Each to their own taste. After eating in NYC restaurants half a week (Le Bernardin, Babbo, etc.), I return to D.C. starved for equally good food. I am not disappointed at Rock Creek (forget the Mazza Galerie one). A quiet oasis in the middle of bedlam on restaurant row. Always had a surprisingly excellent palate of tastes there, and my companions never have had to utter what yours did. Minibar (since El Bulli is phasing out), Komi, the Japanese kaiseki at Makoto, Citronelle - perhaps a handful more (I can't eat the huge feast at the Inn anymore and forget the off-shoots of out-of-town chefs like Vongerichten, Puck, or NY outcasts like Chemel)are certainly a cut above, but I don't think that Rock Creek rates a 1.5 from your reviewer.
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