Neapolitan Delights
At last, after seemingly endless delays, Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza finally opened at 301 Mass. Ave. NE, near Union Station. The long-awaited spinoff of a local chain, Panatela–Italian for “little doll”–obviously specializes in pizza. However, other southern Italian delicacies beckon. But first–pizza. Pies–about 11 inches wide–are divided between red (sauced with San Marzano tomatoes) and white (sans tomatoes). Classics include Margherita (mozzarella, basil); homemade meatball; Diavola (spicy salami, mozzarella); spinach and feta; pesto with mozzarella.
Arancini—fried risotto balls filled with sausage
or eggplant—are a favorite appetizer.
Seated on Pupatella’s spacious patio, we decided on a spicy chorizo pie–Spanish sausage with red onion and roasted red bell peppers. The sweet peppers balanced the zippy sausage nicely. Crusts are medium thick, with crunchy burnt edges. Our pie could have used more cheese.
We’ve sampled the arancini–deep fried risotto balls stuffed with either eggplant or homemade sausage. The eggplant version is smokey with the homemade mozzarella. Sausage arancini is equally flavorful. The trio of plump meatballs–formed from Angus beef–are anointed with homemade red sauce.
Other small entrees–or snacks–include two sizes of charcuterie. The large version is fun for a group. I settled for a mini, served on a wooden board. The colorful medley encompassed slices of smoked mozzarella, Gruyere, prosciutto, tiny chorizo circlets, marinated olives and almonds, all served with crusty homemade bread.
Other options include zucchini fries, paninis and desserts. Try the house-made gelato; we loved the mango and salted caramel flavors. There’s also a kid’s menu.
Priced at $9, house wines are good values. There’s also a beer and cocktail listing. Lunch for two came to $65.33; dinner was $76.70. Both tabs included tax and tip. Service was generally excellent but sometimes almost too swift. We had not finished our appetizers when our pizza arrived.
Pupatella is open daily; for hours and more information visit www.pupatella.com.
Easy Summer Sipping
On the way to Waterside Fitness and Swim Club, we stopped for lunch at Easy Company Wine Bar. Located at 98 Blair Alley (1000 Maine Ave. SW), Easy Company is part of Better Hospitality Group, which created the nearby Boardwalk Bar & Arcade and other local hot spots.
Pupatella’s chorizo pizza is topped with spicy sausage and home-made mozzarella.
Inspired by European piazzas or plazas, Easy Company’s concentric design features a large bar in the center of the pastel-hued space. Tables and chairs are arranged around this convivial gathering place. Easy Company also has a spacious outdoor seating area.
We sat in the glass-enclosed patio, where we enjoyed a view of the waterfront. We were also intrigued by the funky, checkered tabletops which resembled crossword puzzles. True to its name, Easy Company takes wine seriously. The listing offers umpteen kinds of wines by the glass, the bottle and carafe. Vintages come mainly from France, Italy and Spain. Faced with so many choices, I settled for a glass of lovely rose from Corsica.
After considering the crispy calamari with lemon garlic aioli, I decided on the Ivy City smoked salmon salad. Slices of the silken, cold-smoked fish were draped over a medley of leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, green beans and black olives.
Located at the District Wharf, Easy Company Wine Bar takes its wine seriously.
Peter chose the crabcake sandwich. We are very picky about crabs (pun intended). But we were pleased with the plump, lump crabmeat, scented with plenty of Old Bay seasoning. Homemade aioli complemented the crustacean. Fries, which I normally avoid, were crunchy and tasty.
Other menu possibilities are baby kale salad, cheese and charcuterie (three meats and three cheeses), chicken salad sandwiches on toasted sourdough, prosciutto and fontina paninis.
Easy Company’s Ivy City smoked salmon salad is
presented on a checkered tabletop.
Among “larger plates” are tagliatelle pasta with creamy vodka sauce, grilled salmon with wild mushroom risotto, roasted chicken with parmesan potatoes.
Van Leeuwan Ice Cream is opening a Capitol Hill offshoot at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (Seventh and C).
Lunch for two came to $74. Service, rendered by Evan, was excellent. Evan appeared to be almost the only employee, hustling from the bar to the host stand to numerous tables. For Easy Company hours and more information, visit www.easycowharf.com.
Coming Soon
Due to arrive at District Wharf, is Fogo de Chao, 698 Maine Ave. SW, the seventh spinoff of a restaurant group specializing in Brazilian churrascaria. After partaking of a bountiful salad bar, diners await the arrival of assorted meats sizzling on skewers. Stay tuned. For updates visit www.fogodechao.com.
I Scream…for Ice Cream
We didn’t form the world’s largest ice cream cone last month, but Capitol Hill is getting a Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shop at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (Seventh and C). Expect such offbeat flavors as hazelnut fudge cookie, coffee affogato, dulce de leche brownie. For updates visit www.vanleeuwenicecream.com.
And Almost Here…
…Summer Restaurant Week, slated for August 12-28. Sponsored by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), the promotion celebrates the Washington region’s spirited restaurant industry. Participating establishments will again offer multi-course brunch and lunch menus priced at $25 or $35 per person. Multi-course dinner menus are $40, $55, or $65 per person for on-premises dining. The official Restaurant Week website is www.rwdmv.com. Diners can visit the site to view participating restaurant menus, hours, and to secure reservations, which are highly recommended.
Closed
Boxcar Tavern, 227 Seventh St. SE (near Eastern Market) and Ophelia’s Fish House, 501 Eighth St. SE (Barracks Row), have closed. Both restaurants were part of Hill Restaurant Group. We will miss them both.
Dining and Cooking