Winter Restaurant Week [RW] is back in DC!:
Learn more about DC's Restaurant Week
* Officially runs Jan 9 - 15 [some places will extend the deal beyond these dates]
* 3-course fixed-price dinner special for $35.12 [not including drinks, and our required 30% tax / tip]
Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Saturday Brunching at Tabard Inn
On a whim I joined some friends for brunch that were back in town for the weekend. They chose the old stand-by The Tabard Inn.
Wasn't in foodporn mode that much this day, but did take a shot of my entree. An excellent version of Jumbo Crab Cake w/ with haricot verts, sweet potatoes, champagne sauce. Very nice job & extremely tasty!
Wasn't in foodporn mode that much this day, but did take a shot of my entree. An excellent version of Jumbo Crab Cake w/ with haricot verts, sweet potatoes, champagne sauce. Very nice job & extremely tasty!
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| Jumbo Crab Cake w/ with haricot verts, sweet potatoes, champagne sauce |
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Dining at Siroc: DC Restaurant Week Summer 2011
Last official day of the Summer 2011 edition of DC Restaurant Week (RW), & felt compelled to take my dining group to another favorite of mine that I feel also does RW justice: Siroc.
One of my favorite places for Italian/Mediterranean cuisine in the area, very fresh pastas made in-house, good-portioned appetizers/entrees, and more-importantly nice service.
Some of the dishes I tried tonight:
Course #4 (Desserts): Warm Almond Cake with Blueberry Topping and a Cinnamon Zabaglione. Always a winner (a version of this is always on their RW menus; staple of the normal dessert menu).
Overall Opinion? Add to your rotation when in the mood for modern Italian fare and nice service, whether it's DC Restaurant Week or the rest of the year.
One of my favorite places for Italian/Mediterranean cuisine in the area, very fresh pastas made in-house, good-portioned appetizers/entrees, and more-importantly nice service.
- Ranked #43 : 2010's Washingtonian Magazine's 100 Best Restaurants
FOOD: Chef Martin Lackovic [formerly of Galileo, I Matti and The Caucus Room ... nice pedigree!] serves-up North Italian / Mediterranean cuisine using seasonal ingredients.
Siroc's seasonal menu features cooking inspired by Italy and the Mediterranean with housemade pastas, charcuterie, salads and entrées. (factoid: the restaurant takes its name from a wind that blows from northern Africa to Italy and the Mediterranean).
SPACE: Sophisticated and contemporary, very nice looking space. Dress code is "smart" casual -- basically, dress comfortably but nicely ;)
SPACE: Sophisticated and contemporary, very nice looking space. Dress code is "smart" casual -- basically, dress comfortably but nicely ;)
Some of the dishes I tried tonight:
Course #1 (Starters): House-smoked Salmon with Fingerling Potato and Cilantro Salad, Sweet and Sour Marinated Cucumber and Chive Cream. Loved it.
Course #1 (Starters): Potato Torte layered with Sweet Onion and Thyme served with a Cilantro Puree and Sautéed Wild Mushrooms
Course #2 (Pastas): Agnolotti filled with Braised Short Rib and Roasted Potato, served with its own braising liquid, topped with Montasio Cheese. Rich-tasting as the ingredients would lead you to believe. Awesome.
Course #3 (Mains): Roasted Eggplant layered with Braised Lamb Shank, Oregano and Pecorino Cheese, served with a Roasted Pepper Sauce. Winner imo (I didn't choose this, should have. Wow)
Course #3 (Mains): Roasted Filet of Branzino served with Sautéed Spicy Spinach and Red Potatoes Roasted with Lemon Zest
Overall Opinion? Add to your rotation when in the mood for modern Italian fare and nice service, whether it's DC Restaurant Week or the rest of the year.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Dining at Tosca: DC Restaurant Week Summer 2011
1st day of the Summer 2011 edition of DC Restaurant Week (RW), & felt compelled to take my dining group to what I feel is the restaurant that implements the best approach to RW: Tosca.
One of my favorite deals during Restaurant Week. This places is always popular & reservations fill up super-quick.
FOOD: Modern Northern-Italian. Executive Chef Massimo Fabbri produces very good food here using seasonal ingredients. LOVE the housemade pastas (past example from Winter 2011: Black ink tagliatelle with jumbo lump crab meat ragu, artichokes and roasted garlic) & other main entrees here.
For Restaurant Week, Tosca's one of the few restaurants that in my opinion "gets-it". They typically showcase the entire menu as part of the RW deal, with only 1 or 2 items that may have upcharges.
And another nice Tosca RW feature is they allow their in-house pasta dishes to be either your main Entree OR (as a smaller portion) your Starter (this way if you really want to try a pasta & entree & are willing to skip the normal starters, it's a win-win).
During the last few RWs periods, the Steak (type changes each RW period) & a Rack of Veal (the Veal is WINNER btw, if willing to pay another $12 extra for $62 total) were +upcharges & likely will be the same for this RW too. And when normal entree pricing is usually in the $30+ range, RW diners are definitely getting value.
