Restaurant Week is back

[brennser]

Kaz
 
 

Originally posted by Samantha:
  what's the best Sushi place in the area?

[thirsty moore]

When I hear Signature's, I think of my old office and the stuffy, dull CEO that used to eat there daily.  While the sushi might be good, there has to be a better option.
 
 

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
 i have a couple of friends that love signatures.  i haven't been there though.

[thirsty moore]

So, where did you all end up?
 
 

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
 Can anyone think of a good place I can bring my mum and her boyfriend to Sunday brunch at, either in NOVA or DC?

[jkeisenh]

Sorry, have to add my $.02 about restaurant week.  Having gone out to eat on restaurant week for years now, I'm sick of it.  Sure, it's an affordable way to get to some restaurants, but is it worth it?  The places are packed, the service gets spread too thin, the menu options are limited and rarely veggie-friendly, and the food is mass-produced without fail.  I've been to alot of places and all I can say is that I"m willing to pay 20% more any other week for a good experience instead of saving some $ and having to wait an hour for the wrong entree to be served to me (as happened at Firefly last winter), or for my entree to be cold (at 15 Ria), or for there to be no veggie options, etc.  Servers also get attitudes about it cuz they're working harder to deal with packed restaurants but get less in tips because of the lower prices.  It's just a mess, and few places are well-equiped to deal with the crowds.
 
 You get what you pay for.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

In my kitchen, eating waffles with vanilla ice cream and syrup.
 
 We ended up eating out in Baltimore Saturday night.
 
 Thanks for the tips, I'll remember them for next time...
 
 
 

Originally posted by thirsty moore:
  So, where did you all end up?
 
   

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
 Can anyone think of a good place I can bring my mum and her boyfriend to Sunday brunch at, either in NOVA or DC?

[/b]

[brennser]

Sure, it's an affordable way to get to some restaurants, but is it worth it?

it depends - are there restaurants who take a somewhat half hearted approach to RW - absolutely - but for every Firefly theres a Ten Penh where I had an amazing RW lunch 2 years ago....choice of 3 apps, ANY entree (I ended up with a divine whole grilled rockfish), and 3 desserts - for $20 I consider that to be definitely worth it...
 
 in general I think the lunches are a better deal than the dinners...

[Random Citizen]

Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
  Sorry, have to add my $.02 about restaurant week.  Having gone out to eat on restaurant week for years now, I'm sick of it.  Sure, it's an affordable way to get to some restaurants, but is it worth it?  The places are packed, the service gets spread too thin, the menu options are limited and rarely veggie-friendly,  

That's why you a) check the restaurant's website and/or reviews to see their offerings before reserving and b) reserve for an "off" time (e.g. lunch on a Tuesday vs. dinner on a Friday).
 
 I think Restaurant Weeks are a great way to check out the various options in DC (and some in VA). As long as one's expectations aren't too high, it's definitely worth it. And I'm sure the restauranteurs would rather have a packed dining room than 1-2 tables with people ordering appetizers.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I usually tend to eat only one course at dinner instead of gorging myself with three, so I don't see how this would be a good option for me...?

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
  Sorry, have to add my $.02 about restaurant week.  Having gone out to eat on restaurant week for years now, I'm sick of it.  Sure, it's an affordable way to get to some restaurants, but is it worth it?  The places are packed, the service gets spread too thin, the menu options are limited and rarely veggie-friendly, and the food is mass-produced without fail.  I've been to alot of places and all I can say is that I"m willing to pay 20% more any other week for a good experience instead of saving some $ and having to wait an hour for the wrong entree to be served to me (as happened at Firefly last winter), or for my entree to be cold (at 15 Ria), or for there to be no veggie options, etc.  Servers also get attitudes about it cuz they're working harder to deal with packed restaurants but get less in tips because of the lower prices.  It's just a mess, and few places are well-equiped to deal with the crowds.
 
 You get what you pay for.

from the restaurant week earlier this year, i think alot of restaurants are addressing the problems with their menu options. . .from what i can tell, it seems most restaurants (except equinox and vidalia, cause those chefs like to make up special dishes solely for restaurant week) are just using their regular menu with surcharges for the more expensive dishes (like a lobster or a filet mignon).  as for no veggie-options, boo-fricken-hoo. . .choose the cold pasta.    

[Random Citizen]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  I usually tend to eat only one course at dinner instead of gorging myself with three, so I don't see how this would be a good option for me...?

How big is that one course you're eating? If it's huge, then that's why you couldn't eat three courses. Most three-course meals offered during RW include a salad/soup for the first course, main entree for the second and a dessert for the third. It's quite easy to have all three if you don't eat everything on the plate.

[thirsty moore]

Say you get tapas style entrees, or Ethiopian food for that matter.  How is one course defined in those cuisines?

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

Lately, my wife and I have just been splitting a main entree and skipping the other courses, otherwise we feel too stuffed. I would never leave food on my plate, there are starving people in China.
 
 

Originally posted by Random Citizen:
   

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  I usually tend to eat only one course at dinner instead of gorging myself with three, so I don't see how this would be a good option for me...?

How big is that one course you're eating? If it's huge, then that's why you couldn't eat three courses. Most three-course meals offered during RW include a salad/soup for the first course, main entree for the second and a dessert for the third. It's quite easy to have all three if you don't eat everything on the plate. [/b]

[Random Citizen]

Originally posted by thirsty moore:
  Say you get tapas style entrees, or Ethiopian food for that matter.  How is one course defined in those cuisines?

Obviously, it would be up to the restaurant. Typically, RW participants have a limited menu as opposed to their regular offerings, which is why it's important to specify that you're coming for RW when making reservations.

[Bags]

Originally posted by chimbly sweep:
  The places are packed, the service gets spread too thin, the menu options are limited and rarely veggie-friendly, and the food is mass-produced without fail.  

I tend to go to lunches more than dinners, but have not experienced a problem yet.  Butterfield 9 was fabulous last year, and every year I go to Gallileo.  How much more packed than "full" can a restaurant get?
 
 I certainly believe there are some restaurants that handle it not so well -- I had dinner at Ardeo and thought that I only really saved a few dollars and could have had more choices -- but I don't think the concept fails across the board.  At least not in my experience.
 
 Brennser's point is good -- recently, I always check the restaurant's RW menu online before I book.  And I agree that lunch is the best deal...

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  Lately, my wife and I have just been splitting a main entree and skipping the other courses, otherwise we feel too stuffed. I would never leave food on my plate, there are starving people in China.
 

you must be drinking a ton of dan-action in order to get enough protein (well, not celeste i suppose), calories and vitamins to maintain your health.