Inn at Little Washington Earns Third Star

The Inn at Little Washington, 309 Middle St., Washington, Va., became the first restaurant in the DMV to earn three stars from the Michelin Guide, the guide’s top rating. New restaurants earning one star are Bresca, 1906 14th St. NW, and Siren, 1515 Rhode Island Ave. NW. No restaurant lost stars this year.

Chef Patrick O’Connell and his Inn at Little Washington earned three Michelin stars, the first in the DMV to earn the travel guide’s top rating. (Photo: The Inn at Little Washington)

The list of Michelin’s starred restaurants for the 2019 guide, which was announced Thursday, includes the area’s first three-star restaurant and two new one-star restaurants to the list. According to the guide, one-star restaurants are worth a stop while driving around on those Michelin tires, two-star eateries are worth a detour and three-star restaurant are worth a journey. The previous Thursday, the guide released its list of Bib Gourmand restaurants, where diners can get a good two-course meal with a glass of wine or dessert for about $40.

The guide, which began in 1900, uses inspectors who always pay for their own meals, from around the world, and never sends the same inspector to the same restaurants twice. Restaurants are rated on creativity, personality, ingredient quality, value and consistency among others.

The Inn at Little Washington became the first restaurant in the DMV (and the only restaurant on the list outside the city) to earn three stars from the Michelin inspectors, who have been dining anonymously around the city for the last three years, gave the restaurant an additional star this year.

“Our inspectors are especially impressed with the consistency of the restaurant scene in D.C.,” said Michael Ellis, the outgoing international director of the Michelin Guide, in a statement. “Every starred restaurant recognized last year has maintained exceptional quality and steadiness. Notably this year, our inspectors found the kitchens of chefs Patrick O’Connell (The Inn at Little Washington), Ryan Ratino (Bresca), Robert Wiedmaier and Brian McBride (Siren) to demonstrate fine attention to detail and serve high-quality, top-notch cuisine.”

Over several visits to The Inn at Little Washington, which celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, the Michelin inspectors were impressed by the balance of creative, chef-driven cuisine and impeccable technique from O’Connell. Bresca, a “cozy, stylishly designed neighborhood spot [that] offers well-executed and creative fare made with high-quality ingredients. Ratino’s clever use of ingredients and fine technique never get in the way of approachability and flavor,” according to a release.

Siren, owned by Wiedmaier in the Darcy Hotel that opened in April of last year and led by executive chef and partner McBride, “sources impeccable seafood and prepares it with surprising finesse on a level that warrants a star,” the release said.

Here is the full list (bold denotes a new restaurant or a change):

St. Anselm steakhouse opens Monday

St. Anselm steakhouse, 1250 Fifth St. NE, from restauranteurs Stephen Starr of Le Diplomate and Joe Carroll, and chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley, is set to open today, Sept. 17, near Union Market.

St. Anselm steakhouse opens at 5 p.m. Monday for dinner near Union Market. (Photo: Jeff Elkins)

Well the menu includes a few dishes from the original Brooklyn location, such as the “ax handle ribeye,” a huge, bone-in signature that is like a regular ribeye, but meatier, it features off-cuts of naturally raised, small-farmed, local-when possible cuts of meat like hanger steak and flatiron. There will also be an apricot chutney-glazed heritage pork porterhouse, grilled leg of lamb with Mediterranean salsa verde and grilled salmon collar. There are also dishes for vegetarians such as whole roasted cauliflower with tahini and puffed amaranth and grilled artichoke hearts.

The beverage menu includes orange, yellow and draft wines, bottles from Turkey, Bolivia and Brazil, $9 glasses of wines, grower Champagne, indigenous varietals and a “monstrous Madeira” and sherry program.

The funky-Americana décor is sort of like a mountain lodge crossed with a fraternal order including fez hats and banners.

St. Anselm is open from 5-10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 5-11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Lunch and brunch will be added in the future.

Zinburger serves $5 cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger Day

Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar, Springfield Town Center and Arundel Mills Mall, is celebrating National Cheeseburger Day on Tuesday, Sept. 18, with $5 Plain & Simple burgers with choice of eight different cheese toppings. Additional toppings will be an extra $1.25 each. The burger normally sells for $10.75.

Zinburger Wine + Burger Bar will offer $5 Plain & Simple cheeseburgers on Tuesday for National Cheeseburger Day. (Photo: Zinburger)

To redeem the special, diners must b a VIP member. Non-members can sign up for a free VIP membership on the spot or online to get the special price..

The offer is for dine-in only and limited to one cheeseburger per guest.

Sababa celebrates Yom Kippur with pre-fast menu

Sababa, 3309 Connecticut Ave. NW, will celebrate Yom Kippur from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 18 with a $35 four-course, prix fixe menu before the day of atonement begins at sundown (7:13 p.m.). The restaurant’s a la carte dinner menu will also be available.

Sababa will celebrate Yom Kippur on Tuesday with a four-course, prix fixe menu that includes roasted halumi. (Photo: Sababa)

The meal begins with a salatim plate consisting of roasted beet with tahina and pistachio; cucumber with dill, onion and lemon; and hummus tahina served with pita. That will be followed by an appetizer with choices including charred eggplant with herbed labneh, pomegranate and pistachio; roasted halumi with dates, honey and charred lemon; Israeli salad with cucumber, tomato, onion, avocado and watermelon; fried cauliflower with tahina, golden raisins, dill and lemon; or pomegranate-glazed chicken liver with sumac onions and pomegranate seeds. The entrée choice includes a kebab from the wood grill served with Hawaij-spiced rice, roasted chili and tomato. Choices include salmon with pomegranate-labne marinade; harissa-marinated chicken thighs; sumac and onion-marinated steak; and lamb and beef kofta. Dessert options include halva-chocolate pot de crème; konafi cake with shredded filo, apricot labne filling, pistachio and whipped cream; or mahalabia, milk custard with strawberry-rose syrup, strawberries and pistachio brittle.

