Please go to the Straights of Malaya! Great, adventurous Malaysian cuisine and a fun neighborhood. Cross the street for some pretty strong margaritas at Lauriol Plaza and then try to make it home. Trust me, it's an adventure and a half.
You need to check out Zaytinya too. Chic, delicious tapas great for sharing, creative and tasty drinks and fun for groups. I think it's a hands down winner!
This is def worth a visit back. I have great memories of Patty Arbuckle's sweet potato fries and summer life on the island. Does anyone remember this restaurant being there?
Definitely! I agree with the tragic hat comment but hey, this isn't Project Runway!
Definitely try Z-burger in Chevy Chase. I tried it this weekend and fell in love. Watch out Five Guys, the DivaofYum has found your competition. Savory, decent sized patties with all the toppings you could ever want! Gotta try the onion rings and the z-sauce! YUM!!
Try something fun and different like the Arlington Arts Center near the hip Clarendon area. Check them out at the following link: http://www.arlingtonartscenter.org/entertaining_galleries.htm. Art and parties are awesome mates!
Unassuming, simple, home-made, organic and heavenly delicious Moorenko's in Silver Spring, MD is a hidden gem. Try the white chocolate pistachio and you will discover why. YUM!!
I had a watermelon vodka recently and fell in love
Fresh, crushed watermelon + sugar, to taste + vodka + ice = summer heaven
Singapore Bistro on 19th and L in Washington DC has the name right but if you look closely the sign below reads "Asian Cousin". Awesome!
And in Hilton Head, South Carolina somewhere I remember seeing a restaurant called Mexician Grill. We still laugh at that one!
bobby flay introduced me to blueberries, caramel and ice cream. best combination ever! bobby, i want to work for you!
my boyfriend has confirmed that the only dessert he enjoys is anything with cake, cream and strawberries. guess who'll be trying this sometime soon! thanks for the recipe!
I also love Mama Ayesha for Middle Eastern food (on Calvert just over the Ellington Bridge from Connecticut Ave). They have recently added several new dishes...both meat-based and vegetarian. Great food, nice ambiance and some of the most gracious staff in DC, I think.
My daughter who lives in Spain is home visiting for a few weeks. We watched 'Made in Spain' together and LOVED it. I was in Madrid a few weeks ago and based on Jose Andres' shows, I tried a couple of restaurants that serve regional food (Asturia and Gallego). Big success...thanks Jose. We also love Jaleo and Zaytina.
How were you able to get reservations there 3 times?! Is there a secret I don't know about?
Sorry about all the typose and spelling errors. Looks like it was written by a lazy illiterate who doesn't proof before posting. I'm not an illiterate.
Been to Minibar three times. In fact, I took a chef friend the second time (and a client the third.) Never disappointed. Point of reference José spent time in Ferran Adria's kitchen... and Katsuya Fukushima (his exec chef at Minibar) gets props too. They (and the working chefs who actually prep and present to 34 course menu in front of you like a sushi bar) spend time during the day experimenting like Adria's atelier does in Barcelona. José has a series on PBS called Made in Spain... which is a travel/cooking show and where he shows some of his simply techniques. It's worth the investment in the DVD... just to here his astonishing enthusiasm. The rest of his "empire" consists of 3 Jaleo locations (tapas), Zaytina (middle eastern small plates), Oyamel (Mexican) and they're opening a hotel near the Beverly Centre in LA. Anyhow. Minibar is a real treat. And while cutting edge experimental cooking/ thinking is great for special occasions, all the other places offer lots of great tastes too.
Palena in Cleveland Park (a block or two down from the natl zoo).. fantastic little place. the prix fixe menu is a steal if you want 3 courses, and their bar menu burger is consistantly ranked one of the best in dc. my favorite certainly! great drink menu- best old fashioned in town.
2 Amys has the best neapolitan pizza (glover park/cathedral area), but Faccia Luna (old town alexandria and arlington) has the best overall pizza around.
Georges for a cheesesteak, if you find yourself in Georgetown.
Foul Language and Rude Behavior from the Staff, is Standard!
If you like earsplitting foul language and disrespectful conduct from staff, you'll love it.
If you don't like, said, stay away.
With the exception of said burger, Harold's diner's food is ordinary and commonplace, for a diner.
I second Cafe Atlantico and Zaytinya. Both are Jose Andres's restaurants are fabulous. Also, the Minibar at Cafe Atlantico is suppose to be superb and quite the dining experience. Unfortunately, I too have yet to get a reservation. They open up a month prior to the date (ex. call at 10 am, July 24th for reservation on August 24th). If you've been or heard of the tasting menu at WD50 in NYC, I believe it is similar. If price isn't an issue, I would also suggest trying to make reservations at Citronelle, Michel Richard's other place in DC. AMAZING.
If you can plan ahead and have the cash, go to Jose Andres' minibar (inside Cafe Atalantico in the District). This is a very tough reservation to score (only 12 seats per night), so go here:
http://www.cafeatlantico.com/miniBar/reservations.htm
to read the policy and get ready to dial. I have yet to get lucky enough to get a reservation or off of the waiting list, but it would be worth it if you were so lucky! (See the phots of the food on the webiste.) I also am told that Cafe Atalantico is very good, but have not been because I would be gobbled up with envy of the people who got the rez at minibar.
For a place that is somewhat easier to get into, call now to book into Central, Michel Richard's fabulous (but relatively moderately priced) restaurant in the District. If you cannot get a rezzie, show up just as it opens at 5:30 pm and sit in the bar to dine.
I highly recommend starting with the gougeres (we ate two orders between two of us), and then moving on to the oysters, the lardon tart, the fried chicken (not a joke; even though the menu here is heavily French, the chicken was some of the best I ever had and comes with a tasty mustard sauce) and then the cassoulet. Delish!!
Several other people have recommended Zaytinya, but a word of caution -- get a reservation and be prepared for a VERY loud room. The bar always is packed, so waiting can be both uncomfortable and time-consuming. The food is good, but in my view not fine enough to merit a seventy-five minute wait for a table.
I have enjoyed Thai Square (multiple locations, but I like the one in Arlington) for some very authentic and moderately priced food. The duck curry is great!
For something informal, I recommend trying out a Five Guys burger (multiple convenient locations in DC). Order the spicy fries and accompany with your carbonated beverage of choice (try the root beer!!).
New place just opened up in the Penn Quarter Section - near Spy Museum and Portrait Gallery - called CoCo Sala. It is a chocolate lounge. http://cocosala.com/. We went the other night. Loved the lounge feel too it. The chocolate beyond description! They also have a few small bites to start the evening. The cocktail list was also really inventive!
Nora is fabo! I will also second Marrakesh as mentioned above. Beware- they take cash only!
i was just treated to a dinner at Nora and it was fabulous...wonderful service and very personable...i can't stop raving...think Alice Waters of the Mid-Atlantic...very nice.....
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Location: Washington DC
About: I am the Divaofyum. I follow all things yummy, anywhere and anytime.
Favorite foods: fresh, fat pieces of sushi. a sandwich with the proper proportion of bread to filling. a slice of thin crust pizza with the proper proportion of sauce and cheese. any combination of chocolate and nuts, custard and crust, coffee and cream.
Last bite on earth: the sweetest, fattest and pinkest piece of raw salmon on earth.