Chinatown Express

Have you ever seen the Jackie Chan cartoons? They're always yelling, "Uncle, uncle!!" Except it's more like, "Awn-cooh, awn-cooh." Well, that's what I want to say when I see the noodle guy in the window at Chinatown Express. Never been there? It's pretty nifty. There's a very nice looking middle aged gentleman who stands in this window, surrounded by barbecued meats, and he makes noodles by hand. He slaps and twirls and swings dough around (I think all day and all year, as I have never seen a different noodle guy in the window) and produces these chewy and delicious fresh noodles. He will wave and smile at the gawkers, and people like me who takes pictures of anything and everything. So, I dub him my awn-cooh.

Nari and I were pretty excited and hungry when we got there. There were sounds of people slurping away everywhere, which just raised our excitement level. We got the mixed barbecue plate to start with, which was delicious, but also pretty greasy. I think I ate about 4 pieces and couldn't really handle anymore, even piled with the ginger paste and the red pepper flakes. The mixed plate comes with duck, chicken, pork, beef, and squid, garnished with steamed broccoli. It's pretty to look at as well as yummy in the mouth, if you don't care about your stomach screaming in protest.

We didn't have to wait long for the noodle soups to arrive, steaming and enticing. Nari had the beef noodle soup and I had the seafood noodle soup. It seemed that they put different toppings on the noodles and then poured the same stock/broth over them. The soup is kinda bland, so I added in copious amounts of soy sauce, ginger paste, and red pepper flakes into it, which made it super delish. The fabulous noodles - the texture is perfection.

I'm sure that the other items on the menu are good too, but it seems that the majority of people were there for the noodles. I guess that's pretty obvious that's what they're letting us know is their specialty, by showing off my awn-cooh. I'll go back anytime for their noodle soups - I forgot to tell you, they're super cheap around $6, you can't beat that. Tasty tasty!!!

Ann Arbor

Any Ann Arbor readers? Any readers, period?

We've clearly done a bad job of writing up restaurants from our Thanksgiving extravaganza, but it will be done! Also to be reviewed are a couple of places from our trip to Las Vegas a couple of weekends ago. And to the joy of all (ha!) of our Ann Arbor patrons, I'll be making some stops around campus and downtown, so get excited for that.

Requests for A2 and/or DC? Please leave comments :)

Cashion's Eat Place

I should be studying for my first final tomorrow, but it's lunch time and I've started to think about food.

The night after an AMAZING home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner by the Park sisters, we had dinner with JC at Cashion's in Adams Morgan. Another seasonal menu, which apparently is a sign of quality. The place is part swanky, part homey. "Funky-elegant" is a quote from the website, which I think is pretty spot-on. Elegant is definitely the word, you walk in and everything is very clean and sleek, some interesting architecture around the bar in the middle of the restaurant (sort of like an isolated dome). But if you take the time to look around at the many picture frames mounted all along the walls and in the bathrooms, you'll find that they appear to be authentic family photos - kiddos playing on the hood of the car, grandpa sitting with his arms crossed at the dining table, black and white portraits from back in the day. It makes you feel at home all the while knowing that you're getting quality food and service.

Also of note, you'll find a large proportion of the servers and staff to be Asian. Hmm. We're thinking that someone Asian must have some degree of proprietorship. Which makes sense seeing as a lot of the pictures involve an Asian family. That's all.

So. I knew I liked this place as soon as we were seated and our server introduced himself. Shane. What a great name. And what a great face. I believe the first thing I said after he left us to ponder over the menu was "Can we leave him a big tip?" He wasn't just eye candy, though. He was actually very helpful. He was knowledgeable about the wine list and always aware of us as customers. At one point, we saw "bronzino" on the menu (which Wikipedia tells me is spelled "branzino")... and question marks floated about our heads. Thank goodness our generation comes with smart phones and we were able to look it up. "A delicate whitefish... to be handled delicately." Shane walks over: "The branzino?" Me: "I love you."

