Corduroy closing

[DCFoodGal]

Has anyone been in this last week before they close for their move? Interested if the menu is really scaled back or not as I am going this evening. Thanks.

[MrsWheatie]

Anyone going this evening? We had to change our rezzies to this evening.

They are moving to a a location near the convention center.http://www.corduroydc.com/about_cordu...

[humblegourmand]

With all of these great reports, I'm wishing I'd gotten my act together and gotten over there last week. Does anyone know if the doors are actually closed as of tonight, or another night this week?

[DanielK]

Thursday night is supposed to be the last night of service, and I even have a dinner reservation, but I plan on calling in the afternoon to make sure it won't be a liquid dinner...

[chickenlover]

They had some interesting stuff last night. In addition to a couple standbys they were offering pupusas, omelet, steak sandwich and afghan kabobs. I think some of the cooks are getting a chance to put items on the menu. The pupusas were great, as was the lobster bisque.

[MrsWheatie]

The lobster bisque was great as was the tuna and lamb. Going again this evening with friends. I am looking forward to PB and J. Also heard March reopening might be pushing it.

[aletnes]

Just an update for everyone.. I went last night.. The menu was a bit.. unbalanced,(two very similar appetizers, no beef entree, etc) but very good and still a variety of options. It doesn't look like food prices have dipped significantly though, appetizers were in the $8-10 range, and entrees in the $20-$30 range.

Wine list is definitely slashed, but something to keep in mind is that the biggest slashes (50% or so) are on the most expensive bottles. a $40 bottle was more likely to be in the 30 range than the 20 range.

Your best deals are going to be on hard liquor, there are $3-5 mixed drinks, plus a list of liquors that are also in that price range.

As far as the menu goes, here is what I remember (there are probably 2-3 options for each course that I am forgetting):

Apps:
Buffalo Mozzarella "Porcupine" (fried in shredded Phyllo) -- excellent
Goat cheese in crispy potato (really with a nest of shredded deep fried potato) -- also excellent, though a LOT to eat as an app.
Pork Egg Rolls -- Same as above.. the appetizers were all on the big side.
Lobster Bisque

Entrees:
Sea Scallops
Sea Bass
Melange of Vegetables
Baby Chicken with shallots and arugula -- my friends said it was a little salty, but overall quite good
Lamb Sirlon with fingerling potatos and mushroom sauce -- very very good ... the potatoes were nothing exceptional, but the meat was excellent

Desserts:
Vanilla bean creme brulee
Apple Tart Tatin -- very good, you could taste a hint of bitter (burned caramel/alcohol/etc), but for me that added to the flavors
Chocolate Sabayon - the chocoholic in our bunch loved it, its a dark chocolate
Ice Creams
Sorbets
Banana Chocolate Tart

[Pool Boy]

a few wine buddies and I went last night, too. I had the lobster bisque (I almost always get this if I see it on the menu as I know what a paine in the ass it is to make) and the beloved scallops. Good stuff! And Ferhat treated us really, really well.

We had a wonderful Merseault (sp?), a great red Burg and also the 1996 Shafer Hillside Select (drinking really well, but my palate is shifting to the old world) and it was a steal at $115.

www.roguefood.com

[shellymck]

For those of us not in the know, where are they moving to?

[aletnes]

9th between L and M

[crackers]

I was there last night at the bar with a couple dozen friends. The special cocktail prices are $3-$5. We did our best to reduce inventory. But we were told there's still plenty of Blue Curacao left, so go ahead and order the Smurf Piss if you like that kind of thing.

After closing, Chef Power took the menu home to re-vamp it, to reflect that some items are gone, at least until he reopens in the new space.

[humblegourmand]

Ha. I love it!

[MrsWheatie]

We were there Saturday evening and had a terrific meal! We are looking forward to closing down the place on Thursday and then opening up the new one in March.

[Lydia R]

Tonight we heard that the new opening target is April. The date change is due to unexpected extra renovation work in the new location.

Definitely good deals on the bottles, but not on the by-the-glass wine. Enjoyed seeing the celebrity guest server tonight.

[Elyssa]

Who was the celebrity guest server?

[DanielK]

Ferhat Yalcin was the "celebrity guest server". He was a waiter at Corduroy for a very long time up until about a year ago, and is one of the best waiters I have ever had the pleasure of being served by. He is no longer "in the biz", except for this week. :-)

[svt]

We were there Tuesday evening, and had a great meal. They are still doing their Restaurant Week menu, so 3-4 apps, 3-4 entrees, etc. I thought I read that the last day for food was the 26th.

[DanielK]

Chef Power posted elsewhere that the extended RW promotion ends on the 26th, and the 27th - 31st is "house cleaning" - reduced prices on food and beverages but a diminishing return on both fronts as to what is available.

[Pool Boy]

That is what I heard, too, DanielK. Going tomorrow night. Should be fun.

[dinwiddie]

Hope you saved up a lot of points PB, you know we will be drinking more than we should.

[katecm]

Has anyone been yet to experience the "house cleaning?" I too am going tomorrow in the hopes of finding a good buy.

[DanielK]

I didn't notice any food discounts tonight, but the wine prices are STUPID good. Every bottle seemed at least 20% off, and a number were more than 50% off. Hard liquor was demolished, and there's no beer.

[Pool Boy]

Not sure, but their wine list will be on a nice discount next week I am told.