Family visiting from London - what food is better here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everything here should be better. British food is known for being bland.

That was true many years ago, not so much today, particularly in London.

My DC lives in London and complains about the lack of decent tex-mex so agree with the recs for that.

[Anonymous]

% ARABICA is in London, they have good coffee. I loved it.

[Anonymous]

How about a fun, good-old fashioned American diner?!

I recalled this posting on "X" from the spring--it now has over 12 million views.

"I have never been to America but it is a dream of mine to one day go and to go to a proper diner and have pancakes with that streaky bacon and syrup from one of those jugs and coffee that a waitress will refill from one of those coffee pots"

https://x.com/hansmollman/status/1790756284607660518?s=43&t=afdFR_yoXSjTWcT4mIP7iw

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I would also focus on chefs more than cuisine. It might be nice to go to one of Jose Andres' restaurants, for example.

THIS!

Also, breakfast at a diner or basic restaurant.

Oyamel is great for haut cuisine Mexican.

China Chilcano also would be quite different than what they could find there.

Perhaps not Jaleo or Zatinya as they are so close to Spain and Greece, but if they don't travel there than perhaps those.

A really good local coffee shop would be better here.

Much better coffee shops in London so don't go out of your way. Of course they may want coffee anyway. Good quality American cheese is fine but I wouldn't get too excited.

Definitely Mexican, Southern, BBQ, other Latin American and maybe Korean. Steakhouse or burger place good. Pancake place. Not Thai, Chinese or Japanese unless they particularly want to. Bagels better here.

What's funny about the coffee comments is that both of you are wrong. The best spots in DC and London are very comparable nowadays. Not at all the case 10-15 years ago, when London was on the leading edge of specialty coffee, and there were only a few good spots in DC. But since then really good places have become common in DC and every big US city. And I don't mean Starbucks or Peet's or Compass Coffee. Places like The Coffee Bar and Peregrine Espresso.

Good to hear good coffee places very common in D.C. Unfortunately not in Bethesda yet. Another poster said they are actually better in D.C. the thing is they can get great coffee in London so would suggest going to something different here. Love the idea of a crab place as you don’t find that in London.

Ceremony Coffee right at the Bethesda metro is very good.

And also Grace Street Coffee Roasters on Old Georgetown Road

I’ll have to try them. But I am Australian and we are a bit precious about our coffee so my standards are high. The Australian Olympic Committee has even sent three baristas to Paris to ensure its athletes get top notch flat whites. That might have given Titmus her edge.

[Anonymous]

Maryland blue crabs were a big hit with our friends from that part of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about a fun, good-old fashioned American diner?!

I recalled this posting on "X" from the spring--it now has over 12 million views.

"I have never been to America but it is a dream of mine to one day go and to go to a proper diner and have pancakes with that streaky bacon and syrup from one of those jugs and coffee that a waitress will refill from one of those coffee pots"

https://x.com/hansmollman/status/1790756284607660518?s=43&t=afdFR_yoXSjTWcT4mIP7iw

I took a German friend to Ted’s Bulletin (yeah I’m aware that Ted’s is not the most authentic diner experience!) and she was enthralled by it. Absolutely loved it. Instagrammed it and said it was her favorite restaurant of the trip. It was cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chick Fil-A at least once.

Take them on a Sunday and explain.

Oddly they would understand and not need to be told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chick Fil-A at least once.

Take them on a Sunday and explain.

Oddly they would understand and not need to be told.

Not to mention, Chick Fil-A isn’t open on Sunday so this was a stupid suggestion.

[Anonymous]

The coffee comments are funny! It’s really a matter of taste, as while I agree DC coffee has massively improved over the last few years, I much prefer the coffee in London which I find generally much smoother and less bitter. But if they are into coffee, definitely take them to the nice places

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everything here should be better. British food is known for being bland.

I was going to say this. Have been to the UK a million times. Can get a great roast meal at pubs, but food is generally bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about a fun, good-old fashioned American diner?!

I recalled this posting on "X" from the spring--it now has over 12 million views.

"I have never been to America but it is a dream of mine to one day go and to go to a proper diner and have pancakes with that streaky bacon and syrup from one of those jugs and coffee that a waitress will refill from one of those coffee pots"

https://x.com/hansmollman/status/1790756284607660518?s=43&t=afdFR_yoXSjTWcT4mIP7iw

I took a German friend to Ted’s Bulletin (yeah I’m aware that Ted’s is not the most authentic diner experience!) and she was enthralled by it. Absolutely loved it. Instagrammed it and said it was her favorite restaurant of the trip. It was cute.

Thanks for adding this! I found the string so entertaining with all the others chiming in either wanting that American Diner experience or putting pics from diners all over the country!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also focus on chefs more than cuisine. It might be nice to go to one of Jose Andres' restaurants, for example.

THIS!

Also, breakfast at a diner or basic restaurant.

Oyamel is great for haut cuisine Mexican.

China Chilcano also would be quite different than what they could find there.

Perhaps not Jaleo or Zatinya as they are so close to Spain and Greece, but if they don't travel there than perhaps those.

A really good local coffee shop would be better here.

Much better coffee shops in London so don't go out of your way. Of course they may want coffee anyway. Good quality American cheese is fine but I wouldn't get too excited.

Definitely Mexican, Southern, BBQ, other Latin American and maybe Korean. Steakhouse or burger place good. Pancake place. Not Thai, Chinese or Japanese unless they particularly want to. Bagels better here.

What's funny about the coffee comments is that both of you are wrong. The best spots in DC and London are very comparable nowadays. Not at all the case 10-15 years ago, when London was on the leading edge of specialty coffee, and there were only a few good spots in DC. But since then really good places have become common in DC and every big US city. And I don't mean Starbucks or Peet's or Compass Coffee. Places like The Coffee Bar and Peregrine Espresso.

Good to hear good coffee places very common in D.C. Unfortunately not in Bethesda yet. Another poster said they are actually better in D.C. the thing is they can get great coffee in London so would suggest going to something different here. Love the idea of a crab place as you don’t find that in London.

Ceremony Coffee right at the Bethesda metro is very good.

And also Grace Street Coffee Roasters on Old Georgetown Road

I’ll have to try them. But I am Australian and we are a bit precious about our coffee so my standards are high. The Australian Olympic Committee has even sent three baristas to Paris to ensure its athletes get top notch flat whites. That might have given Titmus her edge.

It's funny, if you go into The Coffee Bar at 17th/M, there are often a bunch of Aussies there because the embassy is a block away on Scott Circle (16th/Mass/M). Gets their seal of approval.

But yes the Aussie coffee standard is high- many of the groundbreaking London spots 15 years ago were started by Aussies. Took the US a bit of time to catch up, but we are there now. Even in Paris you can now get actually good coffee all over the place.

[Anonymous]

They definitely don’t have Maryland crabs in London. So that’ll be special.

US bbq is also different than London.

Tex/mex as well.

Not sure East Asian is better.

Even though they may also have Ethiopian, it’s special part of dc, so worth going there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chick Fil-A at least once.

Take them on a Sunday and explain.

Oddly they would understand and not need to be told.

Not to mention, Chick Fil-A isn’t open on Sunday so this was a stupid suggestion.

Weird. Sunday is the only day of the week I would consider going to Chick Fil-A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everything here should be better. British food is known for being bland.

I was going to say this. Have been to the UK a million times. Can get a great roast meal at pubs, but food is generally bad.

You either haven’t been in the last 10 years or you don’t know where to eat. If the latter and you are going again soon, happy to provide recommendations. Food in London is amazing.