311238 Fri Jul 21 19:30:50 -0700 2006 6 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 1759356 I had the pleasure of an astounding meal at Colvin Run Tavern in Tysons Corner the other day. It was organized by and for members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, a gourmet club that I joined years ago and rarely get to participate in. (One of the club's quirks is that members are expected to wear colored sashes that denote their status in the club--thankfully I packed mine away somewhere years ago and haven't a clue where it is...) While this meal was not necessarily replicable on a regular night by regular customers, it demonstrated to me the incredible skills of the chef and his team. Every dish that came out was as close to perfect as you could hope, and incorporated a relatively broad range of ingredients. Particularly memorable was a perfectly-fried soft shell crab with a Thai dipping sauce; halibut with fava beans with a smoked tomato sauce; and squab with sweetbreads. The dessert was a wonderful peach tarte tatin along with little mignardises, each of which was sublime. If you have not been to Colvin Run, you might want to give it a try! Fri Jul 21 19:30:50 -0700 2006 10106 James G 1 1759537 That's certainly inspiring news, James. (Imagine what delicacies you might have enjoyed had you been wearing your sash!) I haven't been, but I've heard a wide array of reactions, from raves such as yours to "OK, but hardly worth the steep price." Unfortunately, that seems to be par for Kinkead's places these days -- as you say, obviously the talent and imagination are there to create a great meal; but they're plagued by inconsistency and/or going-through-the-motions. (I had miserable fried belly clams at Kinkead's recently, for instance -- whereas in the past they've been Maine-worthy.) Any other reports on Colvin's so that we can get a broader sense of things? Tips for having a meal as successful as James's? Fri Jul 21 20:35:32 -0700 2006 1759356 11767 MartyL 2 1759549 In general Colvin Run does a very good job with the food and the service (for those of you thinking restaurant week, they do a great job even though they are usually slammed the entire week). My only quirks are that not all of the dining rooms offer the same feel- I prefer the Shenendoah room, and that sometimes the food tastes like it has -so- much butter in it I might have a heart attack. Fri Jul 21 20:38:53 -0700 2006 1759537 14624 redglass 1 1760483 By the way, this was the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Dinner Menu: Hors D’oeuvres Sesame Tuna with Wakame Salad, Ginger and Wontons Foie Gras Terrine with Sour Cherries Fried Clams on Fried Lemons with Tartar Sauce Brut Réserve, Philippe Gonet, Mesnil-sur-Oger, NV ****** Softshell Crab with Green Papaya Salad Riesling, «Cuvee Sainte Catherine», Domaine Weinbach, Alsace, 2004 ***** Halibut with creamed local Silver Queen Corn, Favas and crispy fresh Carolina Shrimp Château Carbonnieux blanc, Pessac-Léognan, 2003 ***** Gnocchi with sun-dried Tomatoes, Basil, Mushrooms, Garlic Confit, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Buffala Mozzarella «Campaccio» (Sangiovese with Cabernet), Terrabianca, Tuscany, 2003 ***** Squab with Porcini, Thyme, Artichokes, and Sweetbreads Pinot Noir, Domaine Drouhin, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2003 ***** Peach Tarte Tatin with Peaches and Cream Ice Cream Jurançon, « Symphonie de Novembre », Domaine Cauhapé, 2003 Coffee, Teas, and Mignardises Sat Jul 22 10:34:33 -0700 2006 1759356 10106 James G 1 1765147 The fried clams three ways and the softshell crab were some of the best I've had. Colvin is a real treat. Tue Jul 25 03:14:23 -0700 2006 1759356 11516 biscuit 1 1767917 We had dinner New Years Eve at Colvin Run and thought it was one of the best places we had ever dined... In fact, we are going back again this weekend for a romantic dinner... Wed Jul 26 06:51:46 -0700 2006 1759356 11198 Andy 1 2902171 I've always been disappointed at Colvin Run, and I'm almost happy to see it close tomorrow. Decorative little morsels all over the plate, too young and uninformed staff....plus the lease situation is ridiculous for supporting a restaurant. It opened a few years ago on the coattails of Bob Kinkaid's name, promising sex on a plate, and every time I went there I promised never to go back. Fri Aug 31 20:21:51 -0700 2007 1759356 105918 BigEats