Oh, sorry, this is a restaurant blog. Back to the food. We started with drinks and appetizers and nibbled at the bread basket. Wine for Jung-Ah and JC, apple cider for me. I'm not an experienced whiskey drinker and, while the drink was tasty, found it to be a bit strong. I guess I'm just not man enough. It warmed me up quite a bit (given it's meant to be a hot drink anyway) but maybe a little uncomfortably so. Although I probably wouldn't argue against a glass of it right now - it's flipping cooold!! For apps, Jung-Ah had the olive oil sampler, JC had crab cakes, and I had carrot ginger soup. The olive oil sampler came with evoo from Argentina, Chile, and Spain. I think it was the Argentinian evoo that we liked the most; it had a burst of fruity flavor while the others didn't particularly stand out as different from the Romulo evoo I have at home. Bertolli! (Haha! Oh man...) JC's app looked, smelled, and tasted amaaazing. Oh my gosh, as the plate was being walked over I could almost see the smells wafting up into my nose like wisps in a cartoon. My carrot ginger soup I could have done with or without. I was expecting something zestier, but it was a little bland in my opinion. Something was missing. For entrees, Jung-Ah had salmon, JC had lamb gyros, and I had the branzino. The salmon was... just salmon. Jung-Ah was highly disappointed, so I ended up finishing off her plate at the end of the meal. Pff, I thought it was fine. Taken together with the sides, including the pickled beets, it was a lot more enjoyable. But like I said before, it was salmon. Nothing spectacular. JC's lamb gyros were hot, steamy, and tasty. BUT my favorite was my branzino. No stomach space to waste filling up on other people's food. I don't quite recall what it was served with, thus this is not a very good review, but it was absolutely delish. If it wasn't such a nice place, I probably would have licked the plate. Um... I mean... if I were at home. Alone. Private. Can I say - SO good!! It really was excellent. I really wish I could remember the veg and puree it came with, but I can't even look it up on the menu, as it changes.

No room for dessert. But we stopped by Evolve for drinks afterward, a restaurant/lounge next door. I'm not going to lie, it's where the homies hang out. Or so it seemed that night. Haven't had a chance to go by for food, but the menu certainly sounds appetizing. Holler at the owner, Jason Washington!

And so ended our lovely evening at Cashion's. The receipt shows our server as Shane B. I'll call him Shane Branzino. Yummers!!! (I promise I'm talking about the food!)

$$-$$$

www.cashionseatplace.com

Wait for it...

Tasty bites readers:

Prepare yourselves for a gastronomic adventure of epic proportions. The sisters reunite for Thanksgiving weekend 2009 in DC, and our appetites are larger than ever. It's a week before, and I'm already salivating like Pavlov's dog.

Look forward to hole-in-the-wall joints, restaurants we could only afford with coupons or for lunch, Top Chef alumns, and general deliciosity (HIMYM fans, salute).

Get excited.

Cork

It was a rainy, chilly Saturday night in September, and CC decided that the lucky restaurant to host her birthday dinner would be Cork, on 14th St NW between R and S St. I had never been, so this was pretty exciting. I was sick with a cold so I was a bit nervous about how long I would last - I was like a video game character and my energy bars were disappearing at triple speed.

We got there at about 7:50pm, and of course, the restaurant was PACKED. I mean, every table was full , the bar stools were all taken and there were many many people squeezing themselves into every nook and cranny of the restaurant while waiting for a table. Since they don't take reservations, we had to wait for a table to open up and for a table for eight, it was going to be a while. As we stood by the bar to order drinks, I noticed 2 gigantic glass jars, one full of a colorful medley of olives, and one of mixed nuts. I made up my mind then that we were going to have olives, and fortunately most of our friends agreed. There were delicious scents rising to meet our hungry noses as we stood around sipping on wine and scotch. Their wine selection is vast, as expected in a wine bar, which made CC, a wine enthusiast, quite happy. They list their wines by color and then by region, and I think we had all tried something different and all were satisfactory.

After about an hour of waiting, we were taken to a table toward the back of the restaurant, which was lovely because it was much quieter than the front. Honestly, my expectation for the food was low since Cork is a wine bar, but looking at the menu, I found myself saying, ooh, this looks good, this looks good, this looks good...ooooh, THIS looks good...um, everything looks really good. So then a crazy thought crossed my mind and apparently CC's also - there were eight of us, so we could possibly get one of everything on the menu - mind you, we were starving. And it would have been perfectly affordable - I did the math and it would have been under $30 per person!! Then reality bonked us on the head and we began to eliminate a few items.

