380 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
www.chinatownbrasserie.com


Chinatown Brasserie is the type of place you end up eating in when you haven't really thought about dinner plans since you spent the day participating in a run for charity (The Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research) and then decided to spend the afternoon drinking in a dive bar (The Emerald Inn).  So, after naps and getting ready for dinner, you haven't made any reservations and taking a cab to a random spot in the city where there are many places to eat seems like the most sensible thing to do.  This is when you end up at Chinatown Brasserie.

713 H Street NW

Washington, DC 20001

202.289.4441

www.matchboxchinatown.com

When I think of pizza, I think of the unique way certain areas love to make them. I've tried pizza in Montreal where the sauce goes on last, sampled some deep dish from Chicago but my latest pizza experiences have centered around New York's versions from places such as Grimaldi's (Brookyln Style) and Lombardi's. It was with this mindset that I ate at Matchbox in Chinatown thinking that I would get a semblance of New York Style pizzas. What I got was something completely different but just as satisfying. I ordered half a Matchbox Meat and Coppa Italian Ham & Arugula pizza (as recommended by Jessica the bartender). I expected the MM side of the pizza to be heavy and greasy with plenty of savory goodness. It was savory but a tad spicy and a lot lighter than expected. The crust was thin and crispy with no hints of sogginess and hardly any grease. The coppa side seemed fordmidable at first since you can hardly see the pizza in the sea of arugula they top it with. But the combination of the arugula, tomato, coppa ham and pesto sauce was a wonderful surprise and a new take on pizza for me. While it was only my first visit to Matchbox, it really changed my idea of what a pizza should be. To me, without having tried it, Matchbox represents California's take on pizza or at least how I've heard it described. Substituting the traditional to make it more varied and slightly more healthy.

2300 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA  22201
703.841.7297


I guess I've never bought into the great American steakhouse obsession.  The only two steakhouses that have truly blown me away were the Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn and The Strip House in the West Village.  Part of the reason is that most steakhouses don't offer very much variety and I've always enjoyed preparing steak at home and due to home field bias, I think my steaks tend to taste better also.  But, it's always good to have a steak restaurant in your back pocket in case you have friends who share the great American obsession.  Ray's the Steaks is always talked about and the reviews looked great so how could you possibly miss?

1739 N Street NW

Washington, DC 20036

202.331.8528

http://www.tabardinn.com/restaurant

You can find the Tabard Inn on a secluded side street near Dupont Circle which is surprisingly hard to find by car (one way streets and me do not get along).  The street is typically scenic and tree-lined with brownstones all along it.  As I got closer, I started to get a little worried as the front of the Tabard Inn looked pretty run down and there was a really tacky sign for valet parking on the sidewalk.  When you walk inside, the check-in area and the waiting area for the restaurant are musty and the furniture was run down.  However, walking into the restaurant, you're transformed into a whole new world.  The front dining room is lined with windows and full of sunshine.  The outside patio looked like a wonderful garden setting but unfortunately there were intermittent showers on the day I ate brunch there.

New York, NY 10009

212.614.2728

www.crifdogs.com

There's not much not to like here because of the simplicity of the place. If you are craving deliciously cooked hot dogs with or without a twist then this is the place to go. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. My favorite order is the Temptee Dog (ever since a trip to Seattle showed me the virtues of cream cheese and hot dogs) and a can of PBR. I can't think of a better place to satisfy your late night cravings.

4075 Wilson Blvd

Arlington, VA 22203

571.384.1820

www.rusticorestaurant.com

In my ongoing search to find a neighborhood restaurant, I went to Rustico (owned by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group which also owns Tallula) which always looks busy as you drive by.  I went with my two nieces and my parents as they came down to visit the DC area for a day.  As you walk in, the setting is stark and elegant but not too much so that it doesn't promise a casual dining experience.

402 East 78th Streetn

New York, NY 10075

212.517.5340

www.sushiofgari.com

This isn't so much a review but more of a homage to what has become one of my favorite restaurants in New York City.  I've been to Sushi of Gari several times now and it has never failed to impress.  There are a few locations in the City but I prefer the original (which is saying a lot since it is located way up on a sleepy block on the Upper East Side).  The space is very small and when you enter, you can't help butting into the hostess station but the intimacy of it all is very appealing.