Kitchen at Peter's Inn

I went to pick my boyfriend, JF, up from BWI today, and I figured we'd be hungry by the time he arrived, so I looked for "off-the-beaten-path" restaurants in Baltimore. In this research, I found that there's an adorable neighborhood called Fell's Point with lots of small restaurants and stores amongst cute row-houses. We got to the Kitchen at Peter's Inn and instantly I got a very friendly vibe. People were hanging out on the sidewalks with their puppies and friends and right outside the restaurant, they had set up a few tables for al fresco dining. As it was quite warm and humid today, we chose to sit inside - which turned out to be just as hot and humid since they didn't have air-conditioning on and they had the door open. The place was packed, but luckily they had one table open. JF looked around skeptically and said "this looks like a pub." I felt the same way- the dining area was quite tiny compared to the roomy and long bar- which was lovely, but the vibe of the place was of a neighborhood bar rather than a restaurant with fabulous food. The menu was handwritten (they change weekly) and there was a copy of it written on a blackboard on a wall. There was a pretty comprehensive wine list - French, Australian, American, and Italian. The menu was diverse from duck confit to bay scallops to filet mignon. I picked the bouillabaisse and he chose the new york strip steak. The bouillabaisse was amazing with clams, mussels, calamari and jumbo prawns. The broth and rouille were fantastic with the toasted french bread. So good in fact, JF ate most of it. The steak was juicy and tender and the mashed potatoes were smooth and creamy. Throughout the dinner we discussed how deceiving Peter's Inn was - our expectations were low, despite great ratings it received on zagat.com, but the food pleasantly surprised us. The decor is pretty fun - vintage hub caps, Christmas lights, nifty framed photos and paintings. The bar stools are all wood with back rests and look really nice and roomy. If I go back, I'd like to sit at the bar and hang out a while. If you haven't been, I suggest you stop in. By the way, they don't take reservations and the server told us that it's ALWAYS busy, and I believe him. Tasty tasty!!!

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www.petersinn.com

Commissary

Nestled in the hustle and bustle of Logan Circle, you'll find a classy yet casual slice of Americana. Landmarked by red umbrellas and a gated patio, Commissary is at once cozy and trendy. In addition to the tables and banquettes is a special feature - the lounge area front and center, somewhat reminiscent of a coffee shop with its comfortable chairs and wi-fi. The red and blue decor and brass stars adorning the walls tie in the family-friendly American neighborhood theme.
Don't let the intro fool you. The menu is quite diverse. You get everything from wasabi peas and quesadillas to tuna melts and lamb kebobs. Adults can have their pick from the wine selection while the kiddies play tic-tac-toe on the children's menu.
The fish tacos hit the spot! One order gives you three tortillas bedding small pieces of lightly fried fish, accompanied with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa on the side. You also get a choice of fries, chips, or corn and bean salad. Definitely go for the corn and bean salad! It makes the perfect topping for your taco. The bbq chicken pizza is also scrumptious, with a nice thin crust so you're not left feeling weighed down.
Back when Commissary used to be Merkado (same owner, different concept) I had the skirt steak, which was amazing. As the menu has changed, I'm sure this item has been updated with some twists, but I'd like to try the skirt steak with chimichurri and fries next time.
If you're in the mood for some libations, be sure to try their strawberry mint sangria for some sweet, sparkly goodness! It comes in a pitcher, so I would advise not to order it alone if you at all desire to make it home with no surprises.
Great atmosphere, great food, great prices... and being in the gayborhood provides for fun interactions and fantastic people-watching. Yummers!

