Muze (Formerly Sou'Wester and Café Mozu), Chef Mark McDonnell's Modern Asian in the Mandarin Oriental

[Puchina]

We had an amazing experience at Cafe Mozu this winter, with a great selection for RW and impeccable service.

Ceiba was atrocious. The service was, well downright "ghetto." When it came time for desserts the waiter recited- "bread pudding, chocolate cake, or ice cream." I asked him if that was it since it didn't sound too appetizing and he said yes. The dessert was delicious, but the lackluster description kind of killed our buzz. Later, we were able to read the dessert menu (outside of the restaurant in the little case) and we saw that the written descriptions were lovely. The rest of the food was mediocre, with a pretty limited selection of starters. The conch chowder was a mystery. How they could turn something that is normally so good into something so bland is beyond me.

Vidalia had decent service, if not a little rushed, but had some misses on the menu. The catfish was a real loser, but everything else was good. Not the best southern food I've had, but alright for restaurant week. While not everything was available for RW, you could pay a little extra to have entrees and starters that were not included ($4-$8).

[laniloa]

I had a lovely lunch on Friday at Cafe Mozu. It is a very attractive setting and where else in DC can you get a fabulous meal, plush surroundings, with an expansive garden and river view? This place and its lounge could be my new favorite summer drinks place.

Three of my companions had the daily special bento box -- six small portions of delicacies ranging from halibut to tempura shrimp to orzo salad to flank steak. The presentation was lovely and portions disappeared very quickly. I had the lobster salad with pancetta, avocado and arugala on tosted brioche. It was two decent-szed rounds piled high with lobster salad. The avocado added moistness and flavor and allowed for scant use of mayo in the salad itself -- a plus in my book. The pancetta was a subtle note and not a major ingredient. This was served with a side of housemade spiced potato chips. They were cooked dark (a plus) but they were greatly underseasoned. The one off note in the lunch.

We had a round of iced teas to go with our meals. They brought quite the assortment of sugar packets (regular and in the raw), artificial sweetners (both equal and splenda), and a pitcher of simple syrup.

[bilrus]

I had a lovely lunch on Friday at Cafe Mozu.  It is a very attractive setting and where else in DC can you get a fabulous meal, plush surroundings, with an expansive garden and river view?  This place and its lounge could be my new favorite summer drinks place.

Three of my companions had the daily special bento box -- six small portions of delicacies ranging from halibut to tempura shrimp to orzo salad to flank steak.  The presentation was lovely and portions disappeared very quickly.  I had the lobster salad with pancetta, avocado and arugala on tosted brioche.  It was two decent-szed rounds piled high with lobster salad.  The avocado added moistness and flavor and allowed for scant use of mayo in the salad itself -- a plus in my book.  The pancetta was a subtle note and not a major ingredient.  This was served with a side of housemade spiced potato chips.  They were cooked dark (a plus) but they were greatly underseasoned.  The one off note in the lunch. 

We had a round of iced teas to go with our meals.  They brought quite the assortment of sugar packets (regular and in the raw), artificial sweetners (both equal and splenda), and a pitcher of simple syrup.

You've convinced me - I just made a dinner reservation for Restaurant Week.

[alan7147]

I had an interesting experience last year at Cafe Mozu. We went there for my brother's law school graduation. While we were waiting for the rest of our party to arrive we decided to order a cocktail and sit in the lounge area in front of the restaurant. After 10 minutes of waiting and no server showing up, my brother went to ask the host what the story was. Apparently he got very defensive towards my brother and told him "not to tell me how to do my job" and proceeded to blow him off. My brother, who was irate at this point, proceeded to get the food and beverage manager for the hotel and explained the situation to him. He was very apologetic and ensured us he would rectify the situation. As it turns out the whole bill of about $900 for seven of us was comped. Frankly, I think it was due to the fact that a prominent national news anchor was in our party. Regardless, I think this speaks to the level of customer service of this establishment.

[babka]

I'm from a Scandinavian community in the midwest, a place so far from oceans that black cod suggests rotten lutefisk. When my waitress and my dining partner suggested together that I might be unreasonably prejudiced, I suggested they'd both lost their minds. (No, not on the lutefisk, and yes, there is a difference between rotten and not. Drench it in butter, stuff it into mashed potatoes, wrap everything in lefse, and shut up.)

