Arlo Hotel opens, complete with Arrels Restaurant and a Rooftop Bar

D.C.’s oldest surviving apartment building, the 1888 Harrison Apartments, has been transformed into a glamorous new 445-room hotel, Arlo Washington D.C. The hotel’s highlights include a gorgeous rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as the flagship restaurant named Arrels. Helmed by Chef Pepe Moncayo, Arrels means “roots” in Catalan to honor the Chef’s Spanish heritage. Standout dishes on the menu include the crispiest patatas bravas, served in a charming cone alongside a puddle of garlicky aioli, grilled gem lettuce crowned with a snowy mountain of Manchego cheese, chewy mushroom fideos, and, of course, flaky, sugar-coated churros served with a dense chocolate sauce.

Dupont Circle Hotel’s Pembroke Sunday Suppers

In the fall of 2024, The Pembroke, the gorgeous, glass-enclosed restaurant located on the first floor of D.C.’s Dupont Circle hotel, launched a new Sunday Supper series. Each month, a different member of The Pembroke’s talented culinary team will curate a prix-fixe, family-style meal, using fresh ingredients from the market, that honors their own personal culture. Guests can choose to dine just with their party, or,  in the dinner’s spirit of gathering, sit at the community table with whomever else is there that evening.

We were lucky enough to attend the inaugural supper, which had a Sicilian theme. (And as you know, we at the Dining Traveler love all things Sicilian!) The family-style meal included sfincione, a garlicky parmesan-dusted Sicilian pizza, panelle, crunchy chickpea flour crackers, stuffed cabbage, grilled romano beans, roasted cauliflower with almonds, mint, lemon, and chilies, and hearty braised beans. Dessert was a marvel; not-too-sweet ricotta cake arrived topped with warm roasted plums and peaches, and the creamiest chocolate chip gelato was too good not to finish. This is a D.C. hotel experience you don’t want to miss!    

Hotel Heron’s Debuts New Cocktail Bar, Francis Hall

Old Town Alexandria’s Hotel Heron, right outside of D.C. just opened Francis Hall, a craft cocktail bar offering a boozy D.C. hotel experience. The menu features about 30 drinks, including gems like Frank’s Punch, a strong combination of corn whiskey, mezcal, clementine, and suze, and a Negroni that is served as a frozen sorbet with mezcal, vermouth, citrus, and chocolate, and made table-side with liquid nitrogen for an extra special experience.

The Fire Garden at Park Hyatt’s Blue Duck Tavern

Lots of local outdoor patios have closed for the winter, but if you love to enjoy the fresh air even when temperatures are low, visit the new fire garden at Blue Duck Tavern for a super seasonal D.C. hotel experience. The newly created outdoor oasis features firepits and cozy blankets on the terrace and a fun menu of seasonal cocktails like a gingerbread martini, made with vanilla vodka, Irish cream, and ginger, and a chai white Russian, featuring chai-spiced cream, spiced rum, and cinnamon. There is also a series of drinks that incorporate at least one ingredient or garnish that was sourced directly from the hotel’s rooftop garden, like the sweet potato old fashioned with rum blend, sweet potato syrup, angostura bitters, and pecan bitters, garnished with dehydrated orange and two charred meringue cubes. Also part of the series are the golden pear with pear ginger vodka, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, ginger syrup, and angostura bitters, garnished with dried pear, and the Park DC cider with apple, cinnamon- and clove-infused bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, cranberry and ginger syrup, served in a cider mug and garnished with a cinnamon stick. 

Kimpton Hotel Monaco’s Winter Chalet

Dirty Habit has transformed its outdoor patio into a cozy winter chalet with fire pits, blankets, and a snow cannon, offering a lovely festive D.C. hotel experience. Seasonal beverages include warm concoctions like hot toddies, hot chocolate, and mulled wine. Don’t forget to order some of their famous truffle frites!

Visitation Hotel Frederick is the first new hotel to open in Frederick, MD in 50 years

Visitation Hotel Frederick, the first new hotel to open in Frederick, Maryland in the last 50 years, is housed in a space that was formerly a convent and Catholic school, which has been renovated into a 65-room boutique hotel. Celebrity chef siblings Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are opening their first joint restaurant in their hometown inside the Visitation, called Wye Oak Tavern, and the venue is a great spot from which you can explore historic downtown Frederick.

