TruOrleans

*Sponsored Post
TruOrleans Restaurant & Gallery features Cajun and Creole family recipes from Louisiana and has recently turned over with new management, a new chef, and a new menu in attempt to revitalize the restaurant. With an open veranda for you to enjoy a view of H St NE and a Mardi Gras themed bar, TruOrleans provides a charming place to indulge in fun drinks to quench your thirst. Throughout the restaurant is an art gallery with items straight from the French Quarter.  Closest Metro is Union Station.

B. Smith's

Last date I was here: 12/14/2010

Restaurant: B. Smith’s (http://www.bsmith.com/restaurant_dc_home.php/)

Location: Union Station

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


Summary: B. Smith's features a combination of Cajun, Creole and Southern cuisine. Located in Washington, DC's Historic Union Station, B. Smith's grand Beaux Arts style dining room with its 30-foot ceilings, period chandeliers and turn of the century elegance, has been called one of the most beautiful dining rooms in America. Specialties of the house include Swamp Thing - a mixed seafood dish over southern style greens in a mustard based seafood sauce; Grilled Lamb Chops with mint-flavored au jus; Fried Green Tomatoes and Spicy Cajun Jambalaya. In it's own separate space, the bar at B. Smith's serves as a gathering place for Washington's political movers and shakers, celebrities and people who just want to have a good time. Closest Metro Station is Union Station.

August 2007: Another trial for Restaurant Week, and the southern charm and hospitality thicken the air of B. Smith’s despite its location within the bustling train station. My entire meal was great and I would love to try this spot for brunch someday.


UPDATE: I finally went back to B. Smith's for an office luncheon. The service was pretty good for our large party of 8 and they accommodated the special requests for a black napkin for those that wanted to avoid any white lint on their pants. We enjoyed the complimentary mini corn muffins and biscuits while waiting for our orders to be taken. The lunch menu had a nice selection for everyone to choose from. We ordered a few appetizers for the table to share and they were pretty good. I enjoyed my main entree very much, although there was a mix of feelings amongst my colleagues. The portions were generous and those that ordered catfish or the famous Swamp Thang raved and devoured their meals, while others that ordered soup or the meatloaf were unsatisfied. To quote Julio, "the meat was very thready" and lacked flavor. Due to these notes, I lowered my rating overall. Regardless, the atmosphere of the restaurant within the historic train station lends to a pleasurable dining experience and there are some unique flavor profiles that B.Smith's nails on the head.

What I ate:

Fried Green Tomatoes

with goat cheese and red pepper sauce

Catfish Fingers

served with a lemon pepper tartar sauce

♥Shrimp and Crawfish Ettoufee♥

a spicy and delicious Cajun stew served over saffron rice

Smothered Fried Chicken

with corn bread dressing, baby vegetables, kale, and pearl onion gravy


♥Bourbon St. Bread Pudding♥

brioche with cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, warm caramel crème sauce,
sugar dust, fresh crème and mint

Starfish Café

Last date I was here: 02/04/2010

Restaurant: Starfish Café (http://www.starfishcafedc.com/)

Location: Barracks Row

Total Rating: 3.3
Food: 3, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This Caribbean Creole Seafood Restaurant has a cool, contemporary, tropical feel. Decorated with various ceramic fish and oceanic items, this local hotspot offers happy hour specials with a raw bar. They serve daily specials – but beware of ordering the special from the day before (leftovers). Keith had the misfortune of receiving cold paella that we had to send back to the kitchen. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.

August 2008: A lot of the menu is fried, which can be heavy for me. The Fried Crab Fingers are actually the whole front claws, which was different and so-so; I probably would not order it again. I really want to try one of the fresh ceviches. I think this would be great paired with a margarita or other tropical cocktail on a warm evening. Just close your eyes and your experience takes you to white sandy beaches….

UPDATE: Since a big snow storm was on the way, we decided to try Starfish again for dinner. It was empty when we arrived, but soon filled up with the dinner rush. Service was very attentive, but I did not enjoy my meal at all. The mussels were bad - either microwaved or just undercooked - I had to send them back. And my pasta/sauce was way oversalted. Keith, enjoyed his gumbo and po' boy sandwhich though. I think I prefer this place for the appetizers and drink specials only.

What I ate:

Seafood Linguine

scallops, calamari, shrimp, mussels with linguine in a tomato cream sauce

Fried Crab Fingers
Lightly breaded with “panko” and flash fried. Served with a citrus -horseradish sauce.

