Joon S.'s Profile

I am like a reptile in many respects.  For instance, when walking during the summer, I automatically seek out the shady side of the street.  And, when I molt my skin, I seek out a new cool, isolated hole within which to protect my newly-vulnerable self.  In this instance, the molting is metaphorical: after nearly four years in DC I have moved to Brooklyn.  Everything is new, gritty, and  unfamiliar.  I had my favorite bars in DC, but now that I'm in New York I need to find replacements.

Calling a bar a dive bar is almost an insult, except it's not.  But what makes a dive bar a good dive bar?  It's almost a contradiction in terms.  I will leave that philosophical inquiry for another time.  What I want to say is that the Library is a dive bar and a damned good one.

For instance, you can borrow a book to read while you're drinking.  I am a big fan of going to bars alone, so reading a book is a way to pretend I'm not such a loser.  But why would you want to read a book when you can talk to the assembled assorted fauna?  There are some cool people here, from the patrons to the bartenders.  The bartenders will make sure you always have a beverage in front of you, which is more than what you can say for 95% of bars.

I don't want to rehash the points made by other reviewers.  However, I need to point out that they have a wonderful, wonderful happy hour from 4-8 pm with buy one, get one free beverages.  Thus, if you wished to purchase a Genesee Cream Ale and a shot of Makers, you will receive vouchers for a free Genesee and a free Makers.  As the prices are cheap to begin with, the Library is a fantastic place to bring raucous groups of thirsty people.

You can also bring in your own food, as the Library does not have a kitchen.  In fact, the only negative I can think of is the jukebox: the selection is limited and consists of mostly rock and metal.  Where is Otis?  Where is Sam?  Where is Ruben Studdard?  Despite this, the Library is terrific.  I think I have my new cool, isolated hole.

As Jason Z. pointed out, we "do not have to agree with [anyone else's] palate."  I wholeheartedly agree, and with that said I write this review to come to the defense of MacArthur Beverages.

Quite simply, MacArthur Beverages is probably the best wine store in DC. [FN1]  They have outstanding French and Italian collections, along with a formidable German/Austrian contingent, good representation from California, and some choice picks from Iberia.  Their Burgundy selection is tremendous, and I don't think I've had a bottle of Burgundy from MacArthur that I haven't liked. [FN2]   But wine is not all they have.  They have an excellent selection of liquors and spirits, unlike what Andrew W. noted, and a few dozen types of beer.

Many people note that the location is a pain to get to, but MacArthur can't really do anything about that at this point.  And, as many other reviewers have noted, there are ways to get to MacArthur--including public transportation!  [FN3]

One commentator noted that you could find better prices online for some of the wines they carry.  I don't know if that's true (I compare prices all the time and MacArthur usually comes up ahead), but even if it is the problem with online shopping is that you have to pay for shipping... and have your wines shipped.  You can pick up your bottles at MacArthur, or you can have them deliver for a flat fee of $5.00 in the DC metro area.

However, the biggest set of complaints levied against MacArthur is that the staff is rude or snobbish, or that they don't offer to help customers.  I have not ever seen that behavior, and I have always been helped whenever I walk through the doors.  I have had experiences at other wine shops where the proprietors have been actually mean or condescending, [FN4] and I suppose that sort of behavior is possible at any wine shop.  If so, it is inexcusable, but I have been to MacArthur at least five or six times and have never been subject or witness to rudeness.

What you'll find at MacArthur is deeply knowledgeable, personable wine stewards who will help you pick out a solid bottle of wine.  They value repeat customers (I now deal almost exclusively with Phil Bernstein, whose knowledge of Burgundy is profound), and with their collection of wines it is easy to become a repeat customer.  Don't let the negative reviews taint your view of this DC gem: there's a reason it's been around since 1957, [FN5] and there's a reason why it's my favorite wine shop in the District.

FOOTNOTES *

* I feel so strongly about this review that I am ANNOTATING it.  How's that for a review?

FN1.  I also love Schneider's of Capitol Hill and often compare prices and inventories between the two for older or rarer bottles.  For instance, a few months ago both stores offered the 2001 Penfolds RWT Shiraz (http://tiny.cc/3t3fd), and MacArthur's won out at $69.99; Schneider's won on another instance for its selection of Ridge Zinfandels (http://tiny.cc/fpsrc).

