Daily dispatches on the Washington, DC area's food, restaurant and dining scene.
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Dinner Under the Sun (or Stars): Restaurants Unveil New Patios
By
Cynthia Hacinli
,
Cristina Daglas
WestEnd Bistro's tall topiaries and flowering plants separate its patio from busy M Street.
Come summer, Washington is all about cafe society, and every restaurant with a sliver of sidewalk unfurls the umbrellas and hauls out the patio tables and chairs.
Newcomers to the dining scene have joined in this Parisian-style exodus outdoors. French architect Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, who envisioned Washington as a Paris on the Potomac long ago, would be pleased. Some new addresses for dining al fresco this summer:
Tall topiaries, market umbrellas, and chrome and wood furnishings create a chic outdoor oasis on the wide sidewalk outside the Ritz-Carlton’s French-inflected WestEnd Bistro (1190 22nd St., NW; 202-974-4900). A few blocks away at Hudson (2030 M St., NW; 202-872-8700), oversize beach umbrellas make for an island feel, which is the idea, especially on Friday nights when steel-drum performers provide the tunes and Caribbean cocktails, such as Cruzan-rum mai tais, rule.
Farther downtown, the Belgian Brasserie Beck (1101 K St., NW; 202-408-1717) has debuted a spacious new patio with a bar area, while the Source by Wolfgang Puck (575 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-637-6100) has a small, airy terrace with 20 tables on the second floor overlooking Sixth Street.
At Old Town Alexandria’s Jackson 20 (Hotel Monaco, 480 King St., NW; 703-842-2790), pets are welcome on the plant-filled patio during doggy happy hour, which takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8. The patio is also open daily for lunch and dinner.
Where are your favorite outdoor dining spots? Let us know in the comments.
Related:
Late Night Dining Guide
100 Best Restaurants
Cheap Outdoor Fun in Washington More>> Best Bites Blog | Food & Dining | Restaurant Finder
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Comments
Landini Brothers on King Street in Old Town is wonderful, both for the food and for people and pet watching - lots of dogs and the occasional ferret or parrot. The patio behind Taverna Cretekou is a charming place to take friends and they can seat larger groups of diners.
Posted by: Susan, Jul 09, 2008 10:32:10 AM
Veritas in U Street and Red Rocks in Columbia Heights are both good bets.
Posted by: Christina, Jul 08, 2008 01:07:12 PM
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