They were right. The stuff is butter marinated in seawater, and Mozu renders it brilliantly, with a tangy ponzu accent circling the curvacious fish. "I should give you a taste of my steak," said my partner, when the cod had dwindled to a final bite. I hastily speared the fish into my mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Yes, you should," I replied.

I like this place. My salad was light greens in a spicy-sweet dressing, wrapped in fennel, the waitress promised, and cucumber, my eyes and tongue assured me. Service was kind and unobtrusive--an hour into our meal, we realized that we'd eaten dry bread and caught up on much that was important, but forgotten to order. We caught our waitress's eye. "Are you ready?" she asked. "I didn't want to interrupt your conversation."

Outside, the river was shimmering in the fading sunlight; inside, a solo traveler snuck a book beneath his table, like a grade school child, and men in shirt-sleeves drank wine while sneaking glances at women in V-necked dresses. Dessert was the bento box with tastes of all the chef's pastries, all fine, though I wished, at the end, that I'd forgone the sweets for a glass of Macallan's in the lounge, where a pianist was playing. The mess of roads surrounding the building guards it as well as any moat, and Mozu makes a fine, fine oasis.

Edited July 21, 2005 by babka

[babka]

Cafe Mozu tonight. Special RW menu, consisting largely of the menu options from last month. Tasty sesame salad w. lotus root, ok duck spring rolls, good steak, overcooked cod, good black & white martini, lemon tart that tried to please all at once and utterly failed. Not, all in all, their best cooking, though perfectly pleasant for the price and a reinforcement of the idea that it's far better to save food dollars for weeks that aren't restaurant week.

We asked about an additional cheese course and were presented, cost unasked (our fault), with the single saddest plate I've ever encountered. If your customers can ID the cheeses to their local Safeway, it's probably not worth serving. We tasted each one once, decided there was no point in continuing, asked for the bill, opted to convey our unhappiness with the pathetic, uneaten cheese when we saw the $25 cost for a "special food item"---and they immediately agreed that the plate wasn't up to the quality of their normal cheese offering, apologized for the chef, who was slammed, kindly removed it from the bill, and gave us a gratuis glass of (flat) champagne.

service was, across the board, a gem. welcomed with a smile, seated with a smile, served our entrees (granted, before our before appetizers had been cleared) with a smile, finally given a steak knife with a smile, offered champagne with a smile....

by all means, go to Mozu.

next week.

Edited August 3, 2005 by babka

[jjshyne]

RW

Went to Cafe Mozu Friday night. After a wonderful experience from the previous RW, we made reservations again. We started with the duck springrolls and the dumpling soup. The duck springrolls were great. The dumpling soup base seemed to be a little too gingery and salty for my taste. For the entree, I chose the NY strip steak and my s.o. got the cod with pomegranate. The steak was overcooked for my palate but the sauce companion (korean chili paste) made it okay. My s.o.'s cod was wonderful. It literally melted in your mouth, but could not taste the pomegranate distinctive flavor in the dish. We finished with their signature black and white martini shakes for dessert.

I thought the service was a little bit rushed, but overall attentive.

I would recommend this place as a great date atmosphere!

[crazeegirl]

I was this weekend and was suprised to see that the Restaurant Week deal was still available (maybe it is permanent). Nothing spectacular but what a bargain!!

[DC in DC]

We have plans to go for RW this Sat. night-- has anyone been lately?

Thanks!

[entropy]

Decided to cap off RW at Mozu and was, unfortunately, slightly underwhelmed. Started with a coconut milk-galangal concoction with bits of shrimp and wild rice that was a delightful mix of two very distinct flavors. Went very nicely with our too-hard-to obtain rolls (see below). Main course was the "szechuan" ribeye steak. I failed to see any resemblance in the preparation to any cuisine I've had from that Chinese province, but the steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and was well-flavored. My guest had the tuna steak and that was a fine cut of tuna also cooked quite well with a squash puree on the bottom. Dessert consisted of a trio of selections ranging from tiger cake, a chocolate-type cake with a wafer crust, and a passionfruit pudding of sorts. Very sweet and very sizeable.

