Laid-Back Liberty: Policy Restaurant and Lounge

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FOURTEENTH STREET in Northwest got a little cooler this spring with the opening of Policy, a small plates restaurant/lounge.

Policy's theme is "truth, love and liberty," and you'll see it scrawled across menus and the windows. You'll also find it on the cocktail menu, where you can order a Truthtini (with green tea and lemongrass), a Libertini (a twist on the mango caipirinha) or a Lovetini (a chocolate vodka cocktail garnished with a cinnamon lollipop).

But there's more on the menu at Policy than just cocktails — though the sweet tea cocktail, $6 at happy hour, is addicting. Executive chef Brian Murphy, formerly at Palena, created a wide-ranging menu of small plates, and they're easy to share. Our waiter suggested that two of us split four dishes, and we left perfectly full.

Murphy supports local farmers, and the seasonal American menu includes dishes like a trio of spreads (including a fantastic smoky eggplant) with pita, and mussels with spinach and sausage. A standout is the Madras curry lamb sliders made with Gorgonzola and mint pesto, and the duck spring rolls with a sweet dipping sauce are an unexpected treat. Dishes range from $7.95 to $14.95.

The restaurant is good for both a casual after-work spot to meet a friend and a late-night lounge. The two-floor space, designed by D.C.-based firm CORE, includes eclectic chandeliers and graffiti-tagged walls.

Downstairs, sit in red vinyl booths that reinterpret a diner, or at the bar. If you follow the glowing yellow stairs up to the lounge, you'll find a global DJ spinning, a marble and glass bar, and private seating areas for intimate conversations.

» Policy, 1904 14th St. NW; 202-387-7654. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express contributor Amy Cavanaugh
Photo courtesy Policy