csjohns7

I hope my first post didn't come off as any sort of personal attack to anyone associated with DK. I just had a really bad meal. I posted this mostly because I hope that my experience was a one off anomaly, and others would chime in and say they had a great time at DK and thus make me feel better about going back sooner then later. I totally understand that this being my first real post and being so negative can perhaps make me come off as having some sort of agenda, but that's not the case at all. I read this forum often and I read it for quite a while before I became a member seven months ago. But just haven't felt the need to contribute really until last night. I am pretty content when I go out to eat a majority of the time. If I go to Cashions or Palena and have a great meal I think that's the norm and don't feel the need to post about it. (No offense to people that do this, those comments are helpful). If I go to a place I normally like and a few things are off I usually don't think it's a big deal, no one is perfect. I guess because I had such high hopes for DK, and like I said before I had a lot of really good food this weekend and ending it on such a low note was a bummer. I really do hope my meal last night was just a bad night for the kitchen and I can go back in a few weeks and the place knocks my socks off. I'll be sure to visit often since it's a few short blocks from my apartment and it's striving to be the type of place I like spending my money at (good food in an unpretentious atmosphere)

Just got back from my first visit to District Kitchen, and left very disappointed. I live a few blocks away and was very excited for a new place to open up nearby that wasn't a tourist trap like the rest of Woodley Park. I go to Cashions 3-5 times a month, and while I love it and almost never leave disappointed I was hoping for a new place to add to the mix. The space itself is great, a 10/10. I loved everything about it. However things went south once we sat down. We stopped by tonight (Sunday) around 8:00pm. There was only one other solo dinner at the bar besides us so service was good. (Except for when the bartender and a few waiters were taking shots together. If the food was good I wouldn't mind this, but it was what it was). Since this was our first visit I wanted to try a variety of things so I went with small plates. The Cinnciatti chili style lamb fusilli was the highlight of the meal. It was a little under seasoned but was good overall and the Ciny chili taste came through very well. After that things got very disappointing. I also ordered the Bouchot Mussels and Crispy Rabbit Boudin. The bartender said that three plates would probably be to much for me and said he would put in the Mussel order after I ate my first two dishes if I still wanted it. Normally I appreciate advice like this, but while the fusilli is a pretty good size for a small plate it's nothing overwhelming and I waited close to 20 minutes after I finished it for the mussels to arrive. The Crispy Rabbit Boudin was absolutely tasteless and very under seasoned. You could have told me it was lamb or chicken and I would have believed you, since there was nothing crispy in them and no rabbit taste at all. Once I finally got the Bouchot Mussels the disappointment continued. The Curry was overwhelming (and I like curry) and the club fries that came on the side were under seasoned and under cooked. My fiancee (a vegetarian) had the Kennet Square Mushroom "french dip". A total let down. Basically two slabs of half decent french bread with some sautéed mushrooms mixed in with white bean puree and a mushroom broth on the side for the "dip". (For $18 bucks!!) Again, totally under seasoned. This also came with the club fries, which were also tasteless only this time them came out so hot it burned her mouth after the first bite. This dish would be more at place for $8 at Corner Bakery. I ate out a lot this weekend. Cashions, New Heights, Mala Tang and Trummer's on Main for Brunch. I had nothing but good things to say about all of those meals. This on the other had was a huge disappointment from a place I've been excited about since I first heard about it months ago. Maybe because it was Sunday night and the B team was working. But overall a very poor showing. Since it's so close and since I like to eat out I'll be back at some point. But I hope things have dramatically improved by then. The space is awesome and the location, between the Woodley and AdMo locals mixed in with a ton of hotel traffic should keep this place going for a while. I just hope they step up their game.

Hello All, I'm born and raised in the DC area. I grew up in Chantilly, lived in Arlington for six years after college and in DC for the last year. I've read DR and DCDining.com for a while now and finally signed up.