Tag Archives: restaurants

May 16, 2013 · 10:59 pm

Happy Hour Chronicles: Vinoteca

pic courtesy of We Love DC

pic courtesy of We Love DC

Vinoteca, once you find it, lives up to the hype. “Everyone goes to Vinoteca.” “My friend had a great engagement party there.” “It’s the best place in the world!” (Choose the true statement)

Tucked into a demure rowhouse off U Street, Vinoteca surrounds you with a clean and modern Italian feel once inside.  What is an Italian feel?  You be the judge.

The happy hour crowd is jovial but not rowdy, a welcome change for the U street scene, especially across the street at Solly’s where standing room can be not nearly roomy enough. The bar is adorned with greenery in tasteful and modern glass and crowded with tasteful and modern young professionals.

Happy hour extends to the high stools around a counter separating the bar area from the dinner seating.  Wine by the glass is half off, though the delightful bartenders may cut you a deal on a bottle.

Stop onto Vinoteca for a glass (or glasses) of wine after a long day at work. You’ll be transported to a world where clean lines, sunlight, and good wine are at the front of your mind.

1940 11th St NW
Happy Hour runs from 5-7pm every day.

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August 6, 2012 · 10:10 am

Potbelly Ice Cream Sandwich: Which Flavor Goes Well with Shame?

DC residents all know Potbelly—the local chain that specializes in delicious sandwiches, cookies and ice cream milkshakes that all make you feel bad about yourself. Seriously. Even their new Mediterranean vegetable sandwich is enough to make you understand that you’ve disappointed your family. The restaurant also offers salads, but no one knows what they are like because no one has ever ordered a salad at a Potbelly.

And while DC residents love to brag to their out-of-town friends about how glad we are to have places like Jack Rose, chefs like José Andres and chains like Chop’t, Teaism  and the great and powerful Sweet Green, we all have a dirty little secret: We all eat at Potbelly. And we all love it. Every time we have one of their oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, it’s the best thing we eat all day. Every time.

Well, the next time you have to decide between eating yourself to shame with a sandwich, a cookie or a milk shake, spare yourself the decision and just conflate all three: Potbelly makes ice cream sandwiches.

Yeah.

You know how Potbelly’s milkshakes taste like heaven probably smells? Well, they take the ice cream from those things and they stick it between any two cookies you choose. Personally, I’d go for two oatmeal chocolate chips, but the brownie chocolate chip cookie (seriously, I got diabetes just typing that) with vanilla ice cream would probably be a nice throwback to suburban American childhood.

I can’t for the life of me figure out what kind of ice cream would go well in a sugar cookie sandwich, but if you figure it out, be sure to mention it in your will.

Rick Barry  currently directs communication for a network of churches in Washington, DC, and in his spare time serves as managing editor of Vision of the City, a blog dedicated to the intersection of Christian faith and civic life.  He has cut a watermelon in half with his bare hand. The last is, by far, his proudest achievement.

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May 15, 2012 · 10:48 am

Russia House: Are We Still in DC?

pic courtesy of Do WashingtonRussia House, situated in a grand structure at the corner of Connecticut and Florida in upper Dupont, is a spectacular departure from the Aleros and Subways nearby.  Hello, red velvet curtains and chandeliers.  Goodbye sunshine and humidity.  You’re in Russia now, babe.

The first thing to strike is the darkness.  Much more intense than the comparative darkness of just being inside on a sunny day, Russia House imbues the customer with a luxurious darkness, the kind that makes you want to read Arthur Conan Doyle and enjoy a nice warm stew.  The first floor is set with small tables on a thick carpet.

The staff of attractive blondes in short black dresses attends to drink and food orders.  If you don’t know your Russian vodkas (Russia House’s list goes on for two pages), hew closely to this advice: just order a Moscow Mule.  Presented in a very tall and large chilled martini glass, the drink is made with vodka, ginger beer and lime.  The refreshing taste and sheer volume make this the obvious drink of choice.  But if you prefer, there are many other martini options, as well as imported Russian beers.

