The Washington Post food critic's guide to the nation's top ten culinary capitalsplus restaurant recipes you can make in your own kitchen. 202-742-9777. lecloudc.com. Some of Colettes unadvertised dishes include stir-fried lobster sticky rice, lamb stew, and winter melon soup, while menu standbys include classic beef chow fun, chicken wings glazed in a cola sauce, and salmon carpaccio. Entrees $26 to $43. The food isnt the main draw, though so come for drinks and an ambience that can make a warm, slothful Venice afternoon seem even more relaxed. Rania delights with some of the most inspired Indian cooking in D.C. Everyones first taste of Rania is a gift from chef Chetan Shetty: a rice flour crisp in the shape of a flower, dabbed with avocado puree, set off with tamarind chutney and glinting with trout roe. Id appreciate suggestions of vegetarian-friendly places that locals like. One of the great joys of living in the Washington area is a world of flavors. Tangs banh mi is unlike anything youd find in Eden Center. Clouds of incense, part of Shallas coffee ceremony, greeted me on my first visit to the restaurant that once housed the groovy Jackies and where I splurged on an upgraded version of kitfo, Ethiopias steak tartare. The chicken, brushed with a combination of pomegranate molasses and honey and served with a bevy of accents warm-spiced basmati rice in a bowl swiped with creamy hummus is almost a meal in itself catches a lot of attention, too. You have given stars but not indicated the scale on which they are rated. Entrees $12 to $35 (biryani for two). The dishes inside the Yotel on Capitol Hill are served on plates and bowls, but really, they merit pedestals and frames. Open for indoor and outdoor dining. He also packs a lot of flavor into his compositions, what he likes to call wow moments. Veterans of the hospitality industry, the trio share a lofty mission. The chow mein is also required eating. Its a dream team, the chef says of the time with his colleagues, a detail anyone can fact-check by observing the tiny open kitchen crammed with people who look like theyre having as much fun as diners. Open for indoor and outdoor dining. A la carte meat selections $36 to $46. We can serve chanterelles from California if we want to, says McClimans. Scallops, striped from the grill, get a lovely charge from a relish of fermented fish pepper, cilantro, lime juice and celery, an idea Cieslak picked up on his honeymoon in St. Lucia. Either way, as usual, the Washington Post's lead restaurant critic made his reservation under an alias. Easter, like other holidays, is rough on restaurants, partly because people who don't eat out a lot do so only for major occasions and partly because diners have major expectations. It doesnt hurt that kids meals are served aloft toy dinosaurs. Pizza acrobatics is a sport. Pick a direction and theres something to entice you on the list, which divides the riches of the subcontinent into four parts. The menu is dedicated to homestyle cooking and includes a spicy and aromatic tom yum soup with shrimp, a sweet and savory basil eggplant stir-fry, and pad thai topped with dried shrimp and pork cracklings. The restaurants consistency is aided by the fact Robinson helped open the Blue Hen, located within the Avenue Inn & Spa, five years ago. Visiting DC in mid-May from the Midwest. Phone:+1 703-760-0690, https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/02/20/best-restaurants-tom-sietsema-favorites-february-2023/, WP: This takeout is tailor-made for a picnic, even if that means your living-room floor, Tom Sietsemas 8 favorite places to eat right now 8/2019. Nostos (8100 Boone Blvd) 4 stars A favorite of Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, who wrote: "My favorite place to eat in Tysons continues to be Nostos, home to a Greek menu and charming service." Sounds sketchy. It seems as hard as ever to snag a table at great new restaurants like many of these picks. Listing hours of operation is as important as address, phone and menu information. Lunch and dinner daily. On the other hand, I hope I've been mindful of late in returning to long-running, tried-and-true restaurants, if only to remind readers it's not all about what's new, new, new. (Pagonis jokes that recipients of the gift swear its better than the same version on the menu. A reminder that China is Nepals neighbor to the north, the street food staple is a tangle of thin yellow wheat noodles with a confetti of scallions, red cabbage, carrots and more, each bite smoky from the wok and splashed with sweet-salty oyster sauce. Owner and veteran restaurateur Sudhir Seth died last year, but his wife, Sonali, who left her job at a doctors clinic to shepherd the restaurant, is on hand to make sure your passage to India is a smooth one. Rare amid the Korean competition, a greenery-topped bar mixes distinctive cocktails. Crab croquettes are little balls of seafood dipped in (unsweetened) doughnut batter and fried to a fine golden crisp. Can we declare a three-way tie among the rutabaga fondue at Fancy Radish, thesmoky red pepper, stuffed with a cornucopia of black beans, corn, peas and briny green olives at my No. The epic menu forces tough decisions; this family-run storefront in Springfield helps out with a sampler plate that brings together four choice appetizers, including minced beef dumplings dusted with cayenne and crushed mint, and soft roasted eggplant flavored with tomato sauce and striped with yogurt sauce. Designer Nick Alain is a Miami-based industrial designer and creative director together with Lisa & Ken, his designs help to bring the Vanderpump vision to life, and include distinct pieces from Lisa & Nicks unique design line,Vanderpump Alain. Passport wait times are up again. Open for indoor dining. The dinner menu includes a few salads and pastas that are made sans meat and the room is both inviting and *relatively* peaceful. Three courses $75, four courses $90. The food flies out of the kitchen but merits leisurely appreciation. Take the soup known as callaloo. Try Gils take on albondigas, jicama aguachile, and a huitlacoche mulita. Cathy Chaplin. Im thrilled to see this list and cant wait to try some of them out. Dwell updates: Russias battle in Ukraine, Alex Murdaugh trial: Prosecutors say he was the one one with motive, means and alternative to kill his spouse and son. