Bourbon Steak restaurateur Michael Mina opens splashy D.C. Italian restaurant
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Aqua Bistecca by Michael Mina brings Italian party dining to City Ridge. Photo: Courtesy Rey Lopez
Celebrity chef Michael Mina's splashy surf-n-turf Italian spot, Aqua Bistecca, opens near Cathedral Heights on Wednesday.
Why it matters: D.C. diners have waited nearly 20 years for Mina's follow-up to Bourbon Steak in Georgetown.
Catch up quick: The City Ridge restaurant has been in the works for years alongside the upscale development. It evolved from a family-oriented concept to destination-worthy Italian.
- "We scrapped the [original] name, scrapped the design, and said, 'Let's make a fresh start and throw a party every night," Mina tells Axios.
The vibe: Party ready — cue a red-lit soaring bar inspired by Big Mamma in Paris, a shareable menu and plenty of vino.
The intrigue: Mina Group's calling card is showstoppers. At Aqua Bistecca, the family-style menu (advance order required) delivers:
- Two-foot mozzarella stick topped with caviar
- Big baked pasta and whole grilled fish
- Massive T-bone steak with bone marrow
- Whole caramel-chocolate cake
Between the lines: Fans of Bourbon Steak's butter-poached cuts can get them here with a Lambrusco butter twist.
- Also: Daily catch, simply grilled or roasted. Both can be matched with seasonal sides and sauces.
Zoom in: Chef Colin Clark, a Fiola Mare alum, turns out Italian classics with Mina Group flair — think calamari with Champagne-spiked tempura batter for extra crunch, or risotto with braised osso bucco and "24K" olive oil.
Drink up: Cocktails channel Italian coastal towns. Try the "Capri" clarified milk punch with tomato water and basil.
What's next: Mina Group runs the rooftop pool restaurant above, which may offer the Aqua Bistecca menu next season.
If you go: Aqua Bistecca. 14 Ridge Square, Northwest.