A Writer's Trek

Bistro Du Coin

Last week, I met my old co-worker/friend, Lisa Shapiro for an early dinner to gossip, catch-up , and people watch. Lisa and I had a lot in common like restaurants and trying to new dishes. Well, since she is now working in Dupont, I suggested a great restaurant called Bistro Du Coin.

This restaurant embodies France with it's huge, open dining room, funky staff, and unique dishes. Lisa and I grab a table in the open patio which is a must if you're eating with another. For than two people, you'll need a bigger table. We started with the mussels and endive salad, which Lisa thought was delicious.

The dressing was a homemade vinaigrette and really was fresh, and cirtusy. The mussels are one of their specialties and since I am a seafood lover, I definitely had an order to start and some of their "cheap" wine by the glass. After the first glass, I decided water would be best.

The main course arrives just in time as the restaurant starts to get crowded. Lisa ordered the "Pepper" Steak which was extremely pepperly and a little overcooked, but very tasty. I was adventurous and had their Rabbit Stew which was very, very good. The stew's broth was very creamy and I am certain they changed the recipe for it, but either way, it was still top notch and worth getting again. Lisa, who sis pregnant, stayed away from the stew. She was afraid it could upset her stomach. That's one reason why I enjoy her, she has common sense and who wants to be pregnant and barfing in a toilet? Exactly.

She and I tend to go to new restaurants all over DC, MD, and VA and she writes about them on her blog at www.diningindc.blogspot.com. She is amazing writer and has some pretty good insights when it comes to restaurants. I think i made her more "aware" of service and how the service at ANY restaurant can make or break the experience. I think she would agree. If you do decide to dine at Bistro Du Coin, you can get away ordering mussels and something on the side like the endive salad or even french fries. The table next to us did just that and they seemed very content.

Anyway, hope your Monday is going well and wherever you are, I hope the sun is shining brightly for ya.

Circa @ Dupont

Well, this weekend my ex and I tried out this restaurant call Circa @ Dupont over the weekend and besides our personal drama (another time), this restaurant's service was by far the worst service I have had the pleasure to waste my money on. First, this restaurant use to be this great wrap joint called Wrapworks and it looks completely different as Circa. The decor alone is hot and very elegant. That is a definite allure for the place and it needs it. Not only did we wait for an hour to be seated (the little inexperienced hostess kept telling us twenty more minutes), the food was mediocre at best.

We only had salads because of the time wasted. Personally, I could of made better salads at my place. I might try this again on an off day to sample some of the entrees but, the weekends, this isn't the place to try. More restaurant reviews later. Have a good Monday.

DC Restaurant Week

Ah, Restaurant week is back in DC (seems like it was just here) and anyone who is still in the Nation's Capital know it's worth the effort...the restaurants know too. Many of them are extending their restaurant week prices through the summer. Already I've tried two restaurants (Farrah Olivia by Morou in VA and Nage in Dupont Circle, DC) and have one more to go tonight at Ardeo (Cleveland Park, DC) with the ex. 

Check out Opentable.com to book restaurants around the city for restaurants and don't forget to register. You can book restaurants all over the city, write reviews, and get points to become a VIP which has all types of fun perks like free apps., head-on-line table options, glasses of wine for you and your guest, and other stuff. This week alone, I'm up 300 points. Check out my personal reviews for my restaurant week choices coming soon.