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Thrillist Washington DC

Latin Lounge at Zengo

Get on tapas

Antonio Sabato, Jr. reclining on pillows: move over, because you are no longer the sexiest Latin Lounge. That title now goes to one just built out below Zengo, which pays (... sexily pays!) "tribute to Latin American culture and cocktails" with a mingle-facilitating design (high-top communals with pincushion leather stools, a long 'n sleek concrete bar), and, for those who opt into the "Owner's Club", personal "liquor lockers", which ironically, the cool high school jocks would want to stuff themselves into.

Despite warnings that it could create a sensual exoticness powerful enough to rip a hole in the space-time continuum, most of the Latin small plates are also Asian-influenced, and include Thai Chicken Empanadas w/ chile poblano/ Oaxaca cheese/ mango curry salsa, crispy Shanghai Spring Rolls w/ chicken/ shrimp/ tempero baiano/ bamboo, and calamari with lemongrass & orange-coriander sauce.

And because you'll need to get loose to attempt some real R-rolling, they've got South American sips like the Tequila Martini (with St. Germain and agave nectar), the Spicy Pisco Sour (with passion fruit puree, amarillo, and egg white), and a rum punch flavored with hibiscus, orange, and Gosling's Black Seal, whom Ryan rewards for elaborate tricks with hugs.

In case you prefer to mix your own Spicy Pisco Sours, the aforementioned Owner's Club membership nabs you a set of signature mixers (like orange-ginger and hibiscus-cranberry) in addition to three months of locker storage, should you be Bold enough to invest in something so Beautiful.

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Latin Lounge at Zengo (Emailed on February 9, 2012)

Soft-opening late next week:

781 7th St NW; Chinatown; 202.393.2929

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