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#261750 - 28/07/2005 17:07 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area...
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Hi All,

I am going to the DC area next week, have 2 nights open and need to find something yummy. Am open to any type. Just want to find some local favorites. I'll be on expense account, but don't want to spend much more than 60 or so a plate... I am staying in Herndon, but don't mind travelling a bit.

Thanks in advance!

- Jon

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#261751 - 28/07/2005 18:39 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I used to spend a lot of time in Herndon/Reston, and I think I can definitively say that there's nothing good there to eat. I think I ate at every restaurant between there and Vienna and never had anything that I would call a good meal.
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Bitt Faulk

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#261752 - 28/07/2005 19:00 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: wfaulk]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Hm. What if I drove into DC? Is that worth the trouble from Herndon or am I stuck at Applebees?

- Jon

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#261753 - 28/07/2005 20:26 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Wait. I take it back.

There are a few good places to eat in Reston in the "Reston Town Center" mall. I doubt anything is in the fancy-ass $60 a plate range, but good, nonetheless. (Maybe the Market Street. It's a Hyatt restaurant and new. I don't remember seeing it there.)

Otherwise, DC obviously has a lot of great places to eat, but it's a good ways away.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

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#261754 - 28/07/2005 20:51 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
Mataglap
enthusiast

Registered: 11/06/2003
Posts: 384
Washingtonian Magazine is an excellent place to start. Two lists, 100 Best Restaurants and 100 Best Bargain Restaurants, in the red box in the upper left of the home page.

I left DC over four years ago, but fondly remember Todd Gray's Equinox (one of the best meals I've =ever= had), Lauriol Plaza (Mexican that's easily as good as here in So Cal and double thumbs up on the seafood enchiladas), Jaleo (the one near Chinatown), Five Guys Hamburgers, Austin Grill/South Austin Grill (great Tex-mex), Cajun Bangkok (sounds strange but excellent). Old Glory is excellent bbq and a lot of fun since they cover a range of barbeque styles.

There's others, if you care to narrow the scope in cusine, cost, or atmosphere.

--Nathan

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#261755 - 29/07/2005 00:53 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Mataglap]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Quote:
Washingtonian Magazine is an excellent place to start. Two lists, 100 Best Restaurants and 100 Best Bargain Restaurants, in the red box in the upper left of the home page.

I left DC over four years ago, but fondly remember Todd Gray's Equinox (one of the best meals I've =ever= had), Lauriol Plaza (Mexican that's easily as good as here in So Cal and double thumbs up on the seafood enchiladas), Jaleo (the one near Chinatown), Five Guys Hamburgers, Austin Grill/South Austin Grill (great Tex-mex), Cajun Bangkok (sounds strange but excellent). Old Glory is excellent bbq and a lot of fun since they cover a range of barbeque styles.

There's others, if you care to narrow the scope in cusine, cost, or atmosphere.

--Nathan


Excellent. Thanks!

- Jon

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#261756 - 29/07/2005 12:18 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
For some reason, even though I've lived here for 25 years (in Northern Virginia, not Herndon), I'm totally drawing a blank. I think it would help if you knew what kind of food you'd be interested in.

Also, I'd be willing to meet up and have dinner!

Do you like Persian food? I know a great place. Another general location to think about is Tysons Corner, which is the big shopping area in Northern Virginia.
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Matt

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#261757 - 29/07/2005 13:22 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
bbowman
enthusiast

Registered: 12/05/2002
Posts: 205
Loc: Virginia, USA
My favorite restaurant is in the Ritz-Carlton of Tysons Corner. It is called "Maestro" and is by far the best restaurant I've been to in the DC area. it may be above your expense account range, however, where the 3-4 course meals start at about $80+. The food is excelent and Serivce is out of this country! It is mostly European style. Wear a jacket if you go. It is much better than Michelle Richards Citronelle in Georgetown and lower priced.
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Brent
RioCar MK][a 20GB+80GB
'96 Saab 900s (Not any more)
Still looking for a good way to install in a 2010 BMW 3 series with iDrive/NAV

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#261758 - 29/07/2005 15:56 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
SonicSnoop
addict

Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
When I worked in Crystal City there was a resturant that my coworkers spoke fondly of.. I never went but seemed real nice. It was across the street from the Train Station. It served real good steak from what I was told. I tried to go once but they seemed to only be open for dinner not lunch.. For some reason im thinking the name was something Like Mortans Im trying to search the web for it but cant find it.. Its in the same building that has King Street Blues, San Antonio Bar and Grill and Starbucks..
_________________________
-D Modifying and Tweaking is a journey, not a destination................................ MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock

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#261759 - 29/07/2005 16:42 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: SonicSnoop]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Hehe, yup, Mortons. Go there if you want a lot of food. That would be in the price range, too.

