Restaurant Review: Bobby's Burger Palace

As I write this, I'm still fantasizing over how good the food was at the newly opened Bobby's Burger Palace (BBP). On Tuesday, August 16, Bobby Flay's latest burger joint opened at the corner of 21st and K Streets NW in Washington, DC.

I learned last week that the restaurant was slated to open on August 16th but when I called to confirm, I was told the opening was likely to be pushed back. To my surprise during lunch time yesterday, I saw that one of my Foursquare connections had checked in there. When I did a search online I saw people talking about how long the lines were but how they were excited to have the chance to meet Bobby Flay who was on-hand for the grand opening to mix and mingle.

Since I couldn't leave work mid-afternoon to wait in line for a burger, I ended up going immediately after work with 2 of my co-workers. I was shocked that the line had died down, I was expecting it to still be down the street but fortunately for us it wasn't. We ended up waiting in line for about 20-25 minutes, which was much better than I anticipated.

The Inside. The inside of the restaurant was pretty much as I'd expected it to be, bright, vibrant, eclectic and even a bit retro. The last Bobby Flay restaurant I went to was Mesa Grill in Las Vegas. BBP is no where as grand as Mesa Grill but I could see some similarities.

The Order. We all ordered burgers and for our sides the regular fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings. I had hoped to polish off my meal with the frozen cactus pear margarita but apparently they didn't have their liquor license yet (I was told they should have it by Thursday, 8/18) so of course they also couldn't serve their spiked milkshakes. Oh well. But I didn't let that get me down, just gave me another reason why I must go back.

I, along with a coworker, ordered the Bobby's Blue Burger. It was a ground beef burger topped with lettuce, tomatoes, crumbles of blue cheese and my fav two large strips of bacon. The other coworker had the Santa Fe burger.

So we took a seat, placed our numbers in front of us, and waited for them to deliver each of our meals. The manager, Lawrence, came over while we waited and explained to us each of the sauces (Burger Sauce, Jalapeno Ketchup, Chipotle Ketchup along with the usual condiments) along with making small talk about the restaurant. He did share with us that we'd missed meeting Bobby Flay by only 30 minutes.

The Sides. When the food came out, since I'm one of those weird people who like to eat everything separately, I slowly enjoyed each of the fries (both were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle with a hint of sea salt) and then moved on to the onion rings. I never eat onion rings but these were absolutely delicious. They were lightly breaded and the onion was slightly sweet which made for a pleasant surprise.

The Burgers. After like 5 minutes, I finally cut my burger in half and went to town. My burger was so juicy and flavorful the blue cheese and the other toppings seemed to be just an added incentive. Advice: It was a bit messy so make sure when you eat there you're not wearing white. The thing I liked most is although there were plenty of sauces available (the "Burger Sauce" is my personal fav) my burger didn't need any of them to top it off. It was perfect as-is!

Lawrence came back over to check on us and asked us which of the burgers did we wish we'd ordered. At first we thought it was just a random question, next thing you know we had a hot Miami burger in front of us. The Miami burger was made like a Cuban sandwich. It was beef patty, topped with ham, cheese, pickles, mayo and mustard and the hamburger bun was pressed like a panini.

While I loved my Bobby Blue, that Miami Burger just did something to me. The sauces combined with the pickles and ham, whew just the thought of how it tasted makes me want to go back again and again. Yes! it was really that good, I even made noises to express my satisfaction.

The photos I took of the meal via my iPhone don't even do it justice. The service was spectacular, the venue was very welcoming and had a communal feel and most importantly the food was amazing! Next time I may even ask to be "Crunchified", it's when they put potato chips on top of your burger.

Make sure when you go, you ask for the BBP Rewards card which enables you to rack up points toward a free burger, sandwich or salad. I have no doubt I'll be using mine often, which means I need to put in an extra workout each week. Since they will be serving drinks soon, beer, wine, and margaritas (all under $5), I'm sure this will make for a great happy hour spot.

Bobby's Burger Palace
2121 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202.974.6260
www.bobbysburgerpalace.com

Restaurant Review: The Reserve on L

I'd been to The Reserve on a number of occasions for parties and special events. This time I went to use my What's the Deal voucher for dinner with a friend.

