354304 Mon Dec 25 16:48:13 -0800 2006 7 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 2127745 All I want for Christmas is to convince my father that there are Washington D.C. (or Rockville, Maryland) area restaurants that will fix his narrow-minded views of dining in America. Please help. The criteria (like him) are particular. He's an Old World gourmand now living near Rockville. He wants a restaurant: 1) That will be quiet. He is hard of hearing in one ear and deaf in the other. This is very important. 2) The food must be good. "Restaurant food makes me sick," he says. The particular cuisine does not make much difference, it just needs to be cooked very well. My parents like most food, especially French (go figure) as well as all kinds of seafood, and also Italian cooking. Small portions a plus, big portions a no-go. 3) The place needs to have good wine. He decides if it's good and does not care for pushy sommeliers and certainly not for un-informed ones. 4) The service must be included. He longs for the days of Old Europe where no one was "forcing" him to leave a tip. Yup, he's cheap. (As I type this, he says this restaurant can be found, in Northern Italy, in Milan...) So there you have it. Please help out with this challenge, I would most appreciate it and so would he. To help with your recommendations, there's a Seattle restaurant that meets all of these criteria, at a very reasonable price too. It's "Elemental at Gasworks." They have a fabulous menu & the owner matches inexpensive (yet delicious) wines with each course. The pairings are great, the food spectacular. Menu changes weekly, mostly local Northwest ingredients. http://www.elementalatgasworks.com/Menu.html Thanks again! Mon Dec 25 16:48:13 -0800 2006 61862 telescorpio 1 2127751 La Chaumiere in Georgetown fits your (father's) criteria. A little old-fashioned, laid-back, good wine, gastronomic menu. Mon Dec 25 16:53:12 -0800 2006 2127745 10022 PSZaas 1 2127833 I'd say Corduroy fits the bill, except that -- as with virtually all U.S. restaurants -- service is not included. (I'll bet, however, that if you called the restaurant and explained, they'd be willing to put the tip on the bill!) Mon Dec 25 18:02:47 -0800 2006 2127745 11767 MartyL 1 2128468 Common problem for us as well with older guests and foreign friends. Not much Old World style left in town. My husband has a hearing loss and wears a hearing aid and the noise in most DC restaurants is unpleasant for him. The tip should be easily solved by a quiet side conversation with the waiter. Some of the places that they have liked have included: La Chaumiere has French staples, well executed, and gets an older crowd in the evenings, lots of Georgetown regulars. Sea Catch in Georgetown has excellent fresh seafood, very well prepared, in a lovely setting along the C & O Canal. Taberna del Alabardero has elegant Old World service. They have excellent paella for those not familiar with Spanish alta cocina, their true specialty which draws Spanish diplomats from the Embassy and World Bank. Ristorante Tosca is a lovely upscale Italian restaurant with excellent service, excellent food. The chef is from Lake Como, near Milan. Will that make your father happy? Butterfield 9 is a favorite of the expense account set at lunch for excellent food and service. Great gnocci. Creative seasonal menus. The Oval Room is possibly on the trendy side but the food and service are excellent. Coururoy's food is terrific, although it is located in a rather anonymous-looking hotel. The service is tops. The Prime Rib still serves great beef in a lovely setting, minus the current steakhouse chic. Always a good Plan B. You should check the online menus of the places you are considering to make sure that your father won't be put off by the descriptons of the food. That's unfortunate because sometimes the food is far better than it sounds to an old curmudeon's prejudices. I've had excellent meals and pleasant experiences at all of the above. The noise level was fine but make sure you mention this when you make your reservation. Tue Dec 26 03:29:08 -0800 2006 2127745 32444 MakingSense 1 2128807 Making Sense has generated an excellent list. I particularly second the recommendation for Taberna del Alabardero. Since your table is yours for the evening, the pace of the service best approximates the style of European dining. I'm guessing that the small banquette on the left or a table along the banquette on the raised tier would be among the quieter locations. At least the noise would only be coming from one direction rather than the situation in a free-standing table. L'Auberge Chez Francois, located in Great Falls Virginia, is definitely Old World cuisine. The price on the menu next to the entree covers a starter and dessert. That may appeal to the OP's cost-conscious father. However, the restaurant is very large, although the place is sub-divided into many smaller rooms. I don't know whether the sheer scale of the place would appeal to the OP's father. The OP would have to ask whether some rooms are quieter than others. Season restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown is another option. Refined cuisine, very polished service, and subdued decor in a park-like setting. Tue Dec 26 11:47:34 -0800 2006 2127745 61567 Indy 67 1 2128846 I'd second Corduroy. My father also has high dining standards and he loved Corduroy. The service was excellent and the food could not be faulted. The only trick is the location of the restuarant. My father was very wary of a fining dining establishment located in a Sheraton hotel. Hopefully your dad can look past the location like my dad did. Tue Dec 26 13:25:05 -0800 2006 2127745 58939 Polly P 1 2128891 I would recommend Vidalia and Marcel's. I've been to Vidalia with someone who cares more about wine than anyone I know, and he was blown away; the food is fantastic as well. I don't remember it being too loud. Marcel's might be perfect - it's very expensive but has an old-world, hushed feel, and is top-top-notch food and wine. These are probably my two favorite's in the area for special meals. Tue Dec 26 14:12:21 -0800 2006 2127745 51636 javirgan 1 2128942 Maybe he would like Nick's Chophouse in Rockville? I agree with the person who said to call ahead and when you make your reservation ask them to add the tip onto the bill. Not sure how else to include service. Tue Dec 26 15:02:16 -0800 2006 2127745 10253 wookyluvr