9. Oval Room

Last night I finally cracked the top ten with a trip to the Oval Room. This was the first stop at what I would consider a “lobbyist restaurant”. I assumed the restaurant would be dead on a Monday night, but much to my surprise almost every table was taken. For the most part diners were middle-aged men in dark suits, but there was a rather large table of ladies who had no interest in politics besides how close they were sitting to the White House. If that wasn’t enough, they show their true un-lobbyist colors when they divvied up the bill with cash, credit cards and checks all in different amounts. Nasty looks from the waitstaff ensued.

We ordered off the extended restaurant week menu, and I have to say, it was the first restaurant week experience I had this year where I felt I was actually getting a deal. The abbreviated menu was listed right next to the regular one, and there were some obvious overlaps. I started off with the Goat Cheese Custard (obviously), and Meagan started with the Shrimp Chorizo. I would describe both dishes as dainty—small portions with perfectly layered multi-colored sauces. Also, both starters (and my main course) were surprisingly citrisy for a balmy night in Washington of fifty mile winds and 20 degrees. For the main course, Meagan went with the Crispy Chicken, which was like the Popeyes of my dreams. It ended up being a reinvented chicken ‘n dumplings, with sweet potato dumplings and braised red cabbage. I had the Crispy Skinned Bass with the braised carrots and cous cous. The sides weren’t much to write home about, but the bass was cooked perfectly and the sauce was light and citrisy again. I could have been in Miami except for that whole sub zero thing happening outside. The desserts were lovely and light, but delicious. I have to say that the service was the kind that I would expect at White House not at a restaurant on H St. Not that I would ever be allowed within five hundred feet of a state dinner, but a girl can assume. The waiters were conscientious enough to always serve us from the left side, an awkward but polite practice. And our waiter looked like Geppetto but without the weird little boy obsession. That aspect didn’t make the food taste any different, but did make me want to hug him a little bit.

All in all, a very nice way to end a less than stellar restaurant week.