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Art and Soul
Categories: Restaurants Soul Food Restaurants American (New) Soul Food, American (New) [Edit]
415 New Jersey Ave NW(between N D St & N E St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 393-7777
- Nearest Transit:
-
Union Station Metro Station (Red)
Judiciary Square Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6:30 am - 10:30 pm
Fri 6:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 7:30 am - 11 pm
Sun 7:30 am - 9 pm
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
Bill M. said: "The beer is cold. The happy hour is reasonable. The people that work there are friendly. Service is fast. Food is a Greek delight. Stephanos, one of the owners, is usually there and very nice." read more »
315 reviews for Art and Soul
Review Highlights
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"I highly recommend the fried green tomatoes." In 31 reviews -
"Shrimp and grits had a ton of flavor." In 28 reviews -
"One of the best mac and cheese I've ever had." In 29 reviews
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315 reviews in English
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Review from Deborah F.
Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2012
High end soul food in DC. I was finishing a day trip and only had 35 min before i neede to leave for my train. I asked the hostess if it could be done and she said yes. Service was fabulous. Angelo waited on me- was there almost as I sat down, made good recommendations, and brought my food to me in 5 minutes flat. Others brought me delicious glazed rolls and okay carrot bread or got me to-go containers for the food that was too good to leave behind. I will grant that at 6:30 pm on a Sunday there weren't too many people there, but still. That was great service.
I had two appetizers: shrimp & andouille with ricotta in a wonderful cajun sauce; cold roasted cauliflower with toasted marcona almonds, toasted capers, some delightful fresh greens and just enough herbed creamy sauce. I asked for dessert to go- pecan pie in a jar with salted caramel ice cream.
Sat outside. The street was quiet though it was just a couple blocks from Union Station. Happy and contented.
When I left, wheeling my luggage, the server held both doors open for me when I got to them. What a nice impression to leave with. -
Review from Ruby O.
Washington, DC
5/22/2012
Would want to give 5 stars but I'm not such a fan of their brunch menu (I took my parents there for mother's day - it was okay but it was a little lacking I thought.)
Their dinner menu however is divineeeee. I've brought friends from out of town here (and these are real friends, you know the ones that will tell you how they really feel) and they've all raved about it. Everything we've had has always been wonderful and the menu is constantly updated so there's always something new to try.
I will have to say, the shrimp and grits... MmMmMmMmMmMMm. -
Review from Brian H.
Washington, DC
5/19/2012
My friends from Charlotte were staying at the Liason, so we thought this would be the perfect spot for a good Southern dinner. Like many restaurants in hotels, this one must survive solely due to it's built-in customer base. And maybe the hype around Chef Art, who I'm assuming has not set foot in this restaurant for quite awhile. If you're really in the mood for Southern food, go to Georgia Brown's instead.
We were able to get a last-minute reservation on a Friday night. The restaurant itself is beautiful with a modern, but comfortable aesthetic. Our server, I can only imagine, is only working here until his "modeling career" takes off. He made it obvious that he'd rather be out on the town than serving us. Plus, he had a fake Jamaican accent that he couldn't really even be bothered to maintain by the end of the meal.
He started off really upbeat, but lost all hint of charisma after the "water service". When he returned to the table to tell me they were out of soup, I asked for mashed potatoes instead. He just stared at me blankly in awkward silence until my friend clarified that I wanted a SIDE of mashed potatoes. Is there some other unit of measure for mashed potatoes that no one told me about?
Two food runners showed up with the meals and it was literally the most awkward two minutes of my life. They had no idea what went where and kept moving things around until I had to shoe them away. One of the same runners also tried to take away two untouched pieces of overly-salted fried chicken without asking if we were finished.
The server walked by our booth several times without stopping to ask how our meal was. He brought a Hefeweizen when my friend ordered an IBA. When we called him out on it, he didn't apologize, just took it back to the bar, then returned and said they were out of IBA.
All of this would have been forgivable if the food would have been decent. The menu has potential, but they really managed to mess up everything they could. I'll be brief:
Bread Service: dried fruitcake (gross), and delicious yeast rolls with soft salted butter (think O'Charley's).
Appetizer: Pork Cheek with 13 minute egg. The pork was amazing, but unevenly seasoned and the egg wasn't seasoned at all.
My salad was so overdressed I only ate one bite.
We all really enjoyed the (instant?) mashed potatoes and gravy, as well as the greens.
The fried chicken was way too salty, and anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE salt. -
Review from Danielle S.
Washington, DC
5/1/2012
When we were here a few years ago, we were treated to a few personal meals with Chef Art. I ate so much that weekend I can barely remember what I had (but I did recall some things below), but I know it was all fresh and delicious. Delicious is not a word I throw around a lot, so you should know that I really mean it this time.
I remember the beet salad, beignets, the babycakes, the hoecake (the one I had isn't on the menu any longer it seems), the mac + cheese... my goodness. My mouth is watering. Seriously, the food was amazing. And, it was even better sitting with Art while eating it all and learning about him, his history, and why he loves being a chef.
During our meals with Art, the service was fantastic. We received everything we wanted and more, and the drinks were flowing, conversation was lovely, and it was very enjoyable.
When we came back for brunch without him though, I got a taste of what the service is really like. Our server was slow (we had some people with a flight to catch and it was getting a little too close on time), he forgot our drinks, and overall it was not the most amazing experience. It is a little pricey too, but hey, you're in Capitol Hill.
What I did love was the outdoor patio. We had it all to ourselves (it was late April so it was still a little chilly) and it was so relaxing.Listed in: The District.
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Review from Key J.
Laurel, MD
One word: YUM
I see why Chef Art was on Oprah's payroll. This guy knows food.