While I expected a bit more out of the food, I was generally satisfied. What really set me off was the service. While us foodies are forgiving due to the crush of a typical RW crowd, it frankly wasn't particularly busy this evening at Mozu when we were dining there (maybe 75% full). We arrived about 30 minutes early with the intention of checking out the Mandarin Oriental's chic lounge. I headed over to check in and was told we could be seated immediately...an offer that we took them up on. That is until the head hostess (or maybe she was just the other hostess) literally stopped the other hostess from leading us through the door and told us that we'd have to wait a a few minutes for her to tell us if the table was available or not. We were then left to wait for another ten minutes until I walked up and asked again if we could be seated or should just head over to the lounge. After another five minutes or so we were finally seated. Bottom line, I have no problem waiting till my actual reservation time, but just let us know if we should stick around or head over to the bar.

Hoping that the worst was behind us, our server left much to be desired as well. Things started off fine as he was quite cordial, but that's when the waiting game started...first he forgot the bread (which was eventually delivered, after being asked, with our first course), then the time between courses started growing to the point where we literally sat there for at least 20 minutes between finishing dessert and any other approach by him to the table. As I was walking back from the restrooms I overheard another table chewing him out for not offering them coffee/tea until after the arrival of their desserts (an offer which my guest and I didn't get, period). Clearly he was getting mobbed, which I can understand since his section was full. The problem I saw here though was that none of his fellow servers (with nearly empty sections) were helping the poor guy out. In any case, I was just surprised with the service, particularly given the international reputation of the hotel (perhaps the restaurants are run by a different company).

Bottom line. Food = thumbs up with room for improvement, service = thumbs down with LOTS of room for improvement. Next time I'm back at the hotel, hopefully I'll have a more pleasurable experience when I head next door to City Zen!

[diddy]

i went there for RW the other night. here are my positives and negatives.

positives:

service (overall) - they were very attentive, placed my napkin on my lap for me. were fast and polite

decor - the inside is pretty nice

entree - i had some fish. i think it was hake. it was good, not great.

dessert - this was by far the best part of the meal. the citrus praline tart was amazing. unfortunately they only make it for restaurant week. i might go back during lunch just for that

negatives:

service - (for me) the service was good, but i personally didn't like it. it was just too formal for me. i can see why some people like it, but i personally don't need to be pampered all dinner.

appetizer - some shrimp salad sandwhich. it was not good.

seating - they were about half full at the very most, prob closer to 30%. yet we still got stuck sitting in between 2 other tables. the tables were like 2 feet apart. it was very cramped and we were basically forced to listen into other people's conversations.

overall, i liked it. i can't say whether or not i'd go regularly since none of the restaurant week menu, besides the sushi, is available on a regular basis. also, i did hear the server tell the next table that their sushi chef is the only master sushi chef in dc. i don't know if that is true or not. had my waiter told me that, i would've had the sushi.

[treznor]

Having had the sushi there before for lunch, you didn't miss much. It was fine but certainly nothing particularly special.

[Pool Boy]

Was there last Sunday for a very late lunch/early dinner. This after an 'Oriental Harmony' massage there at the spa (highly recommended!). Shared a sushi roll with my wife and it was quite good (the one with 'red beet' rice) and very pretty, too. I moved on to the chef's bento box and was pleased with the selection (the scallop was particularly nice).My wife had a sea urchin pasta that was quite good.

She went back this week for lunch as she works very near there and was raving about her lunch there. The soup in particular won her over. I wished I could remember what else she told me she had.

As for service, we've had nothing but good service there. I do not understand, though, why they choose to seat folks at tables right next to each other if/when there are plenty of other tables available (even plenty of directly in front of the window tables, too!).

[lizzie]

Had a Restaurant Week lunch here yesterday. I work nearby but had never eaten here before. We both had the RW menu - my friend and I started with a creamy lobster celeriac soup with toasted leeks, which we both enjoyed. One had the red snapper over orzo which she enjoyed; I had the grilled sushi sampler which I thought was only ok. We both had the panne cotta for dessert which was decent. I would recommend this for restaurant week - a relatively limited menu, but very pleasant service and a pretty atmosphere - ask for a table by the windows and it is worth every penny for the view. The full menu is also available - I will go back again post RW to try the bento boxes.

