April delivers everything from our favorite new private dining rooms to a new Italian resto with culinary pedigree.
The Can’t Sleep at Night cocktail at the new Press Club
PRESS CLUB
Let us now praise almighty vinyl. A love of music inspired this new lounge near Dupont Circle from cocktail industry vets Will Patton and Devin Kennedy. The venue offers two experiences: the classic Track List menu featuring rotating cocktails and the curated Play List menu with seasonal flights. Designed by Make Design Studios, Press Club captures the essence of vinyl with its cocktail arrangements resembling the flow of a record. We love the early drink menu, especially the Blondie homage known as Heart of Glass (yogurt-washed Mitcher’s Bourbon, Bordeaux, plum and lemon). Bonus: Hive Hospitality’s Michelin-starred kitchen team, led by Tyler Leblanc, prepares seasonal bites all night. 1506 19th St. NW,pressclubdc.com
The Emperor private dining room at Philippe Chow at The Wharf
PHILIPPE CHOW
While the Wharf added this NYC mainstay last year, few patrons know about the restaurant’s private dining options. The Emperor and Empress Rooms, created by renowned design fi rm //3877, are perfect for spring graduations, rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings and retreats. Design features we love include cherry blossom motifs mingling with rose gold, brass and white leaves (Emperor’s Room) and a 12-foot brass chandelier and cherry blossom-embroidered artwork (Empress Room). The menu continues to impress, especially the wok-fried wagyu beef dumplings, the Peking duck (carved tableside) and the Chilean sea bass. Insider’s tip: Don’t skip the cotton candy-baked Alaska. 635 Wharf St. SW,202.601.8888,philippechow.com
Look for great dishes to complement the art of Palette 22.
PALETTE 22
Union Market District welcomed Palette 22 last month in a decidedly artistic way. The new resto, with another location in Shirlington, offers globally inspired tapas and serves as an art space featuring 30 local creators. Standout dishes include curry chicken empanadas, seared aji scallops, Cubano sliders and flatbreads (we love the roasted mushroom and sweet corn). 400 Morse St. NE,202. 844.5757,palette22.com
Find coastal Italian dishes on the menu at the new Cucina Morini.
CUCINA MORINI
Mount Vernon Triangle recently welcomed the reunion of chef Matt Adler and the Altamare Group, the creative forces behind Osteria Morini in The Yards. The new eatery reflects the chef ’s extensive travels to Italy’s coast, with an aperitivo bar, handmade pasta (don’t miss the squid ink pasta) and fresh crudi. The menu includes Atlantic fluke paired with blood orange, basil and Sicilian olive oil, and signature acciughe—stracciatella topped with Cantabrian anchovies and salsa verde. 901 4th St. NW,202.697.6888,cucinamorini.com
Photography by: COURTESY OF PRESS CLUB; NINA PALAZZOLO; COURTESY OF BRANDS; COURTESY OF BRANDS
