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
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Restaurant: R.I.P.
Because the lifespan of many restaurants can be measured in weeks, not years, I thought I needed to make some space here for those places that have moved on to a different level of existence.
Some are missed more than others, so I hope to capture here some of the places that I've gone to, but can't go back to...
Please comment with any places you might miss!
Some are missed more than others, so I hope to capture here some of the places that I've gone to, but can't go back to...
Please comment with any places you might miss!
Monday, April 20, 2009
French Dippin' in Metro DC
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/
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/
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/
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/
Monday, April 13, 2009
Galloping Gourmet: Minneapolis
I had just a few days to explore Minneapolis and hoped to get a nice India meal or two and also hit a few local spots that had either received good reviews or been recommended by friends. I also planned to add a few notches to my Starbucks list.
I'm pretty sure I didn't even scratch the surface of fine dining in Minneapolis. I know I passed by a couple of places that might just call for a return visit.
But for now, here's my culinary tour of Minneapolis:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Cocktails
I'm pretty sure I didn't even scratch the surface of fine dining in Minneapolis. I know I passed by a couple of places that might just call for a return visit.
But for now, here's my culinary tour of Minneapolis:
Breakfast
- Starbucks. I had carefully mapped out a few local Starbucks before coming, so I was quite surprised to not find many of them! Where did they go? Were they downsized?
Now, in case you didn't know, Minneapolis can get chilly (wind chill of 19 F on April 6, 2009 in the morning), so there are lots of interior shopping and eating areas connected by sky bridges. So, unless you knew where to enter the otherwise non-descript building (e.g. IDS Center) you didn't know the Starbucks was there!
Lunch
Dinner
Cocktails
- Living Room Lounge (W Hotel)
- Prohibition (W Hotel)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Northwest, no Delta, Spicy Cookie
I flew on Northwest for the first time the other day and all the flight crews on the various flights were excited about the new line of products they had as staff of "Northwest, Part of the New Delta".
On one flight, it was a new brand of bourbon they had ... on my last leg, from Minneapolis to Washington, it was the spicy cookie from Biscoff with the Delta name and logo on it.
Not a bad cookie if I may say so!
Meal: Snack
Rating: Not Rated
Date: 7 April 2009
Address: Somewhere in the sky
Website: http://www.delta.com
On one flight, it was a new brand of bourbon they had ... on my last leg, from Minneapolis to Washington, it was the spicy cookie from Biscoff with the Delta name and logo on it.
Not a bad cookie if I may say so!
Meal: Snack
Rating: Not Rated
Date: 7 April 2009
Address: Somewhere in the sky
Website: http://www.delta.com
Saturday, April 11, 2009
French Dippin' in the City of Lakes
Hell's Kitchen and Ike's Food & Cocktails
Well, after not quite a whole day in Memphis and two trips down the road of BBQ, I was pretty certain that I would not be having the same in Minneapolis. At the same time, I know that I was expecting a double header of French Dippin' for a pair of lunches.
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).
What is not needed: fried onions, cheese of any sort.
Both restaurants listed had excellent Dips, each with it's own perfections. Likewise, each restaurant had it's own special ambiance that will suit different people at different times.
Lunch One: Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen is the dreamchild of local Minneapolis chefs and restaurateurs Steve Meyer and Mitch Omer. It was hard to tell whether the blisteringly hip attitude was calculated or natural, but in either case, it worked.
Located "down below" (ok, the attitude starts right there!) in a basement room, the first thing you notice is the Ralph Steadman art everywhere (the owners, it turns out are big fan of Steadman). Next, you'll notice that all the host staff have near-full body colorful tattoos (don't know how you make that an employment prerequisite, but seemed more than just a coincidence!), and that the wait staff are all wearing pajamas.
It was crowded when I arrived and there were no seats and I didn't have reservations. But, one of the benefits of being a "single top" (solo diner) - at least in this case - was that they could squeeze me in at a little side table near the bar usually reserved for wait staff. It was a comfortable seat and I appreciated the host staff taking the time to work it out for me!
Looking over the menu, I was torn between the Bison Burger (from a Wisconsin Bison ranch) and the French Dip. Asking my server for a recommendation, I got an unhesitating, "French Dip" and went for it (thanks Jenny!), accompanied by a Summit EPA.
Served on a nice chewy roll, the Dip was a generous serving of very lean and tender beef. The dippin' au jus itself was a well-seasoned peppery concocotion that went well with the sandwich. The Dip came with a side of dry slaw with a little bite. I'm normally a fan of wetter, sweeter slaw, but in this case, it worked well with the Dip.