The olives were delicious, especially the big black ones, yum. One of the best things I've ever had the pleasure of putting in my mouth (ooh that sounds kinda dirty) is the avocado on grilled bread with chopped pistachios and toasted pistachio oil. It is so simple yet sooooo good. The calamari was also quite good, the batter wasn't overwhelming and the remoulade complements the lemony, crispy calamari wonderfully. Oh and the french fries, oh my gosh, it's all garlicky and the house-made ketchup is amazing with a hint of cumin. My absolute favorite of the night was the duck confit - it was crispy and melt-in-the-mouth tender, wow, suddenly I'm hungry. We also tried the sauteed wild mushrooms, which was way better than expected, with a nice meaty texture and a delicious sauce. Grilled pork tenderloin topped with fried lemon and mustard greens was definitely a hit - the fried lemon was a surprise, it provided a nice contrast to the pork and the bitterness of the mustard greens. The only glitch in the evening was not getting the right cheese on the cheese platter and having to wait 30 minutes after we were done eating for the brussel sprouts (not my fave, btw, too much butter - I know, that's impossible, but in this case its true), but in the end, with lots of good wine and wonderful company, it was a fabulous evening, even though I was exhausted from coughing. We ended the feast with a cookie platter, port for the fancy C sisters, hot chocolate for MJ and me, and scotch for AM.

I think Cork is wonderful. I'd definitely go back for the duck confit and the avocado on grilled bread. You know, I should try making the avocado on grilled bread, I don't have pistachio oil, but I think a good olive oil will do just fine. Oh, so I totally forgot to take pictures of the food...I was sick!! I'm sorry, my mind wasn't working right!! I'll do it next time, so if you wanna go, call me! Tasty tasty!!!

$$

www.corkdc.com

Nage

MJ and I had our Restaurant Week dinner at Nage, at Rhode Island Ave NW and 16th St NW (there's another one in Rehoboth). It wasn't either one of our first choices, but seeing as we made our reservation kind of late, we had to compromise.

We started out with a bottle of Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc, which was quite refreshing on a hot, humid, and sweaty afternoon. We were ready to order quickly since we were hungry and had looked at the menu ahead of time. Now, I'm no expert in cuisines, but I'm a little mixed up about what their concept is, it's fusion of American (Southern), French, and Spanish or something? MJ started with the chilled avocado-cucumber soup, which was simply delightful - nice thick and creamy texture with a lovely limey finish. It was so pretty in presentation and the portion was generous. I decided on the bbq braised short ribs - oh my gosh, it was so tasty. The meat was so tender, it was melting in my mouth and the sauce was perfect in sweetness and tartness and spice, and the fried green tomatoes and the slaw that came with it were very complementary.

The timing was excellent, as we were just finishing up our appetizers, the entrees arrived. It seemed appropriate to go with seafood, since it's name means "swim" in French or it's a broth that one cooks shellfish in (How the heck do I know that?! I don't know!! I'm so confused - damn it, I hang out with foodies too much, ahem, MJ and CC!). MJ had chosen the pan roasted barramundi (we had to Google barramundi on our phones, thank goodness for fancy phones, how did we ever get by before?!), and it was absolutely delish!! It was cooked well, yet not dry, and the sauce was fantastic - I don't know what it was really, but again, it was fantastic. I ordered the summertime seafood plate, which consisted of lobster, mussels, clams, and shrimp cooked in a lovely beer based sauce with potatoes and little bits of chorizo. There was a lot of food, but shockingly, I ate the whole thing. Yum!!

As full as we were, we couldn't turn down the desserts! I experimented with the tomato and basil frozen yogurt- I know it sounds totally funky, and it was, but it was yummilicious. It tasted like tomato and basil and balsamic vinegar in a most wonderful, palate cleansing, frozen yogurt kind of way. MJ ordered the special of the day, which was a bread pudding, which was good, but honestly, I don't quite remember it, as the delightful frozen yogurt overshadowed it. We were stuffed and tipsy, yet we somehow managed to roll ourselves out of our seats and go home.

