JennyUptown

I have used Open Table a lot recently (four times this week, in fact), but no VIP status for me, I guess.

IMHO, the Mexican food is also lackluster.

I liked Les Halles in NYC when I lived there a few years back, but I found the DC outpost unimpressive top to bottom.

Actually, I was at their press conference today and the whole thing was rather odd. I meant to post but after wasting...I mean, sharing two hours with the kind folks of McDonald's, I had piles of work waiting for me back at the office. Upon arrival, we were offered not the sausage biscuits I was craving, but instead we got super-hot coffee (where's Kramer?), yogurt parfaits (ordinarily I like fruit-granola-yogurt, but their yogurt was crazy-sweet) and their new "apple dippers." Apple dippers are plain sliced and peeled apple pieces that are apparently going to be sold with low-fat caramel. Aren't apples already the ideal portable snack? Wouldn't you rather a plain old apple from nature instead of one coated in calcium asorbate (or whatever) to prevent the slices from turning brown indefinitely? I thought about leaving my pack of apple dippers in my office for a few weeks just to see how long they'd last but I ended up just chucking them. They seemed so proud of themselves for adding these new healthier options. Seriously. And they think it's absolutely fantastic that in some areas, they'll be adding nutritional info to burger wrappers. Huh? This whole thing reminds me of the warning on packs of cigarettes. Does anybody think those actually help? The aforementioned adult happy meals, targeting Moms, include one of their new high-end salads packaged in a strangely awkward box (my companion's fell apart as we walked down the street). I gave my to the first homeless man I encountered after leaving the press conference (this is DC so that took about a second) because my personal McDonald's tastes tend to run toward their high fat items like quarter pounders. Ain't NO kind of salad that'll change that! The whole event was really...odd and as a marketer, I think they are doing the trying to please all of the people (and the government) all of the time and instead they're losing sight of what they do best. I expect that after the big media blitz the whole thing will fade away quickly and quietly. McDonald's will still sell some salads and stuff, but will they continue spending millions on marketing "Go Active?" Heck, no.

Sincerely yours, Peter Poshpastries, Publicist, Palette Restaurant That's the response I WANTED to post, but whenever I post something even close to snarky, I feel bad. Maybe I need to give up some of that feeling-badness.

Welcome poshpastries. Are you connected to the restaurant in some way?

And they have wine tastings

Ya'll need to move to NYC for a year or two. When you return to DC, the supermarkets won't seem so bad. Some have steps (yes, steps) in random places (what used to be an Associated Supermarket on Park Ave South), making manuevering with a cart difficult. Other times, you'll be walking down an aisle and...yo, there's a pole here that will definitely prevent me from taking my cart any further. Some are just so dirty you can't even imagine (I'm thinking of the place on Bleecker, just east of Seventh Ave South). I found, similar to DC, that it was hard to get everything all at one place. Honestly, unless you live in a place with just one option, there's a good chance you'll make more than one stop. As for DC...I live near a really crummy Giant, but it's fine for buying staples and right near the Metro. On the weekends, I'll duck into Whole Foods in Glover Park (for some reason, I like that one better than the Tenleytown location) and the nearby Safeway (which to me is massive and has most of what I want). Seriously, I'm pretty satisfied.

What's the injury (if you don't mind sharing)? Poor guy...Connolly's is fine for after work happy hours with colleagues, but I'd never inflict it upon a visitor! All that and an injury too...

