• 28Oct

    Side-by-Side Sister Restaurants, Karizma & Karma Deliver Modern Indian Fare

    Silk Route
    Nirvana 37
    A Moment
    Tellicherry Pepper Crab
    Coconut Avocado Tikki
    Saffron Duck
    Dal Lentil Halwa
    Dodha Burfi

    Side-by-side sister restaurants, Karizma and Karma Modern Indian are a block from Chinatown and have some very interesting dishes. Karma has transitioned to a reservation-only tasting menu concept, with a selection of 4, 6, and 9-course menus show casing a rich culinary journey across the Indian subcontinent. We were lucky enough to try a few of these modern Indian dishes and a couple of cocktails and a small media dinner. Karizma is more casual and features an ala carte menu.

    The cocktails we tried at Karizma were the Silk Route, featuring Tequila, Pineapple, Turmeric, Basil and A Moment, featuring Vodka, Beetroot Shrub, Aperol, Falernum. I preferred Silke Route since A Moment was a little sweet for me, but both were well-crafted cocktails.

    Karizma’s signature dish, Nirvana 37 includes 37 carefully-selected ingredients: mango, fennel root, turnip, watermelon radish, lotus root, edamame, affila cress, micro cilantro, basil leaves, Aji Amarillo peppers, onion, garlic, Kashmiri chilies, dates, ginger, spinach, potatoes, lemon, beetroot, sorrel, frisée lettuce, radish daikon, jaggery, tamarind, asafoetida, mustard oil, chickpea flour, rice flour, black rice, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, onion seeds, fennel seeds, black salt, fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder, and black pepper. This vegan dish is a tasty collection of flavors and textures. The crispy noodles are made from chickpeas and rice, giving them a different texture than heavier traditional chickpea only versions.

    We moved next door to Karma where we tried the Tellicherry Pepper Crab (roasted garlic cremeaux, jakhiya, and yellow chili powder; region: Kerala), Coconut Avocado Tikki (red peppers, shallots, and spearmint; region: Tamil Nadu) and Saffron Duck (fennel, broccoli rice, watermelon radish; region: Himachal Pradesh). All three of these dishes were excellent, but I found the avocado dish to be the most surprising, since I have not tried similar cooked avocado dishes.

    Desserts were the Dal Lentil Halwa with Pat De Fruit and Dodha Burfi with Rabri Mousse. Both desserts were both creatively presented and tasty.

    Pricing at Karma: 4 course menu – $95, 6 course menu – $125, 9 course menu – $165. 

    It is great having these restaurant concepts side-by-side in the area. Give them a try if you’re an Indian food fan.

    -JAY

    Disclaimer: From time to time, we are given free meals, but out opinions are our own.

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  • 10Aug

    Ala’s Levantine Experience Revisited

    Watermelon Salad, Baba Ganouj, Duck Prosciutto, Karanab
    Pandora (Gin, Lavender, Lime)
    Ras-El Hanout Short Ribs with Grilled Potatoes.
    Whole Levraki: Grilled Seabass, Asparagus, Fennel
    Antep Baklava
    Shish Kunafa

    We visited Ala late last year and enjoyed a great meal. Recently, we heard that the menu had been updated, so decided to return. I brought the same guest to both dinners. It was her birthday, hence the candle in her baklava. We did order Antep Baklava and Baba Ganouj again but everything else was new to us.

    We ordered the Pandora (gin, lavender, lime) and glass of Tarrida Brut Brut Cava (Spain). We were wondering how gin, lavender, and lime would work together — would the gin overpower it? It turned out to be a great cocktail that we will order again. The cava was refreshing, and full flavored with very well-balanced acidity. It was one of the better cavas we have tried.

    Duck Prosciutto was new to us, and we both enjoyed it. It was flavorful with a nice slightly chewy (cured) texture. The crispy rice lavash it was served on was flimsy, making the duck a little difficult to eat, but well worth the effort. We always enjoy their Baba Ganou — this is the third time we have ordered it. The watermelon salad (watermelon, feta, water cress, mint, pomegranate) was refreshing and a nice flavor and texture combination. The Brussels sprouts, walnuts, and toum (garlic sauce) dish (Karanab) was very well executed, and my guest made a point of mentioning that she really enjoyed it.

