Capitol Hill Tandoor & Grill

Last date I was here: 8/31/2011

Restaurant: Capitol Hill Tandoor & Grill (http://capitolhilltandoorandgrill.com/menu/)

Location: Barracks Row

Total Rating: 3.95

Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Offering an amazing selection of traditional Indian and Pakistani specialties, Capitol Hill Tandoor & Grill is a welcoming restaurant along the popular Barracks Row that is often overlooked. More visited for their "all you can eat" buffets, Capitol Hill Tandoor & Grill also offers a full menu with vegetarian, meat, and fish dishes that highlights their use of the freshest ingredients and USDA grade meats. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.

April 2011: Keith and I were in the mood for something different and decided to finally try this local Indian restaurant - and boy were we happy we did. The inside decor is much nicer than anticipated with iconic Indian pictures along each wall. We studied the menu and decided to share a classic chicken dish and a shrimp dish from the tandoor. We snacked on papadum with the house sauces while we waited for our mixed platter appetizer. All of the food was fresh and wonderfully seasoned. The server asked us our spice level preference, so that was good for those that do not like much spicy food. We ordered medium and although it was perfect for me, Keith could handle a little hotter spice level. Despite the eager water pouring, service was great. The raita was flavorful, a little more runny than expected, yet, provided a cool retreat from the spicy tikka sauce. The naan was so fresh, chewy, and warm. I really enjoyed all the food; we finished our plates clean. I would definitely come back to Capitol Hill Tandoor & Grill again to settle that exotic craving.

UPDATE: The food was more spicy than last time and seemed to be less portions. So I decreased the score from a 5 to 4 for Food. Overall, same dining experience and cravable food. Friendly service, yet takes long to get the bill.

What I ate:

Chef's Special Assorted Appetizer

vegetable smosa, vegetable pakora, chicken tikka, potato fritters

♥Chicken Tikka Makhni♥

Boneless pieces of chicken botti cooked in authentic rich tomato based gravy enriched with fresh cream

Shrimp Tandoori

Shrimp lightly seasoned in a blend of spices and broiled in clay oven

Shrimp Vindaloo

Shrimp cooked in a fiery red curry sauce

Vegetable Biryani

basmati rice cooked with seasonal vegetables and herbs

served with raita

Plus Keith ate:

Seekh-E-Sikander

Minced lamb flavored with fresh herbs cooked in a clay oven on skewers

The Palm

Last date I was here: 08/26/2011

Restaurant: The Palm (http://www.thepalm.com/)

Location: Dupont Circle

Total Rating: 3.75
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Still owned and operated by members of the Bozzi and Ganzi families, The Palm continues to serve as a second home for countless patrons, thanks to the exceptional standard of hospitality established by its founders. This legendary steakhouse offers traditional steak and seafood fare, specializing in whole lobsters. Steaks weren’t a part of the original Palm menu. "Whenever a customer would ask for steak during The Palm’s early years, John Ganzi would run to a nearby butcher shop on Second Avenue, buy a steak, and then cook it to order. Steaks eventually became a regular menu item to accommodate guests’ frequent requests." Another interesting fact is that the "caricature tradition began when, instead of singing for their supper, artists paid their tab by painting an original portrait on the wall. The proximity of New York’s cartoon syndicate offices led to the proliferation of colorful caricatures found at every Palm location." Closest Metro is Dupont Circle.

In honor of their 85th anniversary, we received a gift card to the Palm and decided to try this classic restaurant for dinner. The dining room is fairly dark and we were seated in one of the booths near the back. The place was already packed with early diners, yet we never felt rushed. Keith chose a nice bottle of red wine and we nibbled on the fresh bread while waiting for our meal. The entrees came out relatively fast and were large portions. Cooked very well, yet under seasoned, our meal was reminiscent of the classic dinners from the 1960s or so. Although we enjoyed our food, there was nothing spectacular about it and it was slightly more expensive than other steakhouses in the area. I can see why the Palm may be more popular amongst the older generations, but not nouveau enough for younger crowds.

What I ate:

Chilean Sea Bass

with corn relish

Creamed Spinach

Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Plus Keith ate:

Prime Rib

The Passenger

Don't expect any drink menus at The Passenger - besides beer and wine - just tell the bartender what you're "in the mood for" and she will whip you up a strong concoction that satisfies the taste buds. There are daily specials available too - some unique and inspiring and others a slight twist on the original.

