Cost - $$$

Service - B+

I think it is pretty much the same story - if you get in you’re fine but if you are stuck at the door then you will probably have a pretty negative perspective on the service at the venue.  Shadow Room has introduced some pretty strong service incentives for members including priority valet, coat check; and also some fascinating technical services such as mobile ordering and a variety of other kiosk-driven service orders.  I do have to mention that they might want to consider hiring more shrewd doormen.  Without getting into too much detail I will simply mention I was witness to the doorman dropping the ball pretty significantly in some respects.

Food - ?

Decor - A
The space was designed by Adamstein & Demetriou, who have been behind many DC hot-spots including Zola, Zaytinya, Raku and a host of others for which they have been garnered national recognition.  Their work on Shadow Room is certainly on par with any of their other projects and certainly lends itself to the exclusive nature of the venue.

Feel - A
Many longtime DC scenesters are not happy with the direction that the city seems to be taking but I personally am supportive of it.  The club scene is starting to fall in-line with what you see in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami and that can only mean good things for DC, which has traditionally been known for its distinct lack of style and sophistication.  For all those that complain about the increasing exclusivity (see the thread on Josephine’s) there are loads of great venues where you don’t have to deal with door politics in the city.  Just set your expectations appropriately.

Shadow Room is located at 2131 K Street.  They can be reached at (202) 887-1200.  For more information on membership with Shadow Room visit their Web site.

The chain of Alero Tex-Mex restaurants gets comments from diners that all over the map. On one hand, the food is terrible and on the other, it’s the best Mexican food in DC. I have eaten at all three locations and will get into my opinion on the food below, but the one I will focus more on in this review is the U Street locale.

Cost - $$

Service - A
As with most neighborhoody latin restaurants, service is consistently very good. Wait staff is almost always hustling and eager to please.

Food - B-
As I stated above, there is a wide range of opinions on the food. Like with most things, I think the main reason for the differences has to do with the broad spectrum of expectations. Being from California, I have a fundamental problem paying $9.95 for a burrito which I used to get for $5.50 so initially I agreed with those who were disappointed in DC Mexican cuisine. However, I have learned to not be so harsh by staying away from ordering overpriced tacos and chimichangas and sticking to the best value on the menu - steak fajitas! Also of note are the chips and salsa which I think are the best around.

Decor - B
As background, the Dupont and Cleveland Park locations are traditional in decor while the U Street one is modern with a much larger bar area and lounge. The U Street location gets the B while the other two would get C’s. I like the modern scheme much better and most of the art reflects the jazz scene roots of the area. I sometimes find it cool that the latin and jazz art come together so well.

Feel - B+
With the large outdoor patio, it’s hard to top Alero on a warm weekday night or weekend afternoon. Alero has some pretty good happy hour specials but the crowd can be a bit much for me at times. There are also three sets of couches which do it as a lounge for some but I can’t say I really feel it. That all said, the primary reason I frequent Alero is because of the two large screen TVs at the bar. I won’t watch an important game here but I will spend time on a Sunday afternoon watching golf or baseball while reading the paper and sucking down margaritas.

Alero is located at 1301 U Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 462-2322.

What’s the Buzz:

September 27, 2007 - Alero Dupont (Washingtonian) - You’ll find all the hallmarks of a standard, guac-laden Tex-Mex menu–big platters holding burritos, chimichangas, fajitas and enchiladas–plus carne asada and pollo primavera (grilled chicken breast piled with zucchini, onions and tomatoes). On the seafood front, shrimp and scallops adorn most dishes. Full article…

Cost - $$

Service - B
I visited while they were still getting their ducks in a row so the service seemed a bit excited but very professional. Our hostess was friendly and I even spent a few minutes chatting with the manager, Adam, who seemed on his game. The service at the bar was also quite solid.

Food - A-
They don’t serve main courses but they do have an extensive appetizer menu that includes cheeses, meants, flatbreads, and some of the most delicious chocolate in the city. The wine list (as one would expect from a wine bar) is also pretty impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed a glass of the hermann wiemer riesling. Enology structures the menu in a manner conducive to sampling an array of plates and wines.

Decor - A-
I liked Zebra Lounge but it sort of felt a bit euro-trashy - decorated like a cheesy bar on Mykonos. Enology on the other hand has a very contemporary and sophisticated design that should endear it to an older, more professional crowd.

Feel - A
I’m always excited when a venue with some class opens up within walking distance of my house. Enology has the potential to quickly become my neighborhood hang-out because of their high degree of professionalism and aesthetic appeal. The only question I have is whether or not they will be able to draw the right type of clientele from the Upper-Georgetown / Cathedral Heights area but the neighborhood has clearly been waiting for a place like this to pop-up.

