Lupo Verde

So apparently I lied about keeping up to date on my blog. Sorry guys. With the fleeting return of spring-like weather this week, I was reminded that my love for al fresco dining will mean a significant increase in visits to local DC restaurant/bar patios so it is high time I get my act together in posting. Yesterday’s gorgeous weather coaxed me out of my apartment ,where I’ve been hiding under blankets for the last 3 months, to meet my dad at Lupo Verde, a recently opened Italian restaurant located at 14th and T streets. The restaurant is brought to you by the same owner behind Tunnicliff’s , Station 4, and Ulah Bistro (where I was a hostess for a mere 3 months after college before I realized being in charge of the seating of a restaurant gave me major anxiety).

Upon arrival, I was immediately impressed with the interior, a fairly small but intimate space with brick walls and wood accents, lending a rustic Italian feel.I had a coveted reservation but my dad always prefers eating at the bar, which I generally protest, but I decided to humor the old man this time by finding seats at the small upstairs bar. I ordered their white wine on tap and was pretty disappointed to see a fairly tiny glass arrive, especially because I’ve paid the same price for a much healthier pouring at other nearby restaurants. Putting this let-down aside, I focused on the food menu which is divided into small plates (you don’t say) of antipasti, soups and salads, pizza, primi (pastas), secondi (meat and fish dishes), and sides. I asked for some bread to start and a wonderfully chewy focaccia bread with tomatoes and herbs arrived. Our bartender told us that the chef, who recently moved here from Italy, makes everything in house, including the pasta and bread. He said it is not unusual to walk into the restaurant at 2:30 in the morning to find the counter lined with fresh bread the chef has been baking for the next day’s service. I don’t know about you but if I was in charge of making bread in the middle of the night, the restaurant would have 50% less bread and I would be 50% heavier.

While indulging on bread and olive oil, we ordered the burrata salad and followed the bartender’s recommendation of fried artichokes. The burrata salad was the perfect warm weather dish with the light and creamy cheese and a salad of crisp and bright vegetables for balance. The star appetizer, however, was the fried artichokes which arrived not in small bites but in 2 whole fried artichokes with a wonderfully savory sauce with a slight spice (inevitably I was dipping my bread in this sauce as well ). Next, we ordered the Statale pizza with eggplant and sausage and another recommendation by the bartender of a lamb ragu pasta (the exact name escapes me). I had another issue with the very small pizza that arrived although it was very tasty. In my opinion (and I don’t think I’m alone), pizza is not meant to be a small plate and a regular sized pizza is still perfectly capable of being shared. With the widespread prominence of small plates restaurants in DC, I think more menus should be a blend of regular sized plates and small plates, giving diners options of a full entree while still allowing for a communal meal. My favorite dish had to be the lamb ragu pasta, which showcased the superiority of handmade pasta as it’s delicate and chewy texture was unlike any pasta dish I’ve had recently. There were also delicious surprises of well-spiced meatballs hidden throughout the dish in addition to the hearty lamb ragu.

With a few tweaks, I think Lupo Verde has the potential to be one of my favorites of the many Italian restaurants in the 14th street corridor. I am eagerly anticipating the opening of the “cheese room” downstairs which will be selling cheeses, meats, breads, and other menu items to go. In the future, my meals here will be made up of a selection of their antipasti and pasta dishes (we did not make a dent in their many enticing options). There is also a lovely sidewalk patio area where I look forward to relaxing and carbo-loading in the coming months.

Lupo Verde
1401 T Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
http://www.lupoverdedc.com/