Gastronomical Banter

any recommendations (for date night!) in bethesda/rockville area?  price isn't a big consideration, looking for something fancy.  thanks!

sweetcell wrote:
any recommendations (for date night!) in bethesda/rockville area?  price isn't a big consideration, looking for something fancy.  thanks!

I like Founding Farmers, and Olazzo. There is also this little comfort food place that looks awesome, but I can't remember the name of it!

grateful wrote:
Finally made it to BonChon today…OMG!

Their Hyattsville location opened recently :)

I'm missing BonChon in a serious way down here in Raleigh.  There is a Korean chicken joint up in north Raleigh that is supposed to be aces but have not made it yet.

K8teebug wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
any recommendations (for date night!) in bethesda/rockville area?  price isn't a big consideration, looking for something fancy.  thanks!

I like Founding Farmers, and Olazzo. There is also this little comfort food place that looks awesome, but I can't remember the name of it!

thanks! we're a little OD'ed on FF, we go there every time her family visits.  damn good, tho, love their food.  thanks for the Olazzo tip!  lemme know if you figure out what that comfort food place is.

This place in Rockville is excellent-


ilpizzico.com

Grapeseed Bistro in Bethesda used to be awesome, but I haven't been in years.

Black's Bar and Kitchen is a great choice.

I'll second Olazzo, but definitely not "fancy" if you're looking for that vibe.

You could always drive a little further south and eat at Range as well. Can't go wrong there.

want a good date place in Bethesda: Bistro Provence

Blacks is good recommendation as well

thanks for all the recommendations, y'all rock.  i'm making a list over here and saving it for next time. 

Bagley wrote:
This place in Rockville is excellent-

ilpizzico.com

ha, this is exactly where we headed last night.  unfortunately they're closed on sundays.  grrrr.  ended up at Sushi Damo in rockville center.  good little spot, nice atmosphere and their house rolls are really creative.  had a great meal.  only downside is that we've been there many times and were hoping to branch out.  when we got to il pizzico and found out it was closed, we had to scramble and come up with a quick backup plan.  damo was sorta of a default… good but familiar.

Please help a homesick New Yorker find some real pizza in Montgomery County-not the Neopolitan, nor the coal fired, and no brick oven either.  Just the good old greasy, thin crispy crust NY style.  I've tried Giuseppe's,  Mama Lucia, Potomac pizza, pizza palace, etc

Bagley wrote:
Please help a homesick New Yorker find some real pizza in Montgomery County-not the Neopolitan, nor the coal fired, and no brick oven either.  Just the good old greasy, thin crispy crust NY style.  I've tried Giuseppe's,  Mama Lucia, Potomac pizza, pizza palace, etc

Vace in Bethesda, I go to the Cleveland Park one a lot. Not the best pizza ever, but very good for the price and is NY style.

Bagley wrote:
Please help a homesick New Yorker find some real pizza in Montgomery County-not the Neopolitan, nor the coal fired, and no brick oven either.  Just the good old greasy, thin crispy crust NY style.  I've tried Giuseppe's,  Mama Lucia, Potomac pizza, pizza palace, etc

Make the trip downtown and go to Wiseguy NY Pizza. It's by far the most authentic New York slice you'll find in the Washington area. Pete's in Silver Spring and Vace in Bethesda are great too.

I'll second Pete's Pizza. Until I discovered Pete's, it was damn near impossible to find a good slice in this city that wasn't "fancy" pizza.

It is a tad expensive, but definitely worth it.

If you're in Columbia, we really like Trattoria. The one on Guilford Road is the best. Reminds me the most of my favorite NYC pizzas.

Yada wrote:
I'll second Pete's Pizza. Until I discovered Pete's, it was damn near impossible to find a good slice in this city that wasn't "fancy" pizza.

It is a tad expensive, but definitely worth it.

Pete's is fine, if that's what you want.  However, if you are looking for NY Pizza, you will be highly disappointed.

grateful wrote:

Yada wrote:
I'll second Pete's Pizza. Until I discovered Pete's, it was damn near impossible to find a good slice in this city that wasn't "fancy" pizza.

It is a tad expensive, but definitely worth it.

Pete's is fine, if that's what you want.  However, if you are looking for NY Pizza, you will be highly disappointed.

Tried Pete's a couple year's back.  Didn't do it for me.  It's New Haven style, whatever that means.

Bagley wrote:
  It's New Haven style, whatever that means.

means…not NY style
People from the Nutmeg state are a little obsessed with how good their pizza
it's not Ray's, that's for sure


Growing up on NY pizza, I've recently decided that by the slice is always the best
as it cooks the crust well, the chees melts…then cools
then the cook it again and the cheese gets a crisp crust

I like it so much better than with the soggy over cheeased crap they are calling pizza now-a-days

New Haven pizza is the closest thing I've had to authentic Italian pizza. I'd say it's probably the best pizza in the United States. If you've been to the original Pepe's in New Haven, you know it's no joke. Tomatoes are imported from Italy exclusively for them. I grew up with Chicago's deep dish pizza, and not to be a traitor to my city, but it's a joke. The best pizza in the country comes out of New Haven, and quite honestly nothing comes close. Before anyone thinks it's a gimmick, they should try it and judge for themselves. Pepe's gets a proper char on the crust. The freshness and quality of the ingredients makes it the best-tasting pizza, hands down.

^^ see what I mean…

Sidehatch wrote:
^^ see what I mean…

I don't understand how that makes them any different from the NY pizza snobs.

bearman wrote:
Tomatoes are imported from Italy exclusively for them. … The freshness and quality of the ingredients makes it the best-tasting pizza, hands down.

Must be that daily transatlantic tomato run FedEx does.