In the 11 years that Ris Lacoste has been its executive chef, 1789 has won all kinds of awards, from a local restaurant association’s “Restaurant of the Year” award to the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for its compelling wine list. Locals, like journalist and D.C. socialite Sally Quinn, love it for its romantic ambience; the five dining rooms are cozy dens, with a homey decor that includes historical prints on the walls, silk-shaded brass oil lamps on tables, and, come winter, fires crackling in the fireplaces. So put on your best duds and be prepared for a relaxing meal with only the food and your dinner companion to distract you. The formal but cozy restaurant occupies 2 floors (3, if you count the room reserved for private parties) of a Federal townhouse near Georgetown University.
Lacoste varies her menus daily, but two dishes for which she’s especially known are the oyster and champagne stew with Smithfield ham and walnuts and the roast rack of Colorado lamb with creamy feta potatoes au gratin in red-pepper-purée-infused Merlot sauce. Also look for appetizers of lobster tart on puffed pastry with mushrooms, leeks, and tarragon, or grilled quail with barley and mushrooms, and entrees that range from osso buco with risotto Milanese, to ginger glazed sea scallops with pea shoots, mango, and curried pistachio rice. A hot fudge sundae is one of several decadent dessert options.
The nightly pretheater menu, 6 to 6:45pm Monday to Friday and 5:30 to 6:45pm Saturday and Sunday, includes appetizer, entree, dessert, and coffee for $35. The same deal is available after 9pm Sunday through Thursday and after 10pm Friday and Saturday nights.