JennyUptown

Today seems to be special offer day for me. I just received a newsletter from Jaleo offering me $10 off at Oyamel (valid through 12/30/04). I wanted to check it out anyway!

Blackie's is offering a $25 gift certificate (good through 12/30/04) for registering for their mailing list. http://www.blackiesdc.com

Put La Tasca in the "never" category. But if you're considering tapas in the Penn Quarter vicinity, try Jaleo. Great drinking (and oh yeah, eating) to be done there, IMHO. I also did an OpenTable.com search for that night, party of 7, in DC which turned up some nice (and not-so-nice) ideas including Corduroy, Firefly, Poste, Tosca and well...go there and find out.

Regarding Kuna, now Opera I'm sure none of you will be surprised to hear that the price point at Opera will be higher than what was offered at Kuna.

Saturday night stress: three friends and I heading out to dinner. No reservation. Faux Veg's sister is the pickiest eater ever (yes, even worse than yours truly). No Indian ("ew, curry!"), no Mexican ("too spicy"), no...anything it seemed for awhile. Italian is her default, however she's also poor and in DC, it's not the easiest thing in the world to find an inexpensive Italian. The post-dinner plan was to attend a party at 16th and Swann. I cursed Kuna for being closed for renovations or whatever, all the while knowing I wouldn't have been able to get a table with such short notice anyway. I have been less than impressed with Local 16's food (blech, and overpriced too), Utopia's too (though I like the atmosphere). "Coppi's? Is that what it's called?" I thought to myself. Checked the Washingtonian Cheap Eats issues - good for something finally - and called. Although they couldn't make a same-day reservation (??), I was told the restaurant wasn't terribly crowded. That decision made, the troops and I headed over to 1414 U Street, not sure what to expect. Faux Veg's sister (let's call her "Eye Roller") was already on my last nerve so drinks were on my mind. Good thing, because when we arrived at Coppi's, it was PACKED. We settled in for what the hostess estimated would be a 45 minute wait. As long as I could get a glass of wine and some of the housemade bread I saw others picking on, I was fine. Eye Roller rolled eyes. 45 minutes turned into 60. Honestly? I didn't mind. The small bar area was warm from the eat of the open kitchen and its wood-burning oven. I had been enjoying my other two companions' conversation and watching the chefs do their thing. As soon as we were seated (by the door alas - chilly breezes from the cold Saturday night outdoors had us eating with our coats on), a server took our drink orders and when he served them moments later, announced that they were on the house due to our long wait. Wow! Totally unexpected and it changed the mood, even that of Eye Roller. Faux Veg and Eye Roller had pizzas (small plain pizzas run around $11, I think?), one margherita, one with various vegetables. My other friend and I shared a full portion of a pasta dish ($23, if memory serves) as an appetizer and a pizza with pancetta as our main. The pasta...so rich, so good, perfect for a cold night. I'm totally vague on the details but recall the following: trenette, butter, cream, bacon, yum. The pizza...yeasty crust (neither think nor thin), fresh chopped tomato, pancetta (I would have enjoyed that even more if it had gotten crispier in the oven, but whatever). We were late for the party, so rats! No time for dessert. While we waited at the bar, I saw one of the chefs make a nutella "calzone" that looked great, and the dessert menu also had something with stewed apples, always one of my favorites. Guess I'll have to try again. No complaints from me. Coppi's was a tasty bargain in a cozy space.

That is true. My first visit was awful for a variety of reasons (but primarily the service). The whole Palena experience changes once you get to know the staff. No doubt, it's a very clubby place.

Thanks, John. I tried to reply to your PM, but the site's intermittently jazzed up apparently.

Heading to Firefly for HH tonight (and dinner on Sunday incidentally). Are those weeknight wine specials still happening?

I think another part of it is that most often when we dine, we do so with others whether they're friends, family, clients or colleagues. There's often variability with regard to perception of what constitutes service that requires comment or not, and then maybe a certain reluctance to look like the crank of the bunch.

