Pho 75

Now that the wretched season known as winter has become a distant memory I am forced to make my final rounds to sample as many soup shops as I can before the blistering summer months make one of my favorite types of food an afterthought. This takes us to Pho 75, a popular local chain that serves up bowl after bowl of this popular Vietnamese cuisine.

If you are unaware what Pho is then I would suggest you read my semi-detailed explanation here. If you are a Phonatic like me then you will surely appreciate Pho 75. With several locations across Northern Virginia Pho 75 has built a reputation of serving some of the best Pho in the DC area

(Photo via Yelp)

The décor is nothing to pout about. The two locations that I have tried closely resemble my middle school cafeteria. The plain white walls are adorned with a couple of pictures of Vietnam, the tables and chairs are purchased wholesale and each table comes with a hand full of spoons and chopsticks already there to use when your food is delivered.

But alas we are all aware of the famous saying to not judge a book by its cover and in this instance those words prove to be ring loud and clear. My first experience with this establishment came during my early days before I blogged about food and my knowledge of Pho was rudimentary at best. Now I am a bit more cultured and refined in this area of food and am constantly looking for the best Pho in the area. So it is only natural that I visit this establishment since they are constantly mentioned as having some of the best Pho.

My most recent visit came yesterday. It was a dreary overcast Sunday which is ideal weather for a piping hot cauldron of Pho. I drove across the wretched Key bridge into the nether regions known as Virginia. I tried my best to resist the cringe that engulfs just about any DC native when they cross the river but could not help shivering for a couple of seconds. I arrived at their Roslyn location as was immediately set back at what I thought was the line to Ray’s Hell Burger.

To this moment I am shocked at the line running out of the door. A combination of food deprivation, post St. Patrick's day hangover, and overcast weather made the wait unbearable at times. But within 10 minutes a table opened up and our server promptly handed us their menu which consists of 17 different variations which are served in a regular or large bowl.

It did take a bit of time to get the servers attention but we finally managed to flag him down. I decided to order the number 4 which consists of slices of round eye steak, well-done brisket, well-done flank, soft tenderloin, and bible tripe. A steaming hot bowl came out within minutes accompanied by the necessary accoutrement.

(Tai, Chin, Nam, Gan, Sach)

I methodically added the proportions of Sriracha, fish sauce, jalapenos, and bean sprouts that have taken months to master. Once my concoction was ready I began to dig in. The first thing that I noticed was how amazing the rice noodles were. The broth was also very flavorful and the various cuts of beef were superb. Each sip was as refreshing as the first and suddenly all my pains were eviscerated. I tried as mightily as I could to conquer the bowl but could not find the room to finish the entire dish.

Once we finished we took our time as Pho settled within our bodies, during which I continuously tried to stave off the food coma that was attempting to ruin my Sunday afternoon. I gathered myself after a few minutes and walked up to the register to pay. Please be advised that it is CASH ONLY which I was aware of. The total for two large bowls of Pho and two sodas came out to $20.50 which is a steal. I then returned home where I immediately succumbed to my food coma for about an hour or two which felt amazing.

All in all Pho 75 delivered on the hype. The Pho was great, the service was sub par and the atmosphere was an experience in an of itself. They have several locations around Virginia and are all cash only. It is widely popular so don't be as surprised as I was if you encounter a long line. There are a number of desserts and traditional Vietnamese drinks on the menu but no spring rolls or Banh Mi sandwiches which is a bit disappointing. I guess they do one thing good and they are sticking to it. So if you are in Virginia or are a Phonatic like myself give this place a shot and decide for yourself if they live up the hype.

Serbian Crown Restaurant

One day I was having a random discussion with my coworker about our past food experiences when the question of the most bizarre meal that we have ever had came up. I answered with what I believe to be the most unique meal I have had to date which was blowfish. The answer he gave immediately shocked when he told me and is the basis of this post. He told me that he had eaten Lion.

My first question was lion? Like Simba from the Lion King? he promptly replied, yes a Lion. I was in an utter state of shock and disbelief. My next question was where and when. He said that he went a couple years ago to a restaurant called Serbian Crown in Great Falls Virginia.

(Photo brought to you by Yelp)

I immediately began to research this establishment to see if they still served this meal. I was delighted to discover that they still serve lion and that it was not too far away. I informed a good friend of mine of this discovery and he greeted me the same enthusiasm I had. We set out on our journey to sample what has to be one of the rarest dishes on the planet.

The drive took us no more than 30 minutes to rural Virginia. The night was dark and soundless, at first we thought that our GPS failed us as it looked like we were in the middle of the forrest. The quaint and quite neighborhood permeated an Erie feeling within me.

(Oysters Moscow Style)

We walked through a mostly empty piano bar littered only with people above the age of 50. Our server then began to explain the origins and background of the restaurant. He indicated that it served traditional Russian cuisine with a hint of French culinary methods. We quickly scanned the menu even though we knew precisely what we wanted.

We fist decided to order Oysters 'Moscow Style' which are raw oysters topped with sour cream and red caviar. We also ordered a couple of martinis the most notable being a spicy martini that had pepper vodka. Our oysters which cost $15 were both interesting and delightful. I was surprised mainly because I did not know how well seafood and dairy would mesh but it was surprisingly good.

