Seand04

Like everyone else who loves French bistro meals and who loves AB's books, I was in NYC this past weekend and I wanted to eat at Les Halles. The food was excellent and exactly what I expected. I kept it simple and had the Steak Tartare, while sampling from my group of friends dishes I also tried the Steak Frites, and the grilled calamari with shaved fennel salad, and others. That is not really the point of this post, the food was great. I am posting to see if anyone else who has eaten there has ever experienced poor service. I am hoping what happened to us last weekend was a fluke as I would love to go back there. There were six of us, everyone ordered, got their main course, except one of us, we did not see the waiter again, and we assumed he would be returning with the one missing entrée, about ten minutes go by, some of us were actually done with our main course at this point, when the waiter walked by, we flagged him down and asked about the missing dish, he went back to the kitchen, and came back with a salad, and said, “your calamari, is being prepared now, here is a salad so you have something to eat with your friends”. Not kidding. We were all done eating by this point and my friend really didn’t want the salad at all and I think the waiter should have just said, "look, no charge for the calamari, sorry for the mess up" rather than bring out a salad while we were all finished. The dish came out, after everyone was done eating. Anyway we ended up explaining the situation to the manager, something I hate doing, I have never even done it before and I was very embarrassed about the whole thing, however, I did not feel right about my friend having to sit there while we ate, and then having to pay for his meal. The manager took it off with out a question, and obviously we still left the waiter a 20% tip. My question is, is this normal for Les Halles? They were not even busy and the restaurant was barely half full.

Who has been to the new "Can Can" yet? I am excited to have a new French Bistro in Cary Town and at the same time I am skeptical that the owner also ran Havana 59 which I never cared for. If anyone has been I would love to hear about it as I am going next weekend. Thanks!

Wow, I understand everyone on here seems to think that Jeffrey Steingarten, is very knowledgeable about food etc. And I would not dispute that, but, how about a little bit of common courtesy? I could not believe some of the things coming out of his mouth last night. First of all, he holds his fork like a shovel, gross, second, he said "this sausage is too hard to eat", ok, fine a bit harsh but I can live with that, then, he says to the women next to him, "can you even get your fork in that thing?" So obnoxious, then he said "this fish is so muddy" I think that he should be critical, but with respect and class, and if he really hates a dish, give it poor ratings, that is fine. BUt, this is not American Idol, and he is not Simon, these are not Chef's trying to get a job, they are already respected Chef's. I would be curious to know what all of the Chef's think of him...

Good God, Everyone is very riled up about BDC. It is not fine dining, authentic dining, but it is fun and filling dining in my opinion. I lived about a block from BDC for three years and I went there many times and never once was someone rude to me. That said, the drinks are cheap, and the food I get is always good and very, very filling. My fav's would have to be: -Sweetbreads, they serve them mixed with chicken, mushrooms and a cream sauce in a puff pastry, really good. -Foie Gras-some type of apple glaze, always nice. -the obvious, French Onion Soup, so good, its always excellent there. -RABBIT STEW, my god, that is great there, I can not understand how no one touched on that yet. -the steak frites classic or the steak tartare, always good there! I think Al Dente mentioned the good beer on tap as well. So, would I travel for it, no. Is it a great neigboorhood spot to drink and have some tasty offal and cheap steak, yep!

I went to the Press Club dinner and had a great time. I enjoyed talking shit with Anthony B about other food network people, he was hilarious, saying that Rachael Ray was in mens magazines not looking so hot, he made fun of Rocco, he joked the other usual suspects as well. He also talked about his show that will be on the travel channel next year. When I asked why his show got dropped he said "Well, they figured out they were spending a ton of money to send me all over the world, when they can only spend 8$ an episode for a show like Unwrapped". Anyway, the food was good, I liked the Veal Cheak and Foie Gras soup. Overall, a fun guy to eat and get drunk with. I did feel pretty young for the crowd, even Anthony made some type of joke "long time press member?" to me when I got my book signed, but I was there for the food, drinks, and entertainment and I had a great time...

saycheese and all other interested... *Mama Zu's, it has been mentioned, and rightfuly so, one of the best in Richmond, ask for the white pizza that is not on the menu for an appetizer. My favorite dishes are the Veal Sweetbreads, and the Lamb if they have it. All of the pasta is great also. *Six Burner, The same chef from Acacia opened this place up not too long ago and I like it alot. It is cheaper than Acacia and easier to get a table. They serve some interesting dishes too like braised pork cheeks, and pork nachos. I had the risotto and bacon butter scallops when i was there and everything was really good. *Lemaire-if you want fine dining, the best in Richmond. *Che Max-The best French in Richmond, although it is in the burbs. *Kuba Kuba is good for lunch, good traditional Cuban Sammy, I think someone mentioned it already. *Millies-I thought the dinner review that you gave was typical, I would recomend the brunch which is always above average. Crawfish egg enchiladas, lobster bacon scrambled eggs, stuff like that... I used to live on Vernon St, right by Cashions and while nothing is quite as good as that in Richmond in my opinion (or Bistro Du Coin, sigh) there are some great places... (Yes the Flemmings is a chain...)

