Lakeisha Skinner
Latest Reviews
Mexas Tacos Express
I decided to come here because I was craving birria tacos. I saw the reviews & was impressed. It seems like a family oriented, decent sized restaurant with a lot of Mexican decor inside. The tacos & other items seem moderately priced.
The food:
I went there the other day and ordered the birria tacos. THEY WERE AMAZING!!! The consume was plentiful & perfectly seasoned. They gave an ample amount of cilantro & onions. I think it was odd that they did not place my cilantro & onions inside the tacos. I think the tacos were fried (I could be wrong). Whatever they did to it, I loved it. The cheese was stringy for the perfect hang time for the photo-opps.
The drink:
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the drinks at Mexas. The horchata nor Jamaican hibiscus were homemade. The other drinks tasted a little watered down. I ordered the passion fruit & it was okay. Thankfully, the deliciousness & perfection of the tacos overshadowed the drinks issue.
Would I return? Absolutely! I do think if they improve their drinks, it would be a knockout & draw in even more people. The staff was very friendly & accommodating. The parking seems ample & the location is perfect for tourists in the Disney area.
The food:
I went there the other day and ordered the birria tacos. THEY WERE AMAZING!!! The consume was plentiful & perfectly seasoned. They gave an ample amount of cilantro & onions. I think it was odd that they did not place my cilantro & onions inside the tacos. I think the tacos were fried (I could be wrong). Whatever they did to it, I loved it. The cheese was stringy for the perfect hang time for the photo-opps.
The drink:
Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the drinks at Mexas. The horchata nor Jamaican hibiscus were homemade. The other drinks tasted a little watered down. I ordered the passion fruit & it was okay. Thankfully, the deliciousness & perfection of the tacos overshadowed the drinks issue.
Would I return? Absolutely! I do think if they improve their drinks, it would be a knockout & draw in even more people. The staff was very friendly & accommodating. The parking seems ample & the location is perfect for tourists in the Disney area.
Sakuramen Ramen Bar
I decided to come to Sakuramen for the first time because I was in a ramen kind of mood this past Sunday. I typically use the cold weather as an excuse for my ramen adventures. The building's outside wall art walking upon it was pretty cool to me.
When I walked in, I must admit, I was not expecting it to be so small. I suppose it makes sense because it's an "underground"/basement restaurant. I reckon no more than 20 people at a time can dine in. It took a while to be seated because the restaurant suddenly got full, and a long line formed behind me. The wait wasn't too long, though. Thankfully, I came in solo. They have patrons sign their name on a waitlist in case it becomes too crowded. The wall art inside is a Samarai, I think, which is pretty awesome. It adds a fiery touch to the ambiance.
The Food:
I ordered the Tonkotsu Red ramen bowl. I noticed on the menu that the noodles were "thin," but it didn't take away from the overall experience. The bowl itself was quite delightful. I typically rate how well a ramen will be if the chashu is cooked properly and the aromatic oils. The chashu was perfection, nearly melted in my mouth with a perfect lean to fat ratio pairing well with the broth. The oil (black garlic) and the red pepper tare were barely noticeable. I think improvement is needed on that. The mushrooms added a very interesting kick to it to me, mainly because this is my first time with mushrooms in my ramen. My main issue was the seasoned egg. I typically prefer & expect mine soft boiled with the runny yolk. As one can see, it was overcooked to my dismay. It was also quite overpriced (almost all of the "Extra Toppings" are very overpriced, in my opinion).
Though the bowl I had was pretty solid (not the best I ever had in DC, but can be better), I am unsure if I will return any time soon. The restaurant is located in Adams Morgan, which is a hike for me even without heavy traffic. The parking was also atrocious in the area so it'll take a minute to find something. If I am in the neighborhood by chance, I will come in for a bite. For those living in the Adams Morgan neighborhood or close by, I do recommend it. Just get there in the times when they aren't busy. I think that will typically be before 7 pm, even on weekends. They offer a decent variety in bowls and also have appetizers, drinks (regular drinks & Japanese + local beers), and a short list of side dishes & mochi ice cream as the dessert.
When I walked in, I must admit, I was not expecting it to be so small. I suppose it makes sense because it's an "underground"/basement restaurant. I reckon no more than 20 people at a time can dine in. It took a while to be seated because the restaurant suddenly got full, and a long line formed behind me. The wait wasn't too long, though. Thankfully, I came in solo. They have patrons sign their name on a waitlist in case it becomes too crowded. The wall art inside is a Samarai, I think, which is pretty awesome. It adds a fiery touch to the ambiance.
