Yaku in Arlington, R.I.P.

Yaku: R.I.P.

Yaku suffered from an odd location (an apartment building with very little walking traffic, and a strange name (is it Japanese? Is it Latin? Is it Fusion?).

I only had a chance to visit once before it closed in January 2010. Service was very good (contrary to some reviews) and the food was very mixed. The dumplings we had (pictured at bottom) were quite good - as were the other appetizers, but the main courses were lacking.




Restaurateur Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld, founder of the Latin Concepts group, still has a number of other locations in his stable, including the nearby Gua-Rapo.

Meal: Dinner
Rating: **
Date: 8 November 2010
Address: 1900 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Website: http://www.latinconcepts.com/

R.I.P.: Madhu Ban

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

R.I.P.: Madhu Ban

Madhu Ban was one of those places that I wanted to go to more often, but it was just a bit too far from home and in an area that I don't frequent that often when in search of dinner.

I did make it there a couple of times and each time the food was good, if not spectacular. I believe it was run by the same people (or at least shared staff) with the Indian restaurant in downtown Washington in the Old Post Office food court.

Not the fanciest, and too be honest, sometimes looking a little dirty, Madhu Ban is all locked up with fences around it, the block likely to be renovated into something new sometime soon.

Meal: Dinner
Rating: N/A
Date Closed: circa 2009 (?)
Address: 3217 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22201-4415
Website: N/A

Arlington Sandwich recommendations

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Arlington Sandwiches!

Getting a good sandwich is sometimes not as easy as it sounds. How many times are you somewhere when suddenly it hits you that all you really want is a good turkey sandwich with swiss on sourdough bread with a pickle on the side ?

You don't want Potbellies, or Subway, or Au Bon Pain. You don't want to wander into an anoymous food court and try and find a good deli sandwich. What do you do???

Well, if you find yourself in Arlington, Virginia, here are three suggestions; two are in the northern part of the county along the Wilson Boulevard corridor, and the third is in south Arlington, in the Village of Shirlington.

Earl's
Earl's resides in an unassuming storefront that's seen a couple of different sandwich places over the years. I really hope that Earl's is here to stay, however!

There's not much by way of seating, so it's best to go on the off hours or be prepared to carry out.

What makes Earl's great? Fresh roasted meat. You won't get something out of plastic or shipped in from somewhere. Earl's fresh roasts their turkey, beef, and pork daily. And it pays off in the taste of the sandwiches. Try one of their signature sandwiches, or make up your own. On this visit, I had the Turkey Cranberry (Freshly roasted turkey breast served on a toasted honey wheat bread cranberry mayonnaise and lettuce). Nothing like the taste of fresh turkey (unless its pork or beef!).

Earl's also serves soups and salads. A real winner!

Euro Market / Cafe
The Euro Market / Cafe is just what it says, a market and a cafe. In the same location now for a number of years, the always friendly staff hails from Mongolia. Offering a nice selection of sandwiches and other choices, Euro Market / Cafe is known around our house as the "Jelly bean store" for it's amazing selection of gummy candies!

If you want to take advantage of the "market" portion of the establishment, you can get a variety of imported goods as well as a nice selection of wines.

Try the chicken salad sandwich!

Seating inside is basic but comfortable and there are also a few outdoor seats. And free wifi! An added bonus, it's one of the few places open on Christmas and Thanksgiving if you need to escape the house.

Best Buns
Part of the "Great American Restaurants" group, Best Buns is adjacent to The Carlyle.Primarily a bakery, with a fabulous selection of tasty treats. Best Buns also offers up some nice sandwiches made on their baked in-house breads.

On this visit, I was feeling in the mood for something spicy and went with the salami and cheese on a long roll. A goodly amount of meat and a tasty bread. What more could you want.

Come for the buns, stay for the sandwich.


Earl's
Meal: Lunch
Rating: *****
Date: 20 June 2009
Address: 2605 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3817
Website: http://www.earlsinarlington.com

Euro Market / Cafe
Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 31 May 2009
Address: 2201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201-3323
Website: http://www.eurocafemarket.com

Best Buns
Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 13 September 2009
Address: 4010 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA 22206
Website: http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com

Super Peruvian Chicken: Super Pollo!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Super Chicken!

All over Arlington, Virginia - and I'm sure around the
greaater Northern Virginia, and perhaps elsewhere in the country - have popped up Peruvian rotisserie chicken spots.

Just in my general neighborhood is El Pollo Rico, Pio Pio, and many more.