Stuffed Tilapia Parmesan
Farm-raised Tilapia filets lightly breaded with parmesan cheese and flashed fried,
stuffed with crab meat, shrimp and spinach and finished with a caper-lemon-butter sauce.
Served with garlic mashed potato & fresh vegetables.

Cajun Fried Calamari

Hand-breaded with corn flour and Cajun spices. Served with saffron-lime tartar sauce

Shrimp "Verde" Ceviche

Gulf shrimp marinated in lime juice, tossed with avocado, peppers, chopped cilantro, red onions, diced tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and sea salt

Plus Keith ate:

Gumbo

seafood soup with sausage and rice

Fried Seafood Platter
Golden fried shrimp, oysters, crab balls & catfish filets,
served with fries, coleslaw, our saffron-lime tartar sauce
Served with a cup of seafood gumbo.

Starfish Seafood Paella
Combination of large shrimps, mussels, scallops, calamari rings,
andouille sausage and chunks of white fish cooked with rice
in a delicious saffron broth and topped with fried asparagus.

Shrimp and Grits

Creamy gorgonzola infused grits topped with blackened

gulf shrimp and drizzled with a spicy tomato Creole sauce

Fried Oyster Po-Boy Sandwich

Served on crusty french bread with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and saffron-lime tartar sauce.

Served with coleslaw and french fries.

New Orleans Creole Café

Last date I was here: 03/20/2009

Restaurant: New Orleans Creole Café (http://www.neworleanscreolecafe.com/)

Location: San Diego, CA – Old Town

Total Rating: 4.5
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 3

Summary: New Orleans Creole Café serves lunch or dinner and is located in the mystical and charming gardens of the Whaley House, San Diego's first brick mansion built in 1856. Legend has that it is one of the most haunted houses in America. Located in historic Old Town, New Orleans Creole Café offers authentic generations-old Creole dishes.

Went for dinner with some coworkers and was I pleasantly surprised. We sat in the quaint 1870's indoor dinning room, historically recreated in San Diego's 1850 American period which looks out on centuries old Pepper trees in the park setting. With wood floors, old pictures on the wall, gas lanterns, and soft Cajun xydaco music playing – the New Orleans Creole Café is a cute spot that transports you to New Orleans from the heart of San Diego. The food was delicious and made fresh in house (including the sauces) in the little kitchen next door. The atmosphere is great but I rate low on the accessibility because of the limited amount of seats (capacity is 20) and the limited days (Monday and Tuesday is lunch only - closed on Wednesdays). I tasted the jambalaya with sausage and chicken and it was nice and hot – with chunks of meat and not too spicy. My macaroni and cheese was just right. I would love to come back to this café during my next visit to San Diego. And that time, I will not pass up the red velvet cake – it looked divine!

What I ate:

♥Macaroni and Cheese with Andouille Sausage♥

NOLA

Last date I was here: 12/31/2008

Restaurant: NOLA (http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/)

Location: New Orleans, French Quarter

Total Rating: 4
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 4

Summary: Located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, NOLA has an established identity as a funky, informal restaurant whose menu features the fresh adaptations of New Orleans Creole and Acadian Cajun for which celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse is renowned. A relaxed atmosphere and the signature personal attention of Lagasse's staff lure his local following in the French Quarter. Nola's location, innovative menu and personable service make visitors and locals alike feel at home.
My first write-up of a restaurant outside of the DC metropolitan area! We went to New Orleans to celebrate New Year’s Eve and had the great pleasure at dining at this restaurant. Being a busy holiday night, the wait service was kind and informative of the menu items and drink selections. They never made us feel rushed, so we were able to enjoy our dinner and linger while we waited for the festivities to begin in the nearby Jackson Square. Decorated with black and white balloons on the tables of all white, the restaurant had a lovely ambience. The menu was Cajun and tasty. It was not super high class and a little disappointing for the price and expectation of “eating at Emeril’s”, but the food was good enough that I was pleased.

What I ate:

Baked Oysters
Gulf Oysters and Crabmeat Baked in the Wood Oven with Garlic Butter and Herb Bread Crumbs
GumboChicken and Andouille
Shrimp and GritsSautéed Gulf Shrimp, Grilled Green Onions, Smoked Cheddar Grits, Apple Smoked Bacon,
Crimini Mushrooms, Creole Tomato Glaze and Red Chili-Abita Butter Sauce

Plus Keith ate:

Garlic Crusted Texas Redfish
Cooked in the Wood Burning Oven with Brabant Potatoes,Wild Mushrooms, Bacon and Sauce Beurre Rouge