Hey y'all! We had a lot of fun during our Spring Break this year, including spending a full day walking around and exploring Washington, DC. We started our day at the National Portrait Gallery to see The Obamas' official portraits (we miss them so much), and then headed to Succotash for lunch. Succotash has two locations in the DMV area---one is near Gallery Place/Chinatown (which is where we were), and the other one is at the National Harbor in Maryland. When you enter Succotash, the beautiful and grandiose interior will take your breath away. The wonderfully stunning, inviting, and New Orleans-inspired space features bright white walls, dark brown furniture and accents, marble floors, a glass atrium, and a wrap-around balcony. The restaurant also has several U-shaped booths, which could comfortably seat 6 people each and provide an excellent view of almost the entire restaurant. Every detail in the restaurant is an amazing sight, even down to the detail in the chairs at the tables.
While we listened to the dope jazz, blues, and country music playing throughout the restaurant, we surveyed our menus. Our server informed us that the chef and owner of Succotash's inspiration for the restaurant and its dishes came from his Korean heritage and time spent in Kentucky. As such, Succotash's dishes are a fusion of traditional southern dishes and traditional Korean staples, which explains why you will find both kimchi and country ham in the collard greens. Succotash also boasts an extensive and awesome cocktail, beer, and whiskey menu as well. From the menus to the music to the beautifully-designed space, we knew that we were in for a good time.
Our very nice server promptly took our drink orders shortly after we sat down. Damien ordered the Belle's Punch cocktail and Simone ordered the Hey Peaches cocktail to start our day drinking adventure. The Belle's Punch is sweet but not too sweet and packs a slight punch (get it?). The mint was the low key hero here, though, as it added a subtle richness to the drink. Pairing the mint with the ginger was pure genius and worked really well in this cocktail. And the mango-infused vodka? Damien isn't a huge vodka fan, but he would definitely add this one to his liquor bar at home. The Belle's Punch was definitely a favorite for Damien and would be ordered again. Simone's Hey Peaches cocktail was strong, but was a pleasant and delightful interpretation of a bourbon slushy. Simone could have done without the candy garnish, but if you like gummy candies then you will be happy. After our appetizers, Damien ordered the Moonshine Mule cocktail, 'cause Spring Break. It was really well-crafted and the epitome of light and refreshing. The Moonshine Mule was topped with fresh ginger and a slice of lime on a skewer. Damien loves ginger and found this drink to be amazing. Be warned, though: the Moonshine Mule will sneak up on you, so be sure to take it nice and slow. All three of these cocktails were outstanding and left us wanting to come back again for the rest of the offerings on the libations menu.
We ordered two appetizers to start our meal---the Weisenberger Mills Cornbread Cakes and the Grilled Asparagus Cheese. The Cornbread Cakes had a nice presentation and were accompanied by cornbread crisps, sorghum butter, and blackberry-thyme jam. For starters, the sorghum butter was rich and surprisingly sweet, which complimented the subtle sweetness of the blackberry-thyme jam well. The perfectly cooked mini cornbread cakes were adorable and delicious. After layering the two spreads on the top of the cornbread cakes, we realized that we had made an excellent decision in our lunch adventure. In addition to the cornbread cakes, there were crunchy, buttery crisps of cornbread which were an excellent contrast to the softness of the cakes. We decided to try something intriguingly different for our second appetizer---the Grilled Asparagus Cheese. This appetizer had a beautiful and colorful presentation and could be interpreted as a very mature and adult version of a grilled cheese sandwich. We could have lived without the watercress even thought it was just a garnish. However, the hot pepper jelly was a very tasty and robust component of the Grilled Asparagus Cheese, as it provided a subtle sweet heat to every bite. Damien is not the biggest fan of asparagus, but this appetizer was a welcomed and delicious surprise.
For our entrees, Damien ordered the Dirty Chicken Cobb, which was incredibly creamy, crunchy, spicy, and flavorful. The salad featured spicy chicken, blue cheese, eggs, avocado, grilled corn, tomatoes, bacon jam, green beans, and cornbread croutons atop buttermilk-dressed lettuce. The chicken in the salad was cooked perfectly and coated in a spicy hot sauce. The spiciness definitely builds as you eat the salad, but since Damien loves spicy food, he thought the salad and sauce were delicious. However, if you are worried about the spice, the blue cheese and bacon jam definitely mellow out some of the spiciness of the salad. Damien would have left the green beans out of the salad---they added a crunch but no real flavor to the entree. In contrast, the croutons were homemade from Succotash's delicious cornbread, which meant they were bomb.com. One minor complaint was that the lettuce in the salad was a tad overdressed since it features a buttermilk dressing in addition to the sauced chicken on top, so we would suggest asking for the dressing on the side. If you decide to order the Dirty Chicken Cobb, know that it is a big portion worthy of living in the entree category on the menu and will fill you up. Succotash definitely created a rich, decadent, and delicious entree with the Dirty Chicken Cobb.
On the other side of the table, Simone ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Instead of the cole slaw and French fries that traditionally accompany this entree, Simone decided to order the Bacon Mac'n'Cheese as a side. Buttery, cheesy, sweet, and perfect are not enough to describe how truly fantastic the Fried Chicken Sandwich tasted. The crunchiness of the perfectly fried chicken topped with homemade pimento cheese was simply outstanding. Every bite was out of this world tasty. The Mac'n'Cheese side was made with a mild but tasty Béchamel sauce, which was not too thick or too thin. Broiled to perfection, the dish was topped with Panko-style bread crumbs, bacon, and sunflower seeds. The seasoning, creamy Béchamel sauce, and crunchiness of the sunflower seeds made this a very delightful side. The pairing of this Fried Chicken Sandwich and Bacon Mac'n'Cheese was a true representation of what you might think of when you think of a classic, Southern comfort meal.
Overall, we would give Succotash a 5 out of 5. The decor of the restaurant will transport you the French Quarter of New Orleans. This restaurant would be an amazing choice for a birthday outing, rehearsal dinner, date, or a fun gathering of friends. The food is a unique blend of two cultures and cuisines that demands a visit from everyone who enjoys delicious food. And given that this location is within walking distance of the Metro, you need to make this your next foodie adventure. As they say in New Orleans, "Laissez les bon temps rouler" (Let the good times roll!)! Until next time, we hope you enjoy a great meal soon!
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| Shot of the interior from our table |
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| Another interior shot, facing up to the wrap-around balcony and ceiling |
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| Interior shot of the bar, balcony, and ceiling features |
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| The glass atrium above our table |
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| Close-up of the cool water glass and one of the best hot sauces in the game |
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| Hey Peaches |
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| Belle's Punch |
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| Moonshine Mule |
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| Shot of the U-shaped booths |
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| Look at the chair! #sexy |
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| Weisenberger Mills Cornbread Cakes |
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| Grilled Asparagus Cheese |
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| Close-up of the Grilled Asparagus Cheese |
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| Dirty Chicken Cobb |
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| Bacon Mac'n'Cheese side dish |
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| Fried Chicken Sandwich |
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| Succotash's Lunch Menu |
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| Succotash's Cocktail, Whiskey, and Beer Menu |
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| Exterior shot walking up to Succotash |
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| The front porch of Succotash |
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