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morela

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    Tallula, with Chef Nathan Anda

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Arlington, VA: Any word on Tallulah in Arlington (where Whitey's used to be)? Walked by it yesterday, and it looks really cool!

    Tom Sietsema: I have yet to visit the place, which just opened at 2761 Washington Boulevard in Arlington. Has anyone else dropped by for a look-see-taste?

    Yes.

    Last night, as I passed by a bit of jankiness on Washington Blvd., I thought of Whitey's.  I shielded my eyes and looked in that direction, peeking through my fingers. But I saw something different: I saw what seemed to be a million bottles of wine, through a crispy clean window.   Wah? 

    As I got closer, I saw a paper sign on the door that said, "OPEN," and shadows of real live human beings inside. 

     

    It was a little like seeing the snaggletoothed kid from second grade (who lived in a trailer park) as a contestant on The Swan.

    I couldn't stop looking, I had to go in...

    What I found is Tallula Restaurant in Clarendon, freshly open in the old Whitey's space. My friend and I had no clue that this was coming, so it was like finding buried treasure.

    It turns out the place is owned by the same people that own Vermillion and the Evening Star (and the adjacent wine store, The Daily Planet), and they have joined forces with the owners of Clarendon Grill (who by now know their clientele).

    The place is really airy and has been though a total redesign with Vegas kitsch and a fountain in the middle (but still has the original Whitey's floors). It appears to have 100 or more seats and has three bars. The largest bar is sort of the wine bar ( there's, like, 50 wine savers, which is why they can have so many wines by the glass). Then there's a tiny bar facing the open kitchen, and the lounge bar, which is where I saw people with tight black shirts and tobacco products. This place is, like, four places in one and will soon include a retail wine store called Planet Wine. The corkage is $10 bucks; the glasses are Riedel Os, of course (helps to own a wine store)...

    Cuisinewise the menu seems very American-comfort (think Equinox crossed with The Evening Star). Nathan Anda, is the chef, and David Pressley, who was at Poste and Olives, is the GM. The staff is super nice.

    Here is their website/ menu:

    http://www.tallularestaurant.com/index.html

    We pretty much ate the whole Amuse Yourself menu (actually we did), which is like cocktail food rather than tapas, and if you order a whole bunch of items, they just come on one plate. You can do that for $25, share with one or two, and it's very good social-snacky food.

    Here's what I recommend:

    A couple Baby Burgers medium rare, the smooth and delicious corn beignet, the beer battered corn dog, which I found to be very tasty (chorizo sausage, whole grain mustard), and wash it down with a glass of Chave Offerus St. Joseph Syrah.

    The oyster shooters are wonderful too.

    Anyway, they've only been opened since last Wednesday...

    I totally look forward to returning and eating a regular dish of food...and wish them a healthy start.

    Best Fall Soups

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Tonight I had a soothing bowl of hominy and pork stew (with lime) at Guajilo.

    A big white bowl, filled with a clear, pho-like broth, wonderfully flavorful pulled pork, and hominy. Very much like the Pho 75 experience next door, the bowl comes to life when you add the ingredients that come on the side; in this case, finely chopped onions & basil on one end and oregon, radishes and a lime on the other. It's a special, but I imagine it will shine on the menu for a while longer. It's a nice contrast to the bright lights and sour plum of pho-king nextdoor. It's not very spicey, more warm and filling...and makes you a little sleepy. Yummy. Verrrrry, very yummy.

    Corduroy, 12th and K Streets NW

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    Last night, Corduroy. As I type this in my less-than-perfectly alert state, the feeling that lingers is comfort, warmth and happiness that can only be found when your palate is indulged with good food, your heart with good company of friends, and your bottom with a comfortable bar stool. 

    Started off with spring rolls. Whoever said they are the Ron Jeremy of spring rolls, you are right - regarding the length. The girth, I don't know.  But how perfect this juicy filling, this crispiness, and the sauce with just enough bite.

    One of the greatest things about these spring rolls is that they're so damn tight. If the filling squirts out in the hand of an excited eater, he can just put it right back in and keep on eatin'. They seem more cigar or taquito like in rollmanship. Tight.

    Thanksgiving Pies

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    On the above recommendation, I just purchased a rustic apple pie from the MM on my way next door to MacArthur Beverages, where (as always) I spent more than originally intended. So it goes. I can confirm the pie looks fucking awesome -- tasting will have to wait until tomorrow.

    By the way, in between those two fine stores is that new BLACK*SALT seafood place owned, I think, by the Grillfish people. The sign says they're opening in December and promises it will be "Washington's Most Exciting New Restruant!" Not sure quite what that means: the chef is AWOL? The good food will never show up?

    I think it's Black's Bar and Grill/Addie's people, actually...

    Thanksgiving Pies

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    It's a bit like driving and parking in a pricey parking garage when you could have just walked (but it's rainly!)...

    Dean & DeLuca had them yesterday. The Pecan Pie is great. Why make the fam suffer through Whole Foods horrible bakery once more. Park in the gargage and stay dry.

    DC DelMarVa Thanksgiving! (hint hint)

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    BTW, has anybody ever had Thanksgiving dinner at 1789? I sometimes have a little fantasy whereby I am whisked there for a long, leisurely Thanksgiving meal where I don't cook a single item. I've heard the meal is legendary there and that they book it up by the beginning of January every year.

    No, but I'd like to go and slurp up some champagne oyster stew and drink a little too much at that itty bitty bar...

    not a lot of people speak of that place in these rooms. Not sure why.

    Tom Sietsema's Online Chat

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted · Edited by morela (log)

    Odd little snipe about Colorado Kitchen, too.

    NoVA, "the country" according to one of your earlier posters: Come on, Tom, you can fess up. Just how much of a kickback are you getting from Colorado Kitchen?

    Tom Sietsema: None! And what would prompt a question like that? I don't mention it any more than other restaurants I admire -- and I've been critical of its service in the past.

    (Yeah, it's some paranoid delusional freak who probably owns a restaurant in Northern Virginia. Freak of nature.)

    Spices

    in D.C. & DelMarVa: Dining

    Posted

    i did not like the sushi at all when i went there. everything else i had was decent.

    It's a shame because I used to love the ginger salad. But it's not worth it anymore and they have lost a customer.

    That's a shame. Haven't been in sometime. Why go now with Palena down the street? Cafe's just around the same price...

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