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www.commissarydc.com

The Dancing Crab

Perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch, complete with mimosas, omelettes, and... crab?? My first visit found me on a beautiful Sunday, what was meant to be a bite to eat before heading to the airport to get me on my way back home to MI after a trip to DC. It turned out to leave quite an impression, so much so that it became reason enough to extend my trip. An hour into the meal - waffle on table, crab mallet in hand, and suitcase in car - I called my airline. So this is what travel insurance is for! I mean... ow... my tooth... root canal... wink wink.
We started with the brunch buffet. Fruit, hush puppies, potatoes, sausages, crab rolls, full omelette station, waffles upon request, etc. Upon learning about the steamed crab deal in addition to the brunch, we added all-you-can-eat crab to our tab. If you're having the brunch, it's much more economical to do the ayce than by the dozen. And it's soooooo good!! The whole thing, sitting out on the covered patio, the chatty but friendly omelette man, the most delicious waffles ever, the endless supply of sweet crab meat. Three hours after we first sat down, the two of us finally found ourselves ready to call it an afternoon, fully satisfied and just plain full.
We went again last month with the parents, this time eating inside. Different ambiance, same great buffet, same amazing crab.
To fully enjoy the experience, don't plan on zipping in and out. Warning, your wallet will be a little lighter than when you came in, but it's all worth it for a good time with good company and good food. Yummers!!!

$$ brunch, $$$ brunch + crab

www.dcseafood.com/dancingcrab

DC Chophouse

Tonight was my friend and colleague, Jen's 6th year anniversary at work. So, to celebrate, we went to have dinner and delicious beer at DC Chophouse. We love DC Chophouse for their yummy cornbread, steaks, and deliciously chocolatey beer. There was a 20min wait for a table in the dining room, so we sat at a bar table, which was just fine. Jen ordered the usual the nut brown ale, and while I usually go for the oatmeal stout, I thought I'd try the light ale. The nut brown is smooth and sweet and chocolatey (yum!), and the light ale was very light (duh) and crisp - perhaps that's not the most technical description but that's how I feel it was compared to the thick and creamy stout. The server seemed to be in kind of a rush, she took our order quickly and whereas they usually ask if you want a green salad or a Caesar salad (which is what we generally get), she just brought out the green salad for both of us, and it was drenched in dressing. The dressing was tasty, but oh man, there was so much of it and it was so tangy, I couldn't get through more than half of it. But the hot cornbread that comes in a hot skillet with a mound of butter made everything better. Then the food arrived and I think I was so hungry that I clapped a little. I had ordered the herb crusted rack of lamb with a peach chutney and Jen chose the filet mignon oscar. This time, we were smart and didn't get an appetizer - last time we were so hungry, we ordered a tower of onion rings, those crispy delights got us so full even before the entrees arrived. The lamb was...heavenly. The herbs and the lamb and the chutney- I don't have the words to tell you how perfectly yummilicious they are. And the filet mignon oscar - wow, the meat was so very tender (as a filet should be) and the Bearnaise sauce was delish. I have a weird aversion to different species of foods mingling on a plate, so I couldn't make myself taste the crab meat that comes with it, but Jen thought it was just lovely. If I wasn't so full or didn't have to drive, I would have tried the bourbon stout, but since I really dislike bourbon, was stuffed and I did have to drive home, I fought off the temptation. But it sounds interesting, no? It's basically the oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels...mixed feelings. Anyhow, we <3 the chophouse. Tasty Tasty!!

$$

www.chophouse.com

Oriental East- Dim Sum!!

Looking for a good dim sum brunch in Silver Spring? I found fabulous dim sum at Oriental East on East-West Hwy and Colesville Rd. They open at 11:00am, but on the weekends, you will find a long line of hungry people waiting at the door by 10:30am. It's totally worth it! If you get there a bit late, they will tell you the wait is 20 minutes, but that's a lie. People come with their friends and family and they are there to enjoy the food in leisure, not to eat and get out. Here's why it takes so long. When you sit down, a sheet of paper with grids with different prices is placed on your table. Servers push a rolling cart full of steamed, fried, and baked deliciousness as the customers pick out what they want and the servers will mark how many of a certain priced dish you've had. Now, there aren't just 3 or 4 of these carts, there are many many many! There are lots of different types of dumplings, steamed and fried, little steamed buns filled with roasted meat, sauteed veggies, porridge, stir-fried meat and seafood, and even dessert. So you sit, watch the carts as they come by, sip hot jasmine tea, and hang out with your table companions. Soon, before you know it, you've been there for 2 hours, and shockingly, the bill will be much less than you'd expect from how full you are with all the different delectable foods. I've been there for brunch many times, and each time, I've made sure to get there by 10:30am to compete for a table. On the weekdays, the line's not there but they do serve dim sum from 11:00am til 3:00pm, and you'd order from the menu, not from a cart. You still get the fabulous food, although you miss out of the fun of cart watching. Two thumbs up for Oriental East!! Tasty Tasty!!

