Sunday, September 27, 2009

Food Field Trip NYC Part 3: The Brunch Bunch - New Leaf and Bubby's

As of late, B & I have been in a real brunch rut in DC. We either end up at Clyde's in Georgetown which is reliable if unremarkable, or at some of the newer offerings around town, such as Eventide, which has made us wonder if people have forgotten or simply don't care about the difference between a poached and hard boiled egg! Needless to say we needed a good brunch and we had the pleasure of two in NYC.

On Saturday, we headed for the Cloisters (http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/the_cloisters), which is an outpost of the Met. It was a gorgeous Saturday and the last time we were in NYC the concierge at our hotel mentioned that if we ever made it up there to check out the New Leaf Cafe, part of Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project (http://www.nyrp.org/newleaf/).

The space is beautiful and appears to be a converted old stone building/barn. The day we were there they were preparing for a wedding so the last seating for brunch was at 1:45pm. We got in under the wire and just in time as the place quickly filled to capacity. Inside, the space is rustic, with dark distressed wood and waiters bustling in a room full of people, yet not cramped with tables.

The brunch entrees are were all priced at $18.95, which was inclusive coffee or tea and juice. B chose the duck confit, which was served in an individual cast iron skillet and topped with what else but bona fide poached eggs and accompanied by a creamy pot of grits. The food was rustic and earthy and the eggs tied the whole dish together.



I opted for the homemade parpadelle bolognese. The papardelle were studded with thyme and topped with smoked mozzarella. The flavor was also rustic, but this dish was obviously a bit more substantial and meaty given the bolognese.


We both left happy and full.

New Leaf Restaurant and Bar on Urbanspoon

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The next day, Sunday (i.e. the day all in New York flock to brunch) we met friends in Tribeca at Bubby's (http://bubbys.com/). The ambiance was casual and homey -- perfect for six friends and a toddler to catch up. The food was fantastic and pricey and the service was, well, awful.

But, back to the food. B opted for the sourdough pancakes, which brought the art of the pancake to a whole new level and should have given the $17 price tag. The sourdough pancakes were topped with bananas and strawberries, and came three to an order. They were great and a bit hard to describe -- fluffy, dense, and rich all at the same time.

I had the chanterelle and shallot scramble -- fluffy eggs with huge chanterelle mushrooms , accompanied by a cross between charred breakfast potatoes and hash browns (excellent) and toast (which I was too full to even touch).

Brunch for two with coffee and tea, tax and tip was $52. Not cheap and cash only. The service was garbage. B had a coffee cup full of coffee grinds and it took all six of us--and fifteen minutes--to flag down a waiter, but I would still recommend Bubby's in spite of the price and service because the food was fantastic and the atmosphere pretty cool -- a homey brunch on steroids.

Bubby's on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Food Field Trip NYC Part 2: The Joys of Camping

Anyone who knows me knows I hate camping. But this past weekend in NYC, I discovered a type of camp that I genuinely enjoy and cannot wait to go back to: Mary's Fish Camp (http://www.marysfishcamp.com/marysette.html), a small 30 seat urban "fish shack."

Mary's is situated in the heart of East Greenwich Village, occupying a tiny corner of real estate composed of a nine seat bar (designed for eating) and tables that line the wall. They do not accept reservations so B and I  expected a wait.

What we did not expect was to be greated so amicably by the host who noted the wait was only a half hour; he suggested that we choose our wine and enjoy a glass on the sidwalk while we waited. The weather was fantastic as was the people watching so we happily obliged. We chose a white Rioja. While we really enjoy this red varietal, we had never tried the white version. It did not dissapoint and may have been the antithesis of its red counterpart -- crisp, light bodied, and slightly tart. Perfect for an unseasonably warm autumn night and the seafood that was to come.

About twenty minutes later and already in a great mood, B & I were seated at the bar. In spite of its small size, the space is laid out in such a way where you don't feel cramped. The service follows suit; our waitress (and also I think owner) carefully went over all the evenings specials with such a genuine enthusiasm that B & I had a really hard time deciding.

After debating the merits of about 12 appetizers, we went with the Jonah crab claws, in part because of the ease of eating this particular preperation -- eating crab can prove overly cumbersome for such a little bit of meat.


These claws were shelled to the tip, battered, and served up with a lemon aioli. The meat was tender and flaky and the aioli added a fantastic tang to the dish. Each claw contained about two bites of deliciousness (and yes I know this is not a real word.)

