Alfresco Tap and Grill

Inside Alfresco, Adams Morgan’s Sunny New American Bistro | Eater DC

"At the foot of Adams Morgan I checked out Alfresco Tap & Grill, a new airy neighborhood spot (opening Thursday, April 20) from the family behind Cactus Cantina and Lauriol Plaza, located at the hillside corner of 18th and California Streets NW. With chef Israel Bartoli overseeing an American-centric menu, the offerings jump from arugula-stuffed prosciutto rolls finished with shaved parmesan and balsamic to fried fritura mixta, shrimp scampi, and crab croquettes in an Old Bay remoulade; other starters include French onion soup and roasted beets with a creamy goat cheese brulee. Mains range from a Sriracha-spiked Angus burger and Chianti-braised short rib to classic steak frites in a béarnaise, while pastas like primavera and pizzas made with imported Italian flour (finished in a two-tiered oven with a stone top and wood-fired bottom) round out the menu; tables use checkered wax paper for an old-school Italian vibe. The restaurant leans heavily into frozen drinks (including a frozen take on the Negroni and the slushy margaritas made famous at the nearby Lauriol), plus a martini limoncello and a kale-and-kiwi “Power Mojito,” with up to eight beers, two wines, two cocktails, and one nonalcoholic beverage on tap. Herbs grown on the roof support the kitchen, and there are many gluten-free and vegetarian options (including an Impossible burger); lunch and dinner run $8.50–$27.95, weekend brunch $11.30–$22.60. Bright design features mammoth floor-to-ceiling glass, a retractable rooftop pergola, and abundant outdoor seating — 212 seats outside and 123 inside — with sun-drenched areas like an interior courtyard, an 18th Street patio warmed by Belgian drum chandeliers, and a California Street patio with wicker chairs overlooking tennis courts and a soccer field; weekday happy hour (3–6 p.m.) offers $5 beers and wines, $6 cocktails, and $5-and-up apps. Night manager Sophia Bond sums it up: it’s meant to be a laid-back neighborhood spot where people can show up and hang out." - Evan Caplan