662970 Wed Oct 28 09:19:53 -0700 2009 20 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 5137275 I don't know DC restaurants well, but these two were suggested for a Sunday evening meeting of 4 people. We need to be pretty close to Dupont Circle. Any thoughts? Thanks. Wed Oct 28 09:19:53 -0700 2009 1117567 betsy616 1 5137280 You'll probably hear a resounding NO! for i Ricchi, mostly service issues. Wed Oct 28 09:21:44 -0700 2009 5137275 65673 monavano 2 5139559 Avoid i Ricchi like the plague. Used to go there for business meals quite frequently many years ago, but it fell off a cliff and they just don't care. Thu Oct 29 04:10:42 -0700 2009 5137280 17355 sfernando 1 5137434 Do not, I repeat DO NOT, go to i Ricchi. Kinkead's would be fine but it's closer to Foggy Bottom than Dupont. Instead I would suggest Blue Duck Tavern...close to Dupont, fine for a dinner meeting, and great food. Wed Oct 28 10:16:06 -0700 2009 5137275 76776 Elyssa 1 5138906 There are much better places to try. West End Bistro on 22nd is nearby. Hanks Oyster bar on Q and Blue Duck Tavern at 24th and M are also close and good. Wed Oct 28 17:49:06 -0700 2009 5137275 13599 Ellen 1 5140710 Another no for both IRicchi and Kinkeads. I would add to the other places recommended Spezie which has good Italian food and a nice business atmosphere and is at the same price level as both other options. It is only a couple blocks away from IRicchi. Thu Oct 29 11:37:07 -0700 2009 5137275 92426 ktmoomau 1 5142700 Thanks for all your advice! Spezie seems really good, but I've heard comments about the acoustics. That would be a deal-breaker. Has anyone had that problem? Fri Oct 30 08:04:31 -0700 2009 5137275 1117567 betsy616 2 5143094 I haven't been to Spezie lately, but the last time I was there (over the summer), it was quite noisy. Granted it was a weekend night (Fri or Sat0, but still, if you have concerns about being able to hear your dinner companions, I would suggest either the Blue Duck Tavern (as Elyssa mentioned earlier) at 24th & M or Firefly (near Dupont Circle). Both places offer great food and a nice ambiance (with the edge on the food and wine selection to Blue Duck). Hope this helps. Fri Oct 30 10:09:20 -0700 2009 5142700 255446 Gigi007 3 5143925 Just be careful at Firefly about what table you get. I find the tables are really tightly spaced, and you don't want a table against the wall as you feel like you are eating with your neighbors. And I always get stuck next to the whiniest people. Blue Duck might be really nice. They serve family style which is sometimes not optimal for business. Westend Bistro might also be another good option- no family style, pretty quiet (unless it is Top Chef night) and good but traditional food. Fri Oct 30 15:17:39 -0700 2009 5143094 92426 ktmoomau 4 5143983 Re: Firefly, I haven't had the experience you described, but maybe it's because there was no one seated next to us the times I went with groups and with one other person. LOL @ being next to whiny people (I'm really sorry to hear that as it's super-annoying). In any event, I don't think Sunday evenings this time of year are particularly busy or crowded at Firefly. Probably Blue Duck Tavern would be best option in terms of food quality and ambiance (not to mention the wine list, which is outstanding). And even though the dishes are mostly served in serving dishes (family style), I've dined with people who have ordered their own entrees and it's worked out fine. As for Westend Bistro, I like the ambiance and have had some very good cocktails there. but I don't think the food is the caliber of Blue Duck's, plus the times I've been there, it's always been very loud. Fri Oct 30 15:46:26 -0700 2009 5143925 255446 Gigi007 4 5152938 Yes Westend Bistro is another good option. At Firefly you should make a special request to get one of the larger 4 tops by the window. There is more space around those tables. Tue Nov 03 13:30:36 -0800 2009 5143925 76776 Elyssa 2 5157876 Depends how many people you have but Spezie has a private room that seats about 12. Very quiet. If it's just you and one other, how about the restaurant in the Mayflower? Quiet, good service and decent food for a hotel restaurant. Thu Nov 05 07:53:32 -0800 2009 5142700 29378 hans 1 5144028 When every nearby hotel concierge recommends the same restaurant, run in any other direction. Too many palms were greased before you got your seat and first breadstick. i Ricchi has that distinction. Good food but goofy prices. Fri Oct 30 16:06:36 -0700 2009 5137275 57170 Veggo 1 5152896 Thank you so much for all your great suggestions. I would love to try Blue Duck and Westend sometime, but they are very expensive. Any slightly less expensive options? Again, my requirements are fairly near Dupont Circle, and not noisy-- and of course, good food! Thanks for bearing with me! Tue Nov 03 13:19:51 -0800 2009 5137275 1117567 betsy616 2 5152949 Firefly is on the more affordable end. Another option would be Urbana (I imagine the dining room would be better for a meeting. I've only been in the bar area and it can get noisy if crowded and they usually play music). Darlington House might also work. Much more affordable than Blue Duck Tavern and Westend Bistro. It has a very charming environment and I enjoyed the home made pasta dish I had a week ago. Tue Nov 03 13:34:26 -0800 2009 5152896 76776 Elyssa 3 5154122 Firefly is less expensive than BDT and Westend Bistro. As for Urbana, it has a great happy hour everyday (I think it's from 4:00-7:00 pm) in the bar/lounge area where you can have a light, inexpensive meal (although as Elyssa mentioned, it does get pretty noisy there).. I had dinner twice at Urbana's dining room and didn't care for the food. And I must say that I haven't had good experiences with the food or service at Darlington House either. To the OP, it's not clear from your post if you're getting together with friends socially or for a business meeting. If it is something social, I recommend Bistrot du Coin in Dupont. Good French food, moderately priced, lively atmosphere.. Tue Nov 03 22:14:59 -0800 2009 5152949 255446 Gigi007 4 5155379 No- it's a business dinner meeting-- that's why I need a place that's quiet. Wed Nov 04 10:23:20 -0800 2009 5154122 1117567 betsy616 5 5155765 If it's for business, then I'd go back to my original suggestions of Blue Duck Tavern or Firefly with Firefly being the less expensive option. I've been to both places on Sunday nights, and they've both been fairly quiet. Westend Bistro, on the other hand, has always been noisy, at least in my experience. Let us know where your group ends up going and about your experience. Wed Nov 04 12:10:05 -0800 2009 5155379 255446 Gigi007 6 5182422 I'm back again and I appreciate all your suggestions. Blue Duck, Westend and Firefly are the ones mentioned positively by several people and they seem wonderful, but I'm trying to keep the price down. What do you think of Tiramisu or Tabard Inn? Again, it's for a business dinner and needs to be fairly quiet. Thanks so much! Sat Nov 14 20:46:08 -0800 2009 5155765 1117567 betsy616 7 5183560 Tabard Inn has good food but is extremely loud in the downstairs dining room. If you have enough people you might be able to get a private room upstairs. Sun Nov 15 13:21:20 -0800 2009 5182422 1098580 foodtrip 1 5153732 I have always liked Kinkead's, but I was there from out of town in late May, and had a TERRIBLE service experience (e.g., ordered a dozen oysters and was served ten; downhill from there). Sad, but hope it was just an anomaly. Tue Nov 03 18:03:35 -0800 2009 5137275 1090798 ricodanles