The Source is Wolfgang Puck’s first foray into DC and as one might expect, the restaurant has been an instant hit and in my opinion, a strong contender for top dining destination in the District. With its chic lounge and intimate upstairs dining room, The Source strikes the balance between cool and sophisticated.

Cost - $$$$

Service - B
A few diners have mentioned to me that the service has been lacking which is sometimes a symptom of newer restaurants but my experiences have all been quite positive. From the hostess to the waiters, the staff has been quick and attentive.

Food - A-
The downstairs lounge offers a casual dining experience with it’s interesting pizzas, mini-burgers and the like which are all good (especially the fries) but the upstairs is where chef Scott Drewno serves up an exciting menu of Asian-inspired fare. I particularly enjoyed the scallop and shrimp sui mai, grilled lamb chops and the duck. The wine list is impressive as well and there is a good variety of wines by the glass.

Decor - B+
The space is open and airy with simple clean lines. I appreciate the understated decor which leaves room for  the food and drink do the talking. The stairs leading to the dining room has a bit of a red carpet feel to it -  diners enter into the center of the room  in sight of other patrons. It’s a bit of a stretch but on a busy night it does have the feel of making of an entrance. The glass wall of wine bottles is also an appealing touch.

Feel - A
As I stated earlier, the restaurant has a great feel to it. The change of pace from an energetic lounge to a classy dining room makes for a complete dining experience for many.

The Source is located at 575 Pennsylvania Ave NW. They can be reached at (202) 637-6100.

What’s the Buzz:

April 14, 2008 - More DC Restaurants for Wolfgang Puck? (Washingtonian) - Superstar chef Wolfgang Puck flew into town last week for the grand opening of the Newseum, home of his DC restaurant the Source. Although he was a day too late for the Inn at Little Washington’s anniversary soiree, where he was one of the 30 “culinary pioneers” honored, . Full article…

Co Co. Sala is one of the latest restaurants to follow the trend of chocolate themed dining. Self-proclaimed as “DC’s premier Chocolate Lounge & Boutique,” this recent addition to Penn Quarter specializes in espresso, chocolate-based drinks, artisanal chocolates, and pastries. Born from a creative partnership between Nisha Sidhu, founder of The Sugar Gallery and Bharet Malhotra of Cvent, Co Co. Sala is a great change of pace to the DC scene.

Cost - $$$

Service - A
The wait staff here was well trained and knew the menu inside and out which I am sure is a requirement considering the offerings.

Food - B
Being someone with a healthy appetite, I found the portions to be on the light side. That said, each dish was savory and complex and rather than feeling teased I was surpisingly satisfied. The core part of the menu consists of four Monde du Chocolat prix-fixe selections which are inspired by flavors of India, Italy, America and South America. Additionally or as an alternative, you can order small plates or “Coco Bites” which are more traditional items: mac and cheese, crabcakes, sliders and salads. There is a selection of recommended cocktails for the prix-fixe and small plate choices.

Decor - A-
Co Co. Sala’s decor is a luxurious mix of interesting details: walls and ceilings created to emulate flowing chocolate, plush mocha couches and chairs, chocolate sculptures, blue lit bar with flat screens, both fiber optic and slender overhead lighting, and open flame accents throughout the restaurant. All this makes for an attractive, different and unique setting.

Feel - B+
As I referenced above, Co Co. Sala’s is a great change of pace. The ambiance created by the dim lights, house music, rich decor and attentive staff really met the goal of being an intimate sophisticated lounge.

Co Co. Sala is located at 929 F St. NW. They can be reached at (202) 347-4265.