Enology is located at 3238 Wisconsin Ave. They can be reached at 202.362.0362.

What’s the Buzz:

June 22, 2008 - Enology Wine Bar (The President Wears Prada) - Does anyone not love wine? Quite possible, but I haven’t met the person, actually I knew one girl in college who didn’t like wine, but she also didn’t like shopping so we won’t count her as a human. It’s really surprising to me that until recently DC didn’t have many wine bars, so I was very excited to try the newest one.  Full article…

Oya sometimes gets left out of the discussion of recommended restaurants in Penn Quarter but it shouldn’t. I think a lot of that has to do with Oya’s relatively subtle entrance and location on 9th Street which isn’t as noticeable as other nearby neighbors such as Zaytinya or Rosa Mexicana which are on street corners and get a steadier stream of foot traffic. That said, once inside you are quickly impressed with the presentation of the French-Asian cuisine and chic decor which in my opinion is one of the best renditions of modern simplicity in the city. Whether you are a cost conscious diner or not, the nightly three course dinner prix fixe menu for $30 is one of the best values around.

Cost - $$$

Service - B
I have had excellent service here and of the times it has been less than that, it has still been good. Waiters are attentive and accessible and usually quick to please.

Food - B
During my first visit to Oya, I thought the place was so aesthetically pleasing that the food would be a disappointment. It wasn’t that time but since then it has been good but a little inconsistent. Some longtime DC’ers tell me that the place has been improving over the past year and half or so. However, the one thing Oya is very consistent and good at is presentation.

Decor - A
The sleek white decor, high ceilings and fireplace lit walls make Oya one of the most eye-pleasing restaurants around. It manages to be both modern and warm especially with the 12 foot long fireplace in the main dining area.

Feel - B+
When I am looking for fun and hip but a little more on the quiet side, Oya makes the short list. I had visitors in town on my last visit and they fell in love with the cherry blossom decor used by the interior designers. Rather than feel like we were in another hip restaurant somewhere in a major city in the US, they knew they were in DC which is the way I like it.

Oya is located at 777 9th Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 393-1400.

What’s the Buzz:

January 22, 2008 - Oya (The Baltimore Snacker) - I finally caught up with my Washington Restaurant Week excursion, and as I said earlier I had to visit a place that carried the deal out through January. That place was Oya. This was such a fabulous restaurant, and I think i am going to visit this place again soon. Full article…

August 8, 2007 - Restaurant Week at Oya (Culture Me, DC) - As promised, here’s the full rundown on my Restaurant Week dinner at Oya last night.A note before I begin: RW has to be hard on chefs and servers, so I don’t always expect that I’ll see the absolute best of what a restaurant has to offer when I eat there during one of the busiest weeks of the year. On the other hand, though, these places should be showcasing the top dishes because that’s what’s going to make me come back, even when the deals are over and I have to pay full price. Full article…

November 3, 2006 - Oh Yeah!….OYA (Chowhound) - As I entered the restaurant I nearly forgot to assemble my “I’m somebody” face but the 3,000 lb. chain link curtain was the perfect reminder that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. My unfashionably punctual buddys were seated and kind enough to have left my name and likeness with the maitre d’(helped me get in character). Moving through joint I was struck by the absence of kitchen aroma I have come to expect and love when gathering my appetite for a new menu. Full article…

Ownership of most of the hot spots in DC is consolidated by a handful of club owners. One of those is Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld, whose company Latin Concepts is responsible for some of the top clubs and restaurants in DC including Chi-Cha, Mate, and Gazuza. As with the other Latin Concepts venues, Guarapo offers a trendy, sophisticated combination of food, music, and atmosphere and is one of the top venues in the Clarendon / Arlington area (and the only one I have been to in the area in the past several years).

Cost - $$

Service - A-
The general manager is Sevem Al-Hendi and he has done a good job staffing Guarapo with a combination of attractive, friendly bartenders and wait staff. I have always had a positive experience when interacting with the staff at Guarapo.

Food - B+
Ismael Otarola, the executive chef, is responsible for the menu that features a variety of Latin-infused tapas.

Decor - A-
I like the look and feel of Guarapo quite a bit. It offers a little bit of everything including an outdoor patio, upstairs bar, dance floor and dining/lounge area. It is also a versatile space - I have been there for dinner, happy hour and even a variety of events including fashion shows.

Feel - A-
Guarapo offers a sexy, laid-back ambiance that is conducive to socializing as well as a more secluded, romantic dining experience. I don’t venture into Virginia much on the weekends but if I did, it would definitely be to visit a handful of places and one of them would definitely be Guarapo.

Guarapo is located at 2039 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA. They can be reached at (703) 528-6500.

