105 replies to this topic

[dcandohio]

Changes afoot at Cafe Mozu.

As someone who lives in SW, I am glad to have a great but more affordable option so close to me. We needed something between CitiZen and Cantina Marina, and for me, MoZu was just too pricey to be a weekday kind of place.

[DanielK]

As someone who lives in SW, I am glad to have a great but more affordable option so close to me. We needed something between CitiZen and Cantina Marina, and for me, MoZu was just too pricey to be a weekday kind of place.

Additionally, according to Tim Carman, recent DR.com chat victim subject RachaelH, "CityZen’s second-in-command in the kitchen ... will be the chef de cuisine at the revamped MoZU".

Congrats, Rachael!

[Eric Ziebold]

waiting for the explanatory phone call ... angry look on his face ... tap ... tap ... tap ....

I would like to take Don's post as an opportunity to express that an enormous amount of thought has gone into the concept and philosophy of the restaurant. If there are some things that make you wonder or roll your eyes, I would merely ask that you give us a chance to develop our identity and the culture of our restaurant before forming an opinion. Let the restaurant become what it is planned to be and I think you'll like what you find. We hope to have a place that becomes an important part of Washington DC, and what it means to be a part of the community here, IN WASHINGTON.

[treznor]

Couldn't happen to a better place. I've worked for almost six years two blocks away from Cafe Mozu, and I've been twice. We go to places in that price range occasionally but make sure to go elsewhere (which means Metro-ing somewhere considering there is nothing else around there comparable other than -maybe- the restaurant at Loews). Food was always decent, but way overpriced.

Can't wait to see what transpires here.

[DanCole42]

Recently featured in Modern Luxury (see attached).

I can't wait!

Attached Files

•  Page 130.pdf   1.68MB   236 downloads

[mdt]

Recently featured in Modern Luxury (see attached).

I can't wait!

Cool. According to this Craig's list posting it will be opening in September.

[cheezepowder]

I received an email from CityZen the other day that says to save the date (Sept. 20) to celebrate CityZen's 5th anniversary and "the birth of Sou'Wester Chef Eric Ziebold's latest culinary venture." So does that mean they changed the name to Sou'Wester instead of South By Southwest?

[bilrus]

I received an email from CityZen the other day that says to save the date (Sept. 20) to celebrate CityZen's 5th anniversary and "the birth of Sou'Wester Chef Eric Ziebold's latest culinary venture." So does that mean they changed the name to Sou'Wester instead of South By Southwest?

If so that might be the worst restaurant name I've ever heard.

[mdt]

I received an email from CityZen the other day that says to save the date (Sept. 20) to celebrate CityZen's 5th anniversary and "the birth of Sou'Wester Chef Eric Ziebold's latest culinary venture." So does that mean they changed the name to Sou'Wester instead of South By Southwest?

Here is the info on the name.

The chef of CityZen, the Mandarin Oriental's luxury retreat, is taking some ribbing for the name of the new venue: Sou'Wester. "We wanted a nautical theme," explains Ziebold, who last month was forced to abandon his original choice, South by Southwest, when officials of the Austin-based music festival of the same name complained.

BTW, according to the article it will be opening on Sept. $14.

[Kibbee Nayee]

BTW, not that it matters much, but I enjoyed MoZu for breakfast when I worked a few blocks away. Illy coffee and an egg white omelet overlooking the waterfront was a good way to start the day. I wonder if Sou'Wester (what a name) will serve breakfast, because options in SW are not many....

[DonRocks]

BTW, not that it matters much, but I enjoyed MoZu for breakfast when I worked a few blocks away. Illy coffee and an egg white omelet overlooking the waterfront was a good way to start the day. I wonder if Sou'Wester (what a name) will serve breakfast, because options in SW are not many....

They will indeed serve breakfast.

[leleboo]

BTW, not that it matters much, but I enjoyed MoZu for breakfast when I worked a few blocks away. Illy coffee and an egg white omelet overlooking the waterfront was a good way to start the day. I wonder if Sou'Wester (what a name) will serve breakfast, because options in SW are not many....

From Metrocurean: "The new restaurant will serve breakfast (yay!), lunch and dinner daily."

[iraultman]

I can't wait to see Ziebold's take on hushpuppies. Something tells me it will be spectacular.

[mdt]

I can't wait to see Ziebold's take on hushpuppies. Something tells me it will be spectacular.

Not that Chef Ziebold's take wouldn't be awesome, but I think the anticipated credit should go to Chef Rachael Harriman who will be running the kitchen.

[Michael Landrum]

Two pieces of information that never should have come together:

First, from the July/August DC Modern Luxury article on Rachael Harriman entitled "Woman on Top": "We hope some guests will come to South by Southwest in shorts and flip flops," she [Rachael Harriman] says.

Second, quoting Don Rockwell: "They will indeed serve breakfast."

All I can say is that they had better have a very strict Body-Scratching-In-Public policy or they are going to have themselves some serious Michael Landrum issues on their hands.

Be careful what you wish for, indeed.

[DanielK]

First, from the July/August DC Modern Luxury article on Rachael Harriman entitled "Woman on Top"

I have a magazine article with that title too, but no Rachael Harriman, and there are more pictures than text...

[DonRocks]

And Sou'Wester is born. Congratulations to the whole team!

SOU’WESTER OPENS TODAY AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, WASHINGTON D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 14, 2009 – Today marks the opening of Sou’Wester, the newest restaurant concept at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. Headlined by Executive Chef Eric Ziebold, winner of the 2008 James Beard Award for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, and executed by Chef de Cuisine Rachael Harriman, the restaurant features American cuisine with regional influences at a price point that is sure to please locals and visitors alike.

Chefs Ziebold and Harriman are a perfect match, having worked together for the past three years at CityZen, and prior to that at the French Laundry in Yountville, California and Per Se in New York City. Their new menu at Sou’Wester menu features traditional as well as interpretive takes on classics such as Chicken and Dumplings, Braised Rabbit Leg with Creamed Grits and Sautéed Perch with Old Bay Chowder.

