Neapolitan delicacies
Finally, after seemingly endless delays, Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza opened at 301 Mass. Ave. NE, near Union Station. The long-awaited offshoot of a local chain, Panatela – Italian for “little doll” – obviously specializes in pizza. But other southern Italian delicacies beckon as well. But first, pizza. The roughly 11-inch-wide pizzas come in red (with San Marzano tomato sauce) and white (without tomatoes). Classics include Margherita (mozzarella, basil); homemade meatballs; Diavola (spicy salami, mozzarella); spinach and feta; pesto with mozzarella.
or eggplant – are a popular starter.
Sitting on Pupatella’s spacious patio, we opted for a spicy chorizo paté – Spanish sausage with red onions and roasted red peppers. The peppers were a nice balance to the spicy sausage. The crust is medium thick and has crispy, burnt edges. Our cake could have used more cheese.
We tried the arancini – deep-fried risotto balls filled with eggplant or homemade sausage. The eggplant version has a smoky taste and is served with homemade mozzarella. The arancini with sausage are just as tasty. The trio of plump meatballs – made from Angus beef – are covered in homemade red sauce.
Other small mains – or snacks – include two sizes of charcuterie. The large version is fun for a group. I opted for a mini version, served on a wooden board. The colorful medley included slices of smoked mozzarella, Gruyère, prosciutto, small chorizo fritters, marinated olives and almonds, all served with crusty homemade bread.
Other options include zucchini fries, paninis and desserts. Try the homemade gelato; we loved the mango and salted caramel flavours. There’s also a kids’ menu.
The house wine is a good value at $9. There is also a beer and cocktail menu. Lunch for two was $65.33, dinner was $76.70. Both bills included tax and tip. Service was generally excellent, but sometimes almost too fast. We hadn’t finished our appetizers when our pizza arrived.
Pupatella is open daily. For opening hours and further information visit www.pupatella.com.
Light summer drink
On the way to Waterside Fitness and Swim Club, we stopped for lunch at Easy Company Wine Bar. Located at 98 Blair Alley (1000 Maine Ave. SW), Easy Company is part of the Better Hospitality Group, which also created the nearby Boardwalk Bar & Arcade and other local hotspots.
Inspired by European piazzas or squares, Easy Company’s concentric design features a large bar in the center of the pastel-colored space. Tables and chairs are arranged around this convivial meeting point. Easy Company also has a spacious outdoor seating area.
We sat on the glassed-in terrace and enjoyed the view of the water. We were also fascinated by the unusual, checkered table tops, which were reminiscent of crossword puzzles. True to its name, Easy Company takes wine seriously. The menu offers countless types of wine by the glass, bottle or carafe. The vintages come mainly from France, Italy and Spain. Given the large selection, I opted for a glass of wonderful rosé from Corsica.
After considering the crispy calamari with lemon-garlic aioli, I settled on Ivy City’s smoked salmon salad. Slices of the silky, cold-smoked fish were draped over a mix of leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, green beans and black olives.
Peter opted for the crab cake sandwich. We’re very picky about crab (pun intended). But we were happy with the plump, lumpy crab meat flavored with plenty of Old Bay seasoning. Housemade aioli complemented the crustacean. The fries, which I usually avoid, were crispy and delicious.
Other menu options include baby kale salad, cheese and charcuterie (three meats and three cheeses), chicken salad sandwiches on toasted sourdough bread, prosciutto and fontina paninis.
presented on a checkered table top.
“Bigger dishes” include tagliatelle pasta with creamy vodka sauce, grilled salmon with wild mushroom risotto, and roast chicken with parmesan potatoes.
Lunch for two was $74. Evan’s service was excellent. Evan seemed to be almost the only employee, rushing from the bar to the reception desk and to numerous tables. For Easy Company hours and more information, visit www.easycowharf.com.
Coming soon
Fogo de Chao, 698 Maine Ave. SW, is set to arrive at District Wharf, the seventh location of a restaurant group specializing in Brazilian churrascaria. After helping themselves to a plentiful salad buffet, guests await the arrival of various meats sizzling on skewers. Stay tuned for updates. Visit www.fogodechao.com.
I scream… for ice cream
We may not have made the world’s largest ice cream cone last month, but Capitol Hill is getting a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (Seventh and C). Look forward to unusual flavours such as hazelnut fudge cookies, coffee affogato and dulce de leche brownie. For current information, visit www.vanleeuwenicecream.com.
And almost there…
…Summer Restaurant Week, which is scheduled to take place August 12-28. Sponsored by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), the event celebrates the dynamic restaurant industry in the Washington region. Participating establishments will once again offer multi-course brunch and lunch menus priced at $25 or $35 per person. Multi-course dinner menus cost $40, $55 or $65 per person for on-site dining. The official Restaurant Week website is www.rwdmv.com. Guests can visit the website to view participating restaurants’ menus and hours and to make reservations, which is highly recommended.
Closed
Boxcar Tavern, 227 Seventh St. SE (near Eastern Market) and Ophelia’s Fish House, 501 Eighth St. SE (Barracks Row), have closed. Both restaurants were part of the Hill Restaurant Group. We will miss them both.
