D.C. Restaurant Week-in-Review 2

A post by "Blake the Megalomaniac" To see more posts click here

Monday: Founding Farmers

Wednesday: BLT

Saturday: Kaz Sushi Bistro

Sunday: The Palm

So, I was tempted to put this review together in a video montage but after the €œDay in the Life€ segment we just recorded yesterday about€¦well€¦ me, and the Oscars by which, those with more skill and talent got together to give one another a pat on the back, I thought better of it.  I’m no actor; I’m barely a writer for that matter but I do like to eat out and with that said comes a brief review of each of the four eateries I visited.

KAZ Sushi Bistro [1915 I (eye) Street, NW Washington, DC 20006]: …the owner and sushi-chef, Kazuhiro Okochi writes a blog on the restaurant’s website answering questions and detailing concerns.  How can you beat that?  That’s called forward thinking right there and being guest oriented.

Excerpt:

“Recently we’ve got some complains about our lighting including on Washington Post.  I understand many people these days like darker dining room for romantic ambiance.  I personally do not like dark dining room not because I am not a romantic kind of guy, because food doesn’t look tasty.  In Japan, especially at sushi bar, lighting is always bright so fish looks fresh.  Today since it was a Valentine’s Day, I decided to dim the light to make romantic atmosphere and had candles on the tables.  Yes, it was nicer ambiance with darker lighting but when I look at my sushi on the table, it looked terrible.  As a chef, I prefer to have brighter room so my food looks much better than making dining room darker to have better ambiance.” – Kaz Okochi

[Link]

In summation, if you aren’t feeling the lighting then you can go screw.  Personally, I didn’t notice the lighting.  The ambiance was on par with any Japanese restaurant or sushi shop I’ve frequented.  It was intimate; I was at a table that sat two people but my date and I we’re only about 2 feet away from the table next to us.  That table sat two people apparently on their first date.  This, I knew b/c it seemed as if the guy was continuously trying to impress with his knowledge of the cuisine.  I digress.  The facet of Kaz Sushi Bistro that made it stand out for me was the depth of thought in each cut. The Salmon Nigiri was touched with a hint of Mango and the Tuna Nigiri touched with a dab of pesto.  I’d never experienced Sushi done in that way before which made the experience enlightening.  The Saki list was also something I took note of — not only for its depth and breadth but for the information it gave on the various Saki choices.

Douchbaggery of Clientele: Non-existent

Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Food: 9/10

The Palm [ 1225 19th St NW Washington, DC 20036]: What can I say about The Palm that hasn’t already been said about someone like Tom Cruise?  Cruise as an actor, steady, expensive, some would say exclusive, possibly elitist– just as with The Palm.  It’s up there with the other upscale steakhouses, but does it offer anything more than Morten’s, Ruth’s Chris, Capital Grille? I don’t really know b/c I don’t get out to those spots much but the answer is probably no.

Some have said with the Palm it’s politics as usual (fitting considering the locale) or the same ‘ol same ‘ol and that it’s nice as long as the tab is on someone else, and I tend to agree.  The wine list is extensive, the steaks are prime, and the service is scripted which equals to a tremendous time for the country club and political types but if I wanted a pricey steak I’d still probably head to BLT.  Don’t get me wrong, The Palm has some endearing qualities but it’s just not meant for the normal 20-something (unless you’re name is Matthew Continetti or something).

Douchbaggery of Clientele: Slightly above average

Atmosphere: 5/10 Service: 6/10 Food: 8/10

Now we’d like to hear from you.  Where did you eat? What did you like? What would you recommend?

udothedishes…