POLICY RESTAURANT & LOUNGE, DC

Policy Restaurant & Lounge in Washington, DC | Photo: Eric Cuevas for Average Socialite

Hot Spot: Policy Restaurant & Lounge, 1904 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009

Deets: Policy is excited to announce the appointment of Lonnie Zoeller as the new executive chef of the globally inspired restaurant in the bustling 14th Street corridor. As one of the first restaurants to open in DC’s now dining destination, Policy has been serving guests in its hip, inviting environment since 2009. In his role, Zoeller has launched a new menu with strong Latin-American influences, refining the restaurant’s locally sourced daily offerings and supplementing menu staples with seasonal specialties.

Summer menu items include shared plates such as Pork Belly Chicharron with lime, agave, and pickled red onions; Crispy Duck Stuffed Arepa with black beans, radish salad, cotija, and aji picante; and a more “upscale” version of the street-food Salchipapas with chorizo, hand-cut fries, salsa rosada, and fresh cheese. The menu also boasts larger dishes such as Smoked Duck Breast with pineapple and plantains maduros, and Strip Streak with roasted carrots, fennel, avocado, cotija, and chimichurri. The full menu can be viewed here.

“We are constantly thinking about sourcing the freshest ingredients and using techniques that will make the product pop,” says Zoeller, “I want to cook food that people want to come back for, food that speaks for itself, not something that’s just trendy or of-the-moment. I’m constantly inspired by my wife’s Columbia roots and the bright, comforting dishes that are unique to Latin America.”

Zoeller is also launching Social Nights at Policy - an exclusive rooftop patio package that offers gourmet picnic-style cuisine served along with craft seasonal punch bowls and beverages. Picnic items served include a cheese spread “pimento style," corn on the cob with smoky garlic butter, and a sausage platter with charred peppers, onions, and chimichurri sauce. The event is hosted on Policy’s newly renovated patio outside the Liberty Lounge.

Prior to joining Policy, Zoeller served as the executive chef of Vinoteca for almost seven years. A native of Cooperstown, NY, Zoeller’s kitchen dreams were launched early; as a teenager, he took a job as a dishwasher and line cook at a local restaurant. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, he worked at various restaurants in the Northeast, including as a sous chef under James Beard Award-winning Chef Sam Reda at Buffalo Chophouse in Buffalo, NY. Zoeller then landed in DC, working under Chef Jose Andres at the Eastern-Mediterranean-focused restaurant, Zaytinya. He also spent six weeks cooking at Els Casals restaurant in Sagas in Northern Spain.

ABOUT POLICY: Located in the heart of Washington DC's U Street Corridor, Policy Restaurant and Lounge is a purveyor of modern dining from cultures around the world.

With a focus on colorful, creative dishes and cocktails, Policy‘s menu is designed using seasonal and local ingredients. Policy is located at 1904 14th Street, NW just two blocks from the U St./American Civil War Metro. The restaurant is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 5-11:00 PM, Thursday from 5:00 PM - 12 AM, and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM -3:00 AM. Policy also serves a weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

For more information, please call (202) 387-7654 or visit the website at PolicyDC.com. Follow Policy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!