Scott "Wannabe Renaissance Guy" R.'s Profile

What can I say about Ray's that hasn't been said already? Our food was fantastic, from salads to steaks, and the service was excellent. Attentive without over doing it, it was really a near perfect dining experience. The steaks were fantastic, the recommended wine fit perfectly, we were even given an end of dinner espresso mug of their fantastic cinnamon hot cocoa. Can't say enough, it was excellent.

As coffee shops go 14U is better than most, but not something I'd really write home about.

14U does have the emo charm that everyone touts and in abundence. Overall it's a cozy decor,; mismatched couches, small tables, cheap chairs, and a counter composed of rocks behind chicken wire (nice touch?). Reminds me of a small "cybercafe" I went to in NYC, and not unlike the Murky locations, though with a lot more on the wall. Somewhat feels like it's trying to be hip and urban where Murky just kinda has that feel.

As for the coffee it's better than average coffee by Starbucks standards. My Americano is good, little creme on top, but tasty without any bitterness, typical of Intelligentsia beans, though it does taste like a lighter roast rather than most places black as sin espresso roasts.

Wifi works, or at least must since I'm writing this review (though is this there wifi? I hope so), and that's always something that wins a place in my heart. Overall a nice place, but not enough to make me take the Metro all the way to U Street from Ballston, but if I were a local I could see myself stopping by from time to time when Busboys and Poets (up the street on 14th) was too packed (like today).