[DonRocks]

Continuing my "Tour of Treason," I breached the (E-)Maginot line (Ligne Imaginot being an old French joke (as was the Renault <<Le Car>>)) and slunk into Cafe Mozu. Before seating me, the gentleman at the host stand showed me a little grill with plastic food on it, and explained that this March, they're featuring a special Ku Shi Yaki menu. A solo diner, I was immediately offered reading material, and seated at a comfortable deuce overlooking the dining room. One thing you'll notice right away here is that you're at a Mandarin Oriental (*) which comes with all sorts of architectural and service-related perks. Cafe Mozu is a lovely dining room.

I headed straight for a glass of "Divine Droplets" sake ($13), and the Sashimi Appetizer ($12) which is listed on the menu as having "fresh arrival fish." These three little words, to me, conjure up notions of the fish having just been whisked out of the waters that very day, and arriving by motorboat at the pier in back of the restaurant. Or, perhaps the "fresh arrival" was just a delivery truck: The three fish on the plate were hamachi, sake, and maguro, which are probably the three most common fish you see at sushi bars. (Remember just a few years ago when hamachi was a rare and unusual indulgence? Right, well, not any more.) Species-wise, and fat-content-wise, there was nothing special here, but the six pieces of sashimi were thick-cut and had clean flavors. At a relatively calm $2 per piece, given that the presentation was snazzed up with a little seaweed, this was a perfectly respectable dish for the unadventurous sashimi enthusiast.

The Ku Shi Yaki menu lists seven a la carte items, and then two combinations. The Special Combination ($10) consisted of four different skewers: duck thigh and Japanese scallion, Japanese chicken ball (ground chicken meat with egg, Japanese taro, and Sancho powder), Shi Shi Tou (green pepper), and Ebi Oni Gara Yaki (a whole shrimp). As wildly appealing as this all sounds, it was really a bland, even boring, plate of food, despite being served with semi-interesting Se Chi Me and Sweet Soy sauces.

And then, if you'll forgive me, I ordered a California Style Roll ($13), because rather than nasty surimi, it was made with Maryland crab, avocado, and cucumber. This was a very good, ample roll, the crab being made into a salad with some mayonnaise, although the sushi rice left something to be desired. Taken as a whole, this was an enjoyable meal with attentive service in pleasant surroundings.

Beatback Time

Being in the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Cafe Mozu was justified in pioneering the $10 Maki in this area, but when did this become the socially accepted norm? Cha and Sei have followed suit, and I don't like the systemic price-creep I'm beginning to witness.

Cheers,

Rocks

(*) Especially since you just walked through the lobby to get here.

[qwertyy]

Changes afoot at Cafe Mozu.

[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!

Page 130.pdf

[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

Dinner: Sou\'Wester_Dinner_Menu.pdf

Dessert: Sou\'Wester_Dessert_Menu.pdf

[Flavortown]

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.

[Flavortown]

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.

[Bob Wells]

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.

[ktmoomau]

I forgot CityZen was closed Sunday and Mondays, but that meant we had a lovely dinner at Sou'Wester last night. We had impeccable service, although the place wasn't packed. I had the light and bright wine pairing which I thought was good and good value. I started with steamed clams in a white wine sauce, the sauce was a touch salty, but the flavors were nice, except for that, and the clams themselves were beautiful, large and very flavorful. Overall I really liked it, although I think someone just had a little heavy hand with the salt.

For an entree I got the shrimp and grits. I really liked it. It wasn't fancied up, it was good Southern shrimp and grits made with really good ingredients. I loved how the tomato sauce perfectly complimented the crunch of the okra and spice of the shrimp with the creamy grits. We also had a side of hush puppies because well Hubby is a connoisseur. Sorry Bluegrass Tavern you have been quickly dethroned, these were astonishingly good, sweet and crisp, but so tender and warm on the inside, I wished I hadn't eaten so much food that I could have had more than I did.

I also wished we had room for dessert the menu looked fantastic, full of stuff my husband actually wanted! It was a really nice evening which we really enjoyed.

[kirite]

Exceptional dinner again tonight. An imaginative autumn salad with seriously shaved pear, parsnip, carrot, and pumpkin garnished with walnuts, black raisins, and dried cranberries. Blackened bluefish with carmelized kohlrabi, okra, tomato, and puffs of bacon fat (I think). This is another place that turns out excellent food but flies under the radar. Living in the shadow of CityZen doesn't help its visibility. Staff was welcoming and very professional as usual. We dine here every three months or so.

