Little Beast Cafe & Bistro Twitter/X Retro Food Review

Tomato Bisque at Little Beast Cafe & Bistro

Now That's a Combo

Retro Review (12/30/25) For such a little (pun intended) menu, the folks at @LittleBeastCafe sure know how to please. This end-of-the-year visit featured a break from their standout pizza, but still produced near-orgasmic reactions. Great service ALWAYS, and a to-die-for Tomato Bisque (sans the Grilled Cheese) with equally lethal (in a great way) Classic Buffalo Wings. Said wings (15 bucks) are huge, crispy and chock-full of fleshy, perfectly-cooked meat inside. The buffalo sauce is just the right amount, so as not to overwhelm. A (possibly the best wings in DC.) As for the soup, it demands to be placed on the menu by its lonesome (so everyone can enjoy.) Perfect texture and flavor. A+

Grade: A+

Outback Steakhouse Twitter/X Food Review

The Bloomin' Burger with Aussie Fries at Outback Steakhouse

Hate to say it, but @Outback appears to be on a straight tumble towards mediocrity. Love affairs like this don’t die overnight, but this isn’t a one-off. (Sadly) it appears to be the new norm. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still good/great news to report, starting with the single best restaurant dish in the U.S.A. the Bloomin’ Onion 🧅 1900 calories of unrivaled goodness that never, NEVER disappoints A+++ Three cheers for unprecedented value as well, courtesy of Outback’s $14.99 Aussie 3-course with enough food to feed an army (or yours truly.) It starts with a Baked Potato 🥔 Soup 🍲 followed by The Bloomin’ Burger & Aussie Fries and a slice of New York-style Cheesecake that’s normally $10 on its own! The soup was… kinda yucky. Cheese, bacon bits & an oily aftertaste, when all I hoped for was clean, simple potato. To its credit, it was hot but otherwise D- The burger was a monster 1/2 pounder, but the kitchen put cheese on it despite my repeated pleas to the contrary. They cooked it to death as well (asked for medium.) FYI they undercooked my brother’s steak 🥩 AND his wife’s too. Unforgivable. Aussie Fries were ok, but I left almost all of the burger on my plate (server - no questions asked) F Luckily, the meal ended on a positive note: That cheesecake was GOOD. B+ Love the price $, dessert & the 🧅 but the burger and soup were disasters. Sorry Outback, you get graded on a (high expectations) curve.

Grade: C- (My brother & his wife hated theirs.)

Jetties Sandwich Shop Twitter/X Food Review

Jetties' Creamy Tomato Soup

Finally, a challenger to @laMadeleine for best Tomato 🍅 Soup in the DMV! @Jetties_DC’s Creamy Tomato Soup ($5.99) is sublime and at least equal to LaMad. It comes with Westminster Bakers Co. Oyster Crackers, but the soup’s so good, I never opened the pack. A++ Almost as good, Jetties’ magnificent (& gooey) Sankaty breakfast sandwich (only $9.95) with not 1 but 2! fried eggs & crunchy bacon 🥓 tucked inside a toasted Portuguese muffin (with butter.) Soft, pillowy bread, perfectly prepared eggs & the aforementioned crunchy bacon = Heaven, wrapped in foil. A (Our new favorite breakfast sammie!) Final verdict? Jetties rules!

Grade: A+

Bastille Reopens January 9th with New Design and French Classics

From our friends at Bastille Restaurant & Wine Bar...

New Year, New Look

Bastille rings in 2020 with a new look and casual, classic French menu

It’s a new year, and for many, it’s out with the old, and in with the new. At Bastille, located in Old Town Alexandria, a new year means a fresh new look and taste. In celebration of five years at the Asher and going into its 14th year of serving Alexandria and the DMV region, it’s the perfect time for a little revamp. The restaurant will open with its new look on January 9th.

New Hot Cocktails to Try Out at Dirty Habit

Patio Fire Pits at Dirty Habit (Photo: Dirty Habit)

From our friends at Dirty Habit...

Guests looking to embrace the cold-weather in style can head to Penn Quarter luxe restaurant Dirty Habit, where Beverage Manager Drew Hairston crafted two warm-cocktails to enjoy outside the patio next to one of Dirty Habit’s striking fire pits. Blanket throws are also available at the outdoor patio.