We arrived for our 7:30 reservation around 7:10, and went to the upstairs bar while we waited. We came back downstairs to find there was only one "table" available which was really a sagging couch and an Ikea table. The seating situation wasn't really conducive for eating but we went with it.

My friend and I ordered a salad and 4 tapas. I was a little concerned because our waitress didn't write anything down and had to clarify what we ordered twice. I'm somewhat of a picky eater so my orders typically require me to request meals without certain foods.

We ended up getting the greens salad for starters, it was ok. It was basically a garden salad with a bunch of green beans on it. Next our waitress brought out the Shrimp on garlic sauce (why it's not called shrimp in or and garlic sauce is beyond me) and the taquena w/ guacamole. Both of those were very good and I'd highly recommend them. After that we had the chicken sliders and a side of fries. The chicken was pretty bland but the sauce and pineapple salsa saved it, the fries were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside just the way I like them.

After that course we just sat and waited for our final course the shrimp penne pasta which is apparently one of their signature dishes and is much larger than their traditional tapas. While we waited, the other waitress working on the main level finally brought out the water we'd asked our waitress for since before we'd even ordered our meal. The other waitress took up our plates and asked us how was everything. I told her good but we still had another course.

Finally our waitress came back and was like oh you have something else? I politely said yes and reminded her about the shrimp penne pasta with no mushrooms (the dish I had to repeat twice to make sure she didn't put mushrooms on). if she'd written it down, there wouldn't have been a problem, just saying. Needless to say, she'd forgotten to put in the order but blamed it on being delivered to another table, yeah ok. I said whatever and that I'd just take it to go.
Overall, The Reserve has a nice vibe to it. The food is pretty good. If our waitress wasn't so scatterbrained the rating would have been a solid 4 stars.

Honestly, I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon, unless it's for drinks and more of those tasty taquenas.

Things to Do: Dining Out for Life -- March 10

On March 10, 2011 when you dine out at participating restaurants in the Washington, Dc area, 25-110% of your bill will be donated to Food & Friends.

Food & Friends is "the ONLY organization in the Washington region providing specialized meals and nutrition services to children and adults facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. " More information, taken from their website: Along with nutrition counseling, Food & Friends prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 2,800 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout Washington, DC, 7 counties of Maryland and 7 counties and 6 independent cities in Virginia. Since 1988, Food & Friends has provided food and companionship to our clients, their loved ones and caregivers.

Don't worry if you can't participate in Dining Our for Life, there are a number of other ways you can show your support. Food & Friends is always looking for volunteers as well as financial contributions from the community. In the past, I've delivered meals as well as made holiday cards to be included with the meal deliveries to brighten someones day, every little thing helps! They also host a number of events throughout the year.

For more information about Dining Out for Life, click here.

Click here for a listing of participating restaurants & to make your reservation today!

National Harbor Restaurant Week (2/15-27)

If you love Restaurant Week as much as I do, you'll jump at the opportunity to take advantage of Restaurant Week at Maryland's National Harbor.

This year's event begins today, February 15, and runs through Sunday, February 27, 2011. Like the RWs in DC, Bethesda, and Alexandria, it's $20.11 for a 3 course lunch and $35.11 for a 3 course dinner.

I believe this is their second year hosting the event and since they've added several new restaurants over the past 12 months this is the perfect time to take advantage. Some of the restaurants included are: Rosa Mexicano, National Pastime (in the Gaylord Hotel), Ketchup, and Grace's Mandarin. I'd also suggest Cadillac Ranch, not so much for the food, but for the chance to ride the bull. Yes, they have a mechanical bull and it's quite hilarious to watch people get thrown off of it. After a few drinks, you may even want to try your luck.

For more information about National Harbor Restaurant Week and to see the menus of those restaurants participating, click here.

Find Today's Daily Deal on Your City's Best Things To Do at Groupon.com!

Restaurant Review: Merzi

I'd first heard of Merzi through a tweet a few weeks ago.  When I went to the website, I thought it was a great concept and I had to try it out for myself.  I'd heard a few people describe it as an "Indian Chipotle" and that's exactly what it is.

