777 I Street, NW
On Friday I noted it looked like Del Campo was close to opening in the former PS7s space in Chinatown. April 22nd is the day. From a press release:
On April 22, Chef Victor Albisu will open Del Campo, his first full-service restaurant, in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. (777 I St. NW). Simultaneously rustic and refined, the open, airy dining room calls to mind the rural vineyards and ranches of South America. Those influences loom large on the menu as well, informing the extensive selection of grilled meats as well as traditional Latin American street foods and a robust list of South American wine varietals. In addition to the 129-seat dining room and 36-seat bar, there is a nine-seat Asado Bar located at the heart of the restaurant. Overlooking the open kitchen, this unique dining area gives guests a gallery-style view of the active grill.
“I’ve been dreaming of opening this restaurant my whole life,” says Chef/Owner Victor Albisu. “This is the food I first learned to appreciate from my grandfather, a Cuban baker. This is the food I first learned to cook from the Argentinean and Uruguayan butchers that worked in my mother’s market. It really is the dream come true to be able to take that food, elevate it, and share it with the rest of the city.”
The Menu
Del Campo’s meat-centric menu is a perfect showcase of Albisu’s skill with the grill. The master asador is an expert in the areas of grilling, charring and smoking. But it’s not just meat that benefits from this talent – everything from vegetables to cheeses, breads and salads is given a touch of char. The restaurant’s impressive menu of steaks and slow roasted meats are served with vibrant and flavorful herbed sauces like chimichurri and salsa verdes.
Albisu pays homage to his Peruvian heritage with a raw bar of ceviches, tiraditos and crudos, as well as anticuchos and chicharones, grilled, skewered and fried meats. Even the bread program reflects the restaurant’s roots, featuring warm cast iron country bread served with smoked olive oil. The bar menu, which will continue to be served one hour after the kitchen closes, offers South American sandwiches and street food, including empanadas, anticuchos, albondigas, chicharones, and a chivito sandwich.
The Asado Bar is a showcase for the true art of the South American grill. Reservations are required for the nine-seat space overlooking the restaurant’s grills, where Albisu and his expert asadors work the open flames while interacting with their guests. There are three different fixed-price menus available at the bar, the Traditional, including salad, one board of meat and a choice of cheese or desert; Asado Del Campo that presents two boards of meat and includes sweet breads and other offal cuts along with both cheese and dessert; and a seasonal vegetarian option that demonstrates the flavors that heat and char bring out in everything from greens to cheese.
Like the menu, the liquid selection highlights and elevates classics. Naturally, the bar serves classic South American spirits, such as Pisco, Cachaca and Aguardiente, as well as celebrated regional favorites, like Argentinean mate tea. The real star of the beverage program is the wine list, which leans heavily South American. This focus extends to the serving vessels themselves: some selections will be decanted in traditional Argentine ceramic carafes.
Continues after the jump. (more…)
