Amma Vegetarian Kitchen

344 Maple Avenue East
Vienna, VA 22180

Preparing for a snowy weekend in October, I stopped by Amma’s at lunch time on a Saturday to stock up on a variety of dishes to warm up over a few days. The two guys behind the counter offered to help with my selection, as this was my first visit and I was not familiar with the menu of “South Indian” fare. The prices on the menu seemed reasonable (read cheap), so I select a mixture of appetizers and entrees to take home. Judging by the simple furniture and décor, not much overhead is needed to run Amma’s, which is reflected in the price. The restaurant had a steady stream of customers and half the tables were full, which gave me hope that I was in for a pleasant experience and a feast of flavors.

I walked out with the following 8 items:

· 1 Starter: Vada (black lentil dumpling served with sambar and coconut chutney on the side)

· 2 Sides: Masala (spiced mashed potatoes and onions) and Aviyal (mixed vegetables with a coconut base)

· 1 Pancake: Onion Uttappam (pancake topped with onions)

· 1 Pullav: Curd rice (rice mixed with yogurt served with pappadam and pickle)

· 3 Entrees: Mysore sada dosa (crepe spread with sambar (stew of mixed vegetables) and spicy chutney); Rava paneer dosa (homemade shredded cheese wrapped in a crepe made from semolina, sprinkled cumin seeds, ginger and green chilis, served with sambar and chutney); and Potato bhaji (dried puffy bread served with a spiced potato side)

There is an extra charge of $1 per each “take out” container, although this is not specified anywhere in writing and the prices on the menu do not necessarily reflect reality because the menu says “prices subject to change without notice.” OK, moving on to the food itself.

What a disappointment. Frankly, all the entrees tasted about the same because of the overwhelming amount of cumin seeds and onion in all of them. The flavors – other than cumin and onions – were really nonexistent, and indeed these two flavors were overwhelming and boring. Between all the things I ordered, I received so many portions of the “sambar” (South Indian mixed vegetable stew), that really I was confused why all the items had different names, when they really all contained seemingly the same spices (cumin and onion) and all came with the sambar, which seems to be Amma’s signature side dish. Actually, the sambar was the only relatively flavorful dish. Other than that, there were no tangy sauces or distinguishing aromas to any of the items - they all seemed dry and unexciting. The potato dishes came with a heavy dose of onions also. In a word – blah.

In addition to the disappointing food, there was no sense of hospitality on behalf of the guys behind the desk, who seemed to just oversuggest more items for me to order. While waiting for my food that totaled about $50.00, the guys offered me an “Indian spicy tea” while I wait. The tea came in a tiny styrofoam cup and I swear was nothing more than a regular soak of a Chai tea with a drop of creamer, for which they charged me $1.72. Needless to say, this restaurant is not my “cup of tea” and I will not be returning.

Our First Open Restaurant Thread

For those regular viewers of the Restaurant Blog, we've got a challenge for you.  Click on the comment block below and for our first survey thread, here's the topic:

What is the name of first restaurant you remember as a child, where was it, what did they serve, and most importantly, what made it special?

Dont be shy.  We look forward to reading your comments!

Rutt's Hut, Clifton, New Jersey

After years of arm twisting—ok, it was over a beer at happy hour last Wednesday—I decided to add an important entry on Hot Dogs.  Being true to New Jersey, and having the pleasure of dogs from all over the world (from Chicago Dogs to Nathans, from foot-longs in Texas to Reindeer Dogs in Reykjavik and Anchorage) nothing I MEAN NOTHING comes close to a “Ripper” at Rutt’s Hut in Clifton, NJ.

First, a disclaimer.   Hot dogs are hot dogs.  Mystery meat rolled in natural or unnatural casings and boiled, grilled, or in the case of Rutt’s Hut deep fried.  Yes, you read that right.  Rutt’s Hut’s “Rippers” are dunked in a vat of hot oil and cooked until the casings rip open.  Hence the name “Ripper”.    Two “Rippers”, a white paper plate of oily onion rings, and a Pepsi is a perfect amount of New Jersey dining.  I do resist the urge to order French fries (although to hear the cashier yell out “Frenchy-one-a” is almost worth ordering fries instead of the rings).

