Seventh Hill Pizza

Utterly famished from a long evening out with some random shopping, I began to fell nauseous on my metro ride home. How could I have forgotten to eat? I needed something fast but I refused to succumb to the pack of ramen noodles I had waiting for me in my cupboard at home.

Stumbling off the metro, I walked toward Eastern Market hoping that something was open. Alas, the pizza spot, Seventh Hill, I had discovered just a few weeks ago was buzzing with happy customers. ‘Perfect!’ I thought.

I walked into the slightly humid restaurant and waited to be greeted. “Ciao Bella” the man behind the counter calls out to me. I order my 8 inch ‘Union Station’ pizza and wait patiently. Without hesitation, he grabs a piece of dough, throws flower and begins the magical dance of throwing the pizza. Dough flies through the air as he fills the kitchen with Italian. In a snap, it’s in the large fire oven towards the back of the restaurant.

The two men behind the counter make small, charming chit chat with me as I absorb the ambience. I look around and instantly feel comfortable in the welcoming atmosphere. The couple to my left is enjoying their last sips of wine for the evening as the staff shares a friendly smile.

Before I could blink my pizza was ready. The ‘Union Station’ consists of goat cheese, mozzarella, pecorino, gorgonzola, and garlic. (Side note: For those of you who don’t know me from the next woman, I absolutely love cheese and prefer it to any beautiful shiny object or the finest chocolate you could find.) The gentleman behind the counter was nice enough to share some of his freshly picked heirloom cherry tomatoes with me and sprinkled them right on top of the pizza.  “They taste just like candy” he said “Trust me.”

I run home and flung open the tiny box. This pizza is just too beautiful to eat but I couldn’t help myself. Each bite gave way to a different cheese that tickled and danced on my pallet. With the occasional bite of raw garlic as a surprise, I was thankful I was eating alone that evening but I couldn’t have done without it.  The dough was unlike any I’ve tasted and was cooked to perfection in the fire oven. It had just a light burn on the bottom to add a rustic flavor which complimented the cheese beautifully. He was right, the heirloom tomatoes were a real treat and they melted in my mouth like butter.

I originally bought the pizza for a late dinner and for my lunch the next day but it didn’t make it. If my stomach were bigger, I’d run back for seconds. This authentic pizza is not to be missed on your next visit to Eastern Market. And…they’re open late!

Ciao!!

Seventh Hill Pizza

 327 7th St SE

Washington, DC 20003-4418

(202) 544-1911

Hours of Operation
(subject to seasonal change)

Tuesday - Saturday
Lunch: 11:30am - 3pm
Dinner: 5:30pm - 10pm
Sunday
12pm - 8pm

Closed Monday

Sushi Taro

What better way to pep up your mood after a long day at the Holocaust Museum than to crash Sushi Taro’s restaurant week? It was hot, we were depressed and starving. I heard nothing but amazing things about Sushi Taro and I was not going to take ‘no’ for an answer when they told me there were no available reservations for the evening. It was the last day of restaurant week and I wasn’t going to miss out on this cuisine.

We braved the hostess greeting us at the front and begged for anything they had. Finally, I settled and suggested they just seat us at the bar. They were happy to accommodate and we were more than happy to eat.

We started off with a three box sampler followed by our choice of entrée and later a plate of our choice of sushi.

Our first course was a combination of three sample binto boxes.

Box 1 - Mimono simmered shrimp and eggs: The mimono simmered shrimp and eggs box was an eclectic array of fresh vegetables, tofu and shrimp. This salad was delicately immersed in a light marinade which blended well with each flavor without overpowering all the different elements.

Box 2 - Fine cuts of sashimi (Chef’s choice): This consisted of a white fish and basic tuns. These beautiful cuts of sashimi immediately cured my fish craving and left me excited for the next plate of sushi. They were fresh and beautifully sliced which allowed us to appreciate the full experience of the fish.

 Box 3- Takiawa Tofu Dashi Tofu: The tofu was a beautiful, airy, silky tofu that was followed by a slight hint of citrus. It was refreshing and delicate.

I must say, all three boxes were an adventure for my taste buds and I was constantly asking the bartender what we were eating. My motto: Eat first, ask later.

Entrée- Wild Prawn & Veggie Tempora: How can you go wrong with fresh tempra? It was perfectly breaded and fried to perfection. Prawn tempora is not something I had experienced before and, of course, I had to start with the head. Needless to say, it was an adventure I would gladly partake in again.

Sushi Platter – Fatty Tuna, Wagyu Beef, Jon Fish, Salmon Caviar: Anytime I see Fatty Tuna (Toro) I have to get it. There is absolutely nothing else out there like it and nothing compares to this cut of the tuna. It’s always the most expensive item on the fish menu but it’s always well worth it. (Just make sure it’s not frozen beforehand.) The fatty, buttery fish melts like a cloud on your tongue leaving you with a subtle hint of tuna. It’s absolute heaven to me. The Wagyu beef was something I had never tried in sushi form before and it was an interesting new twist. It was a typical piece of beef marinated and sliced thin. Very creative but not something I would order individually. The Jon Fish was a typical white fish with a bit of a stronger fishy flavor to follow. I enjoyed the simplicity of it very much. Last but not least, the Salmon Caviar. The salt was very faint and I was able to taste the eggs as they were intended, fresh and luscious. One after another they popped and I was overwhelmed with the juices. It was a refreshing and delicate experience, a perfect way to end the meal.

