January 12, 2007
Just $20.07 Until 4 p.m., Then $30.07 Thereafter
We here at DCist wonder why they schedule Restaurant Week immediately after the Thanksgiving-Hanukah- Christmas-Kwanzaa season of fat-assedness. It's like D.C.'s restaurant community is our collective grandma: "Washington! My God, you look so gaunt! What in the world are they feeding you? It's high time you started having three course dinners after three course lunches. I mean you're rail thin! Look, your pants are hanging off of you." No Grandma, the pants are saggy because we had to "upgrade" to the relaxed version from the husky section.
At any rate, we're taking advantage of the week of cheap eats to get a taste of some of the best restaurants in town, and we hope you're doing the same. After a casual survey of the staff, it looks like the dreaded "upcharges" are here again, and some that are pretty steep. Vidalia had an $8 upcharge for sirloin, which steered us to the Tuscarora Pork Charcuterie, which was good. They also tacked on $4.50 for their littleneck clam chowder, which we ordered anyway and found excellent. Mendocino had several upcharges too, but we had a very good dinner nonetheless. We especially liked their not-too-sweet goat cheesecake with sorbet.
Nage pleased us with fantastic food—albeit fun-size— like a warm brie and arugula salad and braised short ribs gremolata atop marscapone mascarpone and sundried cherry polenta. We were even surprised at good non-tapas sized food at Agua Ardiente. Newcomer D'Acqua seems to be finding its legs a little still, as it's only been open a week, but the service was top-notch; probably because most of the staff came with general manager Raimondo Russo when he left Sette Osteria.
Have you found any hidden gems or big time stinkers? Let us know.
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Went for lunch at TenPenh with office mates.
Good deal.
A choice between four appetizers. Any entree from the regular lunch menu, then a choice between four desserts.
Pretty solid, no complaints.
I got a last minute lunch reservation at Zengo yesterday. The portions were generous, the food mixed, and the service terrible (which I find is normal for restaurant week). Stay away from the spring roll appetizer; the arepas were much, much better. The skirt steak, however, was near perfect. For dessert, go for the flan.
I went to Zola on Tuesday for dinner and it was great. No upcharges and you could choose from anything on the menu for the RW price. Service was also very good.
I also thought Nage was pretty good, though the desserts left something to be desired. My lady friend correctly noted that one of the desserts offered should include some kind of chocolate. The two dishes mentioned above were the best, in my opinion.
"We here at DCist wonder why they schedule Restaurant Week immediately after..."
Um, because it's a slow time of year for them, and discounted business is better than no business. It's a win/win.
Went to Vidalia last year, and almost everything had an upcharge. The meal and service were mediocre at best, and it was barely worth the 30.07 + upcharges. I've had a better crabcake at Logan Tavern (and that's saying something).
Went to Taberna Del Alabardero last night, and they had TWO choices each for appetizer, entree and dessert. The "pre-appetizer" was olive and a shot glass of aioli that tasted like kraft mayo. Nothing to put it on, either. Very strange. The service was adequate, but the food was awful. Shamefully awful. I had the steak, which was rubbery and chewy. My companion had the same and hers was similarly inexcusably gross. We were not asked how we wanted it cooked and it came out medium rare. The appetizer I had was soup and it was salty and chalky; tasted like it was made from a powder. The other two people with me had a salad, which seemed made from a combination of bag lettuce and canned pears.
If a place is gonna jerk me around with almost NO choices for the restaurant week menu, they should at least have the common courtesy to make them two really great dishes. As it stands, I will not patronize that place again.
***
Went to PS7's Wed and they had their entire menu available, which I always find nice. The menu itself, was small and uninteresting, but I had a Tuna tar tare appetizer and a steak for my entree, both of which were really, really good. I had churros for dessert and they were amazing. That being said, I was interested in exactly nothing else on their menu, so I probably won't go back, except to have a drink in their swanky bar.
Had lunch at Ceiba earlier this week; limited apps & desserts, but all entrees were available. The shrimp cocktail was disappointing, but the chicken salad was awesome (they fry the chicken cutlet so that it makes the bowl, very nice touch), and the flan was pretty good. Definitely worth it.
i'm letting the cat out of the bag, but taberna is NOT a restaurant to go to during RW. try your luck again at the 3-7pm happy hour. you won't be disappointed.
Did 1789 last nite. Entire menu was fair game, with $10 upcharge for the sirloin or the lamb - not bad considering those entrees are normally $35 and $38, respectively. I got the sirloin and it was pretty good. 1789 isn't a steakhouse, so it's not going to be a Cap Grille steak, but worth it. We got crab salad and quail salad apps, sirloin and sea bass entrees, apple tart and poached pear desserts. Normal price would be $116, we ate for $70 (60 plus upcharge). I thought it was well worth it.
mascarpone, not marscapone.
