• 17Jul

    A Pizzeria called Crust Stays True to its Name

    When you first walk into Crust ( 8415 Old Courthouse Rd, Vienna, VA 22182), you’ll notice that the inside seems very industrial and modern looking for a place that is serving old school style pizza. The restaurant has a metal looking interior with red and black accents covering the tables and chairs. While you may get a trendy and or modern vibe from the decor, you will soon notice that there are pallets of flour, towers of canned tomatoes, and obligatory wall of famous Italian-Americans plastered in a few corners of the restaurant.

    At Crust, you order personal sized pizzas from a friendly staff who recommend both classics like their signature margherita or more creative takes like their eggplant Parmesan pizza. I was with a few friends and we decided to order one margherita, one eggplant, and one calzone, a trinity that would give us a taste of everything “pizza” that Crust has to offer. It is important to note that some of the pizzas, like the margherita that we ordered, are DOC certified. DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) certification means that Crust follows a strict set of rules in preparing the sauce, making the dough, and cooking the pizzas to qualify as true Neapolitan style pizza.

    As the pizzas and calzone came out of the oven and onto our table, there was a moment of pure euphoria in admiring just how beautiful the display of food looked. Of course pictures were taken and talks about the appearances were had before eating the actual pizza. As far as taste, the pizzas at Crust follow Neapolitan style down to a tee. The sauce was very simply crushed san marzano tomatoes, the cheese was fresh bubbly buffalo mozzarella, and the crust had a distinct burnt leopard pattern. Both the eggplant and the margherita pizza were devoured within minutes as we waited for the calzone to cool. An interesting point about the calzone is that in addition to a cheese and salami filling, the calzone also had cheese, sauce, and olive oil drizzled on top. While unconventional, the calzone was deemed the favorite at the table. The crust had a perfect amount of charring and crispy yet chewy interior that was perfect with the ricotta filling and the sauce on top as well as on the side.

    After our meal, I was able to talk to one of the owners crust’s owners, Kaivan Ejtemai. Kaivan told me that the idea of Crust was initially inspired by his honeymoon in Italy roughly ten years ago. After a few years of planning, Kaivan was able to open up Crust in late 2015 with co owners Farhad Bazaz, and Sam Ghahndi. What surprised me the most about the background of Crust is that Kaivan and the other owners are all Iranian-American, yet there was no indication that the restaurant had any Persian influences. What was however evident was the pride that Kaivan and his staff displayed when serving their food. Kaivan told me “We have the best ingredients and are always interested in making new and creative pizzas. It all comes down to a love for pizza.” Indeed this love for pizza is what makes Crust such an appealing pizzeria and a spot that should be on any pizza lovers list in the NOVA area.

    -ARM (new DCFUD contributor)

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  • 16May

    The Best Meal We’ve Had at Fogo De Chao

    We dine at Fogo De Chao a few times a year, and had an amazing meal recently (surpassing our other Fogo experiences). We were at the DC location to try their Spring menu, which included:

    • Lighter Cuts of Spring – Pork Picanha and a new spicy Linguica Sausage
    • Market Table Additions – Roasted Cauliflower Salad and a gluten-free Carrot & Ginger Soup
    • Crème de Coconut Dessert
    • Blood Orange Manhattan

    We also tried their new red wine blend, Eulia, one alcoholic drink (Grapefruit Elderflower Spritzer), and one of their new à la carte dry-aged steaks, the NY Strip ($75). The other à la carte steak is a Tomahawk Ribeye, which we may try another time.

    The dry-aged NY Strip was excellent, with a nice concentrated flavor. The pork picanha was lighter than we expected and quite good. We’ve never had linguica before (but have heard Emeril Lagasse talk about it for years) and enjoyed the sausage (which contains red pepper, garlic, and onions). The Roasted Cauliflower Salad and Carrot & Ginger Soups were favorites as well. The dessert was basically a coconut custard, and was enjoyable.

    All three beverages, Eulia (paired will with the NY Strip), the spritzer (a great nonalcoholic option), and the Blood Orange Manhattan (great update to a classic drink) were good choices. We would order any of them again.

    We did not try the Kale & Orange Salad, which is also a Spring item.

    Service was excellent as usual, but I want to point out that we much prefer this location to the Tyson’s branch.

    We can’t wait to see what Fogo’s Summer menu will bring, which we understand will include:

    Pork Belly & Pineapple, Queijo Assado, Watermelon Feta Salad, and the return of Roasted Cauliflower.