SPACE: Sophisticated and understated, very nice but not splashy-looking space. Dress code is business casual (not a big deal for most of us as this event is on a worknight), but I've schlepped here before in nice dark jeans & shoes (but you'll feel a tad underdressed by the other parties around us).
Here are some of the dishes I tried tonight:
Overall Opinion? Excellent meal with no reduction of food quality and service. Upscale Italian, should be on your regular 'short list' of places for RW periods. Also, a very nice meal anytime throughout the year (i.e. dress up, have a nice night out).
One of my favorite deals during Restaurant Week. This places is always popular & reservations fill up super-quick.
- Ranked #33 : 2010's Washingtonian Magazine's 100 Best Restaurants
- Editor's Pick in the Washington Post
FOOD: Modern Northern-Italian. Executive Chef Massimo Fabbri produces very good food here using seasonal ingredients. LOVE the housemade pastas (past example from Winter 2011: Black ink tagliatelle with jumbo lump crab meat ragu, artichokes and roasted garlic) & other main entrees here.
For Restaurant Week, Tosca's one of the few restaurants that in my opinion "gets-it". They typically showcase the entire menu as part of the RW deal, with only 1 or 2 items that may have upcharges.
And another nice Tosca RW feature is they allow their in-house pasta dishes to be either your main Entree OR (as a smaller portion) your Starter (this way if you really want to try a pasta & entree & are willing to skip the normal starters, it's a win-win).
During the last few RWs periods, the Steak (type changes each RW period) & a Rack of Veal (the Veal is WINNER btw, if willing to pay another $12 extra for $62 total) were +upcharges & likely will be the same for this RW too. And when normal entree pricing is usually in the $30+ range, RW diners are definitely getting value.
SPACE: Sophisticated and understated, very nice but not splashy-looking space. Dress code is business casual (not a big deal for most of us as this event is on a worknight), but I've schlepped here before in nice dark jeans & shoes (but you'll feel a tad underdressed by the other parties around us).
Here are some of the dishes I tried tonight:
Carrot flavored pappardelle with a rabbit ragu in a white wine sauce and fresh thyme
Roasted Mediterranean sea bass with a balsamic vinegar sabajon and sautéed spinach with pine nuts and raisins
Grilled boneless lamb strip loin in a rosemary crust, black kale timbale and olive oil mashed potatoes
Chef’s modernized Tiramisu
Warm chocolate cake with figs poached in port wine and stracciatella ice cream
Overall Opinion? Excellent meal with no reduction of food quality and service. Upscale Italian, should be on your regular 'short list' of places for RW periods. Also, a very nice meal anytime throughout the year (i.e. dress up, have a nice night out).
Sunday, August 14, 2011
(Update: Those Extending the Deal) DC Restaurant Week: Summer 2011 Edition
There's always a number of restaurants that EXTEND the RW deal beyond the official 8/15 - 8/21 dates.
(Need to review the details surrounding DC Restaurant Week? --> Check this Post)
--> Be sure to reconfirm the RW deal extension with the restaurant, better safe than sorry:
This post will be updated as those restaurants are identified. And check their websites for menu details!.
Places that I've experienced good RW meals in the past are noted with an * (disclaimer: not saying the other places don't do RW well, lol)
Extending 1 week:
(Need to review the details surrounding DC Restaurant Week? --> Check this Post)
--> Be sure to reconfirm the RW deal extension with the restaurant, better safe than sorry:
This post will be updated as those restaurants are identified. And check their websites for menu details!.
Places that I've experienced good RW meals in the past are noted with an * (disclaimer: not saying the other places don't do RW well, lol)
Extending 1 week:
- 14K Restaurant & Lounge (only to 8/26)
- 1905 (only to 8/27)
- 2941 (only to 8/26) *
- 3 Bar & Grill (Clarendon)
- 701 Restaurant
- Adour at St Regis (only to 8/27) *
- Ardeo+Bardeo
- Art & Soul
- Assaggi Osteria
- Bastille *
- Bezu (only to 8/27)
- Bibiana
- Bistrot Lepic *
- Bombay Club (only to 8/27)
- Cedar (only to 8/26) *
- Cities Restaurant & Lounge
- Columbia Firehouse
- Cubra Libre
- Darlington House
- Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (dinner only)
- Kellari Taverna (only dinner) *
- J&G Steakhouse (only to 8/26)
- Jackson 20
- Jaleo
- Levante's
- Occidental Grill and SeafoodJaleo
- Oval Room *
- Oyamel
- Policy (only to 8/27)
- PS7's (only to 8/27)
- Ristorante Piccolo
- Siroc *
- Smith Commons
- Trummer’s on Main
- Tuscana West (only to 8/27)
- Vento *
- Willow (Lunch: 8/15-19 & 8/22-26, Dinner: 8/15-27) *
- Zaytinya *
- Casa Nonna (entire month of August!)
