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
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tattoo Me! Rose Tattoo Cafe
Rose Tattoo Cafe
A little off my usual Philadelphia eatery path, I was glad when our group of eight chose the Rose Tattoo Cafe for our after meeting dinner.
Located near the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Free Library of Philadelphia, the restaurant is located in what appears to be an interesting little (perhaps transitional) neighborhood.
Our group was given a long table in a room just off the bar. Seats were comfortable (though those sitting on the bench along the wall said that they felt they were being propelled a little too much towards their food by the angle of the seat).
So, what might the menu be at the Rose Tattoo? You might think Italian (linking into the Tennessee Williams' play of the same name), but no, seemed pretty much a basic American menu, heavy on the seafood with a good selection of pasta and meats.
We had appetizer for the table of Lobster Quesadilla I added a mushroom bisque to my startFor entrees, those around the table chose the fillet mignon, a nice looking salmon, and a generous portion of delicious looking pan-seared scallops. I was having a hard time deciding between the pork chop (mostly because of the side of mashed yams and fried spinach) and the jambalaya. I went with the jambalaya.
An excellent mix of seafood (shrimp, mussels, clams), chicken, ham, and andouille sausage is a spicy sauce served over rice. Topping it off was a broiled chili that made for an excellent addition.
The sauce was perfectly spicy and had just enough zip to keep the rice interesting. The serving of mussels was generous, but there were only two clams. That said, it was an overall generous portion!
I'm not usually a dessert eater, but the table was ordering, so I went with the banana bread pudding (with caramel swirls); others got the Raspberry Sorbet with chocolate mousse pyramid, and the Crème Brûlée. The bread pudding was tasty, but as is often the case, it was heavy and a too big serving.
Service was excellent (thank you Stephanie!) with good suggestions and food pairings.
Highly recommended.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ****
Date: 20 April 2009
Address: 19th and Callowhill St. Philadelphia, PA 19130
Website: http://www.rosetattoocafe.com/
A little off my usual Philadelphia eatery path, I was glad when our group of eight chose the Rose Tattoo Cafe for our after meeting dinner.
Located near the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Free Library of Philadelphia, the restaurant is located in what appears to be an interesting little (perhaps transitional) neighborhood.
Our group was given a long table in a room just off the bar. Seats were comfortable (though those sitting on the bench along the wall said that they felt they were being propelled a little too much towards their food by the angle of the seat).
So, what might the menu be at the Rose Tattoo? You might think Italian (linking into the Tennessee Williams' play of the same name), but no, seemed pretty much a basic American menu, heavy on the seafood with a good selection of pasta and meats.
We had appetizer for the table of Lobster Quesadilla I added a mushroom bisque to my startFor entrees, those around the table chose the fillet mignon, a nice looking salmon, and a generous portion of delicious looking pan-seared scallops. I was having a hard time deciding between the pork chop (mostly because of the side of mashed yams and fried spinach) and the jambalaya. I went with the jambalaya.
An excellent mix of seafood (shrimp, mussels, clams), chicken, ham, and andouille sausage is a spicy sauce served over rice. Topping it off was a broiled chili that made for an excellent addition.
The sauce was perfectly spicy and had just enough zip to keep the rice interesting. The serving of mussels was generous, but there were only two clams. That said, it was an overall generous portion!
I'm not usually a dessert eater, but the table was ordering, so I went with the banana bread pudding (with caramel swirls); others got the Raspberry Sorbet with chocolate mousse pyramid, and the Crème Brûlée. The bread pudding was tasty, but as is often the case, it was heavy and a too big serving.
Service was excellent (thank you Stephanie!) with good suggestions and food pairings.
Highly recommended.
Meal: Dinner
Rating: ****
Date: 20 April 2009
Address: 19th and Callowhill St. Philadelphia, PA 19130
Website: http://www.rosetattoocafe.com/
R.I.P.: Tom Sarris' Orleans House
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
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
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
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