Food: YUMS! Unlike many other area restaurants, Filomena didn’t create an entirely new menu of simpler items or minimize the serving size. The Arancini was to die for – the mozzarella in the middle of the rolled and fried risotto balls melts in your mouth. Served with a simple yet obviously loved and pampered marina sauce (I Heart Basil), these were an amazing (yet possibly too heavy) way to start off the meal. Filomena gets a lot of attention for their homemade gnocchi, especially since there is a cute lil’ woman at the entrance to the restaurant (see pic – she’s SO cute!) rolling and cutting pasta into gnocchi-shapes. I couldn’t pass it up – gnocchi is just too fun (yes, FUN). Several of us at dinner ordered the Gnocchi Della Mamma, while others ordered the Scampi De Palermo. Lots of pasta, marinara sauce, Chianti and big smiles all around the table.

Drink: The waiter recommended a mid-priced Chianti to complement our meal. I’m generally a fan of Chianti (don’t LURV it but I LIKE it) but this one wasn’t the best. ::Rolls Eyes:: I should learn more about wine before judging my waiter’s recommendations, right? Yup. Filomena offered complimentary digestifs post-meal and pre-food coma. Amaretto and Sambuca are an interesting way to “move things along.”

Bathroom Rating: Easily accessible, large mirrors for the last minute dress and makeup check, floral paintings in each of the ladies’ stalls and no climbing stairs comparable to Mount Everest to get there. A wee bit messy but its Restaurant Week – I’m preeeettttty sure all staff were on call to cater to hungry people.

Eye Candy: BAHAHAHA. It’s Georgetown. Unless you like the early-20’s cookie-cutter pink polo and khakis-look, there was nothing to think twice about. [Editor's Note: So true. So true.]

High Heel Quotient: There is a steep stairway into the restaurant from the street but otherwise, my 4 inch t-straps felt right at home (well, not really, because they were the cutest! ::bats eyes::) Overall, no reason to feel risk of tripping or danger of falling.

Waitstaff: Great waiter, great Maitre d’, great folks bussing the tables…Overall, great service. Everyone had a smile and seemed happy to see you, even though they must have been standing for hours while catering to Whiney Whinersons.

Overall: 3.75 out of 5. We waited an hour after our reservation to be seated after repeatedly being quoted ”10 minutes.”  I understand that. Not judging, just commenting. Very impressed with fast food , kind service, nice (aka Fat American) portion sizes (::rubs belly::). Not pleased with catty Georgetowners with ungrateful attitudes. Restaurant Week is a hard week for restaurants and their staff so I have to give Filomena kudos and say, GO TEAM GNOCCHI!

The U Street corridor has long been associated with making DC music history. Almost every bar, restaurant and club in this area offer music, delish cocktails and food. Here are my choices for a fun yet swoon-worthy.

Visit Vinoteca Wine Bar and Bistro (11^th & U Streets) for a glass of wine and light fare before heading to a jazz show nearby. Vinoteca quickly became a local hotspot, offering a range of wines and keeping its menu fresh with new items. It’s a small cozy place with warm and chic decorations reminiscent of wine bars on the LES. Choose from the happy hour or dinner menu, but if you’re like me, you’ll go straight to the cheese and charcuterie offerings (Cheese + wine = win). You have ventured into a haven for great wine but just as good people watching. Tips: This classy neighborhood wine bar is very popular. Make reservations for 2 through OpenTable, especially if you’re trying to make a show. Gab away over your wine, since a jazz performance is not the place to loudly share your latest drama.

Once your mouth is satisfied, walk the 2 blocks to Twins Jazz on 13^th & U Streets. Twins is a DC staple, not only with nurturing jazz greats from the area but also for having stayed strong through the ebb and flow of changes in our Nation’s Capitol.  The venue has a wine list and a dinner menu but inside sources advise eating before you arrive (::shrug::) and leave the jazz venue to the jazz. A door cover is required but the minimal cost is worth it for the fun you’re about to experience.  Sit back, relax and absorb the music. Twins doesn’t feature “pseudo” talent – you’re going to experience some of the best. Real jazz lovers find comfort here so rest assured you’re with the “In” crowd. Tips: Twins is popular. Make your reservations in advance and get there early to secure a table in front.

Note: the U Street Corridor has SO many fun places to choose from. It will take more than 1 night to get a feel for the area and all that it offers. New places are poppin’ up left & right, if you have a place you love, post a comment with your reccs so CG can check it out.

