Eatonville

*Post by Angela.
On our way to yet another show at 9:30, Mark and I strolled around the U Street area and found ourselves at Eatonville, on the corner of 14th and V.  The restaurant, touting Southern cuisine, is named after the first incorporated all African-American town in the country, and the colorful decor is meant to be an ode to Eatonville's most famous resident, writer Zora Neale Hurston.  We had a really fantastic experience here, with great drinks, friendly service, and really good and hearty dishes at a great price.  I would recommend Eatonville for a fun and delicious dinner in a heartbeat. 

Click below to see what we ate!

When we walked into the vast dining room, it was fairly busy but there were still a few open tables.  The friendly and welcoming hostess explained that although they were holding the tables for reservations, she would start seating walk-ins if the reservations didn't show up.  She invited us to wait at one of the restaurant's two bars, so we headed to the upstairs option to wait. 

While waiting, we sampled a couple of Eatonville's fantastic cocktails.  Mark got the Sweet Heat, which showcased Tabasco-infused vodka and mango.  He loved this drink, which went down sweet and smooth, but finished up with a burst of heat.  I ordered the Ramos gin fizz, which, thanks to the addition of egg white, was creamy and just the right amount of sweet.  After getting enthusiastic recommendations from our very capable and afffable bartender, we decided to go ahead and eat at the bar.

On the left: Sweet Heat; on the right: Ramos Gin Fizz

Mark got the cheddar tart with Vidalia onion, tomato, and white cheddar, with micro-greens and parsley puree to start.  We both liked this dish - the crust was flaky and light, and the sweetness of the onion played well with the sharpness of the cheddar and the tartness of the tomato. 

Cheddar Tart

I got the fried green tomatoes, with arugula and goat cheese.  While the tomatoes were sliced a  little tiny bit thick for my liking, the dish was drizzled with a very tasty spicy remoulade which helped, and the arugula lightened it up, too.  Mark did note that our starters were sort of similar (both had tomatoes, greens, cheese); even so, we enjoyed both.

Fried Green Tomatoes

For his entree, Mark got the pan-fried pork chop, with wilted spinach, fingerling potatoes, and green tomato chutney.  Mark and I thought this dish was solid.  The pork was juicy and tender, but I would have liked a little bit more of a crispy crust on the outside.  The chutney was a little sweet, but it added a lot of brightness and freshness to the dish.

Pan Fried Pork Chop

I got the crispy chicken breast with garlic mashed potatoes, braised collard greens, and mushroom gravy on the bartender's recommendation.  And wow.  I owe him.  The chicken was absolutely phenomenal, satisfyingly crispy on the outside, juicy, tender, and flavorful on the inside, and the mushroom gravy was the right amount of rich and salty.  The accompaniments were just so-so (the greens were a little tough, and the mashed potatoes were a little watery), but given the perfection of the chicken, I wasn't about to complain.  Mark seconded my high praise.

Crispy Chicken Breast

We also got a side of the three cheese mac & cheese.  I loved the creamy, rich dish, but Mark thought it was so-so.  I saw where he was coming from - it was delicious, but there was nothing especially creative or different about it.  I didn't mind.  I thought it was well-executed and incredibly filling. 

3 Cheese Mac & Cheese

In fact, the mac & cheese was so filling that, if you can believe it, we didn't even finish our entrees and completely skipped dessert.  That being said, our bartender did note that he was really surprised at how well we did. 

We walked out of Eatonville completely stuffed and completely satisfied.  While Mark and I can't afford to eat like this all the time (we'd gain a million pounds and have to buy all new clothes), Eatonville's cuisine is perfect as a special treat!