Location: WashDC - AA Gold, UA Premier, SPG Plat, Marriott Silver, Cal Tort Burrito Elito
Posts: 178
DCA - 6 Restaurants in Washingtonian Top 100
Washingtonian Magazine just came out with its annual Top 100 restaurants issue. For the first time they actually rank the restaurants in addition to assigning star ratings. I've identified six iDine establishments (may have missed one but I think that's right), five in DC proper and one in suburban MD.
Sushi-Ko - #19 of 100 with 3 stars
Heritage India - #30 of 100 with 2 1/2 stars
Restaurant Kolumbia - #42 of 100 with 2 1/2 stars
Bombay (in MD) - #51 of 100 with 2 1/2 stars
Butterfield 9 - #63 of 100 with two stars
Kaz Sushi Bistro - #80 of 100 with two stars
Have only been to Restaurant Kolumbia and Butterfield 9 myself. Both are worthy iDine places. Guess I have some work to do and will check out the other 4 establishments.
IAD - Centreville - Bangkok City - Thai .... went this week for first time, great service and food. It's nearby so I know where I'll get my dines in next year.
Taco Garage - a converted garage that looks like a hole in the wall. I avoided trying this place for months. I'm glad I finally went as the food is quite good!
I'll be dining at both places once a week - if they stay Idine. These 2 are good enough to go to without miles.
I have started a major update and expect to complete it by Friday AM.
Please, if you have any additions / deletions, or if you posted favorite restaurants before but "forgot" to use the proper format for your listing (see post #1 for details), now is the chance. I am up to post #150 at this time.
Programs: HHonors - Diamond; Priority Club - Platinum; AS - Gold
Posts: 4,102
Updates
Here you go, gardener!
Remove:
PDX - Hobo's as they recently dropped out (their prime rib was great deal, too!).
SEA - Bombay Grill and Caspian. The former has gone seriously downhill, and the latter has dropped out.
Add:
SEA - WA, Seattle -- O'Asian Kitchen. Upscale dim sum downtown, pricier than Chinatown venues, but convenient for businessfolk (and tourists). Great staff.
SEA - WA, Seattle -- Pesos Kitchen. Popular Mexican joint in the Seattle Center/Space Needle neighborhood. Gets really crowded at Happy Hour, so recommended for lunch, and their "any item $6" breakfast special before 11AM weekdays. Dungeness crab and avocado benedict anyone?
AUS - TX, Austin --Capitol Brasserie. Three-course prix fixe discounted $5 during happy hour ($25 -->$20); beer and wine half off. Worked great for me!
Thanks Points Scrounger. I am through post #165 now.
And here are some good places I've turned up in PHX:
PHX - Phoenix, West Valley - First Watch - American/Breakfast
PHX - Phoenix, West Valley - Bobby Q - Barbecue. Baby back ribs are excellent as is the pecan cole slaw and shoestring fries.
Will be checking out Mirage Grill tonight which is a Bulgarian joint.
Both Pepperocini's and Jae's are out of the program, so please remove them - but not before I shed a tear for loss of my favorite sushi bar, where I happily feasted on Boston's most delicious spicy tuna twice a week. I loved you once, but it can never be the same between us, Jae's.
Sniff. Moving on:
BOS - Boston, Back Bay/Theatre District - Avila - Modern Mediterranean. I prefer the appetizers to the entrees - some of the best snails I've ever had.
BOS - Boston, Back Bay - Davio's - upscale Italian, best with a big group.
BOS - Cambridge, Harvard Square - Grafton Street - Harvard Square's version of an Irish Pub: good bar food, better wine list.
BOS - Boston, Ladder District - Ivy - American. Good place for after work drinks
BOS - Boston, South End - Masa - Trendy Southwestern, but I've never had anything I didn't love.
BOS - Boston, Back Bay/Theatre District - Pigalle - French. Tiny space, but the chef was named one of Food and Wine's 10 Best New Chefs of 2004 and the food is outstanding.
BOS - Boston, South End - Union - American: a bit over priced, but great food, service, and wine list, and the bar is open until 1am, which is a rarity around here.
Last edited by Barton Cove; Feb 9, 07 at 8:48 pm.
Reason: Location edification
Vanessa's Bistro (North Berkeley/Solano Ave.) Vietnamese fusion small plates. A GREAT restaurant. A good crowd since the start a few months ago (meaning she probably won't want to renew with the program, or at least on weekends, when it is renewal time).
OK I am up to date. And Barton Cove, you and I must have similar tastes, cuz I have had some killer meals at Avila, Davio's and Masa.
The chicken with truffles at Avila was soooo good.
Reminder to newbies: if you want your favorite places listed in the header post, heed the following:
Format is Airport Code - Region of city as defined by iDine - Restaurant Name - Cuisine - (Zagat food score) (optional). Please use this format as I don't have time to edit for everyone.
FLL - Fort Lauderdale, Florida - uptown area off Oakland Park
Primavera - Italian If you get a coupon from the Great Locations book you can also have a free bottle of house wine with 2 entrees. Great italian food and surprised to see this quality on Idine.
FLL - Fort Lauderdale, FL - North Federal Highway #1
MAI KAI Restaurant & Show - A tourist trap that's fun for a small party and the food's not that bad. You can $200. Interesting gardens to see too. Valet park is $10 - self park $5
