jeffkahn  
Happy Valley, PA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 399
 | | 10-17-2007 12:23 AM |
| Heading to DC a week from this Friday and need a suggestion for a very nice dinner (we are leaving the baby at home and this is the first dinner we will have out in a very long time).
Any suggestions? Obviously, one consideration is where will I be able to get a reservation for a Friday night.
Thanks.... | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 10-17-2007 09:25 AM |
| Palena is my #1 vote, by far. Komi would be my #2 choice.
Other places to try also are Citronelle, Cashion's Eat Place, Taberna del Alderabo (sp?) Le Paradou, Tosca, Corduroy and arguably CityZen (TFL alum) and Restaurant Eve (though I think the last two are overrated for what you get). I have not been to Le Paradou or Taberna, but I know folks who have been to both and based on their experiences, I'd recommend them for sure. | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3535
| | 10-17-2007 05:12 PM |
| I'm sure I've pointed this out in one of my ol posts but here are my faves:
Sushi-ko (do omakeze "chef's selection" and drink Burgundy)
Palena
Komi
Corduroy (call about corkage - stricter policies)
Dino (great Italian wine list and a great owner in Dean Gold)
Haven't been to Taberna del Alabardero in a while - hopefully it is still very good. Actually writing this post made me realize how out of touch with the DC restaurant scene I have been this past year... there are supposedly a lot of great new places like Hook, Proof and others that I haven't had a chance to go to. Other stand-by classics include Obelisk and Vidalia. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 10-17-2007 05:53 PM |
| Obelisk is also probably a good call, but I have not been there in years. Whiner likes it. Hook and Proof are both thought of well, too. I like Blacksalt way out in western DC on MacArthur Blvd, but it is not 'special' enough for what I think you have in mind. But they do seafood very well there.
BTW, I think Corduroy's corkage policy is just a 3 bottle limit -- but call to be sure. | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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jeffkahn
Happy Valley, PA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 399
| | 10-17-2007 09:20 PM |
| Thanks for all the recs. Ended up making a reservation at Palena which worked out quite well because our hotel is right near the zoo.
They said corkage was $20 which seems very reasonable. How is their wine list?
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5168
| | 10-18-2007 09:48 AM |
| Posted By jaimetown on 10/17/2007 5:12 PM
Corduroy (call about corkage - stricter policies)
By this do you mean stricter than they used to be, or stricter than the other places you listed? I took a bottle there once and was charged $20. No questions. No problems. Has that changed?
| | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3535
| | 10-18-2007 10:00 AM |
| | Jimmy I meant that they have a bottle limit. TJ is right I think - 3 bottle limit for your table. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 10-18-2007 10:05 AM |
| Posted By jeffkahn on 10/17/2007 9:20 PM
Thanks for all the recs. Ended up making a reservation at Palena which worked out quite well because our hotel is right near the zoo.
They said corkage was $20 which seems very reasonable. How is their wine list?
I do not think you'll be disappointed. The wine list? I actually have no idea. I haven't looked at their wine list in ages it seems. But their corkage policy is indeed quite reasonable. We always ask Kelly the GM to have a taste and she never does.
| | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3535
| | 10-18-2007 11:12 AM |
| | I think Palena's list has gotten a lot better over the years - heavy on French and American wines. Thoughtfully selected, but not a very big list. Price I think is about par for a restaurant like Palena's quality in the DC market. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 10-18-2007 09:55 PM |
| Posted By jeffkahn on 10/17/2007 9:20 PM
Thanks for all the recs. Ended up making a reservation at Palena which worked out quite well because our hotel is right near the zoo.
They said corkage was $20 which seems very reasonable. How is their wine list?
Tell you what. I'll go have dinner there tomorrow and check out the list for you. Take one for the team I will.
| | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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AlexRed
Northern VA
Wine Thief
Posts: 2658
| | 10-19-2007 11:51 AM |
| Proof was pretty tasty when we went a few months ago. the wine list there is stocked with the big cali names, harlan, Screaming eagle, bunch of Alban, Aubert pinots etc. the don't desciminate though and have all the french names that would go along with those high price cali ones.
they have great salumi and cheese plates if i recall correctly. the food was just good, but they had only been open a few weeks. we took a etude heirloom pinot and a 03 peay syrah. it was definitely a "cool people" scene. a much more showy vibe than i normally find myself in. A college classmate of mine designed the space. the bathrooms are a sight to see. i felt like i was in that black space ship in HGTTG.
I think you will be happy with palena. i haven't been in a while. done a bday dinner there before. we had a nice DC cru dinner a year or so ago. just dinwiddie, dave, james and myself.