The post Six new hotel experiences in and around D.C. appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

The Food

The menu at Ceibo is small, but full of gems. Kick things off with the house-made bread and butter, and maybe the green herb salad. Salad is boring, you say? Not Ceibo’s–with pearl onions and shards of a gorgeous, fruity Venetian cheese called Ubriaco Rosso, dressed in a light sherry vinaigrette, this salad is perfect for wetting your palate without filling you up.

Next: plums served on a pillowy bed of creamy ricotta cheese, adorned with candied peanuts and honey to complement the plums. But the leek tart is the highlight of the menu. The buttery puff pastry cup, taleggio cheese, and delicate onion flavor of leeks make for a winning combination. Uruguayans are famous for their love of cheese, and chef Nacho Olivera is no exception. He proudly highlights the wide variety of cheeses that are popular in Uruguay.

Alongside your leek tart, be sure to sample the white asparagus. At Ceibo, the delicate spears are soaked in a velvety beurre blanc sauce, and topped with crispy breadcrumbs to add crunch. Craving more? Pickled eggplant in an eggplant ragu, hearty potato wedges, and oysters are also on the menu. But you may (must!) want to save room for dessert. The chocolate cake is a dream, with a generous pour of sweet dulce de leche sauce, as are the sweet and bright strawberries with lemon meringue. Don’t leave without ordering the Marti Fierro, a traditional Uruguayan dessert consisting of cheese topped with quince paste. Simple but delicious, the dish is named after Martín Fierro, who was an activist for gauchos, Uruguayan cowboys, as this was his favorite dessert.

The Drinks

If you fancy a cocktail, try the pomelo, gin, grapefruit, orange, and yerba mate beverage, which showcases the beloved South American tea. For wine, don’t pass over the Uruguay red wine, made with tannat, Uruguya’s national grape that oozes with spiciness and depth of flavor.

The Vibe at Ceibo

Ceibo is quiet, cozy, and intimate. It’s great for dinner with a date or a small group of friends. The staff is friendly and eager to share their tips on what to order. There’s nothing not to love!

The Verdict

Ceibo is a special addition to the Adams Morgan neighborhood and will quickly become a date night favorite!

The post Ceibo showcases the multi-cultural cuisine of Uruguay & Argentina appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

The Food at Aventino

Like all of Mike Friedman’s spots, the Italian fare at Aventino is hearty and mouth-watering. Kick off your meal with a traditional Roman flatbread called pizza rossa, simply topped with a jammy tomato conserva, sea salt and Sicilian oregano, and meaty artichokes smothered in buttery and crispy breadcrumbs and a lemony dressing, with elegant mint leaves as a garnish. From there, choose from a variety of pastas. For something decadent, try the cacio e pepe. Made with thick spaghetti strands called tonnarelli, the cheese and black pepper sauce is like a warm blanket that will wrap you up from the inside out. The ricotta-stuffed cappelletti is another great choice, with a creamy sunchoke-infused sauce and sunchoke chips for a crunchy note. Dessert options are equally as irresistible; the budino with dark chocolate ganache is decadent and luscious; the Amalfi lemon float is fun and unique with vanilla gelato and lemon granita doused in a juniper soda, and the apple cake comes with a gorgeous olive oil gelato that is just the right combination of sweet-salty-fruity-creamy.

The Drinks

Ranging from fun and unique to classic, there is a cocktail for everyone on this menu. For drinks on the lighter side, try the Sicilian spritz for something lesser known, made with Lambrusco and blood orange, or a classic Aperol spritz. For a boozier option, there is the pink lotus with Aperol, gin, lemon, egg white, and orange bitters, or a standard delicious negroni with gin, Campari, and vermouth.

The Vibe

The golden light fixtures, velvety bar stools surrounding the oval-shaped bar, and warm wooden floors are all recipes for an inviting dining experience. The staff is as warm and friendly as the décor, and the only issue will be getting a reservation at this already well-known spot.

The Verdict

This is already our new favorite spot in Bethesda! Aventino can get busy so make sure to reserve in advance. If you’re in Washington, D.C., check Mike Friedman’s other spots too. The Red Hen is also one of our favorites!

The post The Team Behind All-Purpose Opens Aventino in Bethesda appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

Ilili DC

With its colorful interior, spacious windows, gorgeous hanging plants, and dangling gold light fixtures, Ilili is quite the place to dine. Lately, Ilili has started lunch services, which include a variety of unique dishes. You can design your meal as you fit. Maybe a series of mezza with hummus, labneh, or olives is all you need; maybe you prefer a salad, or maybe your appetite is calling for a full entrée. Whatever you choose, there are several standout dishes to keep in mind.