    -JAY

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  • 07May

    Three New-ish Restaurants to Try: Pollo, Regional Chinese, and Upscale Mexican

    #1. There is a new (a few months old) location of a Maryland Peruvian rotisserie chicken joint (Don Pollo) in Vienna (same strip mall as Taco Bamba). They use charcoal, and the rotisserie chicken, Lomo Saltado, and the beans (side) are must haves. The sides are good in general. The Chaufa (fried rice) is good.

    Avoid the Pollo Saltado, not just because it was served to use under cooked, but also because they use prepackaged, skinned and boned chicken breast for it, and the texture winds up not being good.

    Oh, for the chicken happy hour, they must RING YOUR MEAL UP by 5pm, so if you come in just before that time and there is a line at the register…you missed the special pricing.

    The Manager (Milton) is great, so say hi to him.

    City Large Plate Spicy Chicken with Spicy Sauce

    #2. Uncle Liu’s Hotpot now has new owners, (who as per Jessica Sidman of Washingtonian previously ran Tempt Asian in Alexandria) as of a few months ago. There’s still hot pot on the menu, and the previous Sichuan menu (and added a few Henan dishes).

    We tried the City Large Plate Spicy Chicken with Spicy Sauce, and it was great (and a huge amount of food). I’ve never found so many bay leaves or pieces of star anise in one dish before.

    #3. Urbano 116 is a new upscale-ish (a bit pricey) authentic Mexican place on King Street in Alexandria. We only tried a few things, but all were good. The churros would have been just ok if not for the just amazing chocolate sauce, and the guava sauce in comparison, fell flat. We ate at the bar since there was a 75 minute wait on a Saturday night. The drinks looked good. Their Chef is from Oaxaca, has worked in Europe, and just opened a restaurant in Mexico City–it took some convincing to get him to the DC area, I’m sure. Check out their menu.

    -JAY

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  • 07May

    Thai Waffles in DuPont!

    We recently had a nice dinner at Thai Chef in DuPont. We tried:

    Appetizers:

    Papaya Salad – sliced green papaya pounded with garlic, tomatoes, roasted peanuts, basil leaves, hot pepper & fresh lime juice

    Moo Ping – skewers of pork marinated in Thai herbs, grilled and served with spicy fish sauce

    Entrees:

    Tilapia Sam Rod – battered and deep fried Tilapia with sweet and spicy tamarind sauce

    Catfish Pad Ped – stir fried with young peppercorn, Thai eggplant and rhizome basil

    Kao Mun Gai – seasoned sliced steamed chicken served over herb studded jasmine rice, with cucumber, cilantro, and spicy garlic ginger sauce

    Thai Chili Shrimp – battered and deep fried shrimp with Thai chili

    Desserts:

    Mango Sticky Rice

    Traditional Bubble Waffle with palm sugar and shaved coconut

    The Standouts:

    The seafood (two fish dishes and an admittedly a little salty shrimp dish).

    The drinks

    The Thai Waffle

    Needs Improvement:

    Papaya Salad (which is usually a no brainer but was plain)

    Mango Sticky Rice (although it was pretty)

    We will definitely go back for some shrimp and waffles (that should be a thing!) and drinks. And, Thai Chef has $5 Happy Hour and great lunch specials during the week.

    -JAY

     

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  • 18Dec

    Take a Trip to Germany at the New Berliner Beer Hall

    The Berliner Beer Hall, Georgetown’s newest addition, transports you to Germany without leaving DC. Housed in the former Malmaison space (3401 Water Street NW; no website yet), this cavernous hall is promises a German beer experience like no other. DC has German restaurants (Cafe Berlin is a favorite), but truly inspired beer halls are hard to come by in this area.

    I attended a recent media event there and was immediately welcomed with a beer. I started with the Berliner Weisse from Braubacher, a 2.5% ABV sour. I loved the tart funkiness but the ABV just doesn’t do it for me, although it is easy drinking. So I switched to a slightly higher one, the Hefe Weissbier from Weihenstephaner, at 5.4% ABV. This beer was light and refreshing and had citrus notes. The beer menu is highly-curated, with a focus on both German and local brews.

    Food was passed as we listened to a German band. The Berliner is quite loud, especially with the music, so there was no way to ask what each item was. My favorite was the Pretzels and Beer Cheese, and while that combination can occasionally be too salty, this was not. I truly enjoyed many of the sausages, but I am not sure which ones I tried. The Kofta was quite flavorful, as was the Falafel, though both were slightly overcooked. I appreciate the friendly, hard-working staff, as it was an extremely busy kickoff party.

    While the location is slightly out-of-the-way (almost to the Key Bridge Boathouse), I expect the Berliner to do well, especially with it’s proximity to Arlington. I look forward to celebrating Oktoberfest here and grabbing a beer after kayaking in the summer.