Rutt’s Hut is obviously not fine dining.  There are two parts to this establishment:  the counter service in the back and the full-service restaurant in the front.  Unless you have an aversion to standing while eating, use the back counters.  On a recent visit I found out they upgraded the counters and no longer have the kids counters that were attached to the counters so little munchkins could eat standing as well. This is very disappointing.  I remember bringing my own kids to Rutt’s and they ate their “Rippers” from the same counters that I (forty or some-odd years prior) ate from.  The restaurant area has a full service bar, so if a couple of cocktails are your thing, head to the front.

Don’t expect much from the counter service area.  Some old advertisements and sample Rutt’s Hut T-shirts for sale don the walls.  The place is surprisingly clean.  Not eat-off-the-floor clean, but clean enough to feel comfortable.  The first time I took Elena to Rutt’s Hut we were coming from a wedding in NYC and were decked out in a suit and dress but we still felt comfortable there. 

How to dress your dog.  Rutt’s makes a homemade relish that is top-notch; however, I am a hot dog purist and settle only for some spicy brown mustard.  There is much more on the menu; however, stick with the “Rippers”, frenchy-one-a’s, or onion rings.  Leave the pickle wedges, ketchup, onions, and chili to the other guys.

Meaza Ethiopian Restaurant - Falls Church, VA

5700 Columbia Pike

Falls Church, VA

703-820-2870

Our meal at Meaza began with an appetizer order of Sambusas--deep fried pastry pillow of lentils, green peppers, and onions.  Our main course consisted of two kinds of Tibs, which were the less spicy house specialty Meaza Tibs and the more spicy Awaze Tibs.  The Meaza Tibs were reminiscent of Mexican fajitas;  a sizzling tray with cubes of beef sautéed with jalapeno peppers, onions, and garlic.  The Meaza Tibs were dry and steak like.  The Awaze Tibs were a tasty blend of onions, awaze sauce, and garlic.  The Awaze Tibs were prepared in sauce.  We also got the #7 Vegetarian Combo.  This was a great way to sample lots of flavors and we wound up taking about a third of it home.

The simple décor is limited to portraits of Ethiopian rulers up to Haile Selasse in an otherwise undecorated multiple level hall.  The furniture could use some updating.  The Achilles heel of this otherwise pleasant experience was the server’s limited understanding of English.  Plan on trying to be patient as you convey your orders.  We were left wondering on a few occasions if the server actually got our order correct.  Saturday nights there is a band in the dining room.  We have yet to hear them (they do not start until 10pm) and have yet to partake in their coffee ceremony (they end at 6pm).  Other than the décor and service, and commenting on the food alone, Meaza is one terrific meal.

Raaga, Falls Church, VA

5872 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041

(703) 998-7000

If we had not gotten the Groupon, we would have not found out about this superb Indian restaurant.  It is not a new establishment to the Bailey’s Crossroads area, but it was a new discovery for us.  We went at lunchtime on a Sunday, which was a great opportunity to savor not only the great dishes on the menu, but also the terrific selection of dishes at the lunch buffet.  A bargain at all-you-can-eat $11.95 per person, they are particular about serving lamb dishes at the buffet on Saturdays and chicken and fish on Sundays.  This worked out perfect for us.

As this was our first time there, we went all out.  We ordered from the menu AND partook in the buffet experience.  Needless to say it was more food than we could handle, so we took much of our entrees “leftovers” home.  Our entrees were Chicken Tikka and Chicken Biryani.  Both were superb.  Just the right amount of spices, slightly different from what we were used to, but in a really good way. Not sure what made them different, but why ask why when you can just eat?!?

Unlike most other Indian restaurant buffets, the dishes presented here were flavorful, but not overbearing, and diverse, though manageable.  The salmon was to die for and several kinds of chicken were wonderful.  The several vegetarian dishes complemented everything perfectly and, again, spices were a little different, but in a really good way.  This is definitely a buffet worth the drive to Bailey’s Crossroads.  Service was also terrific.  Efficient and nice.  Though the décor was modest, Raaga presents a light, easy atmosphere with its white columns and big windows that allow plentiful sunlight.  There was a small baby-birthday party in the back of the dining hall, which was cheerful and private.

Raaga is a gem of dining experiences and those who enjoy Indian food will not be disappointed.  We will be returning.

Woo Lae Oak, Vienna, VA

8247 Leesburg Pike (Rt. 7)

Vienna, VA 22182

703-827-7300

Woo Lae Oak is high end dining.  It is a total experience that is prepared, served and appropriately billed at a dining level above the normal neighborhood Korean fare.  Woo Lae Oak is the latest of a handful of Korean restaurants we’ve been to in the northern Virginia area and while it is upscale and refined, we seem to be more fond of the lesser decorated, but similar quality food we sampled at other Korean places.

