Well Fed On the Town

So the other night there was a little gathering at a local spot and it was like a set-up for a lawyer joke waiting to happen. Like- how do you rid the world of lawyers? Hold an extended happy hour at Mezza Luna and then nuke the place. But we wouldn’t want to do that, because Mezza Luna rocks.

Mezza Luna (named for a crescent shaped pasta- or a scary looking kitchen knife with two handles and curved blade) is a little Italian bistro that opened in the Dupont Circle area of Washington DC about a year ago. My dear friend CD knew the owner and had been talking it up for ages, so we finally got our act together and went with a group of her lawyer friends to try a tasting, which the chef, Marco, puts together every few months to liven up the menu.

There were about 24 of us, so after a few drinks and mingling we claimed three tables in the empty restaurant/bar. Our bunch got a booth, which was cozy and in the back in a section set back from the rest of the dining area. The restaurant is done up in soft blues and whites. Murals of the sea and other artwork (mostly local artists) do a lot to contribute to the oceanic theme. Behind me on the wall was a wrought iron sculpture of a ship. I made sure it was firmly attached to the wall before I sat down.

The tapas consisted mostly of seafood dishes and fresh vegetables. After putting down baskets of sliced ciabata and something that looked like fried bread sticks with a creamy garlic sauce for dipping, the parade began.

There was beef carpaccio topped with a a sparky spinach and mesculin salad, fresh tuna and cannellini beans in a red pepper tortilla, a tomato and mozzarella salad (the tomatoes were a bit pale, but it was still delicious), skewered chicken chunks wrapped in bacon and served over a creamy mushroom risotto, tender gnocchi, and duck ragout. There were also several kinds of mezzaluna style ravioli with cheese, mushroom and beef fillings. The pasta was al dente and each filling was flavorful and worth stabbing a table mate with a fork for to get another bite.

The entree was a toughie- I wanted the Chilean Sea Bass, but my wallet said, “Um, no sweetie. Not this time.” So I had the Papardella Ponte Vecchio: wide noodles with a ragout of rabbit.

My only complaint is that I was once again seated behind a bowl o’ food- it looked like something I threw together in a saucepan and tossed into a dish, which is anathema to someone who likes a well-presented plate. That said, the chunks of rabbit were deliciously sauteed in a touch of garlic and browned butter, sprinkled with fresh Parmesan and devoured with pleasure.

After that came the dessert promenade. After it made the rounds of the table, I laid claim to a smooth, molded, dark chocolate mousse topped with shredded coconut and reclining in a sea of orange sauce and garnished with orange slices.

There was also a milky panna cotta garnished with balsamic soaked strawberries and sliced almonds- the subtle sweetness of the panna cotta played well with the balsamic vinegar. Other desserts included a petit baba rum topped with cream, a plate of almond-studded biscotti and a tasty but wholly unremarkable tiramisu (delicious, but it’s been done). Sharing desserts is the way to go so that you don’t miss anything.

It was an amazing meal. So amazing that when they announced that they had split the bar bill equally among us (darn those hard drinkin’ lawyers) I did not bat an eye. Well, there was a little batting, but thems the breaks.

Call ahead- this place has become very popular! Open for lunch and dinner, with a daily happy hour from 4 to 7pm. Close to Farragut North Station on the red line.