    The entrees (Grilled Seabass and Short Ribs) were both standouts. We agreed that the beef dish was the favorite of the evening (very flavorful with a nice meaty texture and served with delicious grilled potatoes), but the fish was a close second. The Seabass was delicate and worked well with the grilled lemon, red onions, radishes, fennel, and asparagus. We originally intended to order the Turkish Coffee Rub Lamb Shank, but they were out of it. The lamb probably had enough caffeine to jump the fence and make a run for it.

    The Antep Baklava (vegan) and Shish Kunafa (pistachio, rose, sweet cheese, pistachio, rose) were both very good desserts.

    The service as always is really good at Ala. Everyone is personable and attentive and the dietary restrictions (a few between the two of us) were handled well. They even let us switch tables to one where the lighting was better when they saw us taking photos.

    Ala is having Restaurant Week specials August 5-25 (2 weeks left!) with a 4-course dinner for $55 and a 3-course brunch for $35.

    -JAY

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  • 11Jun

    Get your Corned Beef Sandwiches at Beresovsky’s Popup in Dupont!

    Beresovsky’s Deli (in Navy Yard) now has a popup Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm at Mi Casa in DuPont Circle. We were at the soft opening today and tried the brisket, pastrami, and corned beef, and highly recommend the corned beef.

    -JAY


    Editor’s note: Also try the corned beef at Deli City in Northeast (near the Arboretum), which is open weekdays during the day.

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  • 16Dec

    Kabul Castle Kabob in Georgetown, the Review!

    Several of us were hangry in Georgetown when I remember that there was a relatively new (1 year old) Afghani kabob place I’ve been meaning to try, Kabul Castle Kabob. It is on the divey side — you order at the register, hold on to your numbered receipt, and grab a table. When they yell out your order, you go and pick your tray up.

    Sambosa, Spinach, & Lamb Chops.
    Lamb Kabob, Spinach, & Bread.
    Grilling the Kabobs!
    Salmon, Eggplant, & Manto.

    We tried the Lamb Kabob, Lamb Chops, Salmon, Manto (Afghani dumplings), Sambosas, Spinach, and Eggplant. The food was very good, with the salmon being the favorite of the table, and the manto coming in second. The platters came with salad, bread (which was extremely good in texture and flavor), lots of rice, and a choice of vegetable, so were a great value. Some people at the table asked for no or less rice, but the lamb kabob image has the full portion. The veggies (spinach and eggplant) could have used more salt, but were still good.

    Next time, we want to order the lamb shank (Qabili Pallow, which a neighboring table was digging into). It looked really good.

    The kabobs run from $15 to $20, while the lamb chops are $27, and the Qabili Pallow is $20.

    The address is 2801 M St NW, but the entrance is actually on 28th Street, not M Street.

    -JAY

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  • 14Dec

    Ala’s take on Modern Mediterranean in DuPont

    Adana Kebab
    Even the bar garnishes look great!
    Pirzola
    Jewels Pilaf
    Antep Baklava
    Octopus & Baba Ganoush
    Mocktails
    What the table across from us ordered.

    We recently tried the (soon to be seasonally updated for winter) dinner menu at the upscale Mediterranean restaurant, Ala, in DuPont Circle. The menu features updated versions of Mediterranean dishes (not including hummus). We ordered from the soon to be updated for the winter season dinner menu:

    Rumaan Nana (pomegranate & mint iced tea) and Levantine Wonderland (orange, cherry, rose, lemon, baharat) mocktails: They were refreshing and not too sweet (although you have to stir one of them prior to drinking).

    Baba Ganoush (charred eggplant puree, dill & pumpkin seed pesto, pomegranate
    seeds): This was probably our favorite dish that evening. The pomegranate seeds and fresh dill worked well in this creamy and delicious dish. Wonderful Za’atar Pita arrived with the baba — you should definitely expect the green seasoning to coat your fingers. This appetizer is vegan and gluten free.

    Akhtubut (grilled octopus, white beans, saffron, harissa, lemon foam): We enjoyed this dish, but the octopus could have been more tender and while it is possible the intent was for the beans to be a little crunchy, some were more undercooked than others. Management said they would work on the consistency issue with the beans.

    Pirzola (grilled lamb chops (3 pieces) spice marinated, braised napa cabbage, herb salad, nigella seeds): The lamb chops were cut to different thicknesses so were also different levels of doneness (medium rare at best, Medium Well, Well). The last cooked chop was a little tough but the other two were amazing. I would order this again. Management said they will work on the consistency issue on the chops. My guest and I practically fought over the tasty cabbage and refreshing herb salad.