The service was as expected in a place of this caliber.  The servers were attentive and explained the menu sufficiently.  We started with appetizers that included seafood tempura and seaweed salad.  These dishes, while more Japanese than Korean, were on par with what we’ve sampled at other Japanese restaurants.  Bill ordered the braised beef short ribs.  This dish came fully prepared and was cooked to perfection.  The tender and flavorful meat with hints of Asian spice just fell off the bone.   Elena ordered the beef bulgogi.  This meat was brought to us raw and the wait staff patiently turned the meat on the embedded grill in the table’s center until it was perfectly cooked.  The bulgogi was tender and flavorful.  The entrees were accompanied by sticky rice and the half dozen endless servings of side dishes that while mostly pickled were varied and tasty.  The portions there are a bit deceiving as none of the portions seemed large but we did not walk away hungry. 

A side note about the table grill:  Our experiences in Korean restaurants usually resulted in wearing the smells of the restaurant home in our clothes.  Woo Lae Oak’s exhaust system (built into the side of the grill instead of an overhead fan) pulled the smoke and smell downward from the side of the grill.  This was quite a nice feature.  Bottom line is that this is an expensive restaurant and we’re not quite sure if the price is commensurate with the food.  It was reasonable with a Groupon, but the next time we’re looking for some place to satisfy our Korean cravings we’ll probably head back to Annandale.

Bombay Tandoor

8603 Westwood Center Drive, 

Vienna, VA 22182

phone (703) 734-2202

 

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior of this strip mall corner eatery next to Paisano’s Pizza.  Bombay Tandoor is a treat in so many ways.  The outstanding staff, including the waiters and manager, is definitely an asset.  They were welcoming and upbeat, with friendly, plentiful and attentive service.  The wait staff was clearly trained and knowledgeable, multi tasking and hustling around, looking like they really like working there.   Our dinner was great, but the employees of the restaurant made it even better.  

Décor and furnishings are very Bombay Company style, beautifully accented with large portraits of who are probably Indian Panjabi elders.  High ceilings gave the restaurant the feeling of spaciousness.  The restaurant looked very clean and the atmosphere was warm and gracious. By 8:30pm, most of the tables were full.  

The food is what really deserves the focus.   While we were looking over the rather extensive menu, featuring a variety of dishes likely to please most pallets, the waiter brought us some salty crispy wafers (they are probably called something else) and two kinds of sauces.  Our appetizers – Paneer Shashlyk (a rather spicy fried cheese) and  Chicken Tikka Mint (mildly spiced grilled chicken cubes with grilled onions) – were a perfect mixture of flavor, texture and presentation.  We got a plain Naan to accompany our entrees, which were Chicken Biryani and Chicken Kadhai.  We also ordered a side of Mixed Masala Kachumber salad for $4, which was just as tasty as the entrees and complemented the meal perfectly.  It consisted of lettuce, onions, cucumber, tomato and a wonderful white creamy dressing.  The Chicken Biryani, which came with a side of raita (yogurt sauce), was excellent and probably a bit spicy for a standard Biryani, so if you are going to order it, keep this in mind.  The other entrée, Chicken Kandhai, was presented in a small pot over a tea candle with some green peppers and a delicious gravy, along with plentiful Basmati rice.  This was a lot of food, so we ended up bringing some of it home, no room for dessert.  All for under $60!

But the real unexpected surprise on this Saturday night was the banquet.  The restaurant sectioned off the larger part of the space for what turned out to be a wonderfully cheerful and colorful Sikh engagement party.  Party guests in colorful saris, young and old, began gathering around 7:00 for a party that began around 8:00.  We got to see the beginning of the festivities, together with some dancing and music.  This was an added bonus to the dinner experience.  Amazingly, the manager did not shoo us away when we asked if we could stick around to watch.  

We will definitely be recommending this place to friends and returning here. 

Burger 7, Falls Church, VA

7505 Leesburg Pike #E, 

Falls Church, VA  22043 

703-442-8777 

There is nothing not to like about this place, especially when compared with Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington (see previous entry).  Plenty of parking here and also plenty of tables.  After numerous raving reviews in the local press such as Tom Sietsema's in the Washington Post, the lines are surely to get longer and tables scarcer. Deservingly so. 

