TICO restaurant opens at 14th and U Street, NW – Have a Look Inside

1926 14th Street, NW looking south toward T Street and Trader Joe’s

From a press release:

“James Beard award-winning chef Michael Schlow announces the June 8 opening of TICO restaurant in the Louis Development at 1926 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. TICO, an affectionate name for a ‘local’ person in Costa Rica, is an American restaurant influenced by Schlow’s travels to Spain, Mexico and Latin America. The 45-item menu encourages guests to share and showcases creative ceviches, interesting tacos, seasonal small plates, a la plancha items, and entrées.

Elkus Manfredi Architects and StreetSense collaborated with Schlow to design a rustic space that reflects the casual yet imaginative spirit of TICO. Schlow’s wife, artist Adrienne Schlow, distressed the restaurant’s columns and brick walls, and some of her mixed media art and paintings can be found throughout the space as well. Michael, who also enjoys photography in his free time, contributed to the design with a few framed pieces from his travels to Spain. The 150-seat restaurant also features a 15-seat bar, as well as a ceviche bar with an additional seven seats, overlooking the open kitchen, allowing guests to be part of the action and see the workings of the culinary team.

A thoughtfully selected beverage menu, overseen by director of operations Steve Uhr, features an extensive list of more than 125 tequilas and mezcals, local and Latin beers, including an Añejo barrel aged DC Brau beer, and a cocktail list with a focus on small batch spirits. Guests who drink 88 different tequilas within eight months will be granted membership to Tico’s exclusive Tequila Club, which comes with invitations to special tastings, dinners, and other gifts. Riffs on classic cocktails will include the P90X, a Spanish take on a Manhattan and the wine list will feature varietals exclusively from North America, South America and Spain.

Schlow, considered to be one of the leading culinary professionals in the United States, opened the first TICO, named one of Esquire’s “Best New Restaurants in America” in Boston in 2011. He has tapped TICO Boston’s executive chef, George Rodrigues, to helm the kitchen in DC. Together, they will highlight seasonal ingredients and offer many dishes with a local slant such as Fried Chesapeake Oysters with Old Bay Spiked Romesco and a Blue Crab Taco with Bacon, Lettuce Pico, Tomato and Saffron, which will appear alongside signature dishes such as Crispy Manchego Cheese with Spicy Pomegranate-Honey Sauce and House-made Morcilla with Piquillo Peppers, Pickled Onions, and Mustard Vinaigrette.

Guests can opt to leave their dinner selections to the chef, based on appetite and budget. The aptly named “Can’t Decide” menu entails a multi-course chef’s choice meal – ranging from “Kind of Hungry” at $35/person, “Forgot Lunch” at $55/person, to the “Full on TICO Experience” at $85/person.

TICO will initially open daily for dinner Sunday through Thursday 4:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday will be from 4:00 p.m. until 2 a.m. Weekend brunch and happy hour will be added soon thereafter. On the opening night of Sunday, June 8, only walk-ins will be accepted. TICO will take limited reservations for the opening week via phone, and will begin accepting reservations through OpenTable in the coming weeks.”

Lots more photos after the jump.