bbq4meanytime

Joe: you misread and misinterpreted my post. I dined at both Cintronelle and Laboratorio. Neither was a great as the hype that was billed in private and in public and I was dissappointed. I haven't yet dined at Maestro but plan to one day. My comment is this: after spending $250-$300 a head (multiply that times 2 because of the guest), I am a little cash-shy that the next hyped multi-course dinner will leave me yet again disappointed. I haven't dismissed any of these restaurants or their chefs. But in my experience, they didn't live up to the hype. Nothing more and nothing less should be taken from my post.

Don, having dined recently multi-course at two of the consistently top ranked restaurants in DC, I'm afraid to try Maestro because your comments echo almost precisely my experiences at the other $250-300 per head dinners I refer to. At some point I will have to try Maestro but maybe I'll approach it less critically and just try to have some fun Joe: from the pictures looks like you folks had a nice time, and the food does look pretty tasty. Please tell us about your experiences at the other multi-course, $200-300 restaurants that you refer to. We are curious. Mark: Citronelle and the Lab. As I said above, Don summed it up: "Nothing was bad, but not much else was great either. ... Quite uninspired and disappointing. Just goes to show: you can neither annoint nor trash a restaurant based on one visit. At this money, I expect excellence; it was not to be found tonight."

Don, having dined recently multi-course at two of the consistently top ranked restaurants in DC, I'm afraid to try Maestro because your comments echo almost precisely my experiences at the other $250-300 per head dinners I refer to. At some point I will have to try Maestro but maybe I'll approach it less critically and just try to have some fun Joe: from the pictures looks like you folks had a nice time, and the food does look pretty tasty.

Willards BBQ I tried it tonight and I thought it was good, but not great. The ribs looked perfect, but were a tad bit on the chewy side. Now I know the meat shouldn't be completely falling off the bone, but these were a slightly chewier than I like. And I think dry rubs ribs should stand on their own, even if you're a sauce person (which I am) but about halfway thru half a rack I really lost interest. The sauces were too tangy (tomato based). I really liked the "jamaican jerk chicken", which ironically was neither true jamaican jerk chicken nor traditional BBQ chicken, but good nonetheless. I'll go back to try the pulled pork and brisket sometime, though. My son will like it. Famous Dave's My wife picked up some ribs, pulled pork and some sides about a week ago. I know this is a chain, but as far as chains go, I thought the ribs were tasty. Reminded me of decent backyard charcoal grilled ribs, but not really a true pit smoked rib. One of the better local chains IMO. In the next few weeks I hope to find Granny's in DC.

That's just a couple of blocks from me, I'll give it a shot. But I have to decide between Palette and Komi first.

Michelle good call on that one, I just didn't remember its name. It took me while to adjust to their style of food, I mean the thai staples such as chicken penang or green curry are just average to me. But they have some dishes like cripsy duck and basil and some others (including a couple of other duck dishes) that you rarely see on thai menus that are fantastic.

Bill, thanks for the link. No need to rehash it here.

Joe, never heard of Sylvanos, I'll have to try to find it. I love Kobe Grill, buts its not chinese, its a variation of japanese. Their "sake chicken" is some of the best hawaiian style teriyaki I've ever had. I agree w/ Hannah on both Hama and Mikaku. We like them both and tend to rotate between the two. Burgarland 22 s now "wing n thing" or something like that and I want to try 5 Guys to see waht all the hype is about. While we're at it, I like Baja Fresh but I'm a little burnt out on it. When it opened in Califormia around the mid-90s, all of my friends and family thought is was great, despite having plenty of calif-style mex. Rio grande is ok, but nothing really great (nor is On the Border). What we need is a In-N-Out Burger, that would make Herndon/reston a destination stop. Anyone try Pollo Campero (sp?) in Herndon (also in Falls Church). The line is way too long for me to wait for fried chicken. Give me some popeye's.

Are you not supposed to sprinkle it on your rice? I had persian friend who used to blanket his rice with sumac like nor-easter dusting NY with snow in February. Then again maybe the turks do it differently?

Kopitiam is the better of the 2. :) A few people have said the same. I tried lunch at Kopitiam and wasn't impressed, although the dish I ordered was unique (in a good way). Sometimes more authentic doesn't equate to better tasting food, but I'm open to trying it again sometime soon. I didn't like the cheap dungeon decor, but then again I like the Madhatter's burgers and its next door in the basement.

Ugg, being an Oak Hill (fancy name for Herndon) resident, not much great food out that way. Some of the best mentions above give me the chills (not that they're bad, but just very average). Ok: one of the absolute best indian restaurants in the DC area is Minerva in Herndon. SBC Cafe is ok for dinner, not expensive. Pho 99 has cheap Pho and grilled lemongrass chicken w/ rice (and it appears that the Vietnames eat there often so it mush be authentic). There are no less than 3 thai restaruants in Herndon, but they rate good, at best. The Sorrento Grill is a persian kabob place with a southwestern US sounding name, but they're as good as Moby Dicks. Zefrelli has the best veal chop and couple of other good italian dishes (but I hate their wine list), although everyone goes there so you can't get a walk in table on Friday or sat. We have a Hard Times in Herndon (don't we?). A new central american spit roasted chicken place opened by Bestway and it's ok (but not if your a fan of Crisp n Juicy's peruvian or Carribean Grill's cuban spit roasted chicken). Never did care for Tortilla Factory (mexican) although its generally good (I grew up in So. Cal. so so-called "mex" food doesn't generally impress me). A couple of ok restaurants on Lake Anne, but I already forgot their names. Town Center is busy and the restaurants mostly ok. Angelo & Maxi's does a good steak. But this going downhill.... Actually my favorite local joint for food not otherwise avalible elsewhere is a "mexican" place is Teocalli Tamale on Elden Street. I get a free burrito for every 7 I buy. But shhh, keep it a secret edited for my typos

