DMV Dining

As 2011 draws to a close, we are proud to celebrate our first full year of content by listing the top dishes we have encountered over the last twelve months. The task proved difficult as we have come across some thrilling, creative, and downright delicious foods across the DC area. So, without further ado, here are our absolute favorites from 2011:

Brett

Graffiato – Roasted Potato Gnocchi: Graffiato was one of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the year, and it did not disappoint as Chef Isabella’s gnocchi was one of the best pastas we had come across this year. Incredibly delicate, it was accompanied with braised pork shank and burrata. Just exceptional.

Fishnet – Fish Tacos: I have already been to Fishnet twice since they opened just last month and I can’t wait to return once they reopen next week. I was fortunate enough to have their fish tacos on my most recent visit, which were comprised of pieces of fried salmon, coleslaw, sour cream, garlic, and lime wrapped in a freshly-grilled tortilla. Between the fresh ingredients and terrific execution, it’s one of my top new restaurants of the year.

Obelisk – Burrata: The homemade burrata at Obelisk was simply heavenly. Drizzled with olive oil, it’s one of the best cheeses you’ll find in DC. Soft and creamy with just a hint of salt, I wish I had a plate of it in front of me right now.

Komi – Roasted dates stuffed with mascarpone cheese: While Komi might have been our top dining experience of the year, I always think back to this dish when recalling this wonderful meal. A perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Inn at Little Washington – Tuna Pretending to be Filet Mignon: Sheer decadence. Topped with seared duck foie gras and accompanied with charred onions and a burgundy butter sauce, it doesn’t get much better than Chef O’Connell’s signature dish. This flawlessly cooked piece of fish makes the visit to the Inn worthwhile by itself.

Palena – The Palena Cheese Burger: The best burger in DC. ‘Nuff said.

Jerry’s Seafood – The Crab Bomb: Ten ounces of pure jumbo lump crab meat, no filler. It’s a rite of passage for any resident in the DC metropolitan area.

Marathon Deli – Gyro: While there are a multitude of places where one can buy a gyro in the area, Marathon Deli in College Park serves up the best. Between the blend of lamb and beef, feta, tomatoes, onions, and homemade tzatziki, it’s one delicious gyro. The combo meal is a hell of a value, too.

Rachel

Central – Lobster Burger: There were lots of things I wanted to try at our first visit to Central this summer, but I couldn’t resist ordering Michel Richard’s famous lobster burger. Between the combination of the warm bun, the crunch of the parmesan crisp, and the incredibly juicy lobster, this was certainly one memorable burger.

Atlas Room: Chicken Wonton Soup: When we asked our friends what to get at Atlas Room, their first response was, “get the wonton soup.” Generally, soup isn’t the most standout item in a meal, but it was the best decision I made that night. The soup featured chicken dumplings, shitake mushrooms, and a savoy cabbage broth with crispy onions. I’ll go back to Atlas Room again for the soup alone.

Kushi – Black Sesame Gelato: We had so many wonderful bites during our dizzying meal at Kushi, but I have to say the best was the black sesame gelato to end our meal. It was such a distinct and unique flavor that I nearly forgot all the sushi and grilled items we consumed that evening.

Trummer’s on Main: The Titanic Drink: Trummer’s holds a special place with us since we went there during the weekend of our one-year anniversary. They have many tasty cocktails there, but the signature drink of champagne and vodka was truly outstanding, let alone the witty presentation. With a mound of ice floating in the glass with muddled grapes sunk at the bottom, it’s easy to see why this cocktail is so popular.

Fiola – Lobster Ravioli: I just went to Fiola a few weeks ago and haven’t been able to stop raving about this dish. One and a half pounds of lobster meat, some in wonton-like dumplings, and the rest floating in a lobster sauce. May be my favorite dish of 2011.

America Eats Tavern – Hush Puppies: We just tried America Eats this week (review forthcoming), and I’m still thinking about those wonderful hush puppies we ate there. They were warm, buttery, and somehow incredibly light and crispy. They tasted even better dipped in the corn butter that accompanied it. Yum.

Over the past couple of years, I have gone all out for Rachel’s birthday when it comes to surprise dinners. Not only is it a great gift, but it’s also a fun way to try new restaurants as well as expand our palette. This time, however, I wanted to do something a little more romantic and intimate, but also dine at a restaurant we had never been to before. One destination instantly came to mind: Obelisk.

