Last summer I was late making reservations, I almost choked on my timing. My smartphone didn’t update my email and I missed the announcement. I had to find out from a colleague three hours after the announcement; oh the horror of it. I know, I’m a total dork but how would you feel if you the known “foodie” in the office and you were unaware of the announcement? It’s not good, I lost a bit of credibility.
This year, I had a new smartphone and thankfully I was home at the time when my both my email and Facebook received the announcement. I made my reservations within 5 minutes and emailed my friends with the reservations. Then I informed my colleagues via a text to make their reservations…………I was back as the credible source!
Off Topic: As the foodie dork I am, I keep the Top 100 Restaurant spreadsheet on my smartphone. You never know when someone will need it. Case in point, friends of friends were in town from Chicago and wanted to know what the good restaurants were in DC. Everyone pointed to me and I was able to supply them with the spreadsheet. Well, one of them is an attorney and loves spreadsheets! I had credibility as a geek and now he loves me.
Back on Topic: I have to admit, I didn’t do my research this year. I’ve been so busy with work and family that the last thing I could do was spend time focusing on Restaurant Week. I’m terrible, I know but time got away from me. I’m losing points admitting to this but oh well, I have to keep it honest.
I was a bit leery of my reservations because I went off my instincts and not my research. This could have been a disaster.
My choices: Belga Café (old favorite and Monday evening) for my dinner with the ladies of NGEN. For my Guam Girls, we had two reservations, Birch and Barley (Thursday evening) and Willow (Saturday evening).
To make a long story short, not everyone could make the reservations but at least most of them gave me a few days’ notice. This is a first and I’m a proud Mama Kat, I have trained them well. Nobody wants to make Mama Kat angry and as the cruise director, last minutes changes tick me off.
Belga Café: For the first time in four years I was not happy with the menu or with the RW choice and ordered off the main menu. They didn’t even have my favorite dessert on the menu anymore, so I only ordered appetizer and entrée. My meal was very good and I even indulged in alcohol. I had two Stella Artois’. My friends jaws dropped when they saw me drinking. Well everyone except Patrick, he wasn’t aware that I do not normally drink. Patrick was a trooper and joined us when Amy had to cancel.
Birch & Barley: This restaurant is pretty cool, pairing beers with farm to table meals. The location is at Logan’s Circle which is cool but the parking situation is awful. I lucked out and found a spot in front of the restaurant after circling only once. Kim and Heather were really impressed with their meals and said that this was the best RW experience ever.
I didn’t do my research and didn’t order correctly; at least not my appetizer. Had I stuck with my gut instincts and I would have ordered differently but I asked the host what he liked and I’ll never do that again. Heather had the best appetizer. I tasted hers and it was fabulous.
Kim’s braut burger disgusted me and I almost threw up but she seemed to love it. It’s my funky taste buds, I had stinky cheese and braut.
What We Ordered:
Assortment of freebies: pretzels, cornbread, & blueberry rolls with homemade mustard and butter. As well as Risotto balls. Very good! I loved the homemade pretzels.
As a side dish, Heather and I both ordered the Truffled Herbed Mac & Cheese and totally dug it.
Kim: Grilled Octopus Pickled Eggplant, Fingerling Potatoes, Herb Salad, Pearl Onions and Brät Burger Beer-Braised Sauerkraut, Emmenthaler, Hand Cut Fries, Cornichon (she loved both!).
Heather: Seared Grouper Cheeks Coconut Gold Rice, Fresno Pickled Pineapple, Lime Jicama, Cilantro (the best first course and what I wanted to order), and Seared Beef Ranch Steak Blistered Corn Pudding, Minted Favas, Queso Fresco Gnocchi, Piperade (she really liked it).
Both Kim and Heather ordered the same dessert and loved it: Peanut Butter Cheesecake Grapes, Honey Roasted Peanuts, Ginger Syrup, Grape Sorbet, Micro Basil. Also, both of them had the alcohol pairing with each meal and they both raved about how it enhanced the meal.
Kat: Handmade Flatbreads White Bean Bruschetta (ok, not great), Seared Blue Fish Fingerling Potatoes, Jarred Tomatoes, Lima Beans, Fennel Sausage, Littleneck Clams (fantastic and the best entree!) and Cashew Snickers, Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream, Hostess Cupcake, and Snickerdoodle (good but not blow my head off).
Overall, we had a wonderful meal, the restaurant decor and ambience was awesome and the service was outstanding. I’d go back to Birch and Barley.
Finally, Willow in Arlington (Ballston), across from the Ballston Metro. I know it isn’t DC but what an outstanding location and has underground parking. The restaurant’s décor is up scale and the ambience is wonderful. Yes, it was noisy but only because everyone was loving their meals and enjoying themselves. I liked the atmosphere.
Cliff and Jessica showed up 15 minutes late but what else is new. It took me about 2 minutes to get over my irritation and be nice to them. I actually felt bad because I think I hurt Jessica’s feelings by being angry.
I think Willow was my favorite locations this RW. Cliff had the best entrée and all of us had the same dessert! Jessica loved her meal and was happy all around.
What we Ordered:
Cliff: Creamy Shrimp & Crab Bisque (really liked it) and Roasted Norwegian Salmon Corn Ravioli (outstanding).
Jessica: Tomato, Almond & Basil Gazpacho (loved it) and Ratatouille & Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossoms (really liked it).
Kat: Creamy Shrimp & Crab Bisque (excellent) and Day Boat Sea Scallop & Ratatouille (the scallop was good but all the other stuff was just too much).
All three of us ordered: Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake Caramel Sauce and Moorenko’s Salted Caramel Ice Cream (soooo yummy)
This was my favorite during RW and I’d love to take my mother here. I think she would like both Willow and Birch & Barley.
That is my test for all restaurants; if I wouldn’t take my parents then I won’t return.
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