Fall isn't just the time for new restaurants to open their doors, it's also the season for more established places to refresh, regroup and come back fighting.
To wit, Spezie reopened this week with a more open, contemporary look, a community table in its bar/lounge and a new culinary identity thanks to highly regarded chef Cesare Lanfranconi, who will be spending time in this Golden Triangle Italian’s kitchen while remaining a part-owner of Tosca; his exciting new menus offer classical dishes at lunch, with more complex preparations deeply rooted in tradition at night, including four- and six-course tasting adventures.
The Palm below Dupont Circle is back after a summer hiatus, promising to be more of a see-and-be-seen spot than ever thanks to its new glass-enclosed front veranda with walls that fold open to the street and a revamped interior that features a bigger bar area and highly visible booths near the entrance; an expanded menu offers new twists on its steak and lobster classics.
Meanwhile Gerard Pangaud and his former wife, Michelle, have turned their Downtown restaurant, Gerard's Place into a Contemporary French bistro, and are in the process of changing its name to Gerard Pangaud Bistro. The new menu showcases updates of classics like salade niçoise, skate wings, braised beef in red wine and chicken supreme at prices that are bon marché, considering the quality. As a bonus, Chef Pangaud plans to spend several nights a week in its kitchen, while continuing to teach at L’Academie de Cuisine. Decor updates are slated to take place early next year.
– Olga Boikess