Liam "Hungry Hoser" D.'s Profile

You gotta make some pretty damn good sandwiches to get away with opening a sandwich shop in an abandoned garage in an alley that gets zero foot traffic and make any money doing so. When I read about SUNdeVICH being honored for best sammy in DC by the Post, and then saw it on LivingSocial, I figured I'd better give it a shot (full disclosure: I work for LivingSocial.. but that wasn't a plug, the deal really did convince me to go in!) I've been back twice since my initial visit, it's just. that. good.

The first time the girlfriend and I went, we each split the:

SAIGON
chicken liver mousse, pork terrine, pickled carrots  and
daikon, cucumber, fresh herbs

and the:
ISTANBUL  
ground beef & lamb, sumac onions, tomato, tzatziki,
fresh herb

Both were tasty. The Saigon was a bit gamey for my liking, but it's liver mousse & pork terrine, of course it was gamey. The Istanbul was like a Koobideh Kabob sandwich and that was quite good. We also had a side of the spicy slaw, which I didn't think was anything to write home about, and the pickled veggies, which were like a giardiniera and quite refreshing and tasty.

The second go round, we split the:
BUENOS AIRES  
steak, chimichuri, sautéed onions

and the:
ATHENS  
lamb,  tomato, sumac onions, tzatziki, greens

The Buenos Aires is the best sandwich I've had yet from SUNdeVICH. The steak is so flavorful and combined w/ the chimichurri, it makes for a pretty good blend of meat and herbs. The onions don't add or take away from the sandwich in my opinion, however, I don't really like onions, so I could do without them. The Athens was good, but a little bland. The Lamb also wasn't as tender as it could have been and they just loaded it with raw onions - again, some might like that but I like a little meat w/ my onions...

Sides this go round were the potato salad, which was a delicious mix of curry & potatoes, and the Russian Salad, which had a whole bunch of ingredients like chicken, potato, egg, gherkins, peas, etc. It was alright, but lacked a bit of flavor - they could use to salt it up some.

Perhaps the best thing about this place is the bread. They have the best baguettes here and they are smart enough to pull out the insides so that the contents of the sandwich nestle in there perfectly, as opposed to most sandwich places which just throw them in between the bread slices that can't hold them, thereby resulting in your entire sandwich falling onto your place. Not here...

And then there's the soda options, which are phenomenal. They've got unique 16oz beer bottles of creme soda, root beer, ginger ale, cherry cola, and orange dream; martinelli's apple juice, and this "izzy fizzy" sparkling soda made of 3/4 real fruit juice and 1/4 soda water. It's a much more natural tasting soda than your typical high fructose corn syrup garbage.

I'll probably go here once a week for lunch since I live in Shaw and this place is so close. Really glad I discovered it!

Wow... who would have thought that charging more than $6 for a bowl of Pho would get you on the shitlists of so many Yelpers, so fast.

Went here with two buddies on a rainy/sleety day in October, which was the perfect day for some hot pho. The minute you walk into the place, you realize that a lot more money went into the decor than that communal cafeteria across the bridge in Arlington (Pho 75). So yeah, you're gonna pay a bit more for your soup here, but you also get a much nicer dining experience as a result of that. Plus, rent in DC ain't cheap, cut 'em some slack!

As for the meal, the menu itself offers many options for hungry folk - a lot more than most Pho places. The broth is flavorful, the meat is tender, and the portions are plentiful. The iced coffee w/ condensed milk was great as well. Sure, it was $13, but damn worth it!!!

I highly recommend this place!

This place used to be a pretty great place to go for traditional Korean food at a decent price. Not quite as good a value as the Korean Bulgogi Kart on K and 14th, but it was 2 blocks closer to my office so it was my go-to. That is, until they changed owners sometime in the last 2 weeks.

