Return to Boulevard de Atlas

I.E. Flexing those Gastronomical Mussels…..

Haven’t been back to the Rock & Roll Hotel for a while, not since seeing The The’s. Went to see The RedWalls, Johnathan Rice, and The Whigs, of whom might have been nice to recruit into the newly formed WHIG Party, but alas they are not very eloquent. Just a small crowd of us went on the first day of snow of the year with A Rotten Rabi, Stef, and Club D, who has a nice and succinct review of the music of the night and the Sauce Boss (whom I see every year) from the previous Saturday night.

I vaguely remember hearing Jonathan Rice from somewhere before, and Behold – he is on my Walk the Line CD & Plays Roy Orbison in the movie. No wonder his sound was a little Country-ish – I though George Throughgood – but I’m no expert.

Of note for the night were the two new spots on H Street – First is the much touted Dr. Granville Moore’s. This place is attempting to rival Bistro du Coin in Dupont for their Mussels (which I think are the best in the city - price & taste factored in).

Well as the list of places for mussels (French style of course) increases in the city, I woefully fall behind on my list to try them: Montmartre, Brasserie Beck – I have been to them, but still remaining are: Hanks Oyster Bar, Bistro Italiano, Marvins, Les Halles and Belga Café I’ve been for drinks but not food.

SO I took up my quest again recently, when my best friend (& former roomy) from Miami, Mario came into town, and started at the beginning with the Bistro. OUTSTANDING!! as usual. In comparison Granvilles mussels tasted like mussels cooked in sauce, & Bistro’s mussels tasted like they were infused with the sauce YUM!! Plus they are always giving you more bread to sop up that sauce.

As for Montmartre, I cant remember them that well, so that doesn’t bode well (although I do remember their risotto with Calamari in Ink plate – 5 stars for that!), and Beck’s were very tasty indeed, as good as Bistro, but way pricier.

SO rating them:

Bistro du Coin *****
(better if you are in the mood for Wine)

Doc Granville Moores Brickyard ****
(better if you are in the mood for Belgian Beer)

Brasserie Beck ****
(better if you are in the mood for Fancy Restuarant)

Montmartre **
(better if you are in the mood for Other types of seafood)

The Hidden Gem of the evening is SOVA, which for full disclosure is owned by the Husband of a friend of mine (Frank – Kavitha’s hubby). He runs a cool Café/ Wine bar two doors down from the R&R Hotel. Well ok technically the wine bar portion isn’t open yet, but that’s just awaiting the liquor license. He has the same neat dispenser system that the pretentious Sonoma Wine bar has – without the pretentiousness or prices.

His Latte rivals mine (he uses good beans but no match for well roasted Dominican). The décor is R&R Hotel done nice – without the gaudiness – i.e big clunky but comfy couches, warmly painted walls in sage green or warm red colors. The backroom has a big ol' big screen tv and the upstairs has a HUGE Table where you could set up a game of World in Flames with room to spare if you wish.

I can definitely be seeing Granville’s & SOVA as part of my regular routine for visits to the venerable Hotel.