I ordered the Bibb Lettuce Salad, Slow Smoked Pork Ribs, and Mac n Cheese. Yum, yum, and more yum. -
Review from Logan R.
Greensboro, NC
5/19/2012
Extremely slow service. Menu is not accurate. Walked 2 miles to get here because of the dog menu and they only had about half the things the website said they had. Took over an hour to get our food. For the level of service, the prices are outrageous.
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Review from Justin C.
It is most definitely best to stick to familiar comfort foods when trying to please my mom on her visits to DC. Of all the places I've taken her few have excelled at delivering food that not only pleases her simple palate but also lives up to my own standard of good cuisine the way that Art and Soul does. It's so nice to be able to have a comforting country style meal in a more upscale yet relaxed atmosphere, a departure from the typical diners that are stuck in the 70's with their latticed white paper place mats and plastic cups that you just know something is swimming at the bottom of.
We stopped in for lunch on a cold day, just after she had landed at DCA. After the meal I was pretty surprised by how full I was, although to be fair I did wind up eating most of the sides that I ordered for the pair of us, not because she didn't like them, but because I'm a freakin beast when it comes to Southern sides. The macaroni and cheese (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) is much more filling than the portion size looks, and it gets a wonderful crispy texture from being baked in the skillet with the bread crumbs on top. It's not your typical gooey cheese style mac'n'cheese, but feels rather more like a decadent casserole. The collard greens with the country ham soffritto were equally as good, a really nice surprise as variations on this dish generally disappoint at most places in DC. The saltiness of the ham really soaked into the greens, making them extremely flavorful. I wasn't as thrilled with the market vegetables, as the presentation is just rather boring and ultimately too simplistic. There's not enough variation in flavor, or depth of it, to make me want to choose this side again over another one.
The main course options we ordered were definitely more satisfying for my mom than for me, as the free range, buttermilk brined, fried chicken (http://www.flickr.com/...) she ordered was far superior to my cast iron skillet fish fry. The scallion mashed potatoes with black pepper gravy were also far more indulgent than the basket of fries and honey butter hush puppies I received. My items were a solid "good" on the taste scale (B,NG,G,VG,E), so not entirely disappointing, but hers were easily a "very good". It's definitely not the type of fried chicken I grew up with, where the emphasis was more on the flavor in the breading. Here the outstanding element is the chicken itself, and you can absolutely taste the quality of the meat that's used. By comparison my fish just seemed kind of boring, although at least it was extremely bountiful (perhaps the only reason this dish justifies the same price tag as the chicken).
I'm not sure how often Art Smith ever sets foot into Art and Soul these days, but rest assured you are in great hands with chef Wes Morton. Many of his dishes at the most recent Cochon 555 were among my favorites of the day, and he really grasps a breadth of Southern specialties.Listed in: Simply The Best, More Than Just A Spud, Southern Comfort
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Review from Mara G.
3/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
For KGDC1's birthday dinner, Art and Soul was the perfect choice. I hardly know where to start, but I will say, the food is outstanding! My drink, the Roll Call, was so very beautiful to look at that it was stolen away by the Birthday Girl after my first whiff of the Port Wine and Champagne goodness! I settled for the enjoyable drink she ordered, the one with the unmemorable name.
The Mac& Cheese, my Loch Dart Salmon, and especially Kelly's dessert trio were very memorable. -
Review from Buzz M.
Billings, MT
3/4/2012
I would like edit this in. The manager has reached out to me which I really appreciate. I will try them again the next time I visit.
Rating Improved to A-Ok.
______
it's a beautiful place and the staff are good enough. It's supposed to be Soul food from the south. Comfort food.
Too bad I ordered the "Dirty Rice". What an awful dish! The person I was eating with enjoyed their "Fish Fry". The rice dish sounded great on the menu and I expected a tasty dish loaded with some sausage and vegetables.
It tasted like dirt. I couldn't even find any sausage but it was loaded with mushrooms. For what it's worth, it should be called "A small portion of rice with mushrooms" because that is what you get.
I'll try it again and order something different and see if I like it any better. -
Review from Jim W.
Alexandria, VA
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went to Art and Soul to celebrate my hubby's birthday. It was a delicious dinner with a very friendly waiter. The hostess was very nice. She sat us down before our 7:30 PM reservation (we arrived at 6:50 PM because it didn't take us as long to get to the restaurant and find parking).
For appetizers, we had shrimp and grits and pork ribs. Yummy! For entree , hubby had the 12 oz. rib-eye steak and said it was very good. Hubby even liked his mashed potatoes although he doesn't like them very much because he had too much of it while growing up. I had the fried chicken. OMG! Wow! For sides, we had Brussels sprouts, collard greens, mashed potatoes, and glazed root vegetables. We skipped dessert because we were full. BUT the waiter brought hubby some miniature cupcakes with a lit candle. Very cute. So, we did have some dessert after all.
I highly recommend this restaurant if you like southern cooking. The atmosphere is casual and fun. Give it a try. -
Review from Laura G.
2/13/2012
A last-minute dinner reservation on a Saturday evening, my friends & I found ourselves at Art & Soul. Not-to-shabby. As is my preference, we shared several starters and side-dishes for the table - stand outs included the pumpkin tart, brussel sprouts, beets and the maple ham hoecakes.
Mains were all very tasty too - from the scallops to pork to steak. While Art gives a nod to southern cuisine, the food here is hardly traditional, which is all to the good. And not to be missed, the chocolate and pumpkin dessert - unusual and delish! -
Review from Mandi L.
Chantilly, VA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for RW (restaurant week) with my friends and one of the best places I've been to!