[ktmoomau]

We wanted some brunch Sunday around lunchtime before we met up with some people at the Museum of National History. Driving around Penn Quarter not finding a parking spot, a realization came to my mind, Sou'Wester was actually very close to the Museum and would have good brunch and we would be able to find a parking spot in that area.

We easily found parking and wandered in out of the cold. The room so light and airy, live jazz being played it was a perfect way to wake up to the day after a night of drinking. I ordered the "Snout to Tail" pork shoat, greens and pork jus with a side of potatoes. Hubby had the Croque. Looking around the room though ordering was a hard decision. The bread basket had their normal cornbread and rolls, which are really good.

The food came out, I loved the balance of mine, crispy and tender with nicely cooked greens. Hubby enjoyed his too. The potatoes were a tad oily, but had a good flavor. All in all it was a really nice brunch. Service was a bit slow, but we were pretty slow at that point so it was fine. And the food more than made up for it.

[RWBooneJr]

I went to Sou'Wester for Restaurant Week in January, which was my second time dinning at the restaurant. They not only had the entire menu available, but it did not appear that the portions, ingredients, or preparation were any different than I would have encountered on a "normal" night. And the food, which is similar to Vidalia but with a bit more of a regional feel (they do great things with local bluefish), is as good as any place in the city at its price point. I left curious as to why you don't hear more about Sou'Wester. It is obviously somewhat overshadowed by its more famous sister restaurant and it is not really near anything (not to mention its terrible name, I'm sorry to say). But you'd think, at a minimum, it would get more of a nod here.

[mdt]

I went to Sou'Wester for Restaurant Week in January, which was my second time dinning at the restaurant. They not only had the entire menu available, but it did not appear that the portions, ingredients, or preparation were any different than I would have encountered on a "normal" night. And the food, which is similar to Vidalia but with a bit more of a regional feel (they do great things with local bluefish), is as good as any place in the city at its price point. I left curious as to why you don't hear more about Sou'Wester. It is obviously somewhat overshadowed by its more famous sister restaurant and it is not really near anything (not to mention its terrible name, I'm sorry to say). But you'd think, at a minimum, it would get more of a nod here.

I have enjoyed several meals there and have wondered the same thing. It might have to do with its slight inaccessibility, which is a sorry excuse IMHO.

[Pat]

It's a shame that when they had the problem over the name they wanted to use (which was the same name as the music festival) that they didn't just go to something totally different that was catchy instead of trying to keep the Southwest in it. That name is just really bad.

[mdt]

PS Sit on the patio at Ashby Inn and Sou'Wester sometime and have another good chuckle at how I overrate restaurants (and by all means use Savored.com and save 30%). Then go have Logan Cox's food at Ripple where he magically became a great chef.

Sou'wester has a patio?

[DonRocks]

Sou'wester has a patio?

The most beautiful patio in DC. Mike, have dinner here with your honey on a beautiful spring day (move quickly). If you don't think it's absolutely a glorious, mega-rich experience at bargain-basement prices, write me, and I'll take care of you somehow. I'm that confident you'll rave about it. Stunning, absolutely stunning. Get a cocktail or glass of aromatic white, or sparkling wine to sip for 15 minutes before even looking at the menu. Talk with each other. Live life to the fullest. It's just unbelievable. Hell get a Miller in a Champagne bucket if you must. And yes, Ashby at Sunset, overlooking the stunning mountains in the background, too.

Either of these could be last-meal locales. Please, readers, do yourselves a favor, and book these (yes, through Savored) on the cheap. Just do it, and post about it here. If you love life, you're going to really, really love it at the end of these evenings. I cannot rave about these enough.

Above all, do not write Celia Laurent-Ziebold, GM of Sou-Wester, or Neal Wavra, proprietor of Ashby Inn, and mention my name. That would be entirely unethical. (And with the 30% off discount from Savored, why would you bother?) Do tell them I said hello, however, and absolutely ask them for their recommendations that evening for both food and wines. Or is that wrong, too?

These two fine people love donrockwell.com members and want to help you. They want you as repeat customers. They want to make you happy. God I'm a terrible person for wanting to make people happy.