First, the hummus, made inhouse, which is so silky smooth it is practically buttery. You may choose to order your hummus with a topping; for something spicy, try the jalapenos; for a bit of crunch, add a sprinkling of the rich pine nuts, and if you are craving a meaty element, go with the umami sauteed wild mushrooms. Baba ghanoush is also a treat, super smoky and earthy, and the tabbouleh is bright, fresh, and tart. Perhaps best of all is the fatayer, with heaps of melted cheese, a doughy crust, and a drizzle of fragrant lavender honey. The fattoush salad is sunny and light, and the falafel is made with chickpeas and fava beans for an extra nutty kick.

If your lunch can include a cocktail, sample the thyme after thyme, which is light but brimming with earthy and bitter notes. The baklava, made with walnuts and pistachios, is flaky and sweet and begs to be eaten alongside a cup of Turkish coffee. You can make your lunch at Ilili quick one, but the ambiance and cuisine beckon you to dine, indulge, imbibe, and luxuriate in the gorgeous setting with impeccable fare.

Cranes

The fusion fare at Cranes is one of the best in the DMV, and now you can try Chef Pep Moncayo’s dishes at lunchtime. Delicate dumplings, where mashed edamame is enrobed in dumpling wrappers, steamed, and then doused with a buttery sauce with a sprinkling of spring peas, are sublime, as are the meaty mushroom gyoza. The red miso ramen is the star of the menu, with springy noodles, cubes of tofu in a sweet glazed miso sauce, a bold, savory tomato and miso broth, and lots of earthy veggies like grilled bok choy. For those who can’t decide, choose the bento box menu with several options from the menu. Close your meal with the yuzu cheesecake: it is undoubtedly the creamiest cheesecake you will ever have the pleasure of eating, and the contrast of the tart, acidic yuzu, and calamansi to the luscious cheese is sublime.

Seven Reasons

There are many updates related to Seven Reasons, including a new space down in CityCenterDC and a spectacular new brunch menu. From the finger-linking melted cheese tequeños, served with dollops of guava jam, to the irresistible avocado dip, served with egg yolk, to the crunchy waffles to the traditional Venezuelan breakfast with eggs, black beans, arepas, and fried cheese, this brunch has something for everyone. Vegans will appreciate the impossible burger, and those with a sweet tooth will not want to pass up the tres leches or mango flan. The brunch cocktails include pina coladas, espresso martinis, bloody marys, and tropical aperol spritzs. The brunch is a delight!

The Verdict

Visit all of these spots!

The post A trio of tasty lunches and brunches in Washington, D.C. appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

Pascual

The Culinary Theme: Pascual chefs Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, who hails from Mexico City, seek to showcase the diversity of Mexican cuisines and flavors. You can expect dishes from Oaxaca, Mexico City, and other localities across Mexico.

The Food and Drinks: The kitchen at Pasqual revolves around their wood-fired grill, and an element of every dish on the menu at least touched or rested above the wood grill, giving a smoky note to every item. Kick off your meal with an order of the guacamole, which comes a trio of salsas on the side, pickled veggies and crispy, freshly fried tostadas. Next, dive into garbanzos served on a bed of a vegetarian green chorizo flan and adorned with peppery santa hoja, a Mexican herb. The parsnip tamal comes drenched in a gorgeous blanco mole, a nutty mole hailing from Oaxaca, and is traditionally served to brides at their weddings because of its creamy white color. The fideos is one of the best dishes on the menu, with heaps of smoky mushrooms, huitlacoche, and black garlic. The earthy flavors and chewy texture of the dish are extraordinary. For dessert, try the buñuelo, a fun and surprisingly light dessert that comes fresh from the fryer with two sauces for dipping, one chocolate and one dulce de leche. Their cocktail menu features several mezcal concoctions; go with the Pascual Oaxacan Old Fashioned if you want to stick with the smokey theme, and those abstaining will love the non-alcoholic margarita.

The Vibe: The staff are warm and friendly, the dining room is small and cozy, and the restaurant is low with a shared love of exquisite food and carefully crafted beverages.

El Presidente

The Culinary Theme: The food at Stephen Starr’s newest DC venture, El Presidente, emphasizes dishes from Mexico City, and the massive menu has something for everyone.

