Another Year In Eating

I enjoyed Ray's Year In Review post so much that I figured I'd do one of my own. Here are some of my notable meals from 2007:

Bamian probably wins my award for best new discovery this year. The one thing holding me back – I stopped there last week in an attempt to introduce some out of town friends to Afghan cuisine. After 15 minutes without a host (and overhearing a cell phone conversation from a patron calling FROM THE LOBBY to say he had reservations a half hour ago and hadn't been acknowledged), we were forced to walk out of the beloved joint. Still, I'm probably willing to give them another chance – the food is amazing for the price.

Old Hickory Grille is the kind of place that makes you feel like a regular even if you're not – the Cajun-influenced cooking is homey and the booth-style seating is comfortable. I wish their hours were a bit more extended and regular, though. The place I actually BECAME a (semi) regular is Piratz Tavern, despite living in VA and its being in Silver Spring (it helps to have a pirate-obsessed boyfriend). The dining and service are inconsistent at best – it's not unusual to be served a dish cold, wait a long time for food, or experience an order mix-up. Plus, order a Black Strap Betty one night, and it'll taste completely different the next. But I can't get enough of the vibe of the place, have gotten to know and love the servers, and can shrug off any hassle once I have some Grog in me. Try the Squid for a drink if Grog isn't your thing, and be sure to sample the piri piri chicken, the salmagundi stew and the prego no pao steak sandwich.

Despite being a (local) chain, Sweetwater Tavern kind of became a de-facto special occasion spot, mostly due to location, late hours and reliable food. The service is expedient, and I've never had a bad dish there, and many of the offerings, particularly fish dishes, are very good indeed. I could eat my weight in their chicken con queso, and I love anywhere that brews their own beer, even if the beers themselves (Dogfish Head Ale House, I'm talking to you), are not to my taste.

Dishes that I experienced frequent cravings for included shrimp toast and shrimp won ton soup from Huong Que, beef in hot pepper sauce from the always-reliable Hong Kong Palace, pupusas from Samantha's (wish I lived closer), and pizza from the Italian Store.

El Paso Café might just convince me I actually am a fan of Mexican food. It helps that it's Salvadoran influenced, but whether it be lobster enchiladas, steak fajitas, pork taquitos or generous servings of ceviche, I can't say I was ever disappointed with the restaurant, which has a great neighborhood feel.

Jose Andres' Oyamel and Café Atlantico made it into the "worth the splurge" category this year. I still have trouble paying $13 for guacamole, but I never have trouble finishing mine. Oyamel's grasshopper tacos tasted more like spice than like a buggy creature, but it was an experience worth having, and everything else on the menu was great.

DC Coast won the Parental Seal of Approval nod, and it's easy to understand why – the cooking may not be the most inventive in the planet, but the portions are generous, the fish is fresh and the service is friendly. I particularly enjoyed the scallop and ravioli dish I had on a business lunch there.

(Probably too much) of 2007 was spent sampling local happy hours. A favorite was Mio, near McPherson Square – the discounted drinks such as caprihinas and blood orange margaritas were made with finesse, and I had a lot of fun with the $6 small plate menu (get the meatballs!). News Café was classy without being pretentious, and the bartender at Tandoori Nights was exceptionally friendly when pouring $5 martinis. And I'm always a fan of $5 bacon cheeseburger platters at Cheff Geoff's.

Brunch continues to be a favorite meal, even though I don't find the time nearly as often as I did when living in NY. Tallula's a standard choice for me, and great service made up for overcooked eggs on one visit. Sette Bello's $16 brunch with an alcoholic beverage is a good deal, and their breakfast pizza and prosciutto eggs benedict are both delicious. I'm a fan of the $5 Bloody Mary bar at Rhodeside Grille, even if the food's unremarkable. And though I wish Super Grilled Cheese were on the brunch menu at Tunicliff's, I can be more than appeased with some yummy eggs Chesapeake.

2007 wasn't without its disappointments. Il Radicchio has always been a favorite of mine and my family's, but seeing a mouse run across the floor and a wait staff entirely unconcerned, and tasting a favorite chicken pasta dish which seemed nothing like my former favorite menu item brought down its estimation. Still, it's hard to find a better place for a pistachio cream spaghetti sauce. Royal Mile Pub never even got my service, thanks to a hostess with attitude; the same can be said of Georgia Brown's. RFD's menu, never stellar, changed for the worse, and while the food at Mendocino Grille was excellent during Restaurant Week, the limited number of choices without upcharges was frustrating. Etete fell a bit into the "overrated" category for me – I had trouble understanding why people consistently rank it as the top Ethiopian places. Service was slow and the menu seemed somewhat limited. My meal there was certainly pleasant, though - should have gotten a vegetarian platter, from what I hear.

Favorites from 2006 which fell off my radar this year included Zaytina (the wait always seemed daunting), Pizza Paradiso (more from a lack of time spent in Georgetown), and Taqueria Poblano (it seemed to switch from a great Mexican place to a so-so offering). Anyone been to Bombay Club lately? It was one of my best dining experiences in 2006, but never got the chance to make it back for another Manhattan and excellent lamb dish.

In 2008, I'll probably most long for the Cajun bacon cheese fries from Dr. Dremo's, my favorite bar, which will shut its doors at the end of January. To console myself, I'll be making a trip to minibar Jan. 19, and hope to sample the offerings from Rasika, Taberna del Alabardero, Thai Square, Ray's the Steaks and at least one French restaurant, if time and fortune are with me, throughout this year. What are your 2008 dining resolutions?