Peter Johnson

Had dinner at Fork, as planned--it was very good, but not earthshattering. No starters, unfortunately--although I would have had the foie gras if I'd been hungrier. I had the scallop entree--perfectly-cooked scallops on a white bean ragu of some sort. The white bean ragu was surprisingly--well, bland--although it looked like it was going to have more flavor than it did. Oh well. Also on the plate was a "smear" of pureed squash (not sure what kind), with bits of bacon on top. Nice combination! DC had the steak frites, which she asked for "nearly well done" The frites were well cooked, perfectly crispy. I tried a bite of the steak, and it was in fact (as the menu promised) "garlic-infused". Don't know how, but it worked. A bottle of Willakenzie Pinot Noir was a good overall match, perhaps a bit-over-marked-up, but c'est la vie. Service was great, not invasive. Re-lit the oil-lamp without incident four times due to laughing through my nose. No comment and bread basket whisked quickly away when I set the bread basket napkin on fire! The interior is a bit gothic for my taste, but I can see how others might like it. The chairs and table, though, reminded me of that hilarious date scene in Fast Times where the kids are on a date and their chins are barely above the table! Good addition. I'd like to try more of the menu. (Oh yeah--AMAZING biscuits! DC said they reminded her of the biscuits at "Town House" in San Francisco, which meant nothing to me but quite something to her.)

Going tomorrow night for the first time--I can't wait! I'll report back with details...

Thanks, Greg--I appreciate your efforts. Please check your PM's!

??? Do you mean the lunch, or the restaurant? If the latter, I certainly didn't pick that up from the article--what makes you think so?

Hey, no worries! It's good to be held to one's promises, and I'm only too glad to get the info out there. Me too. Strokes and folks, indeed, and in some cases, it may be best to "move on," savor your experiences at the "original", and find something new that you love. [off topic] Like Matt's in the Market in Seattle--hope some of you can make it west to try our seafood places! [/off topic]

Infrequent, promising poster here, Capaneus--tweak noted, somewhat deserved, and accepted. Of course, I was in the process of moving to Seattle from Philadelphia last fall, so I've had a few other things going on. I haven't read the latest review, but when I did go (as promised), and thought about putting down a review (as promised), I fear the old maxim "if you can't say anything nice..." took hold, and, in what was violative of a thousand egullet conventions, I opted not to speak because I felt my experience had to have been an anomaly. Or jaded by familiarity--I mean, they say you can't go back, right? When living in Phila, we went to Django, I'd say, once every 2-3 months. This in the "halcyon" 2001-2004 period. We knew the owners, we knew the house, we didn't use the menus--it was, for me, the single most extraordinary "general" dining experience ever, where everything--food, service, ambience--came together to form an extraordinary whole which was definitely more than the sum of its parts. This, I think, is what possessed LaBan to give Django four bells. After the sale, I was reticent to return. I'd moved, somewhat moved "on", and, I'll admit it, feared the change. But I steeled myself, and made a reservation for one of my first return visits. Walked in on time for the 9:00 reservation--got seated promptly at 9:40 (!). _That_ night, the house was completely different, so I'm delighted to hear (if it's true) the staff has in fact been retained. We knew/recognized nobody, and nobody knew us. The art was different (and terrible. Remember the art at the late, not-necessarily-lamented Magazine?). Our server was indifferent, acted as though she didn't want to be there, and disappeared for about 15 minutes after we sat down, as I looked around in vain for someone to open our wine. And the food? Unmemorable and lukewarm. I can tell you at least ten different mains I've had at Django (and most of their unique ingredients), but I cannot tell you what came to our table that night. This, my friends, is why I said nothing at the time. I was trying to chalk it up to "regime-change" jitters, or something, but I was so concurrently sad and angry at what had become of the "augmented whole" that I just wanted to put the experience out of my mind. I'm completely willing to admit that a significant aspect of my love for Django was _not_ food-related--and I know food is why we're all here--but if my experience was a shared one, I guess I have to say I "get" the demotion. It pains me to write this, but I guess I can't not respond when I'm called out, and you have no idea (or maybe every idea) how much I'd love to read reviews of subsequent visits of yours that bear no resemblance to what I've just written. Cheers from Seattle, and yes, I miss the hell out of Philadelphia! PJ

Believe me, it's all that! Is it just me, or is anyone else strangley curious about the taste of the Primanti Brothers Sandwich? I might have to add that to my Super Bowl Menu. ←

B&T? Looks like they're gonna run the new place called Venom in the old Medusa space (bought by the Cowgirls Inc. people, not sure what the connection is.) Just what we need, another B&T hangout in the neighborhood. ←

