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Desperate for a restaurant recommendation
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Anonymous
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I'm looking for a restaurant for dinner with friends on Saturday. Something different-- we're all so tired of mezze/tapas etc. We ate at Oyamel the last time these friends were in town, and that's about the right level of "different". In the District, metro accessible is ideal.
Thank you! |
Anonymous
| Central or Brassserie Beck |
Anonymous
| Rasika for Indian, BLT Steak has many options, or go to Two Amy's for pizza. |
Anonymous
| Rasika, definitely - Gallery Place metro. Cafe Atlantico can also be a little on the different side. Central is not different - it's basically comfort food - with a french bistro flair - although fantastic. I'd also recommend TenPenh - very good, and enough fusion to be different, but not TOO exotic... |
Anonymous
| how about going ethiopian or morrocan? or is that TOO "different"? it would be a shame to live in the dc area and never eat ethiopian at least once. |
Anonymous
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Monmartre near Eastern Market
Park Cafe in Lincoln Park (somewhat of a trek) Sushi Aoi on New York Avenue |
Anonymous
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Thanks all! Made a reservation at Montmartre. I've heard good things, but haven't tried it yet.
Do you consider ethnic restaurants to be "different"? You get the exact same dishes in every Moroccan restaurant, and every Thai restaurant. They're prepared with more or less skill, better or worse ingredients, but essentially the same everywhere. That's why I was hoping for something new, something a little innovative. I had a good meal at Post, in the Hotel Monaco, a few months ago. Their chef had some twists I hadn't seen before, such as garnishing the fois gras with a couple salt-crusted sage leaves. Really good. |
Anonymous
NP here. I don't equate ethnic with different, but many do. (my in laws, who season their food using salt, pepper and on a daring day possibly hot sauce, think Indian food and Chinese food are completely bizarre alien territory). For interesting and rather different Indian food, I suggest Indique (Cleveland Park)or Indique Heights (Friendship Heights); they have things like deconstructed samosas and dosas--familiar flavors with a little something different. Let us know how Montmartre ends up being. |
Anonymous
| op, i think you just weren't specific enough in your original post. you don't really equate "different" with "innovative" there. |
Anonymous
| Um, I don't equate different with innovative. If you had said "innovative" I would have given different recs - |
Anonymous
| And, for the record, I don't consider Montmartre all that "innovative" - it's standard French bistro. For innovative, I would try Cafe Atlantico's minibar - Jose Andres is widely regarded as one of the more innovative chefs in the area. Also, for innovative use of local cuisine, you could try Equinox or Founding Farmers. each of these is "innovative" in the way they use food, but the food isn't that different - i.e. crabs, potatoes, etc. |
Anonymous
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Ok, my bad. Yes, I meant something unique. Not the same biryani or pad thai that every indian or thai restaurant offers.
I read a review of Montmartre saying that they put some new spins on the old favorites. We'll see... and anyway, if it is run-of-the-mill French bistro food, I won't be disappointed! 
Would love to try Founding Farmers. It's been on my list for a while. But I left it too late, and couldn't get a reservation for this weekend. Soon, I hope! |
Anonymous
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Also try Osteria Bibiana
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Anonymous
PP here who recommended Equinox - I LOVE Bibiana - brand new restaurant, but really fabulous Italian food that I think, would be considered innovative - i.e. not like every other Italian restaurant out there.  I've been there three times now for lunch, and I have never been disappointed.
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Anonymous
| Cork is excellent and a twist on American/continental cuisine. Innovative wine flights, as well. |