Tara Asia Rockville

Central Michele Richard DC

Dogfish Head Alehouse Gaithersburg

Acme Oyster House New Orleans

Oysters were amazing once you got over the dirtiness and total lack of presentation. Crawfish was okay and etouffee was bad.

4/5

Arnaud's New Orleans

Expected better for this famous landmark. Jazz brunch - music was great, people were hospitable, the food was mediocre.

4/5

Upperline New Orleans

Fantastic food - rich, seasonal, contemporary southern.

4.75/5

Flaming Pit Gaithersburg

Nothing to share

3.5/5

Sushi Damo Rockville

Sushi Damo does a great job of combining flavors to make traditional Japanese sushi into something more contemporary. I enjoyed my Maryland-Cali and Spicey Mistletoe roll. The tuna with crispy flakes and advocado was flavorful and vibrant. However, if you try the tuna on its own or the sashimi, the fish is less than stellar. Go here for the modern rolls and interesting twists, avoid it for the traditional and fresh fare.

4/5
http://www.sushidamo.com/about/index.html

Green Papaya Bethesda

It's okay. We ordered the equivalent of an egg roll for an appetizer, which did have some good stuff in it, but was overly crunchy and thick. We then shared the lemongrass beef vermicelli and vietnamese pancake with chicken. Everything was pretty thick and greasy. Vietnamese is supposed to be light, but this definitely was not. It's enough to satisfy the craving, but not much more. Also, the prices are on the higher end for what they offer.

3.75/5

Al Crostino DC

It truly was not my night so all I ordered was the soup. It was good, but I had no appetite. I would, however, like to try Al Crostino again and get a real opinion.

?/5
http://www.alcrostino.com/

Le Grainne Cafe NYC

Fabulous, really. My chicken and ratatouille crepe was satisfying and memorable. The flavors combined perfectly. My cafe au lait was also done particularly well. Highly recommended for brunch/lunch or late night dessert.

4.5/5
http://www.legrainnecafe.com/

Island Burgers & Shakes NYC

Huge portion sizes. Good quality food. Moderately priced. It's not your cheapest option, but for the amount of food, it's a bargain. My churasco had two huge chicken breasts, one I completey did not touch. I also ordered a white&black milkshake, which was as good as they get. Highly recommended if you are looking for simple food with a bit of a twist.

4/5
http://island.ypguides.net/

Bob's Noodles 66 Rockville

Real cheap, real Taiwanese food - those reviews are true. However, I do not think it is as good as everyone says, it's quite overrated. The food was salty and yes, I could taste the MSG. With such a diverse menu, perhaps I need to give it another chance. At those prices, I can certainly afford it. Just make sure to bring cash - no credit cards here.

4.25/5

La Tomate Bistro DC

So I assumed this was going to be another over-priced mediocre Italian restaurant in Dupont, but I was actually happily surprised. It was our fall back after Otello's was closed. I had the Pasta al Nero and truly enjoyed the dish. The shrimp was crunchy, the mushrooms flavorful, and the sundried tomatoes brought the dish together. My date had the Saltimbocca and the fish was fresh. Only downside - there were definitely still bones in the fillet. Decent meal, pleasant surprise.

4/5
http://www.latomatebistro.com/

El Pollo Rico Arlington

Really, reallllyyy goooood chicken. Like falling apart, super tender, flavorful, juicy, herb-rubbed roasted chicken for $5. My meal of 1/4 lb chicken, coleslaw, and fries, with a soda was $6. Crazy. It's no surprise that there are avid supporters of El Pollo Rico. The restaurant is definitely worthy of the craze. The dipping sauces are okay, but the chicken does not need it. The coleslaw and fries are nothing to rave about, but not bad. However, it is the chicken that steals the show. Cafeteria style, this is a great place for a tasty, super casual, inexpensive meal. It beats fast food, hands down.

BarBossa NYC

Fabulous. Little neighborhood hole in the wall Brazilian restaurant with reasonably priced food. We waited two hours to be seated, but let me tell you - the food was absolutely worth it. I mean, we were so hungry, anything probably would have tasted good, but this was beyond good. I ordered the pork, black bean stew and it was mouth-watering. Tender pork, flavorful, and huge portion size. We ended the meal with the Guinness chocolate cake recommended by NY Mag and could have died happily. Amazing.

4.75/5
http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/BarBossa/

Pipa NYC

My friends and I went to Pipa for a late night tapas dinner and had an amazing time. The tapa selection is very authentic, but the actual execution has a bit of a spin to it. I don't remember everything we ordered, but mini chorizo, wild mushrooms, cheese croquettes, dates, and meatballs were on the table at some point. The tapas were good, not great. The sangria was delicious. Pipa is definitely what you would consider a NYC hot spot - it's hip, it's lively, it's crowded.

4/5
http://www.abchome.com/images/rest/pipa-Dinner.htm

La Ferme Chevy Chase

Went here for Bethesda restaurant week. The service was amazing, the food was wonderful, and the atmosphere was fantastic. The host and waitstaff were all french and did a great job of greeting and explaining their menu options. My friend and I both had the salad to start, I had the salmon for my entree, she had the filet mignon, and we both had the cobbler for dessert. The salad was a bit pungent for me as the bleu cheese topping was quite liberal for the size of the salad. The salmon was tender and flaky and fresh. The cobbler was filled with fruit and not overly sweet. Great, light meal. I wasn't overly full, but I felt satiated. Perfect place for a quiet date in the neighborhood area of Chevy Chase.

