Weekend in DC

Since I had spent my vacation and the last couple of weekends dealing with a family medical issue I was ready to get out of town last weekend. When I got a great price line deal on the Arlington, VA Hyatt I was off for the weekend.
 
Whenever I get a hotel room the first thing I do is check to see what’s nearby. I was pleased to see a metro stop right across the street and several restaurants nearby. One that really caught my eye. After checking into the Hyatt (which was very nice) I was off to Ray’s Hell Burger.
It was about a 10 minute walk. When I got there about 9:00 Friday night the place was crowded but not packed. Nothing fancy but it had a good vibe and a good crowd for people watching.
I ordered the Soul Burger #1 cooked medium with corn.


This was a very good, perfectly cooked burger. My only issue was the cognac and sherry sautéed mushrooms almost over powered the delicious burger. I would definitely go back but next time I will order a different burger.
 
Saturday morning I set out and just walked around DC. My first visit ever to DC that I did not go to a museum. I went to Roosevelt Island, the Lincoln Memorial and wandered around downtown.




 

 
 
About lunch time I set off for the DC fish market. I saw Anthony Bourdain visit and it looked like it would be worth the trip. It was.
After a hot walk I finally found it.


What a place. Everything was on a barge and it was low tide. All the vendors were a couple of feet lower than the customers.



I didn’t come for raw fish though and it was lunchtime. Jimmy’s Grill has the longest line. I hoped that was a good sign.

I got Jimmy’s combo with crab cake, shrimp, fries and 2 sides. For sides I got a cucumber and onion “salad” (in vinegar) and fried tomato.


I have had fried green tomatoes but never red. These were pretty good. The shrimp were good also. Good size and well cooked. The crab cake was the star of this plate though. Very good. Maybe not Faidley’s good but then this whole plate cost the same as one of Faidley’s best, $12.95.
After lunch is was back to the hotel for a shower, some clean dry clothes and some relaxation.
After cleaning up and relaxing I walked across the Key Bridge into Georgetown,



After hitting a couple of pubs I started thinking about dinner. Georgetown has a lot of options but I ended up at an old favorite, Old Glory BBQ. It was as good as always. The ribs were excellent.



Sundays forecast looked pretty dreary so after a quick trip by the White House I headed back home.



 
 
 

Wow, thanks for sharing! Some beautiful pics too--both food and places in DC. Can't believe you did all that walking in the heat, though! The seafood looked really good, I need to get down there sometime, I guess.

tarragon


Wow, thanks for sharing! Some beautiful pics too--both food and places in DC. Can't believe you did all that walking in the heat, though! The seafood looked really good, I need to get down there sometime, I guess.

I did a LOT of walking but there was a couple of Metro rides mixed in.

Excellent report, and pics!

Mikeam-
Thanks for the really nice report and great photos!  You are definitely showing some parts of DC I have never visited, so that really caught my interest. 

Fresh corn??  Sure looks like it.  That seafood both fresh and cooked looked incredible.  I haven't been to D.C. since I was a patrol in elementary school.  :)

nice report!

Jimmy's is our stand-by fish fry. I scooter over there and pick up some combo's to go about once per month.

off the righ flank of Captain White's is a raw bar that I often go to as well. It's also pretty good, although I will also get steamed shrimp and fried calamari there, and they have good soups too.

Now, if you had walked along the water, passed the seafood restaurants and Glady's Marina, you would've some to my favorite staycation place, the Cantina Marina http://www.cantinamarina.com/ . The food is good, the location is fantastic, the atmosphere screams Key West. It's my favorite get out of town without leaving the city spot. So, if you ever have the urge to head that way again, it's a great place for a relaxing happy hour or casual summer evening on the Potomac.

When I go to Old Glory, I almost always get the Lexington Style pulled pork. I lived in Greensboro, and taught in Thomasville several years back, and loved the BBQ down Business-85 in Lexington. Old Glory replicates it beautifully. However, your pic may have me eating ribs next time I'm there! 

again, nice report and pics!

 

Excellent report and excellent pictures.  Roosevelt Island is little known and often you are the only one on the island.
 
Jimmy's is also my favorite at the waterfront.  For trivia folks, the steps in the Georgetown picture are 'The Exorcist' steps, though the house in the movie is not actually at the top of the stairs.

Scorereader


nice report!

Jimmy's is our stand-by fish fry. I scooter over there and pick up some combo's to go about once per month.

off the righ flank of Captain White's is a raw bar that I often go to as well. It's also pretty good, although I will also get steamed shrimp and fried calamari there, and they have good soups too.

Now, if you had walked along the water, passed the seafood restaurants and Glady's Marina, you would've some to my favorite staycation place, the Cantina Marina http://www.cantinamarina.com/ . The food is good, the location is fantastic, the atmosphere screams Key West. It's my favorite get out of town without leaving the city spot. So, if you ever have the urge to head that way again, it's a great place for a relaxing happy hour or casual summer evening on the Potomac.

When I go to Old Glory, I almost always get the Lexington Style pulled pork. I lived in Greensboro, and taught in Thomasville several years back, and loved the BBQ down Business-85 in Lexington. Old Glory replicates it beautifully. However, your pic may have me eating ribs next time I'm there! 

again, nice report and pics!

 

The plate from Jimmy's was excellent. I really enjoyed the fish market. It was an area of DC I had never been to but now I look forward to going back.
 
I have heard of the Cantina Marina and will try it on my next visit.

Great report...loved the pics.

A nice burger, some fried seafood, and barbecue--I'm going with you next time.  :)

Great pictures! I just returned from my first trip to DC two days ago. Mercy!! it was hot out there! 102 one day! Darn, Wish i could have gone to that seafood market!

Glad you went to The Wall

wag75605


Glad you went to The Wall

I always try to go by all the memorials.

Nancypalooza


A nice burger, some fried seafood, and barbecue--I'm going with you next time.  :)

Nancy,
 
When you hitch that ride, please let us know so that we can jump on the bandwagon (or car, or truck, or whatever - that doesn't rhyme the way it used to).  You are right - food doesn't get much better (well, maybe some New Haven apizza...)
 
Mikeam,
 
Great pictures and nice report - some good ideas for my next trip to DC.
 
 

I love DC. It just has a cool vibe to me.

nice report & pictures mikeam, thanks.
haven't been to D.C. in years.
whats the name of thst big restaraunt just east of the fish market? if its still there

I think you may be referring to Phillips Flagship Seafood Restaurant.
It's still there.
 
 

Or the late:

 

 

 

That was fun! What was your take on the sauces at Old Glory BBQ?

TJK

Here is a bit of trivia. The picture immediately under the pictures of Jimmy's combo and above the picture of the Rhino Bar features the steps made famous in the movie, The Exorcist!
 
These steps lead down from Georgetown University to M Street in Georgetown.