[Kibbee Nayee]

For lunch yesterday I had the Oyster and Shrimp Po' Boy, which was about as perfectly executed a rendition as I've had. However, the $20 price tag seemed on the high side, and not really Po'....a companion tried the lamb sausage burger and thought it to be salty but OK. I also came away thinking the menu opyions were a bit limited.

Awesome. Say hi next time!

Well, had I seen you, I would have! I was at a 4-top on the elevated side overlooking the water....

[Kibbee Nayee]

Lunch at Sou'Wester today was nice. The ham and cheddar panini hit the spot. Neighboring tables with the softshell crab po' boy caught my eye as well.

I'm really in love with the club sandwich at the Empress Lounge, but when I asked if Sou'Wester could prepare it for me, the waitress pointed out to me that Empress has a separate kitchen. So, there will be no club sandwiches to be had at Sou'Wester. Too bad....that fried egg adds a certain something addictive to the Empress's club sandwich....

[DonRocks]

Pre-movie, had-to-be quick dinner plans in Georgetown were shaping up, and all signs were pointing to Chipotle. I have nothing against Chipotle, but as I hadn't yet been to Tackle Box, I thought it would be good to branch out a bit and steered our group there. Overall, it was the right decision--everyone seemed happy with his or her choices (grilled zucchini, fried shrimp, rainbow trout, fried calamari among the positive notes), but we left baffled about the hush puppies. As porcupine noted upthread, "Like little oily sawdusty bricks of compressed corn-like substance."

As usual, my feelings on this topic are best expressed in haiku:

A sad day it is

When Captain D's is better

Fried bread CAN be bad

It's too bad you didn't have the corn muffins I had last night at Sou'Wester. I defy anyone to try the corn muffins (gratis) and Fried Oysters at Sou'Wester and say that both aren't the Best Of Type ever (and for corn muffins, that's a gutsy claim). Usual disclaimer of personal friendship, but I'm tired of this restaurant not being recognized for the fantastic place that it is. Sou'Wester should be crowded seven days a week. No, make that *packed*. Last night I drove there from Arlington in 15 minutes, and parked for free on the street.

[porcupine]

It's too bad you didn't have the corn muffins I had last night at Sou'Wester. I defy anyone to try the corn muffins (gratis) and Fried Oysters at Sou'Wester and say that both aren't the Best Of Type ever. Usual disclaimer of personal friendship, but I'm tired of this restaurant not being recognized for the fantastic place that it is. Sou'Wester should be crowded seven days a week. No, make that *packed*. Last night I drove there from Arlington in 15 minutes, and parked for free on the street.

Funny, I too had just finished reading Laura's post and was going to post about the excellent hush puppies (with honey butter) that we had at Sou'Wester a few weeks ago.

[mdt]

It's too bad you didn't have the corn muffins I had last night at Sou'Wester. I defy anyone to try the corn muffins (gratis) and Fried Oysters at Sou'Wester and say that both aren't the Best Of Type ever (and for corn muffins, that's a gutsy claim). Usual disclaimer of personal friendship, but I'm tired of this restaurant not being recognized for the fantastic place that it is. Sou'Wester should be crowded seven days a week. No, make that *packed*. Last night I drove there from Arlington in 15 minutes, and parked for free on the street.

This place is easily one of, if not the, best not talked about places in the city.

[DonRocks]

This place is easily one of, if not the, best not talked about places in the city.

What people don't seem to pick up on is that Sou'Wester is essentially a Virginia restaurant - it is literally two minutes from the 14th Street Bridge. Barring a clog on the bridge, I can drive there from Falls Church just as quickly as someone can from Cleveland Park (I-66, Route 110, I-395, 14th-to-C-to-12th, park on 12th, one stoplight total), and I think the fact that Virginia residents don't pick up on this is why it's always empty. It isn't the critics' reviews; it's the public's perception of location that have left it a bastard child, forgotten by DC because it's in SW; overlooked by VA because it's in DC. It's also mistakenly assumed to be formal and expensive because it's inside the Mandarin Oriental, but it's not - appetizers average about $13, entrees about $26, and the fried oysters ($14) and corn muffins (free) are worth killing for.

[Kibbee Nayee]

This place is easily one of, if not the, best not talked about places in the city.

I would have to agree, with the added comment that Empress Lounge is even less talked about.

