El Tutumaso, 3018 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA, 703-531-1081
A very authentic Bolivian restaurant with a more extensive menu than most. Excellent soups and consistent all around, although I never like the dishes that use hot dog slices. One of the two or three best Bolivian places for people watching and definitely worth a visit.
"Bolivian cuisine" on wikipedia
La Caraqueña, web site, 300 W. Broad Street, Falls Church, VA, 703-533-0076, where Café Rose used to be in Falls Church City (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]
They serve Venezuelan, Bolivian, and Chilean dishes; the proprietors are Bolivians who lived for quite a while in Venezuela. Definitely above average. I loved the peanut soup (Sopa de Mani). Chilean sandwiches are hard to mimic in this country, so I didn’t order one, but I saw two go past and they looked delicious. Even their Bolivian dishes are not exactly the standard. An original place, worth having in the repertoire and a nice homey atmosphere.
Tabard Inn, web site, 1739 N Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-785-1277 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper | DC Foodies | openlist | Yelp | InTowner | Gayot]
It is romantic but the food is dull, I can't bring myself to go again...many DCers consider it a standby...
Franny's on Flatbush Avenue was possibly the best pizza I've had in the U.S., Gala Manor in Flushing was definitely the best dim sum I've eaten in this country.
Franny's, web site, 295 Flatbush Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, 718-230-0221 [NY Mag | MenuPages | insiderpages | Yelp | Slice | NYT]
Gala Manor, 37-02 Main Street, Flushing, NY, 718-888-9232 [Yelp | Eating in Translation | Dudes on Foods]
Shashamene, 1909 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-328-2223 , where Abiti used to be.
A new entry for the 9th Street Ethiopian row. The menu is narrower than most but quality is above average and the vegetarian sampler is especially noteworthy. If you are vegetarian and opting for the sampler, this may be your #1 bet in town. Not a palace but it has a “nicer” atmosphere than many of the other places in the area. First-rate kitfo as well.
Sea Side Crab House, 6799 Wilson Blvd., #5, Falls Church, VA, 703-241-CRAB (2722) (where Saigon Garden used to be) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Don Rockwell]
An excellent seafood house in Eden Center. The soft shell crab is some of the best around. The crawfish are served Cajun style, although not as spicy as you would get in southwest Louisiana. It’s small and not a great place to sit and chat inside, but absolutely worth having in the repertoire. Outdoor seating is available. Right now it is my go-to choice for crabs. Make sure you use lots of the lime, salt and pepper sauce they give you.
Bombay Indian Restaurant, web site, 11229 New Hampshire Avenue, White Oak Shopping Center, Silver Spring, MD, 301-593-7222 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]
This place has gotten very good reviews and in fact it is now one of the premier Indian restaurants around. Very consistent with some Kashmiri inspirations. Rich spicing, though without being too hot. The bread with the cherries and nuts is one special dish you can get here but most of it is excellent. It's not near anything else you might visit, but worth the trip.
Ariana Kabob House, web site, 9738 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA, Rt. 50, just west of Fairfax Circle703-865-7610 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
It’s a delight to have this place so close to my house. Real Afghan food, excellent all around and yes they have kadu and aushak and the like. Get the Mantu.
It’s not quite as good as Star Restaurant Banquet, on Rt. 236, but it is well above average.
Meaza International Market/Restaurant, web site, 5440-42 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-820-2870 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo (Eve Zibart) | City Paper | Yelp]
[update December 2007: new entry and located at 5700 Columbia Pike]
Yummy in taste and original in execution, the kitfo is great here and the place even looks nice. The best Ethiopian in this entire area, every dish here is strong.
Café Trope, web site, 2100 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-223-9335 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | Yelp | Gayot]
Caribbean food, cooked by a Gambian. It is right now one of the best places in Dupont Circle. The best way to go here is to order vegetarian, including of course the spinach and the collard greens. The plantains by the way are by far the best of any area restaurant. The salads are good, too. I sampled some of the meat and fish-based main courses. They weren’t bad but I don’t think on their own they give enough reason to come here.
Gerard Pangaud Bistro, web site, 915 15th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-737-4445 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Menuism | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
A resurrection of the old Gerard’s restaurant in the form of a Bistro. But it’s hardly any different. The old Gerard’s was great when it was “on” (only sometimes), after one visit it is hard for me to see the Bistro version as much of an improvement. It’s not.