The Food & Drinks: First, you need to order nachos. Smothered in melted cheese, beans, tart pickled onions, and a simple tomato salsa, these nachos are the perfect sharing dish to start your meal. Then – go crazy and order as many items as you want! Grilled Mexican street corn with chipotle mayo is sweet and rich and spicy all at once. Black bean enchiladas are cheesy and bold, and build-your-own mushroom tacos come with hunks of meaty portabellas, chewy charro beans, guacamole, and grilled shishito peppers. The drinks menu is equally extensive and tempting: there is a sweet frozen pineapple margarita, beer cocktails, and an impressive list of mezcals and tequilas.

The Vibe: The ornate and whimsical dining room of El President, located by Union Market, is just one of the many draws to this Mexican restaurant.

Amparo Fondita

The Culinary Theme: Amparo Fondita focuses on contemporary dishes from different states around Mexico. The restaurant seeks to honor Mexico’s culinary heritage and diversity through seasonal, heirloom ingredients. The result? Unique, super tasty dishes.

The Food & Drinks: Amparo’s several menu sections offer choices of botanos (which are small bites), tacos, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Our advice: choose something from every section! From the botanos, order the quesadilla which is oozing with melted cheese and huitlacoche, featuring a heady truffle taste. From the taco section, the Swiss chard and potato option with its nutty pumpkin seed crema is meaty and filling. Main dishes skew to the traditional with choices such as various iterations of chili relleno. The fried plantains are sweet and glistening with butter and are served with a fiery salsa Negra as a side. Margaritas are a must and finish your meal with a sweet slice of tres leches cake, topped with bright crescents of mandarin oranges and bright pink raspberries.

The Vibe: Located in Dupont Circle, the restaurant has a warm and inviting ambiance with low lighting and booths that invite sharing and talking. Perfect for a group of friends who want to luxuriate over dishes and indulge in a bevy of beverages.

The post A Snapshot of D.C.’s Newest Mexican Restaurants appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

The Vibe

The warm and inviting dining room at Mita includes an elegant modern bar, spacious dining area, and open kitchen. The rustic earth tones, array of green plants, and floor-to-ceiling windows add to the ambiance and create a rustic but elegant scene for your dining experience.

The Food at Mita

Now, let’s get to the most important part: the food! Mita’s innovative 14-course menu, divided into four “acts,” opens with a fun surprise: sweet and savory tamarind and mango candies wrapped in edible paper. Chewy and crispy, the treat kicks off the meal in the most delightful fashion. From there, the meal only gets dreamier. The endless, enticing parade of dishes includes a Venezuelan beverage called papelón, made with a non-alcoholic rum and served with a piece of sugarcane. The bread course includes a variety of mini arepas, some made with potato, others with yucca, and others with plantains, and a trio of dips including a sinfully creamy avocado dip; and a soup course that features a fluffy arracacha soup, made with the starchy, slightly sweet Andean root vegetable, and drizzled with a woodsy mushroom dashi. The dish is brimming with gentle earth tones and just the right balance of sweet and savory.

Other highlights include a savory watermelon dish with fermented carrots; an open-faced tortilla topped with a heady concoction of squash, kale, piquant green mole, and meaty huitlacoche; a delightful asado negro made with mushrooms, served on a bed of creamy corn and adorned with crispy onions. The textures and colors play a vibrant role in each dish, and the Latin American flavors, ranging from cilantro to sweet plantains to coconut, are ever-present and dynamic.

The dessert courses are as sublime as the savory courses. The winner is the one called Salar Uyuni, which is designed to resemble the famous Bolivian salt flats. It features a yuca cake crowned with a crunchy white tuile.

The Drinks

Mita’s wine list features off-the-beaten-path natural and sustainable wines, and the full bar offers any cocktail your heart desires. Try one of Lou Bernard’s famed Singhani cocktails, formerly of Casa Kantuta.

The Verdict

Mita is an epic, unique dining experience. Make your reservation now.

The post First Look at Mita, Washington, D.C.’s First Plant-Based Latin American Restaurant appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

There’s nothing like the sound of a Champagne bottle popping to signify a special occasion. In this day and age, restaurants and wine shops are full of a plethora of options of both Champagnes and sparkling wines from around the world, ranging from Spanish Cava to Italian Lambrusco to French Crémant, but there is something extra fun about visiting a bar that is specifically dedicated to bubbles. This Valentine’s Day, or the next time you have something to celebrate, or even for no reason at all, visit one of the Champagne bars in D.C. with your partner or bestie or to toast yourself.