    Adana Kebab (minced rib eye, maras pepper, bell pepper, sumac, onion,
    harissa, labneh, grilled long chili pepper): My guest (who has visited Turkey) said this was her favorite version of Adana Kebab. The grilled long Italian chilli pepper was definitely spicy.

    Jewels Pilaf (rice, sundried apricots, almonds, parsley, dill): We enjoyed the sweet and starchy pilaf, but it might have been to close after Thanksgiving for me, because I was getting stuffing vives from this one. This side dish is vegan and gluten free.

    Antep Baklava (pistachio baklava, dark cherry kaymak): We both enjoyed this extremely rich and decedent take on baklava. Neither of us has tried a baklava quite like this one before, and I’ve probably eaten half my weight in baklava in that particular dessert in my lifetime. I’m glad we shared it because a whole order may have been a bit much for me after such a large meal.

    The service was excellent (thanks Yulia!) and food restrictions were handled well. Both floors of the restaurant were very loud (you could hear everyone talking) but it was also a Saturday evening, which is probably their busiest night.

    You can tell we were impressed with Ala because my guest is already planning a lunch at the DuPont location, and I am planning a brunch at the upcoming Bethesda location, which should be opening in late January or so.

    -JAY

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  • 11Nov

    Mercy Me Has Relaunched in West End!

    Upscale lounge/restaurant Mercy Me relaunched in West End last week, featuring the cuisine of various regions of South America. Mercy Me is under new ownership, with a new chef, Executive Chef Robert Curtis, who is supported by Brazilian Chef and consultant Giancarlo Junyent.

    Mercy Me has a nice upscale lounge kind of vibe and decor, with a good amount of space between tables. We enjoyed the music played in the restaurant, which interestingly enough, Shazam (a music identification app), was unable to identify. The restaurant features curated music through weekly analog DJ sets (Thursday and Friday evenings), although we were not present during a performance. Mercy me also features a new private dining listening room.

    We started with cocktails, a Tropicalia Spritz (Vodka, Lilet Blanc, Alphonso Mango, Passion Fruit, Vanilla, Ripe Pineapple, Pet Nat), and Passion Marg (Habanero, Lime, Passion fruit, Pineapple, Mezcal, Tequila Blanco). Both drinks were tasty well-made cocktails. I didn’t taste habanero in the margarita, but that is probably a good thing.

    The menu has a variety of good options, but we had to decide, so we ordered the Ceviche (Hamachi, Purple Sweet Potato, Passion Fruit, Leech de Tigre), Chorizo Mussels
    (Honey Chorizo, Coconut Milk, Fennel, White Wine), Chaufa (Braised Pork Belly, Fried Rice, Piperade), and Whole Roasted Bass (Shaved Fennel and Orange Salad, Ahi Amarillo, Naam Prik). We enjoyed all four dishes, but we were probably most surprised by the Chaufa; the pork belly was executed wonderfully, with the perfect texture, and was served on very garlicky fried rice. The sauce on the mussels was savory, with the chorizo really enhancing the flavor of the dish; this preparation is easily as good as some of the best mussel dishes we have had in DC. They also did a great job with the texture and flavor of the sea bass, and we enjoyed the fennel salad, although the blood orange flavor seemed to get lost in the dish. The ceviche was a light and flavorful way to start the meal.

    The waiter recommended the Gnocchi (Braised Short Rib, Poblano Mole Sauce, Salsa Criolla, Cotija Cheese), so maybe we should try that dish next visit. Truth be told, we ordered mostly seafood because I had eaten at a kabob house for lunch.

    For dessert, we had the Chocolate Tres Leches (White Chocolate Cream, Citrus Jam, Banana Rum Sauce) and Pavlova (Coconut cream, Cherimoya Sorbet, Caipirinha Strawberries). We both enjoyed the light, creamy, and fruity Pavlova dish, but admittedly, neither of us had tried one before.

    My dining partner from that evening is already planning to bring his girlfriend to Mercy Me for date night, since the restaurant has a great vibe and wonderful food. You should check Mercy Me out too!

