Monday, January 24, 2011

Quick Review

So it's been a REALLY long time since I've posted on this food blog, but some people this restaurant week continued to insist that I do a few again, so I'm going to see if I can come to some happy medium about the amount of time this takes. Since I've last posted, I've obviously been to MANY restaurants, including among them and I don't remember enough about the intricacies of each meal to really write about them, so I'm going to go down some of the Washingtonian list places I've been to in that time and just give a short recommendation:

Komi (Dupont): Worthy of the #1 ranking. The ambience, the service, the wine, the presentation are all amazing. You have to be willing to trust the Chef and taste a bunch of things you wouldn't otherwise be willing to taste. This place is SUPER expensive, but extremely good. Be adventurous and give it a try. I definitely didn't like everything on the tasting menu, but I liked enough that it was so worth my parents' money (part of my Dad's signing bonus for a friend I referred). The roasted pig main course was one of the best things I've ever had. I really promised myself I would write a full one on this one, and I may still try. Perhaps I should have to go back, is someone paying?

The Source (Capitol Hill): Avoid this place for anything but appetizers. It is far overrated at #3. I know it's Wolfgang Puck, but seriously...you pay for the name. The atmosphere is okay, the bathroom wasn't even that clean though. The appetizers were really good (the crispy pork appetizer was amazing, the pork belly dumpling is overrated). The entrees were not worth what we paid for them and neither were the desserts. It was a $70 lunch with no alcohol and worth $25 or $30.

Rasika (Penn Quarter): Another one I would have blogged if I were doing it. I cannot say enough about this place. It is a really cool atmosphere, convenient to the Verizon Center and really tough to get a reservation (restaurant week, forget about it). Indian food that made my Indian friends gush, a hefty portion of it and at prices that, while not cheap, will not break your bank account either. The best Indian place in town BY FAR. Worthy of it's #9 ranking.

Corduroy (Penn Quarter): I haven't been in years and haven't even been to Power's new(ish) facility. That said, I remember this place being excellent and one of my favorites. It's about time it made it to the top 20.

Sushi Taro (Dupont): Very good and basically next door to Komi. It would probably cost you more than Komi to eat enough food to actually make you full. We went there and had to go to the yogurt place next door to fill up. The food was delicious. Their Wagyu beef might have been some of the best sushi I've ever had. Their fatty tuna was incredible as well and the atmosphere was great. Possibly worth it's #24 ranking, but...after spending $70 without alcohol, I wouldn't expect to need frozen yogurt and still need to eat 2 hours later!

PassionFish (Reston): Worth the drive and the price and the #30 ranking. It is one of the better fish places in the DC area and in a part of the area that needs more good restaurants. If you're out in Reston, it's a good place to go. The decor is so-so and the clientelle can make a little bit of noise (hey, it's Reston), but it's a good place.

Tosca (Farragut): One of the best restaurant weeks out there. They offer full menu and they don't skimp on anything. The pasta is really good and the food there in general is quite good. If you've never been there, it is one of THE places to go for Restaurant Week.

Black Market Bistro (Garrett Park/North Bethesda): Great place, might be a little overpriced, but the atmosphere is one of the best in town. It seems very off the beaten path, but it's not that far away at all. It's in an old historic building and it's so quaint, quiet and private. The food was fantastic. I don't eat mussels, but they looked to be one of the best mussels dishes I've seen. It was very good and good desserts too. Also, try BlackSalt if I haven't written about it. It's a good place along MacArthur Blvd. that is definitely worth the price. I think it might be the freshest fish I've had in DC (which sadly doesn't say THAT much).

Cava (Gaithersburg/Eastern Market): This place is worth the price. It's not very expensive and in my opinion, the mezzes are better than you'll get at the consistently overrated, but super-trendy Zaytinya. The sandwiches for lunch, I can do with or without.

Eventide (Clarendon): Costs way more than it's worth. The atmosphere is cool and the location is convenient, but it's really hard to get a reservation and they don't seem to make all of their own desserts.

Kinkead's (Farragut): Good, but costs WAY more than it's worth and far too difficult to get a dinner table. They claim to be the best fish in town and they aren't bad, but they are definitely overrated. They do a decent restaurant week though. If you're going to check it out (and it's a power place, so you may want to go, just to say you did) go during restaurant week.

Liberty Tavern (Clarendon): If I haven't written about it before, it's worth it if you get the right things. The pizzas are totally worth the price of admission. Also, some of the most creative drinks you'll find in town.

Present (Falls Church): It isn't Four Sisters, which is nearby, but don't overlook it. There are some things that they do better and they are about equal in price and easier to get a table.

Spice Xing (Rockville): Yes! I like this place and it's the second best Indian place I've been to in the area (and I've been to many). It's pretty inexpensive for what it is and easy to just stumble upon when you're in Rockville.

Okay, that pretty much wraps up most of the places I haven't written about that are listed there (which makes it easier for me to remember them). I'll try to update a little bit more with some real ones.