You know the space: it’s in Dupont Circle on P Street between 21st and 22nd Street below the Residence Inn. It once was Mimi’s American Bistro. Then it was Star’s Bistro and Bar. Now it is Vento. And I think it finally has found something that will break the curse and stick around. Brought to us by the folks behind Siroc Restaurant in McPherson Square, Vento describes itself as a modern Italian trattoria and serves a mix of salads, pastas, fish, and meats. The word on the street has been positive about Vento, although it seems to have flown under the radar since its opening in November of 2010. I finally was able to make my way to Vento yesterday for lunch and I was incredibly pleased with my delicious meal and will definitely be going back.
Vento's exterior in Dupont Circle
Because the restaurant is not located downtown, it wasn’t exactly bustling during lunch, but there were enough tables to make us feel comfortable and not as though we were eating alone. The neutral tones throughout the restaurant are warm and inviting, and the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. I was craving a big salad and was glad to see that Vento had multiple options for entree salads to choose from. I ordered one with arugula, blackberries, shaved goat cheese, crumbled pistachios, and grilled flank steak in a blackberry vinaigrette. I thought it sounded unique and delicious, and it was all of those things and more. My salad was so good that there was not even a speck of dressing left on the plate when I was done… and it was quite a generous portion. The salad was simple but the steak was cooked perfectly and went so well with the fruit and the crunch of the pistachio. The shredded cheese added just the right punch of flavor making it filling and refreshing all at the same time. I absolutley loved it and would order it again in a heartbeat.
Arugula salad with blackberries, goat cheese, pistachios, and flank steak at Vento
My friend Michelle started with the field greens salad which included tomatoes, avocado, and hard boiled egg. For her entree she tried the lemon tagliatelle with shrimp, basil, garlic, and olive oil. She gave the dish rave reviews and appreciated that it was light and therefore still left room for dessert! We decided to split the cannoli which was quite a good decision because it was filled with milk chocolate and pistachio and was served on a plate with a healthy sized dollop of cream in the center. I only took a few bites but it was so creamy and satisfying.
Vento is understated and not one of the most discussed restaurants around town, but the food is spot on and it really delivers a high quality experience. Vento was a really pleasant surprise, and I think it will just take some word of mouth buzz to get people excited about this new Italian spot that many are still unfamiliar with. I look forward to having that salad again soon, and I hope they continue to do what they are doing because it is working.
Vento Restaurant
2120 P Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
www.ventorestaurant.com
Ooh, this is just a couple of blocks from my house and I’ve walked by a ton of times but never stopped in. Definitely going to stop by now!