That's my hope. The menu that I was mailed a month or so ago didn't wow me, but it also looked as though it had been worded by a Smithsonian staffer rather than someone on the food side ("Red and white wines"). ← I will also be attending the Keller/Richard dinner tonight at Citronelle. I agree that the menu they sent a few months ago didn't look so great, but we shall see! ← Review anyone? Sounds amazing, "the Citronelle Laundry"...

Jenny, I love Spices! I have not been in about 6 months since I moved to Richmond VA, so I can not say anything about the experience highlighted above me, BUT, when I lived in Adams Morgan I would always order delivery or go eat there. Here are my favorite things to eat there. (all to be served with Sapporo!) -the red curry beef, they make it perfect and it comes with lots of crispy green beans, really good. -someone else said it, but yes, the ginger salad is a pleaser and a must order every time. -the only sushi that I ever ordered there more than once was the BBQ eel roll, that is real good. -the Drunken Noodels are good if you are really hungry, pretty spicey and tons of noodles. -the crispy tofu is good and my vegetarian friends always got that and liked it. -The terraki chicken is simple, to the point and done right, juicy, and flavorful. I could go on as I think I have ordered the entire menu, but, the red curry beef is my favorite! -Sean

I stayed at the Greenbrier for five days this past June for a work conference. Here are the highlights in my opinion: -Kate's Mountain, lovely view, they had a bbq there that was amazing with the Chef who writes those "BBQ university" books, I can not think of his name. Good though. -The Main Dinning Room. The food here was always excellent. I had a salmon wellington app, the fillet for dinner, all lovely. One of the great things about the Greenbrier, is that brekfast and dinner are included with the room, so you really only have to pay fo lunch. -The tour of the bunker/former Senate/congress amazing. -Sam Sneads was a god place for lunch, typical sandwhich type food. The photos downstairs are really cool with all the celebs with Sam Snead. -Drapers was another great lunch dinner place, more low key than the dinning room, but equally great food and service. -The highlight of the trip would have to be the Spa. I had a swedish massage from "Terry" (who I would ask for if ever there!) and it was supurb! Work is work, and I had to work there, but the down time, was hardly that! -Sean

So, who is going to the Press Club Dinner? I would love to meet some of you. It looks like I bet on the wrong horse as the Les Halles dinner on Dec. 6th looks like more of a pleaser... To the people talking about the previous Tony dinner's, did he write the menu?, Cook? thanks. sean

HBO would be the only way that this would not be a complete and total debacle. I mean, let's be honest here, a show complete with Sex, Drugs Etc. No way would Fox make it half way descent after putting it through their Mickey Mouse born again filters. Darren Starr created "Mis Match" with Alicia Silverstone that was on for how long? A week? This idea, unless moved to another network with Tony’s supervision, is awful.

The Breadline procuitto/fig sandwich is unbeatable....

I hope I am not being naive, but I think the Press Club dinner might be a good time. When I called for a reservation, they informed me that: Anthony B would be working with the chef to prepare a five course meal/wine paring, representing recipes from his new book (which is excellent for those on the fence) and he will talk about each dish as he serves them. He also said Anthony will go around sit with every table for a little bit after he is done lecturing. That sounds like a deal for $80.00 I hope the crowd is not lame yuppy/VIP type though... and I like all of you would love to take that man out on the town. I want him to be as drunk as he was in the Russian episode, amazing... Does anyone know the details on the Les Halles dinner? I have tried calling the number provided on the anthonybourdain.com site and no one ever answers. Is he cooking/hosting?

I often see restaurants that pronounce themselves as having or carrying a “Napoleonic seal of approval”. Pizza Paradiso in Washington DC being one of them. How accurate a statement is this seal, and how often does a restaurant have to reapply or re-earn this seal, and what are the qualifying factors that go into obtaining the seal? Thanks a lot, it has been great reading your posts this week. Sean

Meze in Adams Morgan. Very good Mojitos....