Lunch guests will be pleased to see Chef Ziebold’s famed Shoat making an appearance on the Sou’Wester menu, initially in the form of a Shoat Rillette with Pickled Green Tomatoes priced at $11 and a Roast Shoat Leg with Baked Beans priced at $22. Other mid-day offerings include Rappahannock Oysters with Grilled Sausage ($13), Sautéed Pork Belly and Pickled Watermelon Rind ($14), and the house specialty, Fried Chicken Sandwich, served with housemade piccalilli ($9). The lunch menu also offers ‘soup & salad’ and ‘soup & sandwich’ combinations to cater to busy professionals and tourists on the go.

The extensive dinner menu has a varied selection of hot and cold appetizers, seafood, meats and seasonal specials, including appetizers like Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Ceviche ($13) and Poached Egg with Creamed Grits & Sweetbreads ($12), as well as entrées such as Blackened Bluefish with Cajun Rice ($18) and Fried Chicken with Coleslaw ($13). Not to be missed are comforting side dishes like Beer Battered Onion Rings, Hush Puppies with Honey Butter, and Sou’Wester Tater Tots.

Pastry Chef Amanda Cook, who has presided over the desserts at CityZen for over three years, also designs Sou’Wester’s sweet offerings, which includes wide selection of ice creams and sorbets, as well as treats such as warm and crispy Fried Apple Pie and a homey Carrot Cake. Sou’Wester also serves an extensive breakfast menu that includes omelettes, pancakes, waffles and a selection of fresh fruit juices and smoothies.

Carlton McCoy, an Advanced Level Sommelier who most recently served as captain at CityZen, has been tapped to head the beverage program for Sou'Wester. The offerings include affordably priced wines by the glass and by the bottle, an all-American craft beer list and an original cocktail menu with libations based around fruit, herb and spiced nectars, such as A Bronx Tale, made with Aviation Gin, Dolin Blanc, Grand Marnier and a house-made Rhubarb-Orange Syrup ($10).

The space has been visually changed to reflect the new concept. Natural light still streams in from tall windows, and an earthy palette of light-to-medium brown tones create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Wood tables are stained with a cherry wood finish and set with woven place mats. The warmly-colored chinaware, made especially for the restaurant, evokes a farmhouse feel.

Its proximity to the memorials and museums make Sou’Wester the perfect place for guests to enjoy a leisurely lunch by day. The spectacular views of the Potomac, coupled with innovative cuisine, effortlessly transform the restaurant into an approachable yet sophisticated food destination by night.

Sou’Wester is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, respectively. Sou’Wester is located in the Mandarin Oriental hotel at 1330 Maryland Ave, SW, Washington D.C. For reservations or more information, please call 202-787-6868 or visit the website at www.mandarinoriental.com.

[mdt]

And Sou'Wester is born. Congratulations to the whole team!

Looking forward to trying this place out. Does the space have a bar area for dining?

[brr]

Any chance of their menu making it online any time soon?

[TinDC]

Has anyone eaten here yet? I am thinking about Saturday night but am hesitant with no reviews.

[DonRocks]

Has anyone eaten here yet? I am thinking about Saturday night but am hesitant with no reviews.

I went to Sou'Wester for a late dinner this evening, and they were so dead (*) that I felt guilty about it, and instead went to the bar at CityZen. Apparently, they've been absolutely slammed for lunch, and relatively empty for dinner. I'm having a dinner menu emailed to me this evening, and will post it tomorrow - it looks fantastic, and it's not at all expensive. I was told that Rachael took her first night off this evening in several weeks, and I'm sure she's exhausted.

For now, my advice would be to have dinner on the early side unless you want to feel

Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide wide sea!
And never a saint took pity on
My soul in agony.
-- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, from "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner," Part The Fourth.

There's oodles of street parking down on 12th Street, especially on weekends, so you can save yourself $7 from the valet if you don't mind being a cheap fuck like me.

(*) There was a massive buyout of the Mandarin this evening, and Sou'Wester was busy early, but then everyone left at the same time, and went downstairs to a meeting, leaving an eerily empty restaurant.

Cheers,
Rocks.

[mdt]

I went to Sou'Wester for a late dinner this evening, and they were so dead (*) that I felt guilty about it, and instead went to the bar at CityZen. Apparently, they've been absolutely slammed for lunch, and relatively empty for dinner. I'm having a dinner menu emailed to me this evening, and will post it tomorrow - it looks fantastic, and it's not at all expensive. I was told that Rachael took her first night off this evening in several weeks, and I'm sure she's exhausted.

For now, my advice would be to have dinner on the early side unless you want to feel

Alone, alone, all, all alone,
Alone on a wide wide sea!
And never a saint took pity on
My soul in agony.
-- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, from "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner," Part The Fourth.

There's oodles of street parking down on 12th Street, especially on weekends, so you can save yourself $7 from the valet if you don't mind being a cheap fuck like me.

(*) There was a massive buyout of the Mandarin this evening, and Sou'Wester was busy early, but then everyone left at the same time, and went downstairs to a meeting, leaving an eerily empty restaurant.

Cheers,
Rocks.

We dined there last Friday and had a nice meal. We arrived around 7p and the place was rather empty, but diners slowly trickled in during our meal.

For starters we had the crab bisque and the poached egg with creamed grits and sweetbreads. Both tasted very good with the sweetbread dish the clear favorite. The chunks of sweetbreads surrounding a softly poached egg went excellently with the cream sauce. I think there might have been some mushrooms in the dish as well. The bisque, while tasty, did not have the consistency that I expect as it was on the watery side.

