 20s/early 30s, and like to dine and hang out all kinds of people. Don't mind trendy spots, love being somewhere that feels busy and buzzing, but don't like to dine among DBsm, of course. Good service is tantamount.
HOW MUCH: In terms of budget, we can do one or two dinners up around $100/pp with tax/tip/1 or 2 drinks, and are also looking for maybe one or two more affordable choices up to $50/pp. Also lunches in that range.
Wanting your tips for:
1. Food Explorations - i am a huge food-explorer-traveller, and love neighbourhoods where I can stroll and explore food shops, small tastes, coffee shops, bars, etc (in the last year, these have included Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Wicker Park in Chicago). Hipster neighbourhoods are okay, clearly, but I'm looking for interesting wandering neighbourhoods, happy to travel off the beaten path.
2. Dinner - as per above, looking for the newest, best food in the area, as well as old standards that are can't-miss.
3. Drinks - places near our hotel or near landmarks or near dinner destinations, where we can have afternoon-happy hour-post-dinner drinks, again the emphasis on local/craft beer and/or great wines-by-the-glass. Snacks optional but welcome as well.
Anything else you'd want us to know, about food culture in DC in general, please let me know.
Thanks in advance, so much!
ABC kitchen without a reservation?
Thanks! was there at 5:25 and was first in for the line for the high-tops!
ABC kitchen without a reservation?
How should one get a table for two at ABC Kitchen on a Saturday night without a reservation? Early, late, leave name, go for drinks, eat at bar, etc... Thanks!
-----
ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003
Walking/Eating Williamsburg - Saturday in Feb - need ideas!
Hi there,
I'm visiting from Toronto next weekend and having visited NYC many times I'm hoping to get some quality time in Brooklyn this visit as I understand it's where good food happens.
I'm looking for lunch/small plate/coffee/bakery/bar type places that are within walking distances from themselves, in whatever is the neatest part of Brooklyn to explore on a Saturday. (Williamsburg?) Last winter I spent 5 hours walking and eating and exploring and drinking coffee in Chicago's Wicker Park area - so, something like that.
Throw your ideas my way! I'm open to all kinds of food but partial to veggies and fish.
Thanks!
TO to NYC/BK in Feb - itinerary
Hi NYC CHers,
Visiting next weekend with two girlfriends for a weekend of NYC/Brooklyn food and theatre. I've visited a half-dozen times before so don't need to do any of the mainstream tourist stuff, other than a walk through/around the Park and up/down 5th which I sort of need to do everytime, of course...
My general food preferences tend towards seafood and veggies. I don't love shellfish, and don't mind charcut/pork/meat dishes, but I avoid carb-heavy stuff like pasta, noodles and pizza. I love restaurants that use local/sustainable fare, in interesting or creative ways. My Toronto faves are places like Enoteca Sociale and Marben where for around $20/main you can get a great meal in a cool place with a happening vibe, but not somewhere "sceney".
At some point in my weekend I want to do a chunk of time in Brooklyn (I know, that's another board).
Here is what I am looking at - please fill in the gaps.
Friday Feb 17
Arrive approx 6:15PM. Cab from JFK to UES. Retrieve keys for apt, get settled. Staying near 80th & 1st.
** will need somewhere for dinner after arriving, pref UES that will have room for 3 on a Friday after 7pm. affordable-ish, yummy, pretty casual with choices that fit criteria above.
** also perhaps somewhere for drinks after.
Saturday Feb 18
No concrete plans - want to visit Chelsea Market, Union Square market, but also Brooklyn
- what is the best time/day to visit the markets? Are there other markets I should visit that I'm missing?
(will ask on other board about Brooklyn)
** will need a place for dinner for two girls. I'll be coming from Brooklyn and she from theatre district, so am thinking Village, Chelsea, etc. Eventually we'll want to make our way home to UES by transit.
** looking for somewhere (Italian/bistro/Spanish/continental/modern/local) with good veggie & fish options, cool vibe but not sceney, mains no more than $30. --> would Eataly fit the bill?
Sunday Feb 19
Morning likely around Park, then maybe down to Soho
** lunch Momofuku Noodle Bar
- 3pm tickets for Seminar (Alan Rickman!)
** will need somewhere to dine solo on the Sunday night
Monday Feb 20
MOMA, 5th and the Park. If weather's nice, a lot of walking, before departing approx 2pm for JFK.
