March 25th, 2009
Now this is just a personal problem of mine, but it really irks me when non-authentic Japanese restaurants pop up, make chains, and invade neighborhoods. I had a restaurant gift certificate to this place or I would most likely never have gone. And I mean never.

Continuing my ramen hunt from Maneki Neko, I ordered the ramen here. They warned me when I ordered it that it was going to be spicy and that it was not authentic. Well, they were half right. It wasn’t spicy, but it also was not authentic in the least bit. Unless you count dumping a square block of Maruchan Instant Ramen into a pot of water and cooking it with the included packet of seasoning authentic. They did add some other ‘toppings’, but they didn’t mask the tell-tale ramen noodle/sauce combination.

My best advice is to only go here when you have a gift certificate of some kind and only order sushi. The sushi is pretty decent and if you’re getting $50 worth of sushi for about half the price, I’d say go for it. Oh, and sit as far away from the hibachi (grill) tables as possible. The annoying, loud groups enjoying their theater meal tend to echo in this large, empty restaurant.

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April 19th, 2009
I think this is the worst real Chinese food I’ve ever had. The Americanized dishes are worse that what you’d find at our local take-out place or mall food court, and the off-the-wall traditional dishes just didn’t taste clean. I guess when our waiter asked us if “we were sure” we wanted what we ordered, we should have taken that opportunity to book it.

A few bites on the intestines saw the quick dissolving of the sauce, and left to shine on its own, the intestines tasted like intestines. As in, they had not been cleaned and I felt like I was eating what was previously in the intestines (poop). The sausage and bok choy was far too salty for my liking.

From Zagat

“No ambiance, no atmosphere – no problem” because the food at this “spartan” Chinatown “standard” is “cheap and fabulous”, especially if you “stick to the Chinese menu” that’s posted on the “sheets of paper taped to the wall” and is “not for the faint of heart”; in contrast, the “Americanized” choices get dissed as strictly “for those who long for Chung King” – but that still works for patrons who just want a quick “bite before a game.”

Food: 20, Decor: 6, Service: 15, Cost: $17
Chinatown | 609 H St. NW (6th St.) | Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro | 202-289-1703

April 7th, 2009
Central is a treat to go to. There’s just no other way to explain it. The atmosphere is nice and whimsical, in fact it reminded me of the scene in Beauty and the Beast where all the plates and cups dance. You can see the kitchen from your table, and it is lively and vibrant without being annoying or too loud. This restaurant really is a crowd pleaser. Not only do they execute traditional dishes extremely well, but they also offer a great variety of interesting and unique dishes. Because of this, I think it’s safe to say that any group or assortment of individuals can go here and order something delicious off of the menu without feeling as if they’re settling or being forced to try something they aren’t comfortable with. In fact, the most popular and recommended dish from our waiter is their fried chicken. Since this restaurant is so versatile, you could go here either for a business meeting or a date.

I decided on the rabbit since I had not tried rabbit before. The rabbit was very interesting. It tasted like chicken, but with the texture of pork. I liked it, but some parts of the rabbit seemed to have different textures, as if they came from different physical parts of the rabbit rather than from the same place. The best part of the dinner was definitely the cheeseburger. It was cooked to perfection, and even though it was a plain burger, it was topped with crispy potato pieces and bacon. We rounded out the night with an amazing banana split. I think we could have easily made a meal out of the burger and the dessert.

Our waiter was annoying and provided spotty service, but we forgave the restaurant as a whole for his mistakes. This restaurant was not that expensive. Like other restaurants, you can get many great dishes for not that much money. The burger was $18 after adding a few dollars on here and there for cheese and bacon, while mine was $31.

From Zagat

At Penn Quarter’s latest “‘it'” spot, all-star chef Michel richard (Citronelle) lends his “signature cheeky style” and “culinary chops” to “haute cuisine packaged for everyone” via a “mouthwatering” New American-French lineup that’s billed as “comfort food gone upscake”l with its “informed” service and “smart” looks, it draws “daunting” crowds of bon vivants who exult in “vibrant” scenery, a “hot bar scene” and “super-high quality” that “doesn’t break the bank.”

