Del Friscos Double Eagle Steak House to open Sept. 19
There are plenty of power-lunching spots in this town, but the ambiance of power permeates Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House, opening Sept. 19 in CityCenterDC. It's apparent from the decor of the two-story restaurant, which boasts window views from every seat and a color scheme of white marble, gold ceiling fixtures and muted green banquettes. "The color of money," said Scott Gould, the restaurant group's regional manager. And that's before you even hear about the 1,200 wine selections and private dining room downstairs, which has its own Secret Service-worthy entrance.
"Power diners know what they want, and it's our job to meet those needs before they even know that they have those needs," said general manager Ann Thibert. To wit: the restaurant caters to business lunchers with a $25 two-course menu featuring filet medallions among its choices.
The restaurant's main attractions are bone-in steaks. All of the beef comes from Stock Yards in Chicago, and is seasoned only with salt and pepper, said executive chef Scott Kroener. "People always ask me, 'what do you marinate them in, what do you rub them in?'" he said. "I'm like, if you paid what I paid for the steak raw, you wouldn't put anything on it either. People come here because it is distilled down just to the essence of beef." A 16 ounce bone-in filet is $66 at dinner.
There's also a seafood program, which ranges from Bay of Fundy salmon atop a crab hash and lobster tomato jus, to a chilled octopus starter with gigante beans. The menu ranges from well-executed versions of traditional steakhouse fare -- a wedge salad, mashed potatoes, crab cakes -- as well as a few playful surprises, like cheesesteak egg rolls and tater tots on the bar menu. The restaurant will feature regular caviar service and a steak-and-lobster dinner for two for $160.
A subterranean level offers private dining for 80, with an entrance that opens directly to the loading dock, so VIPs can slip in and out unnoticed. The ground floor is occupied by a patio seating for 40 and a bar with shelves of liquor and wine suspended from the ceiling, so that bartenders will never have to turn their backs to customers. Up a grand staircase, seated diners have views of CityCenter's plaza, and of a semi-open kitchen.
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The 18,000-square-foot Del Frisco's Double Eagle is an upscale version of Del Frisco's Grille, which opened on Pennsylvania Avenue in 2012. The name is a nod to the golf term for a hole played three strokes under par, as well as a rare $20 gold coin.
Share this articleShareSpeaking of coins, Del Frisco's Double Eagle rewards its top customers with special commemorative coins: There's one for every location, and fans of the restaurant have been known to travel to new cities to collect them, Thibert says.
"We give all of our guests the same style of service'," Thibert said, but coin-holders have boasted about receiving special perks, such as private wine tours and reservations that magically materialize on fully booked nights. There's no quota of dinners that a guest must fulfill before being invited to the coin program; loyalty is measured by a more ambiguous quality.
"You have to be a part of our family," Thibert said.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle, opening Sept. 19. 950 I St. NW. 202-289-0201 (Metro: Metro Center)
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