Quest for the Best

Friday Question of the Day – Where’s The Best Brunch in DC? (Reader Request)

By Prince Of Petworth

A reader wrote in asking about general brunch options. This email was followed by the one below:

“Have you ever blogged about The Highlands? It’s a diamond in the rough restaurant on 14th across the street from the Metro Bus Depot. OBSCENELY cheap and AMAZINGLY good (best crab cakes i’ve ever had). Wonderful service; chef comes out for every diner to ask how it is. Perfect brunch, cheap brunch. It’s never busy and i don’t understand why! People must know!”

I do like The Highlands located on 14th Street, NW between Crittenden and Decatur. And back in August of ’08 there were some good breakfast recommendations listed. However, there have also been a ton of new restaurants that have opened since Aug. ’08 so I’m wondering if any of them have good brunch options?

Also I’d like to add a caveat, besides Highlands, where can one get a good brunch in the city without waiting an hour for a table? This is one of the toughest questions I ever have to answer. I’m always hesitant to make recommendations because the wait for tables drives me crazy. So where are the other secret or not so secret spots that have good brunch without a long wait? Of course other essentials beside the wait are great Bloody Marys and/or inexpensive mimosas…and bacon definitely good crispy bacon options.

Dear PoP – What are your Top 10 Recommendations For a Visit?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

It’s been two years since we moved from our lovely abode on the 700 block of Girard St NW to my Midwestern homeland. And I’m finally coming back for a visit next month and was hoping you could give me your Top 10 List of “Must Sees” in the Logan Circle, U Street, Columbia Hgts, and Petworth neighborhoods. I do check in with the blog periodically, but would be much obliged if you and your readers could give me some pointers about the best bars, restaurants, shops, galleries, rehabs, that may have sprung up since July 2007. Thanks for your help!”

#1 – The Franciscan Monastery.

#2 – Room 11

#3 – Social

#4 – 1905

#5 – Mid City Caffe

#6 – Fusion

#7 – Lincoln Cottage

#8 – Pete’s Apizza and/or Red Rocks

#9 – Bloom Bars

#10 – Pho 14

I tried to name some of the newer spots (with the exception of the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland). What would you guys add? Any other must see spots in other neighborhoods? You can find a discussion we had on must visit spots throughout the city here.

Judging Restaurants – Best Jamaican Food?

By Prince Of Petworth

I was at Big Bear this weekend and someone mentioned that Naby’s Island Restaurant, located at 1128 H Street, NE, has some of the best Jamaican food in town. I, of course, am a huge Sweet Mango Cafe fan. Then as I was walking back up Georgia Ave. I spotted Negril’s Eatery located at 2301 Georgia Ave., NW.

So first are there any fans of these two spots? Secondly, where’s your favorite Jamaican spot in town?

Best Brunch in Town?

By Prince Of Petworth

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Hominy, a new restaurant, had opened up above Bohemian Caverns at the corner of 11th and U. Well, I have a little addendum that I had to add. Apparently they have complimentary champagne for brunch on Sundays.

Now we have discussed some of the best breakfast and brunch options in the past but this has got to put them in the running. Now that the weather is getting better, I thought I’d ask a slight variation on the question – where is the best outdoor brunch spot in town?

Friday Question of the Day – Where’s the Most Romantic Spot in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

I recently did an interview with the Examiner (to be published Sunday) and this was one of the questions they asked. As I was answering it, I thought to myself “man this would be a good FQoTD”. Since this has been a pretty rough week, I thought this would make for a nice ending. I had a bit of a goofy answer, claiming that laying in my hammock is the most romantic spot in DC. But what do you guys think, where’s your most romantic spot in DC? The monuments? Arboretum? Roof decks? Or are you with me on the hammock…

Dear PoP – Can Anyone Recommend a Good Barber?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Have you ever done a post about barbershops in the area? I want to find a reputable shop for my husband. He’s white(ish), which matters in the world of haircare.”

I feel like I may have but it must’ve been a long time ago because I can’t find it. I’ve been a super cuts devotee for a while but I really ought to try some of the local shops. So I’m also interested in what folks recommend. Any regulars of some local spots?  Does it really matter what race you are when it comes to barber shops?  I’d imagine that they are trained and can do good work regardless of your hair type.

Dear PoP – Where’s The Best Tattoo Parlor in DC?

By Prince Of Petworth

“I have a question for the masses… where is the best tattoo studio in the greater DC area? You feature the tattoo of the week on occasion and there are a few in my circle considering new body art, we are ill-reputed transplants as a byproduct of being in the military, so we do not know the reputation of places in the area. Cost and location are not huge issues, we’d venture out to the ‘burbs if necessary. Of concern are cleanliness, reputation and good artists.”

Let me just say the tattoo of the week will resume as soon as the weather gets warmer! But also I know there are lots of folks on here who have strong opinions about tattoos. So for those who aren’t fans please skip this post. But for those out there who are fans and/or have visited a good reputable artist in the city please leave your suggestions in the comments.

Shawarma King Vs Shawarma Spot Taste Off Entries 2 and 3

By Prince Of Petworth

You can read the first entry here. Entry two is from Robert:

“SHAWARMA KING
Some of the better shawarma I’ve had in DC. Although shawarma is often billed as fast food in the Middle East, here it took a little longer to prepare, but my patience paid off. One nice feature of Shawarma King was the option to have the shawarma made on pita or on a larger wrap – same price, which is $5.95. I went with the wrap because it allows you to take better advantage of the a la carte servings (I piled them on). There are 16 different toppings to choose from – all looking reasonably fresh, which included, Lebanese hot sauce, pickled peppers, pickled eggplant, a cucumber/yogurt sauce (similar to a tzatziki sauce), as well as hummus and a delicious sliced fried cauliflower. I’m assuming Shawarma King is Lebanese-owned and operated, because in preparing my wrap they also offered to tinfoil it and throw it on a panini-style grill (normally done over a flame, but this wasn’t an outdoor cart). The result was an incredible Shawarma that is definitely worthy of carry-out.

SHAWARMA SPOT

One of the biggest highlights of Shawarma Spot – or at least I was first sold on it from their suggestive declarative statement on their menu – was their fresh brick oven baked pita. Beyond that, I thought the shawarmas were standard fair. I was disappointed that the toppings bar only had 12 options (three of which were very pedestrian toppings for a shawarma spot: sliced tomatoes, old looking sliced lettuce, and mayo) and was not self-serve (I like to have some portion control… or lack thereof). Also, hummus and baba were not even options in the toppings bar – you have to specially request baba on your shawarma. Shawarma Spot does have a greater variety of menu options, such as salads (fatouch, tabbouleh) and manakeesh (bread topped with jebna, lahma bi’ajeen, or zaatar). But there were no falafel options whatsoever!

THE DECISION

In this shawarmoff, the winner is Shawarma King. You get the most value for your dollar with the King (the Spot’s chicken shawarma runs around $7.50 with tax included) and you have the ability to dish out as much of any of the 16 diverse toppings that you wish. Shawarma Spot’s space also seemed a bit cramped, and the messiness award would also go to the Spot – I had to resort to fork and knife… what an embarrassment.”

Entry 3 by Jeannie after the jump. (more…)

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