the arugula files

A Delicious Burger in Dupont Circle, Finally (The BGR Joint)

 

Resisting the temptation to eat cheeseburgers used to be easy in Dupont Circle for one simple reason: there weren't any worth craving.  That all changed when The BGR Joint opened their doors last week.  Now, I have to pass by BGR every night on my walk home from work.  Oh. Dear. 

Friday night Marcus and I gave BGR a try.  My burger choice, the Wellington, came perfectly cooked to my liking (medium rare), and covered in earthy mushrooms, mixed with a hint of blue cheese and caramelized onions.  The burger was tucked in a buttery brioche bun, and each bite delivered juicy, fatty goodness. 

I could be happy with burgers alone at BGR, but then they had to go and make some of the most delicious fries I've had from a "fast food" place.   Starchy, crispy, and salty is the holy trinity when it comes to fries and BGR has it down.  Attention french fry lovers: a pilgrimage is in order.  Make a trip to BGR and order the thick ones.  I ordered mine plain, but I'm intrigued with the notion of adding garlic or rosemary for 49 cents.

Lunch Break: Taqueria Nacional

If you don't work on Capitol Hill, then plan a meeting in the neighborhood.  Time the meeting right around lunch.  After the meeting, walk straight to Taqueria Nacional, a small hole in the wall right behind Johnny's Half Shell, that serves breakfast and deliciously authentic Mexican street food from 7am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. 

On a my first visit I tried the chorizo taco, pork taco, and fish taco.  All  of the tacos were served on soft corn tortillas "two-ply" style.  The chorizo taco, which came topped with onions and cilantro, stood out among the three.    Take note: vegetarians could be happy at Taqueria Nacional, as my friend Jen, who is not a vegetarian, spoke very highly of the bean taco. 

Meatball Subs at Taylor Gourmet

I crave meatball sandwiches.  It all started when I was five years old.  I remember sitting on a bare floor, picnic style, eating a meatball sub from Sal's Pizza and Subs, which was across the street from our apartment.  My Dad and uncles had spent the previous hours taking away our furniture, and we were all enjoying lunch in an empty room.  I remember wiping the sauce from my mouth and feeling really, really happy, and it wasn't just the taste of the  sub. My Mom and Dad were giddy, and their excitement was palpable, contagious even.  We had just bought our first house. I felt excited, nervous, full.

"America is the Best Country in the World" and Himalayan Heritage

In my quest for trying all of the restaurants on the Washingtonian Cheap Eats List, Marcus and I landed at Himalayan Heritage on Saturday night.  The restaurant is only a short walk from our apartment, and we would have missed it had it not been for Amelia at Gradually Greener, who mentioned it in a comment on my cheap eats post. 

So, we ventured up the hill for a taste of Nepal and India, and were promptly greeted with perfectly spiced edamame and ginger.  Our waiter at Himalayan Heritage provided the best service I've had in a long time, maybe the best service ever.  Water glasses were filled to the rim, he described each of our plates with caring detail, and happily shared that he thought "America was the best country in the world," a refreshing statement from a Nepalese immigrant, who I'm guessing was in his early twenties, and reportedly had been in the U.S. for about a year in a half. 

How had we missed this place? (Careful you could miss it too: the signage isn't that great).  Everything was so enjoyable--the service, the soft Nepalese music in the background, and a nice reminder about feeling lucky to live in the U.S. (as opposed to, say, Iran). 

Favorite on Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List?

For the past few years I've been on a mission to eat at as many restaurants on the Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List as humanly possible.  I would say that I've been to about one-third of the restaurants on the list.  Some I've written about and others I enjoyed prior to starting this blog.  I have a few favorites, namely Nava Thai, Pete's Apizza, Etete, and Domku.  Other places I thought were great, like Ray's Hell Burger, the Tackle Box, and the Lebanese Butcher, are a must try if you are in the neighborhood.  Speaking of neighborhoods, there's only one cheap eat in mine: Zorba's.  

Of course, there are quite a few on the list that I haven't tried yet, including Taylor Gourmet, Honey Pig, and La Limena. 

What's your favorite place on the Washingtonian's Cheap Eats List?

Cheap Eats: Nava Thai

Todd Kliman, food critic at the Washingtonian, has been talking up Nava Thai for the last year. At his insistence we stopped at Nava for lunch the other day, and, after having eaten there, my gut instinct is cover Kliman’s mouth with heavy masking tape to prevent him from telling anyone else about the place; it’s that good. Nava Thai is a deserving newcomer to the Washingtonian's cheap eats list.

For an appetizer, I had the hot and sour squid.  This is no frozen squid; it was tender and the sauce—THE SAUCE WAS AMAZING.  Lemongrass, hot sauce, lime, cilantro were key ingredients.  Just thinking about this sauce makes me unconsciously lick my lips. For lunch, I had the Pad Thai, which was also quite good, and Marcus’ Pad Gra Pow pork was the best I have ever tasted.  We will definitely go back to try other dishes.

