With locations spanning the globe – from Kiev, to Sao Paolo, to Dubai and more, the illustrious Buddha Bar finally has a home in DC.  Although its location is a bit of a stretch – in the up-and-coming neighborhood down near 5th and Mass – its brand has elicited quite a response from the DC nightlife scene and already attracted some pretty significant crowds.

Cost – $$$

Food – C
The cuisine is most aptly described as “Asian-American fusion.” The fixed menu route afforded me the luxury of range and I took full advantage. The egg rolls served at the beginning of the meal were decent but par for the course and the entrée came in a bento box with rice, lamb curry, Thai-style shrimp, and cold sautéed spinach. The presentation was solid but I found the product to be somewhat lacking. The lamb curry tasted like it came out of a “Golden Curry” box mix and the shrimp was overwhelmingly salty. The spinach, served cold (possibly to make it more “Asian”), was also excessively salted.

The one redeeming component of the bento box was the mango chutney although I do have to note that the dessert – mango soup – did help end the meal on a slightly high note.

Service – B
I found the service to generally be solid.  Our server was relatively attentive and the manager did come around to ask us how our meal was, but was incredibly hasty in making his rounds.

Décor – B+
As the name described, the décor has heavy Asian influences.  The massive Buddha in the middle of the dining area gives the restaurant a feeling of a spiritual calm that is only enhanced by the soft candle-like lighting. The enormous chandeliers resemble a combination of the Victorian era meets haunted Asian pagoda and are scattered throughout the restaurant.  The bar is lit up as though by fire and is comparatively large for a restaurant in DC. The intricate jacquard fabric on the chairs, the enhanced backlights around the perimeter and the contrasting colors of gold, red, and mahogany all provide a unique setting.  But even with all this distinctive décor, one thing you instantly notice when walking into the restaurant is the space.  It is easily one of the more spacious restaurants in DC with its lofty ceilings, great dining space, and floor to ceiling windows.

Feel – C
What I liked about Buddha Bar:  the décor, spaciousness, and general ambiance for group dinners, dates, and private conversations.  It seems like a great place for a pre or post-game drink.

What I didn’t like about Buddha Bar: When making my reservation for dinner, I requested a table for 6.  Since my party was considered “large,” I was required to hold the table with my credit card on file.  The day of my dinner I was phoned for a courtesy reminder, but was also informed that if ALL my party didn’t show up 15 minutes after my scheduled reservation time, I would have to forfeit my table and I would be charged as though I didn’t show up.  I arrived on time but the next twenty minutes were a bit of a juggling act as the remainder of the group leaked in while the clock ticked away.  Ultimately, we were seated without a hassle but in a fairly empty restaurant I didn’t feel as though the stringent adherence to protocol was warranted.

Ultimately, time will tell whether Buddha Bar’s foray into the DC nightlife scene will prove to be successful.  So far, the results seem mixed.

With the requisite amount of flat screen TVs and local flavor, Ventnor Sports Bar in Adams Morgan definitely makes the short list of good bars in DC to catch a game. I am always partial to neighborhood spots because naturally, they tend to have more of a friendly and laid back vibe. Some of the bigger venues in DC are also frequented by locals, but also seem to attract a fair amount of the non-metro DC crowd. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing or a knock at non-locals, but the feel at those places sometimes is a bit diffuse for my taste.

Cost – $$

Food – B
The menu offers an abundance of choices so there seems to be something for everyone. Overall, Ventnor food is better than the typical bar which is a big plus in my book since I like to gorge myself when watching sports. In short, the wings are tasty, the burgers have thick patties, but best of all, you can choose tater tots as a side. Enough said – just kidding but not really – tater tots are awesome. They also have little baggies of popcorn which makes you thirsty for more beer lol.

Service – A-
Like most other popular places, you have to be a little patient during big games but overall, the service has always been solid. Also worth noting is that they offer all you can drink Mimosas and Bloody Marys during Sunday brunch and they are very quick on the refills.

Décor – C+
Ventnor’s has the typical amount of sports memorabilia and nothing really stands out, except that it is less of a dive than some of the other AM bars. What I am trying to say is that it’s cleaner and more put together than some of it’s neighbors.

