Summertime drinks, meals provided with social distancing
Across the Metropolitan Washington Region, restaurants continue to open up their patios for dining. The District of Columbia and other local towns and cities have made it easier to operate such outdoor dining spaces by providing expanded sidewalk and permitting for larger patios and “streateries.” Here are some of the restaurants that have reopened for dining al fresco.
Commissary – This fun, casual eatery in Dupont Circle has reopened its patio. The lively staff is welcoming back for brunch, lunch and dinner starting June 17 at the outdoor cafe area. Check out its selections online and make reservations on OpenTable.
Commissary, 1443 P Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20005
The Dubliner – a new, expanded patio will beckon at this classic, Irish pub. With a special menu of favorites like the Irish Reuben with house-made Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut, and Russian dressing sandwiched between Rye bread and “The Best Capitol Hill Burger” made with Blank Angus Beef, lettuce and tomato on a Brioche roll, comfort food is the name of the game here. And the pub has a reputation for one of the best Fish and Chips in the DMV.
The Dubliner, 4 F Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
Gravitas – Gravitas is welcoming back guests on the patio. The fine-dining restaurant in Ivy City took some time off to regroup between serving in takeout mode only. Management is following CDC guidelines and working to elevate the guest experience. Limited seating by reservation is available in the atrium patio and rooftop deck.
Gravitas, 1401 Okie Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002
Lulu’s Winegarden – If there’s a place to cool off this summer, it’s Lulu’s. The two patios are ideal for sipping wine from their collection focused on affordability. And a new, frozen drink machine is churning out favorites, including the Plantain Mezcal Daisy, which features El Silencio mezcal, salted plantain puree & fresh lime, and icy Aperol Spritzes. Summer cocktail season brings Paid Vacation with El Silencio mezcal, house tepache, Don Ciccio Mandarinetto and lime, and tropical The Oblinger with vodka, white rum, house coconut mint cordial and lime. A Southwestern-learning menu is very approachable: Fermented chile-smothered Crispy Chicken Sandwich and a double-patty Lulu’s Burger griddled with melted kraft cheese and fancy sauce are among the items to expect.
Lulu’s, 1940 11th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
Officina – Officina by Nicholas Stefanelli is open again for on-premises dining. Both the Trattoria menu and the fire-side Terrazza options are available on the rooftop pergola. The restaurant also opened up outdoor seating at the Cafe. The Cafe experience starts with the To-Go window, opened for convenience and safety.
Officina, 1120 Maine Avenue Southwest, Washington, DC 20024
Randy’s Prime Seafood & Steaks – Located in Tysons, Va. and part of Great American Restaurants (GAR), Randy’s offers a selection of classic American favorites and prime cuts of steak. GAR announced that it had invested in hundreds of picnic tables, as well as canopy umbrellas for the season. According to the update, “The dedicated GAR family of managers, employees, and culinary teams are carefully and diligently trained on the safety measures in place. Additionally, vigorous cleaning and sanitizing procedures have been established that far exceed the necessary requirements.” New and returning diners will gravitate toward the USDA Prime and Snake River Wagyu Beef premium cuts. There’s a bounty of selection with sizes ranging from five to 16 ounces. Plus, sauces like Great Hills Blue Cheese Butter and Béarnaise and comforting classics like Loaded Mashed Potatoes and Truffle Mac n’ Cheese complete the meal.
Randy’s Prime, 8051 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Va. 22182
Seven Reasons – During Phase One in Washington, Seven Reasons, with its delicious, bold interpretations of Latin American food, has reopened the patio for outdoor dining. With a $50 minimum spend, guests will be returning to enjoy some of the best food in DC. The $50 minimum is meant to ensure the restaurant is able to operate profitably and continue to bring back employees, according to an online update. Each $50 dinner ticket purchased will be applied at the time of the meal. For more information about making reservations or about what to expect in the outdoor service, click here. https://www.sevenreasonsdc.com/reopening
Seven Reasons, 2208 14th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009
Silverado – Also part of GAR, this Tex Mex eatery in Annandale is open for both indoor and outdoor dining. Current restrictions dictate that the restaurant will operate at 50 percent capacity indoors. Silverado offers added capacity through new investments in tables and canopy umbrellas.
Silverado, 7052 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va. 22003
The Salt Line, Navy Yard – The Salt Line has outdoor seating open again. The TSL To Go menu is still available for pickup orders and delivery. For the Salt Line, COVID-19 has offered a double whammy because of its impact on baseball season and the extra traffic that would normally come into the area. That being said, its proximity to the riverfront and its culinary reputation due in large part to chef Kyle Bailey are sure to bring back diners during the summer.
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The Salt Line, 79 Potomac Avenue Southeast, Washington, DC 20003
Supra – reopened for dining at the restaurant. The patio is self-seating for lunch and first-come-first-served for dinner. Takeout at the restaurant is still popular and available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. A new summer menu includes a seasonal cabbage salad. Fan faves, including the Khachapuri and Khinkali soup.
Related video: Interviews at MetroCooking DC 2019:
Supra, 1205 11th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
Photo credit: Gravitas (featured preview image), Jen Chase (inline)
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