Of all of the districts in Washington D.C., the Atlas District may not be your first choice for where to dine. However, consider The Atlas Room as a diamond in the rough, and give it a chance. You’ll find that the creative, eclectic eats and uniquely crafted cocktails stand out among the rest in districts beyond its own.
Chef
Owner and Chef Matt Cordes has made a name for himself in the culinary world, after a lifetime of experience in the kitchen. His interest, like many world renowned chefs, started as a child – he would toss ingredients together in the kitchen to make himself dinner while his parents worked. He eventually went on to get a job as a waiter, then as a prep cook, and then he trained as a sous chef, and then as a chef at the New England Culinary Institute before embarking upon a few learning adventures and before starting his own – the well known and critically acclaimed Atlas Room.
Menu
With a menu that’s chock-full of local, New American cuisine, all who attend the restaurant leave satisfied and impressed. Ingredients are fresh, local and revolve around a menu that changes with the seasons.
Start your dinner off with a beginner plate that’s just large enough for a small table to share – crab, beets, duck, short ribs and ravioli are among the favorites.
For dinner, try the salmon, pork, chicken, market fish, lamb, or indian chickpea fritters. A favorite on the menu is the beef – a flat iron short rib that comes with a parsnip puree, chard, beet and red wine. Prices for dinner hover in the low-mid twenty dollar range, which is to be expected for the fine dining experience that Atlas Room portrays.
Bar
For the full dining experience, a visit to the Atlas Room Bar is a must. It’s wine program works in tandem with a local distributor who doesn’t often deliver to the D.C. Area, making the selection exceptional and unique to say the least. The cocktails are mixed akin to how they were mixed back in a simpler time: with organic, fresh ingredients, handmade syrups and healthy pours of classic spirits.
Reviews
Reviews on The Atlas Room food and service are out of this world, and a quick check online will reveal no less than 4.5 stars. Also praised is the intimate, yet not overcrowded atmosphere. The Washingtonian named it one of the 100 very best restaurants in 2013.
If you find yourself in the D.C. Area, consider The Atlas Room as your first choice for fine dining – you won’t regret it.
Address: 1015 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 388-4020
