cheezepowder Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 On 7/29/2015 at 4:36 PM, Ferhat Yalcin said: Time has come; Going Fishin' til the Fall; Fishnet SHAW/DC will be closing its doors on Sunday August 2, 2015.(with the last service being on Saturday evening) We'll be back in the Fall with a new accessible, approachable vacation-inspired brand that we're excited to unveil to our loyal following and new guests alike. Join us to toast Fishnet and our future on Friday and Saturday. Our entire menu including beer/wine will be half off, both on Friday and Saturday.(this also means when we run out, we are out of food or beer). Regards, Ferhat Any news on Fishnet in Shaw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Fishnet Twitter says: we r looking for early November, thanks for checking. No other info provided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezepowder Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 Saw this tweet from barredindc. Any news Ferhat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Some more news on Drift. Per a press release: Other entrees include a rotating catch of the day, prepared and served simply to highlight the fish itself, in 6 to 8oz portions with a lemon wedge and a choice of side. Seafood staples are here as well in the form of fish and chips, Maine lobster roll, PEI mussels, and cedar plank salmon. The Pineland beef burger, also from Maine, offers a hearty land option. Lobster bisque and seafood chowder make for warming starters. Hake, a cold-water fish similar to cod in its flakey texture, rounds out a shareable appetizer in calamari and hake tots (think fish sticks with a modern twist), as do crab cake sliders and grilled sardines served on sourdough with a black olive tapenade. Raw items include a ceviche with a spicy kick, raw shrimp cocktail with a custom sauce, and tuna tartar. All menu items will be $20 or less, making Draft an affordable choice to dine out a few times a week. A bar with counter seating for 15 is prominently featured front and center of the restaurant. The cocktail menu will focus on rum based cocktails, some of which lean towards Tiki, and a batch cocktail for groups that want to get into a resort mood. The root beer float features Maine Root soda and vanilla ice cream with alcoholic, vanilla porter optional! Guests can also choose from eight beers on tap, and eight wines, four red and four white, by the glass or bottle. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choirgirl21 Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Excited that both tuna tartare and ceviche will be on the menu. They have always been excellent when we've had them there. And that porter float! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheezepowder Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 DCist reports that Drift (new concept for Shaw's Fishnet) plans to open on Thursday, Feb. 18. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Because of everything Ferhat's done for this community, and because of everything Ferhat's done for me personally, and because I think so highly of both of his restaurants, and *especially* because I feel guilty not knowing how badly off the old situation was, I'm going to be throwing all my weight behind Drift on 7th, and I hope others here do the same. Between Drift on 7th, Corduroy and Baby Wale, Kinship and Metier, Izakaya Seki, and The Columbia Room, Shaw and Mount Vernon Triangle is fast-becoming *the* restaurant area in DC. I hope members of this community will share in my support of these outstanding restaurants. Cheers, Rocks PS - You let me know what you need, Ferhat, and you've got it. This should have never happened, but I guarantee you're going to be glad it did. And if I'm criticized because I'm helping my friends, then I plead "guilty, with explanation:" I'm proud of my friends, all of whom have proven themselves to me in the past, and I want them to succeed. Don't worry, everything I say will be truthful and ethical, and you'll be able to rely on my reviews as much as you ever have, but this time around, I'm not going to let opportunities go to waste - it's *my* fault that Fishnet shut down, and I'm not going to forget about it. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferhat Yalcin Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Because of everything Ferhat's done for this community, and because of everything Ferhat's done for me personally, and because I think so highly of both of his restaurants, and *especially* because I feel guilty not knowing how badly off the old situation was, I'm going to be throwing all my weight behind Drift on 7th, and I hope others here do the same. Between Drift on 7th, Corduroy and Baby Wale, Kinship and Metier, Izakaya Seki, and The Columbia Room, Shaw and Mount Vernon Triangle is fast-becoming *the* restaurant area in DC. I hope members of this community will share in my support of these outstanding restaurants. Cheers, Rocks PS - You let me know what you need, Ferhat, and you've got it. This should have never happened, but I guarantee you're going to be glad it did. And if