The food is also impressive.  Since Russian cuisine is not one of my fortés, I sampled from the starters and was not disappointed.  Pelmini, little pillows of veal and pork served in marsala cream with forest mushrooms, made me feel decadent and cultured.  And I don’t know why I was surprised, but the Chicken Croquettes with Two Russian Salads were not spring greens but mayonnaise-based cold salads.  Delicious and creamy, with crunchy croquettes finishing out the dish…equals yum.

While not a bargain by any means, Russia House delivers decadence without breaking the bank.  But seriously, use a Groupon if you possibly can.

I don’t go in for being inside on a sunny day, but at Russia House, I could get behind the idea with the help of a martini and a small plate of labor intensive snackage.

At 1800 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

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April 2, 2012 · 9:35 am

Domku: Forced, Enjoyable Lingering

pic courtesy Brunch in Washington DC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel absolute credit is due to Domku‘s atmosphere and food that, in spite of starkly slow service and a bug found on a plate, I still want to go back.

Walking into the cozy and not-too-small restaurant just off Georgia Avenue (and walkable from the Petworth Metro), I felt right at home.  Fanciful decor covers the walls and the mismatched tables and chairs create an adorable atmospere, set off by the brightly lit bar (presumably the counter of the hardware store the place was in a former life) and matching vintage chrome bar stools.  The excellent taste is unsurprisingly Scandanavian, as is the food.  All this reminds me: I need to go to Ikea.

The drinks are inventive and far reaching.  The imported beers even include the elusive Baltyka 4, 8, and 9, as well as local favorite, DC Brau.  Armenian brandy is available, and the cocktails have names like Orange Revolution.  The aquavit list is extensive (if you’re into that kind of thing).

The food is the main draw, besides the delightful surroundings.  The Paté Trio appetizer sets you up for an exotic and cultivated meal.  My favorite of the three was the brandy and black currant paté–can’t get that at Trader Joe’s.  I followed this up with a plate-sized schnitzel.  I felt like I was back in eastern Europe, though I’d consider the service at Domku a tad slower.  Our table asked, then reminded, then pleaded for more water throughout the course of the meal.  Lingering is definitely the right word, but this was not fully by choice.

Of course, the other dishes, potato pancake with lentils, and vegetarian meatballs, were also delicious.  Sitting around the small table, rubbing elbows and enjoying the company of friends is the vision the restaurant hoped for, yet the fact that only one waitress was covering the entire place cut into its enjoyment.  Still, we were not in a hurry, and even selected the nutty and delicious beet cake to conclude a lovely meal.

Now, on to the bug in the bread.  We had noticed a tiny bug on top of the Wasa crackers that accompanied the pickled cabbage appetizer. This we sent back and the dish was removed from our bill.  Later, halfway through our meal, the Ecolab lady made an appearance.  Either that was a mighty fast response to a call for an exterminator, or our bug was not the first.

The tab for all this was upwards of $30 per person.  But strangely, in spite of the slow service, the steep price and the mysterious bug situation, I dreamily wouldn’t mind a repeat.  The light bouncing off the raw wood is so bright and welcoming, the location so perfect for Petworth, and the “pan-denavian-ness” of it all makes it impossible not to like.

Maybe next time I’ll return for brunch.  I’ll remember to bring the paper, as this could take a while.

821 Upshur Street, NW

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March 22, 2012 · 12:02 pm

Zuppa Fresca: What’s Italian for Potential?

pic courtesy of Prince of Petworth

Zuppa Fresca, one of NoMa‘s latest restaurants, is tucked away in the ground floor of the Loree Grand luxury apartment building at 250 K Street NE. They serve modern Italian cuisine. It has some nice outdoor seating and a strangely configured dining room inside, featuring sharp black tablecloths. Fancy! There’s also a fully stocked bar where you can just hang and sip on a glass of your favorite chianti. The cantina song from Star Wars played overhead, which was certainly a first in my book.

