701 Restaurant - Main Dining Room (before renovations)
There has been talk all over town about Ashok Bajaj’s plans to close 701 Restaurant, August 2 in order to renovate and reopen on August 10, unveiling a major makeover. Evidently workers will be working around the clock - in three shifts, in order to complete the renovations on time."You won't recognize the place," Bajaj, told WaPo's Sietsema. The "pricey face lift" as Tim Carmen called it, includes new carpets, window treatments, redesigned bathrooms, private rooms, and a complete overhaul of the kitchen. The new color scheme will incorporate soothing earth tones of beige, brown and ivory accented by deep azure blue “Neptune” leather chairs.
The new design scheme is being led by Harry Gregory of London-based ARA Design, the firm responsible for the design of his other local DC restaurants. In addition to 701, Washington restaurateur Ashok Bajaj, owns award winning restaurants, Bombay Club, Rasika, Ardeo, Bardeo, and his latest venture, Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, a 120-seat Italian restaurant expected to open at 1100 New York Ave. NW in early September.
In addition to the reconfigured floor plan and color scheme, Bajaj has also tapped Adam Longworth as the new executive chef for 701. Chef Longworth, the former chef de cuisine of the acclaimed Gotham Bar & Grill in New York, is replacing Bobby Varua. Longworth, a 2001 Culinary Institute of America graduate, has worked with Chef Alfred Portale at New York’s acclaimed Gotham Bar and Grill since 2002. The new menu will include an emphasis on fresh seafood, especially King Crab from Alaska. The restaurant will reopen showcasing Longworth’s menu new on August 10th. Some of his appealing appetizers include King Crab summer roll with avocado, orange, peanut and jalapeno; Hamachi crudo with shiitake mushrooms, and grilled scallops with, fennel puree. His new entrée highlights include grilled Bronzino with spanish olives, potato confit, Serrano ham and chardonnay vinegar; sautéed lamb loin with potato puree, Black Mission fig, Trevisiano, and balsamic vinegar, and his mushroom tortellini with goat cheese, pine nuts, and white truffle essence.
For more info: Located in Washington, D.C.’s hip Penn Quarter, 701 is conveniently located close to The White House and Capitol Hill at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. For more information, please call (202) 393-0701 or visit the website at www.701restaurant.com.
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