Cuba de Ayer

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Cuba de Ayer, 15446 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD, 301-476-9622, closed Mondays (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | http://www.washingtonian.com/restaurantreviews/1081.html WaPo (Eve Zeibart) | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
A mom and pop, the Washington Post claims it is one of the best Cuban places around; it is a little out of the way for me.

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Posted in Columbia/Laurel, Cuban, Maryland | 2 Comments

Cuban Corner Restaurant

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Cuban Corner Restaurant, web site, 825 Hungerford Drive, near Ivy League Lane, Rockville, MD, 301-279-0310, closed Sunday (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Three Guys From Miami | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The best Cuban place around, as far as I can tell. Excellent pork and sides. The following is the rule of thumb on Cuban restaurants. The rice and beans are bound to be worthwhile. To have a great meal all you then need do is latch on to one other satisfactory dish. And here that is very easy to do. First-rate atmosphere, and I love the list of all the prominent Cubans on the wall, and the anti-Castro political propaganda. Definitely recommended, and very good for people-watching as well.

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Posted in Cuban, Maryland, Rockville/Gaithersburg, The Best | 2 Comments

Caribbean Grill

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Caribbean Grill, 5183 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA, 703-241-8947, usually open (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Mostly Cuban, also they serve some Jamaican items. The grilled chicken is good, but I’m more inclined to order the beef (Ropa Vieja) or the Pork Fried Pieces (Masas de Puerco). But the key to having a good time here is to neglect the entrees and order as many side dishes as possible. Especially the beans, in their various manifestations. Table space here is limited, but don’t let that discourage you. Cheap.

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Posted in Arlington, Cuban, Virginia | 3 Comments

Fairfax Crab House

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Fairfax Crab House, 10195 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-560-0060, just a bit east of University Drive. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp | Gayot]
Formerly Captain Jack’s on Rt. 29, a longstanding Fairfax County institution that was forced out by gentrification of its neighborhood. How good is it? You’re asking the wrong person. The crab I love is Chili or Pepper Crab in Singapore.
(If you like Chili Crab, check out the Singapore Chili Crab Festival held in NYC each summer.)

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Posted in Crabs, Fairfax, Virginia | Comments Off on Fairfax Crab House

Los Arrieros

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Los Arrieros, 7926 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, right at the DC border where the neighborhood turns dicey. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Yelp | Gayot]
They have Mexican dishes also, I have not yet been. I’ll go when you tell me to, otherwise not. I am still waiting. Washingtonian recommends the seafood soup.

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Posted in Colombian, Maryland, Silver Spring | 1 Comment

Brasa Roja (aka Braza Roja)

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Brasa Roja, aka Braza Roja, 9984 Main Street, Fairfax, VA, 703-385-8141, just east of downtown Fairfax, near Roberts Road, in the mall with Total Crafts. Another branch at 8215 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-495-0092 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Yelp]
Excellent rotisserie chicken and steaks, especially for Fairfax. The best yucca of the chicken places. Plus they serve a variety of good Peruvian dishes. Mexican food here is better than in many places. It only pretends to be Colombian, more pan-Latin than anything. They have cute waitresses, and lots of cops come as customers.

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Posted in Colombian, Fairfax, Virginia | 1 Comment

Kam Po

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Kam Po, 5884 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-578-4017 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [City Paper]
They have Chinese dishes and Peruvian dishes, with mutual influence running both ways. Visitors to Lima will be familiar with the concept, the place is run by Chinese Peruvians. An interesting novelty, and reasonably good, but it doesn’t beat trying either cuisine pure up.

John Chia, the owner of Kam Po, says he chose Leesburg Pike near Baileys Crossroads for his Chinese-Peruvian eatery because it is convenient for the region’s estimated 75,000 Peruvian transplants as well as other Latinos. “Old ethnic neighborhoods, all your restaurants were walking distance,” he says. “Now 99 percent of my customers come in cars.” (Kam Po is what in Lima would be called a chifa , run by Chinese immigrants to Peru who moved to the D.C. suburbs, bringing their own brand of fusion food with them.)

“Ethnic Goes Exurban: Washington’s Sprawl, As Told Through Its Migrating Restaurants,” by Tyler Cowen, The Washington Post, September 3, 2006

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Posted in Chinese-Peruvian, Falls Church/Seven Corners, Virginia | 1 Comment

Cincinnati Cafe — CLOSED

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Cincinnati Cafe, 2260 Hunter Woods Place, Reston, VA, 703-715-2500 (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Recommended by a reader as the closest we have to the real thing. I am not sure they are still open.

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Posted in Chili, Herndon/Reston/Ashburn/Chantilly / Dulles Airport, Virginia | Comments Off on Cincinnati Cafe — CLOSED

Hard Times Cafe

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Hard Times Cafe, web site, 1404 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-837-0050; 3028 Wilson Blvd., Clarendon, Arlington, VA, 703-528-2233; 1117 Nelson Street, Rockville, MD, 301-294-9720; 394 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-318-8941; and others; usually open. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Chili up to five different ways, Texas and Cincinnati style, tasty and cheap. That being said, the tastes are blander than they used to be. Not up to the quality level in southern Ohio, but then again what is? Purists will never be happy here.

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Posted in Alexandria, Arlington, Chili, Herndon/Reston/Ashburn/Chantilly / Dulles Airport, Maryland, Rockville/Gaithersburg, Virginia | 1 Comment

Pollo Campero

Posted on 2006/04/11 by .

Pollo Campero, 5852 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA (just west of the Best Buy at Bailey’s Crossroads). (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]
Also 1375 Kenyon St. NW, Washington, DC; 496 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-904-7500; 1355 East University Boulevard, Adelphi, MD, 301-408-0555; 11420 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-942-6868; and 701 Russell Avenue, Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD.
An international chain (web site).
Not Peruvian chicken, just plain fried chicken. A Latin version of KFC but far superior. The French fries and sides are excellent. By 11:00 am on weekends the crowds have arrived, sometimes parking is a real pain. Excellent for people-watching, recommended if you can stand the idea of eating fried chicken.

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Posted in Chicken, Falls Church/Seven Corners, Virginia | Comments Off on Pollo Campero