Feel – B
Back to the neighborhoody theme I touched on earlier, the feel is comfortable and genuine. During football season, there are always fans pulling for their home teams which makes for lively afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays. The space in the downstairs area isn’t that wide so it can get crowded quickly for popular games and at night, but the upstairs is much roomier and can accommodate larger groups.

Ventnor Sports Cafe is located at 2411 18th St NW.  They can be reached at (202) 234-3070 or on the Web at www.ventnorsportscafe.com.

“Where the f— are we,” I thought to myself as we drove up Connecticut Avenue past the Beltway into Kensington, Maryland to find what many consider to be the best Thai restaurant in the greater metropolitan area.  What further catalyzed my reaction was the self-awareness that I had actually grown up in Bethesda, only a few suburban miles away.  Still, I had absolutely no idea where we were and my expectations rose commensurate with each mile I drove away from my home in Northwest DC.

We finally arrived at our destination, Nava Thai, located directly off University Boulevard in Wheaton, Maryland and headed inside where we were greeted and seated by a friendly middle-aged Thai woman.

Cost – $$

Service – C+
We arrived later in the evening (about 8:45 PM) and were some of the last patrons to leave the establishment, so I’m guessing the wait staff didn’t exactly have their A-game on at this point in time.  The litmus test for me was when someone in our group complained about the fact that the floating market noodle soup was served lukewarm and our server essentially shrugged their shoulders, said “OK,” and took it away without warming it back up or reimbursing us on the check.  That being said, they were pretty punctual throughout the meal and delivered everything in a precise manner so I would have probably graded them higher if not for the soup fubar.

Food – B+
For starters, we had the papaya salad and mussel hot pot.  I tend to like dishes with a bit of a kick and the papaya salad sat well with my palette.  The blue mussels were served with a delicious spicy red pepper sauce however they were a bit over-steamed.  For our main course, we had crispy duck kaprow, the floating market noodle soup served with beef and fried flounder.  The kaprow was one of the best Asian dishes I’ve had in a while.  As mentioned before, the soup was served at room temperature and a bit of a downer considering my expectations.  The flounder was solid but nothing extraordinary.

Décor – B
The cozy interior of Nava Thai amuses me: it feels like you’re sitting in a Cracker Barrel located in rural West Virginia except instead of meatloaf, you’re eating Bar Mee Lard Na and sipping on a Lychee Martini.  Maybe the proprietors realized that to simultaneously serve Thai food and design the restaurant with a Thai aesthetic would overwhelm the white folks in Wheaton, Maryland.  Given the abundance of white folks sitting in the restaurant I would say their theory was accurate.  That makes me wonder if there is an opportunity to build a restaurant in a Thai stilt house surrounded by stupas that serves hamburgers.  Probably not.

Feel – B+
I have to admit we had a pretty fun time at Nava Thai.  The place was packed and it was just a fun, lively environment for a nice dinner on a cold, wintery Thursday evening.  If I lived closer I would probably visit the restaurant with some regularity.  If they had just warmed up the damn soup I probably would have given the restaurant higher grades across the board.

Nava Thai is located at 11301 Fern Street in Silver Spring, MD.  They can be reached at (240) 430-0495.

For 19 years, Kostas Fostieris’s Greek Deli in the Golden Triangle area has nourished some of downtown’s hungriest hotshots. Nestled alongside power-lunch spot Smith & Wollensky, the deli’s giant $7.50 gyro is a much better bang for your buck than the $50 filet next door. They’re only open for lunch, and it’s kind of a shame when a spanakopita craving strikes at 5 p.m., but it just means the midday visits must be that much more frequent.

Cost – $

Service – B
The line can sometimes wind all the way down 19th street, but don’t worry — Kostas makes sure to keep it moving quickly. Though he has a reputation as D.C.’s own “soup nazi,” he’s a much friendlier version, so long as he’s not assaulted with a barrage of inane questions. And don’t even bother asking about the calorie count — it might be Mediterranean cuisine, but it’s all swimming in copious (but still delicious) amounts of butter and high-quality olive oil.