Asia Nine is the latest endeavor by Boonrod Yotmanee and Nuthinepan Tantivejakul, the couple that runs Rice and Spice Thai Cuisine in Alexandria. As a person who spends most of their life in Penn Quarter, I was looking forward to the opening of a convenient restaurant with a selection of Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai cuisines. I had read that Asia Nine was going to be mid-priced and casual so on my first visit with Jiyan, I was a little surprised on how expansive and well put together the place was. Truth be told, the hooks for me here are the flat screen televisions at the bar, sushi and the extensive sake list.

Cost - $$

Service - B+
I have eaten here a number of times since the doors opened in March and the service has been consistently good. Like most new establishments, there are kinks that will have to be worked out but the attentive and friendly attitude of the staff as a whole makes up for it. Expect the grade for service to improve once the sushi chefs start taking sake bombs with me.

Food - C+
The drawback of restaurants, especially Asian ones, with menus that span a variety of cuisines (fusion aside). Although the food in general can be good, the offerings tend to be the more popular safe dishes. Asia Nine fits into that mold and the dishes and sushi range from pretty good to average. Some may find the number of salads on the menu a plus.

Decor - B
As I alluded to above, I have come to expect most casual Asian restaurants to be a little thrown together including decor that falls along those lines but Asia Nine differs here. The space is open with high ceilings but the use of red, gold and orange color palette helps maintain a comfortable feel. Overall, I would say it’s a stylish restaurant.

Feel - B
I recently had dinner on a weekend and the place was full with a good buzz. It was nice to see a diverse crowd of people that seem to range from people on a date to casual diners to those who looked like they were warming up for a night on the town. A consistent solid experience be it happy hour or a Saturday night dinner.

Asia Nine is located at 915 E Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 629-4355.

What’s the Buzz:

March 26, 2008 - Asia Nine (Washington Post) - “I haven’t seen cocktails in these colors since spring break!” A buddy makes a nostalgic, and accurate, point as three of us ease into dinner at the sweeping Asia Nine Bar and Lounge in Penn Quarter: Our spirit-laced drinks form a Day-Glo rainbow of pink, yellow and blue on the tabletop, which is all but hidden by multiple menus that have been distributed to each of us. Full article…

March 18, 2008 - Asia Nine (DCfabulous) - Penn Quarter location. Check. Sushi menu. Check. Looks of what can be a trendy place to have sushi. Check. Tables full of children and tourists…ummmmm. I have been waiting for Asia Nine to open for a long time. And I was excited when I stopped by last Wednesday for the soft opening. Full article…

ACKC, short for Artfully Chocolate and Kingsbury Confections - is the product of a collaboration of the two Alexandria stores. A welcomed addition to the local scene in Logan Circle, the shop is a combination of cafe, chocolate shop and art gallery for the most part but they also offer a number of novelty items such as greeting cards and dog treats. In addition, the rear of the space is outfitted with a showcase kitchen so visitors can watch the confections being made. If warm mugs of hot chocolate and delicious desserts is your thing, ACKC is definitely worth a try.

Cost - $

Service - A-
The gentleman working behind the chocolate counter was extremely helpful in giving me background and guidance on the various pieces to choose from. The staff at the cocoa bar were also very nice but making designer chocolate drinks is a bit of a process so I had a little bit of wait but it was worth it.

Food - A-
I haven’t frequented a number of chocolate bars so I don’t have a very good handle on how ACKC stacks up against other places but the drinks in my opinion were surprisingly more delicious and complex than I had expected. I also had a number of the chocolate pieces and they were quite good as well. In addition, it was impressive to see the community theme of offering goods from other local confectioners and artisans.

Decor - A-
Before my first visit, the simple name on the red awning coupled with the bright colors on the inside made the shop look a little intimidating and exclusive from the outside. I know that sounds like a contradiction but that was my impression. I think my feelings were a compliment and a testimony to the little details that make spending time there a treat. From the exposed kitchen to the art on the wall, ACKC is well-executed which gives the place a warm, rich feel. I think it all boils down to me thinking that the prices would be more on the expensive side which tuns out, not the case at all.

Feel - A
Cozy, friendly and hip. Like I said above, a welcomed addition to the neighborhood that reflects some of the best of Logan Circle.

ACKC is located at 1529 14th Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 387-2626.

What’s the Buzz:

April 22, 2008 - ACKC Bringing Sidewalk Cafe to 14th Street? (14th and You) - Everyone’s favorite purveyors of awesome hot chocolate beverages (and some darn good chocolate bars–has anyone tried the chocolate bacon bar? Yummmmm…). Full Article…

February 19, 2008 - ACKC Cocoa Bar Offers Real-Deal Hot Chocolate (The Washingtonian) - If you worship at the altar of chocolate, you might want to make a pilgrimage to the ACKC Cocoa Bar. This arty cafe/gallery conjures up a Euro-style espresso bar, but with the cocoa bean front and center. Full Article…

Situated off of M in Georgetown, Degrees Bar & Lounge is a posh venue located in the Ritz-Carlton. The first time I visited was just a few months ago after I had some problems at the door at Josephine’s. I was looking for a nice venue where I knew there wouldn’t be any door politics and Degrees turned out to be perfect. Actually, to be perfectly honest I should say that the lounge in the Ritz-Carlton turned out to be perfect but Degrees was right there.