Scale is out of 5
Ambience:5
Food Taste: 5
Food Quality: 4
Food presentation: 5
Service: 4
Overall: 4.5
Get this:
Smoked Salmon Salar Jar, Shrimp and Grits, Fried Free Range Chicken
Don't get:
Smoked Maple Ham, Ice Cream, Sorbet
I did the lunch for $20.12.
1st course: Smoked Salmon Salad Jar. Divine and amazing!!! You MUST get this. I will come back for this. The smoked salmon comes in jar (cutest presentation) and comes with toasted french bread. It was quite scrumptious, I was able to also get more table bread to use with the smoked salmon jar. Very delish!!!
The other people in my party also tried the House Smoked Maple Ham , and the Potato Leek Soup. The ham was disappointing, it was deli ham and I couldn't taste a hint of the maple. The potato leek soup was good. Thick and creamy with bits of bacon.
2nd course: Ordered the shrimp and grits. I enjoyed this dish, the andouille sausage, combined with the spinach, and seafood emulsion and shrimp were exquisite together. The grits were perfectly cooked and quite scrumptious!
Friends ordered: (these reviews are with their opinion and mixed with a little of mine, i got to sample)
Pulled pork sandwich - It's not your traditional pulled pork, it was meaty and chunky and good but not amazing and not lots of sauce. The bun was a delicious potato bun.
Chicken and waffle ( this is not on the RW menu but is a separate special menu). The breading was crunchy and flavorful but a little excessive. The chicken was pretty hidden in the deceivingly large amount it was presented. The chicken itself was tender and moist. The waffle wasn't anything special. It was a little on the soggy side. This dish came with two glass of champagne: mimosa and sweet compromise is what my friend picked. She thought the drinks were refreshing but nothing wow or special.
Fried free range chicken: same chicken as the one in the chicken and waffle, came with mashed potatoes and gravy. The mashed potatoes was perfectly creamed and very light. The gravy was light and the perfect pairing to give the moisture to the fried chicken. Chicken was again very tender and juicy.
Country Fried Steak: (not on RW menu) just a separate dish. This is not what you typically expect. This was more of an actual steak with their own flour batter that's fried over it. The batter was too light for me and not what i was expecting... To me it reminded me more of steak and eggs as opposed to country fried steak. Came with grits so that was definitely a good hit!
3rd Course: Buttermilk Panna Cotta- wasn't my favorite... The creme fraiche did not wow me and the citrus fruits didn't compliment the panna cotta as well as raspberries or strawberries. This may be just a personal preference but they had small chunks of oranges and some of the juice poured around it and it didn't add any enhancing flavor. The panna cotta itself was cooked well but again wasn't overly impressed by it.
Friends ordered:
Homemade chocolate chip pecan cookie - great cookie, cooked very well and it was large and dense like a blondie. The cookie was cooked perfectly and wasn't too crispy.
The ice cream was nothing special and the sorbet was extremely tart-y for my taste buds (they had lemon, mango and passion fruit) .
Out of all of the sorbets, passion fruit was by far the best and not the most tart-y.
Overall- definitely will return here, for the salmon salad in a jar and shrimp and grits alone. I definitely enjoyed the service as well. The staff was fun and playful.
I didn't give a full 5 stars on service because they did forget to bring out the champagne for one of my girlfriends. It wasn't until a little after we reminded them that they brought it out. -
Review from Tiger C.
1/27/2012
Who doesn't want to drop a c-note for Turkey day? No idea why this review comes two months later, but the turkey day prix fix menu here was mediocre at best. Reserved this place at the last minute because found out that you need to reserve all the other hot places weeks in advance.
Overall, it had the usual stuff like light meat turkey, dark meat turkey, and ham. Then it had the sides which were greens, stuffing, cornbread like side, and some other sides. Sides were definitely better than the meat options in my view.
Best part about dropping a c-note for this meal was that prime rib was also an additional cost. It's like paying for a gym membership and then finding out you can't go to any of the classes or use the pool without an additional fee.
I bumped this review to three stars because my friend had to take the entire day after to recover from this meal. How awesome is that! You should consider signing a liability waiver before plunging into this epic meal, it is that intense! -
Review from Kat F.
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
1/11/2012 3 photos
I read multiple reviews on yelp about Art and Soul and wasn't sure what to expect. Reviews are always subjective; it just depends on the individual. I thoroughly ENJOYED my meal and the service was wonderful.
Our menu consisted of:
Butternut squash and pear soup
Shrimp and grits - creamed anson mill's grits, Andouille (mine)
Yorkshire pig & cabbage - roasted belly, smoked sausage, turnips, cider braised cabbage
Local hanger steak - glazed potatoes & shallots, watercress, compound butter
Pan fried flounder - winter greens, roasted cauliflower, lemon butter, caperberries (mine)
Chocolate bread pudding - vanilla bean ice cream (also had peanut butter in the bread pudding) (mine)
Local apple pear tart - dried cherries, spiced pastry cream
I loved my shrimp and grits; the grits were really creamy and the andouille was firm but not overly cooked. Big plus. The pan fried flounder was very good but it was the chocolate bread pudding that gave me goose bumps. I've always steered clear of bread pudding but as soon as I heard the pudding also had peanut butter in it, I was all in.
On a side note, I sampled the butternut squash/pear soup, oh goodness was that good. I was torn between the soup and grits on which I liked best.
I highly recommend Art & Soul. -
Review from Rose N.
Thanks for restaurant week, my friends and I were gravitated to make reservations here.
I love that DC has such a wide array of comfort/soul food. I've certainly had my fair share of chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits since moving to this wonderful city. Art and Soul is a great example of comfort food with a gourmet touch. The name says it all, the food and restaurant itself is a work of art and comforting to the soul.
