Poca Madre

Poca Madre is an upscale Mexican restaurant by Chef Victor Albisu, offering a refined contemporary dining experience in the heart of the nation's capital. Located next door to his taco spot, Taco Bamba, the 70-seat interior of Poca Madre is accented with colors of deep green and black, complemented with gold and bronze accents. An outdoor lounge is available for enjoyment in the warmer months.  Closest Metro is Chinatown.

Brugal Rum Dinner @ Cuba Libre

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Did you know August is Rum Month?  We recently attended a rum dinner featuring Brugal Rum, which is produced by Brugal & Co., C. por A in the Dominican Republic at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar. The evening began with cocktail hour featuring light bites and a Brugal Mule with Brugal Añejo, ginger beer and fresh lime juice, followed by a seated dinner in a private room with food, more rum cocktails, and rum tasting.

Bar Deco

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Inspired by the art deco period and America’s industrial roots, Bar Deco offers simple bar food and cocktails with globally-inspired flavors. Grab drinks after work with colleagues on their rooftop, or have a bite to eat before a game or concert across the street at the Verizon Center. Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Chicken Ramen 101 @ Bantam King

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​Bantam King will be offering their first "Chicken Ramen 101" - a lecture, demo, and tasting experience - beginning on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Featuring partners Executive Chef Katsuya Fukushima and Daisuke Utagawa (of Daikaya fame), the dynamic duo will continue to educate and satiate scores of ​ramen lovers by hosting the first round of classes in November, with additional dates to be announced in the near future.  I was invited to a sneak "slurp" preview and share my insider pictures below.

Alta Strada

Alta Strada is an Italian restaurant from Chef Michael Schlow, named “Best Chef in the Northeast” by the James Beard Foundation. His ability to capture a variety of global cuisines and techniques has led to appearances on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters as well as other popular late night shows.  Closest Metro is Chinatown-Gallery Place.

Pizza Making Class @ Graffiato

Did you know October is National Pizza Month? In its honor, I took a pizza making class at Graffiato led by Chef de Cuisine, Jose Adorno.  Classes were offered every Sunday this month and my dear friend, Lucinda, was in town so I thought this would be a perfect way to spend the night and catch up with her.  Plus, she and her husband are big Mike Isabella fans, so she was just as thrilled to dine here. 

Texas de Brazil

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There is a new Brazilian steakhouse in the Mount Vernon Triangle/Chinatown area of town called Texas de Brazil.  This award-winning churrascaria is located in an 8,700 square foot restaurant that features a chef's table, a private dining room, a signature wine wall and a bar/lounge area called Beijos. The space accommodates 280 guests inside and also offers outdoor patio dining. The restaurant’s menu combines the cuisine of Southern Brazil with the generous spirit of Texas, for a dining experience unmatched anywhere else. Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Del Campo

The lifestyle and food culture celebrated on an estancia, a large South American vineyard estate, is the inspiration for Victor Albisu’s flagship restaurant, Del Campo, in the Chinatown neighborhood of DC.  As the website describes: "The airy, 174-seat agrarian space is home to a meat-driven, wine-centric menu that is a product of Albisu’s Latin American roots and travels throughout Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. An extensive selection of steaks and various slow-roasted meats served with vibrant herb sauces, such as chimichurris and fresh salsas is the backbone of Del Campo's menu."  Closest Metro is Chinatown-Gallery Place.

Zengo

Zengo is a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant with trendy, hip, and colorful decor located conveniently off the Chinatown Metro stop. They have a split dining room and a small bar area. I have heard that the cocktails are superb, but have not tried one myself yet. The service is friendly yet can be a bit rushed to keep up with the busy flow of patrons. Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Reader Question: Casual Birthday Celebration

With the nicer weather finally upon us, now is the great time to dine out with groups, especially for birthday celebrations.  My latest question came from a reader looking for just that - where to have moderately priced meals with great drinks, and music in the background.  Here is a quick response:  

Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is "dedicated to a continued exploration of Cuban heritage, art, music, flavors and traditions. The open-air setting, tropical ambiance, vintage décor, upbeat Latin music and Concept Chef/Partner, Guillermo Pernot's delectable menu of 'Nuevo Cubano' dishes and traditional favorites, make all of our restaurants a must-see, must-experience dining destination." Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Chinatown Garden

This traditional Chinese restaurant is my most favorite in the city. Located conveniently off the Chinatown Metro stop, this place is not flashy, yet offers great service and food for a great price. The dining area is quite large and perfect for large lunch groups, tourists groups, families, or first dates. The service is friendly and the food flies out of the kitchen, piping hot and fresh. Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Matchbox

This vintage wood-fire pizza bistro is conveniently located in Chinatown and features trendy appetizers and cocktails. The restaurant tends to get super busy, so I recommend putting your name on the list and grabbing a drink at the bar while you wait. A second location along Barracks Row in Capitol Hill location seems much larger than the Chinatown spot with two dining levels, plus a larger bar area. In the summer months, outdoor dining is available under umbrellas along the sidewalk in front. Closest Metro is Chinatown/Gallery Place or Eastern Market.

Nando's Peri-Peri

A self-service import by way of South Africa, Nando's Peri-Peri features Portuguese flame-grilled chicken served fast and tasty in a newly renovated space. Decorated with African art, a mix of modern and eclectic lighting, and simple wooden tables and chairs, Nando's is a refreshing surprise and change to the chain restaurants that adorn the Chinatown area.

Asian Spice

Last date I was here: 10/2/2009

Restaurant: Asian Spice (http://www.asianspice.us/)

Location: Chinatown

Total Rating: 4.05
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This Asian fusion restaurant in Chinatown is fairly new and offers delicious spicy twists on classic Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai dishes. Very clean and modern décor, the large dining area is split on two levels. A great spot for groups and happy hour gatherings. Closest Metro is Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Went for dinner on a Friday night and the restaurant was already buzzing. Service was a little slow and confusing since there were several waiters just standing on the sidelines chatting while there were several tables sitting for a while with their menus down. We saw several items that looked interesting and I was very excited to see some authentic Asian dishes that you don’t normally see at trendy restaurants. They also had some interesting selections of sake and other fun cocktails. Our food was very fresh and tasty – a little on the tame side in terms but nevertheless very good. I would eat at Asian Spice again.

What I ate:

Roll Combination
Spicy tuna roll, Crunchy Shrimp roll, California roll

Drunken Noodles
Soba noodles with clams, tomatoes, basil, red bell peppers and a spicy sake sauce

Plus Keith ate:

Tom Ka Gai
Spicy Thai coconut soup with lemon grass, chicken, mushrooms