Before arriving knew I was going to order the lobster roll as my entree. There is nothing I like more than a lobster roll (maybe it is my New England roots), but ever since having the hot buttered lobster roll at Neptune Oyster (http://www.neptuneoyster.com/) in the North End of Boston, the bar has been set so high that I ussually have to temper expectations... no need in this case.



(picture does a better job showing off the fries verse the lobster)


The roll arrived and had hunks of tail and claw meat, overflowing the brioche bun, accented with the perfect amount of mayonnaise and just a dusting of chives. And the lobster was flavoral and cooked perfectly -- not chewy or overdone as is often the case in your run of the mill lobster roll and no shell fragments! The shoestring fries that accompanied it were also quite good.

For B the entree decision was a bit tougher; he really had no idea and was overwhelmed by the ten or so fantastic sounding options; then we saw what the bouillabaisse looked like and his mind was instantly made up.



This was a classic Mediterranean bouillabaisse with a saffron infused broth and plenty of the ocean's bounty: lobster tail, mussels, calimari, white fish etc. B liked it so much that he picked up his bowl at the end of the meal to savor the remaining broth -- this type of behavior seemed to be encouraged!

I should also add that the music is just fun -- think Beyonce Bootylicious -- and at a volume that still allows for conversation.

Since we were headed out for drinks later we did not get dessert, but the old fashioned ice cream Sunday looked delightful.

Dinner for two, with a shared appetizer, bottle of wine, and two entrees, tax, and tip was $135; the fish drawing the accompoanied the check was gratis. And the experience was a blast!




Mary's Fish Camp on Urbanspoon

Monday, September 21, 2009

Food Field Trip -- NYC Weekend Part 1: From Cupcakes to Tea

B and I spent a wonderful long weekend in NYC catching up with old friends and enjoying the city's wonderful culinary offerings. In this post and the next two, I will relive the experience, providing what I think are witty musings on the highlights and lowlights of our culinary adventure.

Odds and Ends -- From Cupcakes to Tea



Like usual, B & I made our first stop at the original Magnolia Bakery (http://www.magnoliacupcakes.com/) on Bleecker St. Their cupcakes are definitely good but not great; Baked and Wired in DC offers a far superior cupcake. So why do we always go? 1) The frosting is wonderful -- an old fashioned butter cream and lots of it. 2) The shop itself is adorable and the aromas inside are such a treat in and of themselves. The total for two cupcakes and a lemonade was 7.50, but the sugar rush was priceless, and the frosting did not disappoint. I highly recommend it if you are in NYC. Plus the window shopping on and around Bleecker is a good time.

Magnolia Bakery on Urbanspoon
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Finding a good martini in DC is no easy task. So when we head to NYC it is a must. This time we tried out the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Station. The atmosphere is something out of Mad Men with marble walls, a wooden roof, soaring ceilings, fringed lamp shades, and plush banquets. The service was a bit off as our waitress forgot our order and had to circle back to reconfirm, but it was worth the wait. The martinis were terrific and poured tableside. B enjoyed his usual -- gin martini up with olives, as did I - classic cosmopolitan (cliche, wholly unoriginal, and delicious!) Two martinis with tax and tip - $32.

Campbell Apartment on Urbanspoon
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B and I also found a new, hidden gem -- McNulty's (http://www.mcnultys.com/) Actually, it is not so new (been around since 1895) and is hidden in plain site in between the colorful shops on Christopher Street, but it was nonetheless a great find for us. I am not a coffee drinker, but I love tea and had been in search of a decaffeinated blend for weeknight evenings. Let me just say that it was a tough choice, but I settled on a chocolate mint blend which smells heavenly and should be a great end to any day that will feel indulgent but without the calories. I am looking forward to trying it this week. A quarter pound of tea (enough for 20 - 25 cups) was $5.25.

McNulty's Tea & Coffee Company on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

It's Harvest Time

And that means the Farmer's Market is a feast for the stomach as well as for the eyes! My favorite moment of each week is wandering around the Arlington Farmers Market on Saturday. (I may or may not have chosen a condo based on its proximity to this market ; )). It is such a calming, communal experience and makes me wish grocery shopping could always be like this; while it is a year round market, from April - October is by far the best time of year. Just five days until the next one.

Yum -- below are just a few pictures of last Saturday's offerings.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Is that Ray?

