Rays the Steaks

I admit it, I've been seriously lacking in the life concierge department as it relates to Michael Landrum. Landrum owns three unique DC area restaurants - Rays the Steaks, Rays the Classics, and Rays Hellburger, and until last night I hadn't been to any of them. Typically, I'm not a big steak person (and don't care much for Hamburgers) but last night was the LC's birthday so I decided to give Rays the Steaks in Arlington a whirl with a few willing participants.

We did call for a reservation several weeks ago, so we avoided the call ahead list and walk in wait - despite it being a Wednesday in August, the restaurant was packed. A lot has been said about the lack of decor and ambiance... I actually thought it was a pleasant room. Yes, minimalist, but it didn't feel like we were sitting in a boardroom.

When you sit down, there is a bowl of spiced (I loved that they were actually spicey, not just salty) on the table, with a small plate of bread brought soon thereafter. A very accessible wine list (Mark Slater, formerly of Citronelle, now runs the wine program here) accompanied a decent but small list of beers by the bottle, there is no hard liquor.

For starters several of us got the "Devilishly Good Eggs" - hard boiled egg white shells filled with hand-chopped steak tartare. I'm not going to lie, this wasn't my favorite. I LOVE steak tartare when done well, but it was as if the egg whites muted the already mild flavor of the tartare. Maybe I'm just spoiled by Central's version. Most of us at the table also got the crab bisque, which was tasty (tastier with a bit of S&P) and packed with crab meat. My +1 ordered a ceasar salad, which was a 'classic' version - just ribs of romaine lightly dressed, no croutons, etc.

At this point I probably could have left and been perfectly content. Having said that, I ordered the Filet Rossini. At the waiters urging, I paid an extra three bucks and upgraded to a larger filet, which was topped with foie gras and served over truffled porcini mushrooms in a bordelaise sauce. The steak was flavorful and cooked exactly as ordered, and the foie on top - albeit a small portion - was excellent as well. I didn't get the mushrooms though. At all. In fact I found myself swiping my steak in Rosa's Au Poivre sauce rather than my own.

Dessert was unexpectedly gratis (for my birthday) and brought strawberries with cream, key lime pie, and the most amazing coconut cream pie I've ever tasted. I'm not a huge CCP person, but this was definately worth ordering.

I'd heard service at Rays could be a bit brusque - rushing you through your meal. Actually last night I'd wished on a few occasions that they would move it along a bit faster, but it was very pleasant service overall. And for 5 people with appetizers, steaks all around, and quite a bit of wine and beer, $315 wasn't too shabby. I would definately go back.

The newest food fad

DC is a lot like New York in that we tend to really dig food fads.

For the last several years, there has been a simmering battle based on who in the district makes the best hamburger (I still love Central's). Then came along the cupcakes.

It seems the next up and coming fad is going to be... Pies. A Baltimore transplant pie shop looks to be opening soon on H St NE right next to the Rock n Roll Hotel.

Let's see... a classic dish "re-done"? Check. Location in a trendy neighborhood? Check. Centered around a food that is pretty dang unhealthy? Check.

Yep, looks like we have all the makings of our next food fad.