Vapiano, andiamo!

After enduring one too many disappointing happy hour experiences at the pan-Asian cafe/sushi spot/bar across the street from our office, my co-workers and I decided that it was time to branch out. In search of a suitable alternative, we wandered around the nightlife-challenged no-man's land that surrounds our office building, and were about to give up and go to Mackey's after collectively rejecting both Rumors and Sign of the Whale, where you can get hit on by aging frat boys wearing Ralph Lauren polo shirts in almost any hue in the color spectrum, or lose a slingback to the interminably sticky, beer-stained floor, respectively.

And then we stumbled upon the airy, casual-yet-sophisticated Vapiano, and after a quick peek inside revealed a refreshingly spacious layout, fresh rosemary growing in terracotta pots on each table, and a welcoming ceramic bowl of Gummi Bears, it was determined that Mackey's would have to wait.

Vapiano is actually a German-owned chain that serves upscale, but surprisingly affordable Italian-ish fare, and has a habit of opening locations in urban neighborhoods densely populated by, ahem, yuppies hungry for a slightly more grown-up iteration of your typical happy hour. (Area locations include M Street, Ballston, and - soon - Chinatown). Essentially, my co-workers and I are their target demographic, an observation confirmed by the scores of other post-work young professionals already populating Vapiano's space when we arrived at approximately 5:07 p.m.

It soon became clear why Vapiano has been consistently crowded since it opened the M Street location. From the cheerful, contemporary decor to the wide selection of build-your-own pasta and pizza to the nicely varied wine list (available by the bottle or the glass), Vapiano distinguishes itself amid a sometimes indistinguishable mass of preppy DC watering holes.

Another unique aspect of Vapiano is that every patron receieves a card upon entering (pictured above) on which you keep track of your purchases. At first, I was skeptical of the idea, as it seemed like it was just adding another step to the payment process, but in truth, it was pretty nice not to deal with cash all night, and to bypass the whole divvying-up-the-bill mess that sometimes accompanies happy hour with a group of people.

We ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio and a bottle of Malbec (which turned into several bottles of each as the evening progressed). We were also charmed by Vapiano's food menu, featuring thin-crust pizza (try the Capricciosa with ham, mushrooms, artichokes, olives, and mozzarella or the Rucola with parmesan and arugula - pictured above). At $7.25 to $10.25 per pie, it feels like a steal. Our order of bruschetta was also notable for the toasted garlic bread that stayed crisp even as it sagged under a bright pile of garlicky tomato and basil with olive oil.

Several hours later, we were happily full of aforementioned wine and pizza, and we left Vapiano already discussing our plans to return. The handfuls of Gummi Bears that we snagged on our way out seemed like the perfect ending to a thoroughly delightful evening. Indeed, Mackey's may have to wait a long, long time.

Good to know:
Vapiano is located at 1800 M Street, NW, an easy walk from either the Dupont Circle Metro or Farragut North Metro on the Red Line.

Photo by Flickr user Liquidx.

A Napoleon Complex

The days are short, and the air is chilly. Patio happy hours and summer cocktails feel like a distant memory. But that's no reason to pout when the clock strikes 5 o'clock. Adams Morgan's sophisticated new bistro, Napoleon, is the perfect place to cozy up to a couple of drinks and some casual French fare. The Parisien-inspired spot has quickly become my office's post-work venue of choice. The best part? Napoleon's drink menu features an extensive list of champagne cocktails, sure to warm you up in no time.

When I went with co-workers, I tried "A Good Night Kiss," made with Campari, champagne, and Angostura bitter. The bitters made for an interesting contrast to the champagne's sweet fizz. If you find yourself reminiscing about warm summer nights, "La Tropicale" (champagne and mango nectar) will ease your nostalgie. My co-worker, R., had the "French 75," made with Bombay Saphhire, lemon juice, and champagne. I must say, I've seen nary a classier silhouette in Adams Morgan than R. sipping her sparkly ice blue drink from a slender glass flute, the twinkly lights of Columbia Road and 18th Street flickering outside. Napoleon's vibe is a far cry from the usual debauchery that descends on its environs at dark, that's for certain.

All that champagne gave us a good excuse to sample some of Napoleon's bistro fare. The pommes frites are dangerously addictive, and come with ketchup and a sweet tarragon-flecked mayonnaise. The mussels aren't as plump and juicy as I've had elsewhere, but the sauce from the Moules Marinieres (white wine, shallots, and garlic) makes for some divine dunking action with the gratis bread basket. I haven't had a chance to try the rest of the menu, but the savory crepes sound especially promising, as does the Cote d'Agneau (rack of lamb, served with potato gratin). Napoleon also serves brunch, and must be doing a fine job of it - the place is always packed when I walk by on weekends.

In addition to the restaurant upstairs, there's also also a moodily lit downstairs lounge. Think slouchy leather couches, exposed brick, and glowing lanterns mounted on the wall. Though it was empty when I saw it (I took the liberty of peeking around a bit on a trip to the ladies' room downstairs), it's not hard to imagine the room filled with people sitting and talking quietly over those exquisite champagne cocktails (which, by the way, are half price between 5 and 8 p.m.). It's almost enough to make a girl forget about those warm August evenings, sipping Blue Moons on the rooftop at The Reef. Almost.

Good to know:
Napoleon is located at 1847 Columbia Road, NW. It's not terribly close to a Metro stop (probably a 15-minute walk from the Woodley Park - Zoo/Adams Morgan stop on the Red line. I recommend a cab, especially post-champagne, but there is some limited street parking available on the surrounding blocks.

The atmosphere is upscale casual. I felt fine, if a bit stuffy, in my work clothes, but I would definitely change into my slouchy black boots, dark jeans, and gray Marc Jacobs tunic top to hit up the downstairs lounge.

Photo by Flickr user Roboppy.