    -JAY

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  • 25Jun

    Brand New Thai Restaurant on P Street in DuPont Circle

    This is a shoutout to Sampannee at 2122 P Street NW (the old Asia 54 space)! They just opened 3 days ago. I stopped by yesterday and tried thePad Thai, Mango Sticky Rice, and Coconut Ice Cream (which has jackfruit inside). Definitely a place to try some authentic Thai cuisine. Next month they will open the counter next door for breakfast/brunch. The owner and staff are really sweet people — I’m so happy I met them.

    -JAY

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  • 30Jan

    Bacchus of Lebanon Has a New Enclosed Heated Patio

    We recently attended an event to showcase the new enclosed heated patio at Bacchus of Lebanon in Bethesda. The patio is nice and toasty! Here is a video of Zaid (the owner) talking about the new patio.

    Below are some photos from the event. We definitely need to go back soon for more of the yummy fresh hummus and baba ganouj.

    Chicken, Mushrooms, and Rice
    Felafel, Kalage Bel-Jebne, and Stuffed Grape Leaves
    Zaid is on the left or the right!
    Tabbouleh on the Left
    Baba Ganouj
    Hummus
    Baklava

    -Jason

    Disclosure: From time to time, we are given free items, meals, or entry to events. Our words are still our own.

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  • 29Dec

    May Your New Year Be Filled with New Menu Items from ChiKo

    Smashed Cucumber Salad, Umami Nosh, Warm Walnut Potato Salad
    Egg Drop Hot Sour Wonton Soup
    Dry Spiced Double-Fried Chicken Wings
    Xo Shrimp Lo Mein
    Wok Stir Fried Sea Bass
    Sesame Custard (Has no Eggs)
    Chinese Style 5 Spice Donuts

    We were happy to try the new menu items at the DuPont location of ChiKo, a group of Chinese/Korean fusion restaurants. I can’t eat egg yolks, so brought a plus one (“C”) to try the dishes I could not. We enjoyed all the new menu items; my guest vouched for the dishes I could not try).

    C’s favorite dishes of the visit were the Umami Nosh (soft-cooked egg, salmon caviar, seaweed) and Egg Drop Hot Sour Wonton Soup, two dishes I could not try. He attacked the Chinese Style 5 Spice Donuts. When he brought home the leftover soup, his partner proclaimed it “sex in a bowl.” I asked no further questions at that point.

    My favorite dishes of the evening were the Wok Stir Fried Sea Bass (which I LOVED) ordered without the oyster mushrooms and Dry Spiced Double-Fried Chicken Wings (wonderful savory flavor and perfectly crunchy), although the latter isn’t a new dish. I attacked the Sesame Custard, which does not contain eggs and features a perfect combination of flavors and textures (coconut, caramel, almonds, basil seeds).

    The new dishes are available at all ChiKo locations. Scroll down to see the menu.

    -JAY

    Disclosure: From time to time, we are given free items, meals, or entry to events. Our words are still our own.

    Standard menu. They also have a vegetarian and a GF menu.

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  • 13Dec

    Give Authentic Turkish Style Doner in Dupont Circle a Spin!

    The Turkish Pastries are Imported from Turkey.
    Chicken Shwarma is a New Menu Item.
    Beef/Lamb Doner Handled with Care.
    Doner Also Available on Flatbread or as Platter.

    Capital Doner in Dupont Circle (corner of P and 20th St NW) has been open over a year now, and recently added a second rotisserie; that one is for Chicken Shwarma. You can order your butter-basted Doner or Chicken Shwarma as a sub bread or flatbread, or with rice and French fries as a platter. The platter includes a large amount of food. And, yes, this restaurant is Turkish style (not Berlin style). The food is delicious here and they even have outdoor seating (no heaters). Sandwiches are $15 and platters are $19 for healthy sized portions.

    The pastries are imported from Turkey and exceptionally good. All except one of the pastries include pistachios (one is walnut). And yes, you can wash it down with Turkish coffee.

    I brought a Middle Eastern friend that was visiting from NY here, and he went back to Long Island trying to find doner as good as what we ate at Capital Doner. He hasn’t yet, but you’re welcome to make suggestions for Nassau County or Queens Turkish style Doner in the comments IF you’ve tried Capital Doner (so can make a fair comparison).

    -JAY

    Editor’s Note: We’re taking submissions for guest writers. Drop some article ideas you’d like to pursue (and a writing sample) at jay (at) dcfud (dot) com if you’re interested.

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