They have a few base options like rice and naan.  You then select a meat, I believe they had 2 types of chicken, lamb, beef, and shrimp.  Next they had several other toppings including peppers and onions, potatoes, chickpeas, a salsa-like concoction, corn, and several sauces ranging from mild to medium to hot. 

I chose the rice bowl with chicken, most of the toppings and the warm medium sauce.  I love eating mango ice cream after having Indian food so I ordered their drink called the Mango Fantango.

As I sat down I honestly didn't know what to expect.  I love Indian food, in fact one of my favorites Rasika is right around the corner, but Indian fast food was a new concept for me.  The food ended up being very good and everything tasted fresh.  Halfway through, I started to get that full feeling like I do when eating a Chipotle Burrito Bowl but of course I didn't want to stop eating.  I left a few bites and polished off the frothy mango smoothie which was refreshing and very pleasing to my soul.

The staff and service were excellent. I appreciated the fact that they were very patient and quick to offer suggestions since I was clearly a newbie.  If it were a little closer to my office (it was an 11 block walk in 30 degree weather) I'd be a regular there, it's a nice alternative from the usual.  Next time I need a quick fix of Indian food, I'll definitely be back.

Merzi
415 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
410.746.2729
http://www.merzi.com/

Savvy Deals: Village Vines

Recently, I learned about a new website called Village Vines.  Village Vines is somewhat like a OpenTable.com meets Groupon.  Members join for FREE and have a chance to get great discounts on a number of popular restaurants.  You book your reservation online, pay a $10 fee, and you'll receive 30% off of food and beverages. 

The biggest advantage is you do not need to bring a coupon or print out with you, the discount will come off automatically on your bill.  (Hint: Fellas if you want to save a few dollars on your next date, this is the perfect way to do it.)

Village Vines provides discounts to popular restaurants in Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

The statement below was taken from their website.

VillageVines gives food lovers access to preferred pricing with their city's most popular restaurants. We make your dining experiences more convenient and more affordable, and we do so by partnering with the best dining establishments – from the restaurant icons to the up and coming gems.

If you haven't tried VillageVines, give it a try for FREE.  Please accept my invitation below:

http://tinyurl.com/villagevinesDC

Restaurant Opening: Cuba Libre DC - October 1

When I first heard about Cuba Libre coming to DC, for some reason I was sooo excited. While, I've never been to their other locations in Philadelphia, Atlantic City or Orlando, I've heard countless rave reviews about their food and drinks.   Since, I'm a lover of all things Latin of course I had to book a reservation to be one of the first to try it out, review to come next week.

The DC location was initially scheduled to open during the middle of summer but due to unforeseen circumstances, the opening date kept getting pushed back.  I hoped they would be open in time for my 30th Birthday celebration, but it didn't happen. 

When I was initially trying to plan my birthday festivities, I contacted Emily Jarmuth, the Director of Sales & Local Marketing, who has provided me with follow-up over the last few months and I truly appreciate her keeping me in the loop.

I'm so happy to share that they will finally be opening up for "limited business" on Friday, October 1st.  As of today, reservations are completely booked Oct 1-3, but the other days are still open.  They are offering discounted prices off of the dinner menu for the first 2 weeks, 50% the first week and 25% the second.  See below for part of the press release.

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar Announces October 1st Opening with Introductory Prices at Dinner Nuevo Cubano newcomer offers a welcoming discount for guests during opening. Washington, D.C. (September 20, 2010)― Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is excited to announce the preview opening of its new DC location in Penn Quarter will begin October 1st. It will open with a new menu specifically developed for Washington by Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot. Guests of the inspired "Nuevo Cubano" restaurant can also look forward to a 50% discount on their dinner from October 1st until October 7th. Then from October 8th-13th, guests can enjoy a 25% discount before the full price menu begins on October 14th. This special savings only applies to the cuisine (beverages will be offered at full price) during this preview period and is available at dinner service only, which is served daily from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Cuba Libre
801 A 9th Street (corner of H Street), NW 
Washington, D.C.
202.408.1600 http://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com

Foodie Alert: New Orleans Restaurants Pt. 2

In addition to my old favorites, I have two new ones that I'd highly recommend to anyone traveling to New Orleans.

