Santé Opens in Arlington’s Ritz Hotel With a Menu of Mediterranean Shared Plates | Eater DC

"Opened over the weekend at 1250 S. Hayes Street in Arlington, Virginia, this Mediterranean restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner from a lobby-level space accessed through a tall gold-and-blue sliding door that most recently housed Fyve (the American bistro Amy Brandwein opened in 2008, long before her James Beard recognition at Centrolina). Longtime Ritz-Carlton executive chef Phil Skerman leads the kitchen alongside chef de cuisine Kevin Marshall-Broderick, and the menu is divided into “bites,” “social” portions and more composed “plates.” Highlights include thick chickpea fries with a Greek yogurt dip; grilled Virginia oysters with citrus and harissa butter; pan-seared shrimp saganaki with black garlic and tomato fondue; a lamb kofta appetizer and fattoush salad; charred Atlantic salmon with dukkah vinaigrette; and steak frites with a North African chermoula butter. A Mediterranean take on osso bucco swaps in a braised lamb shank served on a bed of okra, pearl couscous, rosemary, mint, lamb jus and veggie purée with a touch of harissa. The bar riffs on an espresso martini by replacing vodka with Panamanian Selvarey chocolate rum and calling it the “Runaway Baby Espresso‑Tini,” and wine lovers can sample high-end Napa pours in 1-, 3- and 6-ounce pours (including a 2017 Opus One and a 2007 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon at tiered prices). The space embraces a coastal-blue theme with soft blue cork seats, reptile-print booths, a tablecloth-free dining room with 64 seats and another 48 in a private area, and the bar is serving draft beer for the first time." - Tierney Plumb