S(er) E(s) R(iquisimo)!
In 2005, my dining companion and I savored the best Spanish food ever thanks to a Yoga retreat that whisked us down to the UVA area. For nearly a decade, we searched in vain for a restaurant in the DC area that was remotely as good as Mas of Charlottesville. While stylistically different in its approach than Mas, SER ended the nearly 10 drought for us and has become our favorite place to enjoy a relaxing lunch of "simple, easy, real" refreshing takes on Iberian cuisine.
Earlier this year, SER entered our culinary radar as one of our favorite restaurant's Chef Roberto Donna (as a Facebook friend) shared photos raving about the new Ballston Spanish restaurant. Later when we saw that SER was making its DC Restaurant Week this past August, we jumped at the chance for an easy-going weekend lunch. We were very impressed by its debut--its fantastic food in a naturally sun-filled cheery space with exemplary service by Gabriel whose delicious descriptions made everything taste better even before the first bite! Dazzled by its first impression, we returned for a Black Friday lunch and reaffirmed SER's refined yet comforting food.
Our favorite dishes:
- Grilled Red Snapper with Charred Veggies:
The most memorable of dishes among DCRW tour during Summer 2015, we were happy to order it again as the featured "Catch of the Day." The individual portion-sized fish's head and main bones are removed, leaving both fillets attached at the tail (crispy) and dorsal fin, cooked to a moist finish then its inherent flavors enhanced by a crispy and gently spicy topping of garlic, chilies, and herbs. The roasted eggplant, tomatoes, onions, and peppers add a mellowly sweet balance to the delicate yet meaty fish.
-Tallarines a la Mariscada:
Fresh thin tagliatelle with a seafoody tomato+thyme-based sauce with squid, monkfish, clams, and mussels, this dish is carefully-prepared rustic comfort: the seafood is cooked amply, but they (especially the squid) infuse the sauce extensively with their flavor profile. Just a slight garnish of finely grated cheese and parsley finishes off this outstanding entree.
- Serrano Ham, Melons, Fig:
Exceptional ham, beautifully ripe honeydew and cantaloupe, superb figs, pretty accent of radish sprouts and edible flowers form a refreshing balance of refreshingly sweet and salty-savory perfect for the hot summer!
- Milhojas with Napolean Cream, Berries, and Caramel:
A lovely, crisp, and airy phyllo dough puff pastry sandwiching fresh strawberries and a pleasant cream plus generous garnish of raspberries, blueberries, and strawberry sauce makes this a joyous celebration of the summer's berries.
- Dark Chocolate Souffle with Coffee Ice Cream:
Since our server immediately scooped the ice cream into top-center of the piping hot souffle, we couldn't really get the perfect gauge of its fluffy texture. However, the resultant mocha flavor and hot pudding-like core and cake-like exterior made this a fun experience. A generous side of strawberries jazzed up by a thoughtful pairing of balsamic vinegar.gave this decadent souffle a refreshing jolt. read more