georgetowngourmet

Brioboy's lenghty report made me curious and so we went a couple days ago to see what all the buzz is about. Yes, the place seems way off right now but coming from Georgetown you can conveniently take Rock Creek parkway and you are right there, avoiding all the downtown traffic. Watch out: In a couple of years that place will be the center of the city's waterfront development. The hotel is certainly ahead of its time - and not just for the location. The hotel is georgeous, no question. DC has not seen something quite like that. It's elegant, airy, with an Asian touch. Staff is everywhere from the moment you arrive. We stopped in the Lobby (they call it the Empress Lounge) for a martini and people watching. What a beautiful lounge and you should see the glassware they are using. It's Venetian crystal and I remember seing that glasware in a lifestyle magazine for about $100.00 a pop! After our drink we were heading to Cafe Mozu. I couldn't agree more with Brioboy: The restaurant feels not like DC. For us it felt more like the latest hot spot in New York, trendy, hip, cool. We were lucky to get a table by the window with a breathtaking view of the Jefferson memorial (there's only four window tables so don't count on one). Tabletops are simple yet stylish with a Bernardaud butter plate and great quality linen. There are two menus fo dinner: the regular one and a special promotion with all Kobe Beef itmes. Our appetizers included oysters with six different toppings and tuna tartar, both well prepared and tasty. The oysters were a bit small, however, and the tuna tartar chopped too small for my taste. Then we ordered our entrees from the Kobe Beef menu: grilled ribeye with a succulent gourmandise sauce and a tenderloin served with a foie gras vinaigrette and summer truffles. It was exquisite. The meat was cooked perfectly medium-rare and melts on your tongue. We skipped dessert and went for a glass of Chateau d'Yquem 1991 which is offered by the glass - where else can you get that! Service was on the ball that night, efficient, well informed and attentive. When we left we were held up at the hotel entrance by police and secret service as they whisked away a head of state or so in a motorcade. It's certainly the place to be in town!!!