restaurants in dc for Dean candidates

J

Jonathan Loesberg

Jonathan Loesberg
I am responsible for setting up dinners for visiting candidates to be a dean here. We are talking in the price/ritzy area of Palena or Nora, not say Restaurant Eve or Citronelle or Lavandou or Dino. I have more experience with the Lavandou end of the scale. Obviously we need to be able to talk and I would like a decent wine list, though I doubt many other people will care. Further suggestions from the DC contingent?
 
I like Black Salt a lot.
I like Komi much more but it is VERY expensive.
I enjoyed Obelisk - good wine list but mostly italian if I recall.

And I am not a big fan of Nora food, though the place looks nice.
 
originally posted by Cristian Dezso:
And I am not a big fan of Nora food, though the place looks nice.
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I agree that Nora is pretty pathetic. And is it really that expensive. If so, that is even worse. (Obviously I wasn't paying when I went)
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Cristian Dezso:
And I am not a big fan of Nora food, though the place looks nice.
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I agree that Nora is pretty pathetic. And is it really that expensive. If so, that is even worse. (Obviously I wasn't paying when I went)
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Has Nora really gone down hill that much or is this just different strokes? I haven't eaten there in a lot of years, but I used to like it.
 
I have been there at least 4 times in the past year or so and was never really impressed. Plus, I find that the $25 prices for main dishes are completely unjustified. On the other hand, I find that the $28-$33 prices at Black Salt seem fair, though here too they could be lower. All in all, I would prefer to pay the extra 5 to 7 dollars for a main dish at Black Salt than Nora.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
Has Nora really gone down hill that much or is this just different strokes? I haven't eaten there in a lot of years, but I used to like it.
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I've only been once. And with a group (the plus side there being that we were in a private room). So I don't claim to have the definitive word. But the whole meal was rather lackluster, not just an issue of small problems with one or two elements.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
So are you guys saying Dino would be a better choice?
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Food-wise it is more delicious, but it is more casual and do they have a private room?

Not sure what tone you are going for.

Maybe some of the other local Big Hitters can chime in.
 
It is rare that I travel to DC and don't eat there.

Last time was the first in years. I think the food is excellent and the list is very cool (they have an orange wine section) and fairly priced.

The food is MUCH better than Dino, IMO, as is the ambiance.
 
OK, so Nathan's post gives me the courage to ask, do people consider Dino's to be that good? I think it's OK, better than Nora certainly, but still somehow underwhelming.
 
originally posted by Cristian Dezso:
OK, so Nathan's post gives me the courage to ask, do people consider Dino's to be that good? I think it's OK, better than Nora certainly, but still somehow underwhelming.
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Spot on. Food is eh.

Obelisk is another thing entirely. One of my favorite restaurants in the country in terms of food. I've had meals there that just felt like the Piedmont.
 
I think Dino is good for what it is. Decent food at a decent price with a good wine list. I like it as much as Lavandou. I agree completely about Obelisk. When I last went to Nora's, I also liked it as much, but it got too expensive. They have recently cut their prices, but I guess also their quality. 10 years ago, I would never have said that Dino is better.

But I need more than one restaurant. There is more than one candidate and a search committee that could get tired of eating at the same place.
 
originally posted by VLM:

Obelisk is another thing entirely. One of my favorite restaurants in the country in terms of food. I've had meals there that just felt like the Piedmont.
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Obelisk is great (it's the one place of those mentioned where I've eaten), but you're locking yourself into a five course, prix fixe menu that might push your budget. It's likely a two-hour meal, which might work well or poorly depending on how the meal fits into your interview process.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
I think Dino is good for what it is. Decent food at a decent price with a good wine list. I like it as much as Lavandou. I agree completely about Obelisk. When I last went to Nora's, I also liked it as much, but it got too expensive. They have recently cut their prices, but I guess also their quality. 10 years ago, I would never have said that Dino is better.

But I need more than one restaurant. There is more than one candidate and a search committee that could get tired of eating at the same place.
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Palena is my second favorite place in DC, although I haven't been to Black Salt.
 
originally posted by Steve Guattery:
originally posted by VLM:

Obelisk is another thing entirely. One of my favorite restaurants in the country in terms of food. I've had meals there that just felt like the Piedmont.
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Obelisk is great (it's the one place of those mentioned where I've eaten), but you're locking yourself into a five course, prix fixe menu that might push your budget. It's likely a two-hour meal, which might work well or poorly depending on how the meal fits into your interview process.
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I would think that for interviewing Dean level candidates, it would fit fine. In fact, I think that it would be perfect to my way of thinking.

As for the cost $55 seems reasonable. I got more than Dino money spent on me and I'm a nobody.
 
I'm having lunch Saturday at the restaurant at the St. Regis and can report back; it's supposed to be very good (and quite pricy). And while I haven't been there in a while, Obelisk is much better foodwise than Dino (which is fun and pleasant but never great). Komi is very good; I have heard good things about the new Corduroy; my one Nora experience made certain that I would never, ever, go back. Citronelle is very good and has very nice wines (but I have never gone on my own dime). My one Black Salt meal was nice; I haven't been to Palena in a while but have had good food there too. Makoto is fun if you're in to the Japanese inn thing, but it would depend on the Dean candidate.
 
originally posted by VLM:

As for the cost $55 seems reasonable. I got more than Dino money spent on me and I'm a nobody.
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Obelisk by my recollection was more like $75/person last November. Add wine costs on top of that. Given what's happening with academic budgets these days...
 
While I'm not a local, I've always loved Obelisk. Corduroy was unmitigated brilliance the one time I went; that was the old location, but unless they've changed chefs I can't see that it would matter. I thought it was a value, but maybe prices have escalated in the new digs.
 
Assuming you've got 3 or 4 candidates, I would certainly agree with Palena, Blacksalt (or any Black Group restaurant), or Obelisk. Have you considered Hook? I like it, but haven't been since the transitions in the kitchen last year.

You should really consider Corduroy. I think it may be among the best values in the city (aside maybe from Chef Geoff's and the taco place in Adams Morgan)--and it's not cheap. I haven't been since they moved to the new place, but I've heard from friends and reviewers that it's still excellent. The difference is that the dining room is no longer decorated in the style of a late-80s Sheraton banquet hall (which is where it was). They've moved to a town house, I think.

My affection for Dino began with the owner himself. I ate there the first week they opened. The food needed help, but he was infectiously enthusiastic. The food improved, the wine bar improved. Nothing's perfect, but it's always enjoyable.

I have a lot of affection for Nora too, but I used to live next door to it and knew some of the staff. They gave us peaches and apricots from their trees in the summer and helped us get cabs. And occasionally fed my wife and I. It went through some hard times but I think it's actually improved recently.

(edited for spelling)
 
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