One of the more exciting meals of my year…
… took place at Lutèce. Not only did it live up to the accolades, it exceeded them. Run by chefs Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss (and The Popal Group), Lutèce has a French-ish menu that’s fun, vibrant, and delicious. The seasoning and acid in every dish was spot on, and the down-to-earth, warm service topped it all off.
Everything was a standout, including the steak tartare, the pommes paillasson with caviar, the charred Napa cabbage, the duck with figs and fennel, the dark chocolate dessert, and a crazy honey semifreddo with 18-month Comté.
— Aaron Ginsberg, VP of Strategic Partnerships & Industry Developments
Being on my list for a while now…
… I was excited to finally check out L’Ardente on a recent trip home to D.C. — I’d heard it was one of Barack and Michelle Obama’s favorite spots in the city, so I went in with high expectations. Needless to say, those expectations were met, and then some.
The dining room is both grand and inviting, decorated with glamourous and modern touches. The meal started on a high note with their housemade focaccia and tomato tapenade, but of course, the stars of the show were the housemade pastas, including the bucatini cacio e pepe and their famous 40-layer lasagna. It was an incredible meal all around and I can’t wait to go back.
— Charles Zhao, Director of Restaurant Product
I’ve had deep dish on my mind…
… and Della Barba is the place to satisfy that craving. At a dinner party recently, I was surprised by just how controversial Chicago deep dish is. Sure, it might not qualify as “pizza” to some, but what’s not to love about a molten pool of cheese and sauce with a crispy exterior? Talking about deep dish so much prompted multiple visits to Della Barba on Capitol Hill, where the crunchy, buttery cornmeal crust holds up beautifully to the hearty filling — try it with roasted spinach and artichokes, and don’t try to finish a pie by yourself.
— Lani Furbank, D.C. Writer, Resy Editorial
For a smooth and delightful take on a classic drink…
… get the espresso martini at Georgetown’s L’Annexe, which has cinnamon, chocolate bitters, and almond milk. The specialty cocktail bar has a spread of creative drinks with flavorful combinations, like strawberry-macerated bourbon paired with white truffle, which is featured in the 434 Minutes drink. But hurry: The bar’s drinks are based on housemade ingredients and they’re constantly changing the menu!
— Cornelia Poku, D.C. Writer, Resy Editorial
As soon as the fall weather set in…
… I immediately made a reservation at Mita, so I could indulge in their arracacha soup. Arracacha is a starchy root vegetable similar to a carrot, and at Mita, they combine it with fava beans to make it the velvetiest, cloud-like soup, with a plantain foam on top and a drizzle of mushroom dashi for just the right umami. The soup’s earthy notes and creamy texture make it quintessential comfort food, and the unusual ingredients set it apart from your typical fall soups.
The dish is served as a part of Mita’s four-course and six-course menus, as well as their tasting menu, so no matter how you choose to dine there, this decadent dish will be a part of your meal. And I always add in an order of the (optional) arepas plate, because a chewy corn flatbread is just the right pairing for the soup.
— Priya Konings, D.C. Writer, Resy Editorial