(Photo Courtesy of Northern Virginia Magazine)

Ray's the Steaks -- (no website, but all information is available here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/rays-the-steaks,1071592.html)

Last night B stopped off on his way home from work to snag us a 7pm reservation at Ray's the Steaks. Review to follow, but first a bit of background on my history with Ray's.

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As I noted in an earlier post, Ray's in one of our go-to restaurants; we probably eat there about once a month and love to bring out of town guests and steak lovers alike. When we first moved to the area about four years ago, Ray's the Steaks was still in its old location, and Michael Landrum, the eccentric yet brilliant owner was threatening to close the restaurant because he refused to serve, in short, "a**holes" (his word, not mine). Our first time dining was a week before the supposed closing. (Thankfully, this did not happen and Ray's now has a new expanded location even closer to our condo)

On our first visit Michael was there and we got to talk to him for a while, learning that the concept of Ray's came from the Daily Catch (great seafood place in the North End of Boston, where the food is served right in the pan and wine comes in dixie cups). At Ray's the core idea is to serve up top-quality steak that is affordable, and the location no-frills. We were hooked after talking to Michael in 2005, and tasting cuts of meat that are truly out of this world. And I have a soft spot in my heart for this place because when we first moved down here, I really missed Boston and not only was Ray's based on the concept of a Boston mainstay, but it was the first truly great meal B & I enjoyed in the DC area.

Now, while things have changed since that first visit (reservations are now accepted, the menu has expanded slightly, Michael managed to add Mark Slater ,the former Citronelle sommelier, and the clientele as shifted in some ways for the worst -- more on that later), it is still a fantastic restaurant.

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Okay, back to last night. So we were seated in the "fancier" of the two dining rooms. By fancier (and anyone familiar with the restaurant knows this), I mean it is carpeted, and has leather chairs and mirrors on the wall.

Upon being seated the usual spicy cashews arrived and we asked to speak to Mark about what wine to order. Mark is a delight. I love talking to this man about wine. His storied career working with Michel Richard makes for some great stories and he really knows his wine and can select a great wine for you at any price. Last night, B & I asked for a Burgundy selection since we are headed there (so excited) in about a month. Mark regaled us with stories of his last visit, selected a fantastic 2001 vintage, and returned with restaurant recommendations for the Paris portion of our trip. The wine, in the words of B, was exquisite. B & I normally go for a bolder Zinfandel, a CA Cabernet, or most recently a Spanish Rioja with our steak, but this wine was a bit more complex and really complemented the meal.

As for the food, last night was unseasonably chilly for early September, which made it a perfect night so start with the soups. I had the Clam Chowder, a New England style cream chowder with corn, carrots, celery, bacon, and of course clams, that was very good (especially after a few shakes of pepper). B had the sherried crab bisque which was really on last night -- silky texture, sweet flavor, and delicious hunks of crab.

B & I are definitely in a bit of a rut (in a good way) when it comes to our steaks at Ray's. I always get the filet, cut butterflied and cooked medium well (steak fans start turning up your noses, but at Ray's medium-well is medium) and B gets the NY strip medium rare. We also generally add a sauce, usually the brandy mushroom cream. The steaks at Ray's are the same cuts, if not better, that you would find in any fine steakhouse (Mortons, Capital Grill). Last night was no exception. And unlike a traditional steakhouse, sides of a garlicky creamed spinach and mashed potatoes are included in the $30-35 price. B did better than me and finished his steak, but now I get to enjoy leftovers later this weekend!

And dessert -- ah dessert. At Ray's I think I like the dessert as much as the steak. For me there is no question, its the dark chocolate mousse which is just wonderful. It is almost like eating the inside of a chocolate truffle -- in terms of both consistency and flavor. And be forewarned, they do run out often, so if you have your heart set on this dessert consider ordering early. B and I will sometimes split the mousse, but he got the coconut creme pie last night, which actually posed a formidable challenge to the mouse. A rich coconut custard on a thick graham cracker crust. And if these two treats were not enough the usual tiger butter fudge accompanied the check.

I really love this restaurant. Last night's tab for two soups, a fillet, NY strip, mousse, pie, and the Burgundy wine ($65, well above our normal wine ceiling) and tax and tip was $180. Its usually closer to $150 but we splurged on the wine.

Now I would be remiss if I did not revisit my comment on clientele. Of course it is still filled with yuppies, but the mix has changed quite markedly since the restaurant started taking reservations.