** lunch at the Modern Bar in MOMA?
** or other recommendations for a last lunch based on my tastes above?
Thanks in advance!
PS Thanks for your help on my UES thread. Since we're just staying in the UES but don't have many concrete plans in that neighbourhood, I'll likely be looking for dining options elsewhere.
Best Momofuko experience
Thanks Kathryn! You're a star. Given budget, am thinking Ssam or Noodle Bar. Thanks!
Best Momofuko experience
Going to piggyback on this post! Coming from Toronto wondering which Momofuku would best best for solo dining - lunch or dinner? Which restaurant? ALSO, I don't love carbs (noddles) but I do love fish, meat, and veggies...
Toronto to UWS - best, hippest, most reasonably priced food?
Yes, Momofuku is definitely on my radar. Why Ssam over the other outlets?
Toronto to UWS - best, hippest, most reasonably priced food?
Thanks everyone and sorry for confusion! I guess I'll narrow it down a bit for you...
We will be staying at 80th/1st, so Upper East Side. We don't need to eat nearby but will want to take transit instead of cabs. We'll be 2 or 3 ladies, late twenties, city-savvy, so as long as we're safe in the areas suggested we're willing to make an evening of exploring.
I like the idea of bar hopping. Are any of the places mentioned places, nearby to each other, where we can sharing plates with drinks, then on to another one? Eataly was been recommended by some chef friends up here.
I also think we can budget for one splurge dinner, up to $70/person, but we are looking at doing a day in Williamsburg/Brooklyn so might do that there.
We are not looking for stylish, but rather, hip in the sense of somewhere unique, different, fun, original. Like the Black Hoof or Enoteca Sociale or Drake in Toronto...
And because I'm a legit foodie (more than my companions), I might do something crazy like the lunch prix fixe at Eleven Madison Park, unless you recommend something else for an all-out food experience.
Thanks!
Toronto to UWS - best, hippest, most reasonably priced food?
Thanks! I'm a walker, so, weather permitting will be on foot/transit over cabs.
Toronto to UWS - best, hippest, most reasonably priced food?
Thanks for the recs! Seeing as I am actually UES, I'll see if any fit in our plans.
Toronto to UWS - best, hippest, most reasonably priced food?
RIght, I did mean UES. Should have looked at a map.
I can do at least one meal around $40/person before tax/tip/drinks, but prefer most around $20.
Thanks :)
Toronto to UWS - best, hippest, most reasonably priced food?
Visiting from Toronto in February with two other ladies, late-20's, early-30's. Looking for places that new, fun, and serve amazing food for reasonable prices (yes I realize, most are in Williamsburg or Greenwich Village). We're staying in the Upper West Side (80th/1st) but are more than willing to travel particularly if the good spots are near shopping/museums where we may also spend time.
Personally, I love small plate, grazing-type places with focus on local ingredients and great treatments of veg and seafood, though I don't shy away from pork, red meat, offal, etc, I prefer to make veggies/seafood my focus. (For reference some of my favourite recent meals have been at Enoteca Sociale in Toronto, Publican in Chicago and Incanto in San Francisco). I'd be willing to do one meal in the $20-30/main dish range, but prefer cheaper if it's doable. Affordable wines by the glass also an asset.
Last time in NYC CH'ers sent my husband and I to Inoteca and we LOVED it. So I'm looking for whatever is great, new or old, given what I've detailed above. Thanks so much!
SF Food Trucks 101?
Hi friends,
I've done some trolling and research and I just wanted the 'Hounds primer on the SF Food Truck scene. I'll be in town Thurs Aug 4- Fri Aug 5 and then around the rest of the state, then back in SF Fri Aug 12 - Mon Aug 15. I have dinner reservations for most nights but wanted to try at hit trucks for lunches/snacks. So I'm wondering are the Off the Gride events worthwhile? Should I hunt down trucks independently? Which are the best? I'm into healthy-ish food using local produce and/or seafood based dishes of any ethnicity, but not looking for burgers/fries.
Any advice you could give would be welcome! Thanks!
Toronto to SF (yes, I've done my research)
amazing, love the fish taco idea, thanks!
Toronto to SF (yes, I've done my research)
Anyone got any feedback on Tonga Room and Bourbon and Branch?
-----
Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108
