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…

Chi-Cha Lounge is one of the older lounge/clubs in the DC area and one of the first real hot-spots in the U Street area. Over the past decade, it has built up a loyal following and a reputation as one of the best lounges in the DC area. These days, it continues to be a favorite of many DC residents of all shapes and sizes, and typifies the best of the DC nightlife.

Cost - $$

Service - B
The service has always been solid but not spectacular. The doormen are pretty good - let me put it this way: you don’t have to deal with stupid door politics but they also don’t have a completely open-door policy. They can be a little bit sporadic with the dress code. Also, the place is slammed so the wait staff can seem a little bit harried. Of all its attributes, the service is not what carries the place. At the same time, I have to say some of my best nights in DC have been at Chi-Cha so I can’t grumble too much about the service.

Food - B
They serve a range of South American tapas that are decent but they won’t blow your mind away. The drinks however are top-notch. If you are going for your first time, you should give the house drink, aptly dubbed ‘chi-cha’, a shot.

Decor - B+
According to owner Maurico Fraga-Rosenfeld, the place has been designed to emulate his family’s hacienda in Ecuador. I guess his family had pretty good taste because Chi-Cha has a sort of dark, slick feel to it that creates a sense of intimacy making it a great spot to take a date or meet up with your friends.

Feel - A
Chi-Cha Lounge is one of my favorite lounges in DC. It has managed to retain an older, more sophisticated crowd despite its growing popularity over the years. I have been going there for years and will continue going there as long as I’m here in the city.

What’s the Buzz:

July, 2006 - Chi-Cha Lounge (The Washington Post) - One of the pioneers of Washington’s lounge scene when it opened in early 1997, Chi-Cha still relies on its original formula: a candlelit room jammed haphazardly with couches in varying degrees of wear; live (and loud) world music; and hookahs filled with exotic tobaccos. Full article…

Music photographer Mike Benson opened Café Saint-Ex in 2003 and it was an immediate hit. Over the past four years, its popularity hasn’t waned although its weekend scene has definitely transitioned a bit. During the evening, Café Saint-Ex is a restaurant that offers contemporary American cuisine and at night, turns into one of the hot-spots in the U Street / Cardozo area with a downstairs club and upstairs bar.

Cost - $$

Service - A-
I may be getting old but I just don’t have the energy to deal with door politics these days and that is one thing you never have to worry about with Café Saint-Ex. They hire good people who are there to help you have a good time. The wait-staff is laid back and will engage you in friendly banter, and the the bar staff does a great job as well.

Food - B
Café Saint-Ex self-describes their menu as “American Bistro style cuisine, enhanced by international and seasonal influences.” The menu is pretty solid and does a good job accommodating a range of taste buds while placing a premium on fresh, healthy ingredients.

Decor - B+
I like the aviation-influenced decor throughout Saint-Ex. The upstairs bar area is comfortable arranged. The downstairs club - Gate 54 - can get a little cavernous and claustrophobic but if there isn’t a mob present, is a decent little place.

Feel - A-
Like other popular venues in the U Street area, Café Saint-Ex doesn’t make any attempts at pretense and offers a fun, laid back place to enjoy yourself on a weekday or a weekend. It was initially known as a hipster favorite but over the past couple years, as U Street has continued to grow as a DC-nightlife hot spot, has transitioned to include a more mainstream, yuppie crowd. Ultimately however, Café Saint-Ex is still one of my favorite destinations in the DC area.

Café Saint-Ex is located at 1847 14th St. NW. (202) 265-7839

What’s the Buzz:

November 27, 2007 - Cafe Saint-Ex (Washingtonian) - Though the restaurant/bar looks like a weathered European bistro, the food is eclectic American. The small kitchen puts out plenty of roasted and wood-grilled meats and fish, all simply presented. Full Article…

November 1, 2006 - Cafe Saint-Ex (DC Foodies) - You don’t usually expect to find good food at a bar. A bar is where you typically find great munchies like nachos, cheese sticks, mini-burgers, and maybe…maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll find some Asian-inspired potstickers. Full Article…

Cost - $

Service - B
There are bars on both floors and waitresses for tables so I never find myself waiting too long for drinks.

Food - N/A
I don’t think they serve food here and if they do, someone please correct me.

Decor - C
There are walls with murals and posters but other than that, there really isn’t too much going on. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s a dive bar, but you get the picture.

Feel - B
As I pointed out above, DC9 has that hipster feel which usually makes for a laid back place with decent people. However, like with most places that grow in popularity, you sometimes get a mix that leans toward not so cool. Sometimes, the acts also dictate the vibe.

What’s the Buzz:

November 2, 2007 - DC9 (Washington Post) - Filling the gap between large rock clubs and tiny bars, DC9 attracts crowds for indie rock bands, followed by late-night DJs. Full article…

April 1, 2007 - Nouveau Riche at DC9 (Colonel K Speaks) - My last visit to DC9 left a rather sour taste in my mouth. I had tickets to see Asobi Seksu, and because doors weren’t till very late in the evening, I decided to kill some time at the bar downstairs. Full article…

Cost - $$

Service - B-
Depending on how busy the restaurant is, the quality of service can range. I have had nothing but good experiences but I have noticed others at nearby tables getting barely adequate attention. Brunch can be busy so you may have to temper your expectations.

Food - B-
The food isn’t quite as good or consistent as some of the other Mediterranean mezze restaurants but worth a try. I have had some pretty good meals and some that were lacking.

Decor - A-
The modern style coupled with the rooftop views and lounge in the basement makes Tabaq a pretty cool place to dine or for happy hour.

Feel - B+
Being one of the few modern restaurants on U Street, Tabaq usually has a good crowd and the rooftop is popular. The tables are close together and can feel cramped at times. Another good starting point for a night out.

What’s the Buzz:

November 25, 2007 - Tabaq (DC Eats) - I spent my birthday dinner at Tabaq. Located on U street between 13 & 14th St. off the Green/Yellow Line Cordoza Metro stop. Swanky & sexy with a Steven Starr restaurant type of feel it was definitely my steez. Tabaq has a Mediterranean theme with great drinks. The top floor (where the roof comes off in the summer) is where it is at! Full Article…

March 16, 2006 - Tabaq (Washington City Paper) - The buzz surrounding this U Street restaurant’s glass-enclosed roof deck has made it a popular place since it opened last August, and judging by the fact that the main-floor dining room was nearly empty on a recent midweek evening visit, it’s clear that diners want to see what all of the fuss is about. Though the greenhouselike terrace is clearly designed as a place to linger and snack in, it might be made more comfortable with fewer tables and a little more light. Full Article…

October 23, 2005 - Tabaq (Washington Post) - As I ease into some stuffed grape leaves at Tabaq Bistro, looking up now and then from my rooftop perch to see the Capitol dome and the Washington Monument in the distance, I consider a new answer to the question I hear almost every week: Where can I catch a view with a meal? For anyone who has tried to find a restaurant with a Washington backdrop and food that is equal to the scenery, the arrival of Tabaq is no small news flash. Full Article…