Ardeo + Bardeo

Last date I was here: 2/12/2011

Restaurant: Ardeo + Bardeo (http://www.cardeobardeo.com)

Location: Cleveland Park

Total Rating: 3.85
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This modern American bistro and wine bar received a face lift in November 2010 and combined the two separate spaces into one for the relaunch from the team that brings you other DC highlights such as 701 and Rasika. Executive Chef Nate Garyantes has crafted a menu which features cured meats, soups and salads, savory snacks, seasonal vegetables dishes and brick oven baked flatbreads. Closest Metro is Cleveland Park.

We went to Ardeo + Bardeo for our Valentine's dinner. It is a very easy walk from the metro and as soon as we arrived, the loud buzz from the packed dimly lit restaurant greeted us. We were escorted upstairs on the "Bardeo" side of the house and seated in a small two top. The wine selection is quite generous and the specialty cocktails looked tasty as well. The menu has a selection of meats and cheeses to pizzas, pastas and main entrees. The small bites are indeed small and might be best to order at least two for sharing. Overall, the food was flavorful and the portions were on the smaller side. We had enough room to share a dessert at the end. I would recommend this place for groups to sit at the bar or communal table or for the casual date night.

What I ate:

Scallop Schnitzel

with bay scallops, young red cabbage, walnuts

Lobster and whole wheat spaghetti

with royal trumpets and squash

Heirloom apple cobbler
rum raisin ice cream

Plus Keith ate:

Seven hour braised leg of suckling pig
served with cheddar grits, blackeyed peas, redeye gravy, peanuts