Dinner was an order of their fried chicken and chicken and dumplings. Both very well prepared with the fried chicken having just a slight too much salt. There were 3 pieces of fried chicken on the plate (leg, breast, and thigh IIRC) and it was served with a very lightly dressed coleslaw. We ordered sides of the twice baked potato and the hush puppies. The twice baked potato and hush-puppies are excellent! The innards are scooped out and mixed with minced pork, and I am sure butter and/or cream, before being put back in. The hush-puppies are served with butter whipped with honey, although they taste damn good without it.

Desserts were the fried apple pie (think apple turnover) and some other item that I cannot recall.

Sorry for not posting earlier. I don't remember the individual prices, but as Don mentioned the prices are certainly within reason. The total for dinner with 2 sodas (served from mini glass bottles), 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 sides, 2 desserts and 2 coffees was about $125 pre-tip.

[DonRocks]

I'm having a dinner menu emailed to me this evening, and will post it tomorrow - it looks fantastic, and it's not at all expensive.

Lunch:  Sou\'Wester_Lunch_Menu.pdf   46.9K   161 downloads

Dinner:  Sou\'Wester_Dinner_Menu.pdf   40.95K   213 downloads

Dessert:  Sou\'Wester_Dessert_Menu.pdf   45.78K   136 downloads

[GennaroE]

So the family came down from New Jersey tonight to celebrate my 21st birthday, and at the behest of Don, we decided to have dinner at Sou'Wester. I'm glad I took his advice; almost every item ordered was great, the service was awesome, and the overall mood of the restaurant was perfect for this sort of dinner. I'll start with a run-down of the dishes ordered (and some that came out as gifts from the chef), and I apologize in advance for the blurry pictures; more than half of them don't do the food justice as I'm still getting used to the iphone's camera. You can see them all at since the board wont let me post them all here.

Appetizers

Bread Service: Mini-biscuits, corn bread, and what was described as a sweet roll, with softened butter. All were really good. The biscuits were tiny, but very rich; the cornbread was a great rendition; the sweet rolls didn't taste sweet at all, just fluffy and satisfying, simultaneously reminiscent of potato bread and brioche.

Old Fashioned Cream of Mushroom Soup($8): Simple and good; my little sister loved this. It was creamy and had plenty of mushroom flavor, as well as discernible chunks of mushroom.



Kale and Bean Soup($8): My dad's choice; I didn't get to taste, but it looked good, and was packed with pork along with the kale and beans.

Pan Fried Oysters ($13): These were delicious. The smoked pepper aioli was a good accompaniment, and the plating was unexpected and impressive.



Entrees
Porgie Crab Imperial($24): This was my entree, and I really enjoyed it. A pretty generous portion of crab imperial, baked and then topped with a porgie filet, all served with a lemon beurre blanc. The beurre blanc was pretty much unnecessary though since the combination of sweet, rich crab and the fish had plenty of flavor; I think some other form of accompaniment would elevate this dish even further.

Corned Beef Shortribs($24): This was a surprise hit, and probably the most tender piece of meat I've ever consumed in my life. You could cut through it like butter, and it delivered on what was promised: the taste of corned beef, but without the graininess. The pool of horseradish soubise worked really well with it (much better than the beurre blanc with the fish), though I could have used a little more of a horseradish kick in there.

Fried Chicken($13): A leg, a thigh, and a wing, served with coleslaw. The two orders my family had were probably the least impressive items of the night. They were by no means bad, just not amazing. I thought the coating could have been a little heavier and a little crispier. The two who ordered them (Mom and 8 year old sister) were disappointed by the lack of a breast/white meat. The coleslaw was nice and refreshing though, rather than being drenched in mayo.

Chicken and Dumplings($17): Dumplings, assorted vegetables, and a chicken breast in a broth that was not overly creamy. This was a solid dish, and my 13 year old sister enjoyed it.

Sides
Hush Puppies with Honey Butter($4): These hush puppies are reason enough to come to Sou'Wester. They make me consider applying for a job. Each order (we got 2) comes with 5 hush puppies, and they are just perfectly crispy, salty, and delicious. Dipping them in the honey butter leads to a clash of salty and sweet that is utterly satisfying and addictive. I'm pretty sure I ate 5 out of the 10 that came to our table, and I could have easily kept going.



Broccoli & Rice Casserole($5): Broccoli + rice + mushroom = boring, right? Not when the Campbell's is replaced with Sou'Wester's mushroom soup, and cheese (I think the waiter said it was gouda) is thrown in along with the broccoli and rice. This was creamy and satisfying, and it actually managed to distract me from the hush puppies for a moment. The host (I wish I could remember his name, he was great), stopped when he saw me attacking the casserole and told me that it actually came completely from a recipe Eric Ziebold's grandma would make, just with house made soup rather than the canned stuff.

Grilled Corn with Espelette Pepper Aioli($4): A gift from the kitchen, the corn was good, but the aoili was a little bit heavy; when it comes to corn on the cob, I'm a bit of a purist, so I tend to prefer very little on it.

Baked Beans($4): Another gift from the chef, these were really good. Pretty sure I picked up on a good amount of bacon flavor in there, which really kept me coming back for more.



Desserts($5 each)

Fried Apple Pie: It was impossible to resist ordering this, even after all of the previous fried dishes. And it was more than worth the $5. It is indeed like a turnover, with the flakiest, most addicting crust ever. Match that up with some really good ice cream, and you've got a winner.

Brownie Sundae: Not nearly as impressive as the apple pie. My sisters split this, and they were disappointed by how little brownie there was in comparison to the whipped cream and ice cream. I got a little taste though, and while the brownie couldn't compete with the apple pie, the nuts in there were really good.



Cheesecake with Plums: The host brought this out after our other desserts, along with a bottle of Moscato (and non-alcoholic Riesling for the little sisters). The plums matched really well with the cheesecake, and it was all good, but very rich; after the other two desserts I almost couldn't handle it. The Moscato, though, was really refreshing.



