Additional seating: A true menace to society

The real fireworks at last night’s meeting were over the proposed moratorium on additional seating for restaurants in the Georgetown Court complex near the intersection of Prospect St. and Wisconsin Ave. The complex houses seven successful restaurants (such as Cafe Milano, Bangkok Bistro and Morton’s) and is one of the few areas in Georgetown not subject to the liquor license moratorium.

When Morton’s recently applied for additional seating, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved the request despite neighbors’ protestations, but said that it would “entertain a motion for a moratorium on additional seats,” according to ANC Commissioner Bill Starrels.

Starrels and Karen “Cookie” Cruse, a member of the Citizen’s Association of Georgetown’s Board of Directors, argued at last night’s meeting that the area is already “over-saturated” and that neighbors are tired of spending time fighting every request for more seats.

Robert Elliott, Georgetown Court’s landlord, countered that the alleged complaints about lack of parking and traffic problems are exaggerated and that the ANC and neighbors would still have input into future seating expansions even without a moratorium. Elliott also raised objections to the fact that he was only presented with the nine page text of the proposed moratorium 90 minutes before the ANC meeting started, despite asking for it a week ago and offering to collaborate on it.

ANC Chair Ron Lewis was dismissive of Elliott’s complaints, telling him that he was just “throwing sand in our eyes.”

“I know nothing I say here is going to affect what you do,” Elliott replied. “You could’ve called me. I don’t think you should’ve had this document put together in private. I don’t think that’s right.”

Elliott was at least partially correct—his objections didn’t have much of an impact on the ANC. They voted 4—1 to co-sponsor the moratorium with CAG, with Georgetown University student rep Aaron Golds (COL ‘11) casting the lone vote of opposition.

After the jump: We finally get around to replacing 109-year-old bridges and Tackle Box proves no match for Cookie Cruse.

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Tackle Box, a Maine-inspired seafood restaurant, opened yesterday on M Street. The sister restaurant to Hook, a high-end seafood shrine, Tackle Box promises the same quality and fresh seafood caught by local purveyors, but with a backyard feel. Although Hook’s just next door, the two restaurants could not look more different. Instead of slick modern furniture, fine glassware, and walls adorned with art, at Tackle Box, you’ll find picnic tables, chalkboard walls, and a huge US flag from 1870. Think beach without sand in your toes.

Fortunately, the price difference between Hook and Tackle Box is just as big. At Tackle Box, go for “The Maine Meal”: it comes with a choice of 6 different seafood entrees that come fried, baked, or grilled, two sides, and one of five sauces, for only $13.

The usual suspects are all at Tackle Box—lobster, tilapia, shrimp, clams, calamari—but what I’m most looking forward to are the fried oysters and the hush puppies. Plus, all the sauces sound delicious, from cilantro lime vinaigrette, salsa verde, and roasted garlic and lemon aioli, where can you go wrong? Executive Chef Barton Seaver will no doubt bring high brow to the low brow without making students sacrifice a cash cow.

Tackle Box is located at 3245 M Street.

-Vivian Chen, Assistant Leisure Editor