Restaurant Review: Againn (DC)
Posted by Lauren, "Gal About D.C." - 05/08/10 at 11:08 amAnyone who knows Lauren knows that she’s addicted to Twitter and loves trying new food. Combine those two things and VOILA! She’s off to a new restaurant!
Againn
1099 New York Avenue NorthwestWashington, DC 20001 www.againndc.com
Againn has been tweeted about a bunch recently and several of my foodie friends have had mixed reviews. I dont like being out of the loop so I made a reservation right away!
Food: The charcuterie board is a great way to start off any meal. I was excited to see Benton’s ham on the menu and the chicken liver/pork pate was delicious. The pork belly was greasy but also had a nice crisp top, and I thought that the grits had a delightful burst of flavor. I tried the lobster salad which had the lightest vinaigrette and thankfully didn’t overpower the bit of lobster.
Drink: Againn has an extensive beer and scotch offering. But wine lovers like me are also well taken care of (::wags tail::)! There are great and rare wines at a decent price. If you’re lucky enough to go on a Monday, then be sure