Food – B
Rich, comforting avgolemno soup is an absolute must-try on a cold day; fork-tender turkey can minimize the caloric damage when ordering one of the establishment’s generous platters, which come with a literal mound of orzo and sort-of-ironic-but-still-fantastic salad. Greek string beans braised in tomatoes, onions and olive oil are perhaps the most addictive vegetable in history. The homemade tzatziki lends creamy tang to a hearty gyro, and taking it back to the office for lunch is sure to garner envy from coworkers sniffing its meaty aroma.

Décor – C
This is certainly a no-frills type of joint; there’s not even seating inside. The walls are plastered with reviews raving about the eatery’s authentic Greek fare. On a nice day, try to grab one of the outdoor tables, but be prepared to take your lunch elsewhere to dine. But what the restaurant lacks in ambience, it more than makes up for in flavor.

Feel – B
The Greek Deli feels homey, sincere and honest. It knows exactly what it is, and it doesn’t try to be anything else. So what is it exactly? Fantastic food at an incredible value and nothing else — because during your lunch break, what more could one really want?

The Greek Deli is at 1120 19th Street NW. They can be reached at (202) 296-2111.

Having been impressed with Chef Susur Lee’s NY restaurant, Shang, I was eagerly awaiting the opening of Zentan at the Donovan House Hotel. DC, like most other cities has its share of Asian fusion establishments, but Lee’s forward and creative style would be something I would consider to be newish to the city. Now that Zentan has been open for a few months now, there have been mixed reviews on the food and service but I think overall it’s been a success and continues to draw a lively crowd, especially on the weekends. My personal experience lands me in the food and service could use some improvement camp, but it is one of the more exciting dining spots around and will surely be back.

Cost – $$$

Service – C
The wait staff and managers were very pleasant but they clearly needed to communicate better about who was doing and responsible for what. We had multiple servers ask to take our order for drinks and food more than once which isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on where you go, but I expected more from a place like Zentan.

Food – B
While looking over the menu, almost everything sounded very good but after the meal, I felt somewhat underwhelmed. I tasted the potential with a couple of dishes but a few items fell short including the Singapore Slaw. It’s a signature dish and people seem to love it so I am probably in the minority here. On a positive note, the cocktails were interesting and inventive.

Décor – A
The creative fare is strongly complimented by the ambiance and décor of the restaurant – dark, sleek, trendy and minimal (although some of the seating areas were spaced a bit too close together). The hanging flat metal sheet with candles in the center of the space was an especially attractive piece. The lounge and the sushi bar were also nice dining alternatives.

Feel – B
Zentan aimed to be something different and I really think it’s well on the way to achieving that. The ambiance is cool, the noise level is chatty, and diners seem to be having fun. If the service and food can rise to the décor, I wouldn’t mind coming back on a regular basis.

Zentan, located in the Dononvan House is at 1155 14th St NW. They can be reached at (202) 379-4366.

Pho is a funny dish.  The ingredients are not difficult to acquire nor are they particularly expensive but once you have figured out the right chemistry all you need is a big cauldron and people will flock to you like crack addicts.  There are a number of places in the DC area (primarily in Falls Church) who have figured out the right chemistry yet none of them truly compliment the culinary quality of their dishes with a commensurate aesthetic experience.  For a while I have been waiting for something like this to appear – something like Momofuku.  Saigon Bistro takes a step forward but is still lacking some key components that would make it a local hotspot.

Cost – $

Service – B-
I visited the restaurant late on a Sunday afternoon so I wasn’t expecting the A-team and not surprisingly I didn’t get it. My server was a friendly, quiet young man who was just doing his job – better than some of the cranks I have gotten at Nam Viet and other Vietnamese restaurants in the area.

Food – B
The pho was not quite at the level of Pho 75 but clearly ahead of Nam Viet in Cleveland Park and either of the Vietnamese restaurants in Georgetown.  If I were in Dupont and craving pho I would definitely recommend Saigon Bistro however it probably isn’t good enough to warrant a cross-town trip.

Décor – B-
The visual design of Saigon Bistro is not cheesy and that is the best thing you can say about it. It has a clean, modern interior that reminds me of Chipotle.

Feel – C+
I don’t know if I’m being harsh given the fact that I would return to the restaurant in a second if I was in the area but I suppose I’m a little disappointed because I think there was a great opportunity for Saigon Bistro to do something significant but instead, I feel like they settled for above-average.

