Trio Restaurant, Washington, D.C.

After our visit to the Belmont Mansion last night, Ryan and I, braving the fierce winds and sudden cold, took refuge in Trio Restaurant, a convenient place for a late dinner. Ryan had the guacamole burger (what he always orders there), which looked good, but which came, alas, with cold French fries.


I had their turkey blue plate special dinner with dressing, garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, and some very good cauliflower gratin. It was a perfect choice for a cold night. Just basic food.


We split a piece of carrot cake for dessert, but it wasn't a particularly memorable cake.....even with two of us eating it, I think we left some on the plate.

Georgetown Cafe, Georgetown, D.C.

After our real estate inspections Sunday and to give him a chance to think things over, Ian and I went to a late lunch at Georgetown Cafe. Ian got a Swiss cheese omelette with fried potatoes and toast.


I got the gyros platter, which was actually quite good and larger than I'd expected. It came with a warm piece of pita bread, so I could have made my own gyros sandwich, but, much like I do when confronted with a plate of fajitas, I ate everything separately. I also love their battered French fries.



Georgetown Cafe is always an interesting place. It's part greasy-spoon diner and part Middle Eastern deli.

Timberlake's Restaurant, Washington, D.C.

We were near Dupont Circle the other day well past the normal dinner hour and still hadn't eaten. Despite the plethora of decent, cheap Asian restaurants in the area, Ryan wanted basic American style food. I warned him of its mediocrity, but he wanted to try Timberlake's Restaurant anyway, so there we went. Now, I don't dislike the place, I just don't have high expectations, and as long as one keeps things in perspective, it's fine.

I actually enjoyed my food (again, keeping things in perspective). I started with a cup of crab soup and then had a reuben sandwich. Nothing gourmet, but no complaints.

Ryan and Robert started with a spinach artichoke dip I thought rather bland. Robert's main course was the chopped steak special with mashed potatoes, gravy, and broccoli. I guess it was okay; Robert always cleans his plate and he seldom comments about food unless it's really really good or really really bad.


Ryan got a Tex-Mex burger with onion rings. His requested side of ranch dressing for the rings never materialized, so he had to go find another waiter to bring him some.


I passed on dessert, but Robert had a rather unattractively presented piece of key lime pie buried in whipped cream and Ryan had a brownie and ice cream topped with chocolate sauce and drowned in a sea of whipped cream. Nothing to write home about there.

The bigger problem was the service, which was rather slow, forgetful, and untrained. The guy seemed nice, but a bit spacy, and I was inspired before he took the dessert orders to chat him up and say, "I haven't seen you here before. Are you new?" And he was, somewhat—he'd been there not quite a month.

Kennedy Center Honors Gala, Washington, D.C.

Politicians and performing artists rubbed elbows and more in the crowded Grand Foyer of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala last night. The elegant black tie crowd dined on a simple but delicious meat and potatoes meal after the awards show concluded in the Opera House. That show will be broadcast on December 26.