Two Sisters Kitchen (not to be mistaken with a Court of Two Sisters) is a small, down home restaurant situated in a green house on N. Derbigny Street. It is located about 5 minutes down Canal Street from the French Quarter. 

We met the owner, Ms. Doris, while we were there and she was incredibly friendly, wish the same could be said for the staff.  Don't let the staff be a deterrent though, the food was absolutely amazing.  It's clear that it's a local favorite so they don't bother to roll out the red carpet or put on a show like the larger touristy restaurants do, it's completely no frills. We had gumbo, meatloaf, and fried catfish along with sides of macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and rice.  The portions are hearty and it seems like everyone leaves there with a to-go box.  In total, the three of us paid $24 for our meal including drinks, unbelievable for a sit down restaurant these days. Everything was fantastic but let me say the potato salad was like nothing I had ever tasted before.  The consistency was more like mashed potatoes and they were light and fluffly clouds of pure deliciousness.

Advice: Don't forget to bring cash, they don't accept credit cards.  They do have an ATM but the fee is something ridiculous.  Your meal is only going to cost between $6-10, so why pay an ATM fee of $5.00+

The Gumbo Pot is located on Decatur Street, a cute, funky part of the French Quarter that is known for its quirky boutiques and shops.  If you're a dress lover like me don't forget to stop by a boutique called Wish on your way to this place.  The clothes there are very affordable and will get you complimented everytime.  But back to the topic at hand...food.  The Gumbo Pot, as you guessed it, features several different types of gumbo.

My Mother and I both ordered the seafood gumbo and my Aunt had the chicken and andouille sausage gumbo.  Both were delicious and very rich. Everything tasted so fresh, I hoped I would have left overs but I found myself scooping up the very last drop within a matter of minutes.  Our waitress was incredibly friendly and ultimately shared with us everything from how she ended up in New Orleans to her personal Hurricane Katrina story.  In addition to the great food, we enjoyed the candor.  Also, the prices are very reasonable, I think a bowl of gumbo may have been $9 or $10.

Advice: Order a bowl, not a cup.  The cup is $2-$3 cheaper but it's like 1/3 a size of the bowl.

Well, I hope you enjoy my restaurant suggestions, I went a few other places to eat while down there but these restaurants were hands down my favorites.  As they say in New Orleans, 'Laissez les bon temps rouler'!

H Street's Own Restaurant Week August 16-22

Just received word that the H Street Corridor is offering their own version of Restaurant Week to coincide with DC's official week.  From August 16-22, many of the restaurants will be offering three course meals for $20.10, not $35.10, for both lunch and dinner, and in some cases breakfast.

The H Street Corridor is trying their hardest to compete with the likes of Georgetown, Gallery Place, and Penn Quarter where restaurants are concerned.  Hopefully, this promotion encourages more people to support the businesses in this up-and-coming part of NE.

Here's a listing of the participating restaurants.

Argonaut – 1433 H Street
Biergarten Haus – 1355 H Street
Capital City Diner – 1050 Bladensburg Road
Dangerously Delicious Pies – 1339 H Street
Ethiopic – 401 H Street
Granville Moore’s – 1238 H Street
H Street Country Club – 1335 H Street
Liberty Tree – 1016 H Street
Star and Shamrock – 1341 H Street
Sticky Rice – 1224 H Street
Taylor Gourmet – 1116 H Street
 
For a complete listing of the menu items they have available for this promotion, click here.

Foodie Alert: New Orleans Restaurants Pt. 1

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to eat, glad I have a high metabolism.  I spent a week in New Orleans and had the chance to sample what The Big Easy is known for, no not their Hurricanes and Hand Grenade drinks, but their food. 

Three of my trusted favorites are Mothers, NOLA and Cafe du Monde.  All three restaurants / cafes are uniquely different but are the epitome of New Orleans and its rich culture.  I also had a chance to try two other places Two Sisters and The Gumbo Shop.  If you'll be going to New Orleans anytime soon, I'd suggest you try out all of these places, you will not be disappointed.

