Romantic Lunch(!) in DC?
As a somewhat challenging question to 'Hounds out there, can anyone suggest a good choice romantic or intimate lunch in the city? We're dropping down this Friday from Baltimore on our anniversary. Dinner plans are already set, but I'm stumped for a good lunch suggestion,.
Any and all cusines can apply, setting and unique experiences are a bonus.
Thanks!
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Thanks everyone for your recommendations. We're going to try Rasika -- the menu intrigued us -- and may combine that with an afternoon drink at POV. (Who can pass up rooftop snipers?!) We've been to Blue Duck before and liked it but it didn't seem the right space. Tabard Inn was tempting but I think better reserved for when it is not in the 90's and August.
I'll give a postmortem when we get back.
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Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004Tabard Inn
1739 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036›1 Reply-
re: zebcook
Thank you everyone for your help! We went to Rakisa for a late lunch after a visit to the American Indian museum (it didn't exist when I last lived here) and had a wonderful time. Yes, the room was noisy as warned, but it looked nice, our service was excellent and the selection of small plates made for a perfect lunch. We had just chatty enough waiter to makes things pleasant without being annoying. Although he pushed the "signature" dish, spinach palak, we opted for small plates, starting with the banana-avocado chaat -- a mold of avocado and tamarind-date chutney with a couple of slices of fried banana. Flavor was very good -- tart-sweet with a little heat and the creaminess of the avocado. After that came the asparagus uttapam -- a light rice pancake coated with thin slices of asparagus and mint chutney. The asparagus was well-suited to the sour of the uttapam and was one of the three best things we had. The moongphali tikka -- chicken kabob pieces with a spicy peanut marinade wasn't as successful. I was expecting something with a creamier sauce but instead it was dry chicken chunks with a peanut marinade. On the other hand, the chili spiced scallops were perfectly cooked, moist on the inside and ready to fall apart. The other big hits were the naan stuffed with goat cheese (combined with the mint chutney we could probably have lived on this stuff) and the lychee-mint-rose water sorbet. The rose water comes on strong, followed by the mint, but the more delicate lychee flavor forms the foundation. Plus the fresh strawberry garnish didn't hurt.
We didn't make it to POV, so we'll have to save toasting the snipers for another day.
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I would get a lunch reservation at the Tabard Inn and dine in the outdoor courtyard. I think it is one of the most charming and romantic spots in the city.
Another option would be Bistro Cacao up on Capitol Hill (if you like french food).
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Tabard Inn
1739 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036Bistro Cacao
320 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002 -
If it's really about the ambiance, you just want something light, and the food is not your first priority, go to the POV lounge at the W Hotel - make sure you ask for a table outside. It's just a gorgeous setting, and you can (probably) still get a lunch reservation if you hurry. And at lunch, it's definitely romantic if modern - not at all the crowded happy hour scene it is later. I had a really nice watermelon and goat cheese salad there, but, like I said, it's not bad, but it's nothing special food-wise. Nice - very pricey - cocktails, however. You'd probably blow about $60-$75 - less if you skip my figuring of one cocktail apiece and just get beer or non-alcoholic drinks. The draw is that it is one of the best views in all of Washington. I doubt you can get a similar view of the White House anywhere else, actually. It looks impossibly close from the railing.
Otherwise, I second the patio at the Tabard Inn and would add the patio at Blue Duck Tavern, both of which will be very close to you in Dupont.
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re: Raids
hill food
Aug 4, 2010 11:01 PM
POV - ha! in it's last incarnation a neighboring table offered to tip the waiter extra if the champagne cork hit the WH (different administration) it is a very DC moment/place as you can check out the roof top secret service snipers if they're out. beforehand grab a sandwich nearby, watch the ducks in the park across from the Willard and just go to the W for a coupla drinks.
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re: tcamp
If the weather is pleasant, the patio of Tabard is one of the most delightful and romantic places in the city to dine. Sette Osteria can be nice for simple pastas, and it also has a nice patio. If you weren't having tapas for dinner, I would also suggest Ezme.
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Sette Osteria
1666 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
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hmmm, you leave the field wide open. Could you narrow it a little? What are your dinner plans? Do you have a price range? Will you be sightseeing?
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re: hill food
Mostly shopping and wandering around, not much touristic sightseeing. Don't want to fuss with picnics (and don't want to be dependent on the weather). Will be in the Dupont Circle area, but will have a car and don't mind driving. Dinner is tapas. Would prefer not to go broke. Shopping will already do that.
Personally while we're both happy with everything from lunch counters at the back of ethnic groceries to formal French meals, looking for something with a not heavy menu and an interesting time -- be it the service, the view from the window, the ambience, the music, or something I'm not likely to find elsewhere.
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re: zebcook
My first thought was Bistro D'Oc until you said no heavy French. You don't have to do heavy French there, but it is so gorgeous inside, so charming. Another place that I think is lovely inside with great food is Rasika, for creative, excellent Indian. It can get loud, but since it's a bit darker, with lovely draped fabrics, I think of it as romantic.
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Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004Bistro D'Oc
518 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
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