Saturday, October 6, 2012

Bob & Edith's Diner



There has been something missing all these years since I returned to Northern Virginia. It is a pain that stems from a missing piece from my collective culinary memory. The diner. The no frills, great home-style inexpensive food diner.

When living in the south, you see them everywhere. The no fuss no muss country fried dining options. They are not the healthiest choices, but oh so delicious. They are the kind of places that are opened late, or even 24 hours. Basic black coffee and waitresses that call you sugar. No I am not being sexist, so do not even start.

I had my favorite back there, in Charlotte. A wonderful Greek owned establishment called Sunrise, excuse me while I hush all the groans coming from my friends and family. They have heard of this place nonstop since my return. 

I noticed something when I came back to the DMV, these sorts of small local diners were nowhere to be found. The streets were an endless vista of Cheesecake Factories, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobsters. This is one of the main reasons I started this blog. I wanted the world to see those little places still left fighting the good fight.

It seems there are still a few rebels out there amongst the Chipotles. Bob and Edith’s Diner in Arlington is one. There menu small, inexpensive, and drool causing. They have breakfast 24 hours a day. You may laugh, but in my younger years, during the summers I would get together with a friend or two and off we would go to a 24 hour diner for coffee and convo. This is a very fond memory.

I have been there once, but it was delicious, all of it. Here is my run down. Country fried steak with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, check. Garden salad and key lime pie, check and check. I can also say the French fries were habit forming as I discovered after hijacking one, or two, or five off my hubby’s plate.

I loved this joint, it was small, sparsely decorated, but bursting with character. A lot of that came from the awesome servers/employees there that night. Luis (gosh I hope I remember that correctly, I am a moron at remembering names) and Tom were both awesome. Full of smiles and willing to share. It was just the 2 of them serving the entire diner, and never a drop of sweat did I see. They really liked being there, and it showed. 

Recently I have seen a recurrence of the food truck, maybe diners will see a resurgence as well. Until that time, B&E will see my patronage many more times to come.

Contact Information
2310 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 920-6103

Hibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet



Here is a little secret. I am not a foodie. I am one who enjoys  food that tastes good, regardless of the source. One of my weaknesses is the Chinese buffet, but not just any kind. When I lived in Charlotte I was spoiled by a buffet there called Buffet Dynasty. The food was high quality and there were many new dishes not commonly seen in typical Americanized buffets. There is where I tried my 1st char siu noodle soup. Pure heaven and impossible to find.

I digress. Many people who call themselves foodies would never want to go to any buffet. I think great food can come from anywhere, and pretentiousness is what I like least when it comes to cuisine.

Now for the purpose of my blog article today, Hibachi Sushi Supreme Buffet. The sign caught my eye whilst driving down Clopper Rd in Gaithersburg, I swore I would check it out. I checked it out alright, and returned the next week to check it again. 

Let me say this is the place if you are a steamed crab fanatic like I am. I was floored by the size of crabs they had on the bar. They were not breaded and fried pieces you tend to see at buffets, but whole steamed and seasoned. As a crab expert, I can tell you these are some of the best I have had.

The crabs are great, but it is not the only thing HSSB has going. There are many taste worthy items there. Do not let the name fool you, there is not really hibachi here, more a Mongolian Grill, and it is pretty good, but not why I come.

There is a wide assortment of authentic dim sum, including chicken feet, if you enjoy this treat. There is bao, among others. They have interesting items like cuttlefish, and the Korean galbi, like steak or short ribs, is amazingly delicious. Along this line of carneferific delights, their BBQ ribs are the best I have had at a Chinese buffet.

Seafood is where their treasure lies. They have boiled seasoned shrimp that are monstrous as well as some of the best salt and pepper shrimp to ever tip toe across my tongue. There are even delicious Chinese greens, like Chinese kale or mustard greens.
The sushi bar is huge and provides an assortment of rolls, even sashimi. I tried the raw clam and was pleasantly surprised by the mild flavor. I admit I am not as schooled in the world of sushi, and even I was impressed. 

The desserts are lovely. There is an interesting mix of American desserts with some traditional thrown in, like the sesame balls with sweet bean paste. Very yummy. There is also a freezer that dispenses frozen treats like ice cream bars fruit pops, and ice cream sandwiches. 

Most importantly, the staff is very friendly. They truly want you there. There may be some language barriers, but do not let that blind you to the fact that they really try to make your stay a memorable one. Mine have been.

Contact Information:
28 Bureau Dr
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 208-7305