Chow Down DC…Take One!

I have decided to post once a month with a few restaurant highlights. These posts will be quick mini reviews and entitled: Chow Down DC. I have been to so many new restaurants that I just want to share but not write full posts. For September I give you Dino, Coppi’s Organic, Tabard Inn and Touchdown.

 

The Good:
Coppi’s Organic: Italian Restaurant on U Street

Great food. This was the location of the ol’ 30th birthday dinner. The waiter had some great menu suggestions both with wine and the main course. First it was suggested to try the night’s special appetizer: corn. Sounds boring but it definitely did not taste boring. It was possibly some of the best corn I have ever had. We all ordered different pastas and tried them all. My butternut squash ravioli was amazing. There was a little mishap with the cappuccinos but the way the waiter handle the situation, brought us new ones and acted like this was possibly the most embarrassing moment of his life where he was personally offended by the incident totally redeemed the whole situation. And the birthday desert was great too. The menu changes here often so I will be returning.

Dino: Italian Restaurant/Enoteca in Cleveland Park

The Baci is AMAZING! All conversation stops when you pop one of these bad boys in your mouth. That sounded inappropriate. To use the description from the menu: “Baci ~ “Italian Kisses” ~ pancetta wrapped scallop, duck liver & date ~ 3 ginger & 3 citrus duck stock glaze” Order it. Now. In addition to having one of the best appetizers, there are good 3-course Brunch and Dinner options, good wine list and the bread and oil are excellent too. Even the desert was amazing. I plan to go back here often.

 

Tabard Inn: American Brunch near Dupont Circle

Word to the wise, on Saturday breakfast ended at 9:45am and brunch didn’t start until 11am. So my showing up at 10:20am guaranteed my name to be first on the list for walk ins but also had me sitting in the lounge area for 40 minutes. Next time I will bring a newspaper. Moving on, the food was excellent. The bread basket had muffins and delicious cheesy bread. After that we decided to continue with the carbs and go all out so for an appetizer we had their homemade doughnuts with homemade whipped cream. Then for the main course we split the Eggs Benedict (with house-made ham which had possibly some of the best hollandaise sauce) and their seasonal Pumpkin French Toast. If you are a pumpkin lover like I am, get to Tabard Inn and try that seasonal French toast—delicious. Our coffee cups were never even close to empty and the atmosphere was quite pleasant. It felt like we left DC and landed in some small quaint European town. No, I did not eat lunch that day and dinner was very minimal.

The Bad…and The Ugly:
Touchdown: Sports bar on U Street

Warning: Do not order the food here. Beer and college football is good. Food is bad. We all went the safe bar food route one ordered a hot dog and fries, I went with wings and the third ordered a chicken quesadilla. Instead of staying to watch the end of the game or going out that Saturday night we all went back to watch a movie and nurse an alka-seltzer cocktail.

More reviews to come this month…