Alta Strda to open in City Vista Development
Chef Michael Schlow, owner of Tico and The Riggsby, will soon bring his Italian restaurant, Alta Strada to Mount Vernon Square’s City Vista development at 465 K Street, NW. The 3,900-square foot space, designed by Brian Miller of Edit Lab at Streetsense, will also feature a separate crudo bar. Opening is slated for next month.
Fresh made tagliatelle bolognese at one of the New England Alta Strada restaurants. (Photo: Alta Strada/Facebook)
Alta Strada’s Washington location will offer antipasti, thin crust pizzas, authentic house-made pastas and seasonal secondi, all served in a casual setting. Chef Michael Zentner has relocated from Boston to run the kitchen. “These are the dishes I learned in Italy; they are simple, incredibly satisfying and have become classics for a reason,” said Schlow. “This kind of cooking doesn’t need any of my ‘creativity’ to make them better. My job at Alta Strada is to recreate these dishes the way they were taught to me, hopefully transporting the guest to a simple, authentic restaurant in Italy. My ultimate hope is that Alta Strada becomes everyone’s ‘neighborhood restaurant.’”
The beverage program, overseen by veteran bartender Anthony Marlowe, and sommelier, Eric DiNardo, will boast an extensive all-Italian wine list by the glass, and both craft and classic cocktails. The menu will also feature Amaros, Italian liqueurs as well as Italian craft beers.
Schlow will transform a separate part of the space to create a unique crudo bar, which will have its own identity and separate name from Alta Strada. The small, 25-seat space will have a rotating selection of international crudo, as well as other offerings, depending on the season and the chef’s whims. The crudo bar is scheduled to open after Alta Strada.
In the warmer months, Alta Strada will open a sidewalk patio. The restaurant will first open serving dinner only, with plans to soon add lunch and Sunday brunch.
La Sandia debuts Vámonos Express Lunch
La Sandia, located in Tysons Corner Center at 7852L Tysons Corner Center, McLean, is serving its new Vámonos Express Lunch from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday for $9.95 per person
La Sandia in Tysons Corner is now serving a Vámonos Express Lunch for $9.95. (Photo: La Sandia)
The new Vámonos Express Lunch includes the choice of a starter, soup or half-portion size salad on the featured menu, paired with the choice of entrée.
Starter, soup and salad options include guacamole and chips; tortilla soup with crema fresca, crispy tortilla chicken and panela; butternut squash soup with spicy pepitas and piloncillo; tomato bisque with crema fresca and crispy basil; chile verde pork stew, slow roasted pork and green chile served with flour tortillas; La Sandia chopped salad with crispy bacon, roasted corn, tomato, egg, black beans, panela chickpeas, green onion, lettuce mix and avocado vinaigrette; or the La Sandia BBQ chicken salad, BBQ chicken breast with tomato, corn, panela cheese, black beans, lettuce mix and crispy tortilla served with a cilantro-ranch dressing.
Entrée include two enchiladas, choice of chicken or rajas, served with Mexican rice and charro beans; two tacos, choice of chicken or mushroom, served with guacamole and pico de gallo; vegetarian burrito with charred vegetables, Mexican rice, beans and guacamole; The pepito torta with carne asada, avocado, black bean, Oaxaca cheese and chili aioli; and the chicken zarape (half-portion size), pan seared chicken, bacon, panela, pico de gallo and chipotle cream sauce served with refried beans and creamy white rice.
Commissary hosts Oscar viewing party
Commissary, 1443 P St. NW, will host the fifth annual Oscar’s viewing party on Feb. 28 from 4 p.m.-midnight. The viewing party will kick-off with the red carpet viewing from 4-8 p.m. featuring passed hors d’oeuvres while the red carpet arrivals show on a full wall projector before the awards. The entire evening features a limited open bar and endless champagne, as well as a dinner buffet with more than a dozen Oscar-themed savory and sweet offerings.
Commissary is once again hosting its Oscar viewing party. (Photo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
An Oscar ticket will include event entry with viewing from all three bar TVs and two full wall projectors, and unlimited food offerings throughout the evening inspired by each nominated movie.
There are only 80 tickets available for the event. Tickets will not be sold at the door and can be purchased only by going to the online ticket site.
A $35 red carpet ticket is valid from 4-8 p.m. or $25 without alcohol. Diners get Oscar-inspired open bar offering, pass Oscar-themed hors d’oeuvres, a popcorn bar and endless Champagne. A $65 main event ticket ($55 without alcohol) includes all of the above plus food stations featuring Oscar-inspired dinner and dessert items. And the $90 all access ticket is good for admission from 4 p.m.-close and includes everything above, along with reserved premium seating.
Legal Sea Foods offers lobster special on Leap Day
Legal Sea Foods, 704 Seventh St. NW, 2301 Jefferson Davis Highway, Alexandria, Tysons Galleria in McLean, will everyone with an extra lobster on Leap Day, Feb, 29.
Three area Legal Sea Foods will offer two lobsters and two sides for $29.95 on Leap Day. (Photo: Bill Nye)
For one day only, guests will get two one-pound steamed lobsters and a choice of two for $29 per person. Lobster fans won’t want to miss this one-day feast as Legal Sea Foods’ one-pound lobsters are normally priced at $25.95.
The special will be available from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. in DC, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. in Crystal City and from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. in Tysons.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.