What’s the Buzz:

July 2, 2008 - New Heaven for Chocoholics (Washington Times) - Stepping into Co Co. Sala is a bit like falling into a box of chocolates. The new Penn Quarter restaurant is dedicated to chocolate. Obsessed, you might say. It is the place to go to die by chocolate: chocolate cocktails, five-course chocolate desserts and splendid chocolate candies.  Full article…

June 2, 2008 - Co Co. Sala (District Culturati) - Co Co. Sala is a self-described “chocolate lounge and boutique”, nestled on F Street in the Penn Quarter. I am, by no means, a Trendy Wendy. When making my nightlife choices, you’ll find me erring on the side of dive bars and undiscovered urban nooks. So color me a bit skeptical when we rush to make our reservation from our late showing of Sex and the City and arrive at Co Co. Sala’s chic exterior.  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…

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…

Rasika is part of the new-wave of Indian fusion that seems to be emerging in major US cities. Despite having an unbelievably irritating Web site that made me want to forego eating there (before realizing this would be a ridiculous reason to not visit a restaurant) the restaurant offers some pretty unique flavors in a stylist upscale environment.

Cost - $$$

Service - B-
I visited on a Friday night when they were probably slammed but for an upscale establishment, I felt like the staff was a bit frantic and frazzled. When I called at about 6PM I was told the earliest I could get a table in the main dining area was at about 10PM but I was told that I could get seating in the main bar area in about 30-40 minutes. I checked in with the hostess shortly after we got there and headed to the bar to get a drink. Strangely enough, I found it more difficult to get a drink at Rasika than most of the clubs I’ve been to on a Friday night and decided to forego the drink all together. I was then seated by one waiter before being told by the hostess and the manager that the table was already committed to another couple. After going back to the bar and failing to get the bartender’s attention I then decided to go sit and eat dinner at the bar towards the back of the restaurant. Again - not really bad service (in fact everyone was extremely polite and friendly) - it just seemed a little disorganized.

Food - A-
I dug the food at Rasika. The chef, Vikram Sunderam, has a reputation for practicing aggressive spicing and it was evident in the calamari. The tandoori chicken was actually a bit scaled back (as far as spice is concerned) but absolutely delicious. The presentation was pretty solid as well.

Decor - B
Solid but unspectacular. After reading the review of Rasika in USA Today I was expecting a bit more style and sexiness in the venue. In fact, I didn’t really notice much distinctive about the place although there is certainly nothing wrong with the decor.

Feel - B
I enjoyed my experience at Rasika but it didn’t live up to its hype in my opinion. The food was the best part of the experience for me and that shouldn’t be the case with a high-end restaurant like Rasika because quite frankly, there are loads of places to go if you are simply looking for good Indian food. Another factor I feel inclined to mention is the issue with eating at an Indian restaurant before going out. Much like with Korean barbecue, you are going to end up stinky inside and out. The scent of a place is often a neglected characteristic in most reviews but I’m going to factor it in. I have eaten at other Indian places that smelled a less pungent than Rasika. Overall it was a solid establishment and well worth a visit.

Cafe Japone is located at 633 D Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 637-1222.

What’s the Buzz:

December 20, 2005 - Rasika (DC Foodies) - I had a chance to stop by Rasika last Saturday. I love Indian food, and as soon as I heard that a new restaurant was opening, I had to go and see what it was like. I was also curious what Sebastian, the former wine and service director at Komi, was doing at an Indian restaurant of all places. It was only the second week that Rasika had been open, so I’ll try not to be too judgmental. Full article…

Cost - $$

Service - B
Friendly and prompt service but can get hectic, as with most restaurants, during Sunday brunch. Bartenders are pretty down to earth and personable as well.

Food - B
Pretty seasonal menu with a wide-variety of choices. The happy hour burgers and pizza are two of the best deals in town. Monday nights are 1/2 price bottles of wine.

Decor - B
Traditional with lots of wood. - pretty typical decor for an American restaurant.

Feel - B
The uptown location has a better feel with all of the locals. Both offer a decent Sunday jazz brunch.

