Name Your Favorite New Restaurants for 2009
Y&H is no Orr Shtuhl. My tolerance for compiling arbitrary lists hovers somewhere in the vicinity of my tolerance for the smell of old folks' homes. But like visiting elderly loved ones in th0se dreadful places that smell of piss and Clorox, I often compile lists when compelled to do so by conscience or by editor.
For the Jan. 1 edition, I have put together my list of Best New Restaurants in the metro area. It's as arbitrary, limited, and self-serving as every other list out there, but I have to admit, it was a good exercise to look back on the past 12 months and review the highs and lows, no matter how relative.
But now that that task is behind me and I have started thinking about a little time off, I wanted to put the question to you, Young & Hungry readers: What were your favorite new restaurants of 2009?
To jog your memory, I've compiled a woefully incomplete list of places that opened in 2009.
Ren’s Ramen
Ping Pong Dim Sum
Blue Ridge
Birch & Barley/ChurchKey
Pica Taco
J&G Steakhouse
Sou'Wester
Zentan
Pho 14
Plume
The General Store
New Kam Fong
G Street Food
Sichuan Pavilion
Pho Viet
Eventide
District Taco
Potenza
Masala Art
Eatonville
Siroc
Againn
Kora
H Street Country Club
Saigon Bistro
Pizze
Room 11
BRABO and BRABO Tasting Room
Spice X-ing
Masa 14
Open Kitchen
RIS
Tomatillo Taqueria
Seventh Hill Pizza
Bibiana
Kellari Taverna
Columbia Firehouse
Kabab-ji Grill
Inox
10:01 am
Cava on Barrack's Row is my new favorite.
10:12 am
Inox.
I went to Kora, Eventide, Potenza, Zentan, Spice-Xing, Masa 14, Blue Ridge, and Ping Pong Dim Sum.
Slightly Underwhelming but still yummy: Kora, Potenza, Eventide, Zentan
Just okay: Blue Ridge, Masa 14
Bad and never going again: Spice-Xing, Ping Pong Dim Sum
Inox was one of my most favorite meals (I went three times...) this whole year, maybe even out of the past few years! I went there twice for lunch and once for dinner on my 5-year anniversary and everything was delicious. Each visit just got better and better--Inox really listens to their diners and changes with their feedback.
1:09 pm
Nothing makes my morning commute better than a couple of chorizo and bacon tacos. District Taco rocks.
4:33 pm
Tomatillo Taqueria is easily my favorite.
4:49 pm
Tomatillo Taqueria gets my vote!
5:08 pm
Tomatillo Taqueria is my new fave -- love the grab-and-go street food aspect and oh those carnitas .. mmmmm!!
5:18 pm
Tomatillo taqueria is my favorite lunch spot. Despite my New Year's resolution, I think there will be a lot of carnitas for me in 2010.
5:22 pm
Tomatillo taqueria--hands done. glad its open for the winter. nice warm burrito on a freezing cold day. yum.
5:50 pm
Tomatillo is THE best!! Food is awesome and what a great vibe.
7:13 pm
Tomatillo Taqueria! Great addition to the Dupont Circle area.
7:16 pm
Tomatillo Taqueria is the best, by far!
4:35 am
tomatillo taqueria!! no brain-o,it's muy bueno!
5:36 am
Kabab-ji Grill was the best for me the food quality and the ambiance no doubt makes this place special
8:38 am
Tomatillo Taqueria...the food is simply GREAT.
8:47 am
Tomatillo----great food and great guys. Delicious!
8:57 am
Tomatillo! More taste per square foot than any place I ever been!
10:34 am
Tomatillo is my favorite. The food is just yummy. I especially like the personal service. I feel like the meal is being prepared from scratch just for me!
10:38 am
Refreshing to see food of this caliber offered at such great prices and just love,love, love the atmosphere. Even on a cold rainy day the smiles from service counter warms your cockles well before the well-blended spices warm the recesses of the empty, ravenous gut! KUDOS!
3:43 pm
Great food, unique concept and a true price performer
4:29 pm
Simple, fresh and with flavour! Great food,great guys, great fun! What a great addition to Dupont Circle.
4:30 pm
And that great place is Tomatillo! Yeh
12:53 pm
Tacos a go-go. An idea muy bueno. no place to sit tho. I'll just hang in the park mo'
5:02 pm
Tomatillo is good and convenient. Great food at a great
price.
8:31 am
Tomatillo Taqueria gets my vote!
12:57 pm
Tomatillo Taqueria is the best!!!