The Food:
I ordered the Tonkotsu Red ramen bowl. I noticed on the menu that the noodles were "thin," but it didn't take away from the overall experience. The bowl itself was quite delightful. I typically rate how well a ramen will be if the chashu is cooked properly and the aromatic oils. The chashu was perfection, nearly melted in my mouth with a perfect lean to fat ratio pairing well with the broth. The oil (black garlic) and the red pepper tare were barely noticeable. I think improvement is needed on that. The mushrooms added a very interesting kick to it to me, mainly because this is my first time with mushrooms in my ramen. My main issue was the seasoned egg. I typically prefer & expect mine soft boiled with the runny yolk. As one can see, it was overcooked to my dismay. It was also quite overpriced (almost all of the "Extra Toppings" are very overpriced, in my opinion).
Though the bowl I had was pretty solid (not the best I ever had in DC, but can be better), I am unsure if I will return any time soon. The restaurant is located in Adams Morgan, which is a hike for me even without heavy traffic. The parking was also atrocious in the area so it'll take a minute to find something. If I am in the neighborhood by chance, I will come in for a bite. For those living in the Adams Morgan neighborhood or close by, I do recommend it. Just get there in the times when they aren't busy. I think that will typically be before 7 pm, even on weekends. They offer a decent variety in bowls and also have appetizers, drinks (regular drinks & Japanese + local beers), and a short list of side dishes & mochi ice cream as the dessert.
Iverson Cookies
Iverson Cookies/The Great Cookie has been a DC area staple for decades. It's been a while since I've been here, but it felt like a review is long overdue. So I took it upon myself to stop by & get some cookies for myself and my parents before I departed for IL a few weeks ago.
The ever so popular cookie flavor there is the prized Snickerdoodle cookies. So, of course, I took it upon myself to order a few. I ordered about 8 cookies for $5 or $10 (apparently, they do not allow ordering by the half dozen nor dozen, but by the eights. Such as 8, 16, etc ).
I was a bit judgy & hesitant because the cookies were almost razor thin, and I was used to thicker, regular sized cookies. But as soon as I took a bite, I was shook haha 🥲🫠🙃😅 They were so moist, soft, and delightful. Crunchy exterior but the right amount of crunch that it doesn't take away from the softness/moisture. The right amount of sugar and cinnamon.
I think what makes this different from other Snickerdoodle cookies is perhaps the thinness and (I THINK, I could be wrong) the possible shortening base.
They were so good, I decided not to be selfish and go back in to order my parents some to try 😂😭🤣
I will say since it's been a while since I've been to Iverson Cookies, I got a bit lost because I could not find an entrance point (I'll be honest: I forgot haha 😅). The entrance point is between Mama Lucia and Chipotle. If you have bad eye vision like me, you'll have to walk up closer to notice.
At the physical establishment, it's listed as "The Great Cookie." On Google Maps, it's listed as Iverson Cookies.
There's plenty of parking. The best way to get there is to drive or Uber. I am unsure if one can Metro there.
Highly recommend whether you're a DC area native, transplant, or just visiting ❤️❤️❤️
The ever so popular cookie flavor there is the prized Snickerdoodle cookies. So, of course, I took it upon myself to order a few. I ordered about 8 cookies for $5 or $10 (apparently, they do not allow ordering by the half dozen nor dozen, but by the eights. Such as 8, 16, etc ).
I was a bit judgy & hesitant because the cookies were almost razor thin, and I was used to thicker, regular sized cookies. But as soon as I took a bite, I was shook haha 🥲🫠🙃😅 They were so moist, soft, and delightful. Crunchy exterior but the right amount of crunch that it doesn't take away from the softness/moisture. The right amount of sugar and cinnamon.
I think what makes this different from other Snickerdoodle cookies is perhaps the thinness and (I THINK, I could be wrong) the possible shortening base.
They were so good, I decided not to be selfish and go back in to order my parents some to try 😂😭🤣
I will say since it's been a while since I've been to Iverson Cookies, I got a bit lost because I could not find an entrance point (I'll be honest: I forgot haha 😅). The entrance point is between Mama Lucia and Chipotle. If you have bad eye vision like me, you'll have to walk up closer to notice.
At the physical establishment, it's listed as "The Great Cookie." On Google Maps, it's listed as Iverson Cookies.
There's plenty of parking. The best way to get there is to drive or Uber. I am unsure if one can Metro there.
Highly recommend whether you're a DC area native, transplant, or just visiting ❤️❤️❤️
La Chaumiere
Restaurant Week is one of the best seasonal deals for foodies like me. There were some places I had in mind. Unfortunately, every place I wanted to attend was booked. I frantically searched for other places and finally stumbled upon La Chaumiere in Georgetown. It's a restaurant I've never heard of before and decided to explore.
