OK, what hasn't already been written about James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Ruta's elegantly crafted cheeseburger at Palena? Not much. Post critic Tom Sietsema crowned it "the best in the capital." Food & Wine ranked it among the "Best Burgers in the U.S." Even New York-centric food blogger Ed Levine scored it higher than its [...]
Never underestimate the power of the half-smoke. The Daily Meal has released its list of "101 Best Restaurants in America for 2012." Various D.C. locations earn mentions, most notably including the iconic Ben's Chili Bowl, ranked No. 83. The site clearly acknowledges the subjectivity of the final results: "Ben’s Chili Bowl made it but Meadowood [...]
The esteemed James Beard Foundation today announced a bevy of semifinalists for its coveted chef and restaurant awards and the D.C.-area food scene is well represented. Eater DC has a comprehensive breakdown. Among the noms: Fiola and Little Serow each get a nod in the "Best New Restaurant" category. Palena's Frank Ruta is in the [...]
Has the quality of Washington's food scene evolved to match that of even vaunted New York? Well, maybe in one category. WaPo food columnist and Y&H alum Tim Carman recently challenged New Yorker Ed Levine of Serious Eats to a seven-course smackdown, pitting the two cities' best cheap eats in a contest judged by both [...]
Deviled eggs, like the common hot dog and macaroni and cheese, are one of those classic comfort foods that have lately taken on a sort of contemporary chic—and, in some cases, sheen. To wit: One recent evening at Boundary Stone in Bloomingdale, a plate of the $3 hors d’oeuvres arrived in the standard fashion—hard-boiled, bisected, [...]
'"This is really beautiful," my friend blurted out as the bright white plate of ricotta and peas hits the table. We were sitting at one of two outside tables at Bar Pilar, a coveted spot that my boyfriend and I considered ourselves lucky to land. Then we saw a friend down walking down 14th Street [...]
While milling around Cleveland Park on a weekend walking tour, I ducked into the recently expanded Palena Cafe and Restaurant and spoke to general manager Sarah McCarty. She was nice enough to let me snap a few photos and tell me more about the changes at the newly opened space. While the cafe has expanded [...]
For years, Don Rockwell has been giving his opinions away for free via his eponymous dining board, no doubt directing hundreds of customers to restaurants across the D.C. area. Rockwell has taken pride in two practices as the founder and one of the moderators of DonRockwell.com: He pays for his meals, and for members of [...]
No one needs to tell you to visit Frank Ruta’s precision-cooking operation in Cleveland Park, whether his cafe or the more formal dining room in back, and I hesitated to include it on my list. The obviousness of the choice pains me to a degree. But making room for Palena gave me another chance to [...]
When I walked in the door at the Cereal Bowl on Sunday afternoon, there wasn't a soul in sight other than a lone counter employee. I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn't sure I wanted anyone spotting me in this cartoonish excuse of a Cleveland Park restaurant. Now, you'd think that after all these [...]
