Restaurant Rave: Estadio

Treat yo self

This was a big food weekend for me. As I've said here before, weekends are for treats. When Annie suggested we go to Estadio on Friday, I was game. I've been wanting to try this place for over a year but have never gotten around to it since they don't take reservations. Plus, I've had a mild tapas obsession after going to Tia Pol in New York this fall. While I still think Tia Pol wins, this is definitely the best tapas place I've been to in the District.

Since we had no other plans, we were fully expecting and fine with a longer wait. The atmosphere of Estadio is busy and fun so the wait seemed like nothing. We waited for about 30 minutes at the bar drinking sangria and watching the plates come out of the kitchen. We needed some inspiration! The red and white sangrias were delicious, but red was my favorite. This one had hints of lime and mint that were a nice surprise. We moved on to the sparkling cocktails next - tequila, grapefruit, Cava and rosemary. Yum! We didn't go wrong with any of the drinks.

Now onto the best part. The food. We got five dishes to split (six if you count the pinxtos), which was plenty. First out were the pinxtos, which is literally a skewered bite of layered ingredients. We got the chorizo, manchego and pistachio crusted quince. I wanted six more of these, and they were the perfect way to start off.

Pinxtos with grapefruit cocktail in the background

My favorite thing was the brussel sprouts. I love brussels and have had my fair share, but these were the best I've eaten (better than Ardeo+Bardeo!). As Annie said, there was nothing healthy about them. Crispy-fried and topped with currants, caramelized onions and spicy pine nuts, this dish had a flavor combo that sung. The sweetness of the currants and onions with the spiciness of the pine nuts followed by a splash of vinegar worked perfectly.

The sauteed shrimp with garlic, parsley and lemon is a standard dish for a tapas restaurant. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the oil was great to dip the bread in even if a little too lemony for my taste.

Brussels and Shrimp 

The second biggest hit of the night after the brussels was the beef carpaccio montadito. This open faced sandwich seemed so simple that I was hesitant when Annie suggested it. I was so wrong. The thin slices of beef were layered on the toasty, buttery, garlicky baguette and seared lightly on the outside. It was served with arugula and aioli. Can you tell by now I'm a fan of aioli mayo?

I would like this for lunch every day. Thanks.

The patatas bravas were my idea since they're such a staple Spanish item. The ones I had at Tia Pol were life changing. These were delicious and from what Annie said, possibly more authentic than the Tia Pol ones. The change here was the addition of tomato sauce into the mix with the aioli. Tasty but not my favorite dish of the night or rendition of patatas bravas.

The Spanish version of french fries.

Finally, the scallops and cauliflower arrived. I discovered my love for scallops about a year ago and try to order them as much as possible now. These were cooked to perfection, but the overall dish lacked a little something. It was pretty forgettable.

Ehhhhh

Overall, the drinks, atmosphere and food will keep Estadio in my brain. I definitely will be going back and trying new dishes and sticking to a few favorites. I suggest you do the same.

http://estadio-dc.com/