Drinks: Cava Mezze

June 3, 2014 Russell W. Warnick

The ever expanding restaurant scene in Washington inevitably brings with it the ever expanding, and sophisticated cocktail menu, with Cava Mezze being no exception. Glendon Hartley helms the bar across the Cava restaurants, who you may know from BlackSalt, Lost Society and my office favorite, Founding Farmers.

I was invited for an evening of imbibing on Cava's Capitol Hill rooftop, a beautiful spot overlooking Barracks Row. The cocktails offer a twist on old favorites, Hartley brings a fresh and unique approach - the Huele De Noche (smell of night, thanks Google translate) brings together Angostura Bitters to provide balance to the sweetness of the Patron Blanco Tequila, mixed with fresh squeezed lime and coconut. As someone who can't nor shouldn't drink tequila straight up or stomach more than one margarita for being too sweet it was a nice alternative use of tequila.

Dining: Kapnos

June 2, 2014 Russell W. Warnick

There's very little to say about Kapnos that hasn't already been said, but I'll go ahead anyway and add my two cents - it has possibly one of the best brunches in the city - eggs, waffles, spit roasted meats, Greek coffee and the all important bottomless mimosa. I'm an indecisive diner, I tend to ask the server come to me last when taking an order, I want to know what my dining companions are having and I'm one of those people who can't order the same as someone else at my table, you know who you are. The problem with this is I get dish envy, I had wanted to order Spit Chicken and Waffles, but a friend beat me to it, and when it came out there was immediate regret. The Greek honey was almost reflective, drizzled over the crisp skin of the chicken, the server offered the option of all white meat which was taken up. This dish was the first to be finished, understandable. Don't get me wrong, the other dishes ordered at the table were great too, but not as impressive.

Dining: Dino's Grotto

May 29, 2014 Russell W. Warnick

It's been roughly three months since Dino's in Cleveland Park shuttered, but owner Dean Gold wasted no time in moving across town to Shaw in opening up Dino's Grotto, a more casual iteration of the former. The dining room is basic, simple furnishings with impressive Italian silk tapestries which Gold and his wife Kay have collected over the years from trips to Tuscany.

If you were a fan of Dino then you won't be disappointed with the Grotto, there are new dishes that you could say fit more in with the neighborhood, but there are regulars which are familiar - the pork & veal Lasagnette made the trek across town, as did the pappardelle Cinghiale; a bowl packed of house made noodles in a rich creamy tomato sauce with wild boar ragu. This is one of those dishes that you'll be hard pressed not to order on each visit. Another dish to consider, if you're wanting something a little heartier is Fusili al Forno - a dish loaded with Border Springs lamb meatballs combined with the best of Italian flavors - smoked mozzarella and tomatoes.

Dining: BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant

May 19, 2014 Russell W. Warnick

If you follow me on twitter you may know that I've been spending a little more time out of my comfort zone of Logan Circle and a lot more time in Upper NW, in particular Glover Park, which I've come to learn is a lot more central than you'd have thought. A short walk in any direction and you can find yourself in Cleveland Park, Georgetown, Cathedral Heights or the Palisades - which is where I found myself this past Saturday for brunch at BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant. It had been a year since my last and only visit here and as I've been eating less meat and more fish I was happy to spend more than I usually do for brunch, I just wish my wardrobe felt the same - my pastel colored polo shirt and shorts were a little too casual even for a Saturday morning - BlackSalt isn't stuffy per se, perhaps it's a reflection of the neighborhood it serves, but I'd recommend pants over shorts.

Brunch wasn't the only reason for visiting BlackSalt, some friends and I were heading out to Maryland for a night of camping along the C&O Canal and we wanted some fish to cook on the campfire, with a huge selection of sustainable fish we went with mahi for kabobs.

Back to brunch.

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