The new owners are far less customer friendly, don't know nearly as much about how to operate a food establishment, and in some cases don't even know the basic essentials of their own dishes. Today I ordered bibimbap w/ kimchi & beef mixed in. Total came to $13, which is almost double the K Street Bulgogi Kart, and they don't charge me extra for adding kimchi or beef to my bibimbap. The cook didn't include all the various veggies that come with bibimbap, he just prepped beef and an egg and threw it on rice. Forgot to mix in the kimchi too. That second part got caught, so they put it all back on the grill and mixed the kimchi in. But they still didn't add the zucchini, carrots, bean sprouts, and other basic veggies that make Bibimbap what it is!

I asked if they had included the veggies and the woman packaging the lunch looked at the dish, noticed they hadn't added the veggies, and asked the cook if they had. The cook said yes. So she just ignored that they weren't in there and said "try it this way... if you want the other veggies, i can give them to you, but try it this way"

I was like, "uh... I paid $13 for a dish with all its ingredients" and she was like "I can give them to you if you want..." At which point I just said "nope, it's fine" and walked out. That'll be the last time I visit the place.

Word of advice to the new owners:
Your predecessors did a much better job running that place than you do and they were a lot more focused on customer service and delivering a good experience. I'd suggest you kick it up a notch if you want to keep riding their coattails, otherwise, people like me are just going to walk that extra block to the Bulgogi Kart.

Good riddance and good luck. I give you 8 months til you have to close up shop at your current level of service.

Stay here pretty much every time I come to Seattle and have really grown to love this hotel. Kimpton properties are by nature kind of funky and chic, which isn't for everyone, but I think it's pretty refreshing!

Like other Kimptons, this one has the infamous goldfish that can be delivered to your room to make it feel like home, wine & snacks at happy hour in the lobby so that guests can mingle as if they were at a block party, high quality furniture & decorative pieces (many of which are from local artists), and funky bathrobes designed in zebra and cheetah print. Far from traditional, but so cool. It's as if they are genuinely interested in building a little community full of strangers and creating an at-home feel. Love that!

The Hotel Monacos are probably my favorite of the Kimpton chain because they are designed sort of like a summer house inside. Lots of light colors and stripes make you feel like you're at a beach somewhere. It's a relaxing environment that really helps people unwind.

Forget the big boys like Marriott, Sheraton, and the like. You're just another visitor from out of town there. At Kimpton, you're really treated like a guest.

Sometimes there's nothing quite like going to a great steakhouse by yourself, sitting at the bar, and indulging in a fantastic meal. That's what I did at the Metropolitan Grill recently.

I don't give out 5-star reviews that frequently because I've got pretty high standards, but Metropolitan Grill met and exceeded them, so they get a 5. Even tempted to go the Spinal Tap route and give them a 6 out of 5.

I was concerned when I saw their "dressy" attire categorization here because I only had jeans and a button down on, but you can ignore that (in fact, Yelp, you should change that!) because jeans was par for the course and I saw a lot of tee shirts & tattooed arms here, which is cool! Part of the beauty of this place is that it mixes old school steakhouse grandeur with a non-stuffy, casual atmosphere you'd find in your neighborhood restaurant. That's pretty unique.

I sat at the bar, where 21-year veteran Rob was tending. Guy started out as a busboy and now runs the entire beverage program. Love hearing stories like that. Anyways, he was uber-professional and friendly. He also made a mean Dirty Martini, complete with blue cheese stuffed olives. Giggity!

All their appetizers look awesome - panko crusted artichoke hearts, bacon wrapped sirloin skewers and calamari looked great. I chose the classic Blue Cheese Iceberg Wedge salad as my first course, and it was delicious. The bacon and blue boasted fantastic flavor, and they actually garnish the salad with little bits of apple, which I've never seen before. It was a really surprising little addition that went a long way.

For dinner, I had what Rob assured me was their signature steak: The behemoth 17oz. "Met" Prime Bone-In Filet. At $68, I had high hopes for this piece of beef, and I was not disappointed. Easily the most tender, flavorful, delicious steak I've EVER eaten. Yeah... that good. Their mashed potatoes are fluffy and delicious, and they serve a trio of horseradish - super spicy nose clearing, creamed, and raw. Who doesn't like variety like this? Rob also paired it perfectly with a Washington state blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot that was fantastic.