It’s amazing that after all these years that we had never to been to one of DC’s finest Italian restaurants up until last month. I felt it was an ideal destination given the intimacy (the dining room only hosts a handful of tables) as well as the universal praise. Oh, and compared to past birthdays, it was an incredible value.

Obelisk features a prix-fixe menu – five courses for $75 per person. And while that may appear steep to some, between the quality and quantity of food, it is well worth the money.

After ordering a few glasses of wine and noshing on their delicious bread basket, we chose our primi, secondi, and dolci from the handwritten menu. However our first course, or antipasti, was completely predetermined by the kitchen.

Our waitress soon brought over a variety of plates within minutes of each other, the first of which was their homemade burrata. My goodness was this delicious. Drizzled with olive oil, the cheese was creamy, delicate, and really got our taste buds flowing.

Up next was a salt cod frittata that featured a pleasant balance of sweet and salty. Soon after, we received a fennel and radish salad, fresh-roasted sardines topped with house made breadcrumbs, and finally, swiss chard stewed with wine and crostini. While the burrata was our favorite of the antipasti course, the swiss chard was a close runner-up thanks in part to its savoriness.

After finishing our quintet of plates, it was time to move onto the primi course. Rachel ordered the butternut squash ravioli. Meanwhile, I went in a completely different direction and ordered the lentil soup after the waitress remarked how much she loved the house ground sausage that’s in it. Well, it turned out she was absolutely right – the meat was outstanding. It also wasn’t your typical lentil soup since the beans were pureed, resulting in a much thicker consistency. It practically felt like comfort food considering how cold it was outside. It’s not often I opt for soups for a first course, but I’m really glad I took the waitresses’ advice in this case.

Rachel’s butternut squash ravioli literally melted in her mouth. She savored each bite and reluctantly gave me some to try, which I agreed were incredibly light while at the same time rich in flavor.

For our main/secondi course, I went with the roasted duck breast. Cooked medium-rare, the duck was tender, succulent, and generously portioned. I often forget how fatty duck is, and given the size of the portion, there’s a considerable amount of fat to work around. Nonetheless, I have to tip my hat to the kitchen on the execution of the dish. It was wonderfully juicy, full of flavor, and cooked at exactly the right temperature.

Rachel had the grouper which was lightly seared with artichoke, pork belly, and onions. The fish was superbly cooked and even I agreed how well the artichokes and pork went with the fish, and I’m not even a fish person. To put it succinctly, I would have ordered this dish for myself.

Following our excellent entrees, we then moved onto the cheese (formaggi) course. We received three different varieties of cheeses as well as a side of sour cherries. I’m not going to lie, we forgot to take notes at this point in the meal (blogger fail), but to my recollection, we had Pipe Dream Farm’s goat cheese, Bonrus (a soft sheep’s milk cheese), and Pecorino (a harder sheep’s milk cheese). Again, I am not entirely sure if these were the exact cheeses we received, but the sour cherries were a nice accompaniment.

We had finally reached the dolci part of the evening, and given how much food we had consumed up until this point, it was a good thing that this was our final course! Naturally, it did not disappoint. I went with the chocolate cake accompanied with a mint crème anglaise. I, like others I’m sure, love the combination of mint and chocolate and this dessert absolutely nailed it. The chocolate cake was wading in a small layer of anglaise which contained just the right amount of mintiness. An excellent dish all around.

Rachel didn’t want to get the same dessert as me, so she got the pear polenta tart with basil ice cream. This was the only dish she was a slightly disappointed with as it was tasty but didn’t really wow her. She felt she should have ordered the chocolate cake after she tried a bite of mine, but what is the fun in that?

We had an exceptional meal at Obelisk and I was very glad we ended up going here this year for Rachel’s birthday. The service was pleasant, helpful, and we never felt rushed. We were even more amazed that we received so much food for just $75 per person. While DC is in the midst of opening more restaurants than ever before, it’s good to know that Obelisk has proven that they are still one of the very best in the city.

A few weeks ago, I went out to dinner for a girls’ night with a bunch of my close friends in DC. We weren’t celebrating any special occasion, but it had been awhile since all of us were together and we decided to have a fun night out at Fiola, one of the newer and more acclaimed restaurants to open this year.

While I had never been to Fabio Trabocchi’s original restaurant, Maestro, I have always heard great things about his food and reputation, and I was very excited to try his new venue that has been receiving rave reviews all year. We knew this meal would put a dent in our wallets, but we were ready for a fun and memorable evening.