For a French-themed fizz bar experience: Apero

If you want to feel like you are enjoying a glass of champagne in a Parisian café in France, Apero, located in Georgetown, is the place for you. This intimate wine and Champagne bar in D.C. offers a cozy and chic space to indulge in a glass or bottle of sparkling wine alongside classic French fare. The menu of champagnes and sparkling wines is extensive; feel free to ask your server for a recommendation, and they will be more than happy to guide you. Pair your beverage with crunchy potato chips served with French onion dip or decadent black truffle and Gruyère gougères, and you have the recipe for an extraordinary evening.

For a fizz bar experience with fizzy cocktails: Bar Jo

Located inside Josephine’s, a French brassiere in Alexandra, Bar Jo is a charming hidden bar within the restaurant that specializes in bubbles and fizzy cocktails. The bubbly cocktails include gems like Hemingway’s kir royal, a boozy twist on a Kir Royal where the sparkling wine and cassis are combined with absinthe, the pamplemousse spritz, with vodka, grapefruit, lime, and sparkling wine for those who love a bitter element, and the classic champagne cocktail, with sparkling wine, sugar, and bitters, for those who love a cocktail with a hint of sweetness. Feeling peckish? Sample one of the many items on the French-themed menu, including butternut squash soup, Marconi gratin, and a daily changing cheese plate.

For a fun and casual fizz bar experience: Pop

From the catchy pop tunes to the sound of bottles popping, you are immediately set up for a fun evening as soon as you walk through the door of Pop. This champagne bar in D.C. or “fizz bar” is located in Shaw, from the same folks who brought you Maxwell, one of the most popular wine bars in the city. Choose something from the extensive list of bubbles; there is champagne by the glass and half bottle, which allows you the opportunity to sample several different kinds of sparkling wine, and there is also a lengthy bottle list if you feel like splurging. The bar even has options for fizzy canned cocktails like a Negroni made with Lambrusco and a cucumber and lemon-lime hard seltzer. Lowbrow snacks eliminate any pretension that comes with the word champagne; indulge in fried pickles, truffle fries, and Detroit-style pizza, all of which pair surprisingly well with a glass of bubbly.

The post A Look at Our Favorite Champagne Bars in D.C. appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

For a glass of Champagne: Bar Jo

There’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a glass of champagne, and there’s no better place to enjoy a glass of bubbles than at a champagne bar – namely, Bar Jo’s, the cozy champagne bar inside Josephine’s in Old Town Alexandria. The list of champagnes by the glass and bottle is extensive, and the menu of champagne cocktails includes something for everyone. There is the boozy Hemingway’s Kir Royale, a twist on a classic Kir Royale with absinthe, the light and airy Lighter Side of A, a wine-based aperitif with sparkling wine and lemon, and the tropical Alpine Airmail, with rum, peach, lime and of course, sparkling wine. The venue even offers a sparking wine negroni! Enjoy your champagne with a cheese plate, or, for something indulgent, the creamiest macaroni au gratin in town.

For happy hour with a wintery vibe: Dirty Habit’s Ski Chalet

The iconic Kimpton Hotel Monaco converts the patio of its restaurant, Dirty Habit, into a ski chalet every winter to set a seasonal vibe for guests. There are fire pits, cozy blankets, and of course, winter-themed beverages such as a warm espresso martini, a cranberry sparkling wine beverage, mulled wine, and more. Be sure to visit the annual Penn Quarter holiday market before or after happy hour, located right in front of the hotel.

For the best holiday cookies: Levain Bakery

The cookie tin at Levain Bakery, with locations both in Georgetown and Bethesda, is guaranteed to chase away any winter blues. The dark chocolate peppermint is sinfully rich, the chocolate chip walnut is crunchy, and the oatmeal raisin is a classic. If you are buying one as a gift, get one for yourself too!

For a cozy brunch: The Tabard Inn Restaurant

The Tabard Inn welcomes you with a cozy lounge complete with a fireplace, which leads to several small rooms with dining tables and an enclosed patio with heat lamps. In addition to that, their brunch menu has all the comfort foods you crave in winter. Flaky, butter biscuits, latkes topped with eggs and gravy, pear-topped pancakes, and best of all, irresistible house-made donuts.

For a lunch of classic Italian comfort food: Claudio’s Table

There’s nothing as comforting as pasta when the temperatures drop, and so Claudio’s Table, which just opened in Palisades, is the perfect spot for a winter lunch. Indulge in arancini, where creamy spheres of risotto are enrobed in a crunchy exterior, cheesy cacio e pepe pasta, hearty eggplant parmesan smothered in mozzarella cheese, classic margherita pizza with burnt edges, and, of course, sweet cannoli.