Kushi Izakaya & Sushi

Last date I was here: 08/19/2011

Restaurant: Kushi Izakaya & Sushi (http://eatkushi.tumblr.com/)

Location: Mt. Vernon Square - Convention Center

Total Rating: 3.75
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Kushi Izakaya & Sushi is a new trendy Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Mt. Vernon Square that is buzzing most nights with patrons enjoying the freshly prepared sushi at the bar or gathered around the entertaining grills. With loud music playing in this fairly spread out warehouse-like dining room, the atmosphere is very upbeat, but some of the tables are very close together. The servers are casually dressed in t-shirts and jeans and are prompt with orders. A vast menu is available with various sushi, nigiri, maki, noodle dishes, as well as katsu and other cooked meals from the grill. Closest Metro is Mt. Vernon Square.

It's Restaurant Week again in the city, and Kushi was our first stop. I was eager to try this place, as I am a big fan of sushi in general, and had read several remarks comparing Kushi to the most awesome and renowned Sushi Taro. They had two choices for the price fixed RW menu - a sushi set or a robata (grilled) set. We decided to order one of each so we could share. Additionally, we ordered cocktails - Keith a Dark & Stormy featuring Japanese plum liquor; and myself the Shochu Breeze featuring refreshing cucumber juice. Our miso soup arrived first - piping hot and each bowl with 3 hearty clams. The soup was very tasty and I surprisingly liked eating it, despite the humid 80-90 degree weather we are still having. Not half-way through our soup, the full robata set arrived. A little annoying, since our table was so small, but understandable due to the pumping out of plates to accommodate the weekend and RW rush. Half-way through the robata set, the sushi set arrived. At initial glance, we had concerns if our meal would be filling enough, but at the end, I left satisfied. The sushi was fresh - yet not as superior as Sushi Taro's - and the accouterments such as the pickled gobo root and seaweed salad especially flavorful and delicious. They were a different twist on classic Japanese side dishes. The gelato dessert was very unique and when combined together, tasted like peanut butter. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and the ambience that Kushi has to offer. Since not much else is located in this area, I might visit Kushi again if looking for a good spot to satisfy a sushi craving.

What I ate:

SUSHI Set
Miso soup
———————-
Kinpira simmered gobo root
Potato salad
Seaweed salad
Nigiri sushi 5 pcs: maguro tuna, hamachi yellow tail, white fish, salmon, ebi shrimp
Maki roll: salmon
———————-
Sea Salt Gelato

Plus Keith ate:

ROBATA Set

Miso soup
———————-
Kinpira simmered gobo root
Potato salad
Miso salmon
Chicken sous-vide with peanut sauce
Kushikatsu deep fried skewers: shrimp and pork
Bowl of white rice
———————-
Black Sesame Gelato

America Eats Tavern

Last date I was here: 08/10/2011 

Restaurant: America Eats Tavern (http://www.americaeatstavern.com/)

Location: Penn Quarter

Total Rating: 2.9
Food: 3, Price: 2, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5


Summary: “At AMERICA EATS TAVERN, opened July 4th 2011, José Andrés applies his innovative style to an American restaurant; his first new restaurant concept in Washington since opening in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Named after the Works Progress Administration (WPA) writers project of the 1930s, America Eats offers a new take on American classics and celebrate native ingredients and some long forgotten dishes, from burgoo to oysters Rockefeller.” Closest Metro is Archives-Naval Memorial.

Using the same space as the former popular Café Atlantico, this American project is slated to remain open until January 2012. With mixed reviews, it is most likely a good thing that this restaurant concept is only temporary. I met up with an old friend for lunch here and we were seated right away. The décor is simple with kitschy Americana and a slight over usage of red, white, and blue. We sat on the ground floor, where supposedly the more casual tavern menu is offered, while a more refined and elegant menu is featured on the second and third floors. Not sure if it was the lunch offerings, but the menu seemed a little limiting. When my friend asked for a bread substitution on her sandwich, the server immediately denied stating “it only comes that way.” When our sandwiches arrived, I thought they were flavorful and highlighted some fresh ingredients, however, they were tiny. I was worried I would leave still hungry – and that I did. The Reuben had only slivers of meat and was covered by a deconstructed salad of some sort with shaved cheeses and vegetables. My po’ boy featured 4 tiny oysters perched upon a small piece of baguette with sorry scraps of lettuce and tomato. The mustard sauce had kick with its chunks of jalapenos. Each sandwich came with a bag of potato chips, which normally I would pass up, but this time I devoured to fill my stomach. Overall, I appreciate Chef Andres’ attempt to meld the art with food – yet I much prefer the original restaurant and cuisine over this place. *Overall score amended after initial posting to reflect more accurate rating.

What I ate:

Oyster Po’ Boy

DC Restaurant Week

Reminder - DC Restaurant Week is coming August 15-21, 2011 featuring $20.11 Lunches & $35.11 Dinners. Enjoy special three-course, prix-fixe meals at participating restaurants. Check out the full list on Open Table to make reservations. Hurry as places book up fast!

If you can't make it next week, here is a list of RW Extensions.

Stay tuned for all my RW reviews...