FN2.  They carry not only great premier and grand cru Burgundies, but also village- and basic Bourgogne-level wines.  You should check out either of their offerings from Aubert de Villaine--winemaker at Romanee-Conti, who also has his own operation--or the basic Bourgogne from Domaine René Leclerc (http://tiny.cc/7tx94).

FN3.  Take the D6 line, which picks up in downtown and goes past Dupont Circle, north of Georgetown, and down MacArthur Blvd.  It nearly literally stops right in front of MacArthur Beverages.

FN4.  For instance, Potomac Wines and Spirits (http://tiny.cc/q0e23) or Le Petit Vendome in Pasadena, CA, which is run by an autocratic, cranky, can't-be-bothered old man.

FN5.  For those wine drinkers who love Robert Parker (I don't say this sarcastically--I admire Robert Parker): Robert Parker got a big boost from Addy Bassin, the original proprietor of MacArthur Beverages.  Bassin gave Parker his client list, which helped Parker publicize The Wine Advocate in its early days.  I would recommend reading The Emperor of Wine by Elin McCoy, which is a fascinating biography of the rise (and slight decline?) of Parker.

You can call it a hole in the wall, you can call it a neighborhood joint.  Whatever you want to call Libby's Restaurant, however, it's been a Wilmington establishment since 1982 and for damned good reason: it's cheap, filling, and delicious.

I've been working in Wilmington at the Court of Chancery for four and a half weeks, and while I usually bring my lunch I've been to Libby's three times in that time and intend to do so as often as I can before I leave for DC.  But it didn't have to be this way.  It's easy to overlook Libby's on its location on 8th and Tatnall.  It's a small place, unassuming, with only a cracked tile entryway and an old yellowed sign proclaiming its existence.  If one were merely to peek through its plate-glass windows while walking down 8th, it would be easy to pass this gem by.  And that is a shame, because Libby's is one of the best examples of a workday lunch spot you'll ever find.

We all have those places.  The Stage Restaurant (East Village, New York), Shelly Café (Hollywood, California), and Penn Grill (Washington, DC) all come to mind as restaurants that serve good, cheap food quickly.  They don't spend money on décor, and really, don't spend too much money on what one might consider "high quality" ingredients, but what they turn out on white plates or Styrofoam boxes fills the soul and warms the heart.  (The warming effect is from the cholesterol.)

Libby's is famous for its fried flounder plate, which is served only on Fridays.  See Patricia Talorico, Tuesdays Are For Slippery Dumplings, THE NEWS JOURNAL, May 21, 2003, at 12E.  According to Talorico, the tradition of the fried flounder plate started when Libby's owner, a Greek named Teddy Hantzandreou, realized many of his customers would not eat meat on Fridays.  He started frying up flounder and making crab cakes, and Libby's has been serving these ever since.

I had occasion to try the flounder plate ($7.95) a week ago, and it was impressive.  A huge, breaded and fried fillet of flounder took up most of my plate.  It was fresh and moist, though it could have used a bit more seasoning.

What was better than the flounder was the mac 'n' cheese that came with it.  I'm a big proponent of homemade mac 'n' cheese--I don't like those frou-frou, high-end versions made with three types of artisanal cheeses and truffle oil--and this one was hands-down the best mac 'n' cheese I've ever had in my life.  It is gooey and rich, the cheese competing with the bread crumb topping for textural supremacy.  It is divine in an everyday sort of way.

(The flounder plate also comes with another vegetable of your choice.  I wouldn't recommend the cole slaw--it's a small portion and mostly sauce at that.)

I've also had the chopped steak and mushrooms ($5.50), which is good and hearty.  They have huge workmanlike salads.  They also have wonderfully cheap sandwiches (try their bacon and egg breakfast sandwich, served with a side of chips, for around $3.00).  Their breakfasts are in general excellent.  See Rob Kalesse, Breakfast Nook, THE NEWS JOURNAL, Feb. 22, 2006, at 27S.

On a rainy day you should order the hot open-faced turkey sandwich and a side of mashed potatoes.  The whole plate comes covered in gravy, and it is as good comfort food as you'll get for $5.25.

