D Dining
I ~~'ide
No Strings
Aaron McCloud, founding chef and continuing star-force of Cedar, began his life in restaurants as a teenage violinist. Fortunately for Penn Quarter diners, he opted out of the orchestra, earned a business degree
and headed for the kitchen. From his last gig, the acclaimed Inn at Perry Cabin on Maryland's Eastern Shore,
McCloud brought classic French-meets-country cooking. Think foraging, farms and fusion.
This means that Cedar, at once rustic (golden wood, rough stone walls, forest photomurals) and glitzy
(green marble bar), offers dream dishes like lobster and white chocolate soup, smoked Virginia trout with
kaffir lime emulsion, mocha Cervena venison (pictured) with garlic croquettes and espresso jus plus (a rarity)
Texas wild boar, grilled and braised with cherry compote. The ultimate feast: five courses ($65, wine pairings
$30),with elegant choices that often honor dietary requests. Plan on desserts-from stic~/ toffee cake or
chocolate-peanut butter bar to coconut-pineapple creme brulee. all matching the taste and beauty quotient of what came before. So Aaron, play on! (See page 40.)-Jean Lawlor Cohen
OJs weekend nights. www.bossaproject.com.
Adams Morgan. D.C.
THE BLACK SQUIRREL-American.
Hip gastropub
with BBQ wings, organic vegs, hand-cut onion
rings and fries "smothered," burgers (veg and
not), calamari, mac and cheese. Tap Room with 57
draft lines plus wine and five absinthes. live music
schedule. Mon.-Thurs. 5 p.m.-close, Fri. from noon,
Sat.-Sun. from 11 a.m. www.blacksquirreldc.com.
2427 18th St. NW, 202.232.1011 $$ Map 1 AS
BOSSA BISTRO & LOUNGE-Brazilian.
Banquettes,
high ceilings, colorful art and a long bar plus
candlelit lounge upstairs with couches. Grilled vegetables, tapas, entrees with rice and back beans,
catch of the day. Weekdays till 2 a.m., weekends till
3 a.m. Caipirinhas and mojitos. See schedule for
live music from salsa to Afro-beat on window stage;
Alcy De Souza's
authentic seafood stews, spiced shrimp, chicken
GRILL FROM IPANEMA-Brazilian.
WHERE
WASHINGTON
I APRIL
2013
a.m.-midnight, Fri.-Sun. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. www.meskeremethiopianrestaurantdc.com.
2434 18th St. NW,
202.462.4100 $-$$ Map 1 AS
MEZE-Mediterranean.
Small plates (land and
Copacabana, feijoada, caipirinhas served beneath
"palm trees." Mon.-Fri. Happy Hour 4:30-7 p.m.,
sea), phyllo feta cigar, manti (Turkish ravioli), meat
entrees. Tasting menu, party menu for six or more.
Mon.-Thurs. till 10:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. till 11:30 p.rn.,
Mon.-Thurs. 4:30 p.m.-l:30 a.m., Fri. till 2:30 a.m.,
Sat.-Sun. brunch (omelets, waffles) 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Sat.-Sun. champagne or bloody Mary brunch ($19)
noon-4 p.m., live music Sun. 6-9 p.m., closes 10 p.m.
www.thegrillfromipanema.com.
1858 Columbia
NW, 202.986.0757 $$.:. Map 1 AS
Rd.
Costumed staff serving beef, lamb, shrimp. chicken and vegetable
MESKEREM-Ethiopian.
dishes on a skylit balcony or at basket tables
in a golden room with African art and musical
instruments. Communal mild and spicy stews and
tibbs scooped with injera bread. Mon.-Thurs. 11
••
32
2463
18th St. NW, 202.667.0088 $$ Map 1 AS
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Sat. till 2:30 a.m., Sun. till 1:30 a.m. www.mezedc.
com. 2437 18th St. NW, 202.797.0017 $$ Map 1 AS
PLACE-American.
Cedric Maupillier's classy comfort food (sustainable and local):
MINTWOOD
escargot bush puppies, hanger steak, duck with
hash browns, skillet chicken, brownie sundae. Kids
menu. Cocktails, beers on tap. Green-friendly
interior with wood from an Amish barn. Tues.Thurs. 5:30-10:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat till 11:30 p.m., Sun.
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