First things first, we had to find Fiola! A word to the wise: while the address says Pennsylvania Avenue, it actually leads you to the back of the restaurant. Turns out that you need to go around to Indiana Avenue to come across the entrance. Tricky, indeed.

Once we all gathered and had some cocktails, we were seated to our table. I had heard that Jeff Faile’s cocktails weren’t to be missed, so I ordered a Milan Mule, which was his take on a Moscow Mule but was concocted with Plymouth gin, Amaro Abano, lime juice, and Blenheim ginger ale.

There were seven of us, so we split two bottles of tasty prosseco throughout the meal. The first item brought to our table was their incredible homemade rolls. These were more like buttery croissants or brioche buns as opposed to traditional rolls, and they were a great indication of what was to time. I swear I would go back to Fiola in a heartbeat just for these rolls alone.

We split two appetizers for the table and were very happy with both. First up were the Fiola meatballs, topped with a sunny side up egg and Pecorino Toscano. I’m starting to learn that everything tastes better with a runny egg on it, and these were no exception. The meatballs were wonderful and the sauce was irresistible. The bread we had wasn’t the best for dipping, but we made sure there was nothing left in the bowl.

Next up was one of the restaurant’s daily specials. If they are offering it, do not hesitate to order the dates stuffed with fois gras wrapped in prosciutto and served with generous shavings of Parmesan and drizzled with balsamic. There were only a few dates, so we cut them up for everyone to try. It might not have been the best way to sample it as it is meant to be a singular burst of flavor, but I still savored each bite.

There were so many appealing entrees to choose from that it was hard to make a decision, especially since you can order most fresh pastas as half portions if you are torn between pasta and something else. In the end, I knew I had to get Fabio’s signature dish that was a carryover from Maestro, and that would be the lobster ravioli. It just sounded too good to pass up, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed.

The waiter informed me that the dish consists of one and a half pounds of lobster in total, and I believed him once it was placed in front of me. In the dish were giant chunks of lobster claw and tail sitting in a lobster broth, not to mention even more chunks of lobster stuffed inside the ravioli, which more closely resembled thin wontons. I loved the delicate pasta with the meat inside as opposed to the commonly found version of pureed lobster with cheese. The lobster itself was infused with ginger and the sauce was creamy but somehow not heavy at all. I was in heaven. I don’t think I’ll order it if I come back, only because there are so many other appealing dishes on the menu that I want to try.

We were completely stuffed at this point, but we wanted to try at least one dessert to see what they were like, so we ordered the Bombolini. The dolce comprised of donuts filled with ricotta and were topped with powdered sugar. There was also marmalade and gelato to dip the donuts in, and they were great fluffy bites to share amongst the table. They reminded me of the zeppoles from Graffiato, and I have to admit, I think these were even better.

With the bill came more sweets, including a tiny macaron and a piece of chocolate with cream inside. I always love when restaurants give an extra treat to send us home.

I should also mention just how wonderful the service was. We were a large party with a baby and stroller and they were definitely accommodating to us. When our entrees came, a few of them seemed to be more room temperature as opposed to hot, and when we said something, the waiter quickly took them away and brought up fresh dishes for us within minutes. While some of us were waiting for our dishes to come back, he even poured some extra prosecco into our glasses to make up for the delay. We certainly appreciated the gesture.

Overall, we were all very full and content when we left the restaurant. Fiola is certainly not somewhere I would go on a regular basis as it was certainly an expensive meal, but everything tasted like it was prepared with great care and simply tasted of a higher caliber. I was definitely eying some of my friends’ dishes, like the homemade lasagna, the short ribs, arctic char, bucatini, gnocchi, and scallops.

I should note that Fiola also has a “Presto!” lunch special where you have your choice of entrée and a beverage for only $15.  There are only half a dozen entrees to choose from, but it’s a great way to try Fiola without breaking the bank. There’s also a happy hour from 4pm to 6pm that features $6 cocktails and glasses of prosecco. So whether you go for lunch, happy hour, or dinner, do not miss out on Fiola. I’m sure glad I didn’t.

While I had never been to Napoleon since it opened in Adams Morgan several years ago, I have now been for brunch twice in the last few weeks. I can now say that it is a great place to catch up with a close friend as well as a fun gathering with a group of girlfriends.