Remember my first post re: Palena?? Yeah, I know where you're coming from.

That sounds GOOD. My lunches are spent at my desk, unfortunately, so I've never made it to the grill. I specified DC because I live/work here and take Metro to and from work. With the way I feel presently (energy = sapped), I'm hoping for something I can get to/from with relative ease. Thanks for the suggestions nonetheless.

Ella's I could do without...but Kuna? Huh?

How aobut the squash soup from Firefly? ← Thanks, but I want MEAT. Think stew, or beef barley, or split pea with ham or... Nothing too smooth. Nothing with only veggies.

It's cold, I'm [still] sick...I need soup. Ceiba's black bean soup sounds appealing. [see dinner menu] What others should I consider? I'm looking for something hearty, with meat. Ray's new stew sounds great, but I would like to stay within the District.

Did anyone make the barbecue?

I think you might be the first person (at least in these parts) to get cheese on the miniburgers. Although I like a good cheeseburger, it never even occurred to me to mess with Matchbox's burgers. From your experience, sounds like a good move!

If you want company, PM me!

I hate to admit this, but I really like the thick-ish bacon Austin Grill serves along with Texas Toast. Not fancy, and the service has sucked more than usual [at the Glover Park location] lately, but it's cheap and the bacon, as I said, is good.

Vandyhoo - in all seriousness, did it have anything at all to do with his preference for "well-done" pizzas? I ask because after a few too many "dark" ones, I started asking for my pizzas on the lighter side. If GG was around, they'd all get a bit nervous about my request; if not, no prob. Just curious.

Looove the mac & cheese that comes with the lamb minute steak. Also, the aforementioned (at least 10x by me!) pork spring rolls. The pear tart, if it's still on the menu, was our group's favorite dessert at the last Firefly meal.

I have it on my calendar and hope to attend, but it depends on how I'm feeling.

I returned to Lupa Saturday night...probably four years after my initial lunch there. I had always wanted to return however circumstances - namely my move to DC - dictated otherwise. Given that it was Saturday night around 8:15 or so when my friend Laura and I arrived, there was a wait for a table (we were told 20-30 minutes and that was more or less accurate on the high end). We settled in at the bar and had a glass of prosecco ($8 each, I believe). The bartender (Phil?) was friendly and funny, as well as kind enough to bring the two of us hungry gals some bread and what I think was basil oil. Yum. Still no table and the crowd was growing. Uh-oh. Never fear, have more wine. This time, I had a quartino of an Italian red whose name is escaping me ($11 or $12). Laura, still nursing her hangover from the night before (!!) continued sipping her prosecco until it lost its bubbles. Once we were seated, we immediately ordered as we'd had time to peruse the menu while waiting at the bar. From the antipasti e salumi section of the menu, we selected Proscuitto di Parma ($10; amazing!) as well as a hunk of parmesan ($?; so tasty) from the cheese menu. I initially considered revisiting the bavette cacio e pepe ($12) or trying the vermicelli alla carbonara ($15), however the waiter determined that I'd never had their ricotta (not potato) gnocchi with sausage and fennel and urged me to try it. I did, and it was wonderful ($15). My friend had the Saturday special - minute steak "Involtino" ($19), a skirt steak pounded thin and rolled around fresh greens. We loved it, however it was on the salty side. If salt's not your thing, you should probably pass on this dish. Too full for dessert, we got the check which totaled in the low $80s. Not a bad deal at all. Restaurants like Lupa are something I miss terribly here in DC where Italian tends to be high-end (e.g., Galileo), bad low-end (names excluded to protect the guilty), or not at all. *sigh*

I made a quick trip to NYC this past weekend...and completely forgot about this place. Damn!!

I'm seeking a nice non-partisan atmosphere. Faux Veg and I wanna hang with people who are interested and curious, but not prone to physical or verbal attacks. None of the Post's ideas really appealed though. Suggestions?

I have had that and you're so right - it's awesome.