I'm criticized because I'm helping my friends, then I plead "guilty, with explanation: "I'm proud of my friends, all of whom have proven themselves to me in the past, and I want them to succeed." Don't worry, everything I say will be truthful and ethical, and you'll be able to rely on my reviews as much as you ever have, but this time around, I'm not going to let opportunities go to waste - it's *my* fault that Fishnet shut down, and I'm not going to forget about it. I always appreciate and welcome constructive criticism and `NO` it is not your fault Fishnet closed. I hope to see all of you here at Drift someday. come drift with me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I always appreciate and welcome constructive criticism and `NO` it is not your fault Fishnet closed. I hope to see all of you here at Drift someday. come drift with me Can we have a dr.com dinner? If so, how many people max, and when? I'm implementing mandatory rules for this one: carryout sandwicjes to take home - in addition to dinner - are a minimum requirement for attendance. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadarene Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I'm enthusiastically in for a dr.com dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferhat Yalcin Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 good luck finding a sandwich here! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 good luck finding a sandwich here! Oh? Do tell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr food Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Glad to see Ferhat is back and we'll be down soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I'm in for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSnake Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 So in for a dinner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatruneat Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Signing up MichaelBDC and myself for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I'd be interested in a dinner. And good luck Ferhat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Depending on the date (vs other conflicts), I'm in for two people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Good luck. Once the weather breaks I'll be there (I hate going anywhere in the cold). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 In, of course. I miss Fishnook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choirgirl21 Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 In, of course. I miss Fishnook. Me too. There are very few places in DC I visit repeatedly because of my limited time and budget, but Fishnook was one I went back to pretty immediately. Looking forward to seeing what Drift has to offer. Ferhat I hope for the best for you with Drift. You deserve it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pras Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 In. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovehockey Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Depending on the date and time, I'd come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Drift website BYT with an early look They don't provide a full menu, but their arty photo of the menu reveals: Fish n Chips Pan Roasted Whole Fish PEI Mussel Bowl Maine Lobster Roll Seafood Pasta Grilled Fish Tacos Prime Beef Sliders Sardines Octopus Tentacles Scottish Salmon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Opening today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jandres374 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Opening day menu. Drift-Menu-2016-0218.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choirgirl21 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Opening day menu. Looks fantastic. Very happy to see charred octopus on the menu (something Ferhat does better than anyone else imo) and the boozy root beer float. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Ok, now I really want to have a dinner here because I want one of everything on the menu! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaRiv18 Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Had a very nice seared tuna salad for lunch today, with a nice hard boiled egg and green beans. Everything was seasoned perfectly, although I would have preferred a more aggressive salad dressing, personally. And the dish was very simple, which is extremely underrated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPop Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 good luck finding a sandwich here! Will the environment be conducive for takeout? The menu reads like it could be but wanted to see what your thoughts were. Sincerely, Guy-Who-Wants-To-Eat-Your-Fish-But-Has-Trouble-Committing-To-An-Hour-Plus-Dinner-Out-Due-To-A-Constantly-Screaming-Newborn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferhat Yalcin Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Thats a great question. I understand the challenges about the newborn and I always welcome any babies/kids of any age. I am a proud dad, too. As you would understand, Fishnet