Burger 7 has only been operating for several weeks, but it has already become our favorite burger joint.  Burgers are fresh and flavorful.  We have been fans of Five Guys for years, but we think this is heads above Five Guys in quality.  Burgers (either single patty B7-JR or double patty regular B7 or the Veggie burger option, which we did not try) are excellent.  Toppings variety is plentiful with lots of healthy choices.  Watch out for the jalapenos - they are much hotter than those at Five Guys.  They offer a daily milkshake special – all wonderful, not to be missed.  Fries are great, as well as the onion crisps.  Ordering is a cinch.  The menu is up above the counter, easy to see.  You get a vibrating pad, which lights up and vibrates when your order is ready.  By this time, you have had a chance to select your booth table and get yourself the fountain soda of your choice.   

The restaurant is clean and large windows keep it bright in the daytime.  Don’t forget to get the B7 Club Card – for every 7 burgers you buy, you get the 8^th free.  What’s not to like? 

Ristorante Bunorotti, Vienna, VA

428 Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA 22180

703.281.7550

There are Porsches, Camrys, and Civics on the road.  There are Porsches, Camrys, and Civics in the dining world as well.  Ristorante Bunorotti is certainly a Porsche.  Its kitchen is the Porsche’s engine—revving up some amazing dishes.  The wait staff and hosts serves diners with the sleek lines expected of fine motorcars.  The establishment itself is very traditional Italian style reminiscent of the style of the Porsche itself (meaning it is what you expect a high-end Italian restaurant to be).  That said, Ristorante Bunorotti, located in a small strip mall perpendicular to Vienna’s Main St (yes, we drove right by the place before realizing we had passed it), is all one can expect from a high-end dining experience.  Approaching the place is a bit like parking your Porsche at a 7-11 (if you’re keeping up with the analogy).  But once inside, your eyes are drawn to the collection of photos with various sports and local celebrities intertwined with Italian “kitsch.”  While waiting we were able to identify a variety of players and other local celebs including Chris Cooley, Tony Siragusa, Mike Shanahan, and (sad to see) the late NBC-TV Sports Director George Michael (what??? No hockey players?).  Even though we had reservations, there was a bit of a wait for a table.  Picking out the celebrities helped us endure the wait.  The time had come for Sergio Domestici the host and owner to give us the keys to the Porsche (still riding that metaphor) and take us to our seats.

We were seated in the main dining area along the back wall.  A great seat considering we were out of the way from diner congestion.  We had the customary basket of fresh breads, but to our surprise were servings of an olive tapenade and a tomato mixture to accompany the butter for the breads—a delightful accompaniment.   Our waiter Charlie rattled off a novella of house specialties for the evening and we decided to go with what was on the menu.  We started off the meal with the Swordfish Carpacio and a Caprese salad for appetizers.  Both were fresh and excellent.  While the specialties were enough to choose from, we went with a Puttanesca pasta and the Veal Cotoletta Parmigiano.   Even though the Puttanesca pasta was not on the menu, the chef and staff were more than willing to prepare the dish which was a wonderful medley of anchovies and olives over angel hair pasta.  The Cotoletta came with a polenta puree and roasted vegetables.  Very well done.  We shared the raspberries in Chambord cream sauce for dessert.  

This is fine Italian dining and unless you have an endless food budget we recommend Ristorante Bunorotti for when a very nice meal will complement a very special occasion. 

Ray's Hell Burger, Arlington, VA

1725 Wilson Blvd

Arlington, VA, 22209

(703) 841-0001

If it’s good enough for Obama and Medvedev, then it’s good enough for us.  The only catch is finding a parking spot and a free table, which, if luck is not on your side, can be quite time-consuming and frustrating.  It didn’t help that we were there on a Saturday evening.   The parking lot was full and street parking in this Arlington location is impossible to find.  Tables are few and crowded.  On a cold February evening, people were even sitting at the patio tables, which did not appeal to us.  

The line to order at the counter went pretty fast.  The menu is up on the wall in huge letters to the right of the line, making it difficult to read, as you have to get out of the line, stand back (if you can find space to stand back) craning your neck to see it, and most people in line let others pass in front while figuring out what to order.  Not the best configuration, but otherwise the ordering process was relatively efficient.  We were given a number to stick onto a metal circle on a table (if we get lucky to find one), so that a staff person can find us.  If you can actually see an inch past the people surrounding you, the place is relatively grungy, although wait staff does its best to collect trays and wipe down tables.  When we finally got a table and shortly thereafter received our burgers and fries, we were unsure of whether it was all worth the trouble.  

