In your opinion, what's the best restaurant in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Citronelle was among the most disappointing meals I've had in my life.

Did you get the tasting menu or did you order the prix fixe three courses? If the latter, it probably would have been disappointing, and overpriced. The tasting menu was phenomenal.

I had the (vegetarian) tasting menu here and did not like it at all. The largest dish was essentially a bowl of stinging nettles and it tasted heavily of bacon (which I suppose is a flavor they have) and it was just a flat note and overpowering. None of the other dishes were stand-out enough to remember.

Note, I am 85% sure this was Citornelle, though I've had the vegetarian tasting menu at CityZen and Maestro (Tyson's Ritz) as well, and I may be mis-remembering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the people who are just trotting out new restaurNt names. Yes we get it, you read tom sietsema too.

This. Also, people are confusing their *favorite* restaurant with the *best* restaurant. There's an objective component to *best* - technical preparation, food sourcing, service, presentation. While at some point it does come down to personal preference, a restaurant has to clear a certain basic threshold to be under consideration. We can quibble about Rasika, CityZen, Komi, Eve's tasting room (though it's not in DC), Palena, Vidalia, and I thought the Vermillion suggestion was interesting (though I wouldn't necessarily agree). But Central? Red Hen? Le Diplomate? Come on. Please go back to checking out the latest fedora styles and let the grown-ups have a conversation.

Anyone who nominated any of the relatively new restaurants on 14th Street as the *best* restaurant in DC needs to get his or her head out of his or her ass. Many are good; some are very good. None of them are even in the conversation for *best.* And they're not trying to be.

And for those who nominated Le Diplomate - it's a chain reataurant. Stephen Starr has a tried and true (and very successful) formula, and I haven't had a truly bad meal at any of his restaurants. But they're all pretty much the same. Alma de Cuba, for example, or Buddaken, are basically identical to Le Diplomate, after adjusting for decors and nationality focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the people who are just trotting out new restaurNt names. Yes we get it, you read tom sietsema too.

This. Also, people are confusing their *favorite* restaurant with the *best* restaurant. There's an objective component to *best* - technical preparation, food sourcing, service, presentation. While at some point it does come down to personal preference, a restaurant has to clear a certain basic threshold to be under consideration. We can quibble about Rasika, CityZen, Komi, Eve's tasting room (though it's not in DC), Palena, Vidalia, and I thought the Vermillion suggestion was interesting (though I wouldn't necessarily agree). But Central? Red Hen? Le Diplomate? Come on. Please go back to checking out the latest fedora styles and let the grown-ups have a conversation.

Anyone who nominated any of the relatively new restaurants on 14th Street as the *best* restaurant in DC needs to get his or her head out of his or her ass. Many are good; some are very good. None of them are even in the conversation for *best.* And they're not trying to be.

And for those who nominated Le Diplomate - it's a chain reataurant. Stephen Starr has a tried and true (and very successful) formula, and I haven't had a truly bad meal at any of his restaurants. But they're all pretty much the same. Alma de Cuba, for example, or Buddaken, are basically identical to Le Diplomate, after adjusting for decors and nationality focus.

Good food is ALWAYS subjective and furthermore "good food" is extremelu sustible to trends and careful marketing.

[Anonymous]

Marcels, Palena, Rogue24, Corduroy, Fiola, Eve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the people who are just trotting out new restaurNt names. Yes we get it, you read tom sietsema too.

This. Also, people are confusing their *favorite* restaurant with the *best* restaurant. There's an objective component to *best* - technical preparation, food sourcing, service, presentation. While at some point it does come down to personal preference, a restaurant has to clear a certain basic threshold to be under consideration. We can quibble about Rasika, CityZen, Komi, Eve's tasting room (though it's not in DC), Palena, Vidalia, and I thought the Vermillion suggestion was interesting (though I wouldn't necessarily agree). But Central? Red Hen? Le Diplomate? Come on. Please go back to checking out the latest fedora styles and let the grown-ups have a conversation.

Anyone who nominated any of the relatively new restaurants on 14th Street as the *best* restaurant in DC needs to get his or her head out of his or her ass. Many are good; some are very good. None of them are even in the conversation for *best.* And they're not trying to be.

And for those who nominated Le Diplomate - it's a chain reataurant. Stephen Starr has a tried and true (and very successful) formula, and I haven't had a truly bad meal at any of his restaurants. But they're all pretty much the same. Alma de Cuba, for example, or Buddaken, are basically identical to Le Diplomate, after adjusting for decors and nationality focus.

Good food is ALWAYS subjective and furthermore "good food" is extremelu sustible to trends and careful marketing.

With respect to your first point - no. As I said, there is a significant objective component to "good food" - and even more so to the "best restaurant." With respect to your second point - I have no idea what you are trying to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the people who are just trotting out new restaurNt names. Yes we get it, you read tom sietsema too.

This. Also, people are confusing their *favorite* restaurant with the *best* restaurant. There's an objective component to *best* - technical preparation, food sourcing, service, presentation. While at some point it does come down to personal preference, a restaurant has to clear a certain basic threshold to be under consideration. We can quibble about Rasika, CityZen, Komi, Eve's tasting room (though it's not in DC), Palena, Vidalia, and I thought the Vermillion suggestion was interesting (though I wouldn't necessarily agree). But Central? Red Hen? Le Diplomate? Come on. Please go back to checking out the latest fedora styles and let the grown-ups have a conversation.

