Seafood towers, sweetbreads, escargots, and a variety of other French delicacies are on the menu at Le Clou, the latest splashy venture from Michelin-starred Masseria chef Nicholas Stefanelli (also behind Officina and temporarily closed Philotimo). The chic, 75-seat restaurant—equipped with a massive bar and extended lobby lounge—just debuted inside NoMa’s brand new Morrow Hotel.
While best-known for upscale Italian cooking, Stefanelli was trained in French culinary arts at the now-closed L’Académie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, and looks to highlight some of his Francophile roots. One of Le Clou’s inspirations: the 1914 recipe and reference cook book Le Répertoire de la Cuisine—designed as an accompaniment to Escoffier’s classic tome, Le Guide Culinaire.
