Hi Claybabe...

I'm not from DC but I can say that I use Yelp.com whenever I'm looking for a restaurant in an unfamiliar city. When I was in DC for the inauguration I went to Brasserie Beck on K street and it was great. Yummy Belgian beers, too. :-)

Hopefully someone from there will give you some great tips.

In Old Town Alexandria, I recommend Restaurant Eve. It's one of the best restaurants in the area and is hard to get a reservation at, but you may enjoy eating at the bar (they make fabulous, creative cocktails too). In Arlington, I heard great things about Eventide (it's fairly new, I haven't been). And in Georgetown, check out 1789 for wonderful food a historic setting.

Claybabe,
Some great places in Georgetown:
1. Cafe Leopold in Cady's Alley. You can get involved in Bulthaup, Poggenpohl and Ann Sacks porn right in the same place.
2. Neyla in Georgetown has really good Middle Eastern food.
3. The DolceZza in Georgetown has excellent Gelato. Get the double chocolate gelato or the Thai Coconut milk gelato. Top off with a Churro and enjoy the dazzling happiness that follows.
4. Le Pain Quotidien is a good little bakery to get a quick snack.
5. Enjoy walking through Dean and Deluca in Georgetown. Get some cookies and continue walking through Georgetown.
6. If you are a beer drinker or just like Belgian food, Brasserie Beck on K street is really lovely!
7. If you get off work earlier, you can get desserts at Pattiserie Poupon in Georgetown too.
8. A really good Indian restaurant is Rasika near the verizon center is a really tasty.

Send me an email off line and we can chat!

Homepro01

YahooOO! you all are awesome! I knew the GWers wouldn't let me down!

Ok I'll make a plan for tomorrow (seems like GT is the way to go and see if I can drag some coworkers around), and email you, homepro!
Yay!
I'm so happy,
thanks all

I work in Arlington, if you want to get together after work this week, let me know...either email me or let me know here...

When we have co-workers in from out of town (usually from Iowa or Kansas), they like to go to PF Chang's. Yes, it's a chain, but they have very good food.

If you like something different, check out Gadbsy's Tavern in Old Town Alexandria. It's been quite a few years since I've been there, but at the time there was entertainment during your meal in the form of news, commentary, & stories from 200 years ago to the day. It was on N. Royal Street.

I also remember Murphy's on King Street...it had Irish entertainment (live) each night. It's been quite a few years since I've been there as well.

Maybe we could have a VA/DC/MD get together this week?

Thanks, Buehl! Different is good, I just want to get out of my hotel, even though the food has been quite good so far.

OooooOoHhhhhh a get together would be fun! ANy other takers? And what would be your most convenient locations? Homepro?

Wednesday would be better for homepro, and I have no plans to date, how does Wednesday sound? Or Friday? I have to leave on Saturday at 3pm. Thanks all!

Any day this week is fine with me...

buildinginva beat me to the punch. I was about to recommend Restaurant Eve as well in Old Town. Divine. Some friends just ate at Eventide and loved it.

Citronelle in DC is wonderful too, and Duangrat's on Route 7 (is it technically Falls Church? Bailey's Crossroads?? Alexandria?) is great for Thai food.

Ivette

Let's set a date/time/place...a couple of other GWers have expressed an interest in joining us as well.

Since you're in Arlington, do you want to meet somewhere there? Whereabouts in Arlington are you?

I do have one request, I'm gluten-intolerant so I'd prefer a place I know I can get food at...like PF Chang's, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabas, Chili's, Chevy's, or Legal Sea Foods. [Sorry, I'm high maintenance!]

When I lived in Alexandria, one of our favorite places was the Evening Star Cafe. I haven't been there in - gulp- 8 years, but it was great then.....

Here's a link: http://www.eveningstarcafe.net/

ooo! Cafe Leopold IS great! And you can hit Waterworks for eye candy too!

Oh thank you all again! I'm so happy! The Kitchen forum is one of the wonders of life.

How about Wednesday night in Arlington, at one of the Buehl-listings (someone choose: They all sound great)? I'm planning on Alexandria tonight so I'll report back on food and eye-candy (of the kitchen variety, can't get enough) later. Thursday I'm thinking Georgetown or perhaps Dupont Circle, and I'll email you, Homepro01.

Any takers? I should be done by 5:30, but 6pm may be pushing it if it goes later. I can always just show up late, I guess, if others need to get in and out earlier.

See you soon!

OK...I'll contact VAKitchen & GneeGirl and let them know (they also expressed interest).

So, I told homepro01 G'town for tomorrow in my original email. Would Thursday work for Arlington for you all?

