Switzerland will always hold a special place in my heart because my husband and I met and went on our first date in the lovely Swiss city of Geneva. I was so excited to learn that there is a Swiss restaurant in Washington, DC: Stable. And after visiting the venue, I am even more excited. The atmosphere is as warm and cozy as a Swiss café, and the food is the best of Swiss comfort fare. Calling all Swiss-ophiles, cheese lovers and aficionados of wine and good food: we have found the perfect spot for your next dinner date.
The Beginning
Your meal at Stable will open with all things cheese. I highly recommend including the tete de moine in your appetizer selection. Tete de moine is my absolute favorite cheese in the world. It’s a cow’s milk cheese that comes from the French-speaking area of Bern in Switzerland. The cheese is typically cut with a girolle, which shaves the cheese to produce delicate petals of the cheese. At Stable, buttery rosettes of tete de moine are served with housemade pear bread, where hunks of sweet pear are enrobed in doughy bread. The sweetness of the pear is the perfect compliment to the uber-creamy cheese.
What to Order
Other great appetizers at Stable include crunchy gruyere puff pastry sticks, luscious cheese fondue served with hunks of white bread for dipping or the ramp spaetzle, where bouncy ramp infused egg dumplings are smothered in a velvety cheese sauce and adorned with a crispy onion for texture and a hint of sweetness.
About the Entrees
Entrees are as hearty as the appetizers so be sure to come to this Swiss dining experience hungry! The housemade spaghettini is irresistible, and is served with tableside grated belper knolle cheese. The noodles are cooked a la dente and swirled into a peppery brown butter sauce before being crowned with shards of creamy cheese and a smattering of chopped parsley. It is pure decadence.
Others may enjoy the rosti, where potatoes are grated and cooked to a crisp in a skillet; at Stable the potatoes are layered with heirloom tomatoes and capped with shredded Gruyere cheese. Some of the dishes change seasonally; right now there is a white asparagus dish (the best kind of asparagus according to many Europeans!) that comes blanketed in a silky hollandaise sauce.
Happy Endings
Every good meal ends with dessert, especially every good Swiss meal. At Stable, you can indulge in sinfully perfect whipped chocolate mousse, crème brulee or an apple tarte tatin with bourbon ice cream. Frankly, you should just get all three. No one in Switzerland diets and these sweet dishes are too good to pass up!
Stable: The Verdict
Everything at Stable should be enjoyed with copious amount of wine; then you will really feel like you are in Europe! This is an awesome place for a date night. Not just for me and my husband (where we will certainly take a trip down memory lane every time we dine here!) but for anyone who enjoys a tasty meal in an intimate spot. If you’re looking for a Swiss restaurant in Washington, DC, Stable should be on your list.
Stable, 1324 H St NE, Washington, DC, Website