Soupergirl Soups Now Sold at Lidl Markets

The three Soupergirl flavors available exclusively at Lidl

From our friends at Soupergirl...

Lidl Grocery Stores Ladle Out Soupergirl Soups

Soupergirl selected as Lidl’s fresh soup provider at all U.S. locations

Soupergirl, the small-batch, all-natural, plant-based soup company, is now available at all 70 Lidl grocery stores in the Mid-Atlantic. Soupergirl developed three new flavors that are available exclusively at Lidl: Black Bean Chili, Lentil Sweet Potato, and Sweet Potato Leek.

Mexican Oasis Buena Vida Clarendon Debuts a New Unlimited Fiesta Experience, October 21

Mr. Fancy at Buena Vida Clarendon

From our friends at Buena Vida Clarendon...

Ivan Iricanin, founder and CEO of Street Guys Hospitality, is pleased to announce the introduction of an unlimited dining experience at his newest venture, Buena Vida Clarendon, located at 2900 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22201. The Buena Vida Fiesta Experience will debut Monday, October 21 and will be available in addition to the restaurant's popular a la carte dinner menu. Priced at $35 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, guests can enjoy an all-you-can-eat selection of Cold Starters, Hot Starters, Soups, Salads, Traditional Plates, Vegetables, Items from the Grill and a Taste of Mexico City created by Concept Chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo. The Buena Vida Fiesta Experience must be enjoyed by the entire table.

Mintwood Place Announces Newly Expanded Bar Menu

Anjou Can Tell Everybody at Mintwood Place

From our friends at Mintwood Place...

Eat Early, Eat Well, Eat for $10 with Mintwood Place’s Newly Expanded Bar Menu

The expanded bar menu includes new additions such as Campfire Mountain Pies

Mintwood Place, a charming neighborhood brasserie, located at 1813 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009, invites guests to relax after work with its newly expanded bar menu. This intimate Adams Morgan bistro is a cozy setting to enjoy a glass of wine along with new French-inspired bar fare created by Chef de Cuisine Matthew Cockrell and Pastry Chef Stephanie Milne. Happy hour specials are available Tuesday through Friday, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, Saturday, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, and Sunday, from 5:30 PM to 9 PM. Guests can enjoy draft beer for $5, as well as select red, rosé, white and sparkling wines for $6, a featured cocktail of the day for $8 along with a new selection of bar snacks, priced from $5 to $10 each. Dishes rotate monthly and are available exclusively in the 31-seat bar and lounge.

Executive Chef Kyoo Eom Unveils Fall Menu at Dirty Habit

Washingtonians can taste the season's finest ingredients in a warm bowl of roasted pumpkin soup pureed with ginger, lemongrass, coconut milk, madras curry and cranberry jam (Photo: Emani Sims)

From our friends at Dirty Habit...

Executive Chef Kyoo Eom Unveils Fall Menu at Dirty Habit

16 new dishes showcase fresh, vibrant flavors of the season

Dirty Habit, nestled in the heart of Penn Quarter, officially launches a fresh fall dinner menu today. Celebrating autumn’s harvest and the colorful bounty of fall, the new dishes from Executive Chef Kyoo Eom offer stunning presentations and unique applications of seasonal ingredients from around the world.

The Pembroke Opens for Dinner at the Dupont Circle Hotel Tonight

Inside The Pembroke (Photo: Rey Lopez)

From our friends at The Pembroke...

The Pembroke Opens for Dinner at the Dupont Circle Hotel Tonight

The chic new restaurant replaces Cafe Dupont and boasts a stunning makeover and all-new food & drink menus

After a dramatic transformation, the space formerly known as Cafe Dupont reopens as The Pembroke, beginning its inaugural dinner service tonight, February 8, with a complete makeover and all-new food & drink menus.

Dyllan’s Raw Bar Grill Announces New Cooking & Cocktail Classes This Spring

Dyllan's Raw Bar Grill (Photo: Timothy M. Yantz)

From our friends at Dyllan's Raw Bar Grill...