I didn't know quite what to expect from Wilmington.  It has its fancy spots and a great riverfront (as well as huge swathes of rather seedy neighborhoods), but its heart is located on the corner of 8th and Tatnall.

Four words: crisp pork belly sandwich.  Come here for an iced coffee and the aforementioned sandwich.  Finally, a reason to go out to Clarendon!

http://tinyurl.com/2g2...

I loved the restaurant that was here before--not Little Parlor, which I never had the opportunity to try, but Steve Arroyo's 750 mL, which was an excellent little French-style bistro.  That being said, coming back to SoCal from Washington, DC, I was excited to see that a new restaurant was opening up in its place.

But it's not new, per se.  Radhika's used to have a location in Pasadena on Shopper's Lane, off of Lake Avenue.  That location closed down, however, and it appears that the new location is here to stay.  I love Indian food, so I'm quite pleased.

Radhika's had its soft opening on Mother's Day, and I had the opportunity to try it out just today.  I went to pick up some dinner for the family.  It's a small space (something that was a problem with 750 mL as well), and there's no place for people with reservations or simply picking up food to sit and wait.  I'm assuming that this will be solved with outdoor seating.  The interior is simply decorated and painted in shades of blue.  There's no music, though this might change as the restaurant gets its footing.

The service was slow, but that could be expected for a restaurant that's been opened for only three days.  They should, however, hire a few more servers if they don't have a few in the wings already.  I ordered three entrees and three pieces of naan, and that took about 40 minutes to prepare.

The three entrees were chicken tikka masala ($13), lamb vindaloo ($13), and saag paneer (spinach with cheese) ($10).  The plain naan were $2.50 each--they also have garlic naan available for slightly more.  The meat entrees are in the low to high teens, and the vegetable entrees are around $10 each.  They seem to have great lunch specials, including a chicken tikka masala lunch special for around $11 which comes with the entree, vegetable of the day, rice, and naan.

The chicken tikka masala was very good: creamy, rich, and richly flavored.  It was not spicy as much as it was spiced.  Overall it would be good Indian food for those who don't like Indian food.  The lamb vindaloo was billed as spicy, but again it wasn't very spicy (at least for my Korean palate).  It was, however, full of juicy pieces of lamb, chunks of potato, and tiny slivers of ginger.  It was delicious.  The saag paneer was pretty standard, but delicious nonetheless.

I really liked the naan: they were thick, big, and crisp on the outside but soft and doughy on the inside.  They were very satisfying and perfect for sopping up sauce.

I already like this place: the owner gave us free basmati rice for the delay ("it'll take us a few days to get things worked out around here," he said), and from the people coming in to shake his hand and enjoy some good Indian food, it seems that Radhika's has a few other fans, as well.

I recently wrote a brief review of this place on my wine blog, the link to which I have provided below.  Filter is a great little coffee shop and a welcome addition to the DC coffee scene.  I no longer have to hop on the Metro to go to Peregrine--all I need to do is take a casual stroll down 20th!

http://vinicultured.co...

What do you call it when your local wine guy (Dave from Mission Wines, South Pasadena) recommends a restaurant on the same day you read a stellar review in the LA Weekly about that same restaurant?

A reservation for two on a Saturday night.

The Saturday night in question was yesterday, and the restaurant was Church & State, one of the Steven Arroyo family of eateries (the others being, for instance, Cobras and Matadors and the now-defunct 750 mL).  It is located in the fabulous National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) building on the corner of Industrial and Mateo, in the industrial/warehouse district to the south-east of Little Tokyo.  There is a small outside dining area surrounded by short potted plants.  You SFers out there: try to go during dusk because the street and surrounding area is reminiscent of SoMa.

The interior is well-decorated and dim, though not as dim as 750 mL.  There is plenty of dark wood, but this is offset by industrial metal and strings of light above.  It has sort of a French bistro-meets-refurbished factory feel, which sounds strange but works well.  No tablecloths on the tables; the tables themselves are dark wood, which is nice, but a bit cramped, which is not.  There is a bar.  Wine bottles line one wall, opposite are plate windows looking out onto the street, and the kitchen is not as much exposed as full-frontal.  You can see the line cooks cooking and the expediters expediting, and hear the calls for plates and the sizzling of the food.

