Butterfield 9 Restaurant   

600 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-289-8810
www.butterfield9.com

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A favorite with DC theatergoers, Butterfield 9 is just a short stroll from three of DC's major venues: the National, Warner and Ford's theatres. It's also close to the MCI Center and various art galleries and museums. That proximity to major venues -- combined with chef Michael Harr's modern American cuisine -- keeps Butterfield 9 booked year-round. You can linger over small plates and signature martinis at the chic bar. In the airily elegant main dining room, a $35, three-course pre- and post-theater menu is a deal. Choose among entrees like spice-dusted pork chop with pancetta-sherry sauce and endive tempura, or olive oil-poached rockfish with flageolet bean puree, roasted beets and cucumber emulsion. On the regular dinner menu, Harr takes diners all over the map. Appetizers include barbecued miso salmon with pickled cucumber and salmon caviar; anise-spiced pork belly with crispy Shanghai wontons; and Virginia veal breast confit with grilled peaches, spiced nougatine and peach liquor jus. Move on to plates like roasted duck breast with pink pepper corn dust, and a duo of venison. There are desserts both classic (creme brulee, apple crisp, baked alaska) and dreamy -- the chocolate cloud is a whimsy of chocolate cake, mascarpone cream and zabaglione.