New on the scene: bartaco

from the bartaco press kit

C – Let’s talk tacos. Or, more importantly, let’s talk about the drinks that could go with tacos.

Bartaco opened very recently in Reston Town Center, with little to no fanfare. I was trying to figure out what to have for lunch one rainy day, when I spotted it from under my umbrella. Open just one day, they had a clearly marked take-out option. So I gave it a shot. I ordered three tacos at $2.50 each (pork belly, sesame ribeye and duck) and the romaine wedge with lime dressing. I got it all the way back to my office and was initially shocked by the size of the tacos — they’re teeny tiny — but with the wedge it was actually a nicely rounded out lunch. Plus, the tacos were delish, particularly the pork belly.

from the bartaco press kit

I went back with a friend for drinks and dinner. We sat outside on the deck and, while at first it felt ok out, the temperature rapidly became unbearable. No fans outside, just so you know. So take that into consideration should you opt to eat out there.

The waitress was awesome. She explained the whole premise behind the place and answered all of our ridiculous questions with enthusiasm. Bartaco is all about small plates (hence the teeny tiny tacos), and to encourage you to try at your own pace, you’re given a firefly card that, when displayed, indicates a need for the waitstaff to come around.

We tried a good mix of items: chips and guacamole, different tacos, tamales and for desert, the spiced chocolate pudding. All terrific. But the best thing I had was the caipirinha. Made with the Brazilian liquor cachaca, and reminding me oh so much of Buzios, the caipirinha was the best I’ve had this side of the equator. And that’s enough to keep me coming back.

bartaco
12021 Town Square St, Reston, VA 20190
**Good news for the gluten-free! Most of what’s on the menu is GF unless otherwise indicated.

BGR – The Burger Joint

C – I’m kind of on a burger kick. So, when my friend told me the best burger she ever had was at BGR, I jumped at the chance to join her. This was on Sunday and I’m still full. The portions are HUGE. She got the kids meal and it could easily feed two adults. I got a regular burger with sweet potato fries (above) and while it was fantastic, it was just too much.

The burgers at BGR are, in fact, terrific. But with so much food, I was left thinking about The Counter, where I was able to get a burger bowl. Kind of a burger salad if you will. Still huge, but the sans bread option becomes appealing about halfway through. I ditched the bun at BGR early on, but I still felt a bit weighed down. So, my advice, come hungry, split a burger or just get the sliders.

Bonus: the decor… 80’s rock. Loved it.

BGR – The Burger Joint
Tyson’s, Arlington, Bethesda, Cabin John and a bunch of other places.

Crab season is here! Bethesda Crab House

C – Mmmmmm. Crabs. It’s that’s time of year again. If you live anywhere near Maryland, warmer weather means crabs. But getting to the beach this early in the season isn’t really an option for me right now. Luckily, Bethesda Crab House offers a bit of a beachy experience close to the city. It’s not fancy like the trendy shops and restaurants across the way at Bethesda Row, but it has a rich history that will continue to endure as long as Marylanders are into crabs.

You can go for the all you can eat, but my favorite crab expert suggested a dozen mediums for two people. She was right. It took a couple of hours, a few beers and a ridiculous amount of napkins to get through them. But that’s the beauty of a crab feast – you have time to sit and talk. It’s a lot of work getting to the meat and it’s totally worth it.

Oh sure, there are other things on the menu, but what’s the point? It’s all about the crabs.

Bethesda Crab House
4958 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Going Native

K-Last week I decided to head to Penn Quarter and grab some lunch. I had passed Native Foods Café a couple of times and really had wanted to try it but was a bit tight on time due to meetings.  However, they have the option to order online and pick it up, so I did.

Native Foods Café claims they make everything fresh daily—from their homemade tempeh and seitan, to their Native Cheese, sauces and drinks, dressings and desserts. Their entire menu is 100% plant-based and they are very eco-friendly.

I ordered the Greek Gyro Bowl that had the sliced Native Peppered Seitan sautéed with shallots on quinoa, steamed vegetables and kale with lemon-garlic sauce and hummus; Native Fries and the lavender lemonade.

Ordering online and picking up my order was pretty easy and no issues. The people at the counter were very friendly and helpful. For the lemonade, they give you a cup and you fill it up at the condiment/drinks bar.

