Laboratorio del Galileo
 

Galileo has already been mentioned a few times in this thread, but it is worth mentioning that another option at this restaurant is the Laboratorio del Galileo. Here, you can be one of 30 people to watch Roberto Donna himself prepare a 10-12 course tasting menu. Needless to say, reservations are hard to come by, but if you have the opportunity, it is obviously quite an experience. Website: http://www.galileodc.com/restaurants/laboratorio/

Enthusiastic thumbs up on 1789, Galileo. Equinox, not so much- dined there once and was not as floored as I expected to be. My dining mate's duck dish was rather poor.

I was going to post Minibar but I see gleff already beat me to it. if you want different - THIS IS IT! Expensive but worth every penny in my opinion.

Kudos to gleff for putting up such a great review with pictures - but I would seriously recommend not looking at that since I personally enjoyed the meal there so much mainly due to the element of surprise! Just looking at the pictures now brought back so many good memories! (sorry and thanks gleff!)


But then again I might be biased since I am a huge Jose Andres fan!

But sticking to the Jose Andres (chef) theme I would also suggest Zaytinya - love the ambience and the food!

Seeing my earlier quote, worth noting that I went back to Indebleu and while still a good meal and worth recommending my most recent experience was on the pricer side than in the past. Plan on $65pp + drinks/wine/etc + tax/tip.

Under normal circumstances, I would not eat in S&W, however, there are times for an exception. 10 "generous" 2-oz samples is a bottle. do not plan driving or working after lunch.

I like the 701. it is part of a single ownership that includes oval room and bombay club.

From Zagat:

# March 20–24: For $10 at lunch, Smith & Wollensky will pour 10 generous 2-oz. wine samples from a changing array of 10 American producers, including a Jordan Cabernet '02 and a Nickel & Nickel Carpenter Vineyards Cabernet '02, costing, respectively, $114 and $159 a bottle on the restaurant's wine list. With any luck, the weather will permit grape-nuts to sip and be seen on the sidewalk cafe.

# March 22: Chef Jamie Stachowski honors his Polish heritage – and grandmothers' cooking – in a four-course dinner, with optional wine pairings, at his Restaurant Kolumbia; dishes will include housemade kielbasa sausage with cabbage and mustard cream (6:30 PM; $55, $75 with wine; 202-331-5551).

# March 23: Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, authors of Mangoes & Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels Through the Great Subcontinent, will tell tales from their treks through Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, followed by a South Indian feast prepared by host Indique at this Asia Society event (7–9:30 PM; $92.50 per person or $150 for two, both of which includes a copy of the book; 202-833-2742).

March 30: The Ukrainian Embassy will host a vodka and verenyky (filled dumplings) tasting in its historic Georgetown quarters – the elegant Forrest-Marbury House; there will also be a buffet of traditional dishes and musical entertainment (7–9:30 PM; $65; 3350 M St. NW, 202-244-3700).

# 701: This Penn Quarter New American says "let them eat caviar" (at peasant prices). A $15 sampler of domestic fish roe – which can be paired with a flight of three sparkling wines for an additional $15 – is being offered through the end of April at lunch and dinner.

Tandoori Nights: A second location of this glamorous Indian just opened in trendy Clarendon with a swank bar/lounge called Agni (fire) serving street food (small plates) and creative drinks (2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA; 703-248-8333).

Wine deal of the century. Food is of fine quality. Wine list is very reasonable. less 33% is under shelf price, and a lot of things are not particularly available.


this place is near the Shoreham, and that huge hotel, whomever owns it today. Was a sheraton a few years ago.

Talbott sleepy hollow at $33 is worth buying and taking home.

The brunellos barolos and amorone are under shelf after the 33% off.

Ciao Ameci!


Dino wants to lessen the pain of Tax season!


What you need to cope with your taxes is a good glass of wine. To help
Dino is making two offers to take the edge off your taxes.


Any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening thru until April 19, you can
“deduct” 33% off of the price of any bottle of wine normally priced
$50.00 and over! All you have to do is to make a reservation, come to
Dino, spend $20.00 per person on food. We will deduct 33% of the cost
of your wine. Dino is already known for its great wine values (named
best value wine list in the Washingtonian Magazine’s January Issue),
but this makes drinking great wine at Dino a steal. Pick from almost
200 wines: Brunello, Barbaresco, Barolo, Amarone, Cabernets and Pinots
from the USA and from Italy! Anything regularly priced at $50.00 or
more is 33% off. You will be drinking most of these wines for less
than their retail price.


On Fridays, from 5:00 to 6:30, Dino is offering a BBB happy hour! For
$20.00 per person, you will get an antipasti plate consisting of a hot
antipasto, selected artisan cheese and some of our famous salumi, plus
a 3 oz taste of a Barolo, Brunello or Barbaresco that normally retails
for over $75! The selection of wine will change each week. You can
buy additional wine for $8.00 for 3 oz, or $20.00 for 8 ounces. Here’s
a way to taste some pretty incredible wines for not a lot of cash!
Enjoy this offer either at the bar or at a table.

Thanks for sharing about the events. How wonderful.

An idea for lunch if you are nearby the Eastern Market neighborhood of Capital Hill in your touring- Bread and Chocolate. Absolutely fabulous for weekend brunch- mainly French inspired dishes. Wonderful coffees though the deserts aren't as top notch as their presentation would suggest.

Ceiba
 

I'm surprised only one person mentioned Ceiba so far. I had by far one of the best meals ever here.

TenPenh is absolutely a favorite as well. Had a great experience at Teatro Goldoni a few weeks ago also.

Gleff-dying to try Restaurant Eve as I work only a few blocks away.

Hilarious. And true.

I don't find TenPenh at all impressive, but I have had a good meal at Ceiba. Not one of my best ever by any stretch but certainly enjoyable.

went to the sequoia grove tasting dinner at Acadiana on Monday. Was surprised to find that Kobrands(wine and liquor distributor) "owns" all four restaurants...TenPenh · DC Coast · Acadiana. Ceiba.

They also own the Sequoia Grove winery(since 2002). they installed a new winemaker (promoted the assistant) and let him run free. the wines are very fine. I think the 02 reserve is the best $50 CA cab I have tasted.

The service at Acadiana was really screwed up. The food was excellent, and paired beautifully with the wines.

Went to Finn & Porter on tues, for a second sequoia grove tasting dinner(glutton for punishment) the wines were again supurb, the service impeccable, and the cooking outshone Acadiana. This is a real shock. F&P is a hilton chain restaurant in a suburban va hotel in the dc area.

They are having a Penfolds dinner on march 30:

http://www.hiltonrestaurantgroup.com...2110533979.pdf

The wines in this tasting are a cut or two under the sequoia grove wines

Gerard's
 

I second the suggestion for Gerard's! Its an amazing little restaurant, excellent dining experience, incredible food!

I don't want to divert this thread too much but I'll be in DC end of next month. I'd like FT'ers opinions about the best restaurant in the area for Crab Cakes (I've read a lot of reviews).
Will be at the Washington Hospital Center but the restaurant could be most anywhere within reach of the Metro (including suburbs).
Thanks for the help.

This will be quite a debate as 9 out of every 10 restaurants in the area has crab cakes on the menu! Are you interested in appetizer size servings? or the full meal deal?
--
13F

Best Crab Cakes in DC area. Jerry's Seafood, in PG count. but you probably can't get in. Best place in Baltimore, G&M's. Can't get in at lunch time.

G&M is worth the trip(near BWI) to see how ugly a restaurant has to be to get a Zagat 7 for decor. I most other areas, it would get a -7.

Both places fill with the area politicols and lobbiests.