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Justin "Perpetually Procrastinated Penmanship" C.'s Profile

Simply The Best

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My favorite places to have a very memorable meal. If there were ever any occasion that required dining on the best food possible, I would gladly have it at one of these restaurants. These restaurants do something special to set them apart from just my favorite places to eat, they provide you with a unique atmosphere or cuisine that is above and beyond just good food.

 1. Acquerello

1722 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 567-5432

Category: Italian

Neighbourhood: Nob Hill

5.0 star rating
  1/13/2010

Of all the meals we had in San Fran, Acquerello was the best. It's not just food, it's a full experience, and they provide the best service in the whole city. They're well trained, experienced, and professional, and one of the few Michelin quality…More »

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 2. 2941 Restaurant

2941 Fairview Park Dr
Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 270-1500
5.0 star rating
  3/28/2011 ROTD 5/12/2011

Here we are at another century mark. Although it may take me longer to get around to places that were significant to me, I do it with no less zeal or enthusiasm than when I first began reviewing. For my 300th entry, the OCD-numbers-freak in me…More »

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 3. Craigie On Main

853 Main St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 497-5511
5.0 star rating
  3/3/2010

Craigie was the best meal I had in my entire stay in Boston, and a perfect way to end my culinary tour of the city. Chef Tony Maws does a fantastic job of using unconventional ingredients and powerful flavors to make really memorable dishes, and if…More »

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 4. Sushi Kappo Tamura

2968 Eastlake Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 547-0937

Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese

Neighbourhood: Eastlake

5.0 star rating
  5/23/2012

My meal at Kappo transcends anything I could ever put to words here or any other format. It was an experience, like watching a masterpiece being painted, and the best omakase selection of my entire life thus far. I should point out though that I…More »

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 5. Castle Hill Inn

590 Ocean Ave
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 849-3800
5.0 star rating
  6/25/2010

This place is amazing, although I almost never found it. It would have been a real shame to miss out too, as this is quite possibly the best meal offered in the state of Rhode Island. GPS doesn't exactly recognize the address, and the Yelp map…More »

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 6. Marcel's

2401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 296-1166

Category: French

5.0 star rating
  7/18/2008

One of the best meals of my life. I was lucky enough to have my wife treat me here on my birthday and it went above all expectations I had.

The food was just amazing, in taste and presentation. We were both pleased with every dish they brought out,…More »

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 7. O Ya

9 East St
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 654-9900

Category: Japanese

Neighbourhoods: Waterfront, Leather District, South Boston

5.0 star rating
  2/23/2010

I was so worried I would miss my reservation here, the place I wanted to go more than any during my stay in Boston. I took the "T" all the way to Savin Hill, to get to the "other East St" in Boston, not realizing it was the wrong place. Even when I…More »

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 8. Gracie's

194 Washington St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 272-7811

Category: American (New)

Neighbourhood: DownCity

5.0 star rating
  5/19/2010

It worked out quite well for me that the last meal I had in Providence turned out to be one of the best, as I left the city with a real appreciation for what they're doing there food-wise, and a new level of respect I certainly would have never had…More »

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 9. Pubbelly

1418 20th St
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 532-7555
5.0 star rating
  3/13/2012

This was, without a doubt, my favorite food of my whole time in Miami. Unfortunately my dining companion felt the exact opposite, but she's vegetarian, so that should tell you how awesome it is for carnivores. It's not that there aren't vegetable…More »

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 10. Fleur De Lys

777 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 673-7779

Category: French

5.0 star rating
  1/12/2010

I think this was perhaps my wife's most anticipated meal of our trip, mainly because of our shared fascination for the amazingly charming Hubert Keller. While dinner surely did not disappoint, we had no idea that Fleur De Lys was essentially "My…More »

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 11. The Atlas Room

1015 H St NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 388-4020

Category: American (Traditional)

Neighbourhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast

5.0 star rating
  4/20/2012

Don't eat here alone. In fact, if you can manage it, bring as many friends as possible. You're going to want as many empty stomachs as you can manage to hopefully order as many different dishes here, because they're really all just spectacular.…More »

