DCUM foodies, what are the most overrated and underrated restaurants in the DMV?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything underrated or lesser known on the Hill/H St/Navy Yard/Downtown? Looking for some new delivery options ...

Cane's family meal takeout was well done & good value, and we added a couple of their other dishes to it, which were also delicious. Copycat Co's takeout is also delicious & good value; cocktails aren't great value per se, but are exceptionally well done/they will make something to suit any preferences/requests. I'm sure you've had Toki, but they package it really well for takeout (slightly undercook the ramen, package the broth separately for reheating), so that it's virtually the same as eating in. Also, a bit further afield (but they do deliver), Panda Express on NY Ave is really great, classic Chinese takeout if you've never done it. (The restaurant was originally opened to serve the Chinese workers staying in the long-term residence motel to build the Chinese Embassy.) All the takeout we've had from The Roost has been good; the new pizza place is great NY style pizza which the Hill was sorely lacking.

Albi's takeout is superb, but it is expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most overrated in my view - Founding Farmers.

+1 FF is not good

They are bad.

Agree about eating in, but FF was clutch when it opened for groceries early in the pandemic. We got eggs and flour there when no one else had it! I still won’t go back to dine in, but I’ve got a warm spot in my heart for FF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i can't tell you how emotional i am reading that other ppl think rose's luxury is overrated. i literally thought i was the only one. two bad experiences, a year or so apart, both times i reread reviews online because i just couldn't believe it was the same place and that NO ONE else had had a mediocre or negative experience!

Most uber-hyped restaurants are overrated to some extent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ris is very underrated.

Ugh, totally overrated, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most overrated in my view - Founding Farmers.

+1 FF is not good

They are bad.

Agree about eating in, but FF was clutch when it opened for groceries early in the pandemic. We got eggs and flour there when no one else had it! I still won’t go back to dine in, but I’ve got a warm spot in my heart for FF.

Clutch?

[Anonymous]

I thought I'd bring this back for a 2023 refresh. I'm looking at Rose's Luxury, Bronze, Nina May, Imperfecto, Maiz64, L'Ardente and Moon Rabbit for a very special dinner. Anyone been to one of these recently?

[Anonymous]

L'Ardente and Moon Rabbit were both exceptional recently

[Anonymous]

The overall message that I'm getting here is that most of the good DC restaurants are inconsistent. I agree. Places like Buck's, Ris, Peter Chang, Le Dip-- inconsistent. Sometimes a very good meal, other times mediocre. Part of the problem, too, is I've noticed that the staff isn't well trained. I was told at Ris, for example, that my pasta was house made, but it clearly came out of a box. (Sfoglina does consistently make its own pasta, but the sauces are inconsistent.)

[Anonymous]

Moon Rabbit was good a week ago but I liked their previous menu better. This menu was a bit more traditional Vietnamese vs fusion.

[Anonymous]

The Dabney is completely overrated. And their whole thing that the can not accommodate ANY dietary restrictions is obnoxious. It’s 2023 and you can not make one thing without meat? Fish without ham? Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:komi is the only appropriately hyped place I have ever eaten at in dc.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Le Diplomat - totally overrated. Went there twice. First time my steak was chewy (DH makes better on the grill). Second time my fish was over salted. Underrated Chiangmai, Ehsaan and Fahrenheit in McleAn.

OMG! Are you me? I agree 100% but shhhh don’t tell everyone about the McLean restaurants!

[Anonymous]

Totally surprised at all the love for bullfrog bagels. They rank at the bottom for me, only above Einstein bagels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Le Diplomat - totally overrated. Went there twice. First time my steak was chewy (DH makes better on the grill). Second time my fish was over salted. Underrated Chiangmai, Ehsaan and Fahrenheit in McleAn.

OMG! Are you me? I agree 100% but shhhh don’t tell everyone about the McLean restaurants!

I hated Le Diplomate when I went. And I thought the service was horrendous.

[Anonymous]

Stanford Grill, nice ambiance but the food is average at best. Everything is soooo salty.