Washington Marriott at Metro Center Hotel in Washington DC Opens American Restaurant in Penn Quarter

Washington, D.C. – June 12, 2009 – Fire & Sage is the newest restaurant to open in the Penn Quarter District, at the corner of 12th and H Streets. This casual, restaurant in Washington DC is located in the Washington Marriott at Metro Center hotel. The restaurant offers an all-day-dining menu featuring American specialties with the chef's innovative twists, from a fresh hand-carved Roasted Turkey sandwich, a Short Rib Ciabatta with caramelized onions and Muenster and the classic Cuban sandwich; to main course salads, brick oven-fired flatbreads and original seafood and meat entrees.

Executive Chef of the Washington Marriott at Metro Center hotel, Aaron Tootill's down-to-earth style and passion for approachable dishes is apparent in a variety of menu items such as Bacon-Wrapped Oak Plank Scallops with Cheddar Grits, Thin-Crust Brick Oven-Fired Flatbread with Calabrese Sausage, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Arugula; and Char-Grilled Tea Smoked Halibut with Corn Salad. Desserts include a "Hot Bag O'Doughnuts" with Honey Butter and Strawberry Compote, as well as an adult version of "Cookies and Milk" — Gooey Hot Chocolate Chip Cookies with Ice Cold Milk, along with other classic favorites.

Fire & Sage's wine menu features a good mix of California, European and other world selections, both big-label and boutique, moderately priced. Over 25 wines by the glass are offered in 6-ounce or 9-ounce pours. Regional microbrew beers such as Old Dominion and Dog Fish ales complete the restaurant's selection of American and international draught and bottled beers.

Fire & Sage seats 160 guests along with communal tables and oversized booths, and a private dining room for up to 20 guests. Fire & Sage is a downtown Washington DC hotel restaurant, centrally located in the heart of downtown in Marriott's Washington DC Metro hotel, above the Metro Center station. Fire & Sage is convenient to the Verizon Center, the Washington Convention Center, Penn Quarter, and all of the famous sights of Washington DC.

The new restaurant has a street entrance at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center hotel in downtown Washington DC, located at 775 12th Street, NW. Fire & Sage replaces the former Regatta Raw Bar and Metro Grille as this Penn Quarter, Washington DC hotel's restaurant. It marks the final stages of the DC hotel's $11 million renovation and revitalization to its public spaces, an investment project by the hotel's owners, Host Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel is adjacent to Metro Center metro station and within walking distance to major sights of the nation's Capital. For information or reservations about Washington Marriott at Metro Center hotel, call 202.737.2200 or visit www.MarriottMetroCenter.com.