Dyllan’s Raw Bar Grill, located along the historic C&O Canal in Georgetown at 1054 31st Street, NW, is pleased to unveil cooking & mixology classes with their new Cooking with Chef Darren series. Led by Chef de Cuisine Darren Hendry, cooking enthusiasts of all skill levels will learn how to prepare some of Dyllan’s most popular dishes in the restaurant’s expansive prep kitchen. Classes are priced from $55 to $65 per person (all inclusive), which includes a complimentary glass of red, white or sparkling wine upon arrival, a welcome packet including a $10 gift certificate for a future visit, a Dyllan’s hat, as well as take-home recipe cards. Classes are limited to 10 attendees, keeping the experience friendly and relaxed. Additionally, Mixologist Allison Boyd will also lead a series of cocktail & wine classes this spring in the restaurants full-service bar. Beverage classes are priced from $35 to $45 per person (all inclusive), which includes a flight or wine or two complimentary cocktails along a collection of snacks and keepsake recipe cards/tasting notes. The complete list of cooking, wine & mixology classes are listed below:

Legal Sea Foods Scoops $1 Cups of Chowder on Chowda Day in Honor of National Soup Month

Legal Sea Foods' New England Clam Chowder

From our friends at Legal Sea Foods...

In honor of National Soup Month, Legal Sea Foods has declared a ‘Legal’ holiday Chowda Day on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. For one-day only, customers can enjoy Legal Sea Foods’ hearty New England Clam Chowder for an unbeatable $1 a cup with the purchase of any entrée. There is a limit of one cup of chowder per entrée and no substitutions are accepted.

Soupergirl on ABC’s Shark Tank Next Week!

Sara Polon and Marilyn Polon (r) of Soupergirl

From our friends at Soupergirl...

A Souperstar Is Born

Soupergirl to appear on hit ABC show Shark Tank on October 21

Soupergirl, the small-batch, healthy soup company, will battle this month for a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank, the hit reality TV show. The Soupergirl herself, CEO Sara Polon, will appear on Shark Tank on Sunday, October 21st, to try to cook up a deal with the celebrity Sharks.

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar to Host a Cookbook Release Party Tuesday, November 13

Photo courtesy of Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar

From our friends at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar...

Fans of the Restaurant are Invited to Celebrate the Release of Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s Second Cookbook with a Party Featuring Delicious Food and Cocktails Profiled in Cuba Cooks

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located steps from CityCenterDC at 801 9th Street, NW, will celebrate the release of Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s second cookbook, Cuba Cooks: Recipes and Desserts from Cuban Paladares and Their Chefs (October 2018) with a book signing party on Tuesday, November 13. Guests pay $50 per person to enjoy select open bar that includes beer, red and white wine by the glass, house red and white sangria, Pyrat Mojitos, Mango Mojitos and Spiced Cuba Libre's, along with an array of passed and stationary tapas, ceviches, and desserts profiled in Cuba Cooks. Dishes are subject to change, but may include Ceviche de Pez Perro - hog fish ceviche with black-eyed peas, coconut milk, cilantro and cachucha Chile sauce; Sopa de Cilantro - chilled cilantro soup with tempura of clams; Tacos de Berenjenas - malanga tacos with eggplant salad; Buñuelos de Espinaca, spinach and manchego cheese fritters, served with goat cheese sauce; Croquetas de Pollo - chicken croquettes with cachucha aioli; Alitas de Pollo a lo Chino - Chinese barbeque chicken winglets; Tostones con Ropa Vieja de Pato - braised pulled duck legs with Hawaiian toston, as well as Cuban Porchetta - pork belly and pork loin roast with Moros y Cristianos pilaf. Desserts are just as enticing and include Churros con Chocolate, Macarrones de Coco, Guayaba con Mousse de Queso Crema as well as El Arroz con Leche de Mami Totty. Cookbooks will also be available for purchase throughout the evening and priced at $40 each.

Zoup! Brings Back Brewhouse Cheddar Soup and Seasoned Bread Boules

From our friends at Zoup!...

