Birthday Dinner - DC First timer

I’m headed to DC with some friends for my 32nd birthday; I’ve read tons of great reviews that sounded perfect..and then their counter reviews as well. I know people have different palettes and expectations, but does anyone have ideas for: great food, the savor every bite kind, in a more fun and less stuffy atmosphere? I love hidden gems or off the beaten path places too. I guess want a culinary adventure, where I don’t have to be quite. I was thinking about Laboratorio del Galileo - though I’ve heard mixed reviews. I’ve heard 1789 a million times – however, I don’t want the “steak and potato” meal. Please give me some incite…

Birthday Dinner - DC First timer

My favorite is DC Coast. The staff are friendly. Ask for a table downstairs to be in the middle of it all. Great food, great wine list. Tell them it is your birthday and they will print a menu just for you (at least they did for our anniversary). When we have extra money, this is where we go.

A fun place where the food is good is Old Ebbit. More fun and food and it is kinda touristy, but I throw that out there.

La Fourchette is a seldom mentioned small bistro in Adam%26#39;s Morgan. Good food, great people and you can be as loud as you want as it is not pretentious at all. The owner doesn%26#39;t cook on Mondays so don%26#39;t go then.

Bistro du Coin is another frenchy place with great food and a relaxed atmosphere.

If you are adventuresome, then head south just over the bridge to Del Ray in Virginia. The Evening Star Cafe is a great little place to eat in my neighborhood. They have a louge in the back and upstairs for afterdinner drinks and we close the place down regularly. Wine store next door allows them to have a good wine list and lots of by the glass offerings. The new chef has some really nice offerings. Heirloom tomatoes tossed in a basil vinegrette. I had the Salmon last time and it was great. Served on a bed of fava beans and fresh corn. Yum.

BTW, happy birthday!

Birthday Dinner - DC First timer

Although the reviews on this site aren%26#39;t that great, I had a wonderful experience at CityZen during my trip the other week. They offer a great deal if you eat in the lounge: 3-course menu for $45 (in the dining room the 3-course menu is $75 albeit with more ';extras';). Each course was wonderful!

I too had a fabulous experience at City Zen, but it seems you%26#39;re looking for more of *party* atmosphere than its atmosphere may convey to you. Laboratorio is too ';over the top'; for my tastes.. I actually found it oppressive rather than exhiirating.

I was recently charmed by Komi, and think it might be the kind of place you%26#39;re looking for:

http://komirestaurant.com

HAPPY B-DAY

I think Komi is a great choice. (Good thinking, CockleCove!) It%26#39;s definitely more of a hidden gem and the food is great. I wouldn%26#39;t call it a party atmosphere (like maybe, Zaytinya), but you certainly don%26#39;t have to be quiet and I doubt they%26#39;d ';shush'; you if your party got a bit rowdy.

If you really want to drop some money, you could try Maestro. Of course, that%26#39;s the kind of place where people might look at you funny if you were loud, but the food is amazing. (You%26#39;ll need a car to get there, though).

-1789 isn%26#39;t really a steak and potato place, although that is one of the top choices there. It is good food and in a nice area right in the heart of Georgetown University. Check out the website (www.1789restaurant.com)

-DC Coast as others have said is nice

-B. Smith%26#39;s Union Station (southern louisiana with a twist)

-Vidalia- M Street just before Georgetown near Dupont Circle/Faragut North (fancy southern food and a little expensive but not really for DC)

-Bistro Bis E Street near Capitol Hill (at the hotel but nice quaint maybe a little ';stuffy'; for your likes though.

-Bistro Francais M Street in the heart of Georgetown just before Wisconsin Avenue (love this place. It%26#39;s small and it%26#39;s nice, the service is wonderful and the food is good.

Hope this helps

Nope, no need to worry about getting ';shushed'; at Komi -- not that I was dancing on the table :-)

Here%26#39;s a recent Washington Post article about the place;

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20…

If you can%26#39;t cut %26amp; paste the lengthy URL, just Google it with

washington post hagedorn komi

and the article should be the first in the search results

what did you think about this restaurant? we ate at Komi and were quite disappointed.

I don%26#39;t know, imay, if your query was intended for me, but if my suggestion for a restaurant isn%26#39;t accompanied by a reference -- i.e., ';Washingtonian magazine recommends this seafood restaurant in Alexandria'; -- that means I%26#39;ve been there myself and within recent memory. If I%26#39;ve not dined at the restaurant in the past couple of months, I%26#39;ll do a Google search before posting my recommendation to see if there seems to be reason to qualify my endorsement or to not suggest it at all... e.g., restaurant has changed hands, it%26#39;s been getting negative buzz on Chowhound.com.

Since I was at Komi in June %26amp; really enjoyed it and the current ';dish'; on it was still quite positive, I felt very comfortable recommending it to gypsifeet. That said, every restaurant can have an ';off'; day; sorry your meal there didn%26#39;t live up to your expectations.

Imay:

When did you eat at Komi and why were you disappointed? I was there before and after the renovations and really enjoyed it both times. I thought the food was interesting, inventive and delicious with good service. With the new set-up - less tables, better service, we were even more impressed. I%26#39;m curious to know what you didn%26#39;t like. Thanks.