So overall, a great meal. The service was attentive and really generous, and all the staff did a great job of insuring that my birthday was a special one. There was one little slip up (a mix up in the kitchen caused the twice-baked potato we ordered to be delayed), but other than that things were great. A few tiny quibbles about the food from some, as noted above, but nothing at all serious. The only thing I personally had an issue with was the temperature in the restaurant: it was a little cold, and as a result the food got cold very quickly (sometimes before it even got to the table). But I'll definitely be back for more hush puppies, and to try some of their drinks, which seemed really interesting, but I managed to forget to order (I fail at fulfilling 21st birthday requirements).

EDIT: Another note - Sou'Wester = great food without having to listen to boring background music. The medley of Johnny Cash, Don McLean, etc. was great.

Quick summary: Go to Sou'Wester, eat copious amounts of hush puppies (but still explore the rest of the menu), and you will enjoy any occasion without breaking the bank.

Thanks again to Chefs Ziebold and Harriman, and the whole team there.

[collije]

Happy B-Day GennaroE!

On a whim I stopped here by myself for dinner, and I'm quite happy I did.

Looks like we had many of same things. For starters, I tried the Cream of Mushroom Soup and Pan-Fried Oysters w/ Smoked Pepper Aioli. And for Mains I did the Porgie Crab Imperial [after heavily weighing between the Corned Beef Shortribs, I'll give that a go sometime soon] with the Grilled Corn with Espelette Pepper Aioli. For Dessert I had the Carrot Cake. Good pricing on the dishes for what I got, and nice to see very reasonable pricing for entrees overall [$13 for Fried Chicken to mid-20's for things like the Porgie Crab Imperial, Corned Beef Shortribs, Marinated Flank Steak or the Rockfish].

Imbibed entirely too much the past 2 days so didn't get to sample a variety of their cocktails [quite a few looked interesting] but did have the Peche Mode [Earl-Grey infused Maker's Mark w/ Vermouth, Peach Syrup & Peach Bitters]. Liked it but not sure I loved it. Perhaps the last 2 nights influenced me [to be fair, one of those nights was at The Gibson], so I'll need to come back and do some dedicated imbibing another time.

Many of your comments on the shared dishes echo mine. On the whole I really liked the food. Classic dishes [well classic cocktails too] with kitchen with pretty strong execution. At the restaurant's early juncture, that's a great sign.

Atmosphere is what I'd call accessible. This place can easily accomodate a variety of clientele [small private parties, families, business folks, tucked-away areas for dates, hotel guests]. Music over the speakers ranged from Huey Lewis to SRV to Mellencamp to 70s Funk. I'm sure there are mid-range plans to enhance the space to make it more of their own, but it's certainly fine at this juncture.

So far, imo Sou'Wester complements CityZen in giving hotel diners a good alternate experience while still providing quality food with good service. I look forward to coming back and exploring the menu more.

[Keithstg]

I was at Sou'Wester this weekend as well, heading out of the Caps home opener early to make it over for a 9:30 dinner. The dining room was crowded, with a healthy buzz, so I guess it is fair to say that the word is out!

For appetizers we had the crab bisque and the fried oysters. We noticed a bit of a delay in our appetizers arriving (nothing major), when our server appeared and switched out my soup spoon for a knife and fork, with the apology that the chef did not like the way the bisque came out, so another portion was being prepared. While my wife had her fried oysters, I had a portion of the bibb lettuce salad. Both the oysters and the salad were great - the oysters being prefectly fried and the pepper aoli was a great counterpart. The bibb lettuce salad was simple and clean - and a very nice addition. Thanks! My bisque arrived shortly, and my wife was treated to a portion of the heirloom tomatoes with basil dressing. Both the bisque and the herilooms were also excellent.

For mains, we had the corned beef and the fried chicken. The corned beef was fantastic - as gennaro mentioned above, just a wonderful piece of meat. The fried chicken was ok - I could also have done with a more assertive breading, although the pieces were fried beautifully.

All in all, a great meal, at a very good price (I think we came out at $135.00 including a bottle of wine). What impressed me most was how the kitchen dealt proactively with an item (my bisque) that was not to their liking, and went above and beyond to put out great food. The deft handling of a potential problem struck me as a great sign of where this restaurant is headed - unsurprising given the level of talent here. We look forward to returning, and having such a good option so close to the hill.

[DanCole42]

Everything looks scrumptious, but my question is: why Southern cuisine? If memory serves, Rachael is from New England and Eric is from Iowa. Not that that necessarily has anything to do with the price of wheat in China, but it seems an interesting choice.

[collije]

What is the parking situation on weekdays? Valet? Garage? Street?

Valet parking is $7 validated with your meal. Metered street parking within a block or so isn't too bad to get & is the standard free after 6:30 p.m.

[Michael Landrum]

Had a fantastic lunch here the other day. Prices slightly above Ben's Chili Bowl. Silly cheap. Perfect food, just right for lunch (I tried to many things to remember, but it was all great). Crab fritters are still making my mouth water--my new favorite dish! Can't wait to try it for dinner. Bread basket may have dethroned Vidalia's--if not, then neck and neck. I hate fine dining, but the service there really is a treat and makes you forget you are in Washington.

[Heather]

Bread basket may have dethroned Vidalia's--if not, then neck and neck.

I have been holding off on posting about my lunch there the other day, but this caught my eye. It sounds as if you had a markedly different experience, as our bread basket was terrible, including biscuits that were so undercooked that they were raw in the middle.

[DonRocks]

Reviews? What reviews?

Judging from Sou’Wester’s packed dining room on Thanksgiving evening, you’d think Eric Ripert had ridden into town on a white horse, and bamboozled every star-struck restaurant critic in the area.

Dining with my mom and my son, the three of us enjoyed a Thanksgiving supper that was outstanding in every respect. This would be strongly in “greatest ever” territory, if it weren’t for the ridiculous annual affairs hosted by Jarad and Anna Slipp.