was able to do a great amount of take outs due to the menu being mostly sandwiches. Drift`s menu can still do partially but I do not recommend some items. Such as mussel bowl, bouillabaisse, tuna tartare, ceviche and such foods are almost impossible to do as take out due to their presentation and the incapability. Again, that does not mean I ignore take outs. Other menu options are available for take out such as lobster roll, fish n chips ..etc. I hope this helps. BTW, before any of you make a trip to Drift, our building had a major drainage issue on Sunday that forced us to close. Our walls are damaged and some other stuff. I plan to re-open on Thursday or Friday if everything goes well. Thanks, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferhat Yalcin Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 I literally just scrolled up and saw the dinner talks/plans. Let me know with date, how many of you and other details please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSnake Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 I literally just scrolled up and saw the dinner talks/plans. Let me know with date, how many of you and other details please. Like I said earlier, I'm in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielK Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Details on the DR.com Drift on 7th dinner can be found here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 [Thank you to both Joel Finkelstein (detecting the problem) and DaveO (helping to find a solution) for helping Drift on 7th take ownership of their business on Google Maps. The conversation applies to all businesses, and is both general enough and important enough to have its own thread in the News and Media Forum. All the posts relating to this can now be found here, and again, thank you to both Joel and Dave for taking the time to help out their fellow man without asking for anything in return.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I went to Drift early last evening. The weather was great. It wasn't crowded. That danged Google message is most probably turning away possible visitors and diners. Nobody knows for sure...but they are getting calls asking if they are open. Just think, for every call that asks...3-5-10 see the message and turn away. Its devastating. I'm aware of it. Our small businesses have suffered similarly from google misinformation. I could rant and rant....but its time to write about the food and the service--> EXCELLENT. Highlights: The lobster bisque has exquisite tastes and flavors. I'm a thick bisque person. This was thinner. Buy oh my...the taste was vivid and superb. At the end of the meal I had lime pie...its not called key lime. My that pie was extraordinary...an excellent crust...the filling better than anything I've had recently...and a berryish kind of flavoring that was remarkable. Topped with whipped cream and a twisted thin lime slice. Overall....a killer. In between I ordered a dish I know they carry via the menu....lobster roll. My oh my I'm a big lobster roll fan...but for some reason I haven't had one or several for some years. (not sure why I haven't been ordering them or seeking them out). So it was the first I've had in several years. Difficult for me to compare. The lobster roll was good. Medium sized roll. Overflowing with lobster and some extras (hm...without notes...my review lacks substance beyond good bad, etc. --sorry.) Service. Nice...pleasant. I sat at the bar. Conversed with the bartender. A very long time pro. I know bartending so we shared some stories. Very pleasant. Mid way through the meal I asked her about the menu...as I hadn't really reviewed it. She went through everything. Described everything well. She is a huge fan of the muscles and on her advise I'd give them a try next time around. She is a fan of all the fish presentations. Later one member of couple on a first time visit also sitting at the bar asked my opinions. I suggested she go right to the bartender and suggested she walk them through the menu and they did. Hope they had a good meal. I'll be back. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I've been unable to access this website since it went down. Finally resorted to shutting the computer completely off and then restarting it. Seems to have worked Dame Edna and I showed up the night of the DR.com gathering. Since everybody just ordered off the regular menu and there was space available, it worked out just fine. (I had actually been the week before for lunch. The changeover from Target to CVS at the Columbia Heights Target pharmacy turned out to be a real clusterf**k and I had some time to kill and hadn't eaten anything; so, I jumped on Metro and went to Drift. I was madder than hell and equally hungry. Lemme tell ya--a plate of the seafood pasta and a glass of the Riesling put a real smile on my face.) Dame Edna and I split an appetizer of the crab cake sliders. You can order either 2 or 4 or those and we chose to have one each. My goodness! They were delicious! Then, we had the lobster bisque. I already knew from Ferhat's soft shell crabs that he learned a thing or three from his time at Corduroy and the bisque didn't disappoint--although I don't believe there was any foie gras in it. Still, a more refined soup than you might have expected--if you didn't know any better. For mains, I ordered the mussels and DE had the fish tacos. I didn't get any of the tacos, so can't speak to those. The mussels, however, were quite wonderful. Not a sad, shriveled-up one in the bunch and the broth didn't overwhelm the mussels. I'm going to try the Boulliabasse (sp?) next time--while I wait for soft-shell crab season to start. Needless to say, I am thrilled that Ferhat gave this place another shot and upped his game in the interim. