Ray’s The Classics

It’s got a good feel to it- part 50’s, part now, it makes me want to sit at the bar in a long black dress, hat, and dark glasses. (Possibly also with a jeweled cigarette holder, but just for emphasis.)

Even the dishes are pleasing.

The food too; no denying that. Go- make plans to meet a friend at the bar. Dress up a bit, have a cocktail, and don’t flinch at the bill- it’ll be worth it.

Don’t wait for TS or TK to review this place. Go now before everyone else finds out what a bargain it is. Michael Landrum should get somebody’s Restaurateur of the Year award, and Michael Hartzer should get Chef of the Year.

The menu is developed around classic dishes — “steaks, chops, seafood” promises the awning — but with a modern flair that keeps them from being fusty. The cocktail food is uniformly fabulous, and at just a few dollars a pop, you can nibble your way through a fabulous meal. The drinks are reasonably priced, too, in the single digits (most places in DC serving food this good are charging double digit prices for cocktails). Desserts, so often tiny, precious, and overpriced at other venues, are stunningly good if a bit too large, at a price that’ll make you think “whoa, a typo on the menu”. And darnit, I’ve gone and forgotten her name, but she deserves Pastry Chef of the Year. Oh, and the winelist is possibly the most interesting in all of uber-restrictive Montgomery County, and (you guessed it), ridiculously well-priced.

Don’t misunderstand — this place is not what most people would call inexpensive. But for the quality of food, it’s a freakin’ bargain.

August 8, 2006: Preliminary numeric review is based on several “soft opening” meals. RTC officially opened last week; I will officially dine here later this week.

Owner Michael Landrum has given chef Michael Hartzer freedon to create whatever he wants to. Of the dozen or so dishes I’ve sampled, none of which are guaranteed to make it to the real menu, I’d say... well, heck, I’d say you just can’t go wrong. Everything was fabulous.

Will report back once I’ve seen the official menu.

Oh, there is a spacious bar area. Ray’s The Bar.

I’m waiting for the hundred-plus seat restaurant: Ray’s The Titanic.