Nage opened quietly on Scott Circle (www.nage.bz) as a sister to its first incarnation in Rehoboth Beach, and we finally made it there last week after promising to go for ages. It is an unassuming bistro setup in red with booths, a bar in the back with a thankfully quiet flat screen tv. NAGE offers a wonderful three course option nightly and I decided to try that and was quite happy. At $35 it's one of the best deals around every day!
We ordered a delicious bottle of DOMAINE du VIEUX LAZARET Chateauneuf du Pape BLANC 2004 which tells you that the wine list is inventive and novel. There are many wines by the glass as well. Our friendly server Matthew delivered up some yummy homemade BACON BREAD and and olive tapenade that we quickly filled up on.
My appetizer was a huge portion of two 4x4 DUCK CONFIT RAVIOLIs with Mushrooms & Sun Dried Cherry Demi-Glace; it was sublime, and easily could fill you up. I left some of the pasta edging on Matthew's suggestion fearing I would not eat a bite of my entree. Will opted for the LOBSTER CORN DOG which had a magnificent GREEN MANGO & JICAMA SLAW with Tomato Lobster Roe. The thick tempura-style dough was a bit gummy, but the huge chunks of lobster within were moist and tasty. Will kept in the seafood family ordering the CRISPY SOFTSHELL CRABS (will these treats be the last of the season, we always wonder?) with a superb LOBSTER CHILE RELLENO and Roasted Corn Salsa. A glass of HARDY CHARDONNAY 2004 was decent and very reasonably priced at $6, since you can rarely get a glass of wine for $5-6 these days!
My DUCK BREAST with PUMPKINSEED POLENTA in Madeira Reduction was superb. The meat had virtually no fat and was tender as could be, the sauce supreme and the polenta was a chunky texture giving the dish some variety. I had a glass of the GOUGENHEIM MERLOT 2004 from Mendoza Aregntina whcih had an earthy finish that was quite nice, but perhaps a Pinot Noir would have been best.
Will and I split the dessert from my three course menu: BRANDY PAOCHED PEAR with CANDIED WALNUTS, BRANDY SPICE CAKE and Sweetened Ricotta-Goat Cheese Filling. It was quite filling indeed, and was easily enough for two people especially after that huge meal. A glass of nice FERRARI CARRANO ELDORADO Black Muscat sent us home.
If Nage is in your neighborhood, give it a try. If not, it may be worth the visit.
