Today, the Keri Shull Team’s expert real estate agent Anshul Palli introduces you to Palette 22, a unique dining experiment in the Shirlington neighborhood of Arlington. 

At Palette 22, the line between food and art is nearly non-existent. The entire restaurant is brimming with an atmosphere of creativity that serves only to heighten the dining experience, while providing a unique work environment for the artists who practice their craft while you eat. Located in a gorgeous, Art Deco-inspired building in Shirlington, Palette 22 is an art lover’s dream. Every surface is designed to display art, food, or both to the most rigorous standards of beauty; the restaurant is both the Palette and the canvas for artists to share their creations.

Anshul took the chance to speak with Tom Demott, the Director of Operations for Palette 22, as well as the Danny Ahn, the Sous Chef of the eatery. Here’s what they had to say about the food and atmosphere of Palette 22:

The Menu

It’s impossible to separate artistry from the cuisine of Palette 22. Each of the dishes is served with an immaculate presentation designed to create a complete sensory experience unlike any other. The menu consists primarily of small plates inspired by cultures from around the world, often given a unique spin.

When we asked about his favorite dishes, Demott suggested the grilled octopus, served atop a bed of purple potato hash and slathered with Aji amarillo, a Peruvian yellow chile sauce. For drinks, he pointed out the aptly-named Art on the Froth, a delicious concoction of Hendricks gin, house-made blueberry cordial, and egg white foam. The expert mixologists stamp a custom decal into the foam, so even your cocktail is a work of art for all your senses.

Other menu favorites include the Bulgogi Beef, Korean-inspired slabs of beef served with gochujang chili paste and pickled vegetables. This mouth-watering dish perfectly balances sweetness, spice, and umami to create an unbelievably delicious harmony of flavors.

The Atmosphere

The first thing that you’ll notice about Palette 22, before you even cross the threshold, is the building itself — because the artistic focus of Palette 22 is apparent from the architecture alone. Located in The Village at Shirlington, the restaurant has distinctly Art Deco bones, updated with mid-century aesthetic finishes and stark industrial elements. KGA-Studio (formerly Beckmann Architects) crafted the interior to feature lots of clean lines and simple materials, turning the inside of Palette 22 into a blank canvas for the in-house artists.

It is these artists who most effectively set Palette 22 apart from any other culinary experience in the D.C. Area. The restaurant features a unique Artist-in-Residence program, through which local artists get the opportunity to share their craft with guests. Rather than simply displaying final products, however, the artists at Palette 22 turn the eatery into a studio space, blurring the line between visual art and performance. With this unique program, the resident artists get the chance to personally engage with restaurant patrons while flexing their creativity, exposing their talents to the widest possible audience.

The Verdict

If you are looking for a new height of creativity in your dining experience, look no further than Palette 22, an artistic gem in the heart of Shirlington. Between the all-you-can-eat, globally-inspired food, the handcrafted artisanal cocktails, and the unbeatable atmosphere of creativity and artistic creation, Palette 22 offers a unique dining experience that will leave you ready to come back for seconds.

Make sure to check out the rest of our Neighborhood Spotlights— and let us know in the comments where we should check out next!

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