Beer-centric restaurants and small-plates menus are omnipresent dining trends in Washington, and the newly opened 901 Restaurant & Bar capitalizes on both. David von Storch, the man behind Capitol City Brewing Company, Vida Fitness, and Bang Salon opened the sleek spot—named after its Ninth Street address—in Penn Quarter last week.
The kitchen is helmed by former PassionFood Hospitality chef Thomas Hall, who worked at Ceiba and Acadiana as a Culinary Institute of America extern before landing a job as chef de cuisine at TenPenh for the last four years. That restaurant is shuttering June 30, but diners can find traces of its pan-Asian fare in such 901 dishes as udon noodles in a light lemongrass broth with clams, calamari, and white fish; roast-duck quesadilla drizzled with chili aïoli; and tuna tartare topped with avocado and wonton crisps.
Columns wrapped in gray alligator-skin wallpaper and a seven-foot fireplace sunk into a wall are more Miami nightclub than District restaurant, but those familiar with the menus at von Storch's brewpubs will recognize some staples—a cheeseburger, a jumbo-lump crabcake—dressed up for the industrial-chic environment. Capitol City brewer Mike McCarthy designed five beers for 901, including a Belgian-style pale ale and oatmeal stout, which he’s producing at Capitol City’s Shirlington location. The cocktail list is longer, and drinks include such flourishes as dry ice that creates a vapor cloud stemming from the glass.
The menu at 901 is the same for lunch and dinner, with the idea that the expense-account crowd can linger over filet mignon at lunch, and theatergoers can grab pre-show salads and sandwiches. In September, von Storch hopes to add a 54-seat patio.
901 Restaurant & Bar. 901 Ninth St., NW; 202-524-4433; 901dc.com. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 to 11; Friday and Saturday 11 to midnight. The bar is open on weekends until 2 AM.
Chef Salad
Roasted red peppers, egg, goat cheese, toasted sunflower seed, plum dressing ($10.50)
Grilled Chicken Caesar
Grilled marinated chicken, herb Parmesan crisps ($12.50)
Santa Fe Chicken
Fire-roasted corn, grilled cactus paddle, smoked cheddar cheese, chicken, cilantro dressing ($13.50)
Ahi Tuna Salad
Tropical mango salsa, cucumber salad, jalapeño-cilantro sauce ($15.50)
Tsunami Salad
Orange-glazed chicken, balsamic vinaigrette, cucumber salad, crispy wontons ($14.50)
Asian Grilled Chicken Salad
Hong Kong marinated chicken, citrus honey dressing ($13.50)
Sandwiches
All sandwiches served with fries and house-made roasted-pepper ketchup
Roasted Turkey and Avocado Club
Spiced roasted turkey, avocado, bacon, lemon aïoli, olive-oil-brushed ciabatta roll ($13.50)
Crispy Chicken
Crispy fried chicken breast, spicy honey, arugula, pepper-jack cheese, spicy pickles, bacon, Dijon mustard ($13.50)
Bison Burger
Curried onion straws, jalapeño jack cheese, onion marmalade, sweet-potato bun ($15.50)
Classic Cheeseburger
Smoked cheddar cheese, griddled red onion, bacon, garlic aïoli, toasted sweet-potato bun ($14.50)
Crabcake Sandwich
Dijon-mustard sauce, toasted sweet-potato bun ($15.50)
Grilled Eggplant and Portabella
Roasted red pepper, mozzarella cheese, tartar sauce, olive-oil-brushed ciabatta roll ($14.50)
Tomato Mozzarella
Oven-cured tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, lemon-basil aïoli (12.50)
By Land
Filet Mignon
Spinach mashed potato, asparagus, sauce charcutiere ($30.50)
Spice Rubbed Rib Eye
Sweet-potato au gratin, pancetta Brussels sprouts, bell-pepper marmalade ($28.50)
Organic Roasted Chicken
Half roasted chicken, wild-mushroom ragout, mac and cheese fritter, charred lemon ($18.50)
Pork Tenderloin
Fennel-apple salad, apple marmalade, herb cream cheese ($23.50)
Peppercorn Crusted Lamb Chops
Sweet-potato croquette, curried onion strings, black-pepper demi glace ($26.50)
By Sea
Miso Salmon
Hazelnut rice, stir-fry vegetables ($23.50)
Grilled Salmon
Seasonal vegetables, scallion beurre blanc, corn-and-crab relish ($23.50)
BBQ Glazed Grouper
Habanero-mango BBQ, curried potato hash, bacon, Romesco sauce ($23.50)
Seared Ahi Tuna
Wasabi-cilantro pesto, hazelnut rice, black-pepper sauce ($25.50)
Jumbo Lump Crabcake
Fried green tomatoes, chipotle remoulade, poblano-corn relish ($26.50)
Seared Scallops
Crispy polenta cake, citrus/brown-butter sauce, mache, apple salad ($23.50)
Meant for Sharing
Lump Crab Bruschetta
Roasted bell-pepper cream cheese, sundried-tomato bread ($13.50)
Thai Lettuce Wrap
Peanut-chicken tenderloins, curry rice noodles, rice paper, sweet soy-ginger sauce ($13.50)
Chicken and Beef Kabobs
901 beer-marinated chicken and beef tips, chili-pepper aïoli ($13.50)
Prince Edward Island Mussels
Spicy marinara, sundried-tomato bread ($16.50)
Spinach Crisp
Chili-pepper aïoli, pico de gallo ($11.50)
Roasted Duck Quesadilla
Mozzarella cheese, onion marmalade, chili-pepper aïoli ($12.50)
Beef Carpaccio
Dijon-mustard sauce, pickled red onion, arugula, cornichons ($12.50)
Tuna Tartare
Avocado, Japanese aïoli, crispy wontons ($14.50)
Fried Tuna Roll
Avocado mousse, Japanese aïoli ($13.50)
Seared Scallops Two Ways
Crispy pancetta, tomato coulis, basil / Habanero mango BBQ, tropical mango salsa ($14.50)
Crabcake Sliders
Dijon-mustard sauce, sweet-potato bun ($13.50)
Meatballs
Roasted-garlic tomato sauce, shaved Parmesan ($12.50)
Cheeseburger Sliders
Smoked cheddar cheese, spicy aïoli, sweet-potato bun ($13.50)
Pastas
Eggplant and Portobello Pasta
Broccoli, bell peppers, penne pasta, sundried-tomato pesto ($17.50)
Roasted Tomato Pasta
Grilled chicken, chorizo, spaghettini noodles, roasted-garlic tomato cream sauce ($17.50)
Bistro Shrimp Picatta
Capellini noodles, parsley, white-wine/lemon sauce ($18.50)
Lemongrass Seafood Udon
Calamari, littleneck clams, white fish, lemongrass clam broth, udon noodles ($21.50)
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
