368219 Tue Feb 06 10:32:52 -0800 2007 7 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 2264978 I'm coming from Boston next week ready to cram in as much as possible in 3 days and wondered what you thought of the following. The first nite (Fri.) I'll be meeting a friend who works at the SEC. My stipulations are fun, entrees $16-28, Italilan/new American/med/maybe French. A happy hour on that day would be nice. With all the great comments on Dino, I definitely want to eat there one nite. Do you think that's more of a Fri. or Sat. nite place? Either way, a fun but adult bar closeby would be nice. Should we stop for a drink at Palena first since they seem really close? As someone who walks a ton, can I walk from Dupont Circle to Dino? It looks close on the subway map. Below are some of the others that have caught my eye, any thoughts? I'm happy to venture into any part of town but my friend would like places very close to the metro. Café St. Ex: 1847 14th St. NW @ T (U St. Cardoza green line) Central: 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW @10th, 202 626-0015, (seems like a good chance to eat a famous chef's food for less $$) Firefly: 1310 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 861-1310, Dupont circle Szechuan House Fusion Grill: 515 8th St. SE, $12-24 Sonoma: 223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 544-8088, wine bar I also want casual southern food (Oohh's and Aahh's?), a non-fancy burger (Five Guys?), something casual (Martin's Tavern?), maybe a Fractured Prune donut (altho those look too fancy). I feel like I should have Ethiopian but it's lower on the list. Thoughts on the nicer Fri. and Sat. dinners and drinks out would be esp. appreciated. Thanks in advance. Tue Feb 06 10:32:52 -0800 2007 14253 Joanie 1 2265019 Dino can be done either night- it's more of a neighborhood place so you aren't going to be running into the slam the bar crowd. Dino has a few irish bars around it, though the bars in the area are a half mile to mile down the road in Adams Morgan. Palena has a nice bar, though it can get cramped. I would not walk from DuPont to Dino- that's like a 2-3 mile walk or so. I'd get back on the metro at DuPont and go 2 stops up to Cleveland Park. (note that the metro map isn't to scale at all). For a non-fancy burger at brunch time on the weekend go to Bourbon and have the ostrich burger with carmelized onions and their baked beans on the side for about 12 bucks. Very yummy (my opinion of this burger has changed since I learned to order ostrich rare and not medium). I'd skip Sonoma- I've never had a great experience there and their food leaves a touch to be desired, but their wine and chees is great. If I really wanted to splurge and get a combination of southern influenced food with an amazing bar I'd go to Vidalia, but it's going to be right on the high end of your price range. The mint julip at Vidalia is far and away the best I've had anywhere outside of KY. If you're looking for late night options, as mentioned before, look no further than Adams Morgan. This is the bar central section of the city. You have to be careful though or else you're going to be hanging out with 20 year olds at the Angry Inch. I'd look to the Reef if you are there on the early side. Bourbon or the Blue Room at any time of the night. Bedrock Billiards for pool and only top shelf drinks, Pharmacy bar for your local indie dive bar, Asylum for your vegan biker bar, Columbia Station for your jazz bar, and the list can go on. Tue Feb 06 10:41:07 -0800 2007 2264978 49180 jpschust 2 2268035 I appreciate jpschust's comments, esp. the rec for Pharmacy which sounds up our alley (Asylum might be interesting too). Please feel free to post or email any more info on bars w/ good music but not Irish or all kids. As far as swanky bars, what about Le Bar at 806 15th St. NW? Or something good right in Dupont Circle? No one else has thoughts on any of the above restaurants for a fun, not overly pricey dinner? And cheap bites in between? Wed Feb 07 08:23:41 -0800 2007 2265019 14253 Joanie 3 2268121 Oh you like dives with good music do you? Then I've got a bunch for you (these are my favorites): Right on DuPont Circle- The Big Hunt. Whatever you do, do NOT eat at this place. Easily the least clean place I've ever been in DC. The beer selection and dive factor along with music makes this place awesome. Just south of there Lucky Bar- same kind of atmosphere. Do NOT eat there. Cheap bites right off dupont there is a decent pizza place for grab and go and just south of DuPont on Connecticut I adore Luna which is pretty inexpensive sit down cafe style food. I don't like Le Bar- it just feels odd and creepy to me. For swanky bars I'd go to the Topaz bar (google it), and for classic old style bars I'd go to the basement of the Hay Adams or to the Tabard Inn bar. Hay Adams is very close to Le Bar. Wed Feb 07 08:43:15 -0800 2007 2268035 49180 jpschust 4 2271598 Thank you monkeyerotica and jps for your replies, I guess Cafe St. Ex isn't the place to go. I thought my specific questions would get me more feedback but alas... I found this helpful site http://www.bardc.com/?page=cat&cat=am but I've got more bar/music questions which I know CH isn't psyched to have posted. So if JP could zap a quick email to joanie at wmbr dot org, I'd very much appreciate it. Thu Feb 08 04:55:23 -0800 2007 2268121 14253 Joanie 4 2273545 Dives with good music: must check out Fox and Hounds on 17th Street (at Q). Thu Feb 08 13:51:59 -0800 2007 2268121 56762 LulusMom 1 2268080 I'd keep walking past St Ex and have a meal at Bar Pilar (same owner, much less pretentious and crowded). Do a search on Five Guys and you'll find wildly varying reviews. You're better off going to Sign of the Whale or Stoneys for a casual burger. The former is a block from Farragut North Metro. Adams Morgan can be a real riot zone Friday/Saturday nights, packed with drunk fratboy types and aging hipsters. You may want to go early, like before sundown. Or check out who's playing at the Black Cat and have a drink there. Wed Feb 07 08:35:13 -0800 2007 2264978 12359 monkeyrotica 1 2273423 I'd definitely try Central if you can... as Michel Richard's new opening, it's unique to DC. And he is an amazing chef. Unlike Citronelle, Central is much more mainstream and not the wonderfully, whimsically unique experience that Citronelle is, but the quality of the food is terrific. For a more neighborhood type of place, St. Ex or Bar Pilar are good places to go. Very low-key, comfortable. I live near there and go to St. Ex a lot. If you're looking for good southern food, try Creme Cafe along the U Street corridor, which is a great area, not far from St. Ex / Bar Pilar. Terrell Danley was the chef at Georgia Brown's (upscale Southern) for many years, and opened Creme Cafe a couple of years ago as a much more relaxed place. Here's the Washington Post review: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1114347 Wherever you go, enjoy! Thu Feb 08 13:25:47 -0800 2007 2264978 52967 Night Owl