High scores for the service staff (who were all helpful, friendly, and knowledgable), ambiance (even if seem just a little tooo calculated), a broad, but not overdone menu, and an excellent French Dip!
One other location, in Duluth, which the owners claim is "the second, and last" Hell's Kitchen.
Hell's Kitchen
Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 5 April 2009
Address: 80 S 9th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402
Website: http://www.hellskitcheninc.com/
Lunch Two: Ike's Food & Cocktails
From the neon sign outside, to the dark wood interior, Ike's say's "two martini lunch." I still wonder how anyone could actually have a two martini lunch and go back to work and from experience, it seems as though most of the old traditional "businessman's lunch spots" have updated their overall attitudes.
Ike's cam recommended by a colleague in Boston, but I wasn't certain what I would be getting. Walking through the door, I was immediately greeted by the cheerful host staff and taken to my seat. My fellow diners appeared to be an interesting cross-section of the Minneapolis business community. No more "Man in the Gray Flannel Suit", but a mix of younger, older, male, female, you name it!
A quick glance at the menu and I zeroed in on the French Dip!
The friendly and helpful wait staff soon brought me a fabulous looking Dip. Chewy roll piled high with thin slided, tender beef, a dish of very wet and sweet slaw, a giant pickle, a side of thin-cut fries, and a cup of au jus with chunks of roasted garlic!
Simply put, one of the best Dips I've had!
Ike's Food & Cocktails
Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 6 April 2009
Address: 50 S Sixth St., Minneapolis, MN 55402
Website: N/A
Well, after not quite a whole day in Memphis and two trips down the road of BBQ, I was pretty certain that I would not be having the same in Minneapolis. At the same time, I know that I was expecting a double header of French Dippin' for a pair of lunches.
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).
What is not needed: fried onions, cheese of any sort.
Both restaurants listed had excellent Dips, each with it's own perfections. Likewise, each restaurant had it's own special ambiance that will suit different people at different times.
Lunch One: Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen is the dreamchild of local Minneapolis chefs and restaurateurs Steve Meyer and Mitch Omer. It was hard to tell whether the blisteringly hip attitude was calculated or natural, but in either case, it worked.
Located "down below" (ok, the attitude starts right there!) in a basement room, the first thing you notice is the Ralph Steadman art everywhere (the owners, it turns out are big fan of Steadman). Next, you'll notice that all the host staff have near-full body colorful tattoos (don't know how you make that an employment prerequisite, but seemed more than just a coincidence!), and that the wait staff are all wearing pajamas.
It was crowded when I arrived and there were no seats and I didn't have reservations. But, one of the benefits of being a "single top" (solo diner) - at least in this case - was that they could squeeze me in at a little side table near the bar usually reserved for wait staff. It was a comfortable seat and I appreciated the host staff taking the time to work it out for me!
Looking over the menu, I was torn between the Bison Burger (from a Wisconsin Bison ranch) and the French Dip. Asking my server for a recommendation, I got an unhesitating, "French Dip" and went for it (thanks Jenny!), accompanied by a Summit EPA.
Served on a nice chewy roll, the Dip was a generous serving of very lean and tender beef. The dippin' au jus itself was a well-seasoned peppery concocotion that went well with the sandwich. The Dip came with a side of dry slaw with a little bite. I'm normally a fan of wetter, sweeter slaw, but in this case, it worked well with the Dip.
High scores for the service staff (who were all helpful, friendly, and knowledgable), ambiance (even if seem just a little tooo calculated), a broad, but not overdone menu, and an excellent French Dip!
One other location, in Duluth, which the owners claim is "the second, and last" Hell's Kitchen.
Hell's Kitchen
Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 5 April 2009
Address: 80 S 9th St., Minneapolis, MN 55402
Website: http://www.hellskitcheninc.com/
Lunch Two: Ike's Food & Cocktails
From the neon sign outside, to the dark wood interior, Ike's say's "two martini lunch." I still wonder how anyone could actually have a two martini lunch and go back to work and from experience, it seems as though most of the old traditional "businessman's lunch spots" have updated their overall attitudes.
Ike's cam recommended by a colleague in Boston, but I wasn't certain what I would be getting. Walking through the door, I was immediately greeted by the cheerful host staff and taken to my seat. My fellow diners appeared to be an interesting cross-section of the Minneapolis business community. No more "Man in the Gray Flannel Suit", but a mix of younger, older, male, female, you name it!
