Restaurant Review: The Fainting Goat

We ventured into DC and visited The Fainting Goat for brunch on the last Sunday of February. It was surprisingly a really beautiful day outside--bright sunshine and 70 degree temps made the walk to and from the restaurant pretty delightful. There is nothing like warm weather in February in the DMV area, right? Well, in addition to the great weather, we also enjoyed a rather incredible meal from this U Street NW neighborhood gem.

Simone's Review:

Going to DC for brunch is like a way of life. Add in an unusually warm day and the inevitable occurs--people come out in large groups and street parking vanishes. The Fainting Goat is located between 13th St. and 14th St. of the U Street NW neighborhood. You may almost miss the restaurant when driving by it, so be sure to look for the blue facade and upside down goat that has clearly fainted on their window. After battling the parking third level of hell, I was finally able to join Damien for brunch. The Fainting Goat's menu is very simple yet unique. There are great appetizer and entree options on the menu, as well as a really fantastic dessert. We both agreed on the Goat Cheese Fondue as our appetizer, which was delicious. The fondue was thick, cheesy, and a little spicy. It may have been a little too spicy for me, but I would eat it again and brace myself for the heartburn. For my entree, I chose the Shrimp Strata, which was a mini egg bake with a generous amount of shrimp, herbs, cheese, and goodness. The strata came with arugula and a radish slice on the side, which may have been a garnish but it was eaten. After our entrees, the table next to us recommended the Coffee Cake, which came with pecans, warm caramel syrup, and caramel ice cream, so of course we decided to order it. The cake was beautifully decadent and should be considered a worldly treasure. If you look in the background of the picture of the Coffee Cake, you will notice that my arms are crossed; that's because I was looking at it and thought "Should I eat this or should I just cry in the presence of its beauty?" The Coffee Cake was perfect--it was warm, sweet, and superb. I would highly recommend The Fainting Goat, and I plan to go back once it's officially Spring.

Damien's Review:

On the morning of our brunch, we were both running a little bit behind schedule. Simone drove us to DC and let me out at the restaurant so that I could claim our table before they gave our reservation away. It felt like she was looking for parking forever while I waited at our table in between two other tables that were really enjoying their brunch. By their reactions to the food, I knew we were in for a treat. We shared the Goat Cheese Fondue and it was amazing. I actually didn't think it was too spicy at all, and the goat cheese really made the fondue something special. The toasted bread that came with the fondue was the perfect vehicle for the dip as well. I ordered the Crispy Pork as my entree and it was one of the best decisions that I made that day. The dish had a crispy tortilla on the bottom that was topped with a layer of deliciously subtle salsa verde, juicy and flavorful pork, perfectly seasoned and crispy fingerling potatoes, and an expertly cooked sunny side up egg on top with garnish. If you like pork, this is definitely the dish for you. All of the flavors worked really well together, and it was a hearty entree both in size and in flavor. And then there was dessert. I think Simone did the Coffee Cake proper justice in her description of it. It was one of the best desserts I've ever had and truly a phenomenal way to end the meal.

Our Review:

Overall, we would give the brunch at The Fainting Goat a 5 out of 5. The food was remarkable, the decor was charming, the atmosphere was laid back, and the service was prompt. Did we mention that the food was delicious? We can't wait for an opportunity to go back and try more of their brunch items! Check out our pictures from brunch below. Until next time, treat yourself to a food adventure or a home cooked meal!