Buddha Bar's Bento Box, $29
The location is sexy -- a dimly lit dining room on Mass. Ave right down the street from the U.S. Capitol. It's the kind of place where men in dark suits close deals over sushi and saki...
... And the presentation of the food is impressive, too.
But for nearly $30, all you get from the Bento Box at Buddha Bar is a few bits of lamb, a tiny pyramid of rice and three grilled shrimp as the main dish.
Granted, this is a "prix fixe" menu item that comes with an appetizer (the spring rolls pictured above) and a dessert (a mango purée that I dove into before getting a chance to take a picture of it), but don't you think a $30 meal should come with a little more meat?
Is this a classy concoction or meal that'll just have you (and me) wondering, "Where's the beef?!"
Here are some details to help you decide:
Menu Item: Bento Box
Price: $29
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Neighborhood: Mount Vernon (West of the Capitol Hill, East of Chinatown)
What the menu tells you you'll get: The Bento Box comes with lamb curry with mango chutney, curry shrimp, steamed rice and green papaya salad. Vietnamese spring rolls are served as the appetizer and mango purée for dessert.
What I actually got: While they tell you you'll get all of the above, what they don't tell you is how conservative the portions are.
Would you order this? Is this a Deal or No Deal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.
xoxo,
--Markette
If it came with a cocktail, I'd call it a deal. It looks yummy though!