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 12. La Laiterie

188 Wayland Ave
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 274-7177

Categories: American (New), French

Neighbourhood: Fox Point

5.0 star rating
  9/10/2009

Despite having many great meals on my trip up to this point, it was my dinner at La Laiterie where I finally accepted Providence's standing as a legitimate "foodie" hotspot. I honestly cannot imagine someone finding a flaw in the food here, as every…More »

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 13. Thai X-ing

515 Florida Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 332-4322

Category: Thai

5.0 star rating
  11/7/2011

So, here we are, another year older, and another century turned in the Yelp reviews, this time marking my 400th, and I couldn't imagine a better place to celebrate it than somewhere which has absolutely perfected my favorite cuisine and the…More »

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 14. Vij's Restaurant

1480 W 11th Ave
Vancouver, BC V6H 1L1
Canada
(604) 736-6664

Category: Indian

Neighbourhoods: Fairview Slopes, South Granville

5.0 star rating
  10/26/2010

Vij's was the perfect finale to my day in Vancouver, and a real revelation on the art of Indian cuisine. I've tried a wealth of flavors since discovering how much I liked Indian food several years ago, even experimenting some at home, but nothing…More »

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 15. Meritage

70 Rowes Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 439-3995

Categories: American (New), Seafood

Neighbourhood: Waterfront

5.0 star rating
  2/19/2010

This was easily one of my favorite meals, and restaurants, of my 2 week stay in Boston in December. The ambiance in here is perfect for a multitude of dining situations, and the view (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) of the harbor is tough to beat. The…More »

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 16. Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St NW
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 419-6755

Categories: Bars, American (Traditional)

Neighbourhood: West End

5.0 star rating
  10/27/2008 ROTD 2/14/2009

I think there appears to be 2 traditional styles of writing your 100th review. The first is to write about something quirky, funny or random, such as an Exxon station or your own ass, and the second is to do something really memorable and satisfying.…More »

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 17. Gary Danko

800 N Point St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 749-2060

Category: American (New)

Neighbourhood: Fisherman's Wharf

5.0 star rating
  1/5/2010

Right away I loved the ambiance of this place. The golden/orange hues everywhere and bright displays of flower arrangements spread throughout the restaurant give a super sexy vibe when set against the dark walls and low light in the restaurant. Gary…More »

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 18. Little Serow

1511 17th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Category: Thai

Neighbourhood: Dupont Circle

5.0 star rating
  11/3/2011 ROTD 3/14/2012 First to Review

To be the first customer anywhere feels nice, but when that place is the new Thai restaurant from the star chefs responsible for Komi, many DC citizens "best restaurant", it's extra special. Julia and I had been hearing rumors of the opening for a…More »

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 19. Equinox Restaurant

818 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 331-8118

Category: American (New)

5.0 star rating
  8/4/2011

As fun as the events put on by Yelp are, it's usually what happens after them that I have the fondest memories of, and this latest event was no exception. Still feeling extremely hungry after a very poor food showing by Current Sushi, I walked with…More »

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 20. Chez Pascal Restaurant

960 Hope St
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 421-4422

Category: French

Neighbourhood: Summit

5.0 star rating
  7/1/2010

Most of the time when we dine out we are simply patrons of a restaurant. We sit down, order our nice food, maybe chat with some friends or loved ones, pay our bill and then we head home, happy for the meal we've just had, but often indifferent about…More »

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 21. Salts Restaurant

798 Main St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 876-8444

Categories: French, American (New)

Neighbourhood: Kendall Square/MIT

5.0 star rating
  3/3/2010

I was constantly torn during my dinner at Salts between a range of highs and mediums, but luckily there were no lows. The restaurant itself looks more interesting from the outside than the inside, where it takes on sort of an old glamorous banquet…More »

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 22. Green Pig Bistro

1025 N Fillmore St
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 888-1920

Category: American (New)

5.0 star rating
  3/31/2012 First to Review

This was the most offal place I've been since moving to the DC area. If ever I have another restaurant owner contact me after reviewing their place on opening weekend, I'm simply going to link them to this review, to show that you can not only…More »

