Restaurant Week -- A Reader's View

The reader reviews are starting to arrive as the city's annual exploration of taste continues. Here's an e-mail that landed Tuesday from a diner who stopped by Deep Blue Bar & Grill, possibly the county's best upscale seafood restaurant:

My friend Melissa and I visited Deep Blue for lunch -- it was fantastic. They gave us the menu right away (unlike your Hotel DuPont experience!). It was almost assumed we would be ordering from that particular menu.

There were several options for the first and second course, which is why we went there. We both had the calamari, and it was crisp and delicious and a full portion size. I had the NY Strip steak with mashed potatoes and Melissa had the Baby Spinach and Grilled Chicken salad. Both were large portion sizes and very flavorful. Our service was great and the restaurant was full.

Mmmmm, calamari. If you're a fan, you might also try Harry's Seafood Grill's version -- impeccably crisp and tender, without a trace of oil. This dish has become so ubiquitous and beloved that I've taken to calling it "Yuppie Popcorn."