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The Source: Wolfgang Puck's New D.C. Restaurant

Posted by Erin Zimmer, November 1, 2007 at 3:15 PM

Even if his menu’s price tags are out of the average journalist’s league, Wolfgang Puck’s new venture, appropriately called The Source, is attached to the Newseum, a soon-to-open museum honoring journalism and news-catching. Originally in Rosslyn, Virginia, the museum relocated to a prime spot on Pennsylvania Avenue, conveniently adjacent to the Smithsonians and a few blocks from the Capitol. The museum's opening date has been postponed a gazillion times, but behind the chutes-and-ladders construction zone mess, The Source has been taking reservations for a few weeks now.

As Puck’s first restaurant in D.C., they surprisingly haven't advertised much and are solely relying on word of mouth. The menu is Asian-inspired, and though it may look familiar—he's had practice at Chinois and Red Seven—this one seems more ambitious. Especially with regional shout-outs to India (Tandoori sea trout with tomato chutney and cardamom raita) and nods to the local Chesapeake (Maryland crab cakes). Puck also really likes Maine here (seared Maine diver scallops, pan-roasted Maine lobster and a warm Maine lobster-Daikon roll).

The Wolf was nowhere in sight earlier this week, but his little bro Klaus was milling about the dining room, looking important. And his immaculately trained staff sure makes you feel important. Before you can reach for the front door, hosts come out of nowhere and save you the hassle. Once seated and ordered, entrées arrive with a parade of servers, each with a marinade or garnish job. While waiting for the restroom, tune into CNN and other news outlets on flat screens, all part of the love-the-media motif.

The Newseum never had a fancy eatery like this back in its northern Virginia days, and assuming some museum-goers won't want suckling pig or Japanese hamachi for the big bucks, they'll have a more affordable cafeteria inside. Of course, it's called The Food Section. Food writers everywhere swoon.

About the author: Erin Zimmer, Serious Eats's Washington, D.C., correspondent, is a just-graduated Georgetown gal following her nose about town as Washingtonian magazine's Dining intern and Best Bites blogger. She got her start as the Hoya campus paper's food columnist, and since entering "real person-hood" has ached for her dining hall's omelet station. | Photograph courtesy Keith Barraclough/Newseum

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Tags: The Source, Washington D.C., Wolfgang Puck