photo by Birch Thomas
From a press release:
“The Occidental, Stephen Starr’s glamorous reimagining of the legendary Washington restaurant that once drew the world’s most important statesmen for the ultimate in power dining, is set to open its doors on March 5 at the historic Willard Hotel (1475 Pennsylvania Ave. NW).
photo by Birch Thomas
Designed by Ken Fulk, the 280-seat Occidental is STARR Restaurants’ most luxe Washington restaurant yet, with caviar service, perfectly executed martinis, and a menu laden with iconic American dishes and steakhouse favorites that are sure to make it the talk of Washington. From the custom china to the sumptuous, velvet-adorned walls and banquettes, no detail has gone unnoticed in this gorgeously outfitted new destination for politics and for play.
The Occidental’s menu is uniquely focused on reviving classic American fare for a new generation of diners. Think: Shrimp Louis, a bright, citrusy turn-of-the-century salad hailing from San Francisco, updated here with iceberg lettuce and housemade remoulade; Lobster Newberg, a cognac-and-cream laced lobster, popularized more than a century ago by New York’s legendary Delmonico’s; and Pheasant Under Glass, which returns to its place as the height of haute cuisine at the Occidental, paired with seared foie gras and jus.
Rounding out the menu are American steakhouse favorites, including a salt-crusted Prime Rib, a French Dip and a NY Strip served with a choice of accompaniments, as well as Dover Sole. In keeping with the theme, the Occidental has revived iconic American desserts such as the famed Baked Alaska, Coconut Chiffon Cake and what’s sure to be a crowd favorite: Bananas Foster, flambéed tableside, naturally.
The Occidental’s cocktail menu is equally focused on classics, perfectly executed. From the Occidental Martini to a 50/50 Martini, martinis are the star here, delivered to tables super-chilled and poured tableside. Guests can select from a list of more than 50 gins and vodkas to personalize their martinis, or choose from over 80 whiskeys in the Occidental’s Whiskey Lounge collection to make their own ideal Manhattan.
The wine list is among the most expansive of any STARR restaurant in Washington, drawing from wine-growing regions around the world, from California, Washington and Western Europe to Greece, Lebanon and Armenia. Muscular red varietals have been chosen to perfectly complement hearty meats, while an impressive list of sparkling wines and white wines – bright, mineral-driven and savory – offers
plenty of options that pair with seafood. Not to be missed is the collection of rare wines with vintage depth – elusive gems that have been sourced exclusively for the Occidental through longstanding grower relationships.
Opened just two blocks from the White House by Henry Willard, founder of the Willard Hotel, in 1906, the Occidental became a Washington legend, renowned for its walls covered with portraits of illustrious politicos and celebrities, many of them frequent guests. The restaurant even long bore the reputation as the place “Where Statesmen Dine.” It was at the Occidental that, over a pork chop and crab cakes, a Soviet emissary and an American correspondent hammered out a deal to end the Cuban Missile Crisis. (The Occidental pays homage to that historic event with the Pork Chop That Saved the World, served with gremolata, pork jus and fondant potatoes.)
It’s that storied past that inspired James Beard Award-winning restaurateur (and history buff) Stephen Starr. “The Occidental is so quintessentially DC – it was the hangout for the political, celebrity, and international jet set. As soon as I saw the space and learned about the legendary guests who mingled here, I knew that I wanted to recreate that sort of special, convivial but really approachable place where Washington’s cultural worlds could come together,” says Starr.
Starr tapped Fulk (Carbone Miami, ZZs Club), who researched the Occidental’s rich history to evoke its most storied era. Among the history-inspired highlights: The collection of framed portraits that once lined nearly every inch of the restaurant’s walls has been restored in black and white and hung floor-to-ceiling in the new Occidental. Meanwhile, a 1930s colorized postcard depicting the original Occidental dining room provided inspiration for the rich hues and luxe setting we see today.
The Occidental has been designed with myriad spaces intended to evoke drama and inspire intimacy:
Guests enter through brass doors and into a showstopping entryway featuring a black-and-white marble floor in a radiating starburst pattern before being whisked into a dining room replete with vintage touches, from aged parquet floors and crystal chandeliers to the jewel-toned velvet that envelops the walls and seating. A seductive Art Deco bar and separate, second-floor cocktail lounge offer two distinct options for guests to perch, sip, nosh on caviar and people-watch. And an airy and secluded 3,200-square-foot courtyard evokes a secret garden, with white-tablecloth-draped tables, wrought-iron seats slipcovered in dainty, striped textiles, and lush greenery providing plenty of ambience.
The Occidental opens Wednesday, March 5.”