Monthly Archives: January 2011

Cava Mezze Grill, Bethesda, MD

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

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New Heights, Woodley Park

(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

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Pupatella, Arlington, VA

(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

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Backyard Barbecue, Arlington, VA

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

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Lost Dog Cafe, Arlington, VA

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

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District Taco, Arlington, VA

(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

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Palena Cafe, Cleveland Park

(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

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Ripple, Cleveland Park

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

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Ba Bay, Capitol Hill

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

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The Pure Pasty Co., Vienna, VA

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

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