There is a new winner and yes it is Kobe Beef in Kobe, Japan. It lives up to the hype, if you are in Kobe just try any of the better beef establishments in town. My personal list now reads as follows (in order, of course):
1. Kobe Beef, Kobe, Japan.
2. Dry-aged beef in Hermosillo, Mexico.
3. Southern Brazil, near Curitiba.
4. Lockhart, Texas, most of all the brisket at Smitty's.
Maybe Argentina is next in line and it might place higher if I had consumed countryside barbecue there.
And yes, Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman are right: you should eat less beef. But Kobe is not the place to abstain. The reality is that eating beef in Kobe will make it very hard for you to eat beef almost anywhere else again.
"The best beef in the world?" Marginal Revolution, June 1, 2008
La Sandia, web site, Tysons Corner Center, Level 1, McLean, VA, by Barnes and Noble at the end opposite Bloomingdales (in blue on mall map), 703-893-2222
The new Rick Sandoval place, it opened in May of 2008. I went during the first week and thought it was clearly the best Mexican place around. Sandoval places don’t stay great for long, so now is the time to go.
It’s traditional Mexican rather than fusion but genuine and with high quality ingredients. The tortillas are excellent as is the guacamole and the queso fundido; make sure you use the sauce on the latter, and in a tortilla. I liked the chile relleno, the skirt steak tacos, and especially the carnitas. The chicken tamale was disappointing. The prices are entirely reasonable and in fact cheaper than the other restaurants in that lower level Tysons area. The existence of this place makes me very happy. Beware the crowds, however, at peak times it is very hard to get in here and they don't take traditional reservations.
Sangam, Johnson Center Food Court (GMU map | Google map), GMU, Fairfax, VA
That's the new Indian food place in the Food Court, at the Johnson Center at George Mason University. It's excellent, at least so far, thereby making it the first good food at GMU, ever. I'd put it in the top quarter of local Indian restaurants, though I expect time and the crowds to take its toll. The vegetarian sampler is the best dish and they serve Halal food as well. The samosas look overfried. The analytical question is why this took so long to happen, or alternatively why it has happened at all. I have read there is also a wave of innovation in hospital food as well.
[Run by the folks who own Sangam Restaurant, web site, 1211 N Glebe Road, Arlington, VA (in the Comfort Inn), 703-524-2728 [Yelp]]
If you ever fly in or out of LaGuardia, you’ve probably grown to dread the experience; a delay of “only” 60-90 minutes is better than average. But I’ve discovered a new method for enjoying a LaGuardia visit. It’s simple: I leave Manhattan 90 minutes early and I stop in Flushing for a Chinese meal. Flushing has most of the best Chinese food in the city, especially adjusting for price. The trouble has always been getting there and back--but the simple solution is to fly more often. For great Chinese food, no price is too high and otherwise you’re simply not going to go.The logistics are easy. All the best Chinese places are right off Main Street and even Manhattan cabs know the general area. To continue to the airport after your meal, just have the restaurant call you a ride. Many of the major Chinese places have private limousine connections just for this purpose; I’ve been charged rates ranging from $12 to $14. Conversely, you can arrive in LaGuardia and stop in Flushing before heading to Manhattan or elsewhere.
I went just last Sunday for what is, I believe, my sixth attempt at this strategy (I live in Virginia but I come to New York often). I’ve learned a few things. The Shanghai dumplings are supposed to be so hot they burn your mouth a little bit. Even if you are dining solo, order three dishes and just sample. (You needn’t be a hog, just ask yourself how soon you will get back.) Many of these restaurants post reviews, which usually have good ordering suggestions. If in doubt, it is more fruitful to look at the other tables than to read the menu. Not all these restaurants take reservations, so if you are going at Chinese lunch rush hour (10:30 to noon) leave some extra time. If you don’t have much luggage, Main Street in Flushing is one of the very best walks in all of New York.
The best Chinese places in Flushing change quickly, so one method is to Google “best Chinese restaurants Flushing” in the cab or in advance. At Joe’s Shanghai, get the hot and sour soup (the best I’ve ever had) and the juicy steamed pork buns, which are actually the famous Shanghai dumplings with liquid inside; the raw crab appetizer is a good dish not usually found elsewhere and it makes a nice cool offset to the other flavors. (There is a branch of this restaurant in Manhattan but I don’t think it compares.) At Spicy & Tasty, try the dry-cooked green beans, the dumplings in red chili sauce, the lamb dishes, the potato and green pepper (with vinegar), and the Dan Dan noodles, which I think are the best single dish for judging a Sichuan restaurant. Order fresh greens for relief, you will need it.