Before I get to the food, a note on the wine.  I was thoroughly impressed and was tempted to get a bottle of Beaujolais or Burgundy, but my dining partner and I would not have been able to finish it (and remain sober, of course).  We settled on a glass of the François Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire brut sparkler, which I've had before and was, again, blown away by.  Dry and toasty on the entry but with long notes of dried currant on the finish--gorgeous and a great match for a number of foods.  I got a rosé from Cotes du Provence whose name I will have to provide via an update.  Suffice it to say now that the wine had a nose full of peach and a nice sassy snap in the mouth.  Delicious.

The food is reasonably priced and, at least for the plats principaux, come in two sizes: the "regular" and the "small."  For two, an appetizer, two small plats principaux, and dessert was perfect.

The appetizer was the escargot, six of which came housed in tall ramekins, doused in garlic butter sauce, and covered by chewy, Yorkshire Pudding-like pastry.  The sauce was not overpowering and was surprisingly delicate.  The escargot was not slimy, squisy, or sandy.  The pastry was a bit too chewy for my tastes, but still, the whole package was delightful.  The François Chidaine provided great counterpoint to the escargot.

Not to be overlooked was the baguette, straight from the oven and served with salted French butter.  Probably some of the best restaurant bread I've had and, from what I remember, much better than that served at 750 mL.

My dining partner had the small plate of sea bass, which was served with what seemed like either sauteed kale or spinach and artichoke.  The sea bass was tender and moist, very subtly seasoned, and the skin was extraordinarily crispy.  Superb, and perhaps the best fish I've had at a restaurant.  I had the small steak frites, medium rare, served with bearnaise sauce.  The small steak frites came with roughly six or seven slices of steak--each of which was covered in a bit of what seemed like a wine reduction.  The frites were individually crispy, if that makes sense, and excellent dipped in bearnaise.  While good, the steak frites were not as good as what I had at 750 mL (though much, much cheaper) but better than, say, the basic steak frites at Bistro de la Gare (South Pasadena, CA) or Monsieur Marcel (Los Angeles Farmer's Market, CA).

For dessert, we shared a wedge of fig tart, which came with a spoonful of custard on the side.  It was good but not awe-inspiring.  It was better with a shot of espresso, which provided the perfect punctuation at the end of the meal.

The service was very good, unobtrusive yet masterful.  The server was able to provide a useful recommendation between their three rosés, and the runners were swift and helpful as well.  There was a bit of a long gap between the appetizer and main courses, but the meal was otherwise well-timed.

It is rare to find a restaurant that meets all the myriad requirements: location, ambiance, service, wine list, and, of course, food.  Church & State passes with flying colors on each of these points.  It is a bit pricey but is worth every penny.  EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially for a date, in-laws, or out-of-towners.  It is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Los Angeles and, indeed, anywhere.

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TOTAL COST: $85.00 (includes two glasses of wine, one appetizer, two small plats principaux, one dessert, one espresso, and tax--does not include tip).

You no doubt know a place or two like this in your own neighborhood: a little place that looks cute, surrounded by pots of flowers and tall plants, that for some reason you've never visited.  I wouldn't call this place hidden, but its location on El Centro between Meridian and the railroad track never really invited me to park my car amid the Benzs, Jags, and BMWs and walk inside.  I HAVE stopped by here before to pick up little wedges of taleggio or small bottles of Chimay, but never to eat.  That changed last weekend.

You see, I was tired of the "same old": tired of good decent Thai food at Patakan, burgers from In 'n' Out, didn't want to deal with Old Town to get a good reuben at Russell's.  So on a whim last Saturday, while drinking an iced coffee with my folks at Kaldi, I decided to give Nicole's a try.

I'm glad I did.

For one, the prices are very decent.  For anywhere between $6-$8 you can get a nice sandwich; from $7-$9 you can get a very nice salad.  There are a la carte items such as cold lentils or a delicious artichoke salad.  There are innumerable cheese, freshly-baked breads, juices and waters, coffee, desserts, and a small selection of beer and wine that you can drink on the premises.  (You should try a glass of Morgon, one of the more substantial and "serious" Beaujolais crus, available now for the great price of $5.95.)

