Group Ride - Cap City Brewery to Port City Brewery - 1/26/13 12:00pm

[creadinger]

Rasika is a great example of what's wrong with the food scene in the District. It's easy to find great food if you're willing to pay for it, but in lots of other place I'd be able to find that quality of food off a plastic tray without the fancy dining room. You can still get that in the suburbs (Vietnamese in Falls Church and Arlington, Korean in Annandale, Chinese in Rockville, Salvadoran... everywhere) but it's harder and harder to find in the city, at least in my neighborhood. Everything new that opens is $20 a plate table service, even on H Street (H&pizza and Shawafel being the exceptions).

How is $14 for an entree at Rasika "what's wrong with the food scene in the District"? For 4-5 star dining that's pretty freakin awesome if you ask me. Not only that, but I made reservations at the West End location for Saturday evening on Saturday morning. If you really want the plastic tray, you'd probably have to bring your own. Otherwise, what else do you want?

[DaveK]

How is $14 for an entree at Rasika "what's wrong with the food scene in the District"? For 4-5 star dining that's pretty freakin awesome if you ask me. Not only that, but I made reservations at the West End location for Saturday evening on Saturday morning. If you really want the plastic tray, you'd probably have to bring your own. Otherwise, what else do you want?

Rasika itself isn't wrong, it's fantastic. I want more cheap, no-frills options with food that good and without the linen and atmosphere that I don't usually care about.

[vvill]

I completely agree! Some cuisines that I used to take for granted in Australia tend to be more "boutique" here, such as Thai and Indian.

My favourite Indian place in DC is actually the one at the Union Station food court. Cash only (I think), good selection (not just butter chicken and tandoori), it's actually spicy, and definitely no frills. I hate bringing kids to a more upmarket place because you definitely do not get to enjoy the atmosphere, but you can still enjoy good food.

I have absolutely zero complaints about the price and quality of beer in the States though. I never thought that would be the case before moving here.

[mstone]

I have absolutely zero complaints about the price and quality of beer in the States though. I never thought that would be the case before moving here.

The american beer jokes relate to the Bud/Miller/Coors American Lagers which account by themselves for well over half the production in the US (AB InBev itself is over 50%). But for some reason people overseas don't realize that there are more small brewers in the US (2000+) than anywhere else in the world. The hilarious thing is that AB InBev's is not an American company, and its growth is pretty much all from increasing sales of Bud overseas.

[vvill]

Yeah I know that now

I had a friend in London who always preferred Bud and we taunted him mercilessly for it. I have to admit though it somehow tastes better overseas than what they supply in the USA. Same goes for KFC.

[DaveK]

Yeah I know that now

I had a friend in London who always preferred Bud and we taunted him mercilessly for it. I have to admit though it somehow tastes better overseas than what they supply in the USA. Same goes for KFC.

It might have been Budweiser, not Budweiser.

[vvill]

Unfortunately it was the one on the left.

[baiskeli]

How can anyone not love a beer whose name three frogs can say?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcbasIb8lQ

For me, that settles it. Get some toads to say "Optimator" or "Quadruple Mashed Imperial Stout" and maybe I'll change my mind.

[baiskeli]

Word on the street (from actual Indians) is that DC actually does have really good Indian restaurants. Rasika being one great example in the city. There are several other local gems that aren't high on the radar too. Manhattan-grouches annoy me. He should try going to London! I bet their Indian food blows Manhattan Indian food away. Chicken tikka masala is the national dish of England for chrissake!

Yep. DC and New York too. My motivation was to knock my wife's uncle down a peg, not the cuisine of New York.