The Atmosphere:
I honestly did not know what to expect. We arrived there and noticed that it was quite intimate, yet lively and very full. I really loved the rustic, French ambiance/atmosphere that added more to the intimate feel. The use of phones is not allowed (as in talking on your phone), which is an understandable rule considering the way the restaurant is set up and aim to accomplish for customers' ultimate dining experience. There is a fireplace in the middle of the restaurant. I am unsure if it's ever utilized.
The Food:
We immediately reviewed the Restaurant Week menu.
- We both ordered the mussels, Moules Provencąle, for the appetizer. The garlic butter used to season the mussels was very tasty. We dipped our bread in the butter. Two of my mussels had some shells stuck in it but were manageable.
- For my entrée, I ordered Steak au Pouivre, medium. I must say I can give the dish the chef's kiss 💋🤌🏾👨🏾🍳. It was yummy and very flavorful. The black peppercorn sauce sent it to another realm. The steak was cooked perfectly, and I was upset that it was gone. I ordered a glass of Restaurant Week wine to compliment my steak dish. The wine was really good, too. My friend ordered the Truite Armandine. Her dish was phenomenal, but she did say it was a couple of bones in her trout.
- For desserts, I ordered the Gâteau au Chocolat. I must say it was the least favorite of the meal entirety. It was merely okay & not worth raving about. The waiter refused to allow me to change my desserts out. My friend ordered the Tarte Aux Pomme & it was so good that she practically finished it in under 5 minutes. I wish I ordered it instead of the dessert I ordered.
Things that could improve:
- Though the wait staff was nice, our waiter seemed too rigid & honestly rude. I would prefer a more friendlier and patient waiter if I come back. It felt like we were being rushed with our dish transitions (the reason why I gave Service 3 out of 5 stars). We were seated late, which made no sense as to why the waiter was seemingly acting impatient.
- For the seafood dishes, it would be nice to double-check for bones and shell fragments. We shouldn't have to crunch on shell/bones nor pick through our food.
Overall, we loved the atmosphere & rustic French ambiance. It certainly felt like we were somewhere in France dining & having a great time. Also, apparently, Julia Child used to frequent the restaurant, which is so cool to me. I see why it's Michelin starred 😭🔥. I do recommend this restaurant, especially for an intimate, lowkey date night out in Georgetown.
The Atmosphere:
I honestly did not know what to expect. We arrived there and noticed that it was quite intimate, yet lively and very full. I really loved the rustic, French ambiance/atmosphere that added more to the intimate feel. The use of phones is not allowed (as in talking on your phone), which is an understandable rule considering the way the restaurant is set up and aim to accomplish for customers' ultimate dining experience. There is a fireplace in the middle of the restaurant. I am unsure if it's ever utilized.
The Food:
We immediately reviewed the Restaurant Week menu.
- We both ordered the mussels, Moules Provencąle, for the appetizer. The garlic butter used to season the mussels was very tasty. We dipped our bread in the butter. Two of my mussels had some shells stuck in it but were manageable.
- For my entrée, I ordered Steak au Pouivre, medium. I must say I can give the dish the chef's kiss 💋🤌🏾👨🏾🍳. It was yummy and very flavorful. The black peppercorn sauce sent it to another realm. The steak was cooked perfectly, and I was upset that it was gone. I ordered a glass of Restaurant Week wine to compliment my steak dish. The wine was really good, too. My friend ordered the Truite Armandine. Her dish was phenomenal, but she did say it was a couple of bones in her trout.
- For desserts, I ordered the Gâteau au Chocolat. I must say it was the least favorite of the meal entirety. It was merely okay & not worth raving about. The waiter refused to allow me to change my desserts out. My friend ordered the Tarte Aux Pomme & it was so good that she practically finished it in under 5 minutes. I wish I ordered it instead of the dessert I ordered.
Things that could improve:
- Though the wait staff was nice, our waiter seemed too rigid & honestly rude. I would prefer a more friendlier and patient waiter if I come back. It felt like we were being rushed with our dish transitions (the reason why I gave Service 3 out of 5 stars). We were seated late, which made no sense as to why the waiter was seemingly acting impatient.
- For the seafood dishes, it would be nice to double-check for bones and shell fragments. We shouldn't have to crunch on shell/bones nor pick through our food.
Overall, we loved the atmosphere & rustic French ambiance. It certainly felt like we were somewhere in France dining & having a great time. Also, apparently, Julia Child used to frequent the restaurant, which is so cool to me. I see why it's Michelin starred 😭🔥. I do recommend this restaurant, especially for an intimate, lowkey date night out in Georgetown.