I've been there twice in a week, and both times I ordered the pate sandwich.  You can get two varieties of pâté: a coarse pork pâté or a smooth chicken "mousse."  I got the latter, and it's served on a crusty, chewy French baguette, spread nicely with some butter, crisp sassy cornichons, and lettuce.  Redolent of liver and wine without being overpowering.

My sister first got the smoked salmon sandwich (good) and then the grilled eggplant panini on wheat bread, which was a veritable harvest of eggplant, tomato, olive tapenade, onion, and cheese.

My parents shared the ham and cheese sandwich both times--plain, yes, but executed very well.

For the table the first time we got the niçoise salad, which I thought would feature lightly-seared tuna but instead came with lightly-seasoned chunk albacore.  Nonetheless, it was very good, coming with the standard potatoes and olives but adding haricot verts.  The second time we got the "Salade de Chèvre Frais"--basically chèvre salad.  The lettuce was crisp and offset nicely by onion and the smooth, tangy cheese.  

Both salads--indeed the entire portfolio of food--weren't avant garde or necessarily big on presentation, but were very reasonably priced, tasty, and fresh.  Their coffees are good--try the macchiato, which is superb, but stay away from the iced coffee which is very, very small.  The service is friendly if unsophisticated (they do have quite a few French servers there which adds to the atmosphere!).  In short, this place is a gem, a slice of France to join Bistro de la Gare and the memory of 750 mL as the French corner in our little town.

A more relevant name for a sandwich shop / bakery was never conceived.  The Bread Line serves up sandwiches on bread baked fresh daily on premises, and during the lunch hour the line is out the door.  However, the line moves very quickly, though it looks daunting: usually, you wait in line, order, and pay within 7 minutes on even the busiest day.

This is one of my favorite places to grab a relatively quick lunch that is not (1) microwaved, (2) from Trader Joe's, or (3) from the Marvin Center (i.e. the GW student commons).  They serve up delicious sandwiches, piadines, salads, and soup.

If you're a fan of egg salad, look no further.  This place has the BEST egg salad sandwich I've ever had.  Huge chunks of egg in a light, creamy sauce, seasoned perhaps with a bit of garlic, salt, and pepper.  The best part of this particular sandwich, however, is the lettuce.  I don't know what kind they use, but it has a slightly bitter, herbal quality that complements the creamy richness of the egg salad.  The bread--two slices of thick white or olive--is delicious, though the crust can be a bit too chewy.

The sole reason the Bread Line gets four stars in my book is the bread.  Their bread is fantastic, but oftentimes it is inconsistent or the crusts are too hard.  Don't get me wrong--I'm a huge fan of crusty crusts--but sometimes their baguettes are a bit... too crusty.  They go over the line from crusty to downright hard.  This is a problem for items like their French Madrange ham sandwich.  (I had this sandwich one time and it was delicious, but it felt like I had chewed through glass after I was done.)

Safer bets are their "softer" sandwiches, especially their daily specials.  On Fridays, for instance, they had fried cod sandwiches which are superb, along with BBQ pork sandwiches that are tangy, messy, and satisfying.  You can choose to forego their sandwiches completely and get a piadine instead.  Piadines are like flatbread or pita, which the Bread Line uses to wrap up fillings like lamb and tabouleh on Wednesdays.  Their falafel sandwiches are good too, but don't expect pita: their flatbread is sort of like a cross between pita, tortilla, and crepe, but it's delicious, soft, chewy, and grilled.

Be sure to split an order of fries--one plate is enough for two or three people.  They're not crispy per se, but they're not soggy either.  They're sort of like... home-style fries, the kind your mom would make (if she made fries).  But they're good, and especially good, I've found, dipped in some malt vinegar.

There's indoor seating but it can be somewhat stuffy and crowded.  There is outdoor seating but that space comes at a premium, as every DC office dweller wants a piece of this beautiful spring weather.  Who could blame them, especially if they're enjoying a great Bread Line sandwich to go with the sun?

PRICES:
Pizzas: $6-$7
Sandwiches/piadines: $8-$10
Fries: $2.30
Complete meal (sandwich, fries, and drink): around $13-$15

Mmm.  They raised the prices.  A cup of coffee is no longer $1.17.  I have moved on to greener--and cheaper--pastures.  =(