Top notch food & drink. Top notch staff. Top notch experience. Highly recommended!

I used to live in LA some 14 years ago. I was at 8888 W 3rd St, so Angelino became the local neighborhood spot for my old man and me to go eat meals together. We probably did so once/week and as such have a ton of memories from this place!

On a recent business trip to the city, I was curious to see if Angelino was still around and sure as fate, it is! I'm quite surprised it has less than 100 reviews considering it's been around so long. Needless to say, I'll add one, but it's based purely on how good it was more than a decade ago and the nostalgia I have for it.

This place was the perfect little Italian cafe. The owner was an import of Italy who took pride in his food (and his hairplugs - wonder if he's still there!?). The decor was nothing fancy - just a small room with some unassuming tables and chairs. If I recall correctly, they had a little patio, but I can't really say for certain. I still remember the delicious olive oil & bread they'd put on the table for patrons to snack on while they prepared their meals. I used to order the buffalo mozz salads a lot, and their penne Arrabiatta was my go-to dish. It was spicy, tomato-y, and perfectly al dente.

Now that I know Angelinos is still around, I wish I had more time here to go back and revisit the place that fed me so frequently as a youngin! IF things there are now are as good as things were then, you definitely won't be disappointed!

Finding places like this is what makes me thankful that I know what Yelp is and how to use it. On a quick overnight in Santa Monica, I was looking to grab a bite so I looked up the most reviewed places on Yelp in the area and stumbled across this little gem that is pretty much the only thing around 6th and Colorado, besides the big blue bus terminal. I'd never even think twice about going into the place had it not been for the reviews here!

This cozy little Italian joint a few blocks from the beach features a laid back, casual atmosphere with really great italian food at reasonable prices. Despite being off the beaten path, away from the big flashy places near the Promenade, Fritto Misto had a 20-30 minute wait, even for a lone diner! That's a good sign...

Once seated I was greeted by a very friendly server who I promptly asked, "which dish would you recommend to someone who was here once and never coming back?" She gave me a few and I ended up going with the oversized ravioli - spinach pasta cooked perfectly al denta w/ pancetta, chicken, cheese, sundried tomatoes and onions - smothered in a rich marsala type sauce. Holy hell was it rich. Like, really rich. ALMOST too rich.

Had an ice cold caesar salad to start that was a bit too much anchovy flavor, not enough zest for my liking, but that's just personal preference. And because it was my first (and only) time in there, the server dropped a free piece of their flourless chocolate cake down w/ the check. I'm not a big sweets guy, but this thing is pretty amazing. The best way to describe it is a cross between a decadent brownie and a whoopie pie. It comes w/ fresh made whipped cream all over it, hence the whoopie pie analogy, but it's much thicker, and more dense texture than cake - hence the brownie analogy.

All in all, I had a really enjoyable experience here despite being by myself. It's busy enough to feel like a happening spot but lacks any sort of pretention whatsoever. I also couldn't stop staring at what everyone else was eating... it all looked so good.

One thing to caution: people aren't kidding about the portions - they are enormous - so go hungry and expect to leave stuffed to capacity.

I love Greek food when it's done right. I'm not talking the typical lamb souvlaki over rice w/ a bit of iceberg lettuce. I'm talking true, traditional Greek food. When it comes to that, there are two places in town that satisfy me: Mourayo in Dupont and Cava Mezze in Barracks Row. The former is pretty traditional, while the latter is much more hip, trendy, and flashy (literally!)

The girlfriend and I rarely go to Capitol Hill, and so we decided one day that instead of walking west as per usual, we'd give the eastern part of the city a try. We walked through a little market on the hill where we bought some pickles from the pickle guy, and noshed on those a bit while we strolled along. We passed Cava Mezze and decided to give it a shot. SO glad we did.

