Hodges Carry-Out / Sandwich Shop, 616 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC, near the Convention Center, 202-628-0606 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Citysearch]
Supposed to have good collard greens, fried chicken, sandwiches, etc. This place has been there for more than one hundred years, really.
Soul Vegetarian Restaurant & Exodus Carry-Out, web site, 2606 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-328-7685 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
Huh? All-vegan, no lard, excellent food, lousy service. At least that is what I hear.
Southside 815, web site, 815 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-836-6222 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
Biscuits, grits, mashed potatoes, etc. I have yet to go. I am told they have some New Orleans dishes as well, such as Po’ Boy with fries and slaw.
Brown Sugar, 928 U Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-462-2370 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Don Rockwell]
It looks intriguing, I have yet to go or hear reports.
Vantage Point, 1900 N. Fort Myer Drive (Holiday Inn), Arlington, VA, 703-527-4814 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [openlist | Yelp]
The Washingtonian magazine described the offerings as "Southern Coastal," and cites crab cakes and peanut-roasted pork tenderloin. Sounds too hotel for me to go unless you tell me otherwise.
Flavors Soul Food, web site, 3420 Carlyn Hill Drive, Falls Church, VA, 703-379-4411 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Gayot]
I am fond of this place. The sides are the best. I get the trout, candied yams, and mashed potatoes. More soul food than barbecue, but recommended, and first-rate atmosphere.
Vidalia, web site, 1990 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-659-1990, closed Sunday. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Economist | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Nouvelle Southern food, extremely tasty and creative, can be one of Washington’s best restaurants. One meal I had here was superb, and the other was mediocre. You are taking your chances, but with a potentially high payoff. Order the Pecan Pie for dessert. Expensive. Lots of World Bank and IMF types go here, in search of what is to them exotic. It’s reinvented itself a few times, so caveat emptor, let’s hope someone else is paying the bill.
Georgia Brown's, web site, 950 15th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-393-4499. On the west side of the park, at the place where there appear to be two 15th Streets. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Economist | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
A visit here will almost make you think you that America is an integrated nation. Here is where the black upper and middle class hangs out. Great atmosphere, and sometimes excellent food. Make sure you get some grits. The place has slipped from its early days, but I have had some excellent meals here, usually at Sunday brunch. Sometimes the music is too loud. In any case worth a visit.