Happy holidays!

The post Holiday Dining Options in Washington D.C.: 5 Places for Holiday Treats appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

PLNT Burger’s Save the Bay Fillet

Dare I say it, but Spike Mendelsohn’s PLNT burger has debuted its best veggie burger yet which definitely qualifies as one of this summer’s best vegetarian dishes. The Save the Bay burger is a vegan fish burger that is crunchy, meaty, and features a distinctive seafood flavor profile. Made with Good Catch Food’s crispy fish-free filet, the burger comes on a butter-toasted potato bun with house-made tartar sauce, pickles, and shredded lettuce. It is a satisfying, crispy dream. Be sure to get some onion bloomies or tarragon dusted fries on the side, and a cool strawberry milkshake to wash it all down!

Oyster Oyster’s Corn Soup

This is no ordinary corn soup. The sweetest of baby corn, combined with filet beans and potato, come swimming in a gorgeous chilled peanut broth. It’s cool, it’s refreshing, and it’s brimming with the sweetness of summer. Everything at Oyster Oyster is a dream, whether you are vegetarian or not! It’s definitely one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants in DC. Swing by for a meal that is designed around the season’s best ingredients.

Makan’s Pineapple Curry

Nothing says summer like pineapple, and one of D.C.’s best Malaysian restaurants, Makan, is serving up a savory vegetarian dish where this tropical fruit is the star. You may imagine this dish to be super sweet but in fact, with the addition of warm spices like cloves and cinnamon, and aromatics like ginger and garlic, the dish is heady and savory. Crunchy shallots provide a great texture in contrast to the soft chunks of pineapple, and white rice is served on the side as an accompaniment. Enjoy it with one of Makan’s summery cocktails!

Centrolina’s Ravioli

It is no secret that I love everything Amy Brandwein makes, but her summer dishes are truly my favorite. Her corn and ricotta ravioli, adorned with chanterelle mushrooms and soaked in heady truffle butter, is what heaven tastes like. Centrolina’s menu is full of vegetarian summer dishes, featuring heirloom tomatoes, figs, basil, and other seasonal ingredients.

Karma Modern Indian’s Pesto Paneer

Karma has not one, not two but three paneer dishes on the menu. All three are vegetarian; one is with paneer and saffron, another is with heirloom tomatoes, and the third is with a bold, bright emerald green pesto. I personally love them all but the one with the pesto I order every time. Chewy chunks of paneer come in a doused in the basil pesto, and served in a puddle of sweet and spicy dipping sauce. It’s perfect for sharing, or you can have it all to yourself!

Colada Shop’s Corn Empanada

Sweet and savory at the same time, Colada Shop’s seasonal empanada is a summer corn empanada. This vegetarian dish will keep you happy all summer. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the outside, these empanadas are seriously addictive! Have one with one (or more!) of Colada Shop’s famous pina coladas. Try one at any of Colada Shop’s spots around D.C., Maryland, or Virginia.

The post Vegetarian Dishes You Need to Try This Summer in DC appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

The Vibe

The Pembroke oozes old world charm, with gorgeous, ornate chandeliers, stunning floor to ceiling windows, and marble tables. Service is impeccable, with servers catering to your every need. Take a seat on the patio or at one of the tables lined up along the floor to ceiling windows so you can people watch. Cozy booths are also available for larger parties.

The Food

From classic brunch fare like eggs benedict and berry pancakes to the more hipster options of avocado toast and a superfood salad, everyone will be satisfied at The Pembroke. I opted for the avocado toast which featured grilled country bread crowned with layers of sliced avocado and adorned with crunchy radishes and sweet roasted tomatoes. My husband sampled the falafel, which came stuffed in a za’atar doused pita with a savory pea hummus, pickled onions, and garlicky tzatziki sauce. On the side, the rosti, featuring discs of savory mashed potatoes and herb dusted fries, are perfect. For something on the sweeter side, I highly recommend pancakes or baked French toast. Brunch cocktails are in abundance at The Pembroke; I went with a classic mimosa because it had been so long since I drank one!

The Verdict

The Pembroke is the spot for a leisurely, elegant brunch in DC. While away the afternoon over mimosas and then freshly brewed cappuccinos while you gaze at the happenings of Dupont Circle through the window. Brunching and people-watching are a sport in DC, and The Pembroke is a great place for it!

The post An Elegant Brunch in DC: The Pembroke appeared first on The Dining Traveler.