My friends ordered from the RW menu. As I happily picked off food from there plates, smoked salmon jar definitely was a mouth pleaser. My friend's shrimp and grits was by far one of the best shrimp and grits I have ever tasted. I ordered the chicken and champagne which was chicken and belgian waffle with 2 glasses of champagne cocktails. The chicken was a mouthful of flavor, it was nicely seasoned and the meat was moist and tender. The breading was really thick for my liking. The waffle fell through for me, a bit too soggy. I had to ask the server for syrup (which I would think should come with a waffle??). Desserts were not impressive. Panna cotta- flavorless, ice creams- average, pecan cookie- really thick.
My 2 cents: Great modern decor, food had outstanding flavors, service was attentive, desserts were a bit disappointing. Worth coming for: salmon jar and shrimp and grits. -
Review from Natalie M.
Washington, DC
12/18/2011
The affiliation with James Beard, a Capitol Hill location, and proximity to the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel combine to make this restaurant a culinary hot spot. Call me the voice of dissention, but I've eaten here four times now and I have not been wowed by anything on the menu.
The place has a classy, sophisticated feel and an aesthetically pleasing décor, which is very inviting. If this rating were based solely on aesthetics, Art & Soul would get five stars, but the food is what makes this place so average.
On my first trip here, I ordered the salmon with braised apple and green cabbage, roasted red beets, and citrus brown butter. The salmon, which was cooked medium per my request, was tender but underwhelming. The apple and green cabbage and beets did not compliment the salmon well, so I would have enjoyed the dish better if the salmon was paired with different sides.
On another occasion, I ordered the Chesapeake Benedict, which consisted of jumbo lump crabcakes, tasso ham hollandaise, and skillet potatoes. The crab cakes and skillet potatoes were alright, but I didn't care for the tasso ham hollandaise.
While here for brunch on a third occasion, I ordered the Farmer's Breakfast, which I didn't like at all because the eggs were too creamy and something about the mix of items on the plate made me a little queasy. The chicken and waffles got mixed reviews from others at my table.
It's really sad when I enjoy the warm, buttery complimentary bread more than my entrée.
I was pleased with the attentive and timely service on each of my visits, but overall I give Art and Soul an OK rating. -
Review from Carlos S.
San Francisco, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service: B, server didn't understand that we wanted a good wine, not that we didn't know the difference btw a pinot and a merlot
Ambience: A- Nice decor, very comfortable and nice buzz
Wine: A
App: Hoecakes maple, kinda bland and dry consistency
Main: C+ I had the Duck in beer, just ok, salty and overcooked. -
Review from Jay F.
El Cerrito, CA
3/25/2012
Went here because owner Art Smith was Oprah's former chef, and it got great reviews from Frommers Travel Guide. I've never had a hoecake before our friendly server suggested we get the Poached Quince Hoecake which was and excellent choice. My father had the Braised Lamb Shank and I had the Tamworth Pig both excellent choices. They really represented high-end Southern cuisine made for us city folk. The place is tasty and unique for the area. Affordable is not really the word, but the place id worth the higher prices. A perfect meal from a walk from visiting the Capitol & Mall. I'd return if I were to return to the District.
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Review from Tony P.
Chantilly, VA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant week lunch visit
For an appetizer I had the salmon salad. It was served with toasted slices of crusty artisan bread drizzled with olive oil. The salmon salad in a small Mason jar on a small wooden board and was smoked, barely moistened, and chunky. Served with pickled caper berry and red onion, it was out of this world.
Second course was the fried free-range chicken. The fried chicken was crispy and very moist, served with scallion mashed potatoes and gravy. This is the best I have ever had.
For dessert I had the panna cotta. It was rich and fantastically delicious. -
Review from Kat S.
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Art & Soul is a great happy hour spot on the hill. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7, Monday through Friday. I'm already a fan because it doesn't try to call itself a happy hour and then end at 6pm (who ARE these people that can get out of work and to the bar by 5?).
Also the happy hour isn't limited to a cramped and crowded bar as so often happens at nicer restaurants. There is a large bar/lounge area replete with long, dark wood tables and high chairs as well as a comfy couch area. In the warmer months happy hour is extended outside to a large and wonderful patio. The restaurant is dimly lit and feels simple but sophisticated. Art & Soul has a sleek design which manages to feel independent of the Liaison, the hotel the restaurant is housed in, which I imagine to be a prime meet up for senators and their hookers. The only set back is the bathrooms are located in the hotel and even once you've asked where they are - and you really need to ask - the path to them is practically a maze.
And my favorite part of all - the happy hour is not limited to Miller Lite and some vile rail drink. Happy hour no longer means being transported back to the dishwater beers and feel-like-you've-been-punched-in-the-mouth liquors of freshman year. This is a classy happy hour people. There are six well-crafted cocktails. I enjoyed the Art Bar Manhattan and The District, both a bit strong but complex and a steal at $7. Local beers are well priced at $4. The wines are maybe a bit on the high end for happy hour, priced at $7, but there is a wide and good quality selection.
And of course I widely appreciate when happy hour applies to food as well. All bar food items are $5. Well I can't support paying $5 for marinated olives or fried pecans, the smoked salmon salad and crab beignets sound downright delicious. I fell in love with the complimentary chips.
Well I can't speak to dinner here (yet), this is one of the best happy hours on the Hill. -
Review from syrus f.
Arcadia, CA
11/7/2011
One of the best mac and cheese I've ever had. It was light with curly macaroni and topped with a crispy layer. We also tried their shrimp and grits which we could not have enough of. The pork belly was also a nice touch.
