This weekend we were blessed to celebrate Anthony’s 29th birthday. He took off work for his actual birthday so we got a chance to spend the day together relaxing and just hanging out. But of course it wouldn’t be a birthday, or really any day with us, without some good food! So, if you’re in the DC-area we’re giving you the scoop on these two must-try restaurants that we experienced for Anthony’s birthday (but any day is a good reason to go, we promise).
PassionFish Bethesda is located in the heart of downtown Bethesda, making it the perfect spot for lunch or an early dinner so you can walk around town afterwards (hello Williams-Sonoma!). It is an absolutely beautiful restaurant to visit. The sleek, modern decor feels is, in my taste, perfectly done to set a stunning yet downplayed atmosphere to keep the focus on the food– which absolutely met our high expectations based on OpenTable reviews and first impressions upon walking in the door. We were greeted with customized menus with a happy birthday note to Anthony and seated in a super-comfy booth near the windows lining Woodmont Ave. Such a beautiful setting!
But back to the food… Seriously, SO GOOD! Now, to put things in context: prior to this, our favorite and the best sushi we’ve had BY FAR is at RA Sushi in the Baltimore Harbor. Til now, we were convinced you’d never enjoy sushi anywhere else. According to Anthony (the only one of us who’s eating sushi these days) the PassionFish sushi menu is absolutely on par with our faves at RA. He ordered the Godzilla and Wicked Tuna rolls (though there was no evidence of this when he was through).
For the non-sushi people, I will absolutely recommend the crab cakes. That’s what I got and they surely did not disappoint! The texture was perfect and the flavors couldn’t have been better balanced. Mine were served with the house lemon beurre blanc and haricot verts with almonds on the side… perfection! My only regret is that we didn’t come here sooner. I’ll have to wait another few months before I can dive into that sushi menu, but judging by the looks of it and Anthony’s rave review, I’m sure to love every bite.
As for dessert, it’s a yes. He got the warm donut holes (they tasted like the perfect Maryland version of beignets) served with an incredibly flavorful coffee bavarian cream. For me it was the caramel creme brûlée with almond biscotti. Would absolutely order both again! Maybe next time we’ll share more…
Here’s a snapshot of the review I left on OpenTable… I don’t always leave reviews (mostly because I forget) but this one I did immediately in the car on the way home. PassionFish Bethesda delivered an exceptional birthday experience and I had to let them know. We’ll definitely be back!
Now if you know us, no birthday ends after one celebration. So this weekend we headed down to the Washington Harbour to brunch at Farmers Fishers Bakers. If you’re a local, you’re probably familiar with Founding Farmers. If it’s on your list and you haven’t been yet, let me save you the trip. GO HERE INSTEAD! Yes, the emphasis is absolutely necessary. We are former Founding Farmers fans but having been to FFB, there really is no comparison. Its the same look and feel, even with some familiar menu items (BISCUITS!), but seriously some next level stuff. We went early Saturday afternoon for brunch. It’s a brunch spread like you’ve never seen! From paella and arepas to that yummy honey fried chicken and french toast and this absolutely decadent crab artichoke dip and the million things in between I can’t even list because this post is already too long… Honestly, you know the food is good when we were too busy stuffing our faces to take pictures. Just go. Really. You’ll thank us. But ummm… do make a reservation. You’ll want to avoid that 2+ hour wait.
We did manage to take a few pictures… after brunch. And after presents were opened. See? We had fun!
Typically we’re not your all-you-can-eat people. Not even at brunch, which is surprising for me at least since I’m such a breakfast person. But even with my one plate piled up, I certainly felt it was worth the price paid. There really is something for everyone. If you’re not convinced on the whole brunch thing, then go for lunch or dinner. This was our second trip to Farmers Fishers Bakers because our first experience was so yummy. We haven’t ordered anything we didn’t like, so this one’s definitely on our must-visit list! Plus you simply can’t beat the scenery of the Washington Harbour! And it makes for the perfect segue to a little (or a lot?) of Georgetown shopping. Hey, gotta walk off those biscuits and cinnamon rolls, right?! Hulk says yes.