After talking to Mark about the wine, the older, loud lady next to me leaned over and yelled, "Is that Ray?!" (Please note the restaurant's name is a pun -- as in 'raise' the stakes). This was clearly lost on her, and when I said no--it was the sommelier--she yelled even louder, "the WHAT?!" So I dutifully translated "wine guy," and explained how there is in fact no Ray, but that a man by the name is Michael Landrum is the owner. I'm not sure she fully understood that "Ray" does not exist, but if she did, she was probably a bit disappointed.

And then as this woman's party was leaving another eclectic party arrived. They ordered the scallops as an appetizer and then asked the waiter what exactly a "scallop" was--meaning (I guess?): is it a fish, clam, part of an animal?! He then posited that everyone eats them but no one knows in fact what they are. Enough said.

Then the woman on the other side lamented how she does not drink red wine, but was willing to try if they had anything that was "sweet." The waitress looked perplexed and did her best to try to explain that they did not have red wine that was all that sweet, but to no avail.

Needless to say -- it was entertaining, we left, full and amused.
Ray's the Steaks on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

It's the Little Things

After a particularly frenetic day, starting before dawn with an early client meeting, I finally found time to grab lunch. Potbelly's, a chain sandwich shop founded in Chicago (http://www.potbelly.com/Food/FoodStory.aspx), is oftentimes my go-to for a quick sandwich or salad. Their food is consistent if unremarkable and the service is quick and polite.

But what really sets them apart is the Sheila's Dream bar. This delightful treat starts with a blonde brownie-like base mixed with oats, caramel, chocolate chips. And while I don't normally eat dessert with lunch, my salad wasn't cutting it today and I decided to indulge. The bar is soft, yet chewy, and stands out from your average brownie due to the texture of the oats. It really is a tasty snack and for $1.39 the extra calories are virtually free : ).

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The Perfect End of Summer Meal


While I can't say that I am sad to see the heat and humidity of summer finally leave DC behind, I am going to miss access to such great local ingredients. In a Labor Day send off to summer, I pulled out one of my favorite cookbooks of the season -- while actually, its more of a magazine -- America's Test Kitchen, put out a Cooking for Two 2009 glossy which is great for when its just B and me!

One of my favorite recipes is the summer vegetable gratin -- showcasing zucchini, summer squash, onion, and heirloom tomatoes all heightened by an addition of Parmesan cheese. It was a great way to enjoy a 100% farmer's market side dish (with the exception of the Parmesan, cheese).

To accompany the gratin, I made the recipe for the shrimp and scallop risotto. This recipe is great and kicks up the risotto flavor by the additions of clam juice to the traditional chicken broth, as well as saffron (just a pinch), tomatoes, and basil. Plus risotto in general is one of my favorite dishes in any season since it can showcase virtually any ingredient (snap pea and asparagus in the spring, mushroom in the fall etc.).

These dishes, coupled with a mixed greens salad with B's vinaigrette and a Pouilly-Fuissé (a crisp, solid white wine from the Burgundy region of France) made for the perfect end to a long weekend that of course felt too short.
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Full Disclosure: I actually learned how to make risotto from a Rachel Ray cookbook and get this, from a recipe she used to make for her dog! But seriously, her directions were easy to follow and I consider myself a bit of a risotto master now, so I highly recommend her recipe for Boo-sotto if you are apprehensive about learning the art (read: stirring) of risotto.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Central by way of Sei

After much deliberation of whether to stay in DC or head to Boston for the Labor Day weekend, B & I decided to stay in DC owing to both the weather (mid-80s, low humidity) and finances (we are re-doing our bedroom and headed to Paris in October, so the airfare and hotel expenses did not seem very appealing!).

So, we are here this weekend and decided to make the most of it. Starting with jazz and sangria in the national Sculpture Garden -- one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday afternoon (as long as it is not one those 9o degree 90 percent humidity days, and per the first paragraph, it wasn't).

Following jazz, we had a reservation at Sei. While I am not a huge fan of Restaurant Week, Sei had extended its $35 three course special through September, and owing to a good review in the Post, I figured it was worth a shot. The menu online looked promising, and the restaurant itself was very appealing. I loved the fact that the restroooms were "hers" and "hers and his" -- very practical! But after upon sitting down, things quickly went downhill. Upon perusing the menu, I noticed that there was only one Restaurant Week combination that would equate to over $35 if ordered a la carte and the vast majority of combinations were about $5-7 less than that amount. I am not sure why, but this really bothered me. I felt like Sei was pulling one over on all its diners. That coupled with the absurd wine places, caused B and I to look at each and say the same thing: Central?