From today's Weekly Dish: LOUNGE ACT It's a breakfast joint! It's a sushi bar! It's a restaurant with a French accent! The forthcoming Leftbank (2424 18th St. NW) in Adams Morgan is leaving no yupscale whim behind in an effort to draw customers to what co-owner Sahir Erozan paints as a lounge for 2004. The space formerly known as Cities, with its changing array of cuisines, is giving way April 30 to concrete floors, orange leather booths, bamboo tables and a blizzard of talking points: Erozan plans to have high-speed Internet connections at every table, music and lighting that change course as the day wears on, and roaming carts from which cooks can prepare egg dishes and bartenders can shake cocktails for tableside entertainment. The standing menu will be broken into "garden," "ocean" and "farm" themes and run to main-course salads, lobster BLTs and a minute steak with herbed french fries -- with nothing priced higher than $15, promises the restaurateur. Erozan says the name of his latest endeavor refers to the restaurant's location on "the left side of the Potomac." Is he making a political statement in his Bohemian neighborhood, too, we wondered? He responded only with a hearty laugh. I wasn't interested until I heard the entree price cap (sorry danzig - I'm among the budget-conscious too) and I'm still not sold overall. I don't go to Adams Morgan to spend $50+ on dinner, to be frank.

On a more positive note, my parents like: BeDuCi (it doesn't get much pub, but I think the food is good and moderately priced) Cafe Milano (I know, I know) Indique Caucus Room Ruth's Chris i Ricchi (but they thought it was overpriced)

This has to be a joke! Okay, now that this is established I feel better. Hey -- those are great ideas! Though I prefer Dukem to Meskerem. Ben's at 2AM is a complete freak show and the kid would love it. I wouldn't take my parents for Ethiopian OR to Ben's although I personally like both. That's just me.

Zola You may want to read the thread before eating there. Looks like we have a lot of newcomers. Welcome to the DC board.

mjr_inthegardens - how did your DC visit work out?

Well, I'm open to restaurant suggestions so...throw 'em out there! We're staying at Mandalay Bay. I've already eaten at Nobu, Nectar (I think that's what it was called) and Border Grille. Not totally into leaving the Strip, to be perfectly honest. And we tend to avoid places like Olives that are outposts of restaurants we can visit back in DC or NY. Time to rethink Roy's? I realize this review is not about the Vegas outposts.

Hmm...not quite what I was looking for, but thanks. Any others?

Non-food question for Vegas-dwellers or frequent visitors: What are the best hip-hop joints? I'm not interested the clubs blasting techno, house, etc. PM me, if you please.

DUUUUUUUDDDDE, enough with the self promotion. If you want to tell us what you think of a place, post it here on egullet.

Man, you are a good friend, watching out for friends on your birthday. Zaytinya takes reservations through about 6:30, I think. Probably too early for you to benefit. But on a Monday? It might work.

Happy [almost] birthday. I passed that particular milestone last October. If I survived, you will too. You have some good ideas for your special night. For the cocktail aspect, I might consider Zola. It's swank, but not as pricey as Degrees (if they had a slogan, it would be: "great spot...when someone else is paying"). I like the atmosphere, the drinks and the appetizers much better than the entrees. On a Monday night, you might be fine at Zaytinya, depending on what time you are thinking of arriving. In my experience, if you call a restaurant about a large party, even if they don't take reservations, they might still do something "extra" to accommodate you. We found that to be the case at our recent egullet dinner at Sette. Unfortunately I can't speak to nightlife options on a Monday. There are clubs downtown (e.g., Home, Platinum and the nightmarishly awful PollyEster's), but as to what they'll have going on come Monday night...? You'd need to ask around and/or make some calls.

Is that foo foo (or fufu) that you're talking about? EXACTLY! Thanks Jen I try.

Is that foo foo (or fufu) that you're talking about?

I stopped by for a bite to eat with a friend who is new to town. We sat outside which was very comfortable - they have nice cushioned chairs out there and the tables are nicely spaced. For my appetizer, I requested (and received) bufala mozzarella with prosciutto instead of the insalata caprese. Instead of the preparation I expected (some olive oil, maybe fleur de sel, etc.), it came out dry on a cutting board. The waiter (a friendly sort, gregarious but overall not very informed or helpful) didn't seem to notice my confused expression. It took awhile to flag him down to get some olive oil and salt. By then it was too late. Had the potato cake for my entree which was as good as it was during our group eg dinner.

Indique has outdoor seating, both at street level and on the balcony.

I like the cabrales at Bardeo. Yum.