Bill, I assume its going to be the same joint as Penang at 18th & M in DC. If not, disregard my comments. If so, expect long lines (everything at Town Center has long lines), a good value (esp. at lunch; the lunch plate includes a little salad, soup, appetizer, rice and entree) and pretty-ok food. I note that 95% of my experience is based on lunch though. The food is styled as Malaysian, but who the heck knows what that is. I would loosely describe it as an Asian variation of thai. The "king pork buff" is a unusual "authentic" bbq pork and is one of the more unusual dishes I've had there. The beef rendang is somewaht a cross between indian and thai (brown coconut korma is how I remember it). Some of the other dishes I've had tended to be a little syrupy sweet, such as the house penang beef or chicken (don't confuse this with the Thai peanut curry type penang, this version doesn't even resemble the thai version) and the mango chicken. But I still rotate thru there for the value and nice decor. Good place to meet less adventurous people for lunch.

yup, been there too for the same reason. Good eats for a cheap buffet.

tweaked that's good news beacause Dupont needs good indian food. Taj Mahal doesn't do it.

Joe, I agree about the ambiance factor in eating/rating bbq, but sometimes we suburbanites just have to go with the tastebuds. I'd be interested in your recs for good bbq inisde the beltway (I think its the point of this thread ). I'm sure its out there. Bob, don't mean to imply I don't like Carolina BBQ, just that I'm a tomato-based sauce fan myself. I may be taking a short trip down to Asheville, NC soon and if I do, I plan on hitting no less than 3 places along the way. Any chance you know the address to Granny's? Doc, I live out by Dulles and will try to hit Willards soon, maybe this weekend I have no limits when it comes to bbq. Good thing my kids love it too (then again that was no accident)

Fischwlu, sorry Rocklands didn't do it for you, but I was never impressed with their BBQ. Try Boss Hog's in McLean for good NOVA BBQ. Spotty hours, though. I think they're open Sat for lunch if you can't amke it during the week (and I think they're closed for dinner, or at least they were a while back). Joe H, thanks for your posts, I too find them interesting and informative. Looks like I'm going to try to find Grannys next (although I'm not a huge fan of Carolina BBQ).

Butterfly, its the same place as Joe H mentions above, Horace and Dickeys. What a coincidence (or is it?). The lady told me to be prepared to wait in line for half an hour, even at 10:00 at night. On another note, I was in Vienna yesterday and I think Hogs Breath moved or closed over a year ago because its gone and I think I remember seeing it and wanting to try it.

We loved it. The foie gras was one of the best I've ever had anywhere, and the best so far in DC (includes Citronell and Laboratorio).

Butterfly-excellent call on the Rib Pit. I went last night after work and picked up a rack of pork ribs, mac n cheese and cole slaw. The place is pretty austere. No exaggeration on the bullet proof plexiglass either, you have to exchange food/money thru a plexiglass turnstile. But the ribs are awesone, smoked pink inside but crusty on the outside, moist and just-about falling off the bone. The sauce is not sweet, a little tangy, with a slight hint of heat. The slaw was more vinegar than sweet but good. Didn't care for the mac n cheese, though. And I got a good tip from lady who was ordering fish on good fish sandwiches at another joint. My wife wasn't impressed with other places I thought was tops and she loved the ribs from this place.

Red Hot & Blue, not very good at all. I keep giving them another chance to my further disappointment. Memphis BBQ (nobody mentioned, because its not worth mentioning) I mention for mentioning sake. Also not very good. Rocklands is ok, but the taste really just strikes me as oven baked food, thrown on a grill for the grill marks to be slathered with sauce. Of the places I've tried, not much good bbq in the DC area. But here are some decent ones: Boss Hogs in McLean makes good brisket and ribs. BBQ Country is acceptable. I think you have to get out of town to the roadside pits. Like Docs on Rt 50 In aldie, VA or "Chef Fred" who sets up a pit on Rt 211 10 miles outside of Warrenton from spring until fall. I've got to try Hogs breath and the Rib Pit. Bet there are some good places up in NE DC if you knew where to look.

Cowboy Cafe in Arlington, not your basic buffalo style

I slice in half lengthwise and place cut side down in olive oil in a fryingpan that has a cover. Add salt and pepper and after the cut side has browned nicely, I drizzle with good balsamic vinegar and cover and remove from heat (it will steam for a minute longer). Serve carmelized side up with your favorite dish or as a base for a salad.

Can you post contact info for him and/or the ranch? I'd be interested in patronizing him, and a good foodie friend of mine lives near Frederick, MD, I'm sure he'd be interested too.

Thanks for the responses. I sought the advice of the clerk at naniwa, a japanese food store in Mclean, VA. She steered me towards a nut brown miso paste. Sure glad I asked because nothing is in English at this store (even the "English" add-on labels were either too generic or ambiguous). She also pointed me to instant dashi power and bonito flakes (since I wanted to at least try to make dashi from "scratch".

Does somebody know the difference between the types of miso pastes and their uses? Also, any good recipes for miso soup?