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. Munch, munch, gone, just like the bean curd skin rolls paired with what looks like honey but turns out to be salted plum caramel. Uncaged Mimosas goes big on its name with a whopping 25 varieties in every color of the rainbow. 5 2 every 4 weeks or just 50 20 for the first year, 7 4 every 4 weeks or just 70 30 for the first year. I'll be back in the host seat again, next Wednesday at 11 a.m., if you want to talk food and restaurants some more. Owner Peter Pagonis says the black-and-white images help explain the name of his restaurant, rooted in the Greek word for nostalgia, the desire to go back to where you were born and raised.. March and April found me eating almost nonstop in new restaurants, inevitable given the theme of my annual spring dining guide, a celebration of youth. Not all servers are created equal. While there are marinated olives, Rankin also created a sprouting cauliflower au poivre with Sichuan peppers. Make sure to order some of the desserts by pastry chef Ben Sidell (Kathys son), like the apple tarte tatin. Star ratings are defined in the print version of the spring guide (and should appear online now). I can think of people who are glad he went on to cook me included. In the case of the Caesar salad, roasted Brussels sprouts add a nice smokiness, Asian pear lends a fruity touch and aged cheddar provides a faint crackle, from salt crystals in the cheese. Chips & dip, for instance, find garlic-scented rice crackers and a little dish of ground pork and roasted peanuts souped up with coconut milk. I mean, theres a stuffed yak near the entrance, and he even has a name, Rocky. The beast shares its stage with a beauty the cooking and a menu that shrugs off supply issues with more than 30 dishes. We do not have any booster seats and space for strollers. Make sure you ask for some of the steamed dumplings, too. All the senses are engaged. The best items on the menu are shareable starters: think a smoky eggplant dip dotted with paprika and a burrata balloon surrounded by shaved prosciutto and crusty bread. The links include service with a smile (and plenty of polish), drinks as clever as the cooking, and combinations that run busy but never boring. Voted Best Bar in Southern California byLos Angeles Travel Magazine,Tom Tom is at the same time decadent, relaxed and abloody good time. The food engages the senses. "All Indian restaurants are like that," the server said. Im here to vouch for the character of coriander aioli slathered on toasted house-baked bread to which sous vide bacon, sliced foie gras and pickled daikon are added. A blast from the past, its watched over by Danny Gurewitz, whose grandfather opened the place in 1963. the Dabney, Maydan, Red Hen), but still no luck getting a reservation. Since it set sail in Annapolis seven years ago, this mom-and-pop from Jeremy and Michelle Hoffman has featured dishes reflective of Jeremys origins in Pennsylvania Dutch country and his interest in all things fermented. The beef, soft from low, slow cooking, benefits from the house green seasoning and a hit of culantro. As with so many upscale restaurants now, this one forgoes a la carte. Jakob Layman. 22885 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn, Va. 703-760-3710. himalayanwildyak.com. My creative process is kind of random, says chef Yuan Tang, who co-owns Rooster & Owl with his wife and business partner, Carey. Why This Restaurant Is a Must Eat Chef Tony's is, no doubt, one of the best places to eat in Bethesda. 427 11th St. NW. Chef Tony's Fresh Seafood Restaurant 5225 Pooks Hill Rd Bethesda, MD 20814 (240) 858 - 6735 Since 2007, this foodie magnet has been drawing guests with its Mediterranean flavors and fresh seafood. Chef Chris Bianco is back, ready to take on Los Angeles anew with signature pizzas and California sides that only this Phoenix phenomenon could pull off. Fujimoto infuses a lot of other flavors into the menu, including udon carbonara and black rice Peruvian chaufa paella to mix into the raw fish. Florida bald eagles Harriet and M15 rebuild nest after Hurricane Ian, Giant puppet Little Amal visits NYC to draws attention to refugee story, Uber driver Fritz Sam rescued people from burning Brooklyn building. Open for indoor dining. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Milton previously cooked for ThinkFoodGroup, the brand that includes Zaytinya, a detail made evident in much of what leaves the open kitchen. Open in Google Maps. Send me your burning restaurant questions and I'll aim to address them in the time we have here today. The other reason I enjoy a night here is the hospitality. From the looks of it, the food faces stiff competition from the scenery at Gypsy Kitchen, the pan-Mediterranean restaurant whose main dining room unfolds beneath dozens of baskets on the ceiling and whose second floor is so green and light-filled, you swear youre eating in the great outdoors. The sandwich, built with pillowy sourdough bing bread, is a showcase for shaved lamb terrine. Be sure to check out Urbanspace at Vanderbilt near Grand Central station: 20 + food stalls with a world of possibilities. Restaurants are placed on the map in geographical order, from north to