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 23. Doraku Sushi

1104 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 695-8383

Categories: Sushi Bars, Lounges

5.0 star rating
  3/20/2012

Doraku was my second favorite meal during my trip through Miami, and had I not been dining alone (and thus able to sample more items) it likely would have come in first. That's not to say I didn't taste plenty, but sometimes this appetite is…More »

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 24. 360 Restaurant

301 Front St W
Toronto, ON M5V 2T6
Canada
(416) 362-5411

Category: Canadian (New)

Neighbourhood: Entertainment District

5.0 star rating
  11/7/2008

This was my favorite meal of my entire trip through Toronto. Not only are the views amazing here, but the food is top quality, and the price you would pay to take the elevator up to the tower anyway is dropped (however, the meal isn't cheap, so it…More »

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 25. The Dining Room

413 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 397-8444

Category: American (New)

5.0 star rating
  3/8/2012

I had most certainly been eating quite well before, but The Dining Room provided my first real "wow" food experience in Miami. It's always great to visit a restaurant just as they're hitting their stride of success, and you could tell this place was…More »

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 26. Ten Tables

597 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 524-8810

Category: American (New)

Neighbourhood: Jamaica Plain

5.0 star rating
  3/2/2010

This is such a beautiful (http://www.flickr.com/...), intimate, little space (http://www.flickr.com/...) tucked away in Jamaica Plain, just outside of Boston. Some restaurants are tiny, and they feel that way, giving you a constant sense of being…More »

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 27. The Pig

1320 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 290-2821

Category: American (Traditional)

Neighbourhood: Logan Circle

5.0 star rating
  5/16/2012 First to Review

The Pig is such a departure from the other EatWellDC restaurants that it's almost unfair to even mention the association. As you might guess, the menu is heavily (almost entirely) pork-centric, with varying degrees of emphasis. The place however…More »

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 28. Hungry Mother

233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 499-0090

Category: Southern

Neighbourhood: Kendall Square/MIT

5.0 star rating
  3/1/2010

Sometimes the only thing that goes right in a horrible day is your meal, and those meals seem to stick in your memory like super glue. For me one of those meals came after a dreadful day filled with lots of rain, wind and snow, misdirection,…More »

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 29. Toki Underground

1234 H St N E
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 388-3086

Categories: Taiwanese, Japanese

Neighbourhood: H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast

5.0 star rating
  1/26/2012

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that Toki is my favorite restaurant in all of DC, and yet a review has eluded me. Is it the "best" restaurant in DC? Likely not. Hell, when Daikaya opens shortly there's a slim chance it might not even be the…More »

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 30. One Market Restaurant

1 Market Plz
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 777-5577

Categories: American (Traditional), American (New)

Neighbourhood: SOMA

5.0 star rating
  1/6/2010

Lunch here was exactly what I needed after the lackluster meal we had at Coi. Unfortunately for me they somehow managed to lose my OpenTable reservation, an occurrence which seemed common after overhearing several people who came in have the same…More »

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 31. Acadiana

901 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 408-8848

Category: Cajun/Creole

5.0 star rating
  8/2/2008

Absolutely all around amazing!! This week we had one of the top 5 meals of my life at this place. I dined here with 3 other people, and tasted some of everything that each person got, and was not disappointed one bit. Here's a quick rundown of what…More »

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 32. District Kitchen

2606 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 238-9408

Category: American (New)

Neighbourhood: Woodley Park

5.0 star rating
  1/4/2012

The food here is a solid 4, but the creative cocktails, affordable price per quantity, and cozy atmosphere here bump this up to close enough to a 5 for me. If I actually ever had a reason to visit Woodley or Cleveland Park then I would likely find…More »

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 33. El Centro DF

1819 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-3131

Categories: Mexican, Bars

5.0 star rating
  8/1/2011

I try to stay out of the "best Mexican" in DC conversation, or the constant bickering that no good Mexican food exists in this city. The main reason for this is that "good" Mexican, or whatever these people want to think of it as, barely exists…More »

