Author Archives: Don

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Maple Ave Restaurant, Vienna, VA

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Don

Maple Ave Restaurant is extremely important. It fills the proverbial “sweet spot” between everyday casual and fine dining, and pretty much defines what a really good, neighborhood mom-n-pop has the potential to be. My young dining companion enjoyed a Dominion … Continue reading →

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Mussel Bar, Bethesda, MD

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Don

On a third visit to Mussel Bar, I batted 1-for-3 and 3-for-3. The first time I was ever here, I raved about the Brabo Pils which is their house draft. Then, it was $7.00. The second time I went, the … Continue reading →

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Joe’s Amazing Burgers, McLean, VA

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Don

Yes, I really did scarf a burger and fries from McDo (as they call it in France (pronounced “mack doe”)) the night before. Consequently (and perhaps not intuitively), that made me yearn for an actual burger even more. Does anyone … Continue reading →

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Vidalia, Downtown

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Don

(See January 15, 2011 Review here.) On the second night of Restaurant Week, I’d actually forgotten it was Restaurant Week (honest!), and was foolish enough to drive straight into the lion’s den, determined to repeat my phenomenal hamburger experience from … Continue reading →

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