Mother's Restaurant is located on Poydras Street near the W Hotel.  You'll know it when you see it because of the long lines that lead up to the door.  It doesn't matter what time of the year or time of the day, you're sure to find long lines and it's worth the wait.  Mother's caters to both locals and visitors.  They serve authentic New Orleans specialities like Crawfish Etouffe, Seafood Gumbo, Red Beans & Rice and bread pudding (all of those dishes are to die for). 

Once you make it in side, you will order your food cafeteria style then within 5 minutes it's delivered to your table.  They serve large portions and most meals range from $10-$15.  You will definitely leave feeling satisfied.  Advice: You'll notice they have signs posted saying "No Tipping Allowed".  I always disregard this policy and you'll notice most of the other patrons will too because the servers are amazing and extremely hospitable.  I couldn't imagine leaving them empty-handed, just be discrete when you hand them their tip. Learn more about Mother's

NOLA Oh how I love NOLA which is short for New Orleans, Louisiana of course.  It was the second restaurant opened by Chef Emeril Lagasse in 1992 and located on St. Charles Street in the French Quarter.  If you aren't familiar with Emeril, he's known for his love of New Orleans and also by his favorite saying "BAM". 

NOLA offers all of the tastes of New Orleans but with a higher-end price tag.  You definitely get what you pay for at this place.  The service is impeccable and you'll have not one but two or even three servers to attend to your every need.  This was my third time going and everything I had was absolutely delicious as it always is.  I highly recommend the barbecue shrimp, lobster salad, shrimp and grits, creole redfish, and the pork chop (see the picture I took to the right, I'm not a huge pork fan but it was the best pork chop I've ever had). Advice: Save room for dessert.  My favorite is the trio of creme brulee but all of their desserts are decadent and worth every last calorie. Learn more about NOLA

Cafe du Monde is another must visit cafe located in the French Quarter.  They are known for their beignets, which are delectable French doughnuts that melt in your mouth.  In each order just get 3 beignets covered, I mean seriously covered, in powdered sugar.  You can order several kinds of coffee with your beignets or wash them down with a cold glass of milk (I don't drink either, water works for me). 

They have a two locations in New Orleans proper the actual cafe, also known as the French Market,  is located on Decatur Street and open 24 hours(pictured to the left) and another mini-location at The Riverwalk, near the convention center.  For the total experience check out the French Market cafe. Advice: Sit on the outside, it's great for people watching.  Don't wear anything dark because you will have powdered sugar all over you by the time you finish. Learn more about Cafe du Monde


Since this post is longer than I anticipated, I'll write about my new finds, Two Sisters and The Gumbo Shop, in my next post.

Restaurant Week Summer 2010

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a foodie.  As a foodie, one of our favorite times of the year is Restaurant Week.  Restaurant Week in Washington, DC is quickly approaching and will be held August 16-22.  If you're not familiar with RW, it's a week when local restaurants offer 3 course meals at their establishments for a lowered price, $20.10 for lunch and $35.10 for dinner.  To view the participating restaurants, click here.

The best part of Restaurant Week is it allows you to try out some of the top and typically some of the more expensive restaurants for an unbeatable price.  When you add it all up, usually I spend about $55 for a 3 course dinner, with an alcoholic beverage, and tax and tip, that really isn't bad.  Many of the places have entrees that tend to range from $20-$35 so it's like getting an appetizer and dessert for free.  What could be better?

Every Restaurant Week, I try to choose three new places that differ in variety.  The restaurants I've chosen this time are no different, Bibiana (Italian), Cafe Atlantico (Latin), and Mie N Yu (Asian Fusion). 

SAVVY DEAL
I've been to Mie N Yu several times but they're offering an incredible deal that I couldn't pass up. Instead of the usual 3 course dinner, they are providing 4 courses plus a glass of wine, beer or a nonalcoholic beverage for same price of $35.10.  If you've never been to Mie N Yu, it's a great spot and the atmosphere is amazing.  Hint: It's also perfect for dates.  Go on a Thursday for the live music or on the weekends for the belly dancer.  I always have a great time!