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Sorry to be so late with this write up. The site was down, then I was away from an actual keyboard, anyway....... My wife and I got there at about 6:15 and there was already a small group in the back, so I said the secret password, "Don Rockwell?" and DanielK introduced himself. I said I didn't recognize him from his avatar. Turns out, that's a picture of Bobby Flay and his kids. Oops. ktmoomau, eatruneat, and JSnake were already there too so we had some nice introductory conversation and then MichaelBDC arrived. I recognized him immediately from his avatar and said so. He told me that it was actually a photo of David Cross and not him. Oops. My wife and I got a chance to talk to Ferhat and he said, depending on how things go in the front of the restaurant, he may start doing the Fishnook table in the back again, I think he's trying to figure out the rhythm of the place. If it's slammed up front, he won't be able to devote enough time to the Fishnook table in the back. Naturally, we begged him to do whatever it took to restart Fishnook. Since there were 8 of us (at the start), we split into two tables of four and my wife and I sat with JSnake and eatruneat. The menu reminded me of the Kinship menu in that there were way more things I wanted to try than was remotely possible on one or two visits. We decided to order a bunch of small plates and split them amongst the table (JSnake ordered a whole fish for himself and only picked at the small plates). We got the:Tots 'N' Tentacles - Calamari and Hake Tots, Spicy Mayo and Horseradish emouladeCharred Octopus - Flamed Avocado, Tomatillo SalsaTuna Tartare - Avocado, Crispy Shallots, Homemade Waffle PotatoSeafood Ceviche - Corn, Cilantro, Balsamic VinegarSeared Tuna Salad - Sushi-grade Tuna, French Green Beans, Olives, Hard Boiled Eggs, Anchovy VinaigretteMaryland Crab Cake Sliders - Two or Four Everything was great, but to be honest, I don't have very specific memories to write about. The combination of elapsed time, trying to make conversation, and evenly share the dishes (without coming off like a gluttonous pig) was just about all I could handle! The only thing I didn't get to try was the Octopus, so that should give you an idea of how quick that one went. A big thanks to Ferhat who gave our table a banana split on the house at the end of the meal, and a big thanks to eatruneat who shared a nice, dry Riesling with us that MichaelBDC carried in. It was a very fun night, and I can't wait to get back and try something from the other two sections of the menu! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thuand Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I love that this restaurant was able to reopen. I have been a big fan of Ferhat and his cooking since he first opened Fishnet in College Park. The revamped menu is a good fit for the Shaw area, I think. But more importantly, the items that I ordered were delicious. Here is what we had: Tots and tentacles - These were really great. The fish was cooked perfectly and it wasn't too oily, which is my usual complaint about this type of dish. Roasted sardines - My husband didn't really like this dish because of the inherent fishiness of the sardines. But I thought it really well done. I particularly like how the tampenade and toast contrasted with the flavors of the fish. Mackeral - I get this a lot at Fishnet and this seemed to me a very similar presentation. Though I do miss the different accompanying sauces that are available at Fishnet. Tuna - My husband got the tuna, which was yellowtail that day instead of albacore. It was really good and his favorite dish that night. Brussels sprouts - One of the best preparations of Brussels Sprouts I've ever had. We both look forward to returning to this place and seeing how the menu evolves. I was never able to take advantage of the Fishnook so really hope Ferhat brings it back. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I will post the pictures I took later. I had a really nice dinner, we shared some starters and other tastes at our table. The fish tacos and mussels at the other table looked great. I was really impressed with home ungreasy and light the fish and chips were, I am normally not a huge fan, but it was so good it could convert me. I loved my seafood pasta, the pasta itself was good, as was the seafood. I am a sucker for seafood pasta, this one didn't disappoint. I also really liked the octopus, avocado and salsa verde, that salsa verde was just amazing. The acidity of it was fresher and gave it a better balance than others I have eaten. The tots and tentacles was fine, but the octopus I thought won for me as a starter. I also really liked the tuna tartare which was really fresh. I am definitely going back for other things I didn't try. