Tag Archives: masseria union market

Masseria’s Lounge Ideal for Autumn Nights

25 Sep
Lounge at Masseria

Lounge at Masseria

Pretty much just in time for autumn, Masseria near Union Market (1340 4th Street, NE) is focusing on its cozy outdoor lounge that serves an a la carte menu that is less expensive than the tasting menu in the main dining room area.  You can check out our early review of Masseria here.  The lounge has comfortable couches and chairs complete with fire pits, the ideal autumn setting.  The most recent lounge menu features arancini with veal ragu, veal and pork meatballs, and calamari with a spicy saffron emulsion (you can see the entire lounge menu here).  The lounge is open from 5:30-11 pm Tuesday-Thursday, 5 pm to midnight Friday, and 3 pm to midnight on Saturdays.

*Photo courtesy of Scott Suchman

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Masseria Impresses with Soft Launch

30 Jul
Fresh Fruit and Sorbet at Masseria

Fresh Fruit and Sorbet at Masseria

You will need to suspend your disbelief when you approach the front entrance at Masseria (1340 4th Street, NE) in the Union Market district.  While the restaurant will one day be a neighbor to upscale apartments and retail, it is currently across the street from a wholesaler, next to an empty parking lot, and a half block down from a Motel 6.

Open Faced Ravioli with Rock Shrimp at Masseria

Open Faced Ravioli with Rock Shrimp at Masseria

But don’t let that scare you away!  Once you enter Masseria’s front gate, you will completely forget the outside surroundings.  Immediately upon walking in, you walk through a beautiful outdoor patio and lounge with couches and a floor that is covered in tile.  Via a large bar, the patio gives way to the indoor dining space that features an open kitchen where you can watch your dinner being made.  There are several seats at the kitchen bar that give you the best view.

Summer Soft Shell Crabs at Masseria

Summer Soft Shell Crabs at Masseria

Dinner starts with an amuse-bouche followed by a presentation of bread featuring fresh focaccia, miniature breadsticks formed into small rings, and a sundried tomato sauce.  Masseria has a robust wine program as well as a large craft cocktail list (we tried a type of mojito that included beer in it…sounds strange but it worked).

Sample Menu at Masseria

Sample Menu at Masseria

The menu is a tasting menu (either three or six courses) where you can choose what you want from the menu.  The menu is broken up by antipasti, pastas, fish/seafood, and meat (see sample menu above).  On the pasta front, we tried the linguine with salami and a spicy XO sauce as well as the open faced ravioli with rock shrimp.  Both were wonderful with the spicy XO sauce packing a real punch.  From the seafood category, we tried the summer softshell crab dish featuring two halved crabs in a bed of summer corn.  The soft shells were delicately sauteed and topped with basil blossoms, which added a strong basil flavor.  The combination of the corn and the basil blossoms made it taste like pure summer. Continue reading →

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Masseria Close to Opening Near Union Market

1 Jul
Sign Posted Outside of Masseria Near Union Market

Sign Posted Outside of Masseria Near Union Market

Masseria (1340 4th Street, NE) is nearing completion and could open in the coming weeks (see our preview here).  We stopped by the Masseria drink pop-up that was held last week right outside of Union Market (there is another one tonight!) and learned that construction is almost complete.  There are a few finishing touches that must be applied and some final permits that they need from the DC Government prior to opening.  Once all of that is complete, they will train their staff and open up.  We peaked at the construction a few days ago and noticed some beautiful tile work in the patio area of the restaurant.  We were also quite excited to learn that the patio will have both heaters and cooling equipment to help make the patio usable almost the entire year.

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Masseria Hoping to Open This June in Union Market Area

3 Jun
Construction Progress at Masseria

Construction Progress at Masseria

Masseria, a free standing Italian restaurant by former Bibiana chef Nick Stefanelli, hopes to open this June just to the west of Union Market (1340 4th Street, NE).  The building is undergoing a complete renovation currently and will have a large outdoor patio area in the front.  According to Masseria’s owners, the restaurant’s design “will combine the raw and simple look of an Italian country estate, the industrial grit of the Union Market district.”  The restaurant is in the industrial/warehouse section of Union Market, approximately one block away from Eden’s Union Market (you can view our entire series on the future of Union Market by clicking here).  However, the building immediately to the south of Masseria is slated to become a large residential building with major ground floor retail space and there are several other residential areas planned nearby to Masseria.

Masseria's Chef Nick Stefanelli

Masseria’s Chef Nick Stefanelli

Masseria will feature fine Italian cuisine with “touches of coastal cultures.”  According to Masseria’s team, “the restaurant’s name carries a heartfelt meaning, defining the charming agricultural farm of the Puglia region.”

A sneak peak of one menu item sounds delicious: Cavatelli Grano Arso–burnt wheat cavatelli pasta with fennel coffee sausage, bitter greens, red chillies, and Pecorino cheese.

On the drink side, Stefanelli will be bringing an impressive team with him to Masseria when it opens: former City Zen sommelier David Kurka and Julien-Pierre Bourgon from PX in Alexandria. Continue reading →

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