So we got up and left. I do not remember the last time when I left a restaurant before ordering and I am slightly concerned about my open table status, but I was really bothered by their extended "deal" which turned out to be an extended "scam."

As it is Labor Day in DC, we were able to walk into Central at 7:45pm without a reservation; this will change come Tuesday, but has been nice all summer to not have to plan ahead to eat there. And in the interest of full disclosure, Central is one of my top three go-to restaurants in DC (the others being Ray's the Steaks and Tosca), and earlier in the evening B was lamenting that we were not going there...

With all that said, Central did not disappoint. We sat down, had great service by the jolly waiter that looks and sounds like a young Michel Richard and ordered a French Gamay. I never had a Gamay wine before and don't think I will again. The waiter noted that this is the grape used in Beajoulais and is young and does not breathe. He was right. It tasted oddly like the Sangria we had just had in the Sculpture Garden and just seemed weak. The waiter did have us taste a sparkling Gamay which is currently used to top off their blueberry cocktail, which is a real treat (though I did not have that on this visit). B did seem to enjoy the wine though. It was drinkable, just unremarkable.

Then on to the eating. Of course we had their amazing crusty bread which B cannot get enough of (they get their bread from Panorama, an Alexandria-based wholesaler) and shared our usual starter -- the goat cheese Caesar salad. This cheesy, crispy delight is romaine lettuce encricling goat cheese, and topped with caesar dressing, parmesan, diced tomatoes and a paper thin crostini. It is delicious and they usually split it for us which is great so I don't have to compete with B for my share. He really likes it too.

For entrees, we had two that we had eaten before but were as a good as ever. I got the lamb shank over creamy polenta which delivered a succulent, juicy, rich taste with a hint of rosemary. B got the fried chicken. This is the only place where I would describe the fired chicken as lighter than air. It is breaded with just the insides of the French bread and comes with both a breast and dark meet piece. It also has mashed potatoes, gravy, and green salad. Central does not list the sides that accompany each dish on the menu, so if you are eating there for the first time ask so you don't say order a green salad to start and then find the same dish on your plate. And despite it being a carb overload we asked for another round of bread.

To end the meal, we tried the banana split. The waiter recommended it and it was wonderful (and not at all necessary after the entrees that preceded it, but very much enjoyed). It is served on what looks like a TV tray with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, strawberry sorbet, and a mousse like chocolate ice cream with a banana covered in whip cream and book-ended by chocolate and caramel sauces. I loved that it was deconstructed and allowed the eater (mainly me) to construct all sorts of different flavor combinations. And something I have learned of late: I actually like sorbet. I used to prefer ice cream to icey, watery, sugary sweet sorbet, but Central and Bocato Gelato's sorbet have made me reconsider.

It was a great Friday night and toast to the end of summer in DC. With tax and 20% gratuity the meal--consisting of a bottle of the Gamay, a shared appetizer, entrees, and dessert--was $137.50.

Postscript: I went for a long run this morning which made me feel a bit better about sharing a dessert with B that the table behind us split among 8 people!

Central Michel Richard on Urbanspoon

Friday, September 4, 2009

Great Neighborhood Pub (just not my neighborhood)

Last night B and I headed to Stoney's in Logan Circle. In spite of the fact that Stoney's is probably the only place on P street without a happy hour (and I love a good happy hour), it has such a great atmosphere (casual, plenty of seating, good background music ranging from 70's funk to reggae) and above all else: awesome, varied beers on tap, and a bartender that knows how to pour them correctly.

Right now Stoney's has Kona's Firerock Pale Ale, a hoppy beer which B & I enjoyed last spring while on the Big Island of Hawaii. The taste brings me back to sipping the same beer while watching the sunset over the Pacific (which is a great way to forget the stresses of work!). Plus, they also had Harpoon UFO on tap. As a former Boston resident and big fan of Harpoon, I love this beer, especially on tap with a lemon -- it tastes like summer to me -- and this is very hard to find in DC. Pints are about $6 each.

Stoney's Bar & Grill on Urbanspoon

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Another one bites the dust...