Anyone who nominated any of the relatively new restaurants on 14th Street as the *best* restaurant in DC needs to get his or her head out of his or her ass. Many are good; some are very good. None of them are even in the conversation for *best.* And they're not trying to be.

And for those who nominated Le Diplomate - it's a chain reataurant. Stephen Starr has a tried and true (and very successful) formula, and I haven't had a truly bad meal at any of his restaurants. But they're all pretty much the same. Alma de Cuba, for example, or Buddaken, are basically identical to Le Diplomate, after adjusting for decors and nationality focus.

Best does not mean fanciest. I stand by my assertion that currently Roses is the best. I've been four times because I am concerned it won't be able to remain the same now that the review is out. I hope that isn't true.

The tasting room doesn't exist anymore, but is still put eve close to the top without it; in fact I've always preferred the bistro.. Red Hen doesn't come close. Nor does Vidalia - in 2005 maybe, but when RJ left for Rogue 24, it dipped and Rogue won (although in my opinion Rogue isn't the best either, although certainly a must try. City Zen is too stiff for me, but I don't quibble with those who rank it high. The Inn doesn't do much for me for dinner, but their breakfast and tea are by far the best in the area. Radula is great, although a little loud to qualify as best. Central is too heavy and doesn't give you that special feeling; Citronelle was once my favorite, but actually the bar; the basement was a little drab and ironically, I never liked his desserts. Komi is amazing, and I probably would have called it the best two months ago, and may again next. I haven't tried Le Diplomate.

[Anonymous]

rasika is our favorite for food, flavor, service.

[Anonymous]

Rasika, El Chalan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Citronelle was among the most disappointing meals I've had in my life.

Did you get the tasting menu or did you order the prix fixe three courses? If the latter, it probably would have been disappointing, and overpriced. The tasting menu was phenomenal.

I had the (vegetarian) tasting menu here and did not like it at all. The largest dish was essentially a bowl of stinging nettles and it tasted heavily of bacon (which I suppose is a flavor they have) and it was just a flat note and overpowering. None of the other dishes were stand-out enough to remember.

Note, I am 85% sure this was Citornelle, though I've had the vegetarian tasting menu at CityZen and Maestro (Tyson's Ritz) as well, and I may be mis-remembering.

Citronelle was never the right place for vegetarian. If you have limitations, choose your restaurants wisely.

[Anonymous]

Annie's Paramount steakhouse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the people who are just trotting out new restaurNt names. Yes we get it, you read tom sietsema too.

This. Also, people are confusing their *favorite* restaurant with the *best* restaurant. There's an objective component to *best* - technical preparation, food sourcing, service, presentation. While at some point it does come down to personal preference, a restaurant has to clear a certain basic threshold to be under consideration. We can quibble about Rasika, CityZen, Komi, Eve's tasting room (though it's not in DC), Palena, Vidalia, and I thought the Vermillion suggestion was interesting (though I wouldn't necessarily agree). But Central? Red Hen? Le Diplomate? Come on. Please go back to checking out the latest fedora styles and let the grown-ups have a conversation.

Anyone who nominated any of the relatively new restaurants on 14th Street as the *best* restaurant in DC needs to get his or her head out of his or her ass. Many are good; some are very good. None of them are even in the conversation for *best.* And they're not trying to be.

And for those who nominated Le Diplomate - it's a chain reataurant. Stephen Starr has a tried and true (and very successful) formula, and I haven't had a truly bad meal at any of his restaurants. But they're all pretty much the same. Alma de Cuba, for example, or Buddaken, are basically identical to Le Diplomate, after adjusting for decors and nationality focus.

Best does not mean fanciest. I stand by my assertion that currently Roses is the best. I've been four times because I am concerned it won't be able to remain the same now that the review is out. I hope that isn't true.

The tasting room doesn't exist anymore, but is still put eve close to the top without it; in fact I've always preferred the bistro.. Red Hen doesn't come close. Nor does Vidalia - in 2005 maybe, but when RJ left for Rogue 24, it dipped and Rogue won (although in my opinion Rogue isn't the best either, although certainly a must try. City Zen is too stiff for me, but I don't quibble with those who rank it high. The Inn doesn't do much for me for dinner, but their breakfast and tea are by far the best in the area. Radula is great, although a little loud to qualify as best. Central is too heavy and doesn't give you that special feeling; Citronelle was once my favorite, but actually the bar; the basement was a little drab and ironically, I never liked his desserts. Komi is amazing, and I probably would have called it the best two months ago, and may again next. I haven't tried Le Diplomate.

I'm not been to Rose's, so I can't say, but I have heard good things. And best certainly does not mean fanciest - I suggested Little Serow, which is about as far from fancy as you can get, and my experiences at Rasika are mostly at the bar. But the none of the good mid-range places on 14th are *best* anything. I enjoyed Doi Moi, but it ain't the best. Neither is Thai Xing.

[Anonymous]

Thai X-info was one of the best when it was just Taw in his basement. Not so much anymore. I agree with you on Little Serrow but I've had a couple over salted dishes. Completely agree about 14th street, although I do here great things about Le Diplomate from people whose opinions I trust. Doi Moi in particular is an extreme letdown, they went for pure douche magnet to the expense of good food. Estadio is so much better, although not itself perfect.

[Anonymous]

My favorites are Fiola and Rasika. Also like The Source, Tosca, and Kaz Sushi Bistro, though I wouldn't say any of them are the best in DC.

I also enjoyed Citronelle and TenPenh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Annie's Paramount steakhouse

keeping it old scoolv

[Anonymous]

Zola, hands down.