Image: Simple. Sublime.
Last Updated: December 2024
Overview:
Bar del Monte occupies a mid-century building with big windows that is a converted auto repair shop out of a Ruscha painting. It sits at the southern end of the main strip on Mt. Pleasant Street. They do not take reservations, its menu is always in flux and yet it is hard to imagine something more inviting.
Like related places from the Pastan family (2 Amys, Etto) dishes rely on a few key ingredients, but each bite is a revelation of depth. The menu is anchored by a mix of specials and pizzas, and one or two of the specials may be a pizza. The pizza is, as one fellow dining companion said, a miracle. So thin in the middle that light seems to come through but maintaining its shape and a bit a crispness. A simple salad with big leaves dressed in anchovy dressing is an exemplar of how the simplicity of a few good ingredients prepared properly can transform into something memorable. We’ve sampled about half the standard menu and a couple specials and have yet to find a dud.
Being a Pastan spot the wine list is full of thoughtful, mostly Italian, selections. The list has three choices each from every region if you want to explore over time. Of course, the bread is amazing and complementary at that start. The space is open with a decently-sized (but quickly-filled) bar towards the back. Tables tend to roll over, but be prepared to wait or even have a back up – especially if you forget they are closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
For those of you that complain about fees, the prices here are service included. There is not even a line on the receipt to add a tip.
Other Guidance: Located at street level with no steps. There are several veggie dishes. GF can work around, but it is the pizzas that are the centerpiece.
Summary:
Cuisine: Italian
Neighborhood: Columbia Heights/Petworth
Address: 3054 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Website: https://www.bardelmonte.com/
Reservations: Walk-in
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Fall 2024 Dining Guide, “all the building blocks — butter, anchovies, olive oil — taste best in class, meaning so will whatever they adorn.”
Washingtonian: Preview
DonRockwell.com “As much as I love Albi, Clarity Bistro, Kinship and Métier, Pineapple and Pearls (une seule fois), and Roberto’s, there’s nowhere in the area right now where I’d rather spend my own money having dinner than Bar del Monte.”
Rick Eats DC: Best of List July 2024
BA: Best New Restaurants 2024, “a reminder that simple food can be the hardest to make, and every bit as exciting to eat.”