[Photo Credits: top Jazz from the Boston Herald, bottom Vinoteca from Vinoteca.com]

So, my Gentlemen Caller and I decided to venture out from downtown DC and head to to the wilds of Old Town.  Crazy, I know.  but sometimes it must be done. And for good food, this CityGirl is ready to wave her man over and demand with large gestures that he drive her places.  Or, you know, ask politely.

Dinner: Attempting to be healthy, we both had fish.  He had salmon and I had rockfish, and we found ourselves highly enjoying the food.  Serving size was just enough, but definitely not too much.  The flavor was also delicate but enjoyable and felt very fresh.  We also, in a moment of weakness, ordered the Belgian frites because…well, we were at a Belgian restaurant. Also–the fries they were AWESOME.  The mouth waters just thinking about it now.  Sighhhhh.

Drinks: Yes, there definitely were some! The wine list was long and what you would expect, and the bar was fully stocked with an OUTSTANDING mixologist. We were fans!

Bathroom Rating: The bathroom, located in the Lorian Hotel itself, was very sleek and….grey.  Lots of oddly shaped sinks and dimish lighting.  We were pleased, however, that the lights by the sink were bright enough for us to reapply our lipstick (crooked).  We give it a 6.9 out of 10.

High Heel Quotient: Not deadly! We actually were able to walk (had we not demanded a ride) from the metro on another occasion.  It’s about 1.5 blocks, and totally doable, which is normally not something we associate with Old Town….being more of a “flats” situation.

Eye Candy: Brabo’s clientele trends older…so, if you are there for dinner it’s probably best to bring your own date.

Waitstaff: Very smooth, polite, and totally on top of their work.  Dinner was seamless, and the experience was very very pleasant.

Overall Rating: In our armoire of restaurant ratings, we give Brabo pride of place in our top sock drawer — it is both the woolly argyle of winter comfort and the tennis sock of summer relaxation.  The ambiance is awesome — quiet, elegant, and classy.  The service is excellent, and did we mention the Belgian frites? Bravo Brabo! (We’ve been waiting to say that for far too long!). 4 out of 5.

Againn

Againn has been tweeted about a bunch recently and several of my foodie friends have had mixed reviews. I dont like being out of the loop so I made a reservation right away!

Food: The charcuterie board is a great way to start off any meal. I was excited to see Benton’s ham on the menu and the chicken liver/pork pate was delicious. The pork belly was greasy but also had a nice crisp top, and I thought that the grits had a delightful burst of flavor. I tried the lobster salad which had the lightest vinaigrette and thankfully didn’t overpower the bit of lobster.

Drink: Againn has an extensive beer and scotch offering. But wine lovers like me are also well taken care of (::wags tail::)! There are great and rare wines at a decent price. If you’re lucky enough to go on a Monday, then be sure to take advantage of the 1/2 price bottles of wine deal!  This is a major win.

Bathroom Rating: I’ve never thought a bathroom was pretty until now. Take note of the antique details and elegant decorations. Both male and female guests have the choice of 2 private restrooms which is a nice touch. However, if you’re unlucky enough to have to wait for the restroom, your only option is to stand out in the hall way – in the way of bustling servers and in plain sight of the dining room. Woof.

High Heel Quotient: Nice flat surfaces welcome any type of shoe and challenge you to wear your highest heels! I was comfortable in my 4.5 inches and never worried about slipping into some random crevice or sliding on a slippery floor. A major public thank you to the designers of Againn!

Eye Candy: None except for the hottie I was with. Back off, ladies.

Waitstaff: The food runner and our wine guy knew more about the food than our waitress. Our food runner described the charcuterie plate with passion and the lovely gentleman who kept our glasses full (the way to my heart! swoon) spoke about his favorite dishes with determination. A+.

Overall: I liked it but I didn’t love it. The restaurant never seems to be full but some of the waitstaff seems perpetually flustered. Nice flavors and interesting ideas – I definitely think the Chef is on to something. Maybe it needs a few more months to iron out some wrinkles. especially in the front of house? If so, I’d definitely try it again. 3 out of 5.

633 D Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20004-2904, (202) 637-1222

www.rasikarestaurant.com

Food:  Creative, fine, complex and yet satisfying in a soul food kind of way.  This is NOT your average Indian restaurant…this is something else entirely. The chili ginger scallops were amazing: a sweet and spicy succulent dream that melts in your mouth.  Palak Chaat (crispy spinach with tamarind, yogurt, and data chutney) =  Heaven On a Plate.  The Lamb Bukhara (braised lamb with cashew nuts, apricots, and cardamom) was tender and decadently creamy…    I am not usually a big dessert fan, but let me tell you the rose/lychee/raspberry sorbet has made me a believer!   It was the best possible way to end such a wonderful dining experience.  Did I have an orgasmic moment at the table? Yes! In fact, I had several.

