Sunday, March 19, 2006

Cool Cuisine at CIRCLE BISTRO

In the meantime, we were at CIRCLE BISTRO last night for the first time in several years and Chef BRENDAN COX has truly turned around the location. It is a warm and welcoming spot at One Washington Circle (http://www.thecirclehotel.com/circle_bistro.htm, Tel. 202-293-5390) with the entrance on New Hampshire Avenue. We were attending a performance at Lisner Auditorium and the $35 pre-theater dinner is a great deal for you theater folk, and it is reasonably close to the Kennedy Center as well!

We were six, and we started just before 6PM, and had little trouble departing at 740PM for our curtain. We started with a crisp BRUNDLMAYER 2003 Gruner Veltliner from Austria that worked well with both of my courses; Will switched to a Red Cotes du Rhone for his entree. My CRISPY VEAL SWEETBREADS "General Tso" with Baby Spinach & Sauce Piquant was a wonderful blend of the Asian style cooking and this truly Western dish. The tneder meat was cooked to perfection and wrapped in a light crispy fried batter then lightly sauced with the sweet and sour sauce.

Will's CLASSIC TARTARE of HEREFORD BEEF with Pommes Frites was indeed classic and tasty. It could have used a bit more pepper or spice for my taste, as I always like my tartare to bite back at me, as if it were still alive! He did say his HERB CRUSTED YOUNG CHICKEN "a diable" was not that exciting. On the other hand my SLOW COOKED WILD ALASKAN HALIBUT with Glazed Beets, Baby Carrots & Port-Shallot Coulis was a perfect entree before the theater. Not too heavy or rich, but an excellent combination of tastes, especially the flecks of large sea or kosher salt that topped the fish and added just the right amount of
extra zing.

We did have time for dessert, and we tried the BANANA TART TATIN with Candied Ginger Ice Cream & Pink Peppercorn Caramel Sauce that was a sinfully delicious treat from Pastry Chef Leigh Weinfeld. The GRANNY SMITH APPLE CHAROLOTTE with Creme Fraiche and Cardamom Apple Ice Cream also got bravos.

Circle Bistro can easily hold its own against the fine dining spots in the city and isn't JUST for pre-theater. It would be nice to return again soon for a longer and more leisurely dining experience. Another note, in that one of us had been quite ill before the meal and couldn't eat very much. The kitchen was truly accommodating in preparing a simple huge baked potato and not even charging for it!