Restaurant Week Round 1: Capital Grille

T came to town on business, part 3 of T&A (part 1 in DC and part 2 in Chi). we dined at Capital Grille (her pick) which was across the street from where the POTUS and First Lady decided to dine Monday night (1/17). they selected The Source by Wolfgang Puck. was that a restaurant week participant? if so, how thrifty of you, Mr. Obama! i doubt it. anyway!

i've only done restaurant week for lunch so i was pleasantly surprised at the dinner offerings. plus, our server complimented our meal with some creamed spinach, gratis. i dont like creamed spinach but it was a nice gesture. for course 1, i selected field greens and tomatoes while T chose the clam chowder. we both opted for filet mignon for course two (we had our choice of salmon or lamb instead). dessert was key lime pie for me and berries and cream for her. forgot to snap picks of the actual food. i took a pic of the menu but how is that really helpful?

everything (except the spinach, which was free so so what) was delicious. i took my key lime pie to go and even a few hours later, i enjoyed it. T did an add-on and ordered lobster mashed potatoes (not on the menu but was our server's suggestion, he was FAB). that came home with me as well. hopefully, it's not too late to grab this good deal. maybe they will be like other spots and extend their restaurant week menu. otherwise, expect to drop $43 on the steak alone versus $35.11 plus tax and gratuity for all 3 courses.

Capital Grille, 601 Pennsylvania Ave

im a foodie now

lately, ive been less than thrilled with the idea of eating out so when friends hit me up for restaurant week or just to catch up after years of abscence from each other's lives, i was gave a less than enthused response. i would be happy to see them and whatnot but food was even a small part of why i'd be going. that is until i got up with my friend from high school and she suggested founding farmers.

founding farmers opened september 2008, the year i returned to DC and the month i began grad school. it wasnt hard to notice because it's on my bus route to go home (the 36 runs slightly different to come back to southeast than it does to go up to northwest). my friend had been a couple of times and raved about it. some bacon lollipops or some other thing that didn't really catch my interest. but she did say the food was good. lately, i was excited to go because i'd overheard conversations of people with to-go bags making plans to go the next day with another friend and i was like "word? it's like THAT?".

founding farmers was on my must-try list also because they recently opened a sister restaurant, farmers & fishers, on the georgetown waterfront whose menu i've been interested in checking out. former co-workers and i will be going here on aug. 16 (the day this post will publish).

knowing nothing about the place, my friend and i informed out friendly and helpful waiter that it was our first time. he proceeded to explain that everything is "from the farm to the kitchen table". they use locally-produce veggies and other products and keep everything organic. "you may notice everything tastes different; it's fresher than you may be used to", he said. as he explained this, i thought, great, now our food will take forever and im starving. i looked around at the other tables and decided that it would be worth it because of the generous portions and how delicious everything looked and the fact that people were scraping their enormous plates.

our waiter shared his top 3 menu items. i forgot one of them because i did not recall seeing it on the menu. the other two were the pot roast and shrimp and grits. i remember because i was trying to decide between the two. my friend got chicken and waffles which i decided i'd leave gladys knight's to be my favorite of.

i decided on the pot roast and boy am i happy with my decision! i'm remembering the tender beef, perfectly mashed potatoes, and vegetables cooked to perfection. the idea of them is making my mouth water now. there was a hint of cinnamon or maybe nutmeg in the sauce that really complimented the concoction. im leaning toward nutmeg.

it was good, ya'll! im taking everyone who comes to visit me in dc. enjoy these pics and stay tuned for my thoughts on founders & fishers. oh yea, i can't forget dessert: a HUNK of red velvet cake with the richest, most delicious cream cheese icing and a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. SIDENOTE: nicki minaj said she loved red velvet...except when it tasted like chocolate on her ustream the other day. i wanted to ask what the hell does her red velvet taste like? simple broad.

my plate: pot roast!!!

my friend's plate: chicken, waffles, corn, mac and cheese