south. (Matzoh balls are optional.) Open for indoor and outdoor dining and delivery and takeout. Multiple visits mean I can avoid being recognized, at least some meals. We asked ChatGPT to plan the perfect tour of D.C. Heres how it went. The dining room is designed to evoke the owners native Trinidad. Visit Website. Which ones would you say are the most vegetarian friendly? The nicely appointed wood-paneled space gives it a timeless feel. The latter is a kaleidoscope of colors: dark green garlicky collards, sunny yellow cabbage and carrots, and red lentils whose hidden serrano pepper creates a slow burn in your mouth. The sumptuous snack hints of the heat and spice to follow on the menu. Note Nina May in Shaw. 703-337-4722. afghanbistro.com. 1825 14th St. NW. The casino also offers Instant Play, which you can access through any modernRead more, Casino downtown detroit Its as fine as any pasta now playing in D.C. The areas best strawberry shortcake might be in Annapolis, Md., and if youve never tried yak, a Nepalese restaurant in Ashburn, Va., is a great place to make its acquaintance. Entrees, $16 to $60 (for paratha platter). My meals in all the above restaurants were enhanced by the company I had: a BFF dealing with the death of a partner; a visiting fellow food writer; my mom, Dorothy Sietsema, the source of my favorite World's Fair Cake. Our Indian restaurants are great for meatless dining. What do you think is this good? Is it worth going out for Easter Brunch? Tom Sietsema wondered if he'd been made. You also agree to our Terms of Service. He did say that they (the owners) do provide staff housing. All the dining destinations have been visited in the past year and were. Ryan, Takoma. Aperitifs, wines, and cocktails are abundant, and Rankin plans to do six and nine-course tasting menus in due time. Its got almost anything you want! says a dining companion as she reads a menu that lists duck nachos, steak salad, ahi tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes and fried chicken among the nearly 40 (you read that right) snacks, apps, salads and main courses at what looks like a big house with a big bar near the Monocacy River. I was recently checking to see whether restaurants were open for lunch on a particular weekday, and can't tell you how much clicking around I had to do. But Easter isn't *quite* like Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve, where those expectations run sky-high. Sit back amongst the unique mastery of Alains eclectic designs and be seduced by the heady combination of decadent, delicious cocktails and sumptuous bar food. The front of the operation is a small food store and deli, where you can buy wine or beer to eat with your meal and which you pass through to reach the dining room. Offseason, she uses her Italian heritage to draw locals. A: Tom Sietsema Of the current crop of restaurants in town, consider Pembrokein the renovated Dupont Circle hotel. Of course I do, but generally just *after* I've dined in a place. Short answer to a question that merits more time! Some places I've had my eye on for months and months (e.g. See our, Read a limited number of articles each month, You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads, Unlimited access to washingtonpost.com on any device, Unlimited access to all Washington Post apps, No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking. Of the current crop of restaurants in town, consider Pembroke in the renovated Dupont Circle hotel. Entrees $26 to $35. Heres hoping the silky and juicy main course, dappled with chimichurri, makes a return. It's not just the senior set SCREAMING for some peace and quiet out there. 1825 14th St. NW. When I made my deadline, one of the first places I hit was Parkway Deli & Restaurant. One is free, he figures; you pay for the other.) While the restaurateur wants people to enjoy their meal, he says the best compliment is when departing guests tell him, We had a good time. Good times are ensured when lunch or dinner concludes with a nutty, gooey, raisin-laced pastry sandwiched with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Tom Sietsema's 10 favorite restaurants in the D.C. area Read more Gloria Huang/Rooster & Owl WASHINGTON.ORG August 26, 2019 Hot Restaurants to Try Now in Washington, DC Read more Rey Lopez/Eater D.C. EATER DC July 16, 2019 The 38 Essential Restaurants in D.C., Summer 2019 Read more Natalie Flynn/Rooster & Owl MODERN LUXURY DC July 1, 2019 Main courses are presented with a fragrant scoop of rice and a bright salad of chopped carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers nice touches that extend a meals value. I've heard of people checking websites at midnight (this is supposedly your best chance), calling daily, etc. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Thanks! The best of the pastry case is a warm-spiced slab of carrot cake that can easily satisfy three forks. Vanderpump/Todd and Alain have created a feeling, from the moment you enter the bar, that you have stepped back in time to another world. Chef Doug Rankin opened Bar Chelou in the same courtyard as Saso inside the Pasadena Playhouse. We want to be stewards of that work created by the kitchen. 2033 M St. NW. Sandwiches $7.49 to $16.99, dinners $14.49 to $18.99. And shame on me for breaking a promise to a friend who joined me last minute last visit, lured in part by my invitation to take all the leftovers home. If you're looking for lobster thermidor, pate, escargots, duck confit and an opportunity to eat them on a patio, look no further than Convivial in Shaw, Jacques's Brasserie in Great Falls and La. Attention, bargain hunters: Lunch at the bar finds a choice of sandwich, salad or fries and a glass of beer or wine for $22. 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