Washington DC, Cafe Atlantico

Café Atlantico, 405 8th St. NW, Washington, DC, 20004; p: 202 393 0812, f: 202 393 0555 ,

Overall Food Rating: 3 / 5 stars

Service Rating: 2.5 / 5 stars: The waitress was sufficient (neither friendly nor grumpy), but at the end of our meal, not only was the bill put on our table promptly and without request (Code for, “We want our table and you out.”), after only a few minutes later, another waiter abruptly came and opened the bill cover and left it open and walked away! (Code for, “Give us our money now because we wanted you out 3 minutes ago!) He did not even bothering to pretend to be attentive to process our credit!

Atmosphere Rating: 4 / 5 stars: A pleasant atmosphere busy with people enjoying a night out during restaurant week.

I arrive in DC to join my friend Shadi, and her friends Rahim, Hasini, and Frederique for a restaurant week celebration at this Spanish themed restaurant she has been dying to check out since she arrived in DC in the fall.

There are 2 or 3 choices amongst the three course fixe prix menu, $35.11 (what the $.11 signifies, I am not sure). I order the Tuna Ceviche, the Duck Confit, and the Warm Chocolate cake.

Appetizer/Starter: The Tuna Ceviche, 3 / 5 stars

Beautifully presented, a half avocado is sliced delicately, concealing the tuna ceviche, chopped raw tuna theoretically marinated in lemon, herbs, and spices, hidden underneath the sliced avocado. Since I absolutely love fresh ripe avocado, whether in a sushi roll, mashed as guacamole, or as it is here, so I enjoy my first few bites of creamy and rich avocado slices very much.

Having enjoyed good ceviche while on a previous trip to Lima, Peru, I feel I can say quite confidently that there was no taste in Café Atlantico’s version, likely due to lack of  marinate, herbs, spices, or even a hint of lemon.  It was like raw fish cut up into little pieces for no reason.  Since sashimi grade quality fish is not used, the dish could not rely simply on its main ingredient…the raw fish itself lacked taste and Café Atlantico did not pair it with any.