Another Run-in with the Law

Some of my more bulldogged readers may recall when I reported several months ago about Good Stuff Eatery's run-in with the local health inspector. The Top Chef was let off with a warning that time, but sources tell me this weekend Good Stuff Eatery had another somewhat serious incident. Various reports indicate that the restaurant had too many seats and stools when the code inspector came by on the evening of 23 April. A scuffle ensued as employees attempted to lock the door and remove the offending seats. Police quickly arrived on the scene, but not before one bystander left saying, "I just grabbed my burger and got out of there." As employees rushed to block photographs of the code violations, they were cut short by the authorities. Thus preventing what could have been a DC Gov't versus Top Chef battle royale. No word yet on whether the District government will follow up on this infraction, or if Chef Spike has managed to evade the negative repercussions of his popularity. This foodie managed to get a shake tonight, and nothing seemed amiss. So, here's hoping the Good Stuff establishment will start its second year in the neighborhood with a cleaner slate.

Latest Rumor

The latest rumor in the "New" Navy Yard has it that two CVSs will be operating within one block of each other, in order to spite a Walgreen's. One already exists at New Jersey and M streets. The rumored second drugstore would be at K and New Jersey, SE, on the first floor of the new 909 apartment building. This is the height of ridiculosity, if true. And, I'm afraid what it will mean for little convenience stores like the soon-to-be-opened Corner Copia Deli on 3rd and K streets, SE. Its primary business will be fresh sandwiches, but if none of the other (higher margin) merchandise is moving, this small business owner may have some trouble. Then again, maybe it will help the deli focus on its core service, sandwiches and snacks. At this point, everything is just hearsay, but I'll keep my ear to the proverbial ground.

P.S. Also afoot: framing is going on in a section of the first floor at Capitol Hill Tower. Could this be an expansion of the Marriott hotel bar, located adjacent to CHT, at L and New Jersey? Or could, it be expanded storage for the Marriott restaurant? Or something else, entirely unrelated to food? Time will tell.

Taking in the Ballpark

Went out to the ballpark tonight. I sought out Ben's Chili Bowl half-smokes and fries. Grabbed a Yeungling beer. And sat down to enjoy the big screen television showing the White Sox or some such team. What could I possibly add to the Ben's Chili Bowl legend - the much written about and even more often savored U St. "House" of half-smokes. The CinC loves Ben's; Cosby loves Ben's; and D.C. loves Ben's. Everything I write here is redundant. So let me just say I had an outstanding dinner at the Nationals stadium tonight. The margaritas weren't bad either! Did I love the food enough to wait a full two hours for the rain delay to end and the game to commence? No. But I'll be headed back soon enough to get the best eats in Near Southeast and watch my Cubbies.

Rating: 7/10
In Short: The best dogs and beer in the southeast quadrant are found at the Nationals ballpark. Just don't forget the your credit card, because the stadium is definitely not cheap eats.
Website: http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/ballpark/index.jsp
Location: 1500 South Capitol Street SE, 20003

Banana Cafe

If only I'd been able to split on the tab at the end of the night... Now, I was in a particularly good mood heading over to the Banana Cafe, knowing it wouldn't be my typical "table for one." But, the admittedly bustling spot on Barracks Row disappointed in too many ways to encourage a return visit any time soon. For starters, I ordered the ceviche and white sangria; the ceviche was apparently the chef's way of dumping all his extra produce and day-old market fish. Appetizers are supposed to be tiny tastes, promising something more, but the cook gave away the kitchen sink, and I had to push the heaping plate away, barely dented. And endure a "knowing" glare from the waiter removing my barely-touched plate. For a place that has extensive small plates (aka tapas), this was an ill-considered beginning to the meal. Furthermore, the sangria tasted like it had been melting in ice for a better part of the day, and the weather wasn't even particularly warm.

The plate of mixed seafood and stuffed plantains broke even, but the frat-house level of cooking that rubberized the scallops was inexcusable, especially since our table had arrived before the Sunday evening crowd. My abilty to cook far underperforms my ability to eat, but even on a first at-home try pan-searing scallops, I managed to avoid turning my scallops into Firestone tires. Of course the Banana scallops weren't even seared! The shrimp and other bites of seafood were unremarkable. But, the waiter's inability to differentiate a white and red sangria, and his reluctance to visit our table even once after dropping off chips and salsa for all, spoke to a casual indifference to service that is problematic throughout D.C., and particularly troubling around Capitol Hill. While significantly less expensive than nearby locales such as Locanda and Matchbox, given these tough economic times, my recommendation for the casual neighborhood diner is to stay in and splurge on a DVD during dinner. Let the tourists keep Banana Cafe afloat, or let it sink and be replaced by something new.