The only complaint I had for this place was the speed of the service. Our waiter was soooooooooooooooooooooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwwww... omg... we hardly saw him and when we did, he was super busy with other tables. I think we waited more than 30mins for our check. It was from an exciting night to a dreading night......Listed in: washington D.C.
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Review from Andrew G.
Washington, DC
1/4/2012
Went there for the New Year's price fix menu, and had a very enjoyable meal. Also, had no idea I could have enjoyed bread pudding as much as I did! However, the enticement of 1920's style New Orleans Jazz was a disappointment. I realize this criticism is only applicable to this evening, but the main reason my gf and I chose this place was because we expected the festivities to be more festive and enjoyable; Instead we were treated to a basic and simple jazz background band. The service was quite good, especially when one of the drink pairings was rather unappetizing. A waitress, not ours, stopped by to ask how everything was, and when I told her the drink in question was gross (didn't use gross when describing to her), she immediately took it away, offered me any drink from their regular menu, and returned promptly with my new choice.
Overall, enjoyable food, good service, but was misled regarding the festivities. Certainly will not come back next New Year's, but will likely return for dinner at some point. -
Review from Brian N.
11/20/2011
I think of this place as somewhere the 1% wants to eat because they can't bear the indignity of of being with or sharing love for any of the 99%.
It's where they go to try to get low country Southern food and listen to Babyface and Blackstreet without anyone giving them a weird look for being people who would otherwise never be allowed that inclusion into the culture. Not to say that I would be invited either, and therefore this restaurant was probably made for me, but *sigh.*
The place is updated by white table cloth, wine and bread service, and upscale lounge type seating. It's fairly ridiculous. Granted no one should HAVE to sit on a curb w/ a bucket of fried chicken and a ghetto blaster bumping Hip Hop and R&B to get a legitimate Southern food experience, but if you're going to capture the essence then at least get the food right first. Art Smith must've created the idea for the place and let some other white guy run it because the food is regrettable.
They claimed that their hoecake was one of the most popular appetizers around but they were bland and flavorless. Ours was adorned with a country ham and some watercress. No sauce to bind it all together or anything. I would've MUCH preferred just a cornbread muffin and some honey butter.
I had the sweetbread appetizer which was totally underseasoned and the sweetbreads were served in large pieces so you ended up with less flavorful batter/seasonable surface area to balance an otherwise piece of offal that was lacking in salt/spice. I had the seasonal savory pumpkin tart which was very much the same...lacking in flavor and inspiration. What could have saved the night would have been their riff on Chicken & Dumplings, made with Duck instead, but the duck was dry. Presentation was all excellent, as was the service, especially the bread service, but these entree's left me unsatisfied.
An establishment built on its location across from the Hotel. Gathering weary conference-goers at the Hyatt on Capitol Hill who travel from all over the nation, not knowing any better place to eat. They're lucky that these travelers tend to have their meals expensed because there are better places to eat. -
Review from angela n.
9/25/2011
Vegetarians: Definitely try the "dirty rice," a robust and satisfying dish of generously seasoned rice, super-strong mushrooms, garlic, and cheese.
We came here a few weeks ago during Hurricane Irene. So that we could enjoy the view of torrential rains and strong winds, we were seated by the floor-to-ceiling windows, which were sealed with sandbags and tape. The hostess cheerfully promised to move us if a tree came crashing through the window. Nice of the restaurant to stay open for us and the surrounding hotels' guests-- it actually got quite crowded as the evening went on. -
Review from Diana D.
Washington, DC
Updated - 2/23/2012
The food definitely improved the last time I paid a visit. The shrimp and grits was better, not grainy like last time and I ordered the fried chicken again (how can anyone resist?). There was definitely better flavor in the chicken this time around and I didn't even have any leftover. The mashed potatoes were as creamy as I last remembered and the greens was a nice companion. The service was also just okay but all in all it's just a-ok.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/26/2011
I had high hopes for the fried free range chicken but meh I've definitely experienced better. Do… Read more »
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Review from Sean M.
1/18/2012
Art and Soul proves how a great restaurant will rise to the occasion to allay any misgivings that things have fallen short. We arrived on time for our 9:00 reservation and were asked to wait 15 minutes for our table. Bad sign because you know the host is lowballing the estimate. So after waiting half an hour without any acknowledgment and refusing to consider ordering a second round of drinks (see my review of Jam Bistro on that point) we were still waiting so I asked and was told 1 minute, which must be the standard assurance when things are going south, but it's so Seinfeldian!
We were in fact quickly seated and given a large round table in the heart of the restaurant and we were comped the Charcuterie appetizer which I will surely pay for on any future visit. The kitchen at Art & Soul prides itself on making its own forced meats and pickles and I loved every bite of the shredded pork terrine, smoked salmon spread, sausage with blue cheese, and pickles. My only complaint was that we were not given enough bread at first so had to ask for more in order to indulge in our favorites. The shrimp and grits appetizer is the one to order here. It's five or six perfectly grilled shrimp atop a small bed of grits. You might expect two or three, but Art & Soul flips your expectations and gives you way more shrimp than grits, and I'm not complaining. The hoe cake I ordered was also delish. The hoe cake was basicaly a thin oblong pancake and came with cooked quince and a layer of lightly dressed salad greens.
Everyone enjoyed their entrees also, but I really only tasted my own, which was slow roasted duck, served in small cast iron skillet and then topped with cornbread, cobbler style. It was so succulent and delicious, I just wanted to take my time savoring it. And the side of brussel sprouts were perfectly cooked too. Split in half and crispy and brown on the split side and tender throughout. The fried chicken also got good reviews. Four of us shared two desserts, the chocolate bread pudding with homemade vanilla ice cream and the apple pear tart. Both were delicious and perfect for sharing.