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Delicious Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 We were there on Friday for an early lunch. The Tots and Tentacles app was very good, and came with two amazing sauces: one was a tarragon mustard (more or less) and the other reminded me of a classic tomato-based Patatas Bravas sauce. I could dip anything in those sauces and enjoy it! It was an ample portion to boot, and could be a full meal on its own. I got the Seafood Pasta for my main and really liked it. My one quibble was that I didn't think the mussels included in my portion were done completely. Out of the 5 mussels, 3 of them were only barely opened. I still ate them, and they were fine (so was I), but I was a little disappointed to see them included. Also note that the pasta is very al dente. My wife wouldn't have been able to eat that dish, given how she likes her pasta, and so I can see others being similarly turned off. My boy had a giant grilled cheese sandwich (2 types of cheese, tho I don't recall which) and good homemade chips. My wife had a lobster roll which was perfectly fine. Excellent and attentive service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Also note that the pasta is very al dente. I think this is why I liked it, so many homemade pastas are overcooked or have little texture, this one felt spot on to me. (To each their own on texture preferences of course.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DonRocks Posted March 23, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted March 23, 2016 You folks may have noticed that I've taken a bit of time off from writing reviews - I have a lot of personal items on my plate (details forthcoming at some point), and writing reviews takes quite a bit out of me. I've still been dining out every meal (I mean, I need to eat, and I don't enjoy cooking and doing dishes), but writing day-in and day-out really takes its toll on me, and I'd rather not write at all than write poorly. But Sunday evening, I told Ferhat Yalcin, owner of Drift on 7th (NB - you temporarily need to sign in to see DC threads), that I would stop by. I needed to discuss something with him, and he told me that Drift was open until 11 PM, so I didn't get in there until around 9:30 PM - had I known that the entire Shaw area was going to be a ghost town on Sunday evening, and that I'd be walking into a completely empty restaurant with several of the staff waiting for me to show up, well, suffice it to say that I felt rude and selfish having this happen, but I just had no idea - Ferhat wanted to show me the hospitality and cordiality that he is justifiably recognized for, even if it meant having some of his staff work late on an empty Sunday night just for my behalf. I should go ahead and issue a disclaimer here: Although I have never socialized with Ferhat, or spent any time with him outside of a restaurant situation, I have still gotten to know him fairly well - primarily from Corduroy - and consider him a personal friend for whom I would bend over backwards. My one requirement for eating at Drift was that I would not accept anything complimentary - this is his livelihood, and I would be a fraud as a critic if I took anything for free. Regardless, you should read this review with our collegiality in mind, and take it with a grain of salt if you wish. I had gone primarily to talk with Ferhat, but also wanted to try his restaurant for the first time, and I am *so* glad I did. When the great cook Julien Shapiro was heading the kitchen at Eat the Rich, I went out on a limb and proclaimed them the best pure seafood restaurant in the DC area (this is before Fiola Mare had become a juggernaut). However, Julien is gone now, and although I haven't been to BlackSalt in over a year now (I had previously given them that distinction), I must now say that Drift on 7th is now my choice as "Best Casual Seafood Restaurant in the Washington, DC Area." Taking a seat at the kitchen bar (what used to be FishNook), I chatted with Ferhat about things while enjoying a Tavern Ale ($7) from AleWerks Brewing Company in Williamsburg, VA. I asked him what dishes he was most proud of, and he told me he'd appreciate a critic's opinion on his Bouillabaisse ($18), a deep, rich, pot-heated fish stock with Rockfish, Hake, four beautiful PEI Mussels, Gulf Shrimp, Saffron, and a freshly grilled piece of sourdough to stick in the bottom of the bowl, letting it get saturated with the broth. "Oh, you're giving me Roux, too," I said. "It's not Roux; it's Sriracha Aiöli," Ferhat replied. Works with me! This was a fisherman's stew, but done in a bouillabaisse style, and was absolutely delicious because the fish stock was already deeply saturated with flavor from fish bones, carcasses, etc., and