I'm going to focus here on Super Pollo. This is the second location (so they must be doing something right!). Sitting right next to a McDonald's, it's so sad to watch people going to Mickey D's and probably getting some tepid/flacid McNuggets when they could getting some prime, juicy, cilantro rotisserie fresh chicken ... ah well, their loss!

The basic idea here is small to medium chickens, slathered in cilantro and then spit roasted! You know you're near one of these spots by the mouth watering smell of roasted chicken pouring out of the smokestacks! Generally speaking, the chicken at all of these spots is all nicely done; served as a half, quarter or a whole, you then get to choose from a variety of sides. Beans, rice, plantains, yucca fries, spinach, corn on the cob, etc.

This location of Super Pollo has a nice large seating area and is kept nice and clean. Be aware, this isn't fine dining, just good eating. You get styro plates and plastic forks (but you'll be eating the chicken with your hands!). On this visit, we got the corn on the cob and spinach with potatoes side dishes. The corn was alirhg (probably sitting too long in

the steam tray), but the spinach and potatoes were fabulous (sorta like an Indian saag, but not as spicy). If you're in the mood for some great rotisserie, stop by. And remember, you can also get take away.


P.S. for you non-chicken lovers, there are other things on the menu, flank steak, burgers, etc. But, uh, why bother!

Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 18 April 2009
Address: 5100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203 (another location at 607 N. Randolph St., Arlington)
Website: N/A

R.I.P.: Tom Sarris' Orleans House

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

R.I.P.

Tom Sarris' Orleans House was a landmark in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia for 40-50+ year will be missed more in theory than in actual dining experience.

I only went there a couple of times, once with some friends, another for a birthday lunch for a colleague, maybe another time or two. The Orleans House closed in January 2008 to make way for a high rise development on the location. I only went there a couple of times, but somehow knowing it was there was comforting!

Home to a giant salad bar and slabs of prime rib, it was the perfect place for college grads to go with the parents for a "real" restaurant dinner (well, for me at least, this was in the less trendy 80s!).

With ironwork, balconies, and lots of greenery, it gave diners an idea of what Tennessee Williams' New Orleans might look like (if it had a steamboat shaped salad bar that is!).

After it closed in January, the teardown was quick. By May 2009, the exterior was nearly stripped and the "Old South" look was starting to take on a post bellum look!

How was the food? I can't really remember. I recall the prime rib seemed pretty good and that giant salad bar brought back memories of salad bars from my long ago childhood days.

So, so long Orleans House, we'll miss you, as will the busses of tourists and stretch limos of prom kids. And one mystery will remain? Who was Tom Sarris???

Meal: Lunch/Dinner
Rating: N/A
Date Closed: 17 January 2008
Address: 1213 Wilson Blvd., Rosslyn, VA 22209
Website: N/A

French Dippin' in Metro DC

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Rhodeside Grill and Elephant & Castle

Yes, even more than you wanted to know about French Dips. After my marvelous dippin' trip in Minneapolis, when an out of town colleague suggested lunch at Elephant & Castle, I already knew that I was going to have the French Dip (aka Beef Dip) which I'd had there once before on an earlier visit.

To keep the Dip theme, I'm adding another local Washington area Dip review, from Arlington-based, Rhodeside Grill.

For those of you who missed the previous post, here are some of my criteria for a goood

What makes a good French Dip? 1) A nice, thick, chewy roll that can soak up the au jus; 2) thin-sliced, extra lean beef, tender and well done; 3) a deeply flavorful au jus, accented in some way (pepper, garlic) that compliments the beef flavor; 4) a nice side (pickle, slaw, fries).

Dip One: Rhodeside Grill
I'm starting this post with my dip experience at Rhodeside Grill. Located near my house, Rhodeside Grill is a fairly regular dining spot. For the past few visits there, I've been sticking with their French Dip sandwich.

Rhodeside has been in this same location on Wilson Blvd. for a number of years now (replacing a Chinese restaurant as I recall). Among the highlights of the decor are some lovely murals of local scenes in Arlington by noted artist Thomas Mullaney. There's also a vibrant bar scene and a few outdoor seats for when weather permits.

One slight bad memory of the Rhodeside Grill was from 2007 when I tripped over the handicap ramp on the way to the restroom and sprained my ankle (I had to be taken out by ambulance! Quite exciting!).

