Monthly Archives: January 2011

Cava Mezze Grill, Bethesda, MD

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Don

I’d heard the new Cava Mezze Grill described as a hypothetical synthesis of Cava and Chipotle, and honestly, I cannot think of a better description. If you walk in, you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. And it’s a concept … Continue reading →

Posted in MD, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Cava Mezze Grill, Bethesda, MD

New Heights, Woodley Park

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Don

(See December 27th, 2010 Review here). Logan Cox’s (and sous chef Erik Morgan’s) Cauliflower Soup was off the menu last night at New Heights, so they introduced a new one: Sweet Potato Soup ($10) with crispy petit-fours sized squares of … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Restaurants | Tagged , | Comments Off on New Heights, Woodley Park

Pupatella, Arlington, VA

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Don

(See January 13, 2011 Review here). There’s really not much more to say about Pupatella whose co-owner, Enzo Algarme, celebrated a birthday early last week. I’ve been there a million times, and have yet to see him not working. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Restaurants, VA | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pupatella, Arlington, VA

Backyard Barbecue, Arlington, VA

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Don

In a tiny, forgotten strip mall at the junction of Williamsburg Blvd. and Sycamore St., there sat for years a decrepit 7-11, alongside a host of other obscure mom-n-pop businesses. Recently, the 7-11 (which happened to be right next door … Continue reading →

Posted in Restaurants, VA | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Backyard Barbecue, Arlington, VA

Lost Dog Cafe, Arlington, VA

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Don

This post won’t win me any friends, but here goes anyway. It was the night of the snowstorm, traffic hell. What normally takes 50 minutes, took 4 and 1/2 hours, the last 3 and 1/2 with poor, patient Matt as … Continue reading →

Posted in Restaurants, VA | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Lost Dog Cafe, Arlington, VA

District Taco, Arlington, VA

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Don

(See December 24, 2010 Review here). Sometimes people assume I’m this little nerdy guy who sits around eating scallop consommé and sipping tea with my pinky extended (although usually people assume the opposite extreme). On Tuesday night, I lived up … Continue reading →

Posted in Restaurants, VA | Tagged , , | Comments Off on District Taco, Arlington, VA

Palena Cafe, Cleveland Park

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Don

(See December 1, 2010 Review here). Palena Cafe has taken some recent criticism on the internet for … existing, but also for expanding, for no longer offering the back-room menu, and for some reported service glitches as well. Last Monday … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Restaurants | Tagged , | Comments Off on Palena Cafe, Cleveland Park

Ripple, Cleveland Park

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Don

On a frigid Sunday evening, I ducked into Ripple and immediately asked for a glass of Bourbon (that cold snap we recently had switched me from beer and wine to Bourbon and Rye very quickly). A Van Winkle 12 was … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Restaurants | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ripple, Cleveland Park

Ba Bay, Capitol Hill

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Don

I’ll come right out and say it (now) – I went to Ba Bay shortly after they opened, and didn’t like it. But I’ve always liked Khoa and Denise Nguyen, and I know two things about them: they’re very serious … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Restaurants | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Ba Bay, Capitol Hill

The Pure Pasty Co., Vienna, VA

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Don

By pure chance, I stumbled upon, and then wrote about, The Pure Pasty Co. on October 8th, 2010 (coincidentally, or perhaps not, this Washington Post piece came out on October 20th., with no citations whatsoever – nothing new there). While … Continue reading →

Posted in Restaurants, VA | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Pure Pasty Co., Vienna, VA