Food: 25, Decor: 22, Service: 22, Cost: $52
Penn Quarter | 1001 Penn Ave NW (10th St.) | Federal Triangle Metro | 202-626-0015

February 21st, 2009
I was on the prowl for an authentic bowl of ramen soup during the winter time. The town favorite seemed to be Sushi Taro, but Sushi Taro only offered ramen seasonly and they were closed at the time remodeling. Maneki Neko is a little Japanese gem tucked away off the side of a busy street in Falls Church. It is very easy to drive past this restaurant and keep on going, unless you are actively seeking it out.

It’s very hard not to dock points here for my fellow diners. There were very very annoying people seated all around me, even at the sushi bar. What can I say? I hate drunk abnoxious old women and old white men that butcher the Japanese language and try to speak Japanese to the sushi chef when he is clearly pained by the language daggers attacking his ears. But I digress.

The ramen was better than some I’ve had, but still nowhere close to Japan. I think I’ll have to travel to New York at least for that. It was only $5 and it was Duck Ramen, so there was at least that. The broth was a little too salty and too rich for me. I personally liked how the duck soaked up all the liquid so that it was a bit soggy, but some people might not. Age tofu was towards the lower end of the spectrum here, taste and texture wise. The tofu was too soft and the outside coating was too soggy. I think this was because the dish the tofu was served in was so small that it was immersed in the liquid deeper than it usually is. Their site touts that okonomiyaki is their specialty (as I saw them cooking it at Sakura Matsuri after this visit), but it does not list it anywhere on there menu. I wonder if this is an “off the menu” item… Seaweed salad and the sushi went un-noticed on my radar, neither good nor bad. Like I said, the only reason I went here was because I wanted ramen that wasn’t in Maryland. I do think that it’s worth trying out because I give it points for authenticity and the fact that it is quite local and convenient to the Northern Virginia area. (Maybe I just like speaking Japanese and being told that I seem Japanese [日本人らしい]. But thats a personally great way to get in my good graces)

Duck Ramen with Bok Choy

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March 14th, 2009
This recently remodeled Eritrean restaurant in Crystal City was a frequent haunt of my boyfriend and his brother when he lived in the area. The building itself (and the general area) are sort of bad, but the owner has put a lot of effort into this place, and it shows through. The whole place looks nice and polished, in a worn way. It is entirely decked out in wood, and there are small authentic pieces of Eritrean artwork spread throughout the place. The restaurant plays traditional music and caters to an Eritrean clientele, but is a local favorite (especially at night). The owner is nice and will  stop by your table to chat and maybe offer a few beers or some food on the house. Even though the restaurant is sparsely decorated, there are small pieces of wood on the wall that you can write little messages on.

From their website (which is currently down)
Enjera opened in May, 2007 and is located on restaurant row in Crystal City, Arlington with both indoor and outdoor (terrace) seating and parking in the back.

The name, “Enjera” is taken from the traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian bread that accompanies nearly every meal in these two Horn of Africa countries. In English we say, “let’s grab a bite” in Eritrea it is said, “Enjera do` Nblae” or let’s eat Enjera.

Eritrean cuisine puts more emphasis on vegetarian dishes which is reflected in Enjera’s menu. In addition to the various vegetarian delights such as spiced lentils, spinach, or potatoes and carrots in gravy, Enjera offers beef and mutton dishes such as Kitfo (beef tartar), Gored Gored, and ZilZil.

Enjera also hosts Traditional Eritrean classic or live piano music every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon on the Terrace from 2:00pm featuring classical and Eritrean music.

For customers who can only stop in for a short time, or after a delicious meal, Enjera serves award-winning Shimba Hills premiere African coffee including espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes – and the wireless internet is free.

We had the Vegetarian Special with lamb added to it. It was more than enough food for two people. The flavors were delicious, but once you were finished eating all the little entrees with the enjera bread, the remaining bread was too soggy to eat by itself. Don’t worry, not that much enjera went to waste!

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