Oh my gosh! Brasserie Beck! Not only is the food and beer great I think their beef stew cured my very bad case of flu last winter. We had to be in D.C. on business and I thought I was going to die. DH insisted I had to eat something and brought back to the hotel specially packaged takeout for me. After eating the beef stew and having a Belgian beer (can't remember which one) I had a good sleep and woke up better in the morning. I've since heard that Marcelle's (spelling ?) near G.W. Hospital is a very high end restaurant owned and run by the same guy so if I ever get there again I'm going to try that. Good luck with your restaurant adventures.

What an amazing selection of food: I need to stay another month, if only to find Restaurant Eve: Armed with the address and a map, I circled the block twice and still couldn't find it. Perhaps a phone call, instructions and another try on Friday....

Alexandria was fun, though, lots of people out trotting around, smiling.

Since I haven't heard back from Homepro01 yet (we thought Cafe Leopold would be a good choice, per all the raves above and the eye candy) and she talked about Wednesday, would it work to do Wednesday at Cafe leopold and Thursday and the Buehl-choice?

Please advise: I'll check in the am first thing and try again half way through the am.

Sorry if I've messed any of you up: please join us!

Thursday is fine with me...I like PF Chang's and it isn't as expensive as Legal Sea Foods, so why don't we plan on there? It's kind of a tradition....several of us met w/IglooChic at PF Chang's in Baltimore early last year and then another group of us met at PF Chang's in Columbia late last year...

Claybabe,
Either Wednesday or Thursday are good for me. You pick.
Buehl,
I have a friend who is gluten sensitive and lactose intolerant. Neyla and Kafe Leopold are all great choices for her. Leopolds has the best french fries and seafood selection. Some of their desserts are gluten free too. They usually have a chocolate mousse. Their prices are also very friendly.

Neyla has a great selection of salads and grilled veggies and meats. The Hummus is really tasty although you can't have the pita chips! You should also try Bonaparte's! I love fries and mussels and they do a great job. They also do omelettes on the weekend:-)

Claybabe,
I will check the forum in the morning. I am free after 5pm and it takes about 30mins for me to get to Gtown from work!

Homepro01

Thanks HomePro01, it's always great to find somewhere else I can eat w/o worrying. Most places look at me blankly when I mention gluten! I have noticed over the last year that restaurants are slowly becoming familiar with gluten & Celiac Disease.

A nice change was that when we were in Hawaii all the nicer places were not only aware, but they also had gluten-free menus. One place (Tidepools on Kauai) even redid their entire menu to be almost totally gluten-free...only a couple of exceptions.

Hurray! I'm looking forward to dinner(s)!

Homepro01, I emailed my phone number to you. If you'd like to call me at 5:45ish I can let you know where I am. I'm pretty certain I won't be done early, but should be done by then. Will 6:30 be too much hanging around for you? Buehl et al., care to join us for this also?

And PF Changs tomorrow, what time? I'll probably take a cab, so I could probably be there by 6:15 or so if traffic on Globe is not an issue at that time. You choose the time, Buehl, and I'll email you my phone number also :)

Pirula, are you close by? If so, could you bring your beautiful range? cabinets? I just want to touch them.

Kpaquette, thanks for the Yelp.com: What an amazing tool! And it sounds like Brasserie Beck has special powers, might need to consider that....Buildinginva, thanks for the suggestions: Eventide sounds interesting and close, and R.Eve's mystery deepens, but perhaps Friday at the bar will work.

Homepro01, and anyone who cares to join us, I'll see you tonight!

I adore Yelp. I was in SFO a couple of weeks ago and have the Yelp app on my iPhone - I was down at Union Square and felt like French Bistro food - and it found the most amazing place for me, two blocks from where I stood! (Chez Papa.) When I lived in Philly I was a regular Yelp contributor. I love technology. :-)

How about 6:45pm? GneeGirl is also joining us and needs to cross town...

I'm starting another thread to see if anyone else in the MD/VA/DC area is interested...I'll link to this thread as well.

So, the details....

Date: Thursday, July 30
Time: 6:45 pm

PF Chang's is off the Ballston-GMU Metro stop (orange line).

901 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: (703) 527-0955

For those who would prefer, I could meet you in the lobby of the office building across the street from the Metro and then we could walk there together (coming out of the Metro, turn left & cross the side street, not the main street). It's the Qwest building (4250 N Fairfax Drive). If so, let me know and let's meet at 6:35pm & walk over to get there by 6:45 or so.

Have fun guys! Wish I could be there, but alas......think of me, five miles up in Mclean.

Sorry you will not be here, Pirula! I remember when you were overseas planning your kitchen, dreaming of Lacanche....

I'll see you at 6:35. If I miss you there, is PF CHangs easy to spot? I'm not exactly batting 1000.

Sorry to miss the dinner (child care issues). Have fun!

