Dining's Strange Bedfellows

by Stefanie Berry

New in Washington: Oceanaire. Photo by John Linn

It's about time Washington got a restaurant where Democrats and Republicans can happily break bread together. It's called The Caucus Room, and it's a brand-new bipartisan venture scheduled to open by September. The restaurant comes our way from prominent Democrat Tom Boggs and former Republican National Committee chairman Haley Barbour, with help from the proprietors of Sam & Harry's. The political hot spot will offer American fare, of course, from high-quality steaks to regional specialties like Maryland crab cakes and Florida stone crabs. Boggs says it'll be a place where people "take off their Washington hats and come together over a great meal." Barbour promises it will be a "fun place" where you can "put the grind behind you." Or not—vote notification, C-Span, CNN, CNN Financial Network, CNBC, fax, messenger and stock quote services will be available. The place is oh-so-conveniently located between the White House and Capitol Hill at 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Speaking of politics, James Carville and Mary Matalin's new cherry-wood and jewel-toned West 24, located between M and N streets, is open. He's from New Orleans, she's from Chicago, so the sweethearts decided to focus on the cuisine in between—the Midwest. Chef James Reppuhn (who's cooked at Red Sage and most recently Tahoga) gives the fare "from the heart of America" an upscale twist.

Also new in town is the Oceanaire Seafood Room, a $3 million, 250-seat seafood restaurant (12th and F streets) reminiscent of a 1930s ocean liner (cherry-wood paneling, red-leather circular booths, art-deco light fixtures and Big Band tunes). The original Oceanaire has already gone over big in Minneapolis, and now D.C. has one, complete with oyster bar and a state-of-the-art, 33-degree, $35,000 fish room. That's where the top catch is received (15 to 20 varieties are flown in daily from around the world), filleted and stored until you order. Chef Jason Tepper, who left his spot next to Patrick O'Connell at the Inn at Little Washington, is at the kitchen helm.

New in Cleveland Park (where Greenwood used to be) is Palena, serving both French and Italian fare and desserts by famous pastry chef Ann Amernick.

And fans of the popular Penang Malaysian Cuisine, already bustling in the Big Apple, Philly and Beantown, hang tight: we'll get our own Penang at 19th and M in early 2001. Stay tuned!

Got some restaurant scoop? E-mail it to stefanie@themagazinegroup.com.