This past week I met with a couple of friends who wanted to grab pizza in the Dupont Circle area. The first place that sprung to mind was Pizzeria Paradiso so we headed over to check out the venue that is on most people’s short list of the best pizza places in DC.

Service – B+
The space is small and seems constantly slammed – two variables that normally translate into a stressed out and cranky waitstaff.  The Pizzeria Paradiso staff defy the odds and are pretty cool and helpful.  The waiter did forget to bring my drink but he made it a double when I reminded him later, which actually is almost better than if he had remembered to bring my drink in the first place.

Food – B+
They make a delicious Italian-style stone oven pizza with fresh ingredients, which is one of the best in DC and certainly the best in Dupont Circle.

Décor – C
The Dupont location is pretty simple and a bit cramped.  In fact, the entire restaurant is about the same size as my dorm room in College.

Feel – A-
I’m a bit claustrophobic and ordinarily I can’t stand small, cramped spaces but somehow I find the smallness and chaos of Pizzeria Paradiso endearing.  It’s almost like the cacophony of plates and voices instills a sense of quietude and the constant motion of the waiters and waitresses zig-zagging through the cluster of tables and people creates a stillness.  The experiental contradictions packed into the restaurant synthesize to create something very special in one of my favorite places in DC.

What’s the Buzz

December 21, 2007 – Pizzeria Paradiso – Dupont Circle (WhereinDC) - One of my friends at work felt like pizza.  I felt like walking a little (not a lot) so we thought we’d try Alberto’s Pizza.  I of course, forgot I had already been there.  Anyway, we couldn’t find the restaurant, but realized that Pizza Paradiso was across the street.  Full Article…

Having attended Georgetown (many years ago) and frequented most of the Georgetown establishments ad nauseam, there was a period during which I didn’t even consider hanging out in what is probably one of the highlights of Washington, DC.  During the past several years I’ve started to rediscover the area, in large part due to the emergence of L2 and Leopold’s in the Cady’s Alley.  Cady’s Alley in particular has brought a Euro-chic vibrance to the area that it has long needed and long lacked.

Cost – $$

Service – B+
The waitstaff is friendly and professional.  They have come a long way since getting raked over the coals by Sietsema a few years back.

Food – B+
For me, the food is not the highlight of the establishment but it is an original, well-construed menu.  The skirt steak is well prepared and doesn’t disappoint.  The mussels, served in a white wine and parsley broth are also a good choice.  I’m not a dessert guy but people swear by the tortes and I’ve even talked to one person who cited Leopold’s tortes as one of the things they missed after leaving the area.

Decor – A-
The space is the real highlight of the venue.  If you sit out on the patio on a beautiful Spring or Summer day there are moments in which you can imagine yourself transported to Europe.  Beyond the space, the design aesthetics and accoutrements themselves are very Austrian – simple, clean and precise.

Feel – A
As I mentioned in the preface, Leopold’s Kafe has been a big part of the reason I’ve been spending more time in Georgetown recently.  The synthesis of the space, people and style is an ambiance like no other in the DC area.

What’s the Buzz:

May 7, 2009 – Somewhere very “us” (DC Gastronome) - S. came back to DC before embarking on her summer stint at the WHO, and I wanted to treat her to lunch to celebrate the end of her first year in graduate school. I gave her free reign over the location and cuisine – surviving Glennon is no small feat. People that have found their way back to DC often request Ethiopian food. After weeks away, I hanker for Thai. There’s something very interesting about food nostalgia, the twin aspects of the meals that you miss, coupled with the places and people that made them special. S. said she wanted to go “somewhere very us.”  Full Article…

April 21, 2009 – Leopold’s Kafe: A Nibble of Europe without the Passport (Capital Spice) – There is a beating heart of Europe slapped in the middle of Georgetown: outdoor drinking, light entrees and elegant pastries are yours for the taking if you just know when to turn off M Street and head down a stone flight of stairs.  Full Article…

Everything on the menu at Founding Farmers sounded so good that when the waiter asked me what I would be having, I just responded with a “Yes, I will take two of each” and handed the menu back to him. I am kidding of course but the selection – albeit it all over the map: fried green tomatoes, steak and enchilada, yankee pot roast – was globally appealing to me. I had been craving for comfort food for some time so that surely had an influence, but regardless, even before I had a bite of anything I decided that Founding Farmers was my kind of place. Speaking of which, the space itself feels like a modern farmhouse which truly reinforces the restaurant’s philosophy of only using of sustainably farmed, grown and harvested American foods.