Rating: 3/10
In Short: Stay away unless you are looking for dueling pianos and the off chance you'll run into someone interesting at the bar; this is a tourist trap, plain and simple.
Website: http://www.bananacafedc.com/
Location: 509 6th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Naming Conventions

I just watched a long presentation on the neighborhood put on by the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) yesterday, and there wasn't much new that hasn't already been put online at JDLand. But, the head of the BID talked a lot about how they are trying to turn around the way people think about the area with, you guessed it, a new "branding" campaign. Now, the campaign is impressive, but the name they've given to the area - Capitol Riverfront - has no attachment to anything. There are already a half dozen names for the hood, but trying to create a new one from scratch seems like a waste of time. Anyways, I prefer Navy Yard, because it has history and a physical connection to the area. But, there are so many to choose from! What do you prefer? I'll leave off with a list since this blog is supposed to be about the food in Navy Yard, aka:

Capitol Riverfront - the official BID designation... um there's already a Waterfront...
Ballpark neighborhood - straightforward. but uninspiring
Near Southeast - geographically accurate, but a little censorious with respect to Anacostia
Nats Town - lame name put forward by the ever-cheap Lerners, owners of the Nationals
Navy Yard - rich in history, but that history includes a lot of crime from the previous decade
almost Capitol Hill - if you're below the Southeast/Southwest Freeway, you ain't on the Hill

P.S. Opps, I almost forgot. This is still about food and drink around the Nationals stadium. So, lucky for us in a few weeks we should be enjoying beer, baseball, and brats' just outside the Navy Yard Metro. And, I'm sure a few popped collars as well, since the forthcoming festival tent will be brought to us by the same folks responsible for Smith Point.

Season Promises Culinary Drought

According to the front page of the Washington Post today, the Nationals neighborhood - I prefer the Navy Yard moniker, but there are plenty others - will be devoid of places to drink and eat this coming year. Indeed, other than Five Guys, Subway, and the soon-to-be-opened Corner Copia Deli at 2nd St. and K Southeast, there isn't anything else closer than Barracks Row or Penn. Ave. Of course, that's only a few minutes walk away, but it's not very convenient for a fan arriving at the Navy Yard Metro.

So, in an effort to rejuvenate the drink offerings, Velocity condos is now reportedly going to have a first floor sports pub. Still, this will likely have to wait til next year. Even if the permits were in the works, I haven't heard of any neighborhood ANC discussions, which are a necessary prerequisite for such an establishment. A beer tent may open on Half St. Southeast as well, but the best food may be in the stadium itself.

All things considered, what with an abysmal team and cheapskate history (witness last year's refusal to pay rent), Lerner ownership seems to be intent on turning around the food and drink available at the ballpark. Levy Restaurants has taken over concessions at the park, and while I won't be making a special trip to "dine out" at the park's Red Porch restaurant, I will be looking forward to the presumably better eats that will be on offer during games. Available beers will be improved upon as well. Of course, "fine" food and drink was promised the first year, yet the few fans that showed up to games were commonly greeted with long lines and high prices for something as simple as a hot dog. For now, the best place - in my mind - to eat and drink before a game remains my house... But with tickets to several upcoming games, I look forward to having my mind changed for me.

A New Day, A New Post

Yes, it has arrived. The first post in a long time. Because, Near Southeast will be getting its first real food destination in just a few weeks. This, from the Business Improvement District newsletter and JDLand:

Corner Copia, specializing in made-to-order deli sandwiches and pre-made sandwiches, will open May 1st at Third and L Streets, SE, the site of a former corner store. Currently under renovation, Corner Copia will also sell a selection of snacks, cold beverages, beer, wine and convenience items.

I know there are plenty of workers in the immediate vicinity that will flock to this spot. Subway and Five Guys are packed with people at lunch time, walking over from the Navy Yard and new Dept. of Transportation Headquarters. But, will the deli stay open late enough to serve the nearby residents? Or, will the convenience of snacks and other items be wasted with a closing time around 5 pm?

So, what's your first order going to be?