The place itself has a really warm feel to it - lots of exposed brick and dark wood, which immediately felt homey. We sidled up to a tall table in the corner, looking out on to the street and started looking over the menu, all of which looked stellar. We ordered:

- Spicy Lamb Sliders on toasted brioche, which were fantastic!
- Village Salad w/ Cucumbers / Tomatoes / Capers / Olives / Red Onions / Feta / EVOO (don't ya love it when resto's use that cool acronym for Extra Virgin Olive Oil?)
- A mix plate of cold mezze including hummus, taramosalata, crazy feta (with jalapeno!) and tzatziki
- Cava Fries, which are Mezze's version of disco fries - basically french fries covered in tomato sauce and cheese. AMAZING!

They had so many other menu items that I want to eat next time I go, including Saganaki, which is cheese covered in brandy and then lit on fire table side, zucchini fritters, and a whole lot more.

If I lived on the Hill, I'd be eating here at least monthly - perhaps a few times, even. It's also totally worth the trek to Cap Hill for those who don't live there, as I haven't really experienced Greek food like this in the western corridor of the city. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

I'm not a huge fan of fried chicken, but I do love biscuits. I"d been hearing about Bojangles from all my southern friends for years and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss was about.

Not much to say... it's better than KFC or Church's chicken, but that's not saying much. I like that they have rice bowls and a few different side options that sound really good. Their sweet tea is pretty tasty as well. The biscuits really make or break, in my mind.

I don't do fast food much, but I liked this for what it was.

Where should one go when looking for sushi in Seattle? Yelp, obviously. In a town where there are as many sushi places as there are Starbucks, it's hard to decipher which places are truly worth it, and which are just, places.

I narrowed it down to Umi Sake House and Shiro's. The latter was recommended by friends of mine (one of whom is Japanese) and the latter had 3x the # of reviews on Yelp, so I decided to go with the masses. I wasn't disappointed, though I will say that it's not your "traditional" sushi place. Quite frankly, traditionalists should probably shy away, as Umi takes regular sushi and pretty much bastardizes it. But in an interesting, eclectic, and tasty way!

First things first: don't come here for sashimi or nigiri. You're not here to sample the fish, although it's great quality I'm sure. You're here because the rolls are some of the craziest concoctions of flavors you've ever seen, and may never see again! I mean... blueberry & strawberry in a sushi roll? As I said, traditionalists would puke, but you def get points for creativity!

Now, i'm a spice nut. I love hot food. And I mean really hot. I dip popcorn in habanero sauce. That's how much I love hot food. Let me tell you, this place is a spice fiends paradise. They have so many fiery/spicy rolls, I had trouble choosing. On the flip side, they also have some sweet rolls, for those who prefer to keep their stomach lining in tact. Sissies. Here's what we went with:

1) casino royale - spicy tuna, avocado & cucumber wrapped with yellowtail, lime, cilantro, shishito pepper & jalapeno
2) 007 -  spicy tuna, avocado & cucumber wrapped with salmon,
lime, cilantro, shishito pepper & jalapeno
3) spicy cassidy - yellowtail, jalapenos, cucumber, topped with salmon,
avocado & spicy mayonnaise
4) mango tango - mango, cilantro, bell peppers topped with tuna &
mango shiso sauce
5) flaming tuna - spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber & tobiko topped with
spicy yellowtail, yuzu tobiko & spicy aioli

All of these were fairly large and some were extremely spicy, even for my desensitized tongue.

We washed it down with beer and maybe even a little sake, and took great pleasure in watching the chefs behind the large sushi bar work their magic. Whole lotta blow torchin' goin' on back there, and it's fun to watch!

All in all, I left the place thinking, "man, that was so cool!" but I also didn't really feel like I ate sushi that night. It was more like a sushi circus, which suited me just fine, but I'd have to be in the right mood. I would suggest this place to large groups looking to have fun tasting a bunch of new & different spins on traditional Japanese cuisine. If there's one thing you won't be short on, it's conversation, as the dishes here stir up quite a bit of that!