Megster11187 "Context & memory play powerful roles in all the truly great me..."

Georgetown Cupcake has been on my to-do list for a long time, ever since the Washington Post published its “Cupcake Wars” article in November 2008. I’ve always been intrigued when driving by, as the line is usually out the door and nearly around the corner! As a life-long DC resident, I figured it was high time to indulge.

Let me begin by saying, I LOVE cupcakes, so it might be a bit difficult for me to be unbiased :)

Georgetown Cupcake has a rotating menu of options that changes daily, including 6 cupcakes that are consistent throughout the week (2 chocolate varieties, 2 chocolate/vanilla combos, vanilla, and red velvet). Special flavors that rotate throughout the week that caught my eye include chocolate peanut butter swirl (Thurs), chocolate ganache (Tues, Sat), chocolate banana (Wed, Thurs) and lava fudge (Tues, Fri).

I dragged my cupcake-loving sister along with me on a freezing cold Friday afternoon, and the 10-15 minute wait outside was totally worth it. We opted to get 3 cupcakes to split, as we had to get a good taste (literally) of all the hype! The aroma of the shop was absolutely incredible, so perhaps we were pre-disposed for deliciousness before we even took a bite!

We opted for the chocolate & vanilla (vanilla cake, chocolate icing), toasted marshmallow (I think this was a seasonal flavor) and the lava fudge. All were delicious, with the clear winner being the lava fudge. It was a chocolate cupcake (the menu said it has a ‘rich fudge core’, though I’m not sure I tasted that) with an incredibly light and creamy vanilla icing, drizzled with chocolate fudge. I almost came to physical blows with my sister over who got the last piece!

Not to dismiss our other two delicacies – the toasted marshmallow was good, but is not my favorite flavor, and the chocolate & vanilla was great…it had a little floral decoration on the top which made it so cute. I prefer chocolate cake in general, but this was really good!

So, ridiculously high marks for taste! I’ve read other reviews saying that the cupcakes are overrated, but I would have to disagree! My experience was absolutely delicious and wonderful. Even the employees were incredibly nice and sweet, even with a huge line out the door! I’m sure it can get frustrating and cramped when people can’t make up their minds, but I will be going back ASAP!

The shop itself is tiny – I think there is only one table to sit at, and it definitely has more of a grab-and-go vibe. And, a word of warning, it was pretty pricey – over $9 for 3 cupcakes! Definitely worth the indulgence, in my opinion! The little boxes they put the cupcakes in are adorable as well, which adds to the overall atmosphere.

Georgetown Cupcake is located Potomac Street, a side street right off M (the main street that runs through Georgetown, sort of near the Dean & Deluca). I believe the shop is closed Mondays…so be sure to plan your visit accordingly!

Acadiana is located on New York Avenue, right near the Convention Center and just blocks away from the heart of Gallery Place.

Due to its proximity to the Convention Center and the fact it shares a building with two large law firms, it is usually crowded regardless of time or day of week. Reservations are a must for lunch, and I would recommend reservations for dinner since the Gallery Place area just keeps getting more and more crowded. Great for the DC economy!

I’ve been here frequently for lunch with my father, as it’s one of his favorites in the city. It is definitely on the pricer end and provides a leisurely dining experience. Service is prompt and attentive, but it is the type of place to sit and enjoy food instead of grabbing a quick bite.

The interior of the restaurant is really gorgeous. It has a very modern feel to it, especially with the overhead light fixtures and a huge open bar. There are regular tables and also some out-of-the-way booth seating for a little more privacy. The booths are right in the windows, but not to fear, the windows are tinted, so no curious passer-bys can intrude on your meal :)

There is an outdoor seating section as well, but it is on the sidewalk amongst other lofty office buildings, so it is not the most scenic. I think the interior is great and really adds to an excellent dining experience, so I would opt for inside, even on those gorgeous DC nights.

And now for the most important aspect – the food! Warm biscuits are served to start off the meal. They are literally fresh out of the oven, served with a side of crawfish butter and are my comfort-food weakness. If you happen to be seated in the way back of the restaurant, do not fear, as you have a pretty good view of the chef madly making and baking biscuits. It smells really delicious. Careful not to fill up on too many (a mistake I have made more than once).

The food is Southern-themed, which isn’t one of my favorite cuisines…that should give you an idea of how good the food is! There are lots of fried options with loads of butter, so it can lead for a rather heavy dining experience, but it is well-worth the calorie overload. The menu is very seafood oriented, but there are also plenty of “real” meat options.