Walking into the restaurant, it definitely has a fun and classy vibe, with the red and black walls, chandeliers, disco ball hanging from the ceiling, and French music playing in the background. I was told that this place is known for fun coffee drinks, champagne cocktails, and of course, croissants, crepes, and Croque Monsieur.

The first time I went with my friend Livya, she insisted I share the chocolate croissant with her, and what a great decision that was! Buttery, flaky, and with just the right amount of chocolate inside, it tasted like something straight out of Paris.

We then chose from some of the decadent-sounding coffee drinks, and I went with the mocha cappuccino while Livya ordered the French vanilla latte. And what would brunch be without mimosas? We got the blood orange mimosa with Sicilian blood orange juice and prosecco. If the drinks were any indication of how the food would be, then this was a good start.

For my entrée, I ordered the Bolivar, which consisted of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs rolled into two crepes and topped with a citrus caper sour cream. I loved the lightness of the crepes, and the fact that they were filled with salmon and eggs made for a great bite, especially with the cream on top. I generally avoid filling up on potatoes during brunch, but these were too good to resist.

As I mentioned, I didn’t have to wait too long, as a group of us went again and warmed up from the cold this past Sunday. Again I got the blood orange mimosa, as well as the tropical green tea that came in a nice individual pot. I wanted to try something different this time, and was torn between one of the crepes or getting a benedict. In the end, I went with the smoked salmon Benedict, and was very happy with my choice.

The portions of smoked salmon beneath the nicely poached eggs were generous, and with those lovely potatoes it was just a satisfying dish all around.

Napoleon may also be known as a champagne bar at night and a fun lounge in Adams Morgan, but I would highly recommend it as a great brunch option that won’t break the bank but will make you feel like you’re in a Parisian cafe in downtown DC.

As you may have guessed from our Twitter posts over the last week or so, I was just in New Orleans for nine days for my company’s annual meeting. Our meetings are so large (20,000+ attendees) that we can only rotate between a handful of cities. Let’s just say that the years we go to New Orleans and Las Vegas are a little more anticipated than our conventions in Anaheim and Orlando.

Anyway, it’s become tradition that Brett has tagged along either in the beginning before things get too crazy or at the end after the storm has passed. We’ll get to some places that Brett and I went together later this week, but for me, I have to start at the end with one of the most decadent meals I had in NOLA. There are of course several places like this to choose from, but I decided to end my New Orleans week with the famous Breakfast at Brennan’s.

Brennan’s on Royal Street has been home to gluttonous breakfasts and dinners since 1946. I went in with three other colleagues fully prepared to roll ourselves out, and that we did.

We each decided to go with the three-course prix fixe menu for $36, because, well, when in Rome, right? Everything sounded so good that it was difficult to choose. I started with the Creole Bloody Mary and decided to try the Southern Baked Apple with double cream as my appetizer.

I got the cream on the side just so it wouldn’t overpower the apple, and I have to say dipping the apple in the cream was a fun way to eat it. The apple was huge and tasted more like a dessert than a breakfast starter, but I was in heaven. If this was any indication of what was to come, then we were in for a treat.

For my entree, I ordered the quintessential New Orleans breakfast dish, Eggs Sardou. If you’re not familiar with the dish, it’s poached eggs on artichoke bottoms atop a bed of creamed spinach and covered with Hollandaise sauce. Again, I got my Hollandaise on the side, because I’m just not a big fan of Hollandaise. Other dishes ordered at the table were the the Oysters Benedict, Eggs Houssarde (another famous dish), and the Eggs Bayou.

I was in love with the dish itself. The yolk of the poached eggs ran into the already creamy spinach and stacked with the artichoke, making for a perfect bite. The dish also came with a grilled tomato with Parmesan cheese, which we all enjoyed. The spinach wasn’t too heavy or overly creamy, and I had to resist finishing every bite in order to save room for dessert.

Ah yes, dessert. While there were many tasty options on the menu, it took five seconds to make the decision to order the Bananas Foster. One of the things Brennan’s is most famous for is the Bananas Foster as the dish was actually invented here.

Our waiter Ron was quite the ham and enjoyed putting on a show of flambéing the bananas and strawberries for the crepe dish. How did it taste? It was divine. The bananas were of course sautéed with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and banana liqueur, and then served over vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect end to an incredibly decadent meal and a foodie’s dream week in New Orleans.