Corduroy should be fine for a couple bringing wine, even a foursome. they capped BYOBs at 3 because they had a problem with a large group a while back. it wasn't us! but their wine list is nice enough that you don't mind purchasing some off the list if you need more than 3 bottles. do they still have that nice HSS deal? | | | |
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jeffkahn
Happy Valley, PA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 399
| | 10-19-2007 09:48 PM |
| I would love to hear what you think about the place with your most recent visit.
I am especially interested in what wines go best with their menu? I am basically loaded with California PNs, cabs and syrahs and German rieslings. Not much else in the old world area.
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 10-19-2007 09:53 PM |
| JK--
We just got back from Palena -- here's a teaser for you (but the menu changes daily) --
Go to the back room. Now.
I just got back and am basking in the bliss that can only be PUFF -- Palena Ultimate Food Fulfillment.
Smoked and grilled octopus, in the top three octopus course I have ever, ever had and arguably the best
Beet & lobster salad
salt cod (if you can call it that!) of the gods
lobster bisque with housemade chorizo that had me drooling like a happy and fat cat getting a belly rub in the sun
short ribs 'schnitzel' (or something like that) that was so bloody good
Bhuddist style duck leg (aren't they vegetarians?) with foie gras and dates and pomegranate and root veggie dice -- i have no idea how, but he got grill marks on the foie that was perfectly finished.
Italian plum napoleon - so good
concord grape ice cream with pitachio lemon tarts and other fine stuff
Pair that all with a 2003 Match Butterdragon Hill cab and a glass of fine Grüner veltliner and we were in food bliss.
Service was fine as always -- maybe we're lucky? Maybe we're regulars? I noticed that the service across the room was fine, too. Kelly was in the house and made sure we got our favorit seat as well. I had a look at the wine list and it's especially heavy on the Italians, but some US and French too. Well priced overall with a few outliers in each direction.
And I still want to steal the statue in the corner.
We typically bring CA PN, Cab or Syrah but sometimes some good Italian, too. It's all good. Their wine list has expanded and is decently priced. | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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jeffkahn
Happy Valley, PA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 399
| | 10-22-2007 01:57 PM |
| Thanks again for all the advice and taking one for the team by going there. The menu looks great, we are looking forward to it.
I am thinking of bringing one cab and one PN. Any suggestions on which would go best with the food there from the following list is much appreciated:
Cab 2001 or 2003 Bressler, 2001 or 2002 Hourglass, 2003 or 2004 Foley Claret
PN 2004 KB RRV, SC or Kanzler, 2003 KB Kanzler, Cohn or Koplen , 2002 Kistler (Kistler or Hirsch Vineyard)
Also, what's the dress like there?
Finally, any advice on a wine shop in the area that has German rieslings? Will try to pick some up while we are in a place that actually sells decent wine...
Thanks!
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3535
| | 10-23-2007 11:27 AM |
| I would tend to pick wines that showcase more finesse (as Palena does that very well) - so Bressler over Foley, Kistler over Kosta Browne would be my picks.
I tend to wear a jacket when I dine there, but it is not required certainly.
Best German Riesling selection in the area IMO would be McArthur's (www.bassins.com) - not accessible via subway however. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 10-23-2007 11:54 AM |
| I think any of the wines would be good -- they'll decant, too, if you ask them to. I had the 2003 Bressler a few weeks ago and it was very nice.
Dress is nice casual on up. I went in a nice shirt, khaki's and nice shoes, but I've gone more casual than that too. People also dress up better than that too.
I can't help you on your Rieslings search in the general area, but you could try Circle Liquors or Chevy Chase Liquors that are both north of Palena by a mile or two also on Connecticut Avenue. Other worthy shops are Schneider's, MacArthur Beverages and Calvert Woodley (lots more in northern Virginia, too). | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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jeffkahn
Happy Valley, PA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 399
| | 11-04-2007 08:17 AM |
| We ended up having a great dinner at Palena. We found that either the dishes were fantastic or average, there didn't seem to be any in between. Luckily, only one or two dishes of about 18 dishes were average, the rest were great. Thanks again for the suggestions.
We brought a bottle of Kistler PN and Bressler cab. Both were singing, perfect compliments to the meal. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 11-05-2007 08:19 AM |
| | JK- Glad you had a good time at Palena. Which dishes did you find average? Just curious? I have found sometimes (rarely) that I think that, until I start placing the food in to my mouth in conjunction with other food on the plate and then the dish opens my eyes. | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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jeffkahn
Happy Valley, PA
Grape Sorter
Posts: 399
| | 11-05-2007 01:54 PM |
| The two dishes that were misses in our opinions (and we are not food experts so others may disagree) were the soup (a bisque or something with sausage) which we thought was too salty and the Merluzzo, a fish dish.
The hits (and they were fantastic) were the beets, the gnocchi, the shortribs, the salt cod, and the lamb. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts: 3535
| | 11-05-2007 03:11 PM |
| | I need to go to Palena soon... glad you had a great experience! | | | |
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