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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What places have you tried that were not up to snuff?[/quote]

OP here - I am an avid diner, but off the top of my head:

Blue Duck - Very mediocre (used to be better), but always extremely overpriced.

Red Hen - Fine but simpleton. I've been three times (in my neighborhood) and the menu always lacks a sense of adventure.

Rasika - here I will make a NYC comparison. In NYC I would go to Tabla (now closed) which made Rasika seem like a mall franchise.

Le Diplomate - I consider this the number 1 "hype" offender. These dishes wouldn't make it past the hostess stand at Balthazar (which Le Dip is trying way too hard to be).

Founding Farmers - Organic Applebee's.

Del Campo - mediocre from top to bottom.

My takeaways are this:

- Mid and high-end DC establishments are offensively overpriced. Is there a reason for this? 
- many big production restaurants where food is second to ambience.
- DC is big on commoditization, as soon as a restaurant is popular, the immediate reaction is to build another. (Why? this does not happen anywhere else)[/quote]

PP, you're listing all the sceney restaurants, with the exception of Red Hen, which I think is really good.  Who cares if it's simpleton food?

You won't find amazing food at sceney restaurants, especially for the price.

I disagree with you about Le Dip though - I think the food is really good.  And the prices are Balthazar are crazy; and I don't think they're any better. I've been to France dozens of times and Le Dip reminds me of many neighborhood bistros.  The food is comfort food, so I don't think you should expect anything outrageous.

Le me give you some suggestions:

Indian: try Kadhai Boutique Indian in Bethesda.  I'm sure there are some good places in DC, but I've been hanging out in Bethesda a lot due to husband's family, and we often go there.  I think Rasika is good, but I don't think it's the best.

Blue Duck is really good, and I agree it's expensive - but what do you expect? Itt's a fancy restaurant in the most expensive part of DC.

If you want adventurous go to Rose's Luxury or even Compass Rose.  Compass Rose is a little restaurant doing amazing things on 14th st.

There's also the Dabney, which just opened.  If you're a meat eater, go to Partisan.  
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