BETHESDA ROW RESTAURANT WEEK - Inside the Menus: MON AMI GABI

Today is the final day of Bethesda Row Restaurant Week 2012!

Where better to close it out on a dark and rainy evening than in the cozy confines of Bethesda Row's French bistro, Mon Ami Gabi!

Menu s'il vous plait, garcon!

DINNER ($30)

Course 1:
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Petit Caesar Salad with Romaine, black pepper, olive oil, crouton and Parmesan cheese

Onion Soup au gratin

Chilled Gazpacho with Chopped Red and Green Pepper garnish

(choice of one)

Course 2:
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Steak Frites (this is the specialty of the house at Mon Ami Gabi)

OR

Seared Atlantic Salmon au Poivre with Pommes Puree, Spring Mushroom Mix, and Red Wine Sauce

OR

Half-roasted Chicken and Frites, Grandmere style

Course 3:
-----------

Creme Brulee

Chocolate Mousse with Chocolate Perles Craquantes* (this is my recommendation!)

Sorbet du jour
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Mon Ami Gabi has put some of their most popular items on the Restaurant Week menu, so you know you'll be getting the best of what they have to offer tonight.

So stop by this evening.  Au revoir for now!

BETHESDA ROW RESTAURANT WEEK - Inside the Menus: LEBANESE TAVERNA

BETHESDA ROW 

RESTAURANT WEEK 

Inside the Menus: 

LEBANESE TAVERNA 

There are many wonderful aromas emitting from the restaurants around Bethesda Row.  If I had to pick the best-smelling corner in Bethesda, it would definitely be Lebanese Taverna's at Elm Street and Arlington Road.  If it's time for lunch or dinner, a walk past will turn you into a customer!

And of course, the food tastes as good as it smells.  They also have very nice patio seating outside of the restaurant, allowing you to enjoy all the goings on at Bethesda Row while sharing your mezza with tablemates.

LUNCH ($15)

Choice of Mezza Platter
TRADITIONAL
hommos, tabouleh,
grape leaves, m’saka, sambousik,
falafel, kibbeh, lubieh bel zeit,
and baba ghannouge
VEGETARIAN
hommos, fattoush,
fatayer b’jibne, m’saka,
fatayer b’sbanigh, falafel,
lebneh, foole m’damas,
and baba ghannouge
MEDITERRANEAN
lebneh, tabouleh, grape leaves,
fattoush, shakshouky,
baba ghannouge, fatayer b’sbanigh,
lubieh bel zeit and sambousik

Choice of Dessert
BAKLAWA
pistachios, pomegranate syrup,
honey ice cream
AWAMET
lebanese donuts, honey-saffron syrup,
yogurt-milk pudding
ICE CREAM
one scoop of chocolate

Choice of Beverage
ICED TEA OR SODA

DINNER ($30)

Traditional Hommos for the table
Choice of One Mezza
ROASTED OLIVES warm, fresh thyme,
rosemary, garlic
LEBANESE SALAD tomato, cucumber, mint,
onion, lemon garlic dressing
SHORBAT D’JAJE chicken soup + kishk, mint

Choice of One Entrée 
OUZI-WARAK INAB braised lamb, lamb filled
grape leaves, spiced rice, yogurt salad
WHOLE BROILED BRONZINO mediterranean
seabass + saffron couscous, chickpea pilaf, grilled
vegetables, lemon parsley butter
M’SAKHAN natural free-range and boneless,
grilled half chicken on pita, sautéed onion, pinenuts,
sumac, roasted tomatoes
HENRIK’S BOUILLABAISSE mahi mahi,
shrimp, kalamar, saffron, orange zest
BEMIYEH baby okra, eggplant, stewed tomatoes,
garlic, herbs, golden couscous timbale

Choice of One Dessert 
(From any on Dessert Menu)


Choice of One Drink
GLASS OF HOUSE RED OR WHITE WINE,
SANGRIA OR DRAFT BEER
SPECIALTY TEA OR COFFEE

Lebanese Taverna is another restaurant offering you a beverage included in the price.

Today and Sunday are the FINAL days of Bethesda Row Restaurant Week, so hurry in to Lebanese Taverna for lunch or dinner.  Tell them Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row sent you!

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

Inside the Menus:

LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

One of the greatest things about Bethesda Row is the ability to escape to Paris any time of the day. The decor and setting of Mon Ami Gabi - even when dining on the patio - evoke an evening out in the City of Light.

Le Pain Quotidien is the sweet spot on our pedestrian street at Bethesda Row, Bethesda Lane, where the cuisine perfectly matches the architecture.