Overall the district is strong on Shanghai cuisine, Taiwanese cuisine, Cantonese, and Sichuan. If you’re undecided or can’t get into your favorite place, just walk up and down 37th Ave., near Main Street, and choose from a long row of excellent places. On Main Street you’ll also find delicious Chinese street food, pork buns, and dumplings, not attached to any formal restaurant.
And if you don’t care much for Chinese food, Jackson Heights, with some of New York’s best Indian food, is also only minutes away. Just think how much you are saving: what’s really scarce in life is your time and the mere willingness to get up and go. Just do it.
From "On the Way to the Airport . . ." on Bitten, a NYT blog, March 18, 2008
Joe's Shanghai, web site, 136-21 37th Avenue, Flushing, NY, 718-539-3838 [NYT | Yelp | A Guy In New York | openlist]
Spicy & Tasty, 39-07 Prince Street, Flushing, NY, 718-359-1601 [NYT | NY Mag | A Guy In New York | Yelp]
See also Chinatown Bus.
Peking Eastern House (Dong Lai Shun), web site, 617 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 301-963-1426 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [This is Gonna Be Good | zabihah | Gazette.net | Yelp]
This is a real Chinese Muslim restaurant! I liked the humburgers [sic] best of all. Get lots of meat dishes, get lots of cumin, get noodles. Ask for help. Don’t let them pawn off their standard “Chinese” food on you. Be aggressive and firm. Just don't expect any pork...
Brazil Market, 11425 Grandview Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-8412 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian]
They have Brazilian sandwiches, snacks, canned goods, and fried yucca thingies. Not an amazing selection but if you are yearning for a touch of Brazil this does in fact supply it.
The Source, the new Wolfgang Puck restaurant, web site, 575 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-637-6100, across from the National Gallery, on 6th and Pennsylvania, in the modernist office building (next to the Newseum). (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | The Hill | Yelp | Gayot]
Right now this is one of the two best places in town, along with CityZen. Puck’s places tend to decline within a few years (or sooner), so now is the time to go. Get as many appetizers and small dishes as you can, that is also a cheaper way to eat plus you get more selection.
Hollywood East Cafe on the Boulevard, web site, 2621 University Blvd., Wheaton, MD, 240-290-9988 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | Yelp | Gayot]
Right now this is the best dim sum place around. They don’t just churn out the usual stuff, they are consistently interesting and make the dim sum with care. At times you might be frustrated by the delays, but that’s part of the signal of quality. First-rate greens too. I might add that they make stuff in batches, and you should stick around for about two hours, and save up space in your stomach, rather than filling up right away. Go slow, slow, slow, and make an afternoon of it.
Paul Kee, 11305-B Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-6886 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
One of the best Cantonese places around, although you hardly ever hear of it. Excellent seafood. I like the scallops in pepper sauce, among other dishes. There are also the casseroles, and make sure you get some greens to round out the combination.
Desi's Chicken and Steak, web site, 10801 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, VA, 703-865-8150 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
Right now this is the best Peruvian place around. It looks terrible, as if it’s trying to cater to the worst sort of American diner. But the chef can’t help himself. The Lomo Saltado is first-rate, the soups excellent. The chicken is pretty good, though not #1. The rice and seafood dishes are quite good. Go, and go now. Many other restaurants in this space have gone under, it has not been a stable space since the old days of Pars.
Ceviche, web site (flash and music), 921-J Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 301-608-0081 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
I went here with about seven people and sampled many dishes. I thought the rice was quite good, the ceviche pretty good. They have lots of Peruvian dishes you can’t find elsewhere. All a good recipe, but somehow I ended up a bit underwhelmed. I wouldn’t mind going back, but I’m not pushing to either. It’s in “that part” of Silver Spring and appeals almost exclusively to yuppies. It’s missing a certain edge. It’s still pretty good, though, and never to go is probably a mistake. Not super cheap like some ethnic places, but cheaper than most other places for yuppies.
Halalco Supermarket, web site, 155 Hillwood Avenue, Falls Church, VA, 703-532-3202 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Zabihah]
Located inside a Pakistani supermarket, this place is so authentic it closed completely for the month of Ramadan. It’s probably the most authentic Pakistani place around, truly spicy, a bit oily, they serve organs too. Not my #1 Pakistani place but I will go a third time and maybe yet again. It is recommended for those who want to go the nth degree, not for those who seek mainstream ethnic food. It is best to go during peak hours when the buffet is most fresh. There is lots of Islamic material in the supermarket, it is a very religious place, the people are very friendly.