Overall the food is pretty good. The French Dip is nice (pictured above), meat sliced just right, good roll, tasty dip, and served with some nice slaw on the side. A nice, servicable dip!

Rhodeside Grill
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ***
Date: 18 September 2008
Address: 1836 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22201
Website: http://rhodesidegrill.homestead.com/

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Dip Two: Elephant & Castle
Well, how to put it? I know, let's start with the place and then get to the Dip.

Elephant & Castle is a chain (started in Toronto) of faux British pubs. Those of you familiar with a British pub will realize soon after stepping inside, the faux part.

Located in what had been a TGI Friday's for many years, the Washington Elephant & Castle is located in a prominent spot on Pennsylvannia Ave. and popular for both lunch and dinner with local office workers as well as tourists. In addition to a pretty large dinning area, there is a large bar, popular with the after-work crowd.

On this lunch occaison, the restaurant was pretty full, both indoors and on the outside area. Our group of five was seated after a brief wait (though it took a long time for the host to actually appear).

Service was excellent with a bottomless glass of ice tea regularly refilled.

But what about the Dip? Well, sad to say, it was not very good. The problems? The beef was cut much too thick and was a bit gristly and fatty. The dip itself was bland to just salty liquid. I selected the side-salad option (over fries - no slaw option) which was fine. On the plus side, accompanied by a nice large pickle.

So, am I missing some culinary distinction between the "French" and "Beef" dip? Does "Beef" mean thick cut beef and more fat? If so, viva la France!

Elephant & Castle
Meal: Lunch
Rating: *
Date: 16 April 2009
Address: 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Website: http://www.elephantcastle.com/

Memphis BBQ Cubed!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Memphis BBQ Cubed!

When I went out to dinner the other night, little did I know that the next few days would turn into a bar-b-que festival. And not just any bar-b-que, but specifically, Memphis bar-b-que.

The BBQ festival started at Red, Hot & Blue (pictured at right), a local Arlington spot (with a few other locations) that was originally created by a former governor of Tennesee and George H.W. Bush's hatchetman, Lee Atwater. Say what you want about Lee (and many did!) he knew a bit about blues and BBQ! Since the it's start 20 odd years ago, it's now turned into a nationwide chain.

A few days later, I found myself on the way to Minneapolis. Through a series of events I won't go into, I ended up in Memphis instead (the plane turned left at the Mississipi instead of right).

So, I ended up with a six hour layover at the Memphis International Airport. Only two things to do with that much time on your hands at MEM, eat BBQ and go to Graceland.

So I did.

Started off with a pulled pork sandwich at Interstate Bar-B-Que, took a quick taxi ride to Graceland to pay my respects to Elvis, and then back to MEM to catch a BBQ dinner at Corky's Ribs & Bar-B-Que.

So, how does Memphis International Airport BBQ compare to Arlington restaurant style? See below!

Red, Hot & Blue: Memphis Pit Bar-B-Que
Meal: Pulled chicken BBQ platter with beans, slaw, and cornbread. Salad, Sierra Nevada seasonal. RH&B is a local place with a nice comfy feel. The service is always friendly and helpful. This night, I was in the mood for chicken, so I went with the pulled chicken dinner. The BBQ comes with a dash or so of the RH&B sauce, but at your table, you get a choice of the regular, a hot and tangy sauce, and a mustard/vinegar option. I love to mix and match, starting with a milder sauce and then working up to the mouth burning hot. The sides are good. The beans are pretty basic, but the slaw is just like I love it, wet and sweet.

Red, Hot & Blue
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ****
Date: 4 April 2009
Address: 1600 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209
Website: http://www.redhotandblue.com/

Interstate Bar-B-Que (Memphis International Airport)
Meal: Pulled pork sandwich with slaw. A very nice and very messy sandwich. Pork was served on a nice squishy roll with the sauce and slaw on the side. I let it sit for a bit wrapped in the paper and foil to get even squishier. Got nice and messy eating it and then picking up the dropped pieces with a fork! Pork done just right with just enough crispy bits to add to the texture. Excellent!

Interstate Bar-B-Que
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *** (mostly because it's the airport version)
Date: 4 April 2009
Address: Memphis International Airport
Website: http://www.interstatebarbecue.com/

Corky's Ribs & Bar-B-Que
Meal: Pulled pork dinner platter with beans, slaw, roll and Sam Adams seasonal beer. Since it was diner time, thought I would go for the platter this time. Is pulled pork twice in a day decadent or am I just getting used to the South? Corky's pork dinner was a nice big serving for around $10. The pork, like at Interstate, was well done and just a bit smoky. It came with a sauce that was not too hot and just about right. At the table, you only had a choice of more of the same. The slaw was wet and sweet and quite good. The beans, however, were excellent. Just a little thicker and with a touch more brown sugar they topped off the platter!

