Some changes noticed around campus - Nara Sushi is no more. Replaced by City Dogs (which also has a place in Shockoe). Not a big loss but there is now no sushi place within walking distance of campus.

The Common Cup on Main Street is now under new management and called Rev it Up. Visited there a couple of weeks ago for lunch. They have really spruced up the place but it is still quite inviting. Need some more data points.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin opīniō, opīniōn-, from opīnārī, to think.]

This was a somewhat interesting column I read a little while ago:
http://www.richmondmagazine.com/?articleID=69cce3f2b5b17c701d9e346b585107d3

While I appreciate the general sentiment of the article and the associated caution(s), I'm not so sure I quite agree about the (implied) power of reading either an "effusive" review or a negative review, especially on a blog.

Online anonymity does give a forum for people to express opinions rather "freely". I would rather read them just to get an idea of what the place is about and/or what someone somewhere felt when they ate there. I sort of draw a parallel (rather humbly) to teaching evaluations, which are also anonymous. I have had vile comments on some and some truly wonderful comments on others. Many of the former have been largely unsubstantiated so I take them with a healthy dose of salt (I like the word ad hominem that I've especially seen in several grant proposal reviews as well). Some of the other critical comments have helped me tweak my general approach. Similarly the positive comments help one know what they are doing right.

Chefs and restaurants obviously have much more at stake and a larger and diverse audience with wildly different palates to satisfy, but the principle is the same. A perusal of just about anything online shows a diversity of opinions. People love things, hate things or otherwise straddle the middle. I freely spew my opinions on different fora, this blog included. Similarly I read other opinions on other places. It is almost up to the reader to take what they will from a general review. To be a bit nerdy, it is about the ability to gauge the statistical significance of a review and note if it is an outlier (in either direction).

What I do agree with is the philosophy that this article also mentions that many of my favorite food critics follow (which is one of the things that separates a opinion from an informed opinion). Multiple visits on different occasions and trying different things and writing a comprehensive review that encompasses this overall view (in mathematical terms, higher n and corresponding standard deviation).

Now I guess I must visit Balliceaux and see what the fuss is all about :)

Checking off a couple more places from my backlog - A couple of very decent sushi experiences - Osaka Sushi near River Road - I thought the interior was very cool (a nice date spot if so inclined), good sushi, aside from the usual sushi staples, the power roll was interesting.

Momotaro sushi in Carytown - The benefit of talking to the sushi chef and having him make some special rolls, made the dinner more interesting than it probably would have been. A sparse and casual interior and a bit less of a college crowd than Sticky Rice.

A recent re-visit to Ginger Thai in Carytown also made me reconsider my previous low grade I had assigned. The Tom Yum soup this time was much more "potent" and the dishes more aligned to a Thai taste than a generic east Asian one. I still prefer Elephant Thai !

Korean food

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the Midlothian arm of the city lies a small unregarded Korean restaurant that I had the pleasure of visiting at the recent recommendation of a Korean student.
Young bin Kwan - hidden in a strip mall out in parts of the city I rarely visit, is an excellent alternative to driving all the way out to the Annandale area in NoVa. It had been sometime since I had my fix of dolsot (stone pot) bibimbap... and this one did not disappoint.
The service was very friendly and they took time to explain the dishes and the different banchan. I think that is one of my favorite aspects of Korean (and Japanese) food. They are such visual treats. I loved the kimchi and the other banchan.
Korean food does tend to be quite spicy and the taste is that of the "raw" chili peppers, unfettered by other spices (as in Indian food for instance). My companion, who was entirely new to Korean food had the bean curd stew and couldnt finish it because it was too hot. We ended up feeling a bit bad after because they were so apologetic about it. But them being so nice added to our overall pleasant experience. It is probably a better idea to get it mild and add the chili paste to taste. Our dinner for two (perfect for the snowy and miserable day) came to less than $30 (w/ t&t).

While not adventurous enough to try the table-top barbecueing, next up is the Yook gae Jong....

Young Bin Restaurant - map

Cafe rustica

It has been a few weeks since I visited Cafe Rustica and while I havent been there on separate occasions, my sample size on my one visit was large enough to wonder why this place isnt talked about much. The food was great, the interior (while small) was quite cozy and the prices reasonable.
Billing itself as a bit of an old Europe sytle restaurant, the dishes werent flashy or winning any points for presentation, but well made and simple. Portion sizes were perfect. Uncharacteristically (for me), I was able to eat a finish a 3 course meal of soup, an entree and a pretty rich dessert...I guess I will skip specifics but none of the dishes on the table disappointed.
The service was ok but then again, the restaurant wasnt packed for a weekday dinner. Waits in getting water refills possibly portend some chaos when the restaurant is busier....One of the only things we noted was the wine list wasnt too exhaustive (especially if you want wines by the glass).
Overall, I was quite impressed and will be visiting again. A rather expansive 3-course dinner for 3 came to around $150 (w/ t&t and three drinks each), so I definitely wasnt repeating my earlier price rant :)....

Cafe Rustica is kind of hidden away in a part of town that doesnt appear to be well (foot) trafficked (Penny lane is around the corner though) - but well worth a visit.