DC Restaurant Week

This week was my favorite week in DC food. DC Restaurant week. A week where all those uber-expensive restaurants have set course menus. It is only worth it if you go to the most expensive ones (at least 70$ a meal) where now they are half price. Last August I went three times... and this year was no different.

Bezu, Potomac - Fusion
http://www.bezurestaurant.com/
The first place was Bezus, where I went on Monday with Poly, located in the middle of 'Mansionville' in Potomac on River Road. Its in the middle of a strip mall, and really does not fit in, but is quite fancy when you walk in. Very nice nights of bamboo leaves/etc. The menu was limited -- one of two dishes for each of the courses. For appetizer we both got Vietnamese beef salad. That was my favorite dish. The I had a shrimp dish which was wonderful -- moist shrimp and went very well with the rice. For dessert I had a banana um... roll? It was amazing. And poly got bread pudding which was the most amazing bread pudding I ever had.
Overall: Loved the food, but rather out of the way and not too cozy of a restaurant.


Taberna del Alberdero
http://www.alabardero.com/
First I am embarrassed to admit that I thought this was an Italian restaurant for the longest time... but it is indeed Spanish. Then I am excited to say they have a one and only one other branch which is in... Seattle. =)
This was my favorite of the three restaurants. The atmosphere was wonderful--it is a bustling place with amazing pictures and decorations on the walls. We at at 9pm and the place was still packed and we had to wait.
On a sad note, I was rather sick to the stomach that evening, and I could not eat a lot of the food. The waiters were concerned that I was not finishing everything and I felt like they were afraid of me being a critic as I was nibbling on everything and making inquisitive faces. Too bad I didn't have a notebook with me to look even more conspicuous.
Their RW menu was great -- at least 4 choices for each course. I had a quail soup for appetizer -- delicious and warming. Then mahimahi fish for main course which positively melted in my mouth. The only dissapointing thing was the flan I had for dessert -- it was a little too nutty for my taste... but then I have ordered flan in a rediculous amount of places as it is my favorite dessert.
Overall: Amazing. Go there. Its wonderful. =)

Sam and Harry's
http://www.samandharrys.com/
Last restaurant was Sam and Harry's steak house. I had apparently gone there two years ago, but did not realize this until a couple of hours before getting to the restaurant. It is a very classy steak house. Very much enjoyed the atmosphere and the waiters. Also was surprised that they have a separate 45$ set course menu that adds on some sauces on to the main course meat. In some ways this gives more variety, in others I feel like it cheapens the regular set course menu. I had french onion soup for appetizer, which was delicious, and especially great with the constant supply of warm bread. The main course was a small fillet minion. It was good, very tender on the inside, but not perfect. The outside was a little dry. The dessert was a bread pudding, and there was no choice.
Overall, I liked the steakhouse, but it is not a place I would return... again. I think the steak left something to be desired, and their restaurant week menu was a tad snobby.

Now to cook in for a very long time to make up for this week of extravagance. =)