Service was what you'd expect at such a fine restaurant, but nothing extraordinary. I wish DC waiters were more knowledgeable about wine, but that's not expected nor a requirement in these parts. I look forward to returning to Art and Soul for some special occasion in the future. We really ended up having a wonderful evening and practically closing the place down!Listed in: My Personal Faves in DC
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Review from Kelly G.
For my solo sophisticated dinner 08/21/11, the planets aligned and I dined at Art and Soul...for Restaurant Week Extended. Oh yes.
I arrived at "The Liaison" Hotel early enough to take advantage of a DC Derby at the bar. The cute little sprig of house grown (?) lavender perched in my glass beckoned me to have another one of the refreshing vodka concoctions. But I had bigger fish to fry. Literally.
On to my table by the window. (The little girl at the table across from me could not stop staring at me. I guess I was an oasis of tranquility in the midst of her screaming, crying, melting-down little brother. Hmph. Stare on sister. After the first two times the parents individually took him out onto the patio in failed attempts to calm him, I (and my DC Derby) managed to block him out.)
Roman, my very pleasant, knowledgeable, easygoing server, thankfully stood between me and the staring-screaming table each time he stopped by.
First he took my liquid order. I inquired about and eventually took him up on the accompanying restaurant week extended wine deal. A bottle of Allen Scott Sauvignon Blanc. Yes please. (Don't worry, I corked & carried half home.) It was as light, crisp and fruity as previous glasses I've had elsewhere.
For dinner, I ordered Shrimp & grits, Pan fried flounder, and I wound up with chocolate pecan tart for dessert. Moments after ordering, a bread plate Hue K. would be proud of came to me. The black bread was warm and full of fruit and nuts. Oh please do not make me eat this whole bread plate. The white roll was as good as any Mrs. Audrey White at church (GRHS) could ever pat out. The butter (half of which was full of chives...hmmm...nice but?) was soft, fluffy, and thank God, salted. Plus they offered me seconds! On bread? Tempting but no thanks.
The shrimp and grits arrived. More wine was poured. Ahh heaven. Little chunks of sausage, the sauce, and the fine ground grits made me wish this was not just the appetizer. The presentation, flavors, and quantity were perfect for the day though.
I was more than pleased with the serving of fish. The presentation was my favorite, too. Skin up. Perfect for me to peel that off, although I can hear my mother, both grandmothers, aunts and others yelling at me from my childhood "eat that! it's good for you!" Hmph. Not today. I needed room for the fish and my crab-wild-mushroom sautee. I know they leave them whole so patrons can distinguish which forest fungus is which, but I do wish they would put a rough chop on them. Or give me a steaknife to make the cutting easier. Their flavor was a delicious complement to the fish, though. So I took most of them home and chopped them up for an omelet the next morning. Perfect.
Roman poured a taste more wine for me but I signaled that was quite enough for me. He asked if I'd like my dessert to go, too. What a wonderful idea. By then, I was more than stuffed and tired from outrunning the violent thunderstorm earlier in the day. So I accepted that offer in a heartbeat. I enjoyed a few forkfuls of my chocolate pecan tart, which is to die for, at home before I zonked out for the evening.
Woo-Hoo! Dinner at Art and Soul is As Good As It Gets.Listed in: Swanky Perdanky, "--- and Grits"
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Review from laura e.
Atkinson, NH
4/24/2012
Had dinner last night at Art and Soul. It was pretty good, but there were definitely hits and misses. This seems like a restaurant that wants to be a top tier place to eat, but it does not hit the mark.
Service - mediocre and very slow and the restaurant was half empty. C-
Ambiance - modern and trendy. B+
Food - Some was good, some was not. The hoe cake with ham and goat cheese was just okay....the hoecake was soggy and more like the consistency of a regular pancake than a hoe cake. The ham was nothing special. I would not order it again. The brioche rolls were really good, but the date nut bread that accompanied it was HORRIBLE. It was dry and unappetizing. I had salmon served atop wheat spetzel and cabbage. It was delicious, but they clearly plated the cabbage and spetzel too early because it was cold (and it was not supposed to be) so it marred an otherwise shining dish. The lamb shank was a huge disappointment. The meat did fall off the bone but was dry and lacked seasoning. The gremolata they served on top helped save the dish from being a disaster. Dessert was pecan "pie" but it was just pecan pie filling topped with a small dollop of whipped cream. It was overly sweet and there was not enough counterbalance to the cloying sweetness to make it a successful dessert. It lacked both finesse and the homey feel they seem to be attempting (it was served in a small mason jar). Overall, the food was a B-
Quality for the price- The prices are high at Art and Soul and I felt like I wanted the food to be executed better to justify the bill. C+
I don't think I'd go out of my way to eat here again, as there are other restaurants that are better for the money. But if you are in that area, it's an okay place for dinner. I'd rather go to Georgia Browns for a good meal with Southern flair. -
Review from Selena W.
Jersey City, NJ
4/3/2012
I was really excited to dine here, but walked away with a really bad taste in my mouth. Not literally. The food was OK, but the service was horrendous. We were there at least an hour longer than we needed to be. Honestly, because this was special occasion and I invited friends to join us, it was even embarassing. Dont' get me wrong, some of the dishes were delightful: namely the hoecakes, cauliflower salad and rib eye steak. But the fried chicken really was overpriced for what you got AND it was so thickly battered that it was an ordeal to eat... not really enjoyable. Once we got our appetizers/starters we were virtually ignored. I will never dine here again nor will I suggest it to my friends.
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Review from Katrina M.