When I first read on Don Rockwell that Ferhat Yalcin, the former general manager of Corduroy (and one of our favorite restaurants), would be opening a casual restaurant in College Park, I was very intrigued.

The concept: a casual seafood venue offering grilled and fried fish sandwiches, entrees, and homemade sides. Fishnet officially opened its doors on 11/11/11, making it the easiest opening date to remember.

Situated in what used to house Berwyn Café, Fishnet is located on Berwyn Road in College Park, a few short blocks from the major thoroughfare of Route 1 and walking distance from the University of Maryland. It’s a great location since it’s completely separated from the congestion of downtown College Park, and even more importantly, street parking is easy to come by (no meters!).

Stepping inside, the setup is rather simple. You order your meal after reviewing the blackboard menu, pay the cashier, and then they’ll bring it over to your table when it’s ready. Think of it as a no-frills Tacklebox but with much better food.

Fishnet offers a handful of fresh fish selections that can be grilled or deep-fried, plus you have your choice of homemade sauces.  All sandwiches are served on ciabatta with baby greens and tomato. They also offer other items such as a beef burger, fish tacos, falafel, and lobster rolls. Housemade sides range from French fries (hand-cut daily) to coleslaw to potato salad.

Opposite to the register, there’s a refrigerator housing a variety of Boylan’s sodas as well as Ale-8-One, a Kentucky-based ginger ale that I haven’t seen elsewhere in the area. Fishnet also carries some rare Italian sodas such as Spuma and Cedrata as well (again, also new to me).

I went with the grilled hake and spicy aioli, as I prefer a milder, flakier fish, along with a Boylan’s cola. I held off on the fries thanks in part to some willpower, but after glancing at someone’s overflowing cup, I immediately regretted that decision.

As for the sandwich, it was simply excellent. The hake was nicely grilled, moist, and full of flavor. The spicy aioli added a pleasant kick to the sandwich and really complemented the fish. The fresh ciabatta was able to soak up the juices and keep the sandwich intact without getting too soggy.

Fishnet is a wonderful addition to the dining-deprived area of College Park. Between the fresh ingredients and great execution, I only wish this place existed when we went to Maryland. I can’t wait to go back with Rachel since she’s more of a fish fan than myself, plus I’ll have some justification for splitting an order of fries next time around.

Fishnet is located on 5010 Berwyn Road in Berwyn neighborhood of College Park, MD.

While Rasika gets a lot of pub for its wonderful Indian cuisine, Masala Art is nearly as good and even better priced. Located right in the heart of Tenleytown off Wisconsin Avenue, Masala Art offers an extensive menu that ranges from four varieties of naan to more than a dozen vegetarian entrees.

With our friends Brian, Kim, and their baby Micah, we kicked off our Indian dinner with an order of their garlic and black pepper naan as well as the Sarson wali Gobhi (tandoori cauliflower). The naan was terrific – it arrived piping hot and was not dry at all. It also helped sop up the sauce from the gobhi which featured a coating of spices punctuated by mustard seeds.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t resist ordering a personal favorite, the Chicken 65. Our friends Keith and Casey, who live across the street from Masala Art, turned me onto this appetizer and I have been hooked ever since. A stew-like dish that features chunks of chicken in South Indian masala, it had a nice kick and wonderful flavor. Highly recommended.

As for our entrees, we decided to order a trio of dishes to share amongst the table. We went with the Murgh Makhani (chicken in tomato cream sauce), Channa Masala (chickpeas), and Baingan Bharta (Tandoor roasted eggplant). Otherwise knows as butter chicken, the Murgh Makhani was very good although there could have been a little more meat with all that delicious sauce.

Meanwhile the Channa Masala, another traditional dish, was a crowd-pleaser. It was nothing extraordinary, but it was well-executed and well-suited for sharing.

As for the Baingan Bharta, between the smoky eggplant and creamy texture, it was the favorite out of the three entrees we ordered that evening. Like the Murgh, it had fallen victim to an out of balance entrée to sauce ratio, but whatever eggplant I could scrounge up was indeed delightful.

All and all, Masala Art served up some excellent Indian cooking that night. We didn’t have any issues with the service, though we felt slightly rushed given the small dining room as well as those waiting for a table at the front of the house. If you live in the area, I should note that Masala Art offers takeout – a nice plus if you want to chow down on an order of Chicken 65 while sitting on your own sofa.