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www.orientaleast.com

Bistrot Lafayette

Bistrot Lafayette in Alexandria, Virginia is an adorable little restaurant specializing in French food. It was a Thursday night and it was raining cats and dogs -which maybe explains why there were only 2 tables of customers when we walked in. The atmosphere is very cozy with relaxing French music, and both of the servers spoke with a French accent which made us giggle a little with delight. Our server was attentive and funny - then we discovered that the owners were entertaining their friends at the table next to us. I'm glad, because we got fantastic service! We started with a bottle of sauvignon blanc and onion soup, which was delicious, it was piled on with gruyere cheese and a nice big piece of bread at the bottom. Then I got mussels in white wine and herbs and fries and my boyfriend got roasted chicken with fries. My mussels were ok, but his chicken was out of this world! It was juicy and tender and it was served with a sauce made from the juices from the chicken. When he asked for ketchup for the fries, the server refused gently and suggested that he try the "French ketchup" pointing to the sauce from the chicken - WOW!! It was awesome! We ended the dinner with chocolate mousse, which was yummy, but a bit too sweet. Would I go back? If I was in the area, sure, but I wouldn't seek it out. If I do go back, I know what I'm getting, the roast chicken! Tasty tasty!!

$$

www.bistrotlafayette.com

Honey Pig

Honey Pig is a Korean barbecue in Annandale, Virginia. It is also the best 24 hour restaurant I've been to. The atmosphere is fun, and not at all fancy - you can find all sorts of people of all ages and occupations there, hungry for meat grilled right in front of you with complimentary side dishes, including a pot of hot soup. When you go to a Korean restaurant, it's a good sign if you see Koreans dining there, and at Honey Pig, you'll see a good mix of Koreans and non-Koreans. I've taken my parents there, and my parents always say things like, "back in Korea, this would be spicier and not as sweet" or "I could make this better." At Honey Pig, all I heard was the sound of chewing and "oh wow, that's so good." I found that the best time to go is very late at night, as that's when it's not as busy, meaning better service, and it also provides excellent people watching, as night owls and after-clubbers come in for nourishment. They also have alcoholic beverages -beer and soju (their selection is pretty decent). If you're craving some good Korean food, or never had Korean barbecue before, you need to check it out!! I suggest the thick cut pork belly with kimchi special or the spicy chicken cheol-pan. Make sure you're hungry when you go! Tasty tasty!!!!!

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Delicious Shrimp Heads

I was up late one night - for no reason really, just staying up late and flipping through TV channels. Food Network had me stop, drooling and suddenly hungry at 1:30am. I was looking at Food Network celebrities describing the best fried food they've ever had and then actually going to the restaurant and savoring it in the most mouthwatering fashion. Duff Goldman, the guy from Ace of Cakes talked about a sushi restaurant that served fried shrimp heads. He described how delicious it was and that they didn't have it on the menu. Who eats shrimp heads?! I thought they were filled with weird shrimp brains (do they have brains?) and goo. I was intrigued. So I tracked down Joss Cafe and Sushi Bar in Annapolis and ordered the fried shrimp heads. The server seemed surprised that I asked for them - since they're not on the menu and brought out the cute little heads, looking super crispy, with the black beady eyes looking up at me. The people at the next table asked what they were, so I explained my story and soon, I had an audience as I prepared to eat what we would generally throw out. I dipped one in some soy sauce and put the whole thing in my mouth. It was difficult to chew, as the head is very spiky and pretty large in size, but oh my gosh, it was amazing! The outside was crispy and a bit salty, but the inside was creamy with an intense shrimp flavor. It was like being in shrimp heaven. If you live in or are visiting the Annapolis area, you need to check out the shrimp heads at Joss Sushi. I think the next time I purchase shrimp, I'll reserve the heads and try deep frying them myself. Tasty tasty!!!!

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www.josscafe-sushibar.com