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 34. Lost Society

2001 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 618-8868

Category: Steakhouses

Neighbourhood: U Street Corridor

5.0 star rating
  7/1/2011 First to Review

Sexy, Sophisticated, Stylish, and makes a damn Strong drink. I only wish I were talking about some girl I might be lucky enough to date right now, but instead I'm referring to the newest great addition to the U Street dining scene, Lost Society. This…More »

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 35. Rioja

1431 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 820-2282

Category: Spanish

Neighbourhoods: Northwest, Lodo

5.0 star rating
  6/22/2010

The food at Rioja is absolutely solid, and I think it does a fantastic job of representing Colorado cuisine all around. Everything seemed well placed, and our whole team really enjoyed the experience and the service the folks at Rioja provided. There…More »

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 36. Mannequin Pis

18064 Georgia Ave
Olney, MD 20832
(301) 570-4800

Category: Belgian

5.0 star rating
  3/9/2010 ROTD 4/28/2010

Since my 100th review was dedicated to an amazing meal my wife treated me to on my birthday, I thought it fitting I celebrate my 200th review with a meal that I treated her to on hers. While this may not seem the most likely of places to "treat"…More »

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 37. Al Forno Restaurant

577 S Main St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 273-9760

Category: Italian

Neighbourhood: Fox Point

5.0 star rating
  9/8/2009

I certainly wasn't going to let my previous failure to dine at Al Forno, due to it being closed, deter me from making it a priority stop at some point during my trip. This restaurant essentially defined fine dining in Providence several decades ago,…More »

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 38. Oleana Restaurant

134 Hampshire St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 661-0505

Category: Mediterranean

Neighbourhood: Inman Square

5.0 star rating
  2/19/2010

If you're dining in Boston and want to try something really different, then you've got to check out Oleana. It's rare to see places do pure Turkish cuisine, but to see them do it this well is truly a treat not to be missed. The decor matches the food…More »

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 39. Blue Restaurant & Bar

206 N College St
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 927-2583
5.0 star rating
  9/26/2008

Quite a number of the best meals in my life came courtesy of the fantastic chef and extremely cordial waitstaff at Blue. Whether for birthdays, work meetings, or just a desire for a nice night out Blue never disappointed, and they often outperformed…More »

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 40. Brasserie Beck

1101 K St NW
Washington, DC 20050
(202) 408-1717
5.0 star rating
  9/30/2009

Somehow I have failed to review Beck, despite it being perhaps my most recommended place to people who are asking for somewhere new to dine in DC. I have been to Beck three times now, all under very different circumstances, and enjoyed all three very…More »

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I have to think all day at work, can't someone else do it for me when I go out? Fortunately, if you eat at the right places that answer is a resounding yes. The "tasting menu" goes by many names: chef's table, degustation, omakase, prix fixe, wine/beer pairing dinners, or even a "grazing" menu. They all share one thing in common though, a reliance on the chef to feature their best dishes in order to truly highlight how they want their restaurant represented. [Note: I almost always order the tasting menu if it's available, but in some cases I want things that are only on the a la carte menu; therefore, I have included restaurants in this list that offer a tasting menu to make it easier for you to identify, even if I ordered something else.]

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"Yes, that is just a banana in my pocket, I love food."

Review votes:
4352 Useful, 2490 Funny, and 3711 Cool

Location

Washington, DC

Yelping Since

August 2007

Things I Love

Meat flavored meat.

Find Me In

Working by the White House or drinking somewhere in Logan / Dupont / U St

My Hometown

Charlotte, NC

My Blog Or Website

http://www.wellfedwell...

When I'm Not Yelping...

I'm usually eating somewhere I should be writing about

Why You Should Read My Reviews

I like to offer a photographic journey of my culinary escapades.

My Second Favourite Website

http://www.flickr.com/...

The Last Great Book I Read

Anything by the genius of satire: Terry Pratchett

My First Concert

Pearl Jam, 1994

My Favourite Movie

Shakespeare In Love

My Last Meal On Earth

Filet Mignon w/ crab on top and a Burgundy reduction, no sides necessary

Don't Tell Anyone Else But...

My DR says I have to stop having dinner for 4 unless there are 3 other people.

Current Crush

Minka Kelly. Me and the entire rest of the world.