The Source, web site, 575 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-637-6100 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | Yelp]
Yes sir, I know what is best, and I will bring it to you.
That was what I heard in The Source, the new Wolfgang Puck restaurant, which is now one of the two best fine dining establishments in an otherwise food-starved Washington DC.
First posted on Marginal Revolution.
Star Restaurant Banquet, web site, 7203 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-750-2450 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
An authentic albeit underpopulated Afghan place, with a huge room for weddings and banquets. Their plans and their achievement seem totally out of scale. That said, it could be the best Afghan place to visit right now. Very good kadu, not too sweet. Their bready things are yummy, I quite liked the third appetizer, the pastry stuffed with leeks, add yogurt on top. The meats are not so tender but they are very tasty. How long can this place last? Should you be discouraged by the thought of entering a huge cavern and not even being greeted by a hostess? Who knows? Enjoy it while you can.
[former location of Po Jang Ma Cha]
Meaza, 5700 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-820-2870, I’m not sure about the number on Rt. 7, it is what their card says but some people tell me it is wrong. [This place was formerly at 5440 Columbia Pike: previous TCEDG entry]. In any case it is on Columbia Pike just east of Route 7 by Circuit City (which address is 5710 Columbia Pike). (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [chowhound | Yelp]
Excellent, excellent Ethiopian, maybe as good as the DC dumps. But it’s a nice restaurant too. The fish tibs you can’t get in other places. First-rate kitfo. Wide variety. A clear #1 Ethiopian for Virginia and yes it is pressing on the DC places too. Attached to a coffee shop, plus they have Ethiopian music on some nights. Definitely recommended, although perhaps I would prefer if the dining room had more light.
Cee Fine Thai Dining, web site, 9901 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, VA, 703-293-9898 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp | Gayot]
Above average Thai, good mee krob, more whitebread atmosphere than most, slightly more expensive than average. This is a good place to bring people who expect the restaurant to be “nice,” although it can’t compare to Thai Square, much less Thai X-Ing.
Atilla’s Restaurant, web site, 2705 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-920-8100 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp]
Supposed to be a Turkish place, I have yet to go. It is attached to a grocery store and take-out, and is supposed to be quite authentic.
The best food is cooked in people's homes, sold on the highways, or on the beach. I recommend grilled corn on the cob with chile and lime, baleadas, which are fresh corn tortillas stuffed with beans and sometimes cheese or avocado or pork, any tamales, and of course seafood, most of all the conch ceviche (I did dare to eat it, in a small village), and the Garifuna seafood dishes and soups cooked in coconut milk. Honduras is not known as a food country but that is because North American visitors take their meals in restaurants.
It is said that Honduras is too poor to afford its own oligarchy, and the infrastructure here is poor, even by Central American standards. The rate of AIDS is supposed to be very high.
Natasha and I debated whether the upscale shopping mall in San Pedro Sula -- CityMall -- seemed so U.S.-American because a) Honduras is becoming so Americanized, or b) American shopping malls now attract so many Latinos; that discussion is ongoing. We also seem to export gang criminality to Honduras, which is no longer a fully safe country. Overall Honduras gets high marks on friendliness (especially if you aren't mugged; we weren't), and on capturing the old feel of Central America and the Caribbean, but there are few sights of the traditional kind. The country is recommended for the experienced traveler looking for a change of pace, and luxury living at bargain prices, but most people should try Costa Rica or Panama first.
Tela was a lovely beach community, if you are on the north Honduran coast visit a Garifuna village and make sure you eat a home-cooked meal under the palm leaves. Every journey has an emotional and narrative center at its core and that was it for us. The way the kids play almost naked in the dirt you can see why the rate of dengue fever is so high.
(first posted on Marginal Revolution)
Hook, web site, 3241 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-625-4488 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper | Yelp | Gayot]
There is actually a good restaurant in Georgetown! Really. Most of all the quality of the calamari shocked me. It is very very hard to find good calamari in the United States but this place nails it. The Pollock was first-rate, though too undercooked for just about anyone but me. Not everything is stellar and the delights of this place do not come cheaply. But it is genuinely a good (albeit inconsistent) restaurant. If you’ve been wondering “why can’t we have more good seafood restaurants in DC?”, this is one crack in the prior façade. The crowd is not yet totally touristy and obnoxious (circa 2007) though I predict this place will be ruined by mid-2008. We’ll see, but in the meantime worth a visit if you know how to order well or can get an honest waiter to tell you what is good.