A lavish, no-holds-barred feast in every respect, we stuffed ourselves silly on:

Grilled Turkey Heart ($6)
Turkey Rillettes ($11)
Stuffed Turkey Neck ($12)
Pan Fried Oysters with Smoked Pepper Aïoli ($12)

Turkey Breast with Porcini Mousse ($21)
Turkey Leg Confit ($18)
Braised Turkey Leg in Red Wine ($23)
Cranberry Sauce ($3)
Chestnut Stuffing ($6)
Green Bean Casserole ($6)
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon ($6)
Mashed Potatoes ($8)

Doubled-over full, we still managed to polish off some Fried Pumpkin Pie and a Chocolate Brownie Sundae, all of this washed down with Apple Cider, Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis, and a half-bottle of 2006 Ballot-Millot Pommard 1er Cru La Refene.

Thank you to everyone at Sou’Wester, and congratulations for putting on such a wildly successful holiday dinner. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.

Cheers,
Rocks.

[GennaroE]

Fried Pumpkin Pie

That's all you had to say...the Fried Apple Pie was good, but I want to get my hands on some of this.

[giant shrimp]

A lavish, no-holds-barred feast in every respect, we stuffed ourselves silly.

we ordered just about the same, different drinks and wine plus squash soup and sweet potatoes decked out in marshmallow, but were too full to even consider crossing the finish line with dessert. i have enjoyed great thanksgiving meals at both corduroy and vidalia, but the heaping plates of food at sou'wester came closest to replicating the experience of a home-cooked thanksgiving. the deboned turkey leg was worth fighting for and there were some impressively sophisticated twists brought to the table, such as the neck meat. i haven't seen this place in the day, but it was a nice looking, expansive dining room by night, although i'm not sure i would want to be around when the white gourds on the wall start hatching. we were comfortably tucked into a table at the far corner overlooking the glowing dome of the jefferson memorial. i don't get over to this area very often, but i like walking around the back of the agriculture department and the cooling and heating plant. the block runs long and you feel like you're in the vicinity of a production studio. the nearby railroad underpass brought back fond memories to our son of his best years tagging.

[Sthitch]

the Fried Apple Pie was good

Recipe

[DanCole42]

Rachael Harriman is trying to kill me.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I will warn you, this is a long report. But, there's a lot to say. This is my last contact with the world of the living, I want to make it count.

Bottom line, I loved every minute I was there.

We entered Sou'Wester through a long corridor lined with a series of comfy-looking couches, then on to an elegant but utterly unpretentious space, cozily lit, with silver buckets full of lemons and smaller buckets full of candle fire on the tables. We sat along a series of curved windows along the Potomac. Looking up and out was a pretty view of the river. Looking down and out swept me into a river of satisfying schadenfreude: hundreds trapped in rush hour on Maine Avenue and 395. As someone who commutes over an hour each way, I was orgasmically smug watching the poor saps trapped in their cars out in the cold while I was sitting high and drowning myself in cocktails. I suddenly remembered my Lucretius: "It is pleasant, when the sea is high and the winds are dashing the waves about, to watch from the shores the struggles of another."

("I suddenly remembered my Lucretius"?!?! I swear to god, I'm not really a douchebag in real life, promise)

With everything exuding coziness and comfort, I suppose it was all part of Rachael's plan to lull me into a false sense of security before the attempted assassination.

The cocktail menu is divided into "Cocktails" and "Nectars," the latter made from seasonal fruit infusions. My Nectar, "The Revenge of Napoleon III,": silver tequila, anise hyssop, absinthe, and pink grapefruit juice was good, but not as good as my wife's cocktail: "Root Beer Float,": Jack Daniels, root beer, vanilla, angostura bitters (????), soda, and vanilla nuage.

All cocktails are $10, or $7 from 3-5PM.

Let the tale of murder begin.

Up first were two bowls of creamed grits with quail egg and white truffle. When I think grits, I can't help but be reminded of My Cousin Vinny: "Excuse me, you guys down here hear about the ongoing cholesterol problem in the country?" Echoing my recent Vidalia report, white truffles are like having Ovechkin on your hockey team: you're probably going to win, but how's your team going to do without your star player? In this case, very well. The grits and egg were perfect. I've never had grits or polenta with such a heavenly texture.

At this point I could have died happy, but she dragged it out.

Crab fritters with bulb onions and green goddess dressing ($12) came with fried lemons, and I ended up spooning the leftover green goddess (I love to spoon, I'm a cuddler). The Rappahannock River Oysters with grilled sausage ($13) were a huge hit with my wife: the sausage in particular brought to mind the flavors of New England.

I bet you're thinking: she probably poisoned the oysters. Those bottomfeeders have such a reputation for danger, no one would suspect.

But it goes on.

I happened to have mentioned to Rachael that my wife's all time favorite food was chicken parmesan. I've always been proud of the fact that I was the one who made my wife's favorite version of her favorite dish; as it should be. Not content with just my demise, Rachael had to take that away, too. In the fashion of classic Italian-American cuisine, Carlton brought out some pours of chianti to go with Rachael's take on chicken parm: crispy crusted chicken thigh, tomato marmalade, and mozzarella I swear was homemade. I don't know how I'll ever top it, short of doing a stage...

At this point I was full to bursting.

Let's not forget that we'd been chomping on bread, too: sweet potato rolls, buttermilk biscuits, and cornbread. Amanda Cook deserves full praise as one of the best bakers/pastry chefs in the city. Not finishing our second basket was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do (I've had an easy life).

Entrees. Will it never end?

Marinated hanger steak with texas toast and sauteed mushrooms ($24) was the best hanger I've ever had (sorry Michael!), with flavors I could not place, had never had before, but absolutely must have again.

My braised rabbit leg with rabbit sausage and creamed grits ($18) reintroduced me once again to my cruel, gritty, creamy mistress. The rabbit leg was moist and the outside was a perfectly uniform caramel color. The sausage itself was way too salty, my one complaint in a sea of kudos.

For what it's worth, the too-salty sausage was excellent cold the next day. Also, I actually told her I found it too salty. I don't think I've ever done that before. The fact that my respect for her as a chef overcame my natural shyness I think says something about the caliber of chef that she is.

