Daily dispatches on the Washington, DC area's food, restaurant and dining scene.

An Early Look at J&G Steakhouse

By Kate Nerenberg   Published Wednesday, July 08, 2009

A rendering of J&G Steakhouse, which opens today.

Washington has never been short on dark, wood-paneled steakhouses where power players broker deals over porterhouses and sides of creamed spinach. But in recent years, a glossier type of steakhouse has emerged—and each boasts a celebrity chef’s pedigree.

Manhattan-based chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten brings the latest offering. Today he’ll debut J&G Steakhouse in the just-opened W Washington, D.C. hotel. Like Bourbon Steak’s Michael Mina and BLT Steak’s Laurent Tourondel, Vongerichten has a number of different restaurants and concepts in his repertoire, which extends to Shanghai and Bora Bora. There’s already a J&G Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Arizona, and another will open this summer in Mexico City.

A rendering of the more intimate downstairs wine bar.

A rendering of the more intimate downstairs wine bar.

J&G’s main dining room is a 96-seat, beige-and-brown space accented by lipstick-red booths. Atop the 20-foot-high walls sits a silvery-gray ceiling mural whose circular images are meant to evoke the US Treasury, which is across the street, as well as cherry blossoms.

On the basement level, there’s a tiny, narrow wine bar. The long, windowless space feels more intimate—it has only 33 seats—and sexy than its buttoned-down counterpart upstairs. It’s equal parts modern (bright-orange barstools) and rustic (a 20-seat wooden communal table).

Philippe Reininger, a chef who has opened six restaurants for Vongerichten across the world, will oversee the menu; J&G won’t release it in full until July 16. In addition to the usual steaks (eight-ounce filet mignon, 10- and 16-ounce New York strips), there are dishes that speak more to Vongerechten’s light, Asian-influenced cooking style: a frisée-and-goat-cheese salad over pickled peaches and crystalized wasabi; barbecue lamb chops over potato purée with sweet peas; slowly cooked salmon over mashed potatoes with truffle vinaigrette; and crabcakes with Champagne mangoes and ginger-lime vinaigrette.

And forget creamed spinach: On the side are Champagne-fried onion rings.

J&G Steakhouse, W Washington, D.C., 515 15th St., NW; 202-661-2440; jgsteakhousewashingtondc.com. Open Monday through Friday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Saturday and Sunday for brunch and dinner. Reservations will be taken starting July 13; until then it’s walk-in only. The wine bar is open daily for lunch and dinner.

 

More>> Best Bites Blog | Food & Dining | Restaurant Finder

Comments


I was at the wine bar at J&G yesterday, and it does have windows (as opposed to Ms. Nerenberg’s assertion above that the space is windowless). In fact, there is an aspect to the wine bar which I really like. Along the outside wall there is a long marble counter. Patrons can sit on the outside of the bar looking in, while their friends sit on the inside of the bar looking out. A very novel concept! They really did a nice job of renovating the Hotel Washington, and the J&G Steakhouse is beautiful!

Posted by: Kay Decker, Jul 21, 2009 09:37:10 AM

Post a comment

Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Because of the prevalence of spam, we ask that you fill out the code in the image below to help us eliminate spam comments. By posting here, you affirm that you are 13 years of age or older. Washingtonian.com reserves the right to remove or edit content once posted.

Find A ...
Find A Restaurant







  1. Only show Delivery
    Only show Kid Friendly
    Only show Late Night
    Only show Party Space
    Only show Weekend Brunch
Find Events




Find A Happy Hour





  1. search_finda.gif
Find A Spa




  1. search_finda.gif
Find a Home





  1. search_finda.gif
  2. Powered by  
Find A Hotel


  1.   


  2. Reviewed by Washingtonian
  3. Kid Friendly     Valet Parking
    Handicap Accessible    

  4. Childcare
    WiFi
    Pet Friendly
    Bar/Lounge/Dining
    Airport Shuttle
    Salon/Spa
    Swimming Pool
    Fitness Room
    On-site Drycleaning
    Meeting Rooms
    Golf
    Tennis Courts
    Game Room
  5. search_finda.gif
Newsletter Signup
  1. Bridal Party
  2. Dining Out
  3. Kliman Online
  4. Shop Around
  5. Where & When
  6. Learn more sign_up.gif
 

Can DC’s New Digital News Operations Replace the Once-Great Newspaper Bureaus?

Gone are the robust bureaus for the Los Angeles Times, Newhouse News, and other once-healthy news organizations. Digital media bureaus now are taking their places with as many reporters and plenty of swagger. more

Where & When: What to Do This Weekend

Sip some Beaujolais Nouveau, check out the Terra Cotta warriors, see a vintage murder thriller, and more this weekend. more