silentbob

Random question -- is the roast chicken on the bar menu meant to serve one or two people?

We tried Urban BBQ in Rockville (at the corner of Chapman and Twinbrook Parkway, about two blocks north of Montrose and one block east of the Pike) on Sunday. The five of us ordered ribs, brisket, smoked sausage, and a crab cake. The brisket was kinda blah, the crab cake was okay. But the sausage was good and the ribs were quite excellent. I really liked their yellow sauce (plus, you can try any one of the dozens of other bottled sauces on the wall) too. The sides were merely decent but the cornbread (which comes with every platter) was very good. We'll definitely go back for the ribs. Much better than any of the other options in Montgomery County IMO.

I doubt that the Reston location will have the same vibe as the downtown one -- which may not necessarily be a bad thing. The only time I've been to Penang was at 11:00 on a Friday night; the place was packed, with a DJ playing some LOUD techno music that we could even hear from the dining area. The food is decent but nothing spectacular.

My sentiments exactly. Sushi-Ko is pretty good, too. I haven't been to Sushi Taro in years. The place I've eaten at most frequently is Yuraku in Germantown. Not the best fish, but definitely adequate. Plus, I had a piece of cooked salmon cheek that was probably one of the tastiest things I ate in 2003.

Don Lobos just opened in the past month, which is probably why it has not been listed yet. It is located at the corner of 28th and M, right next to La Chaumiere and Tahoga. Yeah, when your main competition is Sequoia, the standard ain't exactly sky-high.

Looks like Tom Sietsema weighed in during today's chat... Washington, DC: Is Bangkok Joe's a good idea after a movie in Georgetown? Tom Sietsema: For drinks? Sure. For eats? No. It's a dashing space with mediocre food. So my friend and I ended up going to Don Lobos today. Pretty good food (refried beans with actual flavor!) and friendly service at a relatively inexpensive price. I'll definitely go back.

Bumping because one of my friends has suggested that we eat there for lunch tomorrow. I can't seem to find any opinions about this place, aside from Eve Zibart's review. We are also considering Don Lobos Mexican Grill. Which one is likely to be more promising?

Ambrosia is/was on the Pike, about a half-mile north of Montrose. I have a question about Bombay Bistro -- when is the buffet offered, and how much does it cost?

Question for the kitchenware experts -- how important is it to have a griddle in one's kitchen? I have always made pancakes, eggs, etc. in a small, shallow non-stick frying pan. Would a griddle improve the cooking, and how so?

I finally made it to Parkway Deli for the first time last weekend (despite having gone to high school only a couple of miles away). Ordered the chopped liver too -- we all enjoyed our meals. Not so enjoyable, however, was the stomach flu that I suffered earlier this week. Word of advice: taking leftover chopped liver home and leaving it in the fridge for the next day is a decidedly BAD idea. I'm just starting to work my way back to solid foods again...

I do think the downtown Jaleo is better, but not significantly so. Anyway, my current fave in Bethesda is Louisiana Express. The only quibble I have is that it's a little too far off Wisconsin Avenue (which some might argue is actually a good thing).

What's the word on Urban BBQ in Rockville? The people I usually eat with usually insist on going to Red Hot & Blue or Houston's. (yes, I know...)

Nigella's lemon linguine recipe is the bomb. Just made some yesterday -- the perfect meal when you only have 10-15 minutes.

I completely agree with the comments above. If you can tolerate mediocre-to-bad service, the food is quite excellent. The burgers are among the best I've ever had. Plus, there is a selection of bottled sodas (including Cheerwine, for example) that you probably won't find at any other restaurant in the area.

Does anyone have recommendations on where to get these squeeze bottles, mail-order or otherwise? I've done a Google search but can't discern the quality of these bottles.

Yeah, much as I hate to admit it, Houston's is pretty good for a chain (even if it's somewhat overpriced). Their seared ahi tuna salad is quite excellent.

I live in Rockville (lifelong Montgomery County resident, too) but am not as high on the food options as most. The only two places I can recommend unconditionally are the aforementioned A&J and Joe's Noodle House. Haven't ever had a bad meal at either place. Cuban Corner and Il Pizzico (both at the northern end of the Rockville on the Pike) are both good-but-not-great options. Benjarong is okay. So is Seven Seas, but we've been eating there since I was a kid and the place has gone downhill IMO. And it's overpriced. One Chinese place my family has frequented for years is Tony Lin's, located in the same shopping center as Tara Thai and The Sports Authority, on the Pike just north of Montrose. My sister had her wedding rehearsal dinner there. It's slightly more expensive than most Chinese joints but still cheap by most standards. I am not a big fan of Fortune Star Buffet. It's certainly better than most buffets but that's really not saying much. How good can food sitting under a heat lamp really be? Their sushi options are passable but not great by any means. Still need to try Bombay Bistro (my Indian friends say it's decent but nothing special) and El Pollo Rico at some point.

The search engine came up empty, so here goes... What's the difference between sushi that is merely good (i.e., made from fresh, quality ingredients) and top-echelon sushi? Why does everyone say that sushi-making takes years, if not decades, to master? I've been eating for years, but still can't seem to tell. I often read about sushi chefs who are lauded for being "inventive" with their creations. What does that mean exactly? At the risk of sounding ignorant, what can a great chef do with nigiri aside from changing the rice, the vinegar, and the wasabi? Any insights would be helpful -- I'd love to learn how to appreciate "great" sushi.

I might be headed here for dinner tomorrow and had a few quick questions: 1) Is it possible for me to have the tasting menu if none of my friends are ordering it too? 2) How much do the "specialty" small dishes cost (Kaz's website doesn't list prices for them)? I'm particularly interested in the tuna with foie gras and the sea trout napoleon, both of which seem to have gotten lots of raves. 3) Any other must-have dishes or sushi, if I don't get the tasting menu? I hear the short ribs are also good.