- Co Co. Sala (till 8/31)
- Dino (till 8/31) *
- Et Voila! (entire month of August!)
- Finemondo (till 8/31)
- Grill from Ipanema (till 9/3)
- Hudson (till 8/31)
- Mio (entire month of August!)
- Perry's (till 8/31)
- Prime Rib (lunch: 9/2, dinner: 9/3)
- Primi Platti (till 8/31)
- SAX (till 9/17!)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Budget French: Quality French Bistro @ Bistro La Bonne
Finding quality, reasonable-priced French cuisine in the Washington DC metro area is a challenge.
Food: Chef/Owner Daniel Labonne is producing well-executed renditions of french bistro classics like Escargots, Mussels, Coq au Vin, Steaks (various styles), Boeuf Bourguignon, and Steak Tartare.
Desserts here are also fairly traditional. On Thursday nights, the restaurant offers two souffles as a special: a Grand Marnier Souffle in addition to a Chocolate Souffle with Sabayon (see pic below). As with all souffles, they take about 20 minutes to create from scratch, so letting the server know well in-advance (either during when initially ordering or in the middle of eating your entrees) is recommended.
Overall, food prices at Bistro La Bonne are very reasonable, and quite cheap compared to many of their direct competitors. Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon for under $20 with healthy portions and great flavor? Yes please!
As for drinks, wine choices are average but generally fine choices. I don't think you'll be wow'd by any. Same could be said for cocktails. But where they most shine unexpectedly is in the beer selection (perhaps representative of their U Street locale). They offer a nice selection of Belgian whites / and tripels (example: Gouden Carolus tripel on draft, NOT expecting that), along with some standard U.S. fare.
Service is generally attentive except when the restaurant is very busy, but quite pleasant.
Space: Not fancy by any means but nicely appointed (lots of French-themed prints, wine bottles nested into the bricks). Tables and chairs are sort of generic but functional. Overall, decor fits in the U Street area nicely. The place can get loud here, acoustics generally aren't kind. But it's a Bistro!
One place however that's serving exactly that is Bistro La Bonne on U Street NW (Editors' Pick in the Washington Post).Food: Chef/Owner Daniel Labonne is producing well-executed renditions of french bistro classics like Escargots, Mussels, Coq au Vin, Steaks (various styles), Boeuf Bourguignon, and Steak Tartare.
Desserts here are also fairly traditional. On Thursday nights, the restaurant offers two souffles as a special: a Grand Marnier Souffle in addition to a Chocolate Souffle with Sabayon (see pic below). As with all souffles, they take about 20 minutes to create from scratch, so letting the server know well in-advance (either during when initially ordering or in the middle of eating your entrees) is recommended.
Chocolate Souffle w/ Sabayon (regular Thursday night special)
Overall, food prices at Bistro La Bonne are very reasonable, and quite cheap compared to many of their direct competitors. Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon for under $20 with healthy portions and great flavor? Yes please!
As for drinks, wine choices are average but generally fine choices. I don't think you'll be wow'd by any. Same could be said for cocktails. But where they most shine unexpectedly is in the beer selection (perhaps representative of their U Street locale). They offer a nice selection of Belgian whites / and tripels (example: Gouden Carolus tripel on draft, NOT expecting that), along with some standard U.S. fare.
Service is generally attentive except when the restaurant is very busy, but quite pleasant.
Space: Not fancy by any means but nicely appointed (lots of French-themed prints, wine bottles nested into the bricks). Tables and chairs are sort of generic but functional. Overall, decor fits in the U Street area nicely. The place can get loud here, acoustics generally aren't kind. But it's a Bistro!
Overall Opinion? Add to your rotation when in the mood for classic French fare and bistro decor.
Blog-Following: Spot-On Article on Scrambled Eggs
Yes please, low & slow. Preach it like gospel to all.
- A Dissertation on the Scrambled Egg on What's Cookin http://t.co/GHkerhq
Sunday, July 24, 2011
DC Restaurant Week: Summer 2011 Edition
Summer Restaurant Week (RW) is back in DC mid-August!:
- Learn more about DC's Restaurant Week
- Officially runs Aug 15 - 21. Some places will extend the deal beyond these dates)
- Lunch: $20.11 per person, Dinner: $35.11 per person
Some places are much better values (and frankly, more deserving of your dining dollars food quality-wise).
Tips for making RW reservations:
- Don't solely rely on OpenTable. I see a lot of folks make the mistake of checking for table availability on OpenTable & get discouraged (eliminate the restaurant as a possible choice) when they see no openings for their requested timeslot. Restaurants typically only provide OpenTable a limited # of seats to reserve via that method. There's often a decent chance that calling the restaurant directly will yield a possible opening.
- If available, choose a date outside of the actual RW period. There's a mad rush to make reservations for the actual week of the deal. Many restaurants extend the RW Deal pricing. I've had plenty of success of getting reservations if I choose a date outside of the official RW period.
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