Circle Bistro in the Washington Circle Hotel screamed hip and pretension. Everything and everyone at this restaurant seemed to want attention- the chic contemporary deco, the dazzling orange panels, the many good-looking and well-dressed young folks at the bar.
On a Friday night at around 7pm, the dining room was pretty empty, whereas the bar was packed with "want-to-be-seen" people. When we saw the empty dining room, we immediately lowered our expectations.
Our waiter had an attitude, and the sevice was below average. The menu was small but consisted of some novel items such as deep-fried ricotta-filled squash blossom. The cheese was creamy, and the batter was light. The highlight of this meal was the classic steak tartare, which came with crispy fries. The rockfish was a bit bland, but we grew to like it after a few bites.
It is not my kind of place for food, but if you like people-watching, you won't be disappointed.