NEXT
MONTH,
DINO
will
celebrate
a
key
milestone
in
the
restaurant
world
–
its
one
year
anniversary.
Approximately
one-third
of
new
restaurants
close
during
their
first
year
of
operation.
It’s
a
tough
business
but
one
Dino
seems
to
have
tackled
well.
Dino
bills
itself
as
a
rustic
Italian
restaurant
and
enoteca
in
Cleveland
Park,
and
it’s
a
wonderful
place
to
dine
and
enjoy
a
glass
of
wine.
Located
at
the
intersection
of
Wisconsin
Avenue
and
Ordway
Street,
NW
just
steps
from
the
Cleveland
Park
Metro
station,
the
two-story
space
is
nicely
decorated
with
a
blend
of
contemporary
and
traditional
elements,
warm
colors
and
attractive
art.
There
is
also
an
outdoor
dining
patio.
Though
more
than
a
little
annoyed
at
the
unfriendly
hostess
who
wanted
to
initially
seat
us
at
a
small
high-top
table
adjacent
to
the
bar
despite
a
lack
of
any
crowd,
we
let
it
pass
as
we
took
our
seat
near
the
large
windows
flanking
the
first
floor
dining
room
(my
partner
was
so
excited
to
see
a
cute,
young
gay
couple
stroll
by
holding
hands).
We
were
just
starting
to
review
the
menu
and
extensive
list
of
reasonably
priced
wines — one
of
the
restaurant’s
major
selling
points — when
our
server
arrived
and
requested
our
drink
order.
No,
“Welcome
to
Dino”
or
“Have
you
been
here
before”
or
“Do
you
have
any
questions.”
We
ordered
some
wine
and
she
disappeared.
Enough
said.
LUCKY
FOR
US,
the
poor
service
among
some
of
the
staff
is
not
carried
over
into
the
kitchen.
Our
meal
was
superb.
New
chef
Daniel
Amaya
has
not
missed
a
beat
in
keeping
the
menu
fresh
and
inventive.
Dino’s
has
a
contemporary
menu
that
is
innovative
and
yet
traditional
in
preparation,
a
reflection
of
the
food
that
owner
Dean
Gold
grew
to
love
doing
his
frequent
visits
to
Italy
as
a
buyer
and
coordinator
for
wine,
cheese
and
specialty
foods
for
Whole
Foods.
We
began
our
meal
with
the
saltimbocca,
meatballs
in
a
rich
tomato
sauce
(we
found
them
a
little
too
dense
and
bland),
and
some
crostini
(small
pieces
of
toasted
bread)
with
various
toppings.
My
partner
loved
the
flavorful
celery
root
and
roasted
garlic,
while
I
found
the
sharp
blue
cheese
and
anchovy
my
top
choice.
Among
the
other
small
plates
(cicchetti)
and
starters
are
fried
or
grilled
calamari,
roasted
whole
garlic
and
classic
antipasto.
For
our
entrées,
I
had
a
delicious
half
order
of
wide
ribbon
pasta
topped
with
shredded
spicy
wild
boar
sauce.
It
is
good
that
many
of
the
pasta
dishes
come
in
two
sizes,
the
smaller
option
being
plenty
for
one
person.
My
partner
chose
the
lamb
as
his
entrée.
The
dish
included
a
combination
of
seared
lamb
tenderloin
and
roasted
lamb
chops.
Both
pieces
of
meat
were
coated
with
a
tasty
mix
of
honey,
mustard,
herbs
and
breadcrumbs.
WE
ELECTED
TO
skip
dessert
so
to
have
room
for
one
of
Dino’s
famed
cheese
plates,
available
with
three
or
five
selections.
Micheal
DeAngelis,
the
restaurant’s
attentive
and
friendly
general
manager,
took
time
to
help
us
make
our
selection
from
the
often-changing
assortment
imported
from
Italy.
Had
the
overall
service
been
better,
I
would
have
considered
the
evening
one
of
my
best
casual
dining
experiences.
Starters:
$6.50
to
$18;
entrees:
$9
to
$26.
Until
Sept.
4,
Dino
takes
33
percent
off
all
bottles
of
wine
that
cost
$50
or
more
from
Sunday
thru
Wednesday.