Drink: The drinks list was creative and crafted with a lot of care to compliment the menu.  I am not one to drink wine with Indian food but the sommelier is dutifully available if you choose to go that route.  Personally, I recommend their signature cocktails and, especially, the Cucumber Vesper: cucumber infused vodka, gin, and some other delicious ingredients.  It was sublime on a warm summer evening and the perfect foil to my diner.

Bathroom Rating: Elegant and clean.  But in all honesty, even if the bathroom were a mere pit in the ground, it wouldn’t matter to me.  I would go to hell and back for more chili ginger scallops.

High Heel Quotient: You can strut your stuff in your highest killer-spike heels to get there.  It’s close to Chinatown/Gallery Place (Red/Yellow) and Navy Memorial/Archives (Green/Yellow), and if you’ve elected to wear flats, you can even walk to Metro Center to catch the Orange/Blue line.

Eye Candy: One standout, very darkly handsome member of the waitstaff got my heart racing.  But since I was there with a date, well, you know…  I had to keep myself in check.  What about the other patrons?  Well, I’d like to think I raised the bar.

Waitstaff: Very knowledgeable and professional.

Overall: A refreshing dining experience here in DC that comes highly recommended by this foodie.  The cadre is very elegant, yet unpretentious, and the acoustics were at a reasonable level for a packed restaurant.  The menu is exciting and the drink menu is, in itself, worth a trip.  Voila, that is all I have to say! 3.8 out of 5.

P.O.V. opened up a year ago with much advancing of swagger.  Hip, happening, almost too funky for DC, we all flocked to it and oohh’d and ahhh’d about the amazing view and the amazing view and did you see the view? Also, cool decor!

But now it is a year later.  And I have to say: disappointment rules the day.  The view, admittedly, is still amazing.  The decor in both the lobby and the upstairs is cool and awesome.  But the rest of it? BOOO.

Drink: I’m getting used to paying a ton of money for drinks in DC, and especially at the swankier places.  But in said places, I expect the drinks to. be. good. P.O.V, however, does not have this same expectation.  Our drinks were overpriced and DEFIANTLY not good.  The words used at the table for the mojito was “sub-par at best” and the rest of the drinks were…yeah. “Terrible” “Not good” and “What is this?” were heard.

Waitstaff: All cute and attractive women, if you are a gentleman looking for a date.  But, if you are a thirsty CityGirl, you are out of luck.  It took 10-15 minutes for a waitress to even come by and ask us if we wanted drinks, and another 20-30 minutes for said drinks to arrive.  And when we moved tables (directed by the hostess) our drinks did not follow us, and our new waitress took the same amount of leisurely time to come over and say hello.  It got so bad that we canceled our second round of drinks and asked for the check.

Food: We didn’t eat at P.O.V, but we did get food from other restaurant folks shoved in our faces ever 5 minutes.  Seriously, they must have brought over 5 different dishes ordered by other tables and tried to give them to us.  The first time, we waved it off. The third time, we got annoyed. The fifth time, we tried to help ourselves.

Overall Experience: We never made it to the bathroom etc etc at P.O.V because we were too busy trying to leave….for a half hour.  It took forever to get our check and get out of there.  And maybe I’m becoming old, but the music was too loud, there were too many staff doing too little, and service was terrible.  As were the beverages.  I say go for a minute and check out the view, and then go somewhere much better for your actual night out.    Do we sound grumpy? Well, we are.

www.caferenaissance.com

Food: Well, the food was fantastic.  Who doesn’t love a menu which features French and Italian fare done in style?  We had the rainbow trout oscar and were well pleased.  Other options include filet mignon, veal, pasta and fish. Yummmmmm…..

Drink: The drink menu is extensive and choice is good.  We appreciated the very very strong pours!

Bathroom Rating: Bathroom is tucked away in the back, but like all of the tables, featured fresh flowers. We were fans! Well lit, small and clean, we give it a 7 out of 10.

High Heel Quotient: Located in Vienna, this is DEFINITELY a place you are driving.

Eye Candy: More for couples than for singles…

Waitstaff: Friendly, personal, well done! It’s the kind of place where you can get to know the owner, and drink a glass of after-dinner sherry.  We like that.