    -LEM (Lia)

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  • 14Dec

    Open Sesame For a Taste of Israel Downtown

    Recently reopened in it’s new home of Golden Triangle, Little Sesame offers an excellent, fast casual take on hummus bowls and pita sandwiches. The long-awaited move has been met with out-the-door lines, but there is now an app for advance ordering.

    The focus at Little Sesame is hummus bowls, many of which change seasonally. My favorite is the #6, Keep It Classic, which in addition to hummus, includes chickpeas, tahini, schug (zhug/zhoug/zoug), dried herbs and spices. Served with a warm, fluffy pita, this bowl of rich hummus is pure comfort food. If you want something heartier, try the #5, which features their flavorful chicken shawarma. You can enjoy add-ons such as amba, feta, or extra pita. In addition to the bowls and sandwiches (which I have not yet tried), Little Sesame offers a variety of vegetable salatim to round out your meal.

    However, my absolutely favorite item on the menu is their Vanilla Tahini Soft Serve. It is dairy-free and unbelievably creamy and delicious. I recommend adding on the Halva or Soom Soom crumble for an additional treat.

    While I hope to try their pitas one day, I’m so obsessed with their hummus bowls that may not happen. Little Sesame provides delicious Israeli cuisine in the heart of downtown DC and it is worth visiting.

    -LEM (Lia)

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  • 13Dec

    Fish Market is an Old Town Stand Out

    Fish Market in Old Town Alexandria is a warm, casual restaurant, and a welcome reprieve among the higher-end options that line King Street. Reservations are not accepted and the friendly staff is helpful. I was recently there for a tasting event and loved everything I tried, which makes the Fish Market stand out when deciding on Old Town dining.

    A media group was welcomed into a second-story room overlooking King Street. The bartenders were on point with their strong-yet-balanced Hurricanes. The restaurant’s manager, Jesse, shared a bit about Fish Market, and let us know that it occupied an old ship building warehouse. On the menu were: Redfish Etouffee, Oysters Rockefeller, Lobster Tail, Peel-and-Eat Shrimp, Shrimp Skewers, Salmon with Vegetables, and the masterpiece, a gorgeous Seafood Tower. The tower consisted of oysters, clams, crab legs, lump crab, lobster, and shrimp cocktail. Watching the staff build this tower was pure art.

    Everything was delicious. Freshness is always a concern with seafood, but there are clearly no issues here. The Fish Market knows good, fresh fish. It’s hard to choose a favorite. The Seafood Tower is the obvious winner. The crab legs were so sweet and succulent and lump crab was super flavorful. The lobster was eventually cut and served and you can never go wrong with lobster. However, the Peel-and-Eat Shrimp were the tastiest version I have had in this area. Usually, this dish is a bit bland, but Fish Market perfectly seasons and cooks the shrimp. The other dish I was wowed by was the Redfish Etouffee. The redfish has a somewhat meaty texture that holds up well with the rich etouffee sauce. Served over rice, this dish was hearty and satisfying.

    Fish Market was generous enough to take us next door to Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, which is in the same building and has the same owners. I did not go, as I was way too full for dessert, but I am a long-time fan of Pop’s.

    I left quite impressed with the offerings at Fish Market and ready to return when I am in Old Town.

    -LEM (Lia)

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  • 12Dec

    Punch Bowl Social is Perfect for Ballston

    Slowly but surely, Ballston Quarter is starting to come to life. The newest addition, and one of the first restaurants to open is Punch Bowl Social. Essentially an indoor playground, this restaurant and bar offers an arcade, darts, bowling, a karaoke room, board games, bocce, and foosball over the course of three floors, plus a patio. Decorated as a cross between a mountain lodge and a funky playroom, Punch Bowl Social will be a fun night out.

    At the recent media event, we sampled drinks and eats from the menu. I have never met a friendlier, more helpful staff. Everyone was very excited that we were there, and that they were there, and did everything they could for us. As much as I enjoyed the food and drink, the staff really impressed me.

    I tried a variety of drinks, with the standouts being the Lavender Sour and the Non-Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri. The El Macho is also excellent. A party palace like Punch Bowl Social could have skimped on the well-thought cocktails, but happily, they did not.

    Food was also delicious. We sampled a Charcuterie Platter, featuring duck confit along with various cheeses and meats, Chicken and Waffles, and Pork Tacos. The platter was amazing, with the duck confit, marinated feta, and garlic herb bread being my favorites. The Chicken and Waffles pairs crunchy fried chicken (though the salt needs to be dialed back) with crispy waffles and plenty of syrup. And the pork for the make-your-own-tacos was quite flavorful. Again, they could have thrown some burgers, fries, and wings on the menu, left at that, but they did not.

