Fig & Olive made its grand debut at CityCenter on Thursday night, hosting “An Evening in France” and announcing their presence in the D.C. scene.
A packed house filled the expansive two-story space. Between the models from The Artist Agency posing on each level, the $100 raffle tickets for a luxe trip to France in support of Knock Out Abuse, and all guests being told to be dressed in haute cocktail attire, it was a very chic, Miami beach or New York City style affair.
The downstairs level, to be the main bar and lounge, showcases a beautiful bar with an overhanging bottle display, and glass-walled wine cellars. Head upstairs, where the main dining room will be set up, and find a smaller bar, a semi-open kitchen, and a balcony view back downstairs. Throughout the space, there’s a selection of fine olive oils and certain other retail products available for sale.
The menu, created by chef de cuisine Laurence Cohen, is seasonally focused, and based on flavors from the Riviera and Coastal regions of the south of France, as well as Italy and Spain.
Small plates include a selection of crostini, charcuterie and carpaccio, along with a raw bar lineup. There’s a range of vegetable focused antipasti, along with salads, as well as appetizers, ranging from Gazpacho Andalucia, to Burrata & Heirloom Tomato Caprese, Sea Scallops, and Octopus A la Gallega.
Larger dishes include a lineup of pasta and risotto, such as Zucchini Blossom & Goat Cheese Ravioli, Paella Del Mar, Truffle Risotto, and Fig & Gorgonzola Risotto. Find half a dozen fish entrees, such as Riviera Salmon, Yellowfin Tuna A LA Provencale and Maine Lobster Bouillabaisse, as well as a poultry and meat lineup, from Veal Milanese to Rosemary Lamb Chops and Filet Mignon
There are also three two-person entrees, including a 2-pound Whole Branzino, Chateaubriand, and Cote de Boeuf, a 36-ounce bone-in ribeye.
A selection of specialty cocktails were served, including the Rossellini, with passion fruit vodka, freshly squeezed blood orange juice and fresh lime juice, and Summer in Provence, with gin, a house-made rosemary thyme syrup, muddled blackberries and fresh lime juice, and the Fig & Olive Dirty Martini, with Belvedere vodka, house-made brine and olives.
All told, expect about two dozen specialty cocktails and two dozen wines by the glass on the regular menu, along with an expansive wine and champagne list by the bottle.
Fig & Olive has multiple New York and Los Angeles locations, and a spot in Chicago, along with the new digs at CityCenter in DC. They’re located at 934 Palmer Alley, across the way from DBGB and next to Mango Tree. Visit FigandOlive.com for more information.