The hush puppies with honey butter ($4) deserve all the praise they've received so far, but I do want to say that the twice baked potato with minced pork ($6) was the standout side for me.

At this point my heart had stopped completely.

The coup de grace was the brownie Sunday. Best. Chocolate. Sauce. EVER. Amanda Cook. Seriously. Spotlight. On you. Now.

Lastly, Carlton brought out a small glass of moscato. And I exploded. Boom. I will never eat again.

I'm writing this to you from the third circle of hell.

I have never been so full. I've never gotten a doggie bag at such an upscale place before, but it was so good I just couldn't leave it there.

Our waiter, Nicanor, was super friendly. Carlton was absolutely awesome. Seriously. Make use of this phenomenal resource if you go.

Suggestions: signage! We had a hard time finding the place inside the Mandarin. A bar/lounge! If Sou'Wester had a bar with prices on par with Vidalia, we'd be there every week.

Rachael came out to say hi. You don't have to talk to her personally (but it's obvious when you do), you just need to experience her food and her restaurant, to see that she cares deeply about making her customers genuinely happy.

And that's how I died. Happy, cozy, and comfortable. And full. Very, very full.

Holy shit. Where are the fucking Tums?

Comments from the wife: "I feel like I'm at a cozy log cabin on a lake in the mountains, lounging on the porch." "It was just very fun." "We should come back for New Years." "(after meeting the chef) I really, really like Rachael!!!"

PS - The music was AWESOME. Lotta classic rock. THAT'S what I want to eat to. None of that soft jazz shit (I'm looking at you, RJ!).

[ol_ironstomach]

We stopped here for lunch last week. Sou'wester is something of a fun enigma to me, a collection of dishes with comfort-food roots, all suited up and presented in a beautiful space, but not really reinvented - at least not in a way that you could eat some of them with a level of decorum suited to the surroundings. And by surroundings I don't just mean the tall airy room and attentive service, but also your neighboring diners, who are likely to be well-dre$$ed and well-mannered.

The crab fritters, for instance, are uniform and precise golden-brown nuggets, assorted with a similar volume of lighter-toned spherical nuggets (the onions), and a few disk-shaped objects (the fried lemon slices). At least, if you've forgotten the menu description of the dish, as I did, this is the puzzle that you're presented with. To this Maryland boy, accustomed to irregular bits of crab poking out willy-nilly, it's unexpected. The fritters, which superficially resemble giant pretzel bites, are completely delectable, with a rich blue-crab flavor. Actually, all of the components were terrific. But the onions require a bit of care as you bite into them, because it's easy to send the core half of the layers shooting comically across your table if you happen to have it pointed in the wrong direction when you bite. I'm speaking from experience here.

Actress Christine Baranski and her husband, lunching elegantly at the next table over, didn't seem to notice...or maybe she just had the good manners to ignore the comedy playing out so close by. Which was good, because I'm sure I violated a dozen or two etiquette rules when I tucked into the fried chicken. Served on the bone, it's a refined take on fried chicken, nicely herbed, and yet...served on the bone. I'm sorry, but for this I can't switch to knife-and-fork, which always leaves too much behind. Fingers flying, I found the chicken to be excellent, although juicy to the point that it had formed puddles of chicken juice (not oil) on the plate underneath each piece. They're definitely starting out with a superior quality bird. And I agree with Keithstg upthread that the breading could have been a lot more assertive.

In the wouldn't-mind-a-tweak column, my salad was a bounty of delightful textures, but dressed a little heavily.

Back in the winning column: the basket of assorted breads, peoplewatching at the Mandarin Oriental (Sting walked right past us in the lobby), and the ridiculously reasonable prices.

I hadn't dined in this space since early in the tenure of Café MoZu, so it was nice to see a menu that was so full of attractive options. I mean, MoZu's bento box was fine, but c'mon now... I could really love this place, if only I could figure out how to relax in it.

[DanCole42]

I could really love this place, if only I could figure out how to relax in it.

I agree that they've given themselves a bit of a challenge. You've got sort of a built-in clientèle that's super swank and uptight (or, as my wife calls me when I'm acting super swank and uptight, "Monsieur Fancypants," to be pronounced with superlative French flourish), and yet you're serving them the "food of the people" in a relaxed atmosphere. I'm not sure I can see my CEO kicking back in a rocking chair with a root beer float (for me, though, that's my current happy place).

On the other hand, a lot of the clientèle are likely business travelers who probably wouldn't mind a slice of home, which is what comfort food is all about.

If the badass soundtrack doesn't put the mild mannered, geezerly tycoons into a festive mood, I don't know what will. Seriously. I want a Songs of Sou'wester CD.

I was plenty relaxed during my visit, though: enjoying watching the poor saps stuck in rush hour and kicking back without thought or care for whether Uncle F. Jackington Chesterfield III happened to be enjoying his ingurgitation.

[Twinsdaddy]

If the badass soundtrack doesn't put the mild mannered, geezerly tycoons into a festive mood, I don't know what will. Seriously. I want a Songs of Sou'wester CD.

Dan, foodwise this place sounds like it's worth a visit, but you have talked up the music so much that you have to back it up. Give us three songs you heard while you were there.

As a point of reference, the tv show ER once used "Me and Baby Brother" by War. That's badass soundtrack music.

[DanCole42]

Dan, foodwise this place sounds like it's worth a visit, but you have talked up the music so much that you have to back it up. Give us three songs you heard while you were there.

As a point of reference, the tv show ER once used "Me and Baby Brother" by War. That's badass soundtrack music.

Sympathy for the Devil, some CCR, I think some Joplin... The mixes are done by the wife of someone at CityZen... she's a DJ.

[Heather]

Sympathy for the Devil, some CCR, I think some Joplin... The mixes are done by the wife of someone at CityZen... she's a DJ.

In other words, muzak for people my age.