It is almost like a movie set, with the dramatic arch above and stone street. LPQ provides the sidewalk cafe and French food to complete the scene. It is, hands down, the best spot in Bethesda for a leisurely breakfast. Is there a better way to start the day than a Toasted Paris Ham & Gruyere Croissant (they put Paris in the name; clearly I am in the target audience for their marketing!) and a real Cafe au Lait, served European-style? Add in a French newspaper or magazine, and you'll feel the urge to hand the staff your passport. And did I mention the Belgian waffle? And the fact that you can find the best fresh lemonade in town here on a hot day in Bethesda?

It's too bad breakfast isn't part of Bethesda Row Restaurant Week, but fortunately, LPQ has lunch and dinner flights to France available for only $15 or $30 through April 22!

LUNCH ($15)

Course 1:

--------------

Soup du jour

Course 2:

--------------

Organic Quinoa Taboule with arugula, chickpeas, avocado and vinaigrette (quinoa is a superfood - super healthy - by the way! Taboule is a variation on a traditional Middle Eastern salad)

OR

Chicken Curry Tartine with cranberry harissa chutney

Course 3:

--------------

Organic Iced Tea

OR

Organic Mint Lemonade sweetened with raw, organic agave nectar

(I'm picking the lemonade here!)

DINNER ($30)

Course 1:

--------------

Baked Goat Cheese Toasts with organic acacia honey and thyme

Course 2:

--------------

Warm Morroccan Chicken Salad with chickpeas, olives, harissa, cucumber and arugula (hard to argue with this one)

OR

Seared Quinoa Cake with corn, zucchini, carrots, tomato, hummus and avocado

Course 3:

--------------

Mini Tart Quartette (Matcha Tea Mousse, Lemon, Chocolate Ganache, Blueberry)

Course 4:

--------------

Beverages!

Glass of House Wine RN13 - White, Rose or Red

(I think the white pairs best with this menu)

OR

Organic Iced Tea

OR

Mint Lemonade

Much like Vapiano, LPQ is throwing in a beverage. So you're essentially getting a nice glass of wine free!

For me, the day at Bethesda Row isn't officially over until the little Le Pain Quotidien truck pulls up to the end of Bethesda Lane, at the Elm Street side.

And so too does today's edition of Inside the Menus end!

Au revoir!

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

Inside the Menus:

TANDOORI NIGHTS

Love Indian food? Tandoori Nights is the place for you at Bethesda Row. Maybe you've walked past and noticed the warm and inviting decor. But it's the food that counts, right?

How good is Tandoori Nights? Don't take my word for it; just ask "Lauren H." on Yelp:

"Best. Indian. Food. Ever. And this is after I've eaten a meal at Rasika... I dream about this food at night."

Better than Rasika? How about that, Tom Sietsema?

Invite your DC friends to Tandoori Nights during Bethesda Row Restaurant Week through April 22!

LUNCH ($15)

Course 1:

--------------

Spicy Chicken Cucumber Salad (a cool and spicy combination of chicken, onions, peppers, tomato and a tangy lemon dressing)

OR

Vegetable or Chicken Biryani (a traditional Indian and Pakistani rice-based dish; a baked casserole of vegetables or chicken with basmati rice, saffron (expensive spice, as you know!), nuts and raisins)

Course 2:

--------------

Paneer Tikka Masala (a dish originating in Punjab, similar to Chicken Tikka Masala, but with chunks of Paneer cheese instead of meat)

OR

Chicken Makhani (Indian Butter Chicken)

Course 3:

--------------

Peach and Mango Sorbet

OR

Rasmalai (a.k.a. Ras Malai, cheese patties in sweetened milk with cardamom and rose water syrup; an Indian dessert delicacy)

DINNER ($30)

Course 1:

--------------

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

OR

Crunchy Shrimp Salad

OR

Kachumber Salad (a fresh tomato and onion salad)

OR

Mulligatawny Soup (a curry-flavored soup; known as "Pepper Water" in India, it is the result of the cuisinary clash of Indian and British chefs during the colonial era; split peas, vegetables in a chicken broth)

OR

Hariyali Chicken Soup (with spinach, herbs and a cilantro garnish)

OR

Aloo Chat Papdi (I think they mean Aloo Chaat Papdi or Papri; a crispy snack you might purchase from a roadside vendor in India)

OR

Chicken Tikka (boneless chicken breast cubes marinated in yogurt, getting the Big Finish in Tandoori's famous clay oven!)

OR

Masala Calamari

Course 2:

--------------

Chicken Tikka Masala (I hear a lot of people say this is their favorite; Barbecue Chicken cubes cooked with onion and bell peppers in tomato sauce)

OR

Paneer Makhani

OR

Fish Goani (a special recipe from the Portuguese Indian colony of Goa; filetted fish cooked in a "famous fiery sauce" - now there's an exotic dish)

OR

Daal Gosht (a lamb and lentil dish)

* Each entree comes with rice, raita (that's whipped yogurt with cucumbers, tomatoes and a light spice) and daal, and one of the house specialties, naan (bread in plain or garlic flavor)

Course 3:

--------------

Mango Creme Brulee

OR

Carrot Halwa (a traditional Punjabi dessert made with carrots, milk and cardamom)

We've reached the end! Stop by Tandoori Nights, where centuries of Indian tradition meet the upscale appointments you expect at Bethesda Row. And for only $15 or $30 through April 22!