I went to Cafe 15 for dinner on Wednesday - good service, but only two choices per course and the food was mediocre. I tried Indigo Landing last night and it was amazing: lots of choices, delicious food, plus good service and no up-charges. I'll be going back to Indigo Landing, but not Cafe 15. Having brunch at Poste on Sunday, so I'll see how that is then...
i want to love vegetate, and i hope they really get a liquor license this time, but the service was HORRIBLE when i went on wednesday. super slow, and the waiter NEVER came back to our table after he dropped off the main course. we had to flag down the other server in the dining room to get more to drink, etc.
I went to Tosca on Wednesday night, and it was a really pleasant experience.
They had what seemed like a whole menu on offer, with upcharges for a few items; and the food and service were excellent. I started with a radicchio/gorgonzola/bartlett pear salad, then had an entree of pork tenderloin, and a desert of warm chocolate cake with a nice gooey cherry center.
Tosca is a little bit more formal/stuffier than places I normally go to, but I'll definitely go back sometime because it was really, REALLY good.
we went to inde bleu tues night. it was good. the shrimp samosoas were the best. service was ok, they have been better. i think they were having an off night with the crowd or something. the chicken stuffed with goat cheese was good, but salmon look much better. desert needed some chocolate, but the marshmellow ice cream was tasty.
I too am a Restaurant Week upcharge victim, only I self-inflict the upcharges. I always walk in the door for the price fixed menu, but then usually end up deciding I'd rather spend a few dollars more and get the exact item that I want. Multiply that by 3 courses and I'm officially a sucker. Doh!
p.s. Mendocino was one of my picks too. http://thedcconcierge.typepad.com/the_dc_concierge/2007/01/tgirw.html
We went to Agraria last night, great choice. Food was delicious, service was excellent, and it wasn't crowded. Three choices for each course (appetizer, entree, dessert), plus three more choices for appetizer and for entree with $4-$6 upcharges. Total tab was $85 for two people (including glass of wine and two beverages, excluding tip).
Went to Oye on Monday night. Food and service was great; no upcharges. They are actually doing restaurant month, not just this week.
Went to Oye on Monday night. Food and service were great. A lot of options available and no upcharges. They are actually making it a restaurant month not just a week, so the 20/30 deal is good through January.
I went to Seasons in the Four Seasons on Tuesday. Solid food (scallop app and a short rib entree), but nothing special And the room was kind of underwhelming. But the service was impeccable. Drink prices insane. (I know, I know...we're getting a good deal.)
PS7 on Wednesday. I thought it was a real winner. They let us "grow" the party size from 4 to 7 the day before, and were extremely accommodating about it. Service, which I certainly would be willing to let slide during RW, was also impeccable. I had the pork belly app and the sweetbread entree. They also had a number of unique wines in the $30-$40 range.
And I did Taberna last night as well. Unlike the other comments, I thought the flank steak was great, and both apps were solid. Amazing to be able to have a great meal (good service here too), basically drink like fish (including four rounds of dessert wine / sherry afterwards, (one complimentary)), and still walk out with a bill for $99 for two people.
And destined for Willow tonight.
Wed night went to the Lavandou in Cleveland Park. Enjoyed Quail stuffed with wild rice on bed of apples, Black Pepper Pasta Three Cheese Ravioli in Yellow Tomato Sauce, and orange crepes for desert.
The Black Pepper Pasta was the highlight, being both sweet, sour, and having a good bite. The quail was alright. The orange crepes were a really excellent light desert.
Portions were small but filling overall and it made for a relaxing meal before checking out Emily Haines. I really like well made light food before going to a movie as opposed to being grossly stuffed and bloated. I'd go back for dinner and a movie at the Uptown sometime.
We tried PS7's too (last night) and found it fine but uninspiring. They had a full menu, though judging by their website not the normal one. Portions were small. Service was fine but so quick that we were through our three courses in under an hour. Felt very rushed. It's a beautiful space, but I doubt I'd go back at full price. Incidentally, they're extending the promotion for the rest of the month too.
My favorite RW experience to date remains Viridian last summer. I can't recommend Viridian enough. Awesome food, full menu (no upcharges), excellent service.
The link to the Restaurant Week page is broken; should go here.
Just Made My Day!
Just $20.07 Until 4 p.m., Then $30.07 Thereafter!
Sound like a, Movie Theater in Johnstown NY!
Love,
Wes
Kaz Sushi Bistro was a great deal, with choice of four appetizers (excellent grilled baby octopus), then five sushi items (up to three rolls, plus they also had pieces of sushi) and a dessert (choice of four). No upcharges for anything.
The Oval Room - food was great, service was horrible.
We had a lovely meal and great service at Acadiana. The BBQ shrimp of myth and legend came with a $9 upcharge, but they were huge and perfectly cooked, and I was very pleased with my "grillades and grits." Desserts were meh, but not so meh as to take away from the rest of the meal. I'd probably have been happy if they'd just brought me another yummy biscuit with cream cheese and pepper jelly at the end.
Zola is the place to go. NO upcharges, the entire menu, and everything is fricking delicious.