Atlanta, GA
I don't really have too much to say here. For the convenience, the food wasn't not bad. I had the FARMERS BREAKFAST, and my friend had their breakfast biscuit thing. She said it was seasoned really well, with nice spice, but I can't speak from experience.
They had good portions and quick service. Everything tasted fine, but I wasn't wow-ed by anything. The prices were high, but it is DC, and in a hotel. That tends to cost more by default.
Finally, the setup was really cute and trendy. If you need breakfast and don't want to waste a cab ride trying to find somewhere else to eat, it's not a bad idea to eat in (of sorts). -
Review from D M.
Washington, DC
11/20/2011
I wanted to like this place a lot because I've always thought Art Smith seemed cool. My friend and I went here during restaurant week and it was just okay.
For the first course we had the shrimp and grits which were fine. I expected them to have more flavor...but they were okay. Main course was the fried chicken and honestly I've had better in many of the taverns in Indiana. The coating completely fell off and it just didn't have much flavor. The mashed potatoes were good but even I can make great mashed potatoes. I don't even remember the dessert course which should tell you something.
I've read good things about brunch so maybe I'll give that a shot but I doubt I'll be back for dinner. -
Review from Kyle M.
1/13/2012
Honestly, this place would only be getting a 2-star review if it was based on the main dish alone, but the appetizer was a 4 star, and the dessert a 3 star, so I bumped it up a bit.
We went here last night for dinner for restaurant week. Here's my caveat on restaurant week, and something that I think gets missed by many of the restaurants. Restaurant week is your time to shine. Yes there are people who will only ever dine at your restaurant for restaurant week because they're cheap, but they're far outweighed by the people who are at your restaurant week because they've been wanting to try it out, without dropping $50 on what could be a "so-so" meal. This should be a restaurant's attempt to get a regular customer. And honestly, the restaurants that do a great restaurant week are the ones I tend to go back to throughout the year.
Reading the other reviews on here, I'm thinking Art & Soul just hasn't embraced restaurant week.
Bread Service - Awesome raisin nut bread and whipped butter. The rolls were average.
First Course - Shrimp & Grits. These were actually the star of the meal. The Andouille had a nice crispness to the outside, and great flavor. The grits were fully cooked without getting mushy. And the shrimp and the sauce over them were very flavorful. A touch more butter or cheese in the grits themselves, and these would have been a 5-star item. My tablemates got the bibb salad and the butternut squash soup. Both said they were good, but nothing that stood out as anything special.
Main Course - Yorkshire Pig & Cabbage. Biggest disappointment ever. I love a good pork belly, and I would love to say it was just the preparation that ruined this dish (I had never had roasted pork belly, only braised), but the cut of pork belly was of extremely poor quality. There was about an inch of fat, with a 1/4" of meat at the bottom. I usually love the melding of fat and meat on pork belly, but it didnt' meld at all. It was a thick layer of fat, with a thin layer of meat at the bottom. I'm hoping that this wasn't a case of "give the restaurant week diners the scraps". Not only that, it was so hard to even cut into because the outside was beyond crisp, though it did have a nice "bacon" flavor. In addition the cabbage was bitter and needed salt (which wasn't available on the table). The sweetness of the cider definitely did not come through It's sad that the stars of this plate were actually the smoked sausage and turnips. Two of the others at my table got the Hangar Steak. One was overcooked, one was undercooked, and both commented that the steak had very little flavor, but the compound butter on top was good. The Fried Chicken was apparently "very good".
Dessert - Chocolate Bread Pudding. The bread pudding itself was not as moist as I'd expect bread pudding to be. It had more of the consistency of a brownie. That said, the flavor was good, and the caramel sauce under it was fantastic. As far as desserts go overall though, it was just average.
Service - The service was attentive and non-intrusive. They did very well in this category.
Would I go back? Probably not, especially because the regular prices are quite high. The menu sounded great, and if the main dishes were executed better, I think this would be a real gem. But since I have no idea if this was a "restaurant week casualty" or this is how the food always is, I can't really recommend the place. -
Review from Jen P.
Germantown, MD
12/7/2011
I have been wanting to try Art & Soul for quite some time, but I was very disappointed. My husband and I went on a Saturday for lunch which really turned out to be brunch.
The staff at the hostess desk seemed a little snobby. Decor seemed a little cold and not very welcoming. We were brought a cinnamon raisin bun, which were very good. We also ordered their seasonal preserves, which were peach. We were presented with one medium sized biscuit and a mason jar of peach preserves. There was so much preserves for one measly biscuit.
I was excited to try the chicken and waffles, but was told it was dark meat, which I don't like. So I settled on the Shrimp and Grits. My husband had the country fried steak with grits and eggs. My shrimp and grits were average. I've had better at Busboys & Poets, and Vidalia. My husband's steak was like a strip steak which is not commonly used for fried steak. The breading was also very thin. I tried a bite and found it chewy.
For dessert we had the baby cakes which was an assortment of 5 mini cupcakes- red velvet, blueberry cake, pumpkin cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly, and bacon chocolate. Some were better than others.
We were pretty disappointed. If you want similar food head to Marvin, Vidalia, Founding Farmers, Farmers & Fishers or Acadiana. Skip Art & Soul. -
Review from Michael R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/14/2012
Great food! Loved the Lamb Hoecakes and Capitol Hill Salad. Great service, will go back again for sure when I hit DC.
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Review from Traci R.
Rosedale, MD
8/9/2011
I went there this past Saturday (8.6.11) for dinner. I think I personally have a thing against expensive Southern food. Probably because my family is from the South and they make such amazing, delicious food for much less.
With that said, here's what was ordered at our table. Shrimp & Grits, Dirty Rice, Fried Chicken, Flounder, and Tamworth Pig. Everything was good. Not overwhelming good but good. The fried chicken is probably their best dish.