There are a few things on the menu that I'd like to try that I didn't get to this time around. I would love to try the grilled octopus salad and the bacon wrapped softshell crab from the appetizer section, and if I were to choose a different entree, I would definitely go for the bay scallops with black fettucini. If I had room for dessert, I would hope that they would have the tomato and basil frozen yogurt again, I wouldn't get anything else! My impression is that they're not that busy, and that's too bad, my experience was awesome!! Tasty tasty!!!!

$$-$$$

www.nagerestaurant.com

14K / Cafe Japone

As of late, it has become tradition for JC and me to go to happy hour on Wednesdays. So without fail, we scampered out of work, super excited for a cheap drink and cheap snacks. First stop was 14K, on 14th St NW and K St NW - their huge "rush hour happy hour" sign caught my eye. In addition to happy hour, they were advertising 5:00pm - 7:00pm, get 2 entrees and receive a bottle of wine, which is a pretty awesome deal, we thought. However, we had happy hour hopping in mind, so we headed to the bar. I got a huge cold glass of Blue Moon and JC got a glass of sauvignon blanc to sip on as we waited for our artisan cheese plate. I'm pretty sure we didn't get the cheese that are listed on the menu, as I know and love Humbolt Fog (goat cheese) and it was definitely absent. However, it was a wonderful assembly of crumbly and soft cheeses served with slices of some kind of berry and nut bread, apples, figs, and strawberries. As we devoured the plate, I started craving sushi (I know, how Asian, right?). For 2 glasses of wine, a beer, and the cheese plate, we paid about $20, which we thought was awesome.

Then we ran across the street to Lotus, as we had heard that they have sushi happy hours there. As we headed downstairs into the lounge, we realize how eerily empty it was...we took a quick look around and then ran back out - in true JC and Jung-Ah fashion, running in our heels and giggling.

Next stop, Cafe Japone since their happy hour went on til 8:30pm! I had very little to no expectations as I had read reviews and most of them were about how awful the service is there. There were praises about their food and huge Sapporos, though. We found an awesome parking space right outside the restaurant and went inside, thirsty for a beer. The girl that greeted us was very nice and sat us right away, however we sat there for a long time and finally had to flag down a server to take our drink orders. She didn't give us attitude though, there were only 2 servers for the whole place, and I guess they were busy. We received our $3, 22oz bottles of Sapporo right away, which made us happy during the million hours we had to wait for our sushi while drunk Facebooking and Twittering. Finally our yellowtail with scallions, spicy tuna, california, and crispy salmon skin rolls arrived. I don't know why we keep getting yellowtail rolls, because everytime we get it, we're like meh, it's not that great, YET we ALWAYS get them. The spicy tuna were very spicy and very tasty - I prefer the ones I had at Saki to these, but these were pretty awesome. The california roll was what I expected, tasty in the fake, american kind of way. The crispy salmon skin roll was intense - the salmon skin was super crispy, super salty and very pungent. I liked it alot, but it was just a bit much on the saltiness. After 3 of the 22oz Sapporo, not to mention what we had prior to coming to Japone, we were drunk. And we thought we could eat more, so we ordered their ramen with pork bone broth. As we waited another million hours for the ramen, the table across the restaurant started off Karaoke night. They were a fun group and sang and danced together and it was all good fun. In the midst of all this fun, we got our ramen, and I must recommend this highly. Oh my gosh, it was nothing like the ramen in packages that you get for 55cents at the grocery store. The noodles were chewy and yummy, and the broth was rich and flavorful with a hint of sesame oil. Sooooo good. And soooo big. We ate, sang, danced, and drank. Before we knew it, it was 11:00pm. Another happy hour success!! Tasty tasty!!!

14K $
www.14krestaurant.com

Cafe Japone $$

Cabanas

My friend JD is leaving DC and had his farewell dinner at Cabanas in Georgetown. We all met at the bar, where some of his friends were drinking margaritas, which they said was good, but were tiny. I opted for a bottle of Corona, which unfortunately, was not so cold. We were a group of 8 or so, and we had a lovely table by the window. Before I knew it, someone had ordered guacamole and mango salsa and chips for the table. I generally love guacamole and mango salsa, however, I wasn't feeling it. The guac was bland, it was better with some salt and lime squeezed into it, but nothing to get excited about. I had more hopes for the mango salsa, but much to my disappointment, the mango cubes were hard and dry and I wasn't getting the yummy bursts of flavor my tongue was expecting to dance on it. The arrival of my second beer, which was significantly colder than the first appeased me a bit. My friend ordered a caipirinha, which tasted a lot like a minty margarita than anything else...he was not so happy.