The fried green tomato appetizer is good – 3 lightly fried slices with a shrimp garnish. The soups are too heavy for me, but I hear really great things about Acadiana’s offerings. My father raves about the chicken and sausage gumbo and the blue crab soup.

My personal favorite is the beet salad with pickled beets and spiced pecans (I usually get it without the goat cheese). Really flavorful and not too filling.

For lunch, the blackened tilapia is wonderful. I order it without the crawfish butter, and didn’t miss it at all! It comes with a sweet corn-cake that just melts in your mouth – it is SO good! I’ve also had the southern shrimp and grits without the ham (vegetarian!) which I really enjoyed. It was a bit too heavy for me, but it was delicious. The food is flavorful and has that certain taste that can’t quite be put into words.

I have yet to eat dinner here, but the menu looks just as good – additional dinner items include bbq shrimp, blackened mahi-mahi, and seared sea scallops.

I haven’t ever left enough room for dessert, but I plan to on my next visit! Some options include white chocolate creme brulee, pecan tart, and warm raisin bread pudding.

Side-note, Acadiana is one of four in a “family” of fantastic restaurants, considered to be some of the best in Washington, DC – the others are Ten Penh, Ceiba, and DC Coast, all located downtown. They all specialize in something different (Ten Penh is Asian cuisine). I highly recommend all of them.

Located in the Penn Quarter, Raskia was named one of the Washingtonian’s Top 20 Best Restaurants in 2009. After my dining experience here, I can easily see why! The menu boasts an incredible array of choices, ranging from traditional tandoori dishes (chicken, lamb, salmon) to compelling entrees (fish curry, ginger lobster, bison roast) and a great assortment of vegetarian option (okra, spinach, lentils, cauliflower, etc). Restaurant itself is gorgeous – great architecture, really cool lighting inside, mixture of tables & booths, awesome location downtown, and an open kitchen!

Our party started with three incredible appetizers (and a wide assortment of drinks, of coures!) – Red Kidney Bean Tikki (bean patties), Palak Chaat (crispy spinach), Gobhi Mattar (cauliflower & green peas). Red Kidney Bean Tikki comprised of two patties that had the consistency and appearance of Jewish latkes (one of my childhood favorites a la grandma!) The patties tasted so different than expected – lightly fried but not overly so, and were even a bit sweet, which was nicely balanced with the onion garnish it was served with. Really interesting and smoky flavors, and a great introduction to Rasika’s eclectic and awesome menu!

I’m generally not a cauliflower fan but I thought the Gobhi Mattar was absolutely delicious. Cauliflower was cooked to my liking, a little crunchy and well seasoned, and the peas were great! Fried food, especially fried vegetables, is not usually my style, but our waiter said the crispy spinach was the most popular item on the menu, so we followed his (great!) suggestion. It barely tasted like spinach – great textures and light garlicky flavors, a nice crispy kick to balance out the spice.

Entrees and na’an were fantastic – I opted for the Achari Shrimp, served in an incredibly spicy onion-tomato sauce. Dish had 6-7 jumbo shrimp swimming (ha!) in the sauce, served with a good portion of rice on the side. It was really incredible, and I ended up getting a to-go box just for the sauce!! Garlic na’an bread was some of the best I’ve had – served warm and tasted incredibly fresh, great garlic and spice flavoring, excellent accompaniment to the meal! And be sure to get an order of the always-soothing cucumber raita to balance out all the spice…yum!

Extremely attentive and knowledgeable wait staff – our waiter saw my party giving my mother her birthday presents and unprompted brought her a dessert on the house! The only downside is the noise level, as it is incredibly lively/crowded regardless of day of time or day of the week. All part of the experience, but would not be a recommendation for those looking for a more intimate, quieter meal.

Didn’t do desserts since we had birthday cake at home (sometimes those Safeway/Giant cakes are just unbeatable!)…but some really tempting options included chocolate samosas and an apple beignet. Great wine, champagne, and mixed drink menu, and a vibrant and really cool-looking bar for those looking for a lighter meal/awesome drinks!

Easily accessible by metro, which is your best bet as parking in the Penn Quarter can be quite pricey (Archives/Navy & Gallery Place metro stops are the closest). Valet parking runs you about $7…not bad for DC! Excellent location, as the Verizon Center and the 7th Street Corridor are just around the corner.

Rasika is part of a family of restaurants in DC that includes Ardeo & Bardeo in Cleveland Park and 701 Restaurant downtown…all are wonderful! Absolutely fantastic Indian food – great for a nice dinner out, date, or group of friends! Enjoy, and let me know when you go :)

California Tortilla is a staple among the Gallery Place workforce. It has great “Tex-Mex” food and is wonderful for a quick bite to eat, especially for lunch or after a long day of shopping. Word of warning – seating is limited, but turnover is quick.

