May 14th, 2012 
Craving Italian cuisine? Then grab a date and make a reservation on Open Table for SOCCi Urban Italian Kitchen + Bar in Arlington, Virginia. Located on the lobby level of the Renaissance Capital View Hotel in Crystal City, this restaurant will delight you with authentic Italian cuisine laced with a bit of local flavor. Executive Chef David Creamer returned to his roots when designing a new menu for the hotel’s first anniversary.
Photo Credit: SOCCI
The appetizers, or “share-ables” as he calls them, delight the senses with crispy arancini balls filled with blue crab and a touch of Old Bay seasoning, and are an example of how the chef blends his heritage and the local flavors of the DC area. All cocktails are hand-crafted, which means no drink mixes or bottled additives. All juices are freshly pressed, and the bellini, a delightful peach-champagne cocktail, is served just as you would have it at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy.
No Italian restaurant is complete without a wonderful al dente pasta. The chef’s bucatini with red wine, pork cheek and pecorino, paired with a full-bodied red wine, will immediately transport you to a piazza in a small town in Italy. All of the pastas are made in-house, and the bread is supplied by Firehook Bakery in DC.
Photo Credit: SOCCi
Chef Creamer is not a fan of overly-sweet desserts, so his “completare” are an offering of small savory-sweet indulgences. Try the marscarpone cheesecake with a crust made from crushed cannoli shells topped with an Italian strawberry marinated in balsamic vinegar. A little sweet, a little savory. My favorite was the chocolate hazelnut panna cotta, a summery milk pudding made with Nutella. Paired with orange supremes, the dessert was refreshing and delightful.
SOCCi is bound to please, and I recommend making reservations here for Father’s Day on June 17. The hearty cuisine and delectable flavors will surely make dad smile. Buon appetito!
WHERE:
SOCCi Urban Italian Kitchen + Bar
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, VA 22202
Ph. 703-413-1300
HOURS:
Breakfast:
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Lunch:
Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Dinner:
Everyday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The SOCCi bar is open from 11 a.m. to Midnight each day.
The lounge menu is served from 11 a.m. until Midnight.
