You know what? "Still Working Out the
Kinks" could be the headline for so many restaurants I have visited
recently. They are all relatively new and while the food has been damn
good at each one, the service ranged from mildly adequate to mediocre. Why does
it take so long to work out the kinks? WHY?! And why don't human
beings know how to be waiters and waitresses anymore? I need answers,
people.
I am composing in my head a list of things wait
staff should/should not do (same goes for the managers who train them), but in
the mean time...here are my thoughts on Agora.
Agora is a Mediterranean eatery near 17th and Q
Streets in Washington, opened in 2010. I was not focused on decor and
photographing every little thing as I usually do, but was laser focused
on the food. Really, really fantastic flavors.
There is a $14.99 lunch menu that starts with a
spread sampler (hummus, cacik, and htipiti). All of these are gluten free
and delicious. Htipiti is made of roasted red peppers, feta, thyme, and
olive oil. So. So. Good. Years ago I used to make a htipiti with a
serious kick – may have to dig out the recipe. The cacik is made of yogurt, dill, cucumber, vinegar,
garlic, and olive oil and is intense, in a good way of course.
Next up on the lunch special is a selection of sandwiches,
wraps, or meat entrees. I went with shish tavuk and boy did I make the right
choice. The four pieces of chicken breast are marinated with grilled
tomato and sumac onion on garlic pita bread. What Agora needs to add to
this description is that a garlic spread is generously slathered on the pita
bread. And despite the slathering, I wanted more. You cannot have enough garlic.
A waiter passed by our table and I requested more
garlic spread. He said he would
get on it, but it never materialized. The place was filling up,
but still. A lady shouldn’t be kept
waiting for garlic spread.
Then
our waiter came by, I asked for garlic spread. This is what he said:
“Just give me a minute…we’re slammed.” And then he walked away. As a former waitress, I am fairly confident that this is not
okay. No excuses. Just say yes and find someone to take
care of the garlic spread. I don’t
want to know how busy you are; I’m busy too.
Finally, the garlic spread arrived with
more apologies for the delay.
At check time, the waiter apologized again and said
it was as if everyone arrived at once.
My lunch companion, Leigh, who has less patience than me for these shenanigans,
said: “Well…that’s what happens at
lunch.” I was being all nice and
understanding, but not Leigh. And she’s right. We’re in DC – not Paris. Lunch is pretty regular and uptight, and, generally, around
noon, there is a lunch crowd. Be
prepared.
At a meal, if I turn my head in search of the
waiter more than a few times, it’s a bust. I turned my head multiple times.
So, was the garlic spread worth the wait? Sure. It was mind-blowingly garlicy and I was blissed out.
I may head back to Agora and hang out at the bar
for the fantastic, fresh appetizers, but, mostly due to proximity, it’s not
going to be in my regular stable of restaurants. If I lived anywhere around 17th and Q Streets, it
would be a different story.
Despite the long wait for the garlic spread.
The lunch special is three courses with a beverage
(soda, coffee, or tea).
Go.
Eat the food. Hopefully
they work out the kinks.
Agora Restaurant
1527 17th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 332-6767
http://agoradc.net/
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