the "fish fish" was added at the last minute so it was cooked just enough to make it warm, while at the same time retaining a sashimi-like quality - the depth of the broth and the freshness of the fish made this dish a bargain at $18, and I commented that I would have happily paid $24.95 for it, and not batted an eye. Take away the Roux and the bread, and you have yourself a large, filling bowl of fish stew that probably had only about 500 calories. Before the Bouillabaisse, however, I enjoyed an order of Seared Sardines ($14), two *gigantic* sardines - each the size of my hand - with house-made black olive tapenade and that same grilled sourdough bread that I had with my stew (this may not normally be the case - a half-slice clung to the arm of my wool sweater, and was hurled to the ground after parting ways with the thread to which it clung, so Ferhat made me another piece). Since this was my first visit to Drift on 7th, I wanted to try more of the menu, but it was after 11 PM, the staff had been there all night, and I wanted to let them get home, so I ordered a couple things to go so I could get a better sampling, and had them the next day. New England Fish Chowder ($7) was ridiculously good, and right now it gets my vote for Best New England Chowder in the Washington, DC Area. I also want to add that I'm a sucker for New England Clam Chowder - I adore it - and that I think of it like ... um ... pizza: Bad pizza is better than no pizza at all. The whitefish (hake, rockfish) were tightly packed raw, and I was instructed to heat the chowder, and add the fish at the last minute, and I must say, I did a yeoman's job in fixing this because it was perfect. If you like this type of chowder, get it here. At $7, you'll be thanking me, I promise. In full disclosure, Ferhat did tell me that he was going to give me a little extra soup, and it was in a plastic container, so I don't know how this is normally plated - but there was no faking the flavors, or the freshness of the fish. Lobster Bisque ($7.50) with tomato, saffron, and basil oil in the stock - none of which seemed prominent - was a page right out of Tom Power's cookbook. Even a small portion was so rich that it was enough for a light lunch without any bread, or any other accompaniment. It wasn't exactly like you see at Corduroy, but it was clearly influenced by Power, even though Ferhat may say otherwise. I don't normally include photographs, but because the restaurant was empty, and because it is so vastly different than Fishnet, I'm going to include pictures of the interior, the sardines, and - thanks to my forgetfulness - the last half of my Bouillabaisse, after I had stirred in the aiöli and eaten nearly all the fish. It comes out with a clear fish stock, and you mix in your own aiöli - what you see here is still wonderful, but also represents the second half of the dish (you'll see what I mean when you order it, and you *should* order it). Drift on 7th is a winning restaurant, and the only thing that will prevent it from succeeding is if it doesn't get the publicity it deserves. I've been absent from the critic scene for over six weeks, and this wonderful seafood restaurant - which fits right in with the other restaurants on the block - was enough to inspire me to get back into writing. I can honestly say that if this was anywhere near my neighborhood, I would eat here two, maybe three, times a week - even living where I live, I plan on being a regular customer here. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktmoomau Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 We took BIL to Drift on 7th, his girlfriend couldn't make it, but SIL tagged along. We had some drinks at the bar, then dinner. It was great for that evening because we were all a little stressed from the week and it feels so casual and just like you are very welcome to be there. We had the crabcake sliders, which are very good little crabcakes with a nice sauce. I had bouillabaisse which was really warm and comforting soup with really delicious seafood, which was nice since it was chillier out than expected. The others all had fish tacos, which again looked really good (next time). They all really enjoyed the meal. We then went to some neighborhood bars, this is a great location to eat as there is so much just up and down the street. Edited because I forgot to write about the absolute best dish I had. It was the side of brussels sprouts. They were great. They weren't fried of roasted. I forgot exactly what Ferhat said he did to prepare them, but they tasted really fresh and the sauce with them was the perfect acidity to make them just delicious. But they were really memorable because it isn't what everyone else is doing, but was delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simul Parikh Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Excited to go tonight!