Of course, price range is difficult, since a good bottle of wine (not a problem for me - I don't drink it) can shift the price of a meal dramatically

Anyway, since I've been craving it recently, if anyone is interested in some great Persian food in the Tysons Corner area, I'm willing to go whenever anyone else is free. That stuff is fantastic, and not as expensive as the price range he's looking at
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Matt

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#261760 - 29/07/2005 16:57 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Dignan]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Let's have a mini-meet. Tuesday night works best for me. I'm staying at the Marriott Worldgate. where can we meet up? Maybe about 7:30 or 8:00?

- Jon

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#261761 - 29/07/2005 17:14 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
That would probably be just right! I think I'm free then.
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Matt

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#261762 - 29/07/2005 17:24 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Dignan]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Quote:
That would probably be just right! I think I'm free then.


Can the folks that want to meet up kindly send me a PM with your #? I'll reply with mine in kind. Let's choose a spot to meet up.

Cool. Dignan, we can finally have our overdue gaming conversation! :-)

- Jon

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#261763 - 29/07/2005 18:42 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
SonicSnoop
addict

Registered: 29/06/2002
Posts: 531
Loc: Triangle, VA
Let me know where you all plan on going and the price range and I could see if I can make it work If you wouldnt mind me hanging out.. Would love to meet another empeg fan
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-D Modifying and Tweaking is a journey, not a destination................................ MKIIa : 60gig - 040103286 - Blue - v2 + PCATS tuner MKIIa : 20gig - 040103260 - Blue - v3a8 + Mark Lord Special Edition Cherry Dock

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#261764 - 30/07/2005 02:04 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: SonicSnoop]
DWallach
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/04/2000
Posts: 3810
One random recommendation: my wife and I were once wandering around DuPont Circle, and lots of places were overflowing with people and had long lines. We ended up back near the Metro station and stumbled into a trendy-looking place that we thought, from the architecture, was some kind of fusion-funky restaurant. Instead, Levante's turned out to be one of the best Turkish restaurants I'd ever eaten at. Bring a healthy appetite and order the "adana yogurt". This starts with kebabs of spicy, ground lamb. That's placed on a bed of bread chunks (not quite as crunchy as croutons, but same basic idea), covered in a yogurt sauce, and also served with grilled tomato and some other veggies. It's very filling and very, very tasty.

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#261765 - 30/07/2005 03:35 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: DWallach]
adavidw
addict

Registered: 10/11/2000
Posts: 497
Loc: Utah, USA
I offer a recommendation in a different sort of vein...

Do you like seafood? Would you like to eat enough of it to kill you? Then Phillip's is the place for you! It's an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet down on the waterfront by the fish sellers (although there are a few other locations around N. VA and MD). It may not be the very best seafood in town, but it was good enough the last time I went for me to eat my weight in crab legs. Reasonably priced, too. (I think I remember paying ~$60 for 2. We don't drink, though, so I don't know how that would figure in).

-Aaron (born in D.C., although I've only made it back twice since then)

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#261766 - 01/08/2005 00:30 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: adavidw]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Hi All,

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I'm not a big seafood fan, but all the others sound cool.

So are we getting together Tuesday night?

- Jon

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#261767 - 02/08/2005 19:29 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Sorry, I wasn't sure how/if this was going to work. What's the deal?
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Matt

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#261768 - 03/08/2005 01:05 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Mataglap]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Hi All,

Well, no one could make it so I ended up having din din on my own. I went to Old Glory (thanks Nathan!).