Fall Favorites Return to Fast Casual Chain Through October 21st

Fall is just around the corner, bringing with it cooler temperatures and a yearning for comfort food. At Zoup!, the fast casual restaurant renowned for its fresh, delicious soups, salads and sandwiches, the season brings the much-anticipated return of its beloved Brewhouse Cheddar soup and Seasoned Bread Boules - bowls that are just as delicious as the soups inside them!

Slate Wine Bar + Bistro Celebrates Sommelier Night with Magnums: #MagnumsAtSlate

Watermelon Gazpacho (Photo: Slate Wine Bar + Bistro)

From our friends at Slate Wine Bar + Bistro...

Guests Can Channel Their Inner Tom Selleck on Thursday, August 23

On Thursday, August 23, 2018, Slate Wine Bar + Bistro will host Sommelier Night: #MagnumsatSlate, from 5 PM to 8 PM. Guests of this unique experience will explore wines thoughtfully selected by Chef/Sommelier Daniel Lledó. Magnums, 50.8 ounces of wine in a bottle, which pour approximately 10 glasses, will be offered. There will be four tastes for $24, with a bonus pour for $10. The complete list of wines being featured are listed below:

New Menu Item - ‘Faux Joe’ Burger: Meatless Monday Is Every Day at José Andrés’ Beefsteak

Beefsteak's Faux Joe burger

From our friends at Beefsteak...

Pegged to summertime burgers and the growing number of Americans avoiding red meat, José Andrés’ Beefsteak is launching a more sustainable and healthier protein solution... the new Faux Joe burger, on the menu now at Beefsteak. Jose’s Faux Joe burger uses Beyond Meat crumbles in a chilorio-style sauce, sandwiched between a brioche bun, and topped with avocado, tomato and chipotle ‘mayo’ made with Sir Kensington’s fabanaise.

Bastille Celebrates French Restaurant Week

From our friends at Bastille Restaurant & Wine Bar...

French Restaurant Week

$35 prix fixe dinner all Bastille Day week

While Bastille Day is July 14th. Parisian native Chef Christophe Poteaux, who, along with his wife Chef Michelle Poteaux has been serving French-inspired cuisine at Bastille Restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, feel that celebration should not just last one day. Sure, there’s the annual Summer and Winter Restaurant Week. For the week of July 10- 15, the Chefs Poteaux have declared it French Restaurant Week at Bastille. All week long, the restaurant will offer a three-course prix fixe lunch at $25 and $35 prix fixe dinner of French classics to celebrate French Independence Day - Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

Cool It: Bibiana to Debut a Chilled Summer Menu

Bibiana's Watermelon Gazpacho

From our friends at Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca...

Cool It: Bibiana to Debut a Chilled Summer Menu

Washingtonians can beat the heat with an assortment of appetizers, entrées, and desserts that are meant to be enjoyed chilled

The newly revamped Bibiana, located at 1100 New York Avenue, NW, is pleased to announce the addition of cool and satisfying summer dishes to beat the heat. Created by Executive Chef Loris Navone, the new Chilled Summer Menu will be available during lunch and dinner service from July 2-31, 2018. Items will be available a la carte, priced from $11 to $36 each, and can also be combined as a $65 five-course prix fixe option. Menu highlights include the Watermelon Gazpacho with tuna crudo, burrata and caper dust; Shrimp Carpaccio with orange-tomato dressing, mango chutney, garlic chips and black summer truffles; House-made Tagliolini with compressed caviar, vodka and crème fraîche sauce, as well as Butter Poached Turbot with white asparagus, grapefruit gelée and crispy zucchini blossoms. Guests will complete their meal with a chilled Buttermilk & Crème Fraîche Panna Cotta with strawberry consommé.

Zoup! Hosts Summer of Fun with New Chilled Soups

From our friends at Zoup!...

Family Meals and MTB Sandwich Round out New Features Now on the Menu

Summer is finally here, and Zoup! is celebrating the season with some fun new and returning menu items. Now through August 19, the fast casual restaurant known for its award-winning soups and made-to-order salads and sandwiches is bringing back the ever-popular MTB (mozzarella, tomato, basil) sandwich and the Simply Gazpacho chilled soup while also introducing customers to a new chilled favorite, the Avozpacho! And if that weren’t enough, Zoup! is also debuting Family Meals, the perfect way to feed a group after a busy or relaxing summertime day.