Overall, our dining experience was absolutely superb and we were very thankful that we were able to experience such fine dining at such a reasonable price. This would be a perfect place to take a date who can’t get enough of good Japanese cuisine and who would appreciate the chef’s careful preparation of every piece. I will undoubtedly be back for more. 

Sushi Taro

1503 17^th Street NW

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 462-8999

Hours:

Mon-Sat – Dinner 5:30- 10:00

Closed on Sunday

Farmers & Fishers

Conveniently located directly on Georgetown’s waterfront, this farm fresh restaurant is in the perfect location for the young, rich and beautiful of DC. The atmosphere was welcoming and the staff was very polite and was able to seat us right away at a table of our liking. Though it was a little warm that evening, we chose sit outside to enjoy the water fountain and to people watch. Our waitress was very kind and was able to accommodate us to no end, though the service was very slow. They seemed unable to handle the rush of diners due to the demand of restaurant week. Regardless, our meals came out correct and everyone was very helpful. I wouldn’t mind going back for a second bite and another Constitution if someone dared me. Their full menu looks a little more daring and worth the dime. Till then…

Cocktail:

The Constitution: With a hint of soda and a touch of lemon, this cocktail is perfect for a night dining outdoors. It was very refreshing with just the right amount of alcohol. 

Tastings:

Fresh Beet and Warm Goat Cheese Watercress Salad: The salad was a beautiful paring of spinach, fresh beets, heirloom tomatoes, with a side of breaded goat cheese. All of the flavors melted into one another for a perfect starter to our meal. It was a little bigger than I anticipated, which was good, but it left me feeling pretty full.

Crab Cake: I have to be honest; I was a little disappointed in the crab cake. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but there was nothing really special about it. You could taste the filling right away and it lacked flavor.  

(I also had a bite of my friend’s steak it was also nothing to write home about. For the amount of money we paid, even in restaurant week, it was overpriced and not worth it.)

Dessert: Unfortunately, I’m also going to disclose my disappointment with the dessert selection as well. I had a dry, store bought piece of chocolate cake that left me scratching my head. Again, I was very dissatisfied. But wait; let me not forget the gorgeous tiny dollop of fresh homemade vanilla ice cream they served with it. Simple and well executed.  

Farmers & Fishers

3000 K Street, NW,
Washington DC, 20007

202.298.0003

Hours:

Lunch and Dinner
Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 10pm
Friday & Saturday: 11:30am – 11pm
Sunday:  10am – 10pm
Brunch is served on Sundays from 10am – 3pm.

Policy

The diner/modern ambiance was hardly unique. Walking into a dark black hole with sporadic lighting is not a good idea when attempting to present the façade for serious cuisine. It was an odd splash of diner meets night club that did not accompany the food well.

Nonetheless, the service was up to par and our waiter was patient and helpful. Though the place was small, it did not overcrowd when the 20 something’s flooded in for the evening’s happy hour specials. Overall, I would probably only go back for the cocktails and sliders.

Cocktails:

Hibiscus Cocktail: Too sweet for my liking. The hibiscus was a refreshing new taste that was not overwhelming; however, the St. Germaine liquor was.

Champagne Cocktail: A beautiful blend of light brut champagne with a hint of brandy. Very light and sophisticated.

Tastings:

Madras Curry Lamb Sliders: One of my favorites of the evening. The lamb was cooked to a perfect medium rare; it was complimented with fresh bread, arugula, mint, and a slightly pickled cucumber. Two thumbs up.

Hand cut French Fries with Black Truffle Mayo: I could not get enough of the mayo. The fries were cooked perfectly and not oily at all. They were complimented with just the right amount of fresh garlic salt.

Yellowfin Tuna Tartare: Not the best tartare but not the worst either. Fresh tuna cubes with tiny dices of cucumber and shallot. It lacked original flavor but was delicious.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: I think it’s hard to go wrong with hummus but this chef got it right. By far the best hummus I’ve ever had. It was a perfect blend of all ingredients and had us licking the bowl.

Steller Bay Oysters: Beautiful, simple, yet elegant. With only three to an order I was left wanting more. The chef didn’t take away from the oyster’s original taste by only adding a touch of onion and a drizzle of olive oil.

Cashew Crusted Jerk Chicken: This was one of the highlights of the evening; an original recipe of crispy jerk chicken satay, with apple chutney. The crisp outer cashew layer gave way to the succulent, juicy chicken. The distinct jerk seasonings married impressively with the mango chutney which carried a slight hint of curry. Beautiful.



Policy

1904 14th Street NW
202.387.7654

Hours:
5:00pm – 11:00pm Tues. –Wed.
5:00pm – 12:00pm Fri. – Sat.
5:00pm – 1:00- 2:00am Fri. – Sat. (BAR)