What’s the Buzz:

May 23, 2007 - Chef Geoff’s (Tremonkey’s DC Bar Tour) - So yesterday Twin #1 texted me asking if I wanted to dine on some cheap burgers after work with some friends, which spawned the post below containing mass quantities of cheap meat eateries when he said he was not sure where they were planning on going! After much deliberation (to be honest, after I remembered about the Super Mugs) I suggested we hit up Chef Geoff’s. Full Article…

September 17, 2006 - Chef Geoff’s (Le Cuvee Amercain) - After attending Christmas Lessons and Carols at St. John’s, Robert and I wandered in to Chef Geoff’s Downtown for brunch. A festive jazz quartet played Christmas songs in the front dining room. We wanted to be able to chat, though, so we asked to be seated in the back dining room. The food was pretty much as usual. It’s not bad, but it’s not special. Full Article…

Cost - $$$

Service - B+
It is rare that you can find a person that can keep pace with the gauchos. The skewered meats keep coming as long as your card is on green and come they do. If you want a specific offering, say the tenderloin wrapped in bacon, simply ask your waiter and viola, you should have someone tableside within a minute or two. Everyone working always seems friendly and attentive.

Food - B-
Do not come to here unless you have a big appetite. The lunch and dinner menu features 15 different cuts of meat ranging from rib eye to leg of lamb. Included with your meal is a gourmet salad bar, cheese bread and a few Brazillian sides. I am a quality over quantity person so after the first plate, I quickly start experiencing diminishing returns.

Decor - B
The restaurant has a large dining area which has a good balance of traditional and modern elements. My favorite part is the 20′+ back wall which is stocked top to bottom and wall to wall with wine bottles. The front bar with its dark wood and clean lines, although not always occupuied, is pretty cool as well.

Feel - B
Between the gauchos running around, salad bar line and somewhat tight seating, things can be a little chaotic at times. However, it works, especially if you have larger parties. Most patrons seem to enjoy the fast pace and overabundance of food.

What’s the Buzz:

October 31, 2007 - Fogo de Chao (DC Dining) -Well, I finally made it to Fogo de Chão. First of all, what an enormous restaurant, packed nearly full, with what must have been hundreds of people. This place is huge! The restaurant’s strategy is to have you frequent the salad bar first. Don’t. Go ahead and get a couple polite pieces of asparagus, peppers, or whatever, but no more than two or three. Full Article…

March 21, 2006 - Fogo de Chao (D.C. Foodies) - It’s not every day that I like to totally pig out, but I made an exception last weekend for Fogo de Chao. Fogo de Chao is a churrascaria, a Brazilian restaurant where you’ll find different kinds of savory meat served on spits — all you can eat for a fixed price. As you can read on Fogo de Chao’s web site, they cook their beef the “Gaucho” way. Ideally this would mean that they would grill their meat over open fires, but somehow I doubt that’s how the meat at Fogo de Chao is actually being cooked. Full Article…

Cost - $$

Service - B
The wait staff are usually very good at making recommendations and educating first-timers on mezze etiquette. A good waiter will bring your order out in waves to ensure food is served at the right temperature.

Food - B
The food has always been consistent and is a good value for the price. The menu is well-rounded with over 70 choices of small plates, however, the traditional desserts seem to be a little light for me. Vegetarian friendly and some very good wine by the glass (try the Malagousia).

Decor - B+
The white and blue scheme achieves its goal of a modern look with mediterranean overtones. High ceilings give the main dining area an open feel and the lighting is just right for lively parties or first dates.

Feel - A-
As one of the busiest restaurants in the city, Zaytinya attracts a diverse crowd and is a safe bet if you are looking for a happening place for dinner. Maybe not the best place for serious business but a very good starting point for a night out.

What’s the Buzz:

July 31, 2007 - Zaytinya (Bacon and Bakin’) - Friday night, I found myself walking to the Metro at about 8:15. I was on my way downtown, where I was meeting a friend, Jeremy, for dinner at Zaytinya. I’d been to Zaytinya before, but Jeremy hadn’t and had wanted to go for some time. We decided to meet at Zaytinya at 9, figuring the dinner rush would have subsided. Wroooong…Full Article…

October 15, 2006 - Zaytinya (Washington Post) - Excellence comes in many flavors. One of them is Zaytinya, the mezze specialist that manages to be beautiful, luscious and easy on the wallet (well, so long as you don’t get carried away ordering retsina cocktails).The blue-and-white palette evokes a Greek coastline; the service flows warm and efficient. Full Article…