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Random Notes On DC Dining

One of the things that enrages me more than anything is when restaurants charge you for refills of soda.  If I'm paying $1.50 for 10 cents worth of syrup and carbonated water, then you better fucking give me all the syrup and carbonated water I can drink.  If you know a place that charges for refills, leave it in the comments.  I'd like to compile a master list in the hopes of shaming these establishments into offering free refills.  I know Luna Grill is an offender, but the most egregious offender has to be Annie's Paramount Steakhouse.  If I recall correctly, for $2 you get a 10 oz. bottle of coke.  Two fucking dollars for 10 fucking ounces.  They're out of their minds.  But it goes with the whole "unimpressive food, unreasonable prices" theme that they've got going for them.  Shame on you, Annie's, shame on you.

Speaking of restaurants with Luna in the name, when did Cafe Luna become a Thai restaurant named Bua?  WTF?

I've never eaten at the Bourbon in Glover Park, but I can vouch for the Bourbon in Adams Morgan.  Best curly fries in the city, hands down.  Definitely a great brunch spot.  And the staff seems super nice.  So nice that you begin to distrust them, because people in this city aren't that nice.

I'm eating at Tosca for RW tonight.  It's the most impressive RW menu I've seen yet.  Anyone else had good/bad experiences this RW?  Incidentally, Butterfield 9 is extending their RW through next week.  I'm sure others are too, but I haven't seen a list anywhere. 

Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2006 by Registered CommenterRCR | Comments22 Comments

Reader Comments (22)

Isn't Bua above Cafe Luna? Luna's in the basement of that building.
Jan 12, 2006 at 01:54PM | Unregistered Commentersqdc
We hit Tabard Inn last night. Great food and fast (albeit nigh resentful) service. I would highly recommend reservations.
Jan 12, 2006 at 01:57PM | Unregistered CommenterA_Unique_Alias
When I drove by it still said Skewers on the outside of the space above. The sign that said "Bua" was definitely in the lower window.
Jan 12, 2006 at 01:59PM | Registered CommenterRCR
Still haven't eaten at Tabard. One of these days.
Jan 12, 2006 at 01:59PM | Registered CommenterRCR
Had good times and good food at IndeBleu on Tuesday--though I don't think I'd return without some sort of celebration-worthy excuse (VERY expensive--since when is $10 an acceptable starting price for cocktails? Grrr).
Jan 12, 2006 at 02:07PM | Unregistered Commenterbettyjoan
Rotten service at Busboys and Poets last night--we were seated in "the Langston Room" at 8 and they didn't bother telling us that a screening/poetry reading was scheduled to begin at 9.
Jan 12, 2006 at 02:26PM | Unregistered CommenterJordanBaker
Bua is above and to the side of Cafe Luna. They have great pad thai.
Jan 12, 2006 at 02:26PM | Unregistered CommenterSH
Betty J. - Yes, I like Indebleu's food, and the service is great, but it is expensive

JB - B&P once told me there would be a 15 minute wait - it was closer to an hour before we were seated.

SH - so is Skewers still there?
Jan 12, 2006 at 02:40PM | Registered CommenterRCR
Truthfully I've never noticed Skewers so I have no clue if they are there or not.
Jan 12, 2006 at 02:53PM | Unregistered CommenterSH
Bua is immediately to the east of the Blockbuster/CVS and takes up the first and second floors of that structure. Immediately to the east of that is Luna on the basement/ground floor (go down the steps) and Skewers upstairs (one flight). Also on the third floor of that building is some indie bookstore-type place whose name I forget. They've all been there for years.

So far I've done RW at 21P (pretty good food -- full menu available at RW price) and Palette (excellent food -- limited RW selection, but full menu available). Yum!
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:03PM | Unregistered CommenterDennis!
So apparently I've just never noticed Bua before. That's really weird.
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:05PM | Registered CommenterRCR
I had lunch this week at Kopitiam (sp?). You know, the malaysian place between the two strip clubs on 19th (and no, it's not Penang, that's the other Malaysian place on the block with the the strip clubs). Anywho, they charged us for refills on cokes. Bastards!

I think the waiter was staring at my crotch too. Okay, I'm not sure about the crotch thing, but we definitely got charged for refills.
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:23PM | Unregistered Commenterhomeimprovementninja
In other Luna news, the Luna on CT is closed for the next three weeks for "a much needed renovation"--don't know if I will make it.

For RW, 1789 was very yuppie but yummy, with the standard G-town idiots sitting next to us, and I am cautiously optimistic about Fahrenheit tonight.
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:43PM | Unregistered CommenterV
I was at Tabard last night, too! We basically went in, turned around and left, tho. It was so crowded that the place was a sauna. The National Geographic Society was staying there, which made the angry/cagey guy banging down the restroom door seem slightly more appropriate, somehow.

I'm a huge fan of Steve's Bar Room at the moment. That's where we went instead.
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:49PM | Unregistered CommenterRoarSavage
Wait. You said dining, huh? lol.

Sake Club in Woodley is awesome...
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:56PM | Unregistered CommenterRoarSavage
HIN - duly noted

V - good to know, Luna Grill is on my brunch rotation

RS - I'm not familiar with Steve's Bar Room. Is it near Tabard?
Jan 12, 2006 at 03:57PM | Registered CommenterRCR
Conneticut Ave, between Cafe Citron and Heritage. Just opened in December.

Shady because 1-you have to go up an elevator to get there and 2-it's quickly been dubbed "The White House," though I've never seen anything of the like there. Best kind of dirty martini this girl's had yet. And let's be honest: shady can be fun!
Jan 12, 2006 at 04:03PM | Unregistered CommenterRoarSavage
While I love RW, I've had a couple of really sour staff experiences. Such idiocy -- I'm looking for new places to go, people! Feed me well and pat me on the head and I'll come back and spend money. Grrrr.
Jan 12, 2006 at 04:20PM | Unregistered CommenterMegarita
Yeah, I had awful service at Corduroy last RW. I know they're busy, but when you have a 5:30 reservation, your dinner shouldn't be a 2.5 hour marathon.
Jan 12, 2006 at 04:50PM | Registered CommenterRCR
That's why I just order water and wine. Screw restaurant sodas...
Jan 13, 2006 at 10:52AM | Unregistered CommenterDC_Cookie
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