The burgers were OK, but certainly did not live up to expectations (the hype of this place is pretty serious).  Telling sign: Bill really liked the bun!  The burgers fell apart, were messy to eat, but even so, did not make up for this in taste, with or without the toppings (which, incidentally, were different from what we ordered, but by this time, we were just plain hungry and switched the toppings on our own with each other).   The fries, Cajun and regular, had little taste.  I am not even sure that it’s worthwhile to continue describing the experience, as by now it is probably pretty obvious that the whole thing was underwhelming.  No fountain sodas are available, only bottled drinks.  You can ask for a cup with ice when you’re ordering.  Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to try the milk shakes, which would have probably made us like the place more.  

 It is unlikely that we will be returning, and, for our money, Burger 7 in Falls Church (check out the blog entry) is unquestionably a better investment of time, money, and certainly appetite.  

Tara Thai Restaurant - Falls Church VA

7501-E Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22043
tel : 703.506.9788
E-mail : tarathaifallschurch@gmail.com

Tara Thai in Falls Church has been a regular stop for us for quite some time.  Its nautical décor is very appealing, its staff is very attentive (even on busy nights) and its food is generally well prepared with ample portions (although we’ve noticed over time the size of the entrees may have been reduced by about 10 – 20%).  

Thai delicacies and mainstays on the menu include diverse appetizers such as Num Tok and meat-on-a-stick satays.  Seafood soups are tasty and packed with as much flavor as the assorted seafood that accompanies each bite.  We like both the Typhoon Soup, a wonderful mix of shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels, and mushrooms in a spicy broth with a touch of lemon grass and basil leaves, and the Tom Klong Goong  soup filled with black tiger shrimp, fresh shitake mushrooms , and grilled onions in a lemon grass-galanga broth, seasoned with tamarind juice and roasted chili.  For entrees, the traditional Pad Thai and for meat lovers, the Siamese Beef (Slices of beef marinated in sesame oil and exotic spices) are our favorites. Other accouterments including frothy ice-tea and mango with sticky rice for dessert round out the dining experience.  Accompanying sauces varying in degrees of heat should be requested (they are not automatically placed at the table). 

All-in-all, Tara Thai never disappoints.  Having never been to Thailand, we cannot compare with the authentic, but for Thai food south of the Mason-Dixon line, Tara Thai fills the void.

Endo Sushi, McLean,VA

**CHANGED TO TAMA SUSHI**

6828 Old Dominion Dr
McLean, VA 22101

(703) 883-2001

This place came highly-recommended by our friends as a decent combination of high-quality sushi, cleanliness and affordability.  We agree.   

For a neighborhood go-to sushi place this one is a keeper.  The service was cheerful and efficient, considering we came with a relatively large group.  We enjoyed the hot saki, tempura, sushi, sashimi, and a lettuce salad with savory ginger dressing.  One item that seems set Endo Sushi apart from the others - is our friends’ favorite - the Rainbow Roll.  The Rainbow Roll resembles a California Roll and gets its name from the alternating colors of wrapped fish.  The roll is laid out on a long rectangular plate with a mayonnaise-based accent sauce, which seems to be the house specialty.    

As this was our first visit to this restaurant, Elena ordered the plentiful Bento Box to taste the variety that Endo Sushi had to offer.  Definitely worth the $27.95.  It came with a miso soup, salad, a sashimi appetizer, a nice selection of tempura shrimp and vegetable, sushi, chicken teriyaki, and tofu.  An interestingly tasty rice-wrapped ice cream (available in vanilla, green tea, red bean, and strawberry) followed the box for dessert.   Bill ordered sushi a la carte and our friends also selected a variety of tempura and sushi.  Everyone loved the green tea. 

We have been looking for a neighborhood sushi joint that doesn’t disappoint, but doesn’t break the bank, either.  This place certainly fits the bill. 

One drawback is that this place doesn't have a website, so if you want to check out the menu beforehand (especially useful if you're bringing someone who doesn't eat sushi and wants to consider available alternatives, such as teriyaki or tempura), it can't be done unless you call the restaurant.  On the one hand, who doesn't have a website in 2011? On the other hand, a Japanese menu is relatively standard, so a website may not be imperative.