Nava Thai is located in Wheaton behind an Asian supermarket at 11315 Fern Street, which is a few short blocks from the Wheaton Metro.  If you are unfamiliar with this area of Maryland—it is a wonderful Mecca for ethnic food and shopping.

Best Ethiopian Food in DC

Man, I love Ethiopian Food., originally uploaded by abbyladybug.

Ethiopian is the only cuisine I’ve never tried cooking at home, though I would love to learn how to make cabbage with root vegetables and spicy red lentils. I’ll save that for the day I move to the country when walking two blocks for some injera is no longer an option. Until then, here are the places I like to eat. You should know that Marcus and I always get the same thing: spicy lamb tibs and a vegetarian platter.

Etete - The vegetarian platter here is lighter than others I've tried. Order it with a whole fried fish. The service is inconsistent, but I think the food is worth it. I would rate Etete the highest in DC for the vegetarian platter. It's about $40 for two with drinks.

Lalibela - This is where we eat most frequently. It's cheap ($35 for two with drinks), the service is prompt and friendly, and Marcus thinks the lamb tibs are the best. He describes them as greasy, spicy and perfect.  At Lalibela he usually doesn't talk to me while we're eating dinner, a sure sign he's paying attention to the food. The vegetarian platter is heavier and spicier than other places. Don’t expect much from Lalibela in terms of décor (unless you want flat screen TVs).

Dukem - This joint is tough to get into some nights. I've never had to wait for a table at an Ethiopian restaurant until I ate here. Service is friendly, but a bit slow. The food is good, but the draw, for most people, is the entertainment (offered seven nights a week). If you are up for music then Dukem is your place.

Zed's - This place is tasty, but expensive. It used to be that Zed's had the nicest decor of the Ethiopian restaurants in DC, but Etete and Dukem changed that. If you are in Georgetown, it's worth a stop. It will cost you, though. A check at Zeds for two hovers around $50-$75 with drinks.

Cheap Eats: B&J Carryout

Marcus and I were driving in the middle of nowhere Maryland, looking at houses that would host my future garden, when we came across B&J Carryout.  I knew right away that I had to eat there.  B&J is quintessential road food, the way you want it. 

I got a crabcake with iceberg lettuce.  The crabcake was homemade and tastier than some versions I’ve had at high-end restaurants in DC.  Marcus got a steak and cheese sub that would beat out some of the Philly joints we’ve been to.

They had soft serve ice cream served from a small window.  I love coming across finds like this.  B&J belongs on Washingtonian’s cheap eats list.  Shhhhh…let’s not tell them about it and we can have it all for ourselves.  B&J is in Accokeek, Maryland at 15805 Livingston Rd.

Ella's Pizza

If you find yourself searching for a casual place to eat near Gallery Place, try Ella's Pizza.  The wait, if there is one, is usually manageable, the service is top notch, and the tab is affordable. The trick at Ella's Pizza is knowing what to order.  Unfortunately, many of the pizzas are bland and disappointing, and the crust isn't good enough to carry the pizza without tasty toppings.  The margherita, in particular is a BIG let down. Here's a list of the pizzas I've tried that deliver on flavor:

• genovese (potato, parmesan, prosciutto, pesto)
• lombardi (caramelized onions, gorgonzola, rosemary)
• polpotini (ella's meatballs, tomato sauce, leeks, parmesan)
• melanzane (eggplant, tomato, red onion, yellow peppers, black olives, goat cheese)
• pucillo (prosciutto, arugula, tomato, smoked mozzarella)

Ella's has great happy hour specials (bar only) from 4 to 7 pm.  Try the sangria!

Liberty Tavern, Happy Hour

Half priced wine and $3 beers make Liberty Tavern one of Arlington’s best deals.  Add some seriously delicious pizzas, metro accessibility, and bar seats (if you get there by 6:00) and you have the makings of a perfect happy hour, which runs until 7pm.

On a recent visit, I had the Vermont pizza.  This stand out, covered in granny smith apples, caramelized onions, sage, Cabot cheddar, and big hunks of prosciutto, is easily one of the best pizzas I’ve had in the DC area.  Seriously.  I’m not being hyperbolic.  The topping combination is flawless, and the crust was perfectly charred.  Another pizza, a new seasonal addition to the menu, had figs, fontina cheese, arugula, proscuitto, and a drizzle of balsamic.  I couldn’t decide which pizza was better, so I ate two slices of both.

 

The sliders at Liberty Tavern were not as exciting.  I’ve tried the crabcake and meatball versions, but both left me feeling disappointed.  The whole slider thing has taken a turn for the worst, in my opinion.  What’s next?  Button portabella mushroom sliders?

Tab for a recent happy hour: ~$98.00 or about $30.00 per person with tip

• 8 glasses of wine
• 1 beer
• 2 pizzas
• 1 order of meatball sliders

A serious bargain for this level of deliciousness.