Cost - $$$

Service - A-
The Ritz-Carlton is a high-end establishment so as you can imagine the service is pretty good. They have to be good otherwise they will be fired.

Food - B+
I really like the food in the Ritz-Carlton. There are an assortment of appetizers to choose from in the main lounge are.

Decor - B
The decor in Degrees itself is nothing to really write home about. As you can see from the picture, it has a simple but classic aesthetic. Nothing really jumps out at you about the decor in the place.

Feel - A-
Again, this review is partially about Degrees and partially about the Ritz-Carlton. That being said, after experiencing some crazy door politics at Josephine’s, Degrees couldn’t have been a better experience to help the night rebound. We got over there at about 12PM and found parking fairly easily (I don’t think this is common). We entered the lounge as the yuppies were beginning to clear out and found a great area by the fireplace where we sat, enjoyed some hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and relaxed. The bar area was actually quite crowded until close so I can imagine it would be a good time in there, but the opportunity to have either a laid-back time in the lounge, or a more gregarious social experience in the bar makes Degrees one of my favorite venues in Georgetown.

Degrees in located in the Ritz-Carlton at 3100 South St. NW. They can be reached at (202) 912-4100.

Napoleon Bistro and Lounge in Adams Morgan has been gaining in popularity over the past year and now seems to have fully arrived. We are frequent visitors and it used to be more hit or miss but now, especially on weekends, there is almost always a good crowd in the lounge with a number of people dancing to a good mix of music. The restaurant on the other hand has received mixed reviews but I get the sense that over the past few months things have been getting better - especially for brunch.

Cost - $$

Service - B
I have heard some complain about the service but my experiences have all been pretty positive. The wait staff continues to be friendly and the food and drinks usually come out in a reasonable amount of time. The bartenders in the lounge do a great job and probably deserve an A-. Even on overly crowded nights, they seem to do their best to keep wait times to a minimum.

Food - C+
The food isn’t as good as many of the other French restaurants around town in the same price range but it is still a little better than decent. I have ordered the same entree on different visits and have it be very good one time and okay another. As I alluded to earlier, the food seems to be getting more consistent.

Decor - B
Napoleon falls a little short of French chic but it’s a good attempt. I like the idea of red walls, black leather booths and the coat of arms behind the upstairs bar. The lounge area is kind of cool too with the brick mixed with regal looking wallpaper but it is sometimes too crowded and dimly lit to see much of anything except the bar.

Feel - B+
Napoleon has been a go to spot over the past few months and it has consistently been a good way to end nights out in Adams Morgan. The crowd used to be more hip but now that it has more of a following, there is a lot more variety in the clientele which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The lounge tends to be on the small side so it can be crowded but not obnoxiously so. It also helps that the DJs are always good and keep the atmosphere energetic, fun and friendly.

Napoleon is located at 1847 Columbia Rd. NW. They can be reached at (202) 299-9630.

April 13, 2007 - Napoleon (Washington Post) - Whether your taste and budget call for a glass of sparkling Australian wine or an expensive vintage from a legendary French producer, champagne bars draw the hip and well-heeled from New York to Paris and beyond. Full article…

February 20, 2007 - Napoleon (DC Dining) - Café Bonaparte in Georgetown has opened a sibling restaurant, Napoleon, in the old Mantis space at the corner of Columbia Road and Mintwood Place in Adams Morgan. The interior, garish that it may be, is much more comfortable. Full article…

Cost - $$

Service - A
The bartenders and wait staff are cool as all hell. I’m sure a great deal of the positive energy oozes down from the owner, a former part-time DJ at the 9:30 club.

Food - B+
Marx Cafe has a good selection of comfort foods and tapas, and has also quickly become one of my favorite places to grab brunch on a Sunday afternoon.

Decor - A-
Marx Cafe has an unpretentious, bare-bone aesthetic that feels clean, comfortable and hip - the venue additionally passes the daylight litmus test for cleanliness.

Feel - A-
Marx Cafe is multi-faceted in the sense that it is a good brunch venue, good neighborhood wine bar for a weekday drink, and even provides a laid-back alternative spot for a weekend soiree. It is still relatively new and remains a hidden gem that is likely to gain steam as the word gets out.

Marx Cafe is at 3203 Mount Pleasant St. NW. They can be reached at (202) 518-7600.