Best Dishes Our Editors Ate Last Week |
Every Monday, Eater DC editors share the standout meals we've eaten recently. This past week includes elegant sandwiches, Irish bites, cheesy slices, and more, plus a news roundup covering a now-closed Navy Yard bar taking legal action, a Capitol Hill wine dinner, a new mezcal bar for Dupont, and more. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for lots more.
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A caviar sandwich that kills it |
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I traveled to the depths of the Four Seasons hotel for weekend brunch at its restaurant, Seasons, which is now a la carte all the time, minus buffet service during major holidays. The savory caviar sandwich ($36) is pure luxury in every bite, featuring squishy brioche bread, melted cheese, and a generous portion of pearly Kaluga and Ossetra, served with a lovely side of truffle creme fraiche and chives. My iced latte made with pistachio milk added a pleasantly nutty note to the espresso. Keep in mind that the hotel’s popular lounge upstairs at Bourbon Steak is currently getting a big facelift, which means the bar is temporarily relocated off the main dining room. The Michael Mina fixture will fully reopen on or around Wednesday, August 19. 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Georgetown — Tierney Plumb, editor, Northeast
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After a friend’s Arlington pool party, I raced over to Weenie Beenie before its 6 p.m. closing time. The hot dog institution around since 1954 is a local gem, beating Ben’s Chili Bowl in D.C. by a few years to the title of the original half-smoke and even inspiring a Foo Fighters song (frontman David Grohl grew up in Northern Virginia and apparently is a lifelong fan). I must say, the dog itself is not the best around town, but the lightly toasted buttery bun, low price (under $5), and old-school walk-up model keep regulars coming back. I was more about the refreshing cup of cold macaroni salad, a perfect summer snack. 2680 Shirlington Road, Arlington, Virginia — TP
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Irish spice bags are becoming my go-to bar snack. I've already sung the praises of the one at B-Side, and I just sampled another excellent version ($22) at Kirwan's on the Wharf. The greasy brown bag filled with tingly spiced fries, chicken, and peppers is generously portioned here, with hefty steak fries absorbing plenty of heat while still maintaining their crispiness. Kirwan's is convenient for a pre-Arena Stage show meal, and I probably tortured the patrons who were also seeing the TLC musical CrazySexyCool afterwards since I couldn't bear to leave my box of fragrant leftovers behind. No regrets. 749 Wharf Street SW, Southwest Waterfront — Missy Frederick, editorial director, dining
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Pizza and plenty of frozen treats in Union Market |
Pizzaiolo Giulio Adriani recently expanded his Slice & Pie menu in Union Market to include some chilly options for getting through the sweltering D.C. summer. The stand in the back of the huge food hall now serves frozen yogurt ($3) with rotating flavors. And its next-door sibling spot, Taste of Lucy, just added some memorably frosty and sour frozen margaritas ($14) as well. But the pull at Slice & Pie is still those slices of award-winning, NY-style pizza. I picked up a few pies for a pool party recently (sipping on a frozen margarita before my trek home), and my friends nearly destroyed the four pizzas. The standout favorite, with absolutely no leftovers, was the burrata pie ($32), featuring a generous slathering of the creamy cheese on each slice, accented with a bit of basil. The simple pie lets the fresh tomato sauce and chewy crust shine. 1309 5th Street NE, Union Market — Emily Venezky, social media manager
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Agave flights come with a side of crickets at Dupont's new Mezcaleria bar. | Photo: District Taco |
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Tap99, Navy Yard's self-pour tap house and one of the best sports bars in the city, suddenly shut down over the weekend after five years, but it’s not going out quietly. Tap99 just filed a nearly 100-page lawsuit against its landlord, Jair Lynch, alleging recurring cooling and water issues at the building that caused “excessive utility charges” and repair costs, among other damages incurred (1250 Half Street SE).
East Coast chain District Taco just debuted a new bar inside its Dupont Circle location called Mezcalería, complete with cocktails, a long list of mezcals and tequilas, beer, wine, and Yucatan street foods. For a true taste of Mexico, agave flights come with chapulines (fried crickets), orange slices, and Tajin.
The Duck & the Peach is welcoming Early Mountain Vineyards from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains for a multi-course wine dinner on Thursday, August 13 (book a $150 seat online). Dishes from chef Kat Petonito include grilled and charred stone fruits with a savory ricotta ice cream and heirloom tomato tart with a Comté cheese custard.
Chaia Tacos, one of D.C.’s best vegetarian options for the past decade, added meat to the menu for the first time this summer. The chicken taco, created with chef Pepe Moncayo (who is currently cooking at Tabard Inn), is served on a house-made corn tortilla and available at its Chinatown and Georgetown outposts. “This is not a rebrand or a change in philosophy,” the team tells Eater. “[We are] adding one responsibly sourced protein while keeping vegetables at the center of everything we do.”
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