It's too bad you didn't have the corn muffins I had last night at Sou'Wester. I defy anyone to try the corn muffins (gratis) and Fried Oysters at Sou'Wester and say that both aren't the Best Of Type ever (and for corn muffins, that's a gutsy claim). Usual disclaimer of personal friendship, but I'm tired of this restaurant not being recognized for the fantastic place that it is. Sou'Wester should be crowded seven days a week. No, make that *packed*. Last night I drove there from Arlington in 15 minutes, and parked for free on the street.

I could live off the corn muffins with a cup of that incredible Illy coffee.

[ktmoomau]

What people don't seem to pick up on is that Sou'Wester is essentially a Virginia restaurant - it is literally two minutes from the 14th Street Bridge. Barring a clog on the bridge, I can drive there from Falls Church just as quickly as someone can from Cleveland Park (I-66, Route 110, I-395, 14th-to-C-to-12th, park on 12th, one stoplight total), and I think the fact that Virginia residents don't pick up on this is why it's always empty. It isn't the critics' reviews; it's the public's perception of location that have left it a bastard child, forgotten by DC because it's in SW; overlooked by VA because it's in DC. It's also mistakenly assumed to be formal and expensive because it's inside the Mandarin Oriental, but it's not - appetizers average about $13, entrees about $26, and the fried oysters ($14) and corn muffins (free) are worth killing for.

And to add there is normally street parking to be had AND it isn't a hassle to get a reservation. And they have gluten free bread that is really good. It really is some of the best Southern food in the city right now. It's like being in Charleston for a meal.

I can feel myself slowly getting mad about people's lack of knowledge about Sou'Wester and am about to go get on a high horse over on Chowhound...

[saf]

forgotten by DC because it's in SW

I spend a good bit of time in SW (my church is there, and I am working on a large project there at the moment).

I have been to Sou'Wester once. And my reason is that for many years I did assume it was too expensive. It is a bit expensive for a regular place, but not for an occasional place.

Also, we are much more likely to sit at a bar than at a table, unless we're having a fancy dinner. So, the no bar thing works against them.

But we liked it a lot when we went, and will go back.

[jandres374]

Based on the recent postings here my wife and I have decided to head here next Saturday for a joint birthday celebration - our first visit and very much looking forward to it.

[Matthew Petersen]

I wanted to let you all know about my new dessert menu at Sou'Wester.

I am very excited about it because it brings back things I grew up with; who doesn't love a great sundae???

So come on down and sit outside on our patio, have some oysters and cocktails then finish it off with a stellar sundae.

Yes we have a patio and it is GORGEOUS.

I have posted the menu for you below.

Best,

Matthew

DESSERTS

8.

CLASSICS

Fried Apple Pie Caramel, Vanilla Ice Cream

Rhubarb Clafoutis Toasted Meringue, Rhubarb Sorbet

Chocolate Ganache Tart Mint Sugar, Sweet Whipped Cream

COMPOSED SUNDAES

Banana Pudding Nilla Wafer, Peanut Caramel, Vanilla Ice Cream

Strawberry Shortcake Strawberry Compote, Yellow Cake Ice Cream, Strawberry Ice Cream

Lemon-Berry Ginger Cookie, Lemon Frozen Yogurt, Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream

Rocky Road Walnuts, Marshmallows, Chocolate Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream

BY THE SCOOP

Choose Any 3

Ice Cream Vanilla, Strawberry, Raspberry Swirl, Sweet Coffee, Chocolate

Sorbet Rhubarb, Lemon Frozen Yogurt

[ktmoomau]

I wanted to let you all know about my new dessert menu at Sou'Wester.

I am very excited about it because it brings back things I grew up with; who doesn't love a great sundae???

So come on down and sit outside on our patio, have some oysters and cocktails then finish it off with a stellar sundae.

Yes we have a patio and it is GORGEOUS.

So when is the cocktail party with passed sundaes? That would be fantastic!

[Rovers2000]

Talk about great timing! I'm heading here this Friday for a date night with my fiance and I'm 99% sure one of those sundaes will end up being split

[DonRocks]

Talk about great timing! I'm heading here this Friday for a date night with my fiance and I'm 99% sure one of those sundaes will end up being split

Make it the banana, because then it will be a banana split.

[DrXmus]

Make it the banana, because then it will be a banana split.

Actually, it'll be a split banana split.