I don't recall the music at all from my one visit, but have to agree with Dave that the room doesn't mesh well with the food, and also that the crab fritters were very good.

[DonRocks]

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-- Robert Frost, from "The Road Not Taken."

Several critics have judged Sou'Wester harshly. I'm not here to question their reviews, but rather to offer my own. Both Eric Ziebold and Rachael Harriman are friends of mine, so read this with appropriate skepticism.

I wrote about my Thanksgiving dinner at Sou'Wester here, and have since returned twice. Both times I walked in unannounced, and both times I was recognized by Carlton McCoy. I can assure you that the other major critics were also recognized, so everyone's on an even footing.

Two weeks ago, I ordered a $35, three-course dinner:

Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Ceviche ($13)
Lamb and Rye Berry Soup ($8)
Sauteed Pork Jowl ($14) and pickled watermelon rind

And on Tuesday night, I ordered a $35, two-course dinner:

Corned Beef Shortribs ($24) and horseradish soubise
Twice Baked Potato ($6) with minced pork
Carrot Cake ($5)

Almost across the board, the food at Sou'Wester has been rewarding. The bread basket was very good during Thanksgiving, but has gotten progressively better during each subsequent visit.

I have noticed glitches in the service, but they've become smaller over the past few weeks.

I'm not sure what people expect when they walk into the fanciest hotel in Washington, DC, and have dinner at their "second" restaurant overlooking the Tidal Basin. I certainly don't expect this:

Average cost of an appetizer: $10.66
Average cost of an entrée: $20.70
Average cost of a side dish: $4.86
Average cost of a dessert: $5.00

Nor do I expect a dining room in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to look like Comet Ping Pong just because they're serving inexpensive food. People have assumed that just because Sou'Wester is serving hush puppies, it's supposed to look like something out of Deliverance, but this is more like something out of Gone With The Wind. This is dining, not eating.

And though I'm taking the road less traveled by, I'm not traveling alone by any means – Sou'Wester was bustling with people on both of my recent weeknight visits, and is reportedly doing a brisk lunch business as well. I say to Rachael, Carlton, and Eric: congratulations on a successful opening of an excellent restaurant, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Tuesday evening, I skipped the wine and ordered two bottles of Miller – The Champagne Of Beers. And if anyone thinks this is pretentious, then I suggest that they drink a few, and think again.



Cheers,
Rocks.

[DanCole42]

Trip Number Two. I'll try to keep it shorter this time. I don't remember prices or exact descriptions like Rocks does, but I'll do my best.

As a general rule, you can't go wrong ordering something deep-fried, and nowhere does this rule apply more than at Sou'wester. Those of you who came to the fall picnic have already sampled the fried chicken. They've re-branded the crab fritters as a "seafood fry," which now includes crab, shrimp, clams, and fried lemons, but still comes with an addicting green goddess dip. The standout fried dish was the chicken fried pork steak with collard greens and mashed potatoes: the pork was packed with porcine flavor, and somehow managed to be super juicy while leaving the crust dry and crunchy (no sogginess!).

The veal terrine comes laced with pistachios and served with an amazing, perfectly seasoned rustic bread. In fact, all of the bread at Sou'wester is perfect: the biscuits, the sweet potato bread, the corn bread... everything.

By the time the entrees arrived, we were already stuffed. Why why why why did we get two sides? Oh yeah, because the creamed grits and twice baked potato are scrumptious, and because doggie bags exist.

My wife was the first one to try a new item on the menu: veal stroganoff. The meatballs were revelatory: I don't know how they achieve that texture. It was creamy and crispy! My beef short rib took me back to our seders growing up (before I discovered that my Italian Catholic side offered better culinary options).

The banana cream pie was the perfect size, and the exact right amount of lightness after our heavy meal.

Service was excellent, and while Carlton was missing (he doesn't work Mondays), Robert did a superb job filling his shoes.

I did note with some dismay that the music, while still excellent, was turned down in the dining room.

A big thank you to the whole team for a memorable 30th birthday, and especially to Rachael for being the brains and brawns behind this exceptional food (and for being a gracious and attentive host!).

Also thank you to leleboo for the totally unexpected champagne and birthday paraphernalia awaiting us at our table.

[KMango]

I can’t move.

Neither from my seat nor from DC. As the sweltering summer once again approaches, and I start to feel that “anywhere but here” vibe of wandering restlessness, dining events like tonight’s Crab Feast fill me with entirely too much food along with a large dose of geographic gratitude.

Only in DC can you find this oasis of a patio overlooking the Tidal Basin. Plenty of grass, plenty of shade, the angles of the building smartly shield diners from the late evening sun. An occasional Marine Corps helicopter flies by, the only invading sound on this pleasantly isolated lawn. It is perhaps too tranquil because I found myself longing for background music. Not necessarily live performers, but something to carry acoustical effervescence would greatly enhance this environment.

Upon arrival this humid evening, we had been greeted by a server bearing a warm smile along with complimentary strawberry sodas, refreshing and welcoming. Airy shortbread biscuits with exceptional, thinly-sliced ham followed, as did the ever-famous hush puppies with honey butter, fresh and crunchy traditional cole slaw, fried chicken, and deviled eggs. Some of the best shrimp of the year appeared at the table tonight--conveniently de-veined, but gratifyingly shell-on, and not a moment overcooked. I would have sworn the kitchen somehow steamed these with the heads on, so rich was the flavor.

Platters of season-studded crabs were the highlight of the table, insides rich with “mustard”, gratifying in their unctuous audacity. I found these specimens both small and light, but not unusual for this early in the season. Plate after plate of all dishes kept arriving, an unbelievable volume of food. Dessert included a parade of house-baked cones with strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate ice cream, a splendid choice for the finale. Service was outstandingly friendly and gracious, the staff here focused keenly on the diner’s experience and all comforts.

Events like this one always appease my inner extrovert with family-style seating and family-style serving. Just over two hours in duration, I was surprised time went so quickly. Music probably would have extended the occasion. But then again, this was meant to be a meal, not an evening.

