Showing posts with label French. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French. Show all posts

Friday, August 27, 2010

Clarendon's Lyon Hall

Finally stopped in Lyon Hall. http://www.lyonhallarlington.com/ I had heard some great things about it from my favorite bar manager in the neighborhood, but also some middling reviews from friends. Well...I really liked it. Partially it was the company and perfect weather for sitting outside, but the service was very enjoyable. We had to wait a few minutes at the bar for a table outside. The bartender was informative and poured tastes of a few draft beers to help my friend decide what to drink.
Peach and heirloom tomato salad. The waitress highly recommended this. The tomatoes were flavorful and ripe and the sweet peach was a nice contrast. Wish there was a little more peach.
Mussels and frites. J'adore les moules et frites. With a white wine, garlic, parsley and leeks, the broth was so good I couldn't resist dipping the housemade bread into it.
Herb spaetzle with sauerkraut, gruyere and ham. The spaetzle were good, although the aroma of the sausages at nearby tables was more enticing.
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The menu has some lovely cheeses and draft beers that I would like to try. The prices are also pretty moderate. I'd like to bring my better half here to try out the black pudding or lamb sausage. The inside is pretty vibrant and loud, but the patio area is much quieter and relaxing.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Bastille Day in DC

I like themes. I like to eat Italian food while watching The Godfather and Goodfellas, Chinese food with The Joy Luck Club, brats and beer for Oktoberfest, and French food on Bastille Day. The impetus for me has nothing to do with celebrating the storming of the Bastille in 1789. Really, it's just a great excuse to gather friends together for a meal.
This year we went to Cafe Bonaparte, a tiny restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue in between Georgetown and Glover Park. I like the decor with the red, black and pressed tin ceiling. http://www.cafebonaparte.com/
Swordfish special of the day with potatoes and sauteed spinach. moules - mussels cooked in white wine, shallot and garlic wonderful frites Steak frites with bearnais sauce A sweet ending. Crepe Lorraine - wild berries, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.