Once back at my desk, I took out the eco-friendly “bowl.”  The portion was huge, definitely enough for two lunches and same with the fries. The vegetables looked and tasted fresh, kale done nicely and the lemon-garlic sauce, which seemed like it was mixed with the hummus was very garlicky and good.  The seitan added a nice flavour and wasn’t too salty, which sometimes happens at other establishments. The fries were crisp and seasoned and the lavender lemonade was good but a bit too sweet for me. It did have the taste of lavender so if you don’t believe you would be too keen on that, I’d say skip it and go for something else.

If you are vegan, vegetarian or someone who just wants to switch it up on occasion I would recommend trying it. I was quite happy with my lunch and am looking forward to returning.

Hours: Sun 11:00am–7:00pm

Mon–Sat 11:00am–9:00pm

701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-347-1848

Comfort Food at Ted’s Bulletin

C – If you squint, you can see Ted’s Bulletin in this picture. It was a cold and grey day, and what would typically be a bustling green area at the Mosaic District looked a little bleak. The perfect day for some comfort food.

Everyone’s been raving about Ted’s. Specifically, their adult milkshakes and homemade pop tarts. I heard rumors of crazy long waits – they don’t take reservations during peak lunch/brunch times. So, I showed up about 30 minutes early. I walked in, was told the wait would be 30 minutes, put my name on the list and decided to run across the street to Target. I was given a pager and I left my phone number in case I was too far out of range. I walked out the door, saw my friend – also super early – and the pager went off. No wait whatsoever. Strange for a Saturday just before noon, but hey, luck was on our side.

The atmosphere: upscale diner, cozy and comfortable. Counter seating, a generous amount of booths for two, and tables for larger parties.

The food: Deeee-lish. Not low-cal, for sure. My friend had “The Rachel” – basically a Rueben with turkey. I had the “Short Rib Sammy.” I’ve been on a bit of a short rib kick lately, so this was an interesting variation. Grilled texas toast, Vermont white cheddar, arugula, red wine gravy and red wine mayo, served with “bowling alley” onion rings. Fat Fest 2015. And I ate every bite.

The signature items: After enjoying the previously mentioned Fat Fest 2015, I couldn’t in good conscience order both of their signature items. So, I skipped the adult milkshake and split the salted caramel pop tart with my friend. There was a bit of a disagreement over the splitting of said pop tart. Tears fell. Plates were licked. It was an ugly scene.

Ted’s Bulletin
Mosaic District/Merrifield, VA
Reston Town Center, VA
Gaithersburg, MD and
1818 14th Street in DC

Founding Farmers – MOCO

Bill delivery at Founding Farmers

C – I love that new little hoods are popping up everywhere. My latest discovery is Park Potomac in Maryland. Weirdly, I think it’s been around for a while, at least four years as that seems to be the last time their website was updated, but the area still looks very much under construction. Perhaps they’re phasing the building. I’m not sure. But my reason for bringing this up isn’t really about the area, it’s actually about a new(er) branch of Founding Farmers in the center of this community.

Similar to the original in the heart of DC, this version is relaxed and welcoming, with some of the same staples. The service during my visit was excellent. Almost more of a story than the food, our experience with employees here was outstanding. Our waiter was very honest without being smarmy. When we ordered the Bread, Chips and Crisps as an appetizer, he steered us away, volunteering that the chips were more like Cheez-its and that it was actually the least appealing appetizer on the menu. We went with the Skillet Corn Bread, which was great and honestly, too much for two people.

While ordering mains, we deferred to our server again. My dining companion chose the Chicken Pot Pie, which came with a monster biscuit on top. I requested the Carolina Pork BBQ and Fixings, but I was again steered away and pointed in the direction of the sandwich version which was terrific. We were too full for dessert.

A few notes of warning:

1. Parking at Potomac Place is weird. Make sure to park in the underground garage and get a validation ticket from the hostess stand. They validate for 3 hours or less.
2. If it’s cold outside, it will be cold inside – but only when a patron decides to avoid the revolving door. Once the regular door is open, the wind ricochets off every wall. And it will find you no matter where you are.
3. We arrived at 12 for lunch (on a Saturday) and it was moderately crowded. By the time we left, at 2, it was completely rammed. Come early.

Founding Farmers – MOCO
12505 Park Potomac Avenue, Potomac, MD 20854

Farmers Fishers Bakers – Our new go-to place for pre-theater dining

C – Getting in and out of the Kennedy Center can be a bit of a pain, and once you’re there, your dining options are limited. K and I went to Farmers Fishers Bakers at Washington Harbour before heading out to La Boheme, and I have to say, it kind of worked for us.

