ashok bajaj -- celebrated owner of rasika, ardeo + bardeo, bibiana, oval room, the bombay club, and 701 (as well as winner of washingtonian's "
2012 restaurateur of the year") -- is one of dc's kings of swanky ambiance. his restaurants differ wildly from each other (both in cuisine and in feel), but they share some common threads, one of which is fantastic, situationally-appropriate atmosphere. 701, named for its address on pennsylvania avenue, may be his most romantic, with its dim lighting, plush furnishings, and live piano. it's a great date spot. a seat at the long, curved bar (manned, when i visited, by the seriously adorable and badass aaron) is a good option for those dining alone or swinging in for happy hour, and 701's bar menu offers both tasty finger foods and good, stiff cocktails. all of the food has an understated elegance in both its taste and style, and the menu is broad enough to accommodate both adventurous and picky eaters.
i know the photo's not great, but pictured left is my attempt to capture some of 701's feel. the rounded booths and plush chairs are upholstered in browns and turquoises, and the dining space is sporadically broken up by sheer curtains made of strands of tiny metal beads. it's definitely one of dc's more romantic spots to grab a meal.
pictured above, my first sips and bites. 701's dangerous bread basket has a variety of tasty goodies (including really good, tiny corn muffins) and made for great munching with my cocktail, the pleasantly tart "french 701": hangar one raspberry vodka, lemon juice, and prosecco, with a sugared rim. don't miss the deviled eggs, which come flaked with dried garlic and jalapeno powder and are a surprising, smokey departure from the traditional southern version. bartender aaron can also suggest great wine pairings for your food, a skill i took full advantage of and recommend you do as well.
above to the left, the seriously good burrata: plums, pedro ximenez vinegar, ancho hazelnut crumble. to the right, the the veal sweetbreads: fava bean puree, truffle nage. the sweetbreads were almost too pretty to eat. almost.
seated a chair or two down from me at the bar were eduardo and alfredo, a charming couple who spontaneously offered me -- a total stranger, but obvious food obsessive -- tastes of their desserts. "can i take pictures first?" "of course!" i, unfortunately, was not smart enough to photograph the dessert menu for detailed descriptions, but pictured to the upper left is a rhubarb tart with cheesecake ice cream, and to the upper right is a brownie-esque concoction, complete with a puffy macaroon and chocolate gelato (i think).
though generally expensive, 701 offers several ways to sample its food on a budget. the prix-fixe $30 pre-theater menu is a great deal, and comes complete with an appetizer of soup, salad, or crudo, as well as a choice of entree and dessert. 701's happy hour also is a great time to inexpensively sample the food, and between 4 and 7pm monday through friday, you can try three bar plates for $20. the happy hour menu also offers several $6 glasses of wine and $7 drinks, which cuts in half the normal, exhorbitant pricing of most dc cocktails. to those looking for a romantic penn quarter date or new happy hour, 701 is a great option.
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