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