The hook at FFB – can I call it FFB? – is “Farm to fork.” Related to Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue, FFB serves dishes with ingredients sourced from American family farmers in a creative, eco-friendly setting. You might think that means it’s pretentious, but think again. It’s all quite casual. Prices vary, but you can get away pretty inexpensively if you want. (My favorite, the Detroit Deep Dish w/Meatball is only $11, and it’s massive!) The choices are varied. Feel like sushi? They’ve got it. Steak Frites? No problem. Jambalaya? You bet.

Detroit Red Top

I’d recommend starting with the Bread and Broths. It’s exactly as it sounds, but with a remarkable amount of roasted garlic.

Bread and Broths

 

As for entrees, K had the Cauliflower Steak & Risotto which satisfied her need for a no meat entree quite well. On the traditional steak side, the 5oz Butcher’s “Butter” Rib Cut is excellent, and small enough so you don’t have to roll away after the meal.

Cauliflower Steak

 

The Virginia Peanut Butter Mousse and Floating Smith Island are the only deserts I can vouch for. Both good, but given the choice, I’d go for the mousse again.

 

Finally, or maybe I should have started with this, the cocktails. It’s a crazy assortment of craft beers, wine and insane drinks. They have a proprietary line of spirits, “Beer Cocktails”, and a Signature Tiki Redux section, which scares me a little. The Zombies come with a limit of how many a customer may have: two.

Farmers Fishers Bakers
3000 K Street NW
Washington Harbour
Washington, DC 20007

Farewell Eventide

C – Consider us shocked! Eventide in Clarendon served its last meals on Sunday. I was there, but through a ridiculous little date mix up, my dining companion had made reservations for the following Sunday. So, I left without brunch and we decided to meet again the following week. While I waited (stomach growling furiously) in the foyer, it didn’t seem like there was anything strange going on. There was no indication they were closing up shop. There was no mad rush to get in one final brunch. It was business as usual. So what happened?

 

According to ARLnow, the owner of A-Town bought the business and lease. Don Tito, a “Tacos, tequila and beer” establishment, will go in its place.

We will miss Eventide. It was a great place for brunch, it had a lovely roof top, and the Odd Bar was a great choice for a last minute meet up.

Pizzeria Orso

C – Tucked into the Pearson Square complex, behind Elevation Burger and the construction that will be a part of the Falls Church City Center, is a relatively new pizza joint that’s worth a visit. Pizzeria Orso serves authentic Neapolitan pizza as well as a collection of other entrees including small plates and pastas.

I’ve been there twice in the past few weeks and I have to say, while the weather is nice, the outdoor dining experience is not to be missed. There’s a little construction noise in the background, but it’s nice that there’s an option for getting a bit of fresh air while you dine, and the patio is big and comfortable.

The wait staff is pleasant, friendly and attentive. The food is pretty darn good. It’s very much a family place, so if you’re looking for a quiet romantic meal, this isn’t for you. Pizzeria Orso just received a “Best of Falls Church – 2014” award from the Falls Church News Press and Yelp reviews are favorable. Overall, I’d recommend it.

Pizzeria Orso
400 South Maple Avenue
Falls Church City, VA 22046
*closed on Mondays

Walking in DC

K- I am a walker. I love to walk the city be it NYC, London, Paris, wherever because I find that’s the best way to find the most interesting places. DC is such a “walkable” city. Yeah, you got Metro, Uber, taxis and buses but why when you can easily walk from Georgetown to Penn Quarter or Dupont Circle to the Smithsonian?

Through walking I’ve found places like Firefly – a restaurant off New Hampshire that has a great happy hour, Propper Topper – a cute little shop that carries the coolest hats for women and men among other items, Tiny Jewel Box – an amazing jewelry store with a very knowledgeable owner and Petersen House – where President Lincoln took his final breath.

These are places I may have heard about, seen on the Internet or some other place but may not have necessarily visited. But walking around the city and coming upon them made me want to go inside, if not that day then another. I admit I walked past them quite a few times before I went inside but I know that I never would have if I hadn’t.

Besides coming upon interesting places the other great thing about walking is looking at the architecture. There are some amazing buildings and old houses in the area. There is the Old Stone House in Georgetown built in 1765; the Willard Hotel built in 1816; Carnegie Library on 801 K St. NW built in 1902 and the Patterson Mansion (the Washington Club) at Dupont Circle was built in 1903 and that’s not including all of the other old houses in that area.

So next time you’re thinking of taking the bus to Foggy Bottom, taxi to U Street or Metro to Penn Quarter, take a walk. You’ll never know what you’ll find!