Overall: A small, cosy restaurant with a touch of class and lovely fresh flower arrangements.  The menu is great, the specials list is extensive, and the ambiance is perfect for a special occasions, a date where you want to enjoy both dinner and conversation, or a place to take the ‘rents when they are in town. 4 out of 5.

Food: If you’re not tiring of the tapas trend (and we admit we are), you cannot be disappointed with Chifa. We were there with a group for restaurant week and were able to do a global tour of the menu. One of our Iron Chef Jose Garces’s little kingdom, Chifa’s cuisine is meant to replicate culinary influence of Chinese immigrants in Peru. Obscure? You bet. Tasty? Absolutely. Our favorites were the spring rolls, pho, and red crab curry.

Drink: As long as money is no object, you’ll be fine! By which we mean, eek! The wine bottle prices are daunting. And while I typically tell myself the prices are due to the fine and rare quality vintages on offer… I found it hard to suspend disbelief when our server brought out a familiar bottle of Alsatian wine for $40. It strongly resembled the kind we used to get in grad school in Europe because it was the cheapest on the supermarket shelves (about $5 but hey that’s Europe for you). I also sampled the lychee sangria (LOVE lychee!!!) which I will give a solid good. My fellow diners all got “vodka and club” which went down as happily as it does for them at every other restaurant in the city (they are wise…).

Bathroom Rating: What is with our city and the unisex bathroom? I thought we had exhausted the funny factor when the Ally McBeal series came to an end. Apparently not. In any case, here’s what I can tell you. It’s dark and it can be disconcerting when a man pops out of a stall in front of you (see, men in weird places). Anyhoo, WE spent our time in the bathroom combing the dark shadows under the sink in search of my sister’s lipstick. Dark, dark shadows + black tube of lipstick = challenging. Also, bare fingers on a public bathroom floor……. well, at least the soap had a clean and pleasant lavender fragrance.

High Heel Quotient: Meh. You can walk it from Market East station (better if you catch get the Broad St Line express to 8th and Market). Unless it’s raining, you forget your umbrella, you wear new heels that pinch your toes, or you are too stubborn to let your boyfriend drive all the way across the city and back just to drive you. Or wait, maybe that’s just us.

Eye Candy: Um, its dark. Very dark.

Waitstaff: Friendly and professional, tolerated (barely) our noisy antics.

Overall Rating: 3.8 out of 5

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en

Georgetown Waterfront

www.farmersandfishers.com

Food: The menu was expansive and interesting, which caused much dithering and second guessing while we waited to order. Everything sounded very very good.  The home-made-at-your-table guac was excellent, and vanished from our table in seconds.  The chocolate-dipped bacon lollipops were AWESOME (though, it was pointed out that you have to be on board with that taste sensation to fully enjoy it), and the fish tacos were a big hit.  Dessert was slightly disappointing, everything seemed to appear in a small cookie cup, and we weren’t sure we loved it.  Good, but not great.  We WERE fans of the donuts dipped in chocolate though—argmmmmm…….donuts.

Drink: Extensive and well-made cocktail menu, much like Founding Farmers, the sister restaurant.  Drinks were very good, and we found ourselves LOVING the Grog, the Painkiller, and, for those who are looking for non-alcoholic fare, the blood orange drink.  Yummy!  There may have also been a pitcher of sangria involved (much better price point than just buying it buy the glass–the pitcher is fairly large and will do your table right) that lead to some loud and expansive toasts.  But the drinks deserved it!

Bathroom Rating: Bathroom was nice, especially the sign in the ladies room which read: “Men and fish are a lot alike, when they open their mouths they get into trouble.” Bravo! Cleanliness was reasonable, and overall we give it a 6.8 out of 10.  Spacious, decent lighting, and the all important purse hanger thingy for your purse.

High Heel Quotient: Well, summer has begun, and so has the dreaded “flip flop and summer dress” combo.  As you are in Georgetown, flats make sense to keep your sanity.

Eye Candy: Sit outside and watch the beautiful (and not so much) parade by. LOTS to see!

Waitstaff: Nice. Polite. Women.

Overall: The interior of the restaurant is spacious with a long bar and a down-home vibe.  The patio, however, is the place to be for scenic waterfront people watching.  The food is good, the cocktails are even better. However, on a busy night the bar service can be slow, so if you need your alcohol right away our tip is to go inside and order directly from the bar.  Food service was reasonably quick, and we are delighted that good food has finally FINALLY come to the waterfront.  Farmers and Fishers is great for a group of friends, a fun cocktail hour, and a place to carb-load before the heavier drinking/dancing commences.  Cheers!