Two Dinners: Grillfish and Cafe Deluxe

DC Pics.

We had a big breakfast every morning, and that was a good thing, since we didn't usually have time for lunch.

We were quite tired at the end of the day and were happy to have snacks and drinks on the rooftop terrace overlooking M Street. We were the only occupants most evenings; the fire was warm and the scotch was good.

On Wednesday evening, my friend Charles Baker from the old Newman days at McGill joined us for dinner at Grillfish, next to our hotel. The restaurant was hot and packed a little tight for Minnesotans who prefer a little elbow room, but the food was excellent and the service attentive. Bob ordered grilled sea bass and Charles had clam chowder and a plate large scallops. I  enjoyed my ravioli with broccoli on the side. The bread and garlic butter were very, very good. It was an enjoyable reunion for Charles and me, as we haven't seen each other for nearly 40 years.

Friday was our last day in Washington. We took the metro home and by the time we got to M Street we were famished, as we hadn't had a bite to eat since breakfast. We stepped  into Cafe Deluxe and were pleased to see a simple menu with a selection of appetizers, sandwiches and dinners. The server brought me three beers to test and I settled on a bitter, somewhat dark "DC" draft, so good that I had two of them. We enjoyed the crab dip with tortilla strips as an appetizer, and split a chicken sandwich for dinner. The restaurant reminded me a little of our own Pier 500 in Hudson, Wisconsin: unassuming but tasty menu; good place to spend a couple of hours.