I give the lawn party concept at Sou’Wester an enthusiastic thumbs-up. With several monthly events on the horizon, it’s well worth keeping an eye on their upcoming schedule and book a few seats for this unique DC dining experience.

[DonRocks]

Knowing I'd be jet lagged, I initially turned down the offer of a free ticket to the Nationals game yesterday.

Then came the email at 9:44 AM, titled "You Are Nuts."
I opened it, and it said "If you don't come to the game today."

Hmm, 4:10 PM first pitch, gorgeous weather, Strasburg pitching, fifth-row seats behind the Nationals' dugout.

So the Grim Reaper shows up, and Strasburg has a 37-pitch first inning, then leaves after five with no run support.
Grim Reaper leaves early, Nationals come back and win.

It was hot, but it was also dinnertime. Should I walk to Barracks Row? Nah, I headed west.

I walked past Greenleaf Gardens, where I once had my car window smashed with a rock, and my bike stolen (I finessed it back ... long story).

Then Waterside Mall, where I spent many years, and which no longer exists. I was happy to see the Grand Opening signs for the new Safeway - not because the area is being developed, but because people in Greenleaf Gardens et al will now have a grocery store. (Waterside Mall had a fantastic Negril, btw.)

Past the Arena Stage which now seems bizarrely modern to me. I used to go there fairly often, and remember writing Zelda Fichandler when she left.

Up, up, up to the Mandarin Oriental, where I cooled down for a moment (needed to, desperately), then walked into Sou'Wester. I'd called over on my mobile during the walk, and talked with Celia - she had me a table on the patio waiting when I got there. My pony of Miller High Life was sitting in a little bucket of ice, with a linen napkin draped over it, and an empty champagne glass to its side. There is no prettier place to dine in the city than the patio at Sou'Wester, and some people were dining there in shorts.

I ordered a Chilled Globe Artichoke Soup ($12) for an appetizer, and the Pan-Fried Chicken with Wedge Salad ($16, all dark meat) for my entree, along with the best Succotash ($6) I've ever eaten. Appetizers at Sou'Wester average $12.25, entrees average $22.70, and all desserts are $6.

Rachael came out, giddy about her upcoming trip to France. Carlton was there too, recently back from Germany and Austria. Eric stopped by for a minute towards the end of my dinner to say hello.

"So am I the only person ever to walk here from Nationals Park?" I asked.

He looked somewhat sad, and said, "Yeah, I think so."

Cheers,
Rocks

[brian]

"So am I the only person ever to walk here from Nationals Park?" I asked.

He looked somewhat sad, and said, "Yeah, I think so."

Bullshit! I had a lengthy conversation with Carlton after walking to CityZen with my dad following the last Strasburg home game.

And I was skeptical, but I think the new Arena Stage is looking great.

[jiveturk21]

Three of us had dinner there on Wednesday night for Restaurant Week. It has been a while since I have gone out for RW, but if all my RW meals were like this, I would do it all the time!

I have never been to Sou'wester, so I don't know what the menu generally looks like, but they had a ton of choices for RW. Appetizers included an heirloom tomato salad (good), a pork belly dish (below average) and a sweetbreads dish (perfect). The entrees were even better, especially the fried chicken and prime rib (can't remember the last time I ordered one of those), the rockfish was good as well, but not great. Desserts, however, stole the show. Red velvet cake, which I am generally not a fan of, was the best of the bunch. A chocolate silk pie was also very good, the third dessert escapes me at this moment. We did the wine pairings, I think they are $23.10 per person, and they were well worth the money (large pours). The reds, as usual for me, blew away the whites, but all of the whites were good enough other than an overly oaky chardonnay. Service was attentive, but clearly flustered at times. And, the room is beautiful. Not as "homey" as I expected, it really didn't fit the cuisine, but I understand because it is the freakin Mandarin Oriental after all.

[DonRocks]

Tonight will be sommelier Carlton McCoy's final service at Sou'Wester, as he moves on to higher peaks in Aspen, Colorado. We'll miss you, Carlton!

[Sundae in the Park]

I think they are serving excellent low country food here, but I don't think I'm really a low country food kind of girl. Everything was very good, but very heavy, especially for a brunch. I did love the lamb and bean soup - it was incredibly flavorful and didn't feel like it was going to harden my arteries. The mushroom soup, while delicious, was too creamy and difficult to finish. The chicken-fried trout is served atop potatoes dripping with butter and the hush puppies are perfectly fried, surprisingly light and crisp. The pork belly is unctous and deeply flavorful, and the mustardy, pleasingly crunchy coleslaw does its job in cutting through the richness.

I would reccomend going, just not anytime around Thanksgiving.

[mdt]

Took Mom out for a birthday dinner here on Saturday night and everyone enjoyed their meal. I had not been in a long time and the restaurant has a new chef de cuisine in the kitchen, Eddie Moran. From my experience things are certainly running smoothly. Highlights of the dishes that I tasted were the "Nose to Tail" Crispy Path Valley Shoat served with cider-braised savoy cabbage and a fried egg. It is a hockey puck sized portion of pig perfectly fried and topped with a sunny-side-up egg. The Rockfish served was with crispy Yukon gold potatoes, Chincoteague clams, and bacon chowder broth was excellent. The shrimp and grits were well done with a nice and The smashed and fried potatoes that came with the chicken "under a brick" were quite tasty too. All the fish dishes were superbly cooked and this place is certainly worth more frequent visits.

[kirite]

Had dinner there on Thursday, and it was very, very good. The $13 vegetable salad is a wonderful mixture of flavors and textures drizzled with a light vinargarette. My SO had the rockfish surrounded by a medley of mushrooms. I had the thickest piece of bluefish that I have ever encountred, and it was complemented by a fascinating vegetable mixture of peas, carrots, red peppers, lima beans, and herbs. This is among our favorite restaurants in DC.