I was very excited that Arlington (the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor) was finally going to get a non-chain bakery. Bayou, a New Orleans-themed bakery, was supposed to take over the old Murky Coffee space on Wilson Blvd.

But alas, On Tap reports in its No Longer column, that this project is in fact no longer. Conceived as a joint venture by the people behind Liberty Tavern , the idea as I understood it from press releases was a New Orleans style bakery complete with king cakes and beignets (Yum -- New Orleans is calling).

So -- if anyone is a baker with a penchant for business. Arlington needs you! (Unless you count the Corner Bakery and Le Pain Quotidien as adequate bake shops)

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Eating Around -- The Beginning

I am a 3o year old consultant by day (yes, I know, not atypical at all in DC), and an avid foodie by night. My husband (also tied to DC's major industry and for the purposes of this blog will be referred to as B) and I like nothing more than enjoying great eating and drinking experiences, whether it be a fantastic happy hour a tasting experience at a fine restaurant or creating a new dish from farmer's market fare. In short, we love to eat and drink (and travel).

While I like what I do by day (well let me honest, most days), I do not live to work. I work to be able to experience great eating and drinking experiences here in DC and around the world.

I am starting this blog because I want to share my experiences with anyone else who shares this passion or who just wants to decide if a given restaurant/bar/happy hour/food event is worth it. I will also be sure to include prices as I know this detail is key and it really irks me that Tom Sietsema, Washington Post food critic, leaves this information out of his reviews. $50 good is a lot different than $300 good. And while far from a critic, I appreciate good service, value creativity and good ingredients, and promise candid accounts of my dining experiences. Plus it always makes me smile to remember a good meal and will remind me not to go back should the experience prove the other way.

So having been excited about delving into the world of amateur food critic for a while, here it goes:

Dr. Granville Moore's http://www.granvillemoores.com/Beer.html

This past Friday, B & I headed to Granville Moore's on H Street. I must admit that Granville's had been a spot that I had wanted to try for a while, but H street is a haul from my condo and not easily accessible via the metro. But the Food Network re-aired the Bobby Flay Throwdown at Granville's and I could not resist the urge to try mussels with bleu cheese and pork fat!

So after a long week of work, B & I jumped in a cab and got to Granville's by 6:15pm. Actually, we first waited for the H Street Shuttle at Gallery Place but it failed to show up, and then decided to get a martini at Clyde's. YES This is entirely too early for dinner, but the place is tiny and we were glad we heeded advice to show up early as no less than ten minutes after we were seated the place was at an hour wait. (Since there is no room to wait for a table, diners are sent next door to the Pug and called on their cell phone when a table opens up.)

First impressions -- The space is cozy, and brown, and feels like somewhere a gnome would take up residence (in a good way). A bar lines one side of the galley-like space and tables that seat up to four line the other, with two large booths up back and a smaller version of the space replicated upstairs.

There are four beers on tap -- I had the Dravik and B got the other Belgium on tap (can't remember the name -- $10 for his, $5.50 for mine.) While not nearly the selection of a place like Belga Cafe on Capitol Hill, both were great (especially at the end of a long week) and served in the proper glasses. I should also note that there hundreds by the bottle, but I am definitely more of a draft beer person, so I did not even look at that list.

We started with the antipasto--totally gratuitous given the food to come, but it was quite decent with some cured meats, an earthy cheese, and some pickled vegetables.

Of course we got the mussels with bacon and bleu cheese. They did not disappoint; they were cooked perfectly with no hint of the taste of stale ocean that tends to plague the bivalves, and the blue cheese and pork combined to add texture and a really rich flavor. We also got a small (read: huge) side order of fries to share with the horse radish and chipotle raspberry dipping sauce. The fries were great -- crispy with sea salt and herbs. On the sauce front, there were about 8 choices and I would have never picked the raspberry sauce (the raspberry sounded like an odd ingredient), but the waitress recommended it, and it was fantastic -- just a hint of the fruit which was heavily countered by a heavy dose of the chipotle. Somewhere during all this we of course got another round of beers too.

It really was worth the hike up there. The atmosphere was unique (one of those small intimate spaces that DC tends to lack in favor of huge dining rooms) and the food and beer were a great compliment to one another. Dinner for two with two rounds of drinks, antipasto, two orders of mussles, and shared order of fries, tax and 20% tip was $95.

Dr. Granville Moore's on Urbanspoon