167727 Fri May 16 19:17:56 -0700 2003 4 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 897135 I just drove by the Rose Cafe in Falls Church as they were taking down the ladder from changing the sign to "Rose Restaurant". La Casita-Tropical Sunset in Arlington seems to have closed as of a couple of weeks ago. I can't swear to it--I didn't walk up to the window and look--but it's been dark when we've driven by a couple of times just after 9, and it seemed dead, with no cars in the lot, when I drove by just now during Friday PM rush hour. Too bad, Tom Sietsema just reviewed it two weeks ago and pretty much liked it! Fri May 16 19:17:56 -0700 2003 0 Harlan 1 897180 Surely a nightmare for any critic to devote so much time to a place that goes under so quickly. Tough location. Even Chowhounds pretty much ignore this area of Arlington. I'm especially sorry since Bolivian was finally getting it's due in a very public way. I hope this will not temper Tom's choices in the future, though it is only natural he will try to learn from this experience. Down the street, I see that in the place of the now-closed "Argentine" La Copa is a new Bolivian place called Luzmilla's. Please check it out and report back before that goes under too! Mon May 19 10:44:50 -0700 2003 897135 0 Steve 2 897226 Regarding Luzmila: We stopped in one weeknight. We were the only people there other than two women who I suspected were associated with the restaurant. The ambience was dreary, and something loud and grating was being shown on the televisions at high volume. The menu was on two pages. The left side consisted of fairly boring dishes that we didn't want--breaded steaks and such. What we really craved--hearty stews and the like--were on the right side, which was marked "Saturdays and Sundays". We left. I had long before noticed a Luzmila's on Broad Street in Falls Church. I don't know whether this is a new branch, or whether it's just moved, or whether perhaps it's unrelated. By the way, Steve, I remember discussing the word "Pike" with you, having an idea that it meant something in Bolivian Spanish and that the fact that Pike's Pizza is on Columbia Pike was a coincidence. Now I remember: it's *pizza* that has a special meaning in their lingo. As far as I can tell, Pike's Pizza doesn't serve pizza. At least, it's not on the menu they hand out at the table, and it's not on the specials menu posted over the grill. However, I had lunch there on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago, and the sopa de maní (peanut soup) was soothing and hearty. It's full of boiled potatoes; I just wish they wouldn't use *so* many of them. I also sampled their salteñas, which are of the kitchen sink variety, with meat, chicken, and olives, and soupy as you explained to me. I also tried the huminta, or cheese bread (similar to a Salvadoran tamal de elote) but wasn't so keen on it. I preferred the one at La Casita. Another recollection from a couple of years ago--that Tutto Bene across from Ballston Common becomes a Bolivian operation on the weekend. Has anyone tried it? Mon May 19 19:43:58 -0700 2003 897180 0 Harlan 3 897271 I've eaten there a couple of times. It used to be a pizza place before it became Bolivian. I've tried the peanut soup, the pico de macho (or something similar, with hot dogs),and another dish. I enjoyed them all, up to a point. More quantity than quality, perhaps. The best thing was a killer steak sandwich. I'd return for that. Thanks for the info on Luzmilla's. Tell me if you ever get the saltenas at El Pike, on Patrick Henry at Rte. 50. Tue May 20 16:54:50 -0700 2003 897226 0 Steve 3 897468 Luzmilla on Lee Highway is a branch of Luzmilla on Broad St.FC which is still in business. The one on Lee Hwy probably will not last long. There is no parking at that location. That is what killed LA COPA. Tue May 27 09:06:49 -0700 2003 897226 0 naruda