(Scaloppini of Lion)

We were then greeted by the arrival of the main attraction. We both waited in heated anticipation of what was sure to be a culinary experience the likes of which most people have never experienced. To this point I have yet to fully describe the taste because it is so unique. The meat had the consistency of of steak but did not have a similar taste. The sauce that accompanied it was very tasty and complimented the savoriness of the meat.

I made sure to slowly enjoy each piece because this may be the only time I was going to have it. The dish turned out to be a great success and the experience will be forever embedded in mind.

Aside from Lion the Serbian Crown also offers a number of odd dining options including Emu, Wild Boar and Antelope. If unique animals don't float your boat they also offer a number of traditional Russian dishes, a small selection of exclusive caviar and some French dishes and desserts.

The food was delightful, the service was nice, the drinks were solid and the price tag was reasonable. Aside from the location, decor and the age group of the patrons all of which gave me the creeps this was one of the best dining experiences of my life.

But looking back I would rather have those impediments, the mystique behind their restaurant goes well with the unique dishes they have to offer. So if you want to eat a Lion with your friends give this place a shot, it is a seasonal dish (winter for the Lion) so you have to ask in advance if they have it.

The Great Steak and Potato Company

Not often do we associate mall food as being a desirable option. I personally abhor it, mainly because I prefer not to eat at chain restaurants. But whenever I visit pentagon city and am in the mood to eat I always go to The Great Steak and Potato Company.

Located on the bottom floor of the Pentagon city mall next to Taco Bell this chain thrives on serving it's patrons with some of the best subs and hoagies you can get your hands on. From a variety of cheesesteaks to gyros or even a baked potato this place is sure to surprise your taste buds and awaken the glutton in you.

Of the various subs that I have sampled here my favorite has to be the bacon cheddar cheesesteak. Every time I order it I shake in anticipation as I watch it being made in front of me. Prepared like a traditional philly cheesesteak with a healthy (get the irony) serving of cheddar cheese and bacon. I also add an order of boardwalk fries that I smother with hot sauce, vinegar, and old bay seasoning making for a tremendous meal.

When I feel the need to eat a bit healthier (sarcasm this time) I go for the buffalo chicken sub which comes with succulent chicken, buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. I obviously add an order of fries and a soda to complete my meal.

(Bacon Cheddar Cheesesteak & Boardwalk Fries)

Of the number of times I have eaten here I have never left disappointed. Meals cost around $8 which is average in this area. For both the quality and quantity of the food you are getting it's a great deal. Lines are average but do tend to get a bit long during the lunch hour.

So if you are ever shopping at pentagon city and feel the sudden urge to eat I would skip all the chains give this place a shot. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Restaurant 3

Our travels take us outside of DC for the first time to try one of the most unique meals that I have ever had. I decided take a group of friends to Restaurant 3 in Clarendon VA to sample a three course meal centered on bacon.

Earlier that week I learned that a number of restaurants around the USA had dedicated a week solely to a cut of pork that millions of Americans enjoy on a daily basis. Bacon has become a staple of American dining with people finding any excuse to incorporate it in their meal. So it would only make sense that an event like this would naturally arise.

(Photo Brought to you by Yelp)

The drive there did not take more than 15 minutes and it was also fairly close to the Clarendon Metro station. We came in on a Thursday night and were told that we had to wait to find seating since there were no reservations left (we called the day before). So we found ourselves a small table near the end of the lounge and ordered drinks until a table opened up.

I decided to go outside the box and try their bacon infused martini while my other friend tried their bacon bloody marry. While I was glad to have ordered my drink (simply for the experience) I soon found it to be overwhelming (most people would), while my friend thoroughly enjoyed her bloody marry prompting me to order one of my own.

(Bacontini)

We all ordered the three course bacon infused diner which cost a reasonable $30 per person. My meal started off with a bacon cheddar soup which was magnificent to say the least. The bacon played well with the cheddar and potatoes to make for a solid opening dish. My only complaint is that the dish was too simple and it was a soup that I have already had at another restaurant. I thought that they could have been a bit more creative with an appetizer.

(Bacon Cheddar Soup)

For my second dish I had to choose between pork chop wrapped in bacon with bacon mashed potatoes or BBQ shrimp with grits and bacon. I am not that much of a glutton so the idea of having meat wrapped in meat prompted me to chose the latter of the dishes even though I find grits to be repulsive. I did enjoy my dish, especially the grits to my astonishment which were fairly tasty. But after sampling my friends main course I regretted the choice I made, the bacon mashed potatoes were solid and bacon wrapped pork chops were juicy and succulent.

(BBQ Shrimp and Grits)

After finishing our main course we all waited for what I believed would be the best dish of the meal. We all ordered the bacon infused waffles with maple syrup and bacon ice cream. Needless to say I was correct in my assessment. The dessert played off a very rudimentary culinary idea yielding a stupendous meal. The sweetness of the vanilla and maple syrup played well with the saltiness of the bacon making for a memorable dish.

(Bacon-Studded Waffle With Maple Bacon Ice Cream)

In the end we all enjoyed our meals and it did not put a dent into our wallets. While I can't really recommend going here because I did not sample their regular menu the quality of our meal will not discourage me from going here again. The crowd was mixed (both young and old), the service was good, and with reasonable prices I do not see why anyone in Clarendon would not want to give this place a chance.