President Barack Obama and Germany's leader dined out in Georgetown Monday evening, a day before an elaborate official dinner is to be held at the White House.
Aides said Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel met at 1789 Restaurant in Washington's historic Georgetown neighborhood, a gourmet establishment modeled after an elegant country inn.
The private dinner adds a personal touch to the pomp of the German leader's official visit, an unusual gesture that underscores the importance of the relationship with Europe's economic powerhouse.
The 56-year-old Merkel is the first woman and the first East German to lead a unified Germany.
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