Had another delicious dinner at Elemental last night. Arrived at 5:50, panicking that there wouldn't be a place to sit--fortunately, we got one of the last two 2-tops. Phred brought out a nice, warm, mulled brandy to start; continued with a martini as part of the cocktail hour, served with a dish of truffle-oil popcorn! We ordered the three-course prix fixe, and as is typical, they "coursed it out" so we shared six courses in total. We started with smoked trout bruschetta, four toasts topped with a white bean/sage topping and smoked trout on top of that. Second course was a baked blue cheese/onion tort with greens on the side. Third course was chestnut/bacon ravioli served in a brown butter broth (we received bread which served perfectly to mop up all that butter (we're not proud!)). Fourth course was seafood chowder; they actually split this into two bowls which were filled with various pieces of seafood and tiny mussels, all in a heavy-cream broth. Our entrees were baked true cod over greens; final dish was "carolina pork," which was pulled pork in a slightly sweet tomato/vinegar sauce, with "sides" of skillet-baked corn bread and collard greens. Pushing the limits of our stomach capacity, we asked for a "mini" cheese plate and wrapped it all up with creme caramel. Of course, we had at least one (and sometimes two) wines, names/origins unknown save for our hushed guesses, with each course, a very tasty grappa after dessert, and a scotch to wrap everything up. Total cost for two: 120, including service. Great food, great time, great value. This is right up there in its candidacy for my favorite restaurant in Seattle!

Okay. Saturday it is. I'm inspired by the ranks who've gone before, and who are yet to come. Full report to be posted. Wish me luck! I think you may be our man behind the lines! Stout fellow! Do us proud. eGullet expects every man to eat his duty... I mean, do his meal... Just report back posthaste. ←

Come on, someone has to have gone to the big D post-switcheroo. Anyone? (I have reservations for Saturday)

No no no no no no no no no, it can't be. Please say it ain't so, I'm coming to Philadelphia and one specific pupose of the trip is to eat there. Source?

Doubtful--I think it's a song! ***Should I take that as a THUMBS DOWN vote for Lola?..... ←

Not active yet, but soon, I'm told: Dinette's website. I had a DELICIOUS meal there last Saturday. I just haven't gotten around to writing about it. Really really really good food, and I'll write a description soon. PJ

I highly recommend it. I've had trouble getting a seat for one at the bar on a Tuesday at 6:30. No harm in getting a reservation.

Had the steak tartare at Pichet last night. Oh. My. God. It was fantastic; included a terrific salad with cornichons and six pieces of heavily buttered and nicely toasted baguette. I can still taste the combination!

Such a shame... my favorite place to get coffee on a chilly Saturday morning.

No love herabouts for Panzanella, 14th & Union?

As was (is!) Seattle after Philly and Manhattan. Key: leave work at 5:30 (everyone else does) and pretend it's 10:00!!! *still adjusting to the change* Are you talking about food or clubs? Portland does not have the nightlife of any big city but there is some. Most of the city shuts down after 10 pm, however, and it was an adjustment after living in Chicago. regards, trillium ←

I want to like Black Bottle. I really, really, really do. But I've been three times and have had uneven experiences with the food and service each time. Food: have tried the clams (flavorless, although (inexplicably) the broth was pretty good and excellent for dipping (working theory: they threw in some clam juice)); the prosciutto flatbread (prosciutto cut way too thick, sysco-quality bechamel, and cold to the touch); and spicy shrimp (so cold to the touch that we sent it back; it was returned, heated, but had the same problem as the clams: rather flavorless, but enough that there was an issue (see below)). Service: good the first two times, but we were sitting at the counter, so it was easy enough. The third time, we waited for fifteen minutes (after being seated) to get our server's attention. Once we did, we ordered. I asked if a particular wine would go well with the above-described shrimp; our server said it would be terrific. It was not terrific; it was actually quite a bad pair, bad beyond the realm of subjectivity, and I wish our waiter had steered us away from it. Twenty more minutes waiting, and our food came out before the wine. Ugh. As I said, I really want to like this place, and I think it's trying...but there are some serious kinks that need to be worked out! I'll go back if the bar is open and I'll be happy to have some wine, but I'm done with the food...for awhile!

Noooooooo!!! Say it ain't so...Laurie, don't leave, we like being able to walk two blocks to get your cooking... Yup. Gulp. ←

Went back the next day for...ANOTHER falafel sandwich. Damn, that is one good falafel sandwich...and the garlic breath keeps people out of my office!

Yee-haw! I work near Pike Place market, but rarely go there for lunch in the summer due to the crush of tourists (and the fact that I live on Western Ave across the street from it ) so I frequently bemoan my downtown lunch options. Well, I'm here to tell you that I had the b-e-s-t falafel sandwich at Zaina's on 3rd Ave (it's in the street level of the Bon parking garage). I also had a piece of baklava (meh, boring, sadly), but damn, that falafel sandwich was killing. Perfect combination of hummus, tahini, garbanzos, _good_ lettuce, and tomatoes, wrapped in a warm grilled pita. Spiced to order (I opted for "not that spicy" so I could see what I was getting myself into). Damn, that was a good sandwich. I moved from Philly in January and have been trying to replicate my beloved center city falafel cart--I've finally found the place. It's the little things, right?

Paper? PAPER???!!! How 90's! Michael Klein's Columns

Not soon enough! That place was terrific! They are still working on getting the space ready but soon. Oh yes my Preciousss, sssooon. Rocky ←