zola

Just returned from a catered sit-down dinner at Zola in DC, which is the restaurant associated with the International Spy Museum. I've always loved the space and the architecture of the restaurant; very intimate and cozy, yet still quite contemporary. In the main dining room, booths are separated by plush walls, punctuated with a secret spy hole.

There were about 60 of us tonight, mostly lawyers and some British barristers, all with discriminating palates. The food, though not as refined as any of their a la carte dishes (I recommend the Duck Chopped Salad- they do a good job with their duck confit, which is served over greens, with a poached egg, and fresh figs), was still quite good (that being the general consensus of the evening). A worthy choice to consider for your next catered event. With its proximity to the MCI Center, Zola offers great pre-theater menus. The bar is interactive, intimate, and one of my favorites in DC.

Tonight the salad was mediocre- too sweet and very crudely chopped. Two entrees were available, pan-seared salmon with saffron orzo, and roast chicken with celery root and a black truffle sabayon. The dessert was fantastic- shortcake of fresh berries, whipped cream, and a balsamic red wine sauce. I wouldn't judge the restaurant based on a catered dinner (they are always pared down anyway). With Zola being one of my old favorites, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.

Field Greens - red leaf, curly endive, chicory, cucumbers, aged Muscat golden raisins.

Pan seared salmon, saffron orzo, Spanish olives, citrus tarragon butter

Zola
800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004