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Excited to go tonight!! We were looking for you at the DR dinner last week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simul Parikh Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 I know... work emergency. Stupid cancer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simul Parikh Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 After an earthy, wild fermented Biere de Mars at Right Proper Brewery, I walked with my Labor Department Lawyer friend over to Drift on 7th, which I'd been looking forward to eating at for a while. Been craving that freshy fresh fish. As the pictures from Eater and Yelp and Don indicate, the decor is super cool, "Nautical By Nature" (not cuz I hate ya). It was pretty empty at 730, with one larger group at the most far back table (it ended up getting busier as it got later). We sat down, and the very friendly waiter came by. We got a few drinks - she got Chardonnay, I got the Alewerks Tavern Ale. Malty goodness! For our appetizers we got the grilled sardines, which were yooge as mentioned above. The chef brought them over (he really looks like he's having a great time there, I liked that). The sauce is a tapenade, and that works really well with the sardines. When I've had them before, they were so small, but with this you really get a good amount of meat out of it. We got an order of 2 Maryland Crabcake sliders. Those were good, and on recommendation from the young server (he said he was a Maryland boy, so crabcakes were his jam). It was tasty, a little small, but very fresh. I work in Southern Maryland, so I have access to inexpensive and full of lump crab crabcakes ($3.99 for a sandwich at Nick's Deli!). It takes a bit more to impress me. He also recommended the Tots 'N' Tentacles, but my dining partner doesn't like the tentacle part of the calamari, so I resisted the urge to get that. We also split the arugula salad and that was done well. We weren't super hungry, so we chose to order the grilled fish tacos. It's your choice of fish, and we picked the cod. This isn't like San Diego style, obviously, as it isn't fried, but they were really good. Instead of that white sauce you get out wese, they give a garlic sour cream and a touch of pico. The fish was super fresh, and the portion is large. 3 for $14 is a really good deal for this. We ate 2 out of 3, and she took the last one home. We had a side of brussel sprouts, which was $3.50 and about the size that you get for $10-12 elsewhere, no joke. Done perfectly, olive oil, some garlic, I think. As someone said above, they are doing this better than anyone. It's simple, but it's a home run. Now, there was a bit of a snafu on the order. When they brought out the brussel sprouts, instead of grilled tacos, they brought out fish and chips. I know sometimes I make mistakes, but the waiter came over and said he pushed the wrong button, b/c on the screen the two items are next to each other. I said no worries, fish and chips look awesome, too. The person that brought them over initially took them back, but our waiter went back and brought the back, and said it's on the house. I told him that was completely unnecessary. He said no way, and said our tacos would be out shortly. Definitely nice of him ... But then, he came back over again, and my friend had a bit of Chardonnay left, and he said, "Let me get her a glass of wine on the house, for the mistake." I stood my ground! It was a simple error. We didn't need to be compensated with $26 of free stuff for a delay of 10 minutes on (delicious) fish tacos. You're doing something right with fresh seafood, Mr. Ferhat. But, what you've embedded in your staff about excellent service is what is going to make me come back and tell everyone I know about the place. $73 + $22 for tip ... Stuffed. Have 2/3 of the fish and chips leftover for lunch. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferhat Yalcin Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 For the lovers of Soft Shell Crabs:, season has started and crabs are making their way up from Florida and Carolina`s. We have them here at Drift as a special all weekend long until we run out. Flash fried, served over Anson Mill`s white grits with sweet bell pepper sauce. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Lunch today was repeatable, but not without some issues. Fish and chips...fantastic. My DC favorite is a split between District Fishwife's fish, and Drift's chips (though the fish at Drift was a close, close, close second). The tots and tentacles were fine. It is maybe Ferhat's curse that I expect so much from him that perfectly fried and tender seafood is just "yeah," instead of a revelation, but that's his cross to bear. Maybe a bit more salt and some acid, either via lemon, or in one of the sauces would have been welcome. My only major issue today was the octopus. The beast itself was perfect...inexplicably tender, with subtle char from the grill. The salsa verde really lacked both salt and acid (ideally lime), and the avocado was a couple shades this side of unripe. Service was pleasant and timely, and I love the redesign. We'll be back at least a couple times before moving. Looking forward to the bouillabaise and maybe snagging a soft shell or 2. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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