Washington, D.C. - May 18, 2009

Cede Control

Cedar Restaurant Opens

Feeling a little shady about the restaurant scene? Perhaps you’ve been barking up the wrong tree.

Branch out and try newly opened Cedar in Penn Quarter.

Burrow into the tiny basement space and plant yourself in a booth surrounded by wood paneling and wall coverings of vivid cedar groves.

Chef Andy Kitko, formerly of Redwood, practically forages ingredients fresh off the branch (and vine and bush) to make his ultra-seasonal creations: warm fava bean salad; crab-stuffed squash blossoms; quail with ramps, green garlic, and fiddlehead ferns.

Stop in after museum jaunts for a lunch of soft-shell crab tempura sandwich. Brunch launches this weekend.

Make sure to save room for a blueberry-almond tart with huckleberry compote.

It’s enough to give anyone a woody.

Cedar Restaurant, 822 E Street NW, between 8th and 9th Streets (202-637-0012 or cedardc.com).