Hopefully the two of them don't knock over the dessert because then it'll be a spilt split banana split.

/I'll be here all week

//Don't forget to tip your servers

[jandres374]

Looks like perfect timing for our first visit here this Saturday.

[Matthew Petersen]

Talk about great timing! I'm heading here this Friday for a date night with my fiance and I'm 99% sure one of those sundaes will end up being split

You're gonna want to order your own...

[Rovers2000]

You're gonna want to order your own...

We couldn't resist and split two deserts: the fried apple pie with caramel & vanilla ice cream as well as the banana nilla wafer, peanut caramel, and vanilla ice cream. What a perfect cap to a nice evening out on the patio. The fried apple pie (I only got a small bite as my fiance ate it before I could try more) was delicious, nice and crisp. The sundae was incredible...I could've eaten that peanut carmel over vanilla ice cream by itself.

For the rest of the meal, we basically repeated what we both had at the picnic - she had the chicken under a brick (with its delicious lemon marmalade) and I had the blackened red drum. Both were as good as they were a few weeks back.

To start we had the "carpetbaggers" - oysters with steak carpaccio on top along with an order of the addictive hush puppies.

As everyone has mentioned, the patio is really the way to go...particularly now that it has not reached the typical DC levels of humidity. Many thanks to the lovely team at Sou'Wester for the great experience once again!

[jandres374]

We were here this past Saturday night for a joint birthday dinner and lucked into just a perfect night to sit out on the patio. We took Don's advice and ordered a bottle of wine and sat back and relaxed for a good 30 minutes before ordering - wait staff was awesome as they could tell we were here to relax and take our time.

We enjoyed the following:

Shucked oysters, pan fried oysters, rockfish and the red drum. Everything was fresh with the only slight disappointment being the red drum. When ordered I was asked if I liked spicy because this dish was very spicy and I replied yes no problem. The dish had no kick to it at all but was still very fresh and satisfying.

For desert we split the fried apple pie which we both agreed was perfect. I was pushing to try one of the new sundaes but couldn't get the wife to try it.

We were also given a free dessert wine with our dessert when they found out we were celebrating our birthday - nice touch.

Looking forward to returning here soon. Street parking was plentiful on a Saturday night at 7:30.

[dcandohio]

Really nice dinner here last night, though sadly the weather was dicey enough that we could not dine outdoors. Baked oysters and the chicken fried trout (me), and beet salad and blackened drum (+1). Rhubarb clafoutis shared for dessert. Chef generously subbed a chicken jambalaya for the shrimp jambalaya with the drum since +1 is allegic to shellfish. I especially loved the oysters, which were beautifully presented. The greens and black eye peas under the trout were so yummy, without the aggressive saltiness you often get with restaurant greens. I could eat a very large bowl of those greens.

Our server was delightful. The room overlooking the water is quiet enough for easy conversation. It all made for a wonderfully relaxing evening following two really terrible weeks at work.

As a side note, I noticed quite a few single diners, probably a function of being located in the hotel. The one-tops were treated very well, and this is definitely a place that a single diner could have a great experience.

[goodeats]

And with a blink of an eye, Tom Sietsema reports Chef Moran has parted ways.

[mdt]

And with a blink of an eye, Tom Sietsema reports Chef Moran has parted ways.

Gotta love the anonymous post stating " ...seems like it has fallen into disarray." I would be very surprised to see that happening. I am looking forward to my dinner there next weekend and will be sure to report back.

[ktmoomau]

Hope they find a replacement that understands Coastal Carolina cuisine like he did, that was a huge draw for me.

[mtureck]

Gotta love the anonymous post stating " ...seems like it has fallen into disarray."

Yeah...how dare someone write in and express their opinion!

[DonRocks]

Yeah...how dare someone write in and express their opinion!

As someone who knows the backstory, I can say with a fair amount of confidence this was not an opinion; this was a pissed off friend, relative, or girlfriend. The restaurant did *nothing* wrong and is not in disarray. I gave my word I wouldn't reveal any details, so I'm afraid I'm obliged not to say any more. Eric has spent the past two days working from 7 AM until midnight.

[mdt]

Yeah...how dare someone write in and express their opinion!

Stating that the food may be less than the usual is one thing, but saying that it has fallen into disarray with no facts, that's helpful. But I guess opinions are like...