Urbana DC

"Named one of Washington, DC's "Hottest Restaurant Bar Scenes," Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar is a destination in and of itself" (quoted from the Urbana DC website). Urbana, which means little city in Italian, has certainly become a hot spot for many Washingtonians. I started eating at Urbana for brunch in 2009. The food was (and still is) very tasty, but quite honestly, I couldn't quite connect with the dinner menu. It wasn't until December of 2010, when Manager Hai Son Kien, who was then Manager at Firefly DC, told me that he would no longer be working at Firefly and that he was moving over to Urbana. Now I'm a follower of GREAT food, but I'm also a follower of good...no, GREAT...service, a wonderful and attentive staff, nice ambiance, and the overall dining experience. I knew that Hai Son's move to Urbana didn't mean that Firefly would suffer; it meant that Urbana would become a new and amazing place. BY that, I mean, Urbana was about to be reinvented. And boy, was I right! This place has literally transformed over night (Ok, so you might think I'm exaggerating a little bit, and maybe I am, but there have been some amazing changes that I think most people will appreciate.

The menu has changed. There are some amazing 'must-try' dishes, such as the pork belly with braised spare ribs, seared scallops, as well as soups, handmade pastas, casseroles, and some delicious chicken, beef and pork dishes. Oh, and let's not forget the local oysters! The new Executive Chef John Critchley, has created a new menu that incorporates "Western Mediterranean influences, emphasizing sustainable seafood with creative but simple techniques." Chef Critchley's experience and attention to food and fresh ingredients is what helps make dining at Urbana quite the experience. And let's not forget the amazing bar! The knowledgeable staff will be sure to recommend nice glass of wine or signature cocktail that's sure to get you in the "spirit"! The bar offers a wide selection of French, Italian, Spanish and American wines, "with a special focus on local and sustainable vintages."

This couldn't be a better time for Urbana. With an amazing and attentive staff, new Executive Chef, new management, new menu, great ambiance, who could ask for anything more? This has become one of my new favorite restaurants in Washington, DC and I hope Urbana continues to improve and maintain its spot in Dupont Circle as one of the hottest restaurants and bar. I, for one, am very pleased with what Urbana has become. "Check, please!"

Oh, and be sure to try the brunch! B.uild Y.our O.wn B.ellini
$16 Bottomless Beverage service for B.Y.O.B. begins at 11:00am and ends at 3:00pm
Purchase of entrée required.

“through an eclectic and approachable brasserie-style menu, urbana embodies this very spirit by celebrating the culinary traditions of northern italy and provence” - john critchley, executive chef

Urbana DC
2121 P Street Northwest, located within the stunning Hotel Palomar Washington DC
Washington D.C., DC 20037
(202) 956-6650
http://www.urbanadc.com

(Photo: top left: slow cooked pork belly, juniper crusted spare ribs, celery root and braised leeks. Photo: bottom right- Eggs Any Style, rustic potatoes and country sausage, by Lakegan Harris)

Thai Tanic Restaurant DC

One of my favorite Thai restaurants in DC, Thai Tanic continues offer delicious food at a very reasonable price. Thai Tanic offers great service from its friendly staff, authentic Thai cuisine and fresh ingredients, and upbeat atmosphere. This place is always at the top of the list when it comes to great Thai cuisine.

Thai Tanic now has two locations and a new sushi bar, Tsunami.

1326-A 14th Street, NW, Washington DC 20005 (Near Rhode Island/Logan Circle)

3462 14th Street, NW, Washington DC 20010 (Columbia Heights)

1326 14th Street Northwest Washington D.C., DC 20005-3611 - (202) 588-5889 (Near Rhode Island/Logan Circle)

Casa Nonna

Goodbye California Pizza Kitchen (or as most call it, CPK), and hello Casa Nonna! The New York-based BLT Restaurants brand has done it again in Washington. Casa Nonna joins BLT Steak downtown and the forthcoming BLT Burger (at 1317 Connecticut Ave. NW), opening this spring. Casa Nonna, which is a block south at 1250 Connecticut Ave. NW, features menu items such as antipasti, pizza and pasta. The dinner menu includes small plates, sliced meats (charcuterie) and cheeses, wood oven pizza, salads, and family-style portions of italian classics like spaghetti pomodoro, linguine with clams, fettuccine, ravioli and lasagne.

