Towering Tree Accents Rock Creek at Mazza

Specializing in what the Rock Creek owners are calling “mindful dining for all seasons,” the Bethesda-based restaurant opened its second location on July 16 at Mazza Gallerie in Northwest Washington. Chef Ethan McKee, formerly of Equinox, is heading up the health-conscious menu, which features savory entrées—all around 600 calories—and surprisingly decadent desserts, such as the chocolate molten cake, which has fewer than 300 calories. Owners Tom Williams and Judith Hammerschmidt, who opened the first Rock Creek in Bethesda in 2005, also tapped chef Ris Lacoste (known for bringing 1789 to prominence) as a consultant on the project.Adjacent to the Gallerie’s AMC Theatres, Rock Creek at Mazza features a circular 120-seat dining room with a towering 22-foot-tall and 25-foot-wide faux oak tree at its center. Guests can dine at a table under the impressive centerpiece or in one of six round banquettes that ring the two-story room, which is highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Wisconsin Avenue. Appetizers, cocktails, and wines by the glass can be ordered in the venue's separate bar and 45-seat Club Room, and a private wine room can seat 12.