For dinner, I picked the enchiladas with wild boar. I don't know if it was the hunger or the beer or if it was really as delicious as it was, but it was DELISH!! I devoured it, even before I could think to take a picture, it was gone. JD had the el pollo rostizado como a Lima, which is basically pit roasted half chicken and it smelled amazing. I was too busy with my enchilada to steal a taste, but it looked good with yucca fries and salsa verde. We noted that it was served with a HUGE side of mayo, which went untouched. As we were finishing up our dinner, a flamenco dancer appeared with a guitarist and put on a show. I've seen better, but for Georgetown, and after a couple of drinks, it was fun.

Service wasn't stellar, but I rarely expect that when I go to a restaurant with a big group of people. I thought the food was overpriced for the mediocrity and modest portions. Now I was fine with everything, until a couple of days later when I saw that my credit card was charged twice for different amounts. I had put in $41 for my portion of the check, which was correctly charged, however there was a second charge of $90. I know sometimes the card is swiped for the wrong amount, and the server realizes it and the pending charge disappears after a couple of days when they void it. Unfortunately, I found on Tuesday night that both of the charges were processed. I called as soon as I discovered it and spoke to someone who basically said that it was too late (10:00pm) for them to help me that day, however I should call back on Wednesday and ask to speak to the manager. I did just that and after repeating my story to a very nice lady, she asked me to fax her a copy of my credit card statement, which I tried to do, but their machine was not receiving faxes. So I called back on Thursday and asked for an email address where I could send the scanned copy of my statement. Well, the email address was wrong also (I had repeated the spelling of the address back to the manager 3 times). What the heck is going on?! I was unfortunately busy before their dinner time to call them and I know better than to try on a weekend night. I was looking at their reviews online and it's amazing how many people complain of being overcharged or double charged...you'd think they would learn something? Hmmmm. Tasty tasty!

$$

www.dcseafood.com/cabanas/index.htm

Happy Hour at Saki

On the way to meeting up with some friends for dinner, Saki's happy hour specials caught my eye. $3 beers - I think they were Miller Lite, Amstel Light, and Heineken - and 1/2 price sushi. Since we had half an hour before the agreed meeting time, we stopped in for a quick bite. Most of the rolls were around $3.5 and the nigiri were $1 per piece. Pretty nifty deal, I thought.

It's a very cute place, the color scheme is white and black with a very trendy feel. When you walk in you can sit in a lounge area off to the back right or you can head straight for the bar. We opted to sit at the bar where you can see your sushi being made. The service was prompt (they weren't busy at 6:00pm) and friendly.

We ordered a california roll, a spicy tuna roll, and a yellowtail and scallion roll and a couple of Amstel Lights. The beer was icy cold and delicious, as expected and the sushi was good beyond my expectations. The yellowtail tasted fresh, the california roll was packed with lots of avocado, and the spicy tuna was FABULOUS. I've had spicy tuna rolls at a hundred million places (not really, but a lot...you know what I mean), and this was one of the bestest. I feel that a lot of places don't chop/ground the tuna finely enough so you get big chunks of tuna, but Saki's spicy tuna mix was perfect! It was spicy and tuna-ey and sooooo yummy. We regretted not getting two of the spicy tuna rolls, but it left us wanting more, and that's always good. I'm so planning on going back for those, and you should come! Tasty tasty!!!!

$

www.sakiasiangrille.com

The Lounge at Bourbon Steak

My friend JC and I had an adventurous Thursday evening of happy hour and consuming very little food and bar hopping. We were running about all over DC and our final destination was the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. We ordered a couple of beers, and as we flipped through the bar menu, came to a cigars section. So what the heck, we ordered a cigar and took our beers outside and sat by the firepit (I don't know how else to describe it). First of all, the lounge is very beautiful with oak floors and marble bar top, but their courtyard is just fabulous! The service is marvelous and the chairs are nice and roomy -with a cigar, drinks, and my fave girl, it was a fantastic time. Unfortunately, I don't remember what cigar we chose, and we didn't eat, but we had such a great experience, I thought I'd write an entry about it. Think a cool evening with good friends, scotch and a cigar by the fire. AWESOME.

$$$

www.fourseasons.com/washington/dining/the_lounge_at_bourbon_steak.html

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!

$

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