After I ate a s-load of ribs, I watched them film a new movie with Michael Douglas, Kim Bassinger, Keifer Sutherland, and Eva Longoria (who were all on set) called The Sentinel. See here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443632/

Didn't meet anyone famous, but watched em run around Georgetown a bit... Was quite a production with helicopters and the whole shebang.

- Jon

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#261769 - 03/08/2005 01:55 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
I've been hearing about that! My mother works at NGS and said they had giant trucks down there for shooting.

Sorry again about last minute scheduling problems.
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Matt

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#261770 - 03/08/2005 17:38 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: jbauer]
Mataglap
enthusiast

Registered: 11/06/2003
Posts: 384
Quote:
Well, no one could make it so I ended up having din din on my own. I went to Old Glory


Glad you liked it! Are they still catching folks off guard with the big stamp?

--Nathan

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#261771 - 03/08/2005 18:19 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Mataglap]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Quote:
Quote:
Well, no one could make it so I ended up having din din on my own. I went to Old Glory


Glad you liked it! Are they still catching folks off guard with the big stamp?

--Nathan


Yep.

- Jon

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#261772 - 05/08/2005 19:37 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Mataglap]
cwillenbrock
enthusiast

Registered: 30/12/2000
Posts: 249
Loc: Dover, NJ
Hmm...I just moved to Herdon a few weeks ago (almost literally within stone's throw of Worldgate). I wish I would have found this thread earlier.

Great that I now have some recommendations for places to try around here, as I've been wondering myself what the best grub around here is.

Quote:
Glad you liked it! Are they still catching folks off guard with the big stamp?


I don't know what that means, but I'll be on the lookout when I try that place. Thanks for the spoilers
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#261773 - 05/08/2005 20:21 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: cwillenbrock]
Mataglap
enthusiast

Registered: 11/06/2003
Posts: 384
Quote:
Hmm...I just moved to Herdon a few weeks ago


Just so you know, all of my reccomendations are well inside the beltway, and not right near Herndon. Though Washingtonian's lists would include stuff a little further out.

D.C. isn't in the same class as NYC or San Francisco when it comes to restaurants, but it's =awfully= close. There's so much great grub I don't know you could ever find the "best". (The Inn at Little Washington seems to have held onto its mythic status at the top of the pile, though.)

--Nathan

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#261774 - 05/08/2005 20:24 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Mataglap]
jbauer
veteran

Registered: 08/05/2000
Posts: 1429
Loc: San Francisco, CA
Quote:
D.C. isn't in the same class as NYC or San Francisco when it comes to restaurants, but it's =awfully= close.


Lemme quote Vincent in Pulp Fiction: "That's a bold statement."

- Jon

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#261775 - 08/08/2005 17:56 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Mataglap]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
The Inn at Little Washington seems to have held onto its mythic status at the top of the pile, though.

I do believe that that place is considered one of the best on the planet. But it is not exactly in DC.

Also very good is L'Auberge Chez Francois, which despite its website is an absolutely wonderful restaurant. Probably my favorite upscale place to eat that I've ever been to. The setting is also very nice, in the middle of Great Falls, VA, which is a suburb of DC just west of me. I always find it amusing that there's a world-class French restaurant back there in the middle of a residential area.
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Matt

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#261776 - 08/08/2005 18:11 Re: 2 restaurant recomendations needed for DC area... [Re: Dignan]
jmwking
old hand

Registered: 27/02/2003
Posts: 770
Loc: Washington, DC metro
Quote:
Also very good is L'Auberge Chez Francois, which despite its website is an absolutely wonderful restaurant. Probably my favorite upscale place to eat that I've ever been to.


I'll second L'Auberge. I've been there a few times; it remains my favorite DC restaurant (the Inn at Little Washington is probably better, but way too far out to be "in DC" regardless of what Washingtonian says). You generally have to call L'Auberge for a reservation exactly 28 days ahead (when they start taking reservations) for any high-demand day. For Valentine's day a few years ago, they were fully booked within 30 minutes of opening the reservation line. Sigh.

They do have patio dining for walk-ins during the outside dining season.

Also, this cute little place, Black Market Bistro, opened around the corner from me in Garrett Park about a year ago. No reservations accepted and 40-60 minute waits, but yummy food. And take out.

-jk

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