Republic Cantina has ended its preview phase and is all glownup, as previews go it was long, at seven or so weeks it almost lasted as long as summer. No matter, because it felt very much like a restaurant from day one, on the occasions I visited not once did I get the sense that they were new to the game. The service was always good, the food excellent, the space charming and fresh. Situated in a new upscale condo building on a small block just off New York Ave in Truxton Circle, RC has definitely taken the neighborhood, if not city, by storm, landing on plenty of summer best of lists already. And rightly so.
Read MoreVote No on 77
On June 19th residents in Washington, DC will vote on whether the city will eliminate the tipped minimum wage. As a friend of the restaurant industry, and having read about the impact this will have on restaurants, servers and the industry as a whole I ask you to Vote No on 77. You can read all about it here, here and here, or head on over to the Vote No on 77 campaign to hear from them yourself.
Read MoreDining: Masseria
I usually avoid soft-openings, I prefer to give a new spot a few weeks to find themselves, let alone share stories about those experiences, but as a fan of the chef, Nicholas Stefanelli I couldn't resist hitting up Masseria to show my support and indulge. It's been over six months since we've seen Stefanelli in the kitchen so it was long overdue to enjoy his cooking, plus the menu was half off for the first two weeks.
There's no denying that Masseria is a beautiful restaurant, its neighbors in the Union Market area are warehouses, wholesale vendors and a Motel 6, industrial chic I think Stefanelli calls it. The outdoor area is a compliment of concrete, rusted steel, wood and custom Greek flooring. There are three dining areas in the fashionable courtyard, a lounge with sofas and coffee tables (cigars permitted), the outside dining room with standard seating and bar seats, the latter two covered by a retractable roof.
Inside the main dining room there is a chef's table and seating at the open kitchen counter as well as the inside bar. A glass wall functioning as a wine cellar stretches one of the walls which pretty much serves as the backdrop to the restaurant, in addition to the "backsplash" of the open kitchen which is a stunning opal green subway style tile.
Read MoreDining: Texas de Brazil
Go for the meat. Go for the signature caipirihinia. Go for the after-dinner aperitif. With all of your strength and might, avoid the salad bar, but maybe leave room for dessert. Not because the salad bar isn't good, it is - with it's buttery mushrooms, aged cheeses, chilled shrimp, and bisque - it's a salad bar to rival any you've visited but not one to fill up at. You're here for the meat so leave room for the meat. Texas de Brazil is one of the latest steakhouses to land in DC. If you've ever visited the other all you can eat steakhouse on Pennsylvania Ave you'll be familiar with the experience. Each diner has their own drinks coaster, one side green and one side red. If you're hungry you turn it to its green side, do not pass go and do not collect $200. You won't have time, you'll be swarmed over by carvers, or Guacho's as they like to be called, each eager to carve up slices of freshly grilled Brazilian sausage, lamb, beef, pork or chicken inspired from Brazilian steakhouses. Read: perfectly charred with a heavy hand with the salt.
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