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.

Power Lunch at Jardenea at the Melrose Hotel

The decor:  It was the perfect place to take Mariella for lunch as she has an interior design company and blog.  We were taken by the shades of grey in the hotel, giving it a very cool and welcoming vibe.  As you enter, you see plush couches, pillows, and bookcases which make you think you’re in a very hip home.  Jardenea at the Melrose Hotel has a few tables facing the window and a more intimate seating area.  I preferred the informal seating area as it had tons of natural light (natural light = food blogger best friend for foodie photos).

The Food: We started with roasted oysters from southern Virginia.  Chef Nate Lindsay focuses on using as much local products as possible. He shared with us how he tries to reach out to local farmers and vendors to create menu that reflects the area and seasons.  We continued our meal with a delicious white asparagus bisque with a touch of truffle.  Although it is getting warmer in DC, the soup still felt light enough to accompany the spring weather.

A power lunch is not complete without salads.  The star was the kale salad with juicy cherry tomatoes, fragrant marcona almonds, and parmesan cheese.  The key of the greatness of this dish was the bacon vinaigrette, which gives it a savory touch. We were transported to more tropical lands with the ahi tuna with grilled pineapple and candied macadamia nuts. It’s a combination I would have never thought of, but it worked surprisingly well. Was not a big fan of the romaine lettuce on thetuna dish but everything else worked perfectly.

Dessert:  a requirement of lunch with friends is sharing dessert.  We couldn’t resist digging into the cream puff, they were light and airy with just enough cream to fill but not overwhelm.  We also shared a s’more inspired pastry with toasted marshmallow top.  Enjoyed that the desserts were not overly sweet and the portions were just right for sharing.  Tip: Definitely save room for dessert at Jardenea at the Melrose Hotel.  

The Verdict: Jardenea at the Melrose Hotel has all the checks: great service, beautiful setting, delicious and modestly priced dishes, and convenient location.  One of the things I enjoyed about this hidden gem was that it was as noisy as other lunch spots in the city. Is the perfect place to have a lunch among friends or a business meeting.  The Dining Traveler recommends!

I dined at Jardenea at the invitation of the Melrose Hotel. As always, opinions are my own.

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