Tandoori Nights, 7236 Woodmont Avenue. 301-656-4002.

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

Inside the Menus:

Vapiano

It seems like just yesterday I was walking the red carpet at the Grand Opening of Vapiano at Bethesda Row. Kate Michael was there, and rumor had it Katherine Kennedy and Lady Gaga (who was in town) might show up. And someone asked me if I was a member of the ownership group. The Donald Trump tie does it every time! The original, vertical Vapiano sign out front on Woodmont Avenue is gone, but the quality and freshness are still the same. And Vapiano is still a great choice for lunch, happy hour or dinner. Just ask Joe Biden!

Enjoy this Lunch ($15) or Dinner ($30) menu for Bethesda Row Restaurant Week:

Course 1:

--------------

Your choice of Mista or Caesar side salad. What is a Mista salad? Just a fancy Italian way of saying mixed salad.

Course 2:

--------------

Choose Pasta (Pomodoro, Arabiata (spicy), Aglio e olio (olive oil, garlic and chili), or Pomodoro fresco e basilica (cherry tomatoes and basil))

OR

Pizza (Margherita (many people say this is their favorite at Vapiano), Roasted Garlic and Tomato, Rucola (maybe better known as Rocket or arugula)

OR

Meal-sized, meaty (if you want) versions of the two above salads

Course 3:

--------------

Dessert! House-made chocolate mousse with whipped cream on top. No complaints here!

One other notable point about Vapiano for Bethesda Row Restaurant Week: unlike most restaurants, Vapiano is including a fountain beverage in the price - essentially, a free drink!

So visit the "other side" of Bethesda Row, for a thoroughly modern Italian feast at Vapiano, and you'll find it's a short trip you'll make again and again.

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

MENU SPOTLIGHT:

RAKU

Raku is an old dependable at Bethesda Row that manages to stay fresh. The sushi restaurant with a hint of "Asian fusion" aspirations, Raku is a nice spot for lunch or a first date. It also has fabulous outdoor dining space on Woodmont Avenue - if you can snag seats!

I can't help but start with Raku this week, because - to the best of my recollection - this is the first Restaurant Week menu Raku has made available outside of the restaurant. Kudos to Raku, as it is very helpful for Restaurant Week diners who have many choices, to be able to preview the menu. So here we go!

RAKU DINNER MENU $30

Course 1:

Grilled Shrimp Salad with Wasabi Yuzu Vin Blanc (a dressing combining Wasabi root flavor with mustard and the juice and rind of the Japanese Yuzu fruit - spicy, tart and delicious!), watercress, frisee (endive leaves) and radish

OR

Cream of Napa Soup with Snow Crab and White Truffle Oil (Napa is a type of cabbage)

-----

Course 2:

Nigiri Sushi (Tuna, Salmon, Hawaiian Amberjack, Shrimp, Eel) - Hawaiians call amberjack "kahala," Mexicans call it "Pez Fuerte" (strong fish)

OR

Salmon Fettucine with Lemon Butter sauce, Salmon Roe, Brown Beech Mushroom (a nutty, buttery mushroom) and Korean cabbage

-----

Course 3:

Beef Tenderloin with Shiitake Duxelles, ginger bordelaise, zucchini, yellow squash and Korean sweet potato (Shiitake Duxelles is more Paris than Tokyo; it's a sauce of mushrooms, onions, shallots, butter and herbs)

OR

Walnut-crusted Alaskan Halibut with warm, sundried tomato vinaigrette, fried baby potato, baby bok choy and miso tapenade (a soybean and barley/rice paste)

=======================

As you may notice, there are plenty of options for those in your party who are not sushi fans.

So stop by Raku tonight, or one of the many other restaurants at Bethesda Row, as we enjoy Restaurant Week 2012 through April 22.

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK 2012

RESTAURANT LIST,

MENUS AND CONTEST

Are you ready for Bethesda Row's biggest Restaurant Week ever, April 16-22?

You will be with this full restaurant list and handy menus.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway while you're there!

BETHESDA ROW

RESTAURANT WEEK

APRIL 16-22, 2012

Your Chance to Try All of the

Great Restaurants at Bethesda Row!

It's official! Bethesda Row Restaurant Week 2012 will be April 16-22!

Mark your calendar, and stay tuned for the official list of participating restaurants and menus.

But count on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row to come up with the inside scoop for you: Here is a sneak preview of the Bethesda Row Restaurant Week 2012 menus for one of the most popular spots on the Row, Jaleo.