THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Restaurant Seven

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Restaurant Seven Restaurant Review:

Despite its rocky start, this classy Northern Virginia destination promises big, big deals for the future. After all, it showcases the skills of New York chef Mina Newman, a glorious kitchen, and an elegant setting accented by a glass-encased wine cellar-chef’s table room and a casual, up-front café. Its menu challenges the notion that all Americans want are grilled steaks and baked potatoes. Instead, Newman tantalizes with such dinner appetizers as grilled calamari and steak tartar with crispy potato stix (sic), followed by sushi-grade tuna encrusted with sesame seeds or a veal loin stuffed with merguez sausage and preserved lemons. Even lunches tend towards the sophisticated, with our favorite---a Niçoise salad of steak, green beans, eggs, and olives---taking our vote. Even hamburgers and the commonplace Cobb salad are rendered epicurean triumphs composed of the finest ingredients. Save room for dessert, urged our waiter, noting that the molten white chocolate cake was his favorite. We didn’t but plan a return for desserts with a vengeance. Night times in the front dining area are casual, meant for pizzas and tapas; for more gracious dining, ask for seating in the formal dining room in the rear. Whichever area you select, the food will be first class and worth its price tag.