12 | February | 2017 | iwillmakeualist

I went to La Sirena soon after it opened for drinks and was hoping to have dinner at the bar. But one rude bartender later I found out that food was not yet being served at the bar and I left hungry and cranky. I probably should have given up on La Sirena after this experience but gave it another try in the dining room. The NY Strip was fantastic and perfectly cooked. But the other dishes we ordered were average at best and not at all worth the inflated meatpacking prices.

Tuna crudo, pickled leeks, finger limes, habanero
Wild striped bass in scapece, grapes & mint

Roasted acorn squash, cacio di uova & smoked ricotta

Lardo crusted dry age bone0in NY strip with potato bombolini

A dessert that I unfortunately cannot remember

As much as my dear friends in DC may dispute it, the food scene is really turning around. When we couldn’t fathom waiting in line at Bad Saint in the rain, we ended up at Maketto and it was hardly a consolation prize. A mashup of Cambodian and Taiwanese which results in some delicious dishes in a funky, casual space that is not DC in a great way. And in the year of fried chicken, another great addition with this fantastic five spice caramel version.

braised pork steamed bao, braised pork, hoisin sauce

crispy gruyere dumplings, chinese beef chili, fermented mustard greens

spicy laab and bone marrow, mixed herbs, spicy ground pork, chilis

wok fried rice noodles, mushroom sauce, local vegetables

maketto fried chicken, five spice caramel, housemade bread