I don’t know when or why exactly, but for as long as I can remember I’ve had an aversion to hotel restaurants. I suppose it’s common to want to avoid tourist traps, and a hotel might just be about the closest one can get to such a thing. Hence, although Circle Bistro is as close as can be to my place, I’ve never really thought about giving it a shot.

That is until I started some serious reading on the world of DC dining and realized that Circle Bistro can certainly hold it’s own among it’s fine-dining competitors. It has won various awards in the area and has been met with some excellent reviews. So, deciding to give up any pre-existing bias, I headed there with my roommates one Wednesday evening.

We arrived just before 7PM, happy to discover we were in time for their nightly half-price happy hour. I started with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Never one to claim that I’m an expert in wine; I enjoyed it, but wasn’t knocked out.

Drinks  in hand, we moved onto the dining room for dinner. When we sat down we discovered a pre-theatre menu – $35 for 3 courses from 5-7PM. Unfortunately that’s something we had to miss out on, but it’s certainly something for readers to note.

We skipped appetizers in favor of the bread basket and I’m so glad we did! The bread was absolutely delightful – a soft, white, chewy inside and a nice crispy warm crust – the perfect introduction to our dinner. Next, the chef’s special was delivered – a Peach and Yellow Tomato Gazpacho. The shot of liquid had a hint of a spicy kick going down and was a very interesting combination of flavors.

As for the main course, I opted for the Scallops which came with a Carrot-Ginger Coulis, Garlic Confit and Baby Bok Choy. I enjoyed the main dish. For a fine-dining establishment, it was on par with my expectations. However, there was nothing that made it particularly memorable for me. Everything was cooked nicely, but I would have enjoyed a more creative concept in terms of flavors.

And of course there was dessert! Circle Bistro had a nice selection and their own pastry chef which makes the dessert/not to dessert decision a no-brainer. Upon the waiter’s recommendation I tried the Blueberry, Rhubarb and Walnut Crumble with Ginger Ice Cream. With real pieces of fresh ginger throughout, the ice cream was outstanding. The crumble was bursting with fresh fruit sweetened just right. The crumble however was more of a granola than what I imagine a traditional crumble to be. For me that was slightly disappointing, but that’s personal preference.

I believe my feelings towards my main dish are a fair representation of my overall dining experience at Circle Bistro. It’s a good establishment, with no major let-downs. It promises to deliver fine-dining and that’s just what you’ll get. A hint more creativity in the menu would be just the element I’m searching for to elevate this restaurant to the next level.