Be prepared to wait a bit longer if you order a quesadilla – they are fresh made to order but can take up to 8 minutes.

They specialize in burritos, including Honey Lime, Crunchy BBQ Ranch Chicken burrito (with tortilla chips inside), a Thai Chicken burrito, or a Fajita Burrito. Much more creative than Chipotle with a much winder variety of food options. You can also create a custom burrito from whatever you want.

They have wonderful vegetarian options, including a Spinach burrito and veggie fajita platter.

The chips and queso are delicious – I highly recommend the guacamole. The wall of hot sauces is a nice touch, but be careful, some are HOT! They are a nice addition to any meal.

Lebanese Taverna is my favorite restaurant of all-time. There are a couple locations in the DC area, all with the same menu. The one at Pentagon Row is my favorite, simply for location, interior design, and outdoor seating area.

The food is phenomenal. The mezze are perfect to share – I think they have the best tabbouleh I’ve ever eaten, and the baba ghanoush is delicious. The hummus is excellent as well (although, nothing too special about it). The best feature is the bread – it is light and puffy, and is served warm. An endless supply is brought throughout the meal.

Not too many vegetarian options, but the few they have are phenomenal. The vegetarian kebab and stuffed vegetables are delicious, although they are both sweeter than one would expect (I believe there is some cinnamon in the stuffed vegetable dish). The seafood dishes are good as well, notably the shrimp.

I highly recommend the side of pureed garlic with any meal – it certainly adds flavor!

Good meat dishes (from what I hear) include the chicken shwarma and shish kebab. I have not eaten here for lunch but I hear the pita sandwiches are cheap and very good.

I would eat here every night if I could! Truly a fantastic dining experience, right down to the bar drinks (excellent mojitos), wine selection, and speed of service. Enjoy!

Zengo is a relatively new addition to the Gallery Place area in downtown DC, and it has done very well, in large part to its delicious menu. It is one of my favorites in the city! The atmosphere is lively and exciting, the food fresh and innovative, and the service has always been fantastic.

The restaurant has two floors – the bottom floor is the lounge area geared toward the happy hour/appetizer-and-drink crowd. It is beautifully decorated with chic, comfortable furniture and candles. The upstairs is a more typical restaurant, with some VERY modern decorations – there are lots of random shapes hanging from the ceiling and the walls that look somewhat like potatoes, but trust me, it looks really cool! It can be hard to get a table, so reservations are highly recommended – weekends and event nights at the neighboring Verizon Center bring heavy crowds. However, if you arrive before 6pm, you should be fine.

The food is eclectic, with Japanese and Mexican flares. There is an entire vegetarian menu, and also a gluten-free one, so be sure to ask if you are interested.

The appetizers are moderately sized and shareable, and I would recommend getting a couple! There is a wide range, including crispy wonton tacos (with either meat or shiitake mushrooms), sushi, lettuce wraps with either shrimp or chicken, short ribs, and a variety of ceviches. Be warned – the food is expensive – so be prepared to spend quite a bit of money if you are looking for a full meal. It’s worth it, so start saving ;)

I highly recommend any of the sushi options (in particular, the Angry Zengo or Volcano Roll) or the lobster-crab pot-stickers (PHENOMENAL! Ask for extra dipping wasabi sauce, they don’t give nearly enough!) For those meat-eaters, my dad loves the short ribs and the kobe beef (really pricey, but I’m sure it’s good! Dad has good taste).

As a main course, the Crispy Tofu is by far my favorite – three thick rectangular pieces lightly fried, served over bok choy. You can’t go wrong with any of the fish options, such as the Wok Roasted Scallops and the Black Cod. Although…stick with the tofu :) Meat-eaters have many options as well, including Tandoori Chicken, Lamb, and Beef.

Leave room for dessert! Or don’t, and go crazy! The ginger ice cream is great, as are the sorbets. My favorite dessert is the chocolate-chai mousse, served with 4 warm churros. I’ve also tried the sesame cake, which was good but I wasn’t crazy about it – although, if that’s your thing, it won’t be a letdown!

Zengo is a really great dining experience. I really wish I could better explain just how interesting all the flavors are; all the dishes I’ve had have a distinct taste. Highly highly highly recommended!

(Random yet hopefully helpful side note: Zengo is one of Richard Sandoval’s many restaurants located throughout the US, and even Dubai and Mexico! Zengo has another location in Denver, although the menu is slightly different).