Going Back in Time to Estadio

Happy New Year! We hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and the new year is off to an incredible start for you and your loved ones. It's 2019, and we are looking forward to and are excited about more blog adventures this year! But before we get out to our first #HappyTummyList restaurant of the new year, we wanted to publish a leftover post from a fantastic restaurant that we visited towards the end of last year. We know, we know...but listen, we promise to be better about this in 2019!

Fall was in high bloom during our visit to Estadio for brunch back in late October of last year. We love the season in between spring and winter because it is the time of fall foliage, beautiful colors, hot apple cider, and comfort food. We made our way out in the rain to the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC to check out Estadio, which is a contemporary Spanish restaurant known for its small plates. Estadio made its way onto our radar because it has been noted for its brunch by several DC bloggers, magazines, and papers. As such, we were excited for what promised to be a delicious time.

Estadio is nestled on the corner of 14th and Church Streets NW. Immediately upon walking into the restaurant, Simone thought it might be a clandestine speakeasy because she couldn't clearly identify the door. She thought to herself "is there a password?" and if so, she planned to say "brunch." Once inside the restaurant, you are greeted by wooden furniture with iron accents as well as beautiful iron fixtures, tiles, and lighting. The main part of the restaurant also has floor-to-ceiling windows which are just beautiful and let in so much great light. Estadio feels like the quaint restaurants you would find in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which made us feel like we were about to experience a true, authentic brunch.

Simone arrived to Estadio well before Damien, so she helped herself to a drink (or two, but she will deny it if you ask!) and a Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant at the bar. For the one drink she will own up to, Simone had the Julioso, which is made with cava, brandy, orange juice, and thyme. The bartender described it as a "pumped-up mimosa," and she was right. It was a delicious brunch cocktail and is worthy of ordering when you visit Estadio. She made sure to tell Damien about it and it became his cocktail of choice throughout brunch. It's a smooth drink going down, so be careful with it if you order it! The Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant was a homemade pastry and served warm. You really can't go wrong with the combination of chocolate and hazelnut, and Estadio's croissant was incredibly delightful and flavorful. How good, you ask? So good that she didn't share any of it with Damien (#shame).

Once Damien finally arrived, we were seated at a table and got down to business. If you go here for brunch, you should know that there is not a bottomless tapas and/or drinks option, but the deliciousness of the food will be well worth it. We ordered several appetizers and entrees to share. The Shrimp Croquetas did not have an overwhelming shrimp flavor to them but nevertheless they were very tasty. The inside of the croquetas featured minced shrimp, spices, and cream, which all worked so well together and was an explosion of flavor in your mouth. Under the croquetas was a phenomenal Romesco sauce which we would eat on any and everything. We opted to order the Chef's Selection of Artisan Spanish Cheeses which included the following cheeses: blue, manchego, and Idiazabal. Neither of us had eaten Idiazabal cheese before, but this sheep's milk had a slightly smokey flavor and was amazing. Our cheeses were paired with guava, dates, and bread crips with raisins baked into them, and all of these accompaniments were delicious. Estadio's chef almost got a hug from us for this wonderful cheese plate.

For our entrees, Damien ordered the Little Pork Belly Sandwich and the Cheeseburger, and both were incredible dishes. The Cheeseburger was topped with manchego cheese, spicy aioli, caramelized onions, and piquillo peppers on a Brioche bun, and can only be described as a juicy and delectable flavor bomb. The pork in the Little Pork Belly Sandwich was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and the toasted bread really added a great crunch to every bite. Simone ordered the Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon, Poached Egg, and Maple Aioli. This dish was out of this world! The smoked salmon paired with sweetness of the maple aioli was an exquisite partnership that was only further enhanced the poached egg. It may have been a little messy, but Simone would love to eat Estadio's Avocado Toast every single day. This is an excellent brunch option is you want a healthier option, too. To accompany our entrees, we ordered the Patatas Bravas and Roasted Wild Mushrooms. The Patatas Bravas were crunchy and delicious; however, the sauce underneath the potatoes was spicier than expected. If you enjoy some heat, then try this dish! The Roasted Wild Mushrooms were tasty, but could have used a bit more seasoning to really make them a powerhouse side dish.

Overall, we would give Estadio a 5 out of 5. The hype we read about was all true---Estadio did not disappoint and provided us an incredibly delicious brunch. There is something about great food that makes the conversations you have even better, and this was absolutely true during our visit on this day to Estadio. We can't wait to go back! Until next time, enjoy the first few weeks of continuing to write 2018 instead of 2019 (lol), and we will be back soon!

Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant

Julioso

White Sangria 

Patatas Bravas 

Close-up of the Patatas Bravas

Shrimp Croquetas

Look at them  :)

Chef's Selection of Artisan Spanish Cheeses

Avocado Toast with Smoked Salmon, Poached Egg, and Maple Aioli

Look at that egg  :)

Little Pork Belly Sandwich with Pickled Shishito Aioli

Cheeseburger with Manchego, Spicy Aioli, Caramelized Onions, and Piquillo Peppers

Roasted Wild Mushrooms

Cocktail Menu

Brunch Menu

Interior of Estadio

Details and Decor