Washington, DC New Menu Report: 4/20/16
Spring, as short as it is, is one of the best times to dine in Washington. There are lots of fresh new dishes on menus that feature locally sourced flora and fauna, it's still pleasant to dine outside, and there are plenty of new restaurants and chefs on the horizon. This week, there are Indian menus that offer food and drink to die for; a steak joint wants you to nosh on its Wagyu beef sliders and help catch a Hamburglar; and a steak and seafood place has Napa and Sonoma wines on a special sommelier's menu. Are you hungry yet?
Ardeo+Bardeo
So many things are new in spring, new flowers, new births, and at Ardeo+Bardeo its new executive chef, Kelly Bunkers, is launching a new spring menu. Dine on Ardeo+Bardeo's rooftop patio, in the dining room, or for weekend brunch and sample seasonal dishes like grilled octopus with eggplant; burrata and prosciutto pizza; basil scialatielli with sausage, clams, fennel, and pangrattato; and buttermilk fried chicken with house-made biscuits. Order a craft cocktail like the Bleu Belle made with Bluecoat gin, fresh grapefruit juice, and lemon and ginger simple syrup or the Arsonist, a spicy bourbon concoction made with Four Roses bourbon, Montelobos mezcal, habañero, and lemon.
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
If you find yourself California dreamin' about great Sonoma and Napa wines, April is your month. From April 18 to April 24, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab is partnering with Fisher Vineyards for Joe's monthly Sommelier Series. This series features a by-the-glass sneak-peak of the 2013 Fisher Vineyards RCF Vineyard Napa Merlot, the first release since 2002, plus the 2006 Fisher Vineyards Wedding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma, which is the first Cabernet vineyard in Sonoma to receive 99 points from wine critic Robert Parker.
Rasika
Those "in the know" know Rasika is D.C.'s best Indian restaurant, if not one of the best in the country, now is the time to check out its new seasonal menu. Snag a seat on the patio, if you can, grab your pooch and significant other, and try as many of chef Vikram Sunderam's fabulous dishes as you can. Start with mango shrimp cooked with fresh mango, cashews, and ginger; vegetarian chaat made with avocado and banana and seasoned with tamarind, date chutney, and cumin. To drink, consider a cocktail or order a complementary wine from its well designed wine list.
If you want to explore Indian inspired cocktails, consider Rasika West End. Their springtime cocktails include the Padma made with Peruvian pisco, pineapple, vanilla, and Peychaud's bitters; the Asha prepared with blanco tequila, cranberry reduction, ginger, lime juice, Brachetto and crystallized ginger; and the Sania with bourbon, spiced pear-infused honey, allspice dram, lime juice, bitters, and fresh thyme.
STK Washington, D.C.
On Friday, March 18, a burglar broke into a D.C. Five Guys, robbed the place, and then cooked himself a burger. In the interest of public awareness, noted steakhouse STK Washington D.C. is now offering a limited edition of their celebrated Lil' BRG line, aptly called the "Lil' BRGLR." It's a meaty Wagyu beef slider topped with bacon and pickled chili. This case remains unsolved, and ever the good citizen, STK is offering a free steak dinner to anyone who can provide information that could lead to the hamburglar's arrest.
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Summer Whitford is the D.C. Editor and a food, drink and travel writer at The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva and on Instagram at thefoodandwinediva. Read more of her stories here