A fiery feast is in store for Washingtonians come tomorrow, when
Rural Society opens its doors to the public for the first time inside the Loews Madison Hotel.
The most recent addition to celebrated chef
Jose Garces' growing hospitality empire, the new restaurant is grounded in the traditional
parrilla cuisine of South America.
To that end, a princely (seriously, it was rumored to cost just shy of $1 million) wood-fired grill takes center stage at Rural Society -- both in terms of menu offerings (think grass-fed Uruguayan rib-eyes, Jidori free-range chicken, and jumbo
cardinal prawns) and in interior design.
The refined space takes its cues from traditionally rugged South American
Gaucho (cowboy) culture, but blends that with the cosmopolitan feel of an upscale Buenos Aires or Miami Beach establishment.
Sleek leather banquettes and dark, wood-paneled walls therefore contrast nicely with rustic tables and vintage photographs.
On the beverage side, Rural Society will offer an extensive collection of South American wine and beer (Quilmes, Pacena, Xingu, etc.), as well as a cocktail program inspired by Argentine and Uruguayan classics.
While tomorrow's opening marks Garces' first toe in the D.C. market, he has already established himself as one of the country's leading restaurateurs. His eponymous restaurant group operates more than a dozen different eateries nationwide and Garces himself boasts awards from both the James Beard Foundation ('Best Chef Mid-Atlantic' in 2009) and the Food Network ('Iron Chef America').
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Rural Society is located at 1177 15th Street, NW. Reservations can be made either over the phone at (202) 587-2629 or online via OpenTable.