Pastis Opens in Washington D.C.
New York's favorite Parisian bistro opens third location
The 11,000-square-foot restaurant opened on January 25 at 1323 4th Street NE, at a former warehouse in the city’s Union Market District. The 250-seat restaurant also offers an outdoor dining chalet.
Like its slightly older Miami sister, Pastis D.C. features a classic bistro design, warm lighting, patined mirrors, and comfortable seating.
The menu at Pastis D.C. will offer the restaurant’s staples including an amazing onion soup that’s a meal in itself, spaghetti limone, bouillabaisse, lobster frites, and my favorite chicken paillard.
The D.C. location will also offer a few exclusive dishes such as poached veal tongue served with crispy potatoes, wiener schnitzel with Persian cucumbers and potato salad, and a roast chicken for two- served with gem lettuce and pear salad, pommes Lyonnaise and gravy.
Other menu additions include some interesting Eastern European dishes such as potato pierogies and chicken Kiev, alongside decidedly English fish and chips.
The cocktail menu will offer a selection of low-alcohol spritzes such as the “Spritz Royale” with Aperol, grapefruit cordial, lemon, and sparkling water.
And, the most perfect of all martinis, Le Petite Pickle makes its way to D.C. This pint-sized cocktail combines Grey Goose vodka, house pickle brine, and “pickled things” and is the absolute perfect four-sip cocktail to start the evening while perusing the menu.
The restaurant, like its New York and Miami siblings, is owned and operated by James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Stephen Starr and Keith McNally who first collaborated on Pastis New York’s revival in 2019.
Despite the overwhelming number of restaurants in New York City and Miami, Pastis continues to charm — and attract crowds. Last Friday I was at Pastis for a nightcap. At 11 p.m., the restaurant’s bar was bustling and the dining room was filled. Despite being busy, the staff was courteous and attentive and the air felt electric and buzzy rather than hectic and harried.
That’s the magic of Pastis and the reason behind its continued success: No matter what time of day you dine — or whether you’re having a seafood tower and a bottle of champagne or a simple beer and frites — the service is impeccable, the atmosphere is warm, and the food and drink consistently wonderful.