Dishola: Reviews by the Dish

1001 Pennsylvania Ave Nw, Washington, DC
(202) 626-0015

DisholaDuo on 01/12/08

Others will try to convince you to start the cheese puffs (pictured at left), and although they come in pipping hot in a cone, and are fun to pop in your mouth, they're basically just good packaging. The real winner here is the mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes. Yes, it may seem less inventive and a less risky order, but this is some of the best mozzarella we've had outside of Italy. It sits in a puddle on your plate, and melts on contact with your tongue and oozes through the thinly sliced strips of bread, lightly drizzled with olive oil. The slow-cooked, delicate cherry tomotoes were also very tasty. Dish tip: Eat it all (and save room for dessert: see Kit-Kat bar).

1001 Pennsylvania Ave Nw, Washington, DC
(202) 626-0015

DisholaDuo on 01/12/08

Hope we didn't leave some of you hanging (see "Kit-Kat" bar reference in tomato and mozzarella write-up). This dessert—chocolate creme, cocoa powder, crispy wafers (l believe) and, best of all, crushed hazelnuts—is Central's version of a Kit-Kat bar. Needless to say, it is so much better. Tops for chocolate desserts we've had, and we've had a lot. Hazelnuts are always a seller for us, but in this dish in particular they add a splendid crunch. The dessert is big enough to share, but not too filling, so you don't leave feeling like you've overdone it. Table tip: Have a drink at the bar before you sit down for dinner. You can order an appetizer, and the atmosphere is really fun.

259 W 4th St, New York, NY
(212) 691-9359

DisholaDuo on 01/12/08

I never order salmon, I find the flavor of the fish too overwhelming. But Extra Virgin never disappoints, so I figured I'd try it. Truth be told, I've ordered almost everything else on the menu. Again I left more than satisfied. The salmon was fresh and light, not at all oily. It sat on a bed of root vegetables, and was accented with pomegranate seeds. Dish tip: I ordered the salmon medium rare. If that's too your liking, go for it.

150 20th St, Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL
(305) 534-3800

DisholaDuo on 01/12/08

Sister to New York's Bond St. Sushi, Miami's version—in the downstairs of the TownHouse hotel in South Beach—has excellent sushi (it's much better than the Miami's Nobu, which unfortunately lost its culinary vision on it's trip from the flagship in New York. We ordered the rock shrimp poppers ($16, no less) and they seriously tasted like chicken nuggets. Not to mention, you're surrounded by every bachelorette party in the entire country). Back to Bond St: You are safe here with any of the dishes, but certainly try the tuna sushi, buttery hamachi, and yellowtail sushi were standouts. The fish is impossibly fresh, and sometimes accented with nice flavors like chilis, cilantro, or crunchy sesame seeds. The atmosphere of the place is also wonderful—soothing lights, comfy booths—you feel like you're in the middle of the ocean. Dish tip: If you are a regular sushi eater, let the chef prepare what he thinks is best that night. Table tip: The bathroom is upstairs.

314 W 11th St, New York, NY
(212) 620-0393

DisholaDuo on 01/12/08

The Spotted Pig's hamburger comes on a bun, topped with gorgonzola. That's it, and its worth the $17 price tag (and average 2 hour wait time for dinner). The burger is impossibly tender. When you bite through the bread, you expect the meat to offer resistance, but you cannot distinguish between meat and soft bun. The long, skinny fries, are cooked with garlic and rosemary, and are crisp and delicious. I've rarely seen a plate leave a table there with fries left over. Bring a friend so you two can also split the Cuban sandwich, served at lunchtime. It's rich, full of pulled pork, ham, cheese, and the token pickle. It's served with a zesty—almost tart—arrugula salad. The peppery arugula and lemony dressing work well together. Dish tip: Put your skinny fries on your burger. Table tip: To get seated within the hour that you arrive, get there really early. Or come with someone famous.