Cost – $$$

Service – A-
The caveat with my rating is that my visit was on a Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend so the restaurant wasn’t very busy at all. Our particular waiter had a great sense of humor and seemed genuine and thoughtful. The food did take a little long to come out so I can imagine that the service may get a little spotty during peak hours.

Food – B
The food was actually not to the level I was expecting. Others had told me that certain dishes were to die for such as the mac and cheese, but I have easily had better. Same goes for the chicken and waffles. Looking around at what some of the other diners had ordered, I think I would have really enjoyed some of the other things on the menu like the flatbread or burgers. Some of the salads on the menu also caught my eye (even though I would never order one). I particularly liked the slow cocktail menu which was a nice surprise.

Decor – B
The eco-friendly design is sleek and at first impression, comfortable. The farmhouse theme works well and almost seems to prime you for a good traditional American meal. As some know, Founding Farmers is a LEED Gold certified, the first for a Washington, DC restaurant and for a full-service, upscale-casual restaurant in the entire nation.

Feel – B
As I alluded to earlier, Founding Farmers started out feeling very comfortable but after walking up to the second story, I started to realize that the restaurant was quite large and had a little bit of a chain feel to it. However, the place had a decent buzz and friendly atmosphere even during a holiday weekend and the slight institutional feel won’t stop me from coming back or recommending the restaurant to others.

Founding Farmers is located at 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. They can be reached at (202) 822-8783.

What’s the Buzz:

June 20, 2009 – Sustainable Comfort: Founding Farmers (Only Here for the Food) – “Local” and “sustainability” are two of the key buzzwords in the restaurant industry right now, so it wasn’t surprising that Founding Farmers, a fairly new addition to DC’s restaurant scene, seems to live and breathe both of those practices. After reading their mission statement on their website, I was hooked, despite seeing both hit-and-miss reviews on Chowhound. Full Article…

I arrived at the Hyatt Regency at about 9PM, on the verge of starvation and made a beeline for the Market Street Bar & Grill.  I was greeted at the door by the manager who seated me near the middle of the restaurant.  The crowd at the restaurant had begun to die down so there were plenty of available seats and this tends to be a recipe for disaster for someone neurotic like myself.  I changed seats about three times in total before finally settling on a seat on the patio so I could enjoy the warm evening.

Cost – $$$

Service – B+
I think the manager was working reception when I arrived and was pretty accommodating finding me a seat (although I could detect some irritation on his part after asking to be re-seated for the third time).  The waiter made a recommendation, lobster and grits in a chive lobster butter sauce, that ended up being the part of my meal but more about that in a second.  My only gripe was that I don’t believe our waiter had a comprehensive understanding of the menu.  I poked a bit, asking him to compare different dishes and he wasn’t really a fountain of culinary information (beyond recommending the lobster and grits) however he was very professional and attentive throughout the evening.

Food – A-
The lobster & grits with chive lobster butter sauce was incredible.  I could have probably ordered that dish three times and been pretty happy.  The ahi tuna sashimi was fresh, well prepared and the presentation was good.  For my main course I had the grilled filet with a Napa cabernet (Hayman & Hill) and was happy with the overall quality.

Décor – B
I get the sense that the restaurant invested a good amount of money in the décor. The furnishings are high quality and well construed. That being said, it is decorated like your standard high-end grill – nothing really stuck out to me about the décor apart from the fact that it was very nice.

Feel – B+
I arrived after the dinner rush so things had quieted down a bit, which was nice because it afforded me the opportunity to concentrate on the dishes. The customers outdoors definitely skewed a bit on the older side with a median age of 50 or so. Many hotel restaurants tend to rely on their residents so the fact that the post-rush crowd was primarily local supports the strong product that the restaurant puts out. The ambiance isn’t going to be the focal point in and of itself but I’d recommend the restaurant as a good destination for a family dinner or a business lunch in the area.

The Market Street Bar & Grill is located at 1800 Presidents Street in Reston, VA. They can be reached at (703) 925-8250.

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