JennyUptown

This all very interesting. I have always enjoyed the food and the ambience at East Post. They also have a nice back room that would be good for a large group dinner.

Exciting! I checked out the web site but couldn't find the "Guest List" form mentioned. Instead, could you keep us posted?

Nessa, we've seen your food - now we need to see YOU (if you're willing)! We know you're petite. We know from the Sonic guy that you're adorable.

Kuna had 'em last night.

A friend Joanne and I went to Kuna right after work last night (6:30ish). We didn't have a reservation, but it was early enough that we managed fine. I noticed that they presently have soft-shell crabs on the menu ($12.95, I believe) served with arugala. My friend and I knew what we were ordering so we didn't ask about the preparation. For starters, Joanne had a Roman Holiday ($7) which was kind of a variation on a cosmopolitan. Alas I am on antibiotics (seems like for the rest of my life, but only six more days in reality ) so there were no wine samples for me this evening. We shared two appetizers: the always-wonderful risotto pancake with fresh tomatoes, and asparagus with chickpeas served warm with a hint of tangy vinaigrette. Both were awesome. The asparagus spears were tiny baby ones and cooked to that point of still being firm, but not too firm. Kuna DOES have more entrees, however I have learned from experience that if I don't get the penne with spicy vodka ($14.95, I think; sounds ho-hum, I know), I will be jealous of anyone at the table who does and hound them for bite after bite. So that's what we both got. The flavor was just as good as ever, but the sauce wasn't the usual consistency; it was on the slightly watery side, but as I said, it still tasted great. We were too full for dessert. Total bill (with tax, but not yet tip): $48. It's true that prices have gone up over the last two years, but this place is still a super deal.

I just went to Ceiba's web site hoping for a photo of the bar area, but came up empty. It may be too all-in-a-row, but in my experience, it takes awhile to fill up so you could probably arrange chairs nicely to accommodate conversation. Plus you can order churros with your cocktails! Or the delish queso fundido. Hmm...other ideas: On Friday nights, I love Aroma in Cleveland Park. They don't serve food, HOWEVER they welcome you to order from any of the restaurants that deliver to the neighborhood (e.g., the yummy Spices, the nasty Bricks, etc.). You could also get takeout from Indique (takes 30 minutes from ordering seemingly in spite of how busy they are). The DJ on Friday nights is GREAT and it doesn't get loud until later (9 or 10). Chi-Cha on U Street is nice, reasonably large and they have food. Drinks are pricier than I expected, but they do have food. Go early though - it gets packed by 8. If you have money to burn, go to Degrees at the Ritz in Georgetown. The place is gorgeous, I've always been able to find a table, the cocktails are enjoyable, but it's pricey. U-topia's a good drinking/live jazzy music spot, but the food is just ok IMHO. Ooh, just thought of Mantis in Adams Morgan. Love that. Good inexpensive food too. Seating as well. Places I don't love: Buffalo Billiards. Fine for pool and it's huge so you can pretty much always get your own group-space, but the food is abysmal. Seriously, how can you mess up chicken fingers? They can and do. Local 16. Really nice roof deck, but very fratty crowd and the food is bad-bad-bad. Do any of these work?

Having never been to a Cold Stone (one is opening near my house here in DC soon though), I came to this thread intending to post something to the effect of "I love ice cream. How can you complain about ice cream?" I'm fully cognizant of the fact that not all ice cream is good, however I love ice cream enough to overlook small (small) dips in quality. But then I read about the rap shtick and am prepared to bitch about Cold Stone w/o ever having been there. Ugh.

Or Helix? Zola's bar is nice (and close to Poste, but not outdoors). Oh, and how could I forget Ceiba's bar? I think that's a great one. IMHO, Firefly's bar/lounge area is too small to accommodate six unless you get there really early (like, now - j/k).

Just curious - what made you go there?

I skipped over all of the "I saw the nastiest thing..." posts because nothing gets me to the gym more often than knowing I can sample my way through the cheese section of the Whole Foods next door after a not-so-hard workout.

Oooh, Joe H is going to be STEAMED. You stole his answer!

"cicada-sex" I love it.

Mmmm, pie!

"Bitter? Party of one." Kidding, kidding... I second hjshorter's rec of Jaleo in DC and add n (with a tilde - I don't know how to insert that here) in NYC.

Click-click Does this help?

Oh Jarad...

I will be sure to boycott when my parents say they want to go to Crabby Dick's. They are a sucker for stupidly named restaurants (seriously). So Woody (and other beach folks), where do you go for breakfast? Most mornings, I grab a bagel at Dave & Skippy's. That place across the street (blanking on the name in spite of having eaten there a zillion times) that serves breakfast and ice cream, nothing else, is highly overrated and not worth a long wait in line. I don't love the greasy spoon on Rehoboth Ave. Are there other spots I should try next visit? Nothing haute. Good french toast, bacon and coffee will do. Is that too much to ask?

Where are you located, GSBravo? Maybe we can recommend a place to try 'em out.

Great blog, nessa! If you find your way to DC, let us folks on the DC/Delmarva board go. We'd be happy to engage you in a debate as to which Ethiopian spot is best/worst/on the upswing/on the decline/etc.

The Post's roundup But SWoodyWhite has already covered most of it.

I am a new fan of Indique's deconstructed samosa appetizer - I think they've added more pieces of the pastry shell which is what appeals to me. We got takeout from Indique last night - the usual chicken tikka makhani and the aforementioned samosa for me, paneer brochette (I forget the official name) and Goa shrimp curry for PLM. Garlic naan to share. All very good. I just had some of the leftover samosa for lunch (it reheated better than I expected) and now it's off to the pool!

Sounds fun!

A mountain of bacon can make me overlook just about anything. Oh, and stop by their New Delhi (yes, India) location if you are in the 'hood.

From Tom's chat today: Tom Sietsema: News flash: Michael Hartzer, the executive chef at Michel Richard Citronelle in Georgetown, has announced his resignation after almost five years with the four-star French restaurant. Tomorrow is his last day in the kitchen. The 28 year-old talent told me this morning that while he has no specific plans (other than moving homes next month) he is mulling a range of his own: "It's time to do my own thing," he offered. And yes, he'd prefer to continue cooking here in Washington.

I have also seen Snapple bottles used for this purpose. If there were an emoticon for "gross" or "yuck" I would insert it <here>