Best "bland" dishes in DC and MD suburbs

[Rebecca0101]

A new medication that I am taking makes it very difficult to eat food that is spicy (this includes chilies, peppers, mustard, and horseradish, among others) or crunchy. After several visits to restaurants where I couldn't eat a dish I had ordered because it turned out to be more spicy than I thought, I have eaten at home for last four months. My cooking is starting to bore me and I am ready to try again.

Any recommendations for the best "bland" dishes in DC or MD suburbs? Of course, I don't want bland or boring food but am looking for well prepared dishes (all price ranges) where the seasoning is subtle or the flavors not too bold. Think comfort foods such as au gratin potatoes, rice pudding, roast chicken, meatloaf, etc.

Thanks

[katecm]

How about Mon Ami Gabi's trout dish? The trout comes out nice and tender and flaky, and the main flavories are lemon and capers. They toss a few croutons on top for crunch, but you could easily ask them to leave that off.

[monkeyrotica]

When I think "subtle flavors" I think sweetbreads. Eve has the best, Commonwealth is tasty as well, heard Central does a nice rendition. Moulles frites at Granville Moore's maybe? Fish and chips at Eammon's?

[hamster]

Pierogies at Domku near Petworth
Chicken noodle soup at Shanghai Tea House in Glover Park

[reiflame]

Without a doubt, aji de gallina at Flor de la Canela. It's chicken stewed in a really great sauce. Flavorful but not spicy, and soft in texture.

[DanielK]

Steaks at Ray's the Classics, ask for low-char, and the non-garlic mashed potatoes. No spice but salt, and good tasting food.

[Martha]

I've had to deal with this issue, and was successful at Central. My husband took me there in March for my birthday, and I didn't have any problems. I've also had success with quiche and cheese souffles, but I don't have any resto recs for those dishes. Sorry, and good luck. I know what a bother this can be.

[Rebecca0101]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, this is tough. It was very bad for about six weeks and I couldn't eat anything but chicken soup and milk shakes. I have hit every milk shake place in upper NW DC and Montgomery County, I think. American City Diner has great ones as does Parkway Deli in Silver Spring (where you can get both the chicken soup and the milk shake -- the soup was way salty the last time I had it, however).

[Rebecca0101]

Pho without chili sauce is something I could eat and I had some when I first started the medication. I went to Pho Hiep Hoa in Wheaton and had a great -- and very cheap -- bowl of pho.

[dcfoodie13]

The new restaurant in Foggy Bottom, Founding Farmers, has a lot of those dishes. The pot roast is very good and not spicy, but it is not bland - it has a delicious cinnamon-like flavor. I think you can definitely find well-cooked comfort foods that are not spicy or crunchy there - just I'm not sure how "bland" you really need.

I might get argument on this, but I've always found the Oval Room pretty bland. They cook their meats perfectly but fail to add much sauces or seasoning, so that might be perfect for you.

[4X4]

Maybe pho without any chili sauce added? Or the chicken version of pho.