My brocolini di pollo was delicious, however, the crab bruschetta left a little to be desired. The service is a bit slow, but I’m sure it’s just a case of getting things in order. We here at DC Style is Real hope Chef Alfio Celia can work out the kinks and give NoMa a great place to go for indulging  in rich, tasty Italian.  In a spot devoid of many other quality lunch options, a go-to place would be a boon to the growing near-H neighborhood.
Written by Joel Church. Buy his book Fingerprints here at Amazon.

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March 21, 2012 · 11:17 am

Taylor: It’s a Good Day for a Hoagie

pic courtesy of We Love DC

Today Taylor Gourmet will be giving away a free Puck’s Soda with purchase of a hoagie or salad.

I’ve never heard of Puck’s either, but this is an excellent reminder that Taylor is a great choice for a lunch break in the middle of your work week.  After opening on H Street years ago, the local franchise has expanded to locations on 14th Street near Logan Circle and in Mount Vernon near Busboys and Poets.

In keeping with the Taylor aesthetic, Puck’s purports to be a small-batch, naturally sweetened type of thirst quencher.  Taylor sandwiches are all made to order, with the customer’s name called out when ready (remember when Starbucks did that?).  The sandwiches are all named for streets in Philadelphia, from whence the delicious, chewy taste explosions hail.

Yes, the service is super chill.  Keep this in mind if you’re in a rush or need a catering order filled by a certain hour.  Taylor is for sunny days when you seriously consider getting a Vespa.

Locations near you, so today’s your day.

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March 6, 2012 · 10:37 am

Ms. Vedral Goes To Washington: Boundary Road or Thoughts on Getting a Vespa

I think I’ve identified the main difference between New York and DC. No, it’s not size (although in terms of being a extraordinary city, it does matter and as New York City’s constant land use politics reveals, it’s also about how you use it). In all things at all times, New York brings its A-game. There is in fact, no other game that is acceptable in New York.  Because of the sheer number of people in the city, competition for everything is fierce and if you don’t know how to crush it, you’ll get crushed. It’s not enough to be smart and good at what you do. You also need to market yourself well, have some style, be interesting and also stand out just a bit from the crowd.

DC, I’m sad to say it, but I think we need to talk about pulling your grade up a bit. You’ve got a lot of potential to be an A-game city. One of the reasons I know this is because of Boundary Road (although, in the future, if an awesome and hyped-up restaurant opens in your city, you absolutely cannot let people get reservations to it a week after it opens–that’s the first step toward an A-game).

I digress.

Boundary Road made me feel like I was back in New York. It is the complete package: amazing food, well-made (and cleverly named) cocktails, great atmosphere and unique presentation. In general, I have found H Street to be the most “New York” of all neighborhoods in DC (because it feels a lot like Brooklyn seven or eight years ago), so it’s not surprising that Boundary Road felt like home.

Let’s talk food: believe the hype, the PB&J Foie Gras is delicious and worth it. Midway through eating my half of it, I was already mourning the fact that I was almost finished. How can you go wrong with foie gras, peanut butter and peach vanilla jelly? After that experience, I was concerned that my entree might not be as mind-blowing. I was wrong. The Brick Chicken was delicious and even though I felt like Henry VIII, drumsticks with Brussels sprouts are always a winning combination. My companion for the night had the pork and that was also pretty tasty. Dessert was a Greek yogurt tart with fruit compote and it would have made the gods proud.

Let’s talk drinks: I’m a sucker for cleverly named…anything. I’m Thinking About Getting a Vespa was as delicious as the name was witty and if you knew me well, you’d know that I’ll drink anything involving blood orange. El Luchador, my first drink of the night, was tequila, lemongrass and jalapeno and if it weren’t for the fact that I had to try the Vespa, I would have gotten a second.

Now, let’s talk atmosphere. Wood and metal with interesting touches like a collection of pitchers on the shelves and an old mattress spring for a chandelier completed the experience. Add a finishing touch of knowledgeable and attentive servers and you get an A in my book! I will definitely be back…although this time, I hope that they play a little harder to get.

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