A quick glance at the menu and I zeroed in on the French Dip!
The friendly and helpful wait staff soon brought me a fabulous looking Dip. Chewy roll piled high with thin slided, tender beef, a dish of very wet and sweet slaw, a giant pickle, a side of thin-cut fries, and a cup of au jus with chunks of roasted garlic!
Simply put, one of the best Dips I've had!
Ike's Food & Cocktails
Meal: Lunch
Rating: ****
Date: 6 April 2009
Address: 50 S Sixth St., Minneapolis, MN 55402
Website: N/A
Friday, April 10, 2009
Stylish Hotel Bars - W Style
The W Hotel chain, part of the Westin empire, does a marvelous job of creating painfully hip hotels and hotel lobbies. And usually, as part of that mix, they throw in a cool bar or two. I've now stayed at two W's (one in New Orleans and now one in Minneapolis).
The W Hotel in Minneapolis is located in the circa 1929 Foshay Tower. Full of an interesting history (Great Crash financiers, jail, financial insolvency - hmmm ... much like today!) the hotel conversion was well done.
Here's the Minneapolis report:
The Living Room Lounge
There isn't a traditional lobby at the W Hotel - The Foshy, in Minneapolis. Instead, there's a "Living Room". It sure doesn't look like my living room, but it could pass for one, somewhere. Well, if you're living room was also doing some sort of fashion shoot with a passel of models as it was on my visit.
Full of a variety of couches, chairs, a really interesting center of the room fireplace and a long black, chrome, glass bar, it was a nice place to drop in after a day in the April snow of Minneapolis.
The wait service was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. True, the drinks were a bit on the expensive side, but the Hendricks martini with a choice of muddled or on the side cucumbers, was among the best I've had.
On my arrival, on a Saturday night, the Living Room was packed with the trendiest of Minneapolis nightlife and loud pulsing music. Made for quite a party I'm sure!
Prohibition
Meanwhile, on the 27th floor of The Foshay, is a fabulous bar and lounge, Prohibition.
You hit the bar as soon as you step out of the elevators and are greeted with more of the W's friendly, helpful staff. It was a quiet weeknight at Prohibition, so I took my drink (Hendricks martini) for a stroll around the series of small rooms and looked out over the nighttime cityscape of Minneapolis.
Some colleagues arrived while I was on my tour and we took a small table by the window for a quiet conversation.
Though both the Living Room and Prohibition were quite nice, I think I would return to Prohibition. The view and small, interesting spaces made for a cozy atmosphere.
W Hotel - The Foshay
Meal: Drinks
Rating: *****
Date: 6 & 7 April 2009
Address: 821 Marquette Avenue · Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Website: http://www.WHotels.com/Minneapolis
The W Hotel in Minneapolis is located in the circa 1929 Foshay Tower. Full of an interesting history (Great Crash financiers, jail, financial insolvency - hmmm ... much like today!) the hotel conversion was well done.
Here's the Minneapolis report:
The Living Room Lounge
There isn't a traditional lobby at the W Hotel - The Foshy, in Minneapolis. Instead, there's a "Living Room". It sure doesn't look like my living room, but it could pass for one, somewhere. Well, if you're living room was also doing some sort of fashion shoot with a passel of models as it was on my visit.
Full of a variety of couches, chairs, a really interesting center of the room fireplace and a long black, chrome, glass bar, it was a nice place to drop in after a day in the April snow of Minneapolis.
The wait service was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. True, the drinks were a bit on the expensive side, but the Hendricks martini with a choice of muddled or on the side cucumbers, was among the best I've had.
On my arrival, on a Saturday night, the Living Room was packed with the trendiest of Minneapolis nightlife and loud pulsing music. Made for quite a party I'm sure!
Prohibition
Meanwhile, on the 27th floor of The Foshay, is a fabulous bar and lounge, Prohibition.
You hit the bar as soon as you step out of the elevators and are greeted with more of the W's friendly, helpful staff. It was a quiet weeknight at Prohibition, so I took my drink (Hendricks martini) for a stroll around the series of small rooms and looked out over the nighttime cityscape of Minneapolis.
Some colleagues arrived while I was on my tour and we took a small table by the window for a quiet conversation.
Though both the Living Room and Prohibition were quite nice, I think I would return to Prohibition. The view and small, interesting spaces made for a cozy atmosphere.
W Hotel - The Foshay
Meal: Drinks
Rating: *****
Date: 6 & 7 April 2009
Address: 821 Marquette Avenue · Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Website: http://www.WHotels.com/Minneapolis
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