Don't want to wait for a table? Saddle up to the bar and order a cocktail and a few small plates. The risotto balls are delicious! So are the pickled beets and fried calamari.

Casa Nonna is open Mon-Thurs from 11:30am (lunch) - 11pm (dinner); Friday from 11:30a-11:30p, Saturday from 5:30p (dinner) - 11:30p, and Sunday from 4p-10p.

"Chef for a Day" Nate Hill - Argentina

Restaurant Mio continues on the success of their "Chef for a Day" series, welcoming Nate Hill.

Nate's menu will attempt to interpret the intense urbanism palpable in Buenos Aires cuisine next Saturday, December 5th, 2009, in MIO's on-going series of "Chef for a Day", which celebrates the growing influence of urban Latin American cuisine in Washington, D.C.

Enjoy 3-course signature dinner hosted by local Guest "Chef for a Day", Nate Hill.


Time: Between 5:00-9:00 PM
Cost: $40 per person ++
Go to Open Table to make a reservation!
Or RSVP 202.955.0075

MENU:

Appetizers

(Choice of one)
Choripan
**
Provoleta con Oregano
**
Empanadas Argentinas

Entrée (Choice):
Canelones de Espinacas
**
Matahambre con Ensalada Rusa
**
Milanesa de Pollo a Caballo con Papas Fritas
**
Parrilla individual

Dessert (Choice):
Alfajores
**
Helados

http://twitter.com/MioRestaurant
FACEBOOK: MIO RESTAURANT & CAFE

Mourayo, Revisited

I continue to go to this restaurant. It's good food, consistent, great service. I always want to eat the same thing, but realise I should try something different (LOVE the beet salad). I went there this week with my friend Bill. I'll continue to be a patron at this place. It rates pretty well on my list.



www.mourayous.com/
1732 Connecticut Ave NW # 100
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-2100
Menus here

Marvin

Update:
I took my friend Scott there last night for his birthday. The food was great, but the restaurant was very dim (very few and not very bright lights), and very noisy once it got busy. It has a kitchen that opens into the dining room, which adds an extra layer of noise. Overall, it was good. I'd recommend getting there early to beat the crowd and the noise, and be sure to make a reservation (see link below for Opentable.com).





From Chicken and waffles to waterzooi, Belgium's classic marriage of cream and seafood, Marvin's seems to please the palate of many DCists. Blending into the strofronts along 14th ST, NW, near U Street, Marvin's, a very non-descript and hard-to spot restaurant has proven to not be a challenge for locals.

Washington Post review:
"There's no flashy sign announcing what's inside 2007 14th St. NW. Instead, discreet stenciling on the door and a bucket of champagne in the window suggest that the owners want to keep things low-key..."..."Marvin gives off a warm vibe. The dining room, dressed with framed chalkboards listing wines by the glass and naked light bulbs plunging from the ceiling, looks as if it had been imported from Brussels, and the tunes are a soulful mix of funk, jazz and even (Jamaican) ska. In a city whose restaurants sometimes fail to reflect the existence of Washington's large African American population, Marvin is a happy exception, although the clientèle represents a rainbow coalition of faces and ages."


For dessert, Scott and I shared this delicious chocolate dessert with homemade ice cream....was very nice!

Be sure and make a reservation!


