Summertime Means Seafood

Happy first days of summer, lovely people! On a warm day last week, we decided to venture into DC to Drift on 7th for our June #HappyTummyList adventure. It was an exciting journey because there are a plethora of up and coming eateries, shops, and places to live in the Shaw neighborhood, which is where Drift on 7th is located. The Shaw neighborhood has had some successes and failures in terms of new restaurants over recent years, but Drift has flourished and developed a reputation for deliciously prepared fresh fish and seafood. Drift on 7th is led by Chef Ferhat Yalçin who also has a wonderful restaurant in College Park, MD called Fishnet. With positive reviews from the Washington Post's brilliant Tom Sietsema and great Yelp reviews (4 stars), Drift on 7th seemed like a necessary restaurant for us to try out and kick off the summer.

Upon entering Drift on 7th, one thing was immediately noticeable: it was hot as hell inside the restaurant. We weren't sure---and to be honest, we still aren't sure because we didn't ask---if the air conditioning was just broken or if the restaurant wanted everyone to enjoy the wonderful satanic heat that is common this time of year. But we decided to stick it out and just keep ourselves hydrated while we were there. The bartender quickly gave us a warm greeting to the quaint restaurant and reviewed our seating options---we could either sit at the bar for happy hour or at a table for the full menu but no happy hour specials. We chose to sit at a table because we thought it would help us better deal with the heat. Our waitress promptly brought over some menus and informed us that there would be a live jazz band performing in just a bit. We were all about it!

For drinks, Simone ordered the Green Chili Fizz cocktail, which is made with St. George Green Chili Vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer, and served in a small, stout glass. The drink was delicious---strong, mildly sweet, and enjoyably spicy. Damien was feeling craft beer, so he ordered the RaR Nanticoke Nectar IPA, which was delicious. It had some really fantastic, bold citrus flavor and a nice clean finish. After the first few sips of our drinks, we were feeling great about our decision to stay at Drift.

We habitually get appetizers on these adventures, because it's all #fortheblog. We decided to try the Fried Calamari and Crab Dip. The calamari was tasty, especially given that it is pretty hard to ruin calamari. They were cooked to perfection and served as a great match for our drinks. The calamari was served with horseradish remoulade, which was unique but not our favorite. One minor complaint we had was that the calamari pieces and the dish overall were pretty small, but it was still a good appetizer overall. The Crab Dip was decent, but it tasted more like more cheese than crab and was a bit too creamy for our taste. The dip could have been improved by simply adding more crab meat and reducing the amount of cheese in it.

For the entrees, Simone ordered the Grilled Fish Tacos and a side order of the Fried Plantains. The Grilled Fish Tacos contained fresh grilled fish topped with pico de gallo with a side of garlic sour cream. The tacos were absolutely amazing and definitely worth another visit to Drift on 7th. And the Fried Plantains? They were fantastic! The plantains were big, perfectly cooked, and sweet---really top notch flavor. The plantains were accompanied by a yogurt or sour cream-based sauce. We were a bit mixed about this sauce---it won't be a favorite for Simone but Damien thought it paired well with the plantains. Damien ordered the Maine Lobster Roll as his entree. When they say we eat with our eyes, they must have been looking at this sandwich---it was a very beautiful and well-presented lobster roll. There was ample, fresh lobster meat in the sandwich, and the tarragon mayo added some nice richness to the roll. The toasted bread served as a really great vessel for the lobster mixture as well. Although this was an enjoyable sandwich, the lobster mixture would have definitely benefited from a pinch more flavor, so some additional salt and/or other seasoning would have knocked this lobster roll out of the park. The roll was accompanied by freshly cooked french fries, which were really delicious.

In summation, Drift on 7th was pretty damn good. Before the live jazz band began playing, the restaurant was playing some amazing old school R&B and soul music, which we thoroughly enjoyed. And the majority of the food we had was really good. There is always room for small changes which would have slightly improved some of the food we had, such as the Crab Dip and the Maine Lobster Roll. But live jazz on a summer evening with delicious food and drinks is always going to make a person feel happy about their life choices. We would give the Drift on 7th a 4.5 out of 5 overall. We would encourage you to venture out to the Shaw neighborhood of DC to take in the sights, sounds, and divine food all around. Until next time, enjoy a delicious meal soon!