4.5/5
http://www.lafermerestaurant.com/

Lia's Chevy Chase

After going to Chef Geoff's Downtown last week, I decided to try the last of Geoff Tracy's restaurants for Bethesda Restaurant Week. The most amazing part of our meal was the fact that the menu was not limited for restaurant week. Lia's offered any appetizer, any entree, and any dessert for $30. It was great. I had the winter vegetable bisque to start, the day boat scallops for my entree, and the affogato di gelato for dessert. Also on the table was the sun-dried tomato soup, tuna carpaccio, grilled tuna, beef tenderloin medallions, blueberry sorbet, and mint chocolate chip gelato. I tried it all. The bisque was a bit too squashy for me - it tasted like cream of squash with little else. I liked the mushrooms in it and wished there were more. The tomato soup was also very tomatoe-y. Both were so thick that neither of us finished our soups. They were tasty, just too concentrated. The tuna carpaccio was done well and the light microgreen salad on the side was a great touch. The day boat scallops were very good. The showcase was the risotto that was filled with a variety of mushrooms and had just the right amount of cheese and cream. The grilled tuna was done well and the cous cous was very fitting - simple and not overpowering. The medallions were also good. I was a fan of the mashed potatoes. As for the desserts, the affogato was truly gelato with espresso. The blueberry sorbet was overly sweet due to the syrup that was poured over. The mint chocolate chip gelato was very minty and you could tell that it was homemade. I've come to the conclusion that Geoff Tracy's restaurants are a place of solid food. It's not mind-blowing or out of this world, but its good, solid food that pleases a variety of people. You know what you are going to be getting at Lia's, it's not a risk. Great for a group of people or perhaps more distant acquaintances.

4.25/5
http://www.liasrestaurant.com/main/index.cfm?Restaurant=lias&Category=Main&Section=Main

Chef Geoff's Downtown DC

Different location, same great food. Brunch is pricey ($25), but worth it. Your choice of entree comes with coffee or tea / mimosa, bloody mary, or juice / coffee cake / fresh fruit. A very inclusive brunch and so long as you treat it as brunch (breakfast and lunch) and eat as much as you can, it will definitely be worth it. Chef Geoff's has truly turned into one of my favorites in the area for clean, quality, American food.

4.25/5
http://www.chefgeoff.com/main/index.cfm?Restaurant=cg_downtown&Category=Main&Section=Main

Heebeen Alexandria

All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ buffet. Way too much food and we did our best to get our money's worth - focusing in on the meat and sushi. In no way is Heebeen the best Korean or Asian that you are going to find, but it is more than acceptable for a buffet. The sushi selection was wide - salmon, crab, shrimp, trout... The meat wasn't bad except that one sparerib I pulled out with nothing but bone and fat on it. The marinade was sweet and tangy though. The only real disappointment was the seafood tofu soup, which tasted nothing like the way it should. Funny seasonings and the wrong type of tofu. Oh well, no loss when there is still buckets of food available for you.

4/5
http://www.heebeen.com/

Rice DC

Light and fun. I ordered the Tom Yum Goong soup and the Sauteed Basil entree. Simple ingredients. Simple food. Not much to say. The soup was a little too salty and sour for my taste. I gave up half way through. The entree was good. Fresh vegetables. Yet a bit too salty and saucy. Overall, pretty good meal and I'd do it again. It's an added bonus that the chocolate restaurant, where you can get amazing hot chocolate, is right down the street. Mmmm.

4/5
http://www.simplyhomedc.com/Welcome.html

Sardine Factory Monterey

Really disappointing. I remembered going to the Sardine Factory when I was a kid and being mesmerized by its grandeur. Once the trip to Monterey was planned this year, I proceeded to make a reservation at the Sardine Factory for New Year's day. It truly was a dinner to remember... Two people at the table ordered the pre fixe dinner with filet mignon, one ordered the pre fixe with lobster, another had the salmon and crab, and I had the shrimp sambuca. I tried it all and nothing was good. My dish was probably the best - simple, creamy, but not overly rich. The salmon was alright and the lobster was edible, although overcooked and somewhat rubbery. The filet mignon was horrible though. It wasn't meat. It didn't taste like meat. The whole time we were trying to figure out what was wrong with it. The constitency was way off. Spongey. One person at the table was also convinced it was prime rib cut and not filet mignon. It was bad and the dessert was not good enough to make up for the horrible meal. Don't go there. It's not worth the money or time.

2/5
http://www.sardinefactory.com/home/

Barefoot Coffee Roasters Santa Clara

I am not even going to pretend to know coffee, but I had to plug Barefoot because it's cool and everyone should go there. Located in a strip mall next to Bed Bath and Beyond on Lawrence and Steven's Creek, Barefoot is completely unassuming. The sign is even as plain as can be. But once you enter the coffeehouse, you notice its rich colors, sofas, writing on the walls, and scent of espresso. It's a really neat place with a unique drink list - I had the cafe brulee with carmelized sugar on top and my friend had the orange ginger latte. Different? Try it out.

http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/