2007 14th St. NW,
Washington, DC 20009
202-797-7171



Hours: Sun-Thu 5:30 to 11 p.m., Fri-Sat 5:30-midnight; Brunch Sat-Sun 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Price: $$ (Average entree $11-$20)
Atmosphere Type: Bar, Lounge, Patio/Rooftop
Cuisine: Bistro, Belgian, Southern/Soul
Neighborhood: U Street/Cardozo
Nearest Metro: U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (Green and Yellow lines)

Café Tropé

(Photo courtesy of Cafe Trope website)
Coming soon (old location of 21 P Restaurant), a new French-Caribbean restaurant called Café Tropé, owned by Chef Howsoon Cham of Red Ginger.

(Quoted from Chowhound.com's website):
Chef/Owner Howsoon Cham will open the doors on December 28th for dinner service, Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Signature dishes include Foie Gras with Coconut French Toast and Cranberry Jam; Jamaican Jerk Chicken Lollipops with Fried Cabbage, Potatoes and Vidalia Onion Hash; Rum and Apple Cider Cured Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Puree and Rum Sauce, and Crabmeat Stuffed King Head-On Prawns with Nantua Sauce. A choice of any two courses will be available for $24, any three courses for $34, any four courses for $46 and any five courses for $55.

For additional information, please call (202) 223-9335 or visit the website at: www.cafetropedc.com.

Zola

(Image courtesy of Zoladc.com)


This American-themed restaurant, located in the historic Penn Quarter in the vintage Le Droit building, keeps with the theme of the Spy Museum, which is situated just beside the restaurant. Zola, with its modern style and rather tasteful "spy" theme, amuses our palates with dishes like Tuna Tartar with spicy lime vinaigrette, cucumber salad, and whipped lemon cream, or the "No Fuss Mussels", made with Smithfield Ham, tomatoes, arugula, Lemon, Garlic, Crisp Potatoes (very good and very salty!), and Grilled Flat Bread proscuitto, fresh figs, foie gras butter, mascarpone and balsamic drizzle.

I had the pleasure of eating there with my friend Jim, after seeing Paula Deen at the Convention Center a few weeks ago. We had a nice time. The food was good, great atmosphere, although I'm sure during events around the MCI Center and National Portrait Gallery, it can get rather busy there, and probably noisy. I'm not sure what the dinner would be like; we only shared a couple of appetizers.

Gallery Place - Chinatown (green, yellow and red lines) at 7th St & F St, NW (0.05 miles away)

Phone: 202-654-0999
Fax: 202-654-0998

Hours
* Sun. 5-10PM
* Mon.-Fri. 11:30AM-midnight
* Sat. 5PM-midnight

Restaurant
* American

Price
* $$ (moderate)
* $7-$24

Brasserie Beck

(photo courtesy of Brasserie Beck website)
My friend David raves about this place, and from the looks of things, I'll be going there soon to check it out myself! Stay tuned for my review of the Becks!

Brasserie Beck
1101 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 408-1717


Details (see DC Foodies for more information):
Dress Code: Casual
Parking: Valet is $7 but has a tendency to back up. Street parking is NOT plentiful, but sometimes you're lucky enough to find a spot.
Smoking: Not Allowed.
Closest Metro: Metro Center, McPherson Square, Mt. Vernon Square
Reservations: Taken and recommended.

Busara Thai Cuisine

Talk about good Thai food!!! This restaurant is consistently FANTASTIC! They have 3 locations in the metro DC area. I've eaten at the Reston location a number of times, and I imagine the other locations are just as good. Definitely at the top of my list of great Thai restaurants in town. The food is reasonable, fast, and flavorful!
They seem to all be consistently GOOD! I haven't been disappointed at this restaurant yet.


BUSARA, DC
2340 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Wasington D.C. 20007
Phone: 202-337-2340
Email: dc@busara.com

BUSARA, TYSONS
8142 Watson Street
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 703-356-2288
Fax: 703-356-0056
tysons@busara.com

BUSARA, RESTON
11964 Market Street
Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-435-4188
Fax: 703-435-4008
reston@busara.com
(image courtesy of busara.com)