Corky's Ribs & Bar-B-Que
Meal: Dinner
Rating: *** (again, because it was the airport location)
Date: 4 April 2009
Address: Memphis International Airport
Website: http://www.corkysbbq.com/


So, what's the final vote? Well, they were all pretty darn good. Hard to compare a nice little old sit down BBQ place with one in a food court at an airport (Interstate) or even a nice sitdown in an airport (Corky's). I will say, however, that the two Memphis airport spots were very tasty and made me want to explore some real Memphis BBQ places (including those of Corky's and Interstate)!

More BBQ photos here.

Delhi Delicious: Delhi Dhaba

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Delhi Dhaba

Arlington, Virginia, between Courthouse and Virginia Square (sorry for the local Metro references) has three Indian restaurants. I'm going to focus on my favorite of the three: Delhi Dhaba (the other two are The Delhi Club and Tandoori Nights - both are quite good, but in much different ways! Stay tuned for reviews of them in upcoming posts).

A Dhaba, in India and Pakistan, is a the South Asian equivilant of a truck stop or roadside diner. Located on Wilson Blvd., Delhi Dhaba isn't quite a truck stop - not nearly enough parking - but does have a friendly charm about it.

First off, there's no wait service. You order directly from in front of the steam table and take the food to the dining area (in warmer weather, there's an outdoor area). The dining area features Bollywood movies on two screens at no extra cost!

On weekends, the steam table becomes a buffet where you can get all you can eat for a very reasonable price.

I've eaten at the Dhaba for lunch, dinner, buffet lunch, carry out and delivery. Selecting from a wide variety of meat (chicken, lamb, goat) and vegetarian dishes, I've never been disappointed.

One of the best, and most authentic Indian experiences in the Washington area.

(Note: there are also two other locations in Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC).

Meal: Lunch Buffet / Dinner / Carry out
Rating: **** of 5
Date: Regular
Address: 2424 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Website: http://www.delhidhaba.com/

Kanpai, more than just sushi!

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Kanpai

Rosslyn, in Arlington, Virginia, is not the liveliest spot on the weekend. There are a few places that draw a crowd (Cafe Asia), but on the weekends it can be a bit quiet. Right near each other on Wilson Blvd. are two the best: Kanpai and Santa Fe Cafe.

Kanpai is a compact Japanese restaurant with a nice little sushi bar and an excellent selection of teriyaki, tempura, udon, and more.

Most entrees are served with a side salad (iceberg lettuce with a choice of sesame or ginger dressing), miso soup, and rise. I like the various katsu options (beef, chicken, pork, deep fried and covered with breadcrumbs served with katsu sauce!). The wide selection of appetizers make for a great start or options for sharing with a group.

The wine list is pleasantly varied and there is a wide selection of Japanese beers.

Dish: Beef Katsu
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 31 May 2008
Address: 1401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209‎
Website: http://www.kanpai-sushi.com/

Il Radicchio (Arlington)

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Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Il Radicchio

Many of the reviews of Il Radicchio are a little hard on them. It's a pretty tiny restaurant and service can sometimes be slow. Still, I've never had a bad meal here (for my favorite, see below).

I'm generally not a big fan of Italian restaurants since I cook Italian at home and a restaurant has to really do a good job to impress me. Il Radicchio fits that bill!

In addition to the Salsiccia e peppornatto, the other hits on the menu are the spaghetti and pizza. Spaghetti is served in a huge bowl (all you can eat) with a choice of various tomato and cream sauces (NOT all you can eat!). The pizzas are excellent, hand-thrown, thin crusts baked in a wood-fire oven. There are a number of "set" versions or you can build your own.

The restaurant can get a little noisy when full, and the sidewalk seating isn't very picturesque (parking lot and condos!); the interior has lovely trompe d'oeil paintings on the walls and horseshoes embedded in the floor!

There's a good wine selection, but the house chianti always seems to go well with anything!

Dish: Salsiccia e pepperonatta, roasted Italian pork sausages with roasted peppers and tomato sauce
Meal: dinner
Rating: **** of 5
Date: 6 May 2008 (regular dining spot)
Address: 1801 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Website: N/A