    Punch Bowl Social has truly put care into their drinks and dishes so that you are not just eating pub grub and drinking a mixed drink. Everything is flavorful and slightly upscale, without being uptight. Finally, the DC area has a place to play where the focus is also on the food and cocktails.

    -LEM (Lia)

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  • 11Dec

    Unlimited Rounds of Meaty Protein at Chima

    After nearly 8 years, we returned to Chima, a Brazilian steakhouse in Tysons. Previous coverage can be found here. We do dine at these rodizio (all you can eat rotating selections of meat) restaurants often, and the name of the game is finding the true standout dishes, and we found quite a few.

    It’s important to mention that unlike their main Brazilian competitor (in Tysons), Chima has free valet parking. Also, on a Sunday in the early evening, we even found street parking.

    Our Favorites:

    Grill-wise, our favorites were the Filet Mignon (we tried the one without butter), Leg of Lamb, Cajun Ribeye, Salmon, Baby Top Sirloin with Garlic (picanha). We were impressed at how tasty the Filet Mignon was (even without butter) since it is often a tender but not very flavorful option. The Leg of Lamb was so well executed and flavorful, that my dining partner (who doesn’t usually eat lamb) very much enjoyed it. I tried the Salmon with passion fruit sauce instead of the cilantro pesto, although I hear the latter is good as well.

    The desserts were both quite good. It was nice that they had one vegan dessert, the raspberry sorbet. The Coconut Lava Cake was a great option as well, although I substituted cinnamon ice cream for vanilla.

    The Strawberry Caipirinha and Passion fruit Caipirinha were both delicious, so we know their cocktails are well-worth ordering.

    The salad bar included a good variety of fresh options and a flavorful vinaigrette. A few images of the salad bar were included above, but only cover a portion of your options.

    Room for Improvement:

    The tougher than usual Flank Steak, overcooked and bland sausage, and flavorless Black Beans with Pork (bland sausages and very tough chunks of pork) could be much improved. Please don’t confuse Chima’s Black Beans with Pork with Feijoada (the very flavorful national dish of Brazil), since they are not the same. I was ok with the beef ribs, but I eat them with chimmichurri, and wasn’t a huge fan of their very thin version of that sauce. I’m used to lighter cheese puffs. And, they do not have pork ribs.

    Strategy:

    At this type of AYCE restaurant, go with stronger options. At Chima, try Filet Mignon (with or without butter), Leg of Lamb, Cajun Ribeye, Salmon (with passion fruit or pesto sauce), Baby Top Sirloin with Garlic (picanha), Caiparinhas, desserts, and your favorite salads. Feel free to experiment with other options as well.

    We didn’t try everything, so feel free to comment or email us if we missed some of your favorite Chima dishes.

    -JAY

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  • 04Dec

    Savor Latin American Flavors at Toro Toro’s Brunch

    Chicken & Waffles

    Like many in the DC area, I fully enjoy brunch, especially when it is a truly bottomless brunch (all-you-can-eat-and-drink). I’ve been to many bottomless brunches, but Toro Toro is one of my favorites. A pan-Latin restaurant that started as a South American steakhouse and has been through a few iterations, Toro Toro, part of the Sandoval restaurant group, has a sexy yet chill vibe.

    Their brunch menu is completely revamped. You can order as many small plates as you like, and as many drinks as well. For drinks, I tried the caipirinha, the passion fruit mimosa, and the margarita. I love the caiprinha–it’s strong and not overly sweet. Their passion fruit mimosa has always been a favorite, and the margarita was perfect.

    For food, I tried the Lomo Saltado, Fried Chicken & Corn Waffles, Chilaquiles, Crispy Bacon Guacamole, and Braised Short Rib Arepa. The standouts were definitely the Arepa and Chicken & Waffles. The Arepa was quite flavorful, and the crisp corn cake provided a nice textural contrast with the tender short ribs and creamy guacamole. The chicken and waffles pair perfectly cooked Fried Chicken and Waffles with a chipotle honey agave and pickled chiles for sweetness and heat. The Lomo Saltado had plenty of delicious steak, and the crispy bacon guacamole benefited from the added smokiness of the bacon. The chilaquiles had one of the best black bean sauces I’ve ever tried. I was too full for any of the dessert offerings at brunch, but will return to try them.

    Service was fantastic, as our drinks were never empty, our server was knowledgeable, and the manager checked on us several times.

    The brunch at Toro Toro offers a good variety of breakfast and lunch options, and desserts to please most palates. The Latin American flavors make this a departure from the usual and the perfect way to liven up your weekend meal.

    -LEM (Lia)

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