We loved meeting the charming exec chef David Varley, who gave us a personal tour of the hotel's extensive herb garden, featuring more than 6o varietals and 400 plants. He also spoke about the soon-to-open roof garden, which he says will feature a greenhouse so that the restaurant can enjoy fresh herbs and vegetables all year round. Logistics are still being worked out, but the garden will hopefully be accessible to the public via the hotel's fifth floor. In the meantime, guests can enjoy outdoor dining on the courtyard patio, which will soon feature three working firepits for warmth in the cooler weather.
The menu, which was sadly devoured too fast to be photographed, included dishes like chilled cucumber gazpacho, sweet corn and basil fritters, ahi tuna steak and a coconut-almond "candy" bar that tasted way better than any Almond Joy we've ever had. We also enjoyed a peach-bourbon cocktail over crushed ice that almost cured us of our dark liquor phobia ... note we say "almost" because Deacon still isn't brave enough to drink the stuff straight.
After lunch, we enjoyed the opportunity to see the new-ish addition to the hotel's presidential suite collection, (there are several, each on a different floor) the Royal Suite, which opened just in time for inauguration.
This 4,000+ square foot, $12,500 per night suite features closed-circuit cameras on the entire floor and can be rented as a single suite or in a three or eight room block accessible via keycard only, depending on preference.
The suite itself was quite lovely, filled with $200k+ of artwork alone as well as a private office, exercise room, dining area, kitchen, terrace, luxurious half bath and four distinct living spaces. The room, which was being prepared for occupancy tomorrow, seemed ideal for visiting dignitaries or celebrities that plan to entertain, as the living area can be easily closed off from the personal space.
Most exciting, perhaps, was not the suite itself, (which looked, quite frankly, like most other grandiose hotel suites we've seen) but the ultra-VIP private entrance. The suite boasts the only suite-to-street private entrance in the DC-metro area and quite possibly the only suite-to-street private entrance of comparable quality in the country, the publicist informed us. In short, it's perfect for A-listers who want to avoid notice as they enter and exit the hotel.
In other news, it's something that Deacon will not be able to afford for a long, long time.
That said, we'll certainly be back for dinner, perhaps in the lounge, where the new burger and small bites menu boasts the "luxe" factor we like at a significantly more affordable price point.
xoxo, Deacon
Psst (images are from the Four Seasons - they're much better than the ones we took!)
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