There's no salt or pepper on the tables. I realize that the recipes came from a world-renowned chef and I know it's considered disrespectful to put salt on their creations but give me a break. It's not like he's there! Also, their only hot sauce was Tabasco which was pretty hot. Some Texas Pete would've been great.
The ambiance was great! They have half-moon booths for couples to enjoy. It lets you get close to each other w/o it being that awkward 'sitting-on-the-same-side-of-the-table" configuration. The set-up is very modern and has the perfect lighting due to a wall that is all glass because it leads to the patio which is also great.
All in all, it's a decent restaurant but I'd never go again. -
Review from Gary S.
Thousand Oaks, CA
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was quite a pleasant change from the typical Southern-style cooking I am used to (I.e. Pappadouxs). The service was excellent and the evening atmosphere had a nice buzz to it.
The menu reflected an eclectic selection of Southern influenced dishes which was not what I expected. Soul food is the traditional hominy, collard greens, fried (insert your protein here as long as its catfish), and the like. BUT I was pleasantly surprised at the wide variety. I ended up having the endive lemon pear salad , and braised sturgeon, both very colorful and tasty. The braised sturgeon which was quite tender and flaky with the right balance of spice. The salad had a very clean finish. I also ordered the brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese as the sides (OK, I was really hungry). The mash and sprouts kicked it out of the park but I found the cheese in the mac to be a bit ordinary. The crunchy top was a nice recovery. There were plenty of other selections that would probably spark a second review here, such as the dirty rice, pork, etc)
The service was quite attentive and there was an electric buzz in the atmosphere without drowning out any of your own conversation.
Prices were a bit higher than I expected but given the climate of DC, it is certainly reflective of the market.
Overall, a nice dining experience (thanks to Rafael, our waiter). -
Review from Jennifer K.
Olney, MD
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
2 stars is what you get, Art & Soul, after I do the math.
I should have just ordered the fish ala carte because that was one delicious piece of smoked sturgeon (5 stars). However, Art had a lapse in judgement with the accompanying white beets tossed in a grainy mustard sauce. They were not merely unappealing to look at on the plate, but they tasted like ...cold beets covered in mustard. (1 star) The caramelized endive salad was possibly the strangest salad ever invented in the history of mankind -- a bizarre mixture of bitter, limp endive and pears under a sprinkling of greens with a lemon dressing. I usually dig the bitter/sweet/tart mixture - but this just didn't fly - probably because the endive was so soggy. (1 star) The side of mac and cheese was a must-have according to our waiter (who was very attentive and efficient) -- it unfortunately was not a must-have, perhaps, instead, a "to have when you're craving carbs and you only have $8 and you're stuck in Art and Soul." (2 stars) The baby cakes was the dessert -- and in a town that abounds with some seriously amazing cupcakes - these were overly dry and lack the punch of flavor that you expect from a knowledgeable pastry chef. (2 stars)
Sorry, Art & Soul, your soul might be in the right place, but the artistry lives in the decor and the excellence of your servers and hostess -- but, unfortunately not in all your dishes. -
Review from Ashley W.
9/14/2011
a friend and i visited Art & Soul for a lazy Sunday Brunch after the wrath of Hurricane Irene...
I had no idea they were still honoring the RW week menu and was pleasantly surprised!
I also gained a free mimosa... in honor of surviving the hurricane... :)
the service here was amazing!
I had the shrimp and grits -- which gets a .3.5 out of 5
and perhaps the bread pudding for dessert.....2 out of 5
I had no idea this place was connected to a hotel, which to me downgraded the atmosphere and ambiance.... the decor seemed as if it did not mesh well and was poorly put together... i couldn't exactly put my finger on it ..
I felt like the bar area had great potential for happy hour....
if i was a hotel guest and was visiting Art & Soul, I'd be impressed...
but as a DC foodie... I'd pass... regardless of the week... -
Review from Ann V.
1/18/2012
I really should not be allowed to eat here, the food was really good but I couldn't help but complain to my friend that my order of corned beef hash was actually the real deal and not the mushy terrible looking canned stuff that you'd normally see at ihop and/or a local diner. I can't help but crave for things like boxed kraft mac n cheese, stouffers stuffing, and betty crockers roasted garlic mashed potatoes over the fancy made from scratch items. I'm so disgraceful.
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Review from Ashley K.
1/15/2012
I went here for restaurant week, for dinner. I would say it's more of a 3.5 than a 4 though. It was a very up and down experience. I ordered the bibb salad, fried chicken and chocolate bread pudding. The bibb salad was very good. There was a buttermilk herb dressing and the portion was a really good size. There was bread for the table, which we all enjoyed. There was some kind of raisin bread, which I did not eat, but others at my table enjoyed. And there were also rolls with salt on top. These rolls were very fresh, warm and excellent. The fried chicken was extremely juicy and well breaded. The breading was delicious, but there was maybe a little too much of it. It was very flavorful and moist though. I highly recommend it. The mashed potatoes that were with it, were more like pureed potato soup and were not that good. We also got mac and cheese for the table because we heard it was phenomenal. It was good, but we all agreed our homemade mac and cheeses were better. I was expecting much better. Not that it was disgusting by any stretch of the imagination, but it could have been a lot better. The dessert was just okay. The bread pudding was more like a dry brownie, but I do have to say that the vanilla ice cream on top was very good.
The service was not good. The waiter kept disappearing and took forever really doing anything. The music playing in the background was pretty good. And the overall ambience was just okay. There were many aspects of the meal that I really enjoyed, but I expected more than an up and down experience. I would come back because I really enjoyed the appetizer and fried chicken.