Jack Rose celebrates National Bourbon Heritage Month

Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St. NW, hosts its sixth annual National Bourbon Heritage Month celebration throughout September with free tastings, dram special, beer and bourbon pairings, a takeover and a tasting of new releases, in addition to its Pappy Hour featuring Pappy Van Winkle specials.

Jack Rose Dining Saloon will host a special Pappy Hour on Friday with its full selection of Pappy Van Winkle at special prices.
(Photo: Jack Rose Dining Saloon)

Throughout the month, the restaurant and bar will offer daily specials, plus rare bourbon flights. End each Tuesday during the month, it will host the High Top Drams happy hour by pouring complimentary bourbons for guests from 5-7 p.m. Each featured whiskey will also be available in an Old Fashioned cocktail for $10 following the tastings. This Tuesday’s featured whiskey is Straight Edge Bourbon aged in old red wine casks, Whipsaw Rye and Slaughterhouse American whiskey. On Sept. 25, Big Level bourbon, the first wheated bourbon made with 100 perecent of Smooth Ambler’s own distillate will be highlighted.

In addition to the free Tuesday tastings, Jack Rose will showcase bourbon this week with five days of events:

Tuesday, Sept. 18: Drink, Sip, Smoke barrel-aged beer, bourbon and cigar pairing from 5-10 p.m. in the rooftop bar.

Wednesday, Sept. 19: Old Forester Late Night Happy Hour with master taster Jacquelyn Zykan from 9-11 p.m. in the saloon with discounts on Old Forester and $10 Old Forester classic cocktails.

Thursday, Sept. 20: Classics and Spinoffs bourbon cocktail takeover from 5-10 p.m. at the saloon bar with 12 bourbon cocktails for $10 each. The menu will showcase six classic bourbon cocktails, including the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Julep, Whiskey Sour, Boulevardier and Rickey followed by their own creative cocktail spinoff.

Friday, Sept. 21: Pappy Hour from 5-7:30 p.m. in the saloon with the full Pappy Van Winkle collection available at special prices.

Saturday, Sept. 22: Great Nights Begin With W… private barrel tasting from 5:30-8 p.m. in the whiskey cellar, featuring Willett 5-year Return of The Mac, Willett 14-year Dulce de Leche, Willet 14-year Piloncillo, Wilderness Trail 4-year, Old Weller Antique and Wathen’s Barrel Proof with welcome cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres in addition to the bourbon tastings for $80. Tickets be purchased https://Bourbon-Month-Barrel-Tasting-jackrose.eventbrite.com online.

Red’s Table celebrates Oktoberfest with beer and brat specials

Red’s Table, 11150 South Lakes Drive, Reston, is celebrating the annual German folk festival, Oktoberfest, with local craft beer and brat specials from Sept.22-Oct. 7

Red’s Table in Reston is celebrating Oktoberfest with beer and brat specials from Sept. 22 through Oct. 7. (Photo: Red’s Table)

Menu highlights include bratwurst, knockwurst or Debreziner sausage on a house-made pretzel bun with house-made whole grain mustard and a choice of side for $14 during lunch. The bratwurst, knockwurst or Debreziner with whole grain mustard and rotessa sauerkraut for $11 is available during lunch and dinner, while the German sausage platter with one bratwurst, knockwurst and Debreziner sausage with rotessa sauerkraut, German potato salad and house-made whole grain mustard for $24 is available at dinner. During happy hour, diners can order a classic bratwurst on a house-made pretzel bun with house-made whole grain mustard for $8.

The restaurant will also offer a selection of seasonal Oktoberfest beers on draft from local craft breweries, including Center of the Universe Brewing in Ashland, Va., Old Bust Head Brewing in Warrenton, Va., Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Md., and Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn. Draft pints are $7 each.

Jack Rose launches rooftop rally hour on football Sundays

Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St. NW, launched it rooftop rally hour “Ale to the Redskins, Flights for All DC” on its heated, open-air terrace Sundays from 3:30-8 p.m. .

Jack Rose Dining Saloon’s rooftop bar will host a football happy hour from 3:30-8 p.m. every Sunday duirng football season.
(Photo: Jack Rose Dining Saloon)

Inspired by the Washington Redskins’ fight song, the restaurant will open early every Sunday for the seasonal happy hour, showing late afternoon games, offering beer specials, whiskey flights and half-priced bar bites. In addition to airing Sunday NFL games on its four flat-screen TVs, the bar will offer different $5 canned and draft beers weekly and $15 whiskey flights with three different pours of bourbon, including Maker’s 46, Old Forester and Blade & Bow Solera Cask; rye, including Few Branville Rye/Flaming Lips Collaboration,Old Overholt BIB 4-year and Whistle Pig 10-year; and scotch, including Auchentoshan American Oak, Oban “Little Bay” Small Cask and Bowmore Bourbon Cask Small Batch. Bar bites will be half price.

Mark Heckathorn

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.