Ashok Bajaj’s Latest, ‘Annabelle’ Opens in Kalorama

Ashok Bajaj’s Annabelle opens today (1/17/2020) in Kalorama (2132 Florida Ave., NW).

Made up of a compound of historic buildings, the restaurant offers a series of distinct dining rooms and private event spaces, each with its own unique atmosphere.  There’s the Kalorama Room off the main dining room, a Garden Room atrium, and the Gallery Andrea room — which not only offers local art for sale but is made musical with a baby grand piano.

While the space is a bold blend — old with new, patterns with textures, and contemporary alongside modern — Annabelle’s menu is a love-letter to all things local, meaning, best quality products from locations around the world.

Executive Chef Frank Ruta, a former White House chef who has served three presidents, offers his expert take on Americana.

His opening menu includes such delicacies as Ossetra Caviar with caramelized onion blini, dauphine and melba; Coffee and Cardamom Cured Fluke with eggplant purée, picked eggplant and puffed rice; and Sheep’s Milk Ricotta Ravioli with spinach coulis and demi-sec piennolo tomato.

We anticipate Annabelle to be a neighborhood gem with serious range… but maybe that’s because menu items themselves span from $9 to $110.

Annabelle’s hours of operation are Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Brunch will debut at a later date and will be served Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.