Coastal-Chic Casamara Makes Debonair Debut in Dupont Circle
Stepping into Casamara feels like uncovering a lost snapshot of some glamorous yesteryear, complete with marble checkered floors, a grandiose centerpiece bar, and a 54-foot tapestry hand-tufted in Spain. The hotly anticipated coastal Mediterranean restaurant is now open, anchoring the stylish new Sixty DC — a boutique hotel brand with existing locations in LA and NYC (1337 Connecticut Ave NW).
Hotelier Jason Pomeranc and Toronto-based restaurateur Hanif Harji teamed up for the multi-part dining and hospitality venture, which includes retro-chic cocktail bar Reynold's in the back (1320 18th Street NW), also open today, and a forthcoming rooftop destination, currently slated for a mid-summer debut.
'I wanted to do something that was a little bit more European inspired,' says Harji, who turned to cosmopolitan cities of Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Barcelona for inspiration. 'I love that whole urban dynamic and that they all go to the coast for the summer.'
With more than 100 indoor dining seats and a 24-person private dining room, Casamara offers ample space to delight in dishes like citrusy branzino crudo, double-boned Iberico pork chop, harissa roast chicken, and lamb rotolo. Pastas are another main attraction, including an octopus casarecce and sumptuous ricotta gnocchi decked out with morels, ramps, and peas.
Executive chef Zachary Albertsen helms the kitchen, crafting a menu that reimagines traditional coastal cuisine through a local lens. One unexpected hit? Albertsen's interpretation of the simple sardine toast, which Harji describes as 'so complex.'
'The flavors underneath the sardine, the way he poaches and grills it, it's so beautiful, with soft, smoky textures,' he adds.
Dessert enthusiasts will find just-sweet-enough indulgences like a lemon tart and an olive oil cake with a vanilla bean crème anglaise.
'The desserts are easy, delicious, simple, and not gonna go over the top,' Harji says. 'It's just like the rest of the menu—you just feel really good eating it.'
The drinks program aims to balance playfulness and tradition, exemplified by offerings such as the savory Pepperoncini-tini, a dirty martini featuring Grey Goose vodka and pepperoncini brine, paired with a feta-stuffed olive.
A few steps from Casmara, martini aficionados will appreciate Reynold's, its midcentury-modern lounge counterpart adorned with Americana artwork and floor-to-ceiling wood paneling. Guests can enter through a back door connected to the hotel or through its own separate entrance on 18th Street NW. A selection of snazzy bar bites includes lobster rolls, poutine, grilled cheese, truffle popcorn, and caviar dip-and-dill chips. A lengthy opening cocktail menu includes sections for martinis, forgotten classics, seasonal affairs, and large-format options like a French '750.'
'We lean into the martini in a very meaningful way,' Harji says. There are classic iterations and more adventurous options, like a savory pesto-washed tequila and tomatillo brine martini known as Nightshade.
Casamara and Reynold's mark Harji's entry into the D.C. dining scene with his company, Toronto-based Scale Hospitality. Its roster of restaurants includes Toronto Beach Club, Mar'aa Yorkville, and Miss Likklemore's.
'A successful restaurant isn't just about the food or the service, it's ambiance, lighting, music, the whole package,' Harji says. 'We hope people are comfortable coming here and that they love the food. If we can transport them to some other place where they feel like they're having an experience outside of D.C., that would make me really happy.'
Casamara will be open weekdays for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner daily starting at 5 p.m., as well as for brunch weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reynold's will be open six days a week from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. (closed on Tuesdays).
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