Last night after we took in a cabaret by the IN SERIES at the SOURCE THEATRE we decided to stop next door for a bite to eat at the new BAR PILAR (1833 14th St, NW -http://www.barpilar.com/location.html) and were pleasantly surprised ad the congeniality of this bar with tapas run by the folks who own Cafe Saint-Ex just at the corner.
The menu is simple and posted on the chalk board and features umpteen tapas dishes ranging from $4-7. There are so many different options and each portion is perhaps slightly larger than an appetizer size (especially the fish and meat dishes). I tried the excellent rich smooth WHITE SEET POTATO SOUP with HERBED GOAT CHEESE and opted to add the raw oyster for an extra $1.00! A tasty warm BEET SALAD came with LEMON & CILANTRO and was very filling. Other dishes at the table included the TUNA with TURNIP HASH which was a very delicious addition to the superb fish, but Chef Barton Seaver excels with his WALLA with JALAPENO CRUST, which is not spicy at all, but quite rich and truly an excellent fish.
The wine list is varied and inventive and we opted for a MOVIA 2003 SAUVIGNON BLANC from Slovenia that was a tasty slightly citrusy, but also very full bodied wine. You may recall I had some Movia wines in LA recently, and this is a winery and wine region to keep your eyes on! If Cafe Saint-Ex is full, or you have a yen for tapas, try BAR PILAR and you will be very happy when you leave as we were!