If you are a hole in the wall afficianado, Jerusalem on Route 7 at the edge of Falls Church has amazing Middle Eastern food. Their shwarma topped hummus with fresh from the oven pita bread is to die for as well as the white coffee. We went there a lot during the two years when the other half was stationed in DC and I'd take a week or so to travel there. If you like Afghan food (somewhat similar to Indian but less spicy) then Panjshir in actual Falls Church is great. You'll never look at a pumpkin the same way again--it is sooo good! I could eat gallons of the homemade almond pudding called firnee.

You're making me hungry Live_Wire_Oak...I happen to like Middle Eastern food... I've given most of it up though since being diagnosed w/Celiac b/c I've had difficulty explaining my dietary needs..it's mostly a language barrier, I think. Oh well.

Claybabe & others...for those who are planning to attend, we can exchange cell phones to coordinate. If you haven't already, email me via My Page and let me know if I can share the # w/others who are meeting.

I've never driven to PF Chang's, only walked so I don't know how obvious it is while driving. Walking it isn't that obvious...that's one of the reasons I suggested meeting in the Qwest/Vangent building's lobby (the Qwest sign is on the top of the building, the Vangent sign is over the doors...two revolving & one regular). It's 4250 N Fairfax Drive...on N Fairfax b/w N Stuart & N Taylor.

Vangent/Qwest building (4250 N. Fairfax Drive):

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=4250+Fairfax+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22203&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.71116,72.509766&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FeJKUQIdUlxn-w&split=0&z=16&iwloc=A

Street View: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=4250+Fairfax+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22203&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.71116,72.509766&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FeJKUQIdUlxn-w&split=0&z=16&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=38.882101,-77.112202&panoid=F-tRRqzIWQ1QsdbTKy73Aw&cbp=12,198.66,,0,5

[In case the link doesn't work, here's the address to use in Google maps (maps.google.com): 4250 Fairfax Dr, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Click on the "Street view" to see a closeup of the front of the building.]

PF Chang's (901 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22203):

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=901+N.+Glebe+Road,+Arlington,+Virginia+22203&sll=38.882097,-77.1122&sspn=0.012027,0.017703&ie=UTF8&ll=38.882064,-77.115505&spn=0.012027,0.017703&z=16&iwloc=r10

Directions from Vangent/Qwest building or Ballston-GM Metro station:

http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=901+N+Glebe+Rd,+Arlington,+VA+22203-1853+(P+F+Chang%27s+China+Bistro)&geocode=CcthITD85uJIFQ1KUQId4E9n-yFIIzADuTQPsQ&dirflg=&saddr=4250+Fairfax+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22203&f=d&hl=en&sll=38.882064,-77.115505&sspn=0.012027,0.017703&cid=12758474238590985032&ie=UTF8&z=18

Note: When walking, you cut straight across.

Note: If meeting in the Qwest/Vangent building, let's meet by the entrance to "Pot Belly". It's on the opposite end of the building from the front security desk. If you come in through the front, go past the security desk, past the elevators, and Pot Belly will be on your right.

If anyone will be later than 6:35 in the Qwest/Vangent building, post here. I'll check periodically during the day.

Live Wire Oak, you are killin' me! (Starting to drool....)

Sorry you can't make it buildinginva, have fun with your family!

Meeting you at the Pot Belly, Buehl. Hmmmm, reviewing the thorough nature of your post, it is not surprising that your kitchen turned out so well :) Thanks for all the instructions.

Can I join you ladies? I live in Montgomery County and work near Capitol Hill. I've only posted a few times (my questions seem to shut down active threads), but I've logged 1,000s of hours on here.

Buehl, I will e-mail you separately with my cell phone number.

The more the merrier!

I replied to your email...

Claybabe,
It was great hanging out and enjoying the kitchen porn yesterday. I realized on my way home that I forgot to take you to the Snaidero showroom. If you do get to go back to Gtown before you leave, it is next to the running fit store. It is a really nice showroom display!!
Hope you ladies had fun today!
Homepro01

Homepro01, thank you again for the fabulous tour of porn! I didn't get back to Gtown and will probably not make it tomorrow, but perhaps the next trip out (hoping for very soon!). Leopolds was awesome; tempting to just roll around in the desert case....

Buehl and tresgirls, it was a blast: Loved looking at the plans and photos, and eating another great meal. WOW what a wonderful place.

I wasn't able to track down Restaurant Eve tonight, but had a fun time downtown. Trip is too short, belly too full, time for this one to go home!

Thank you all for your suggestions and generous help! I'm saving the list for the next trip.

Hi all -

So sorry I missed you. By the time I got the final schedule it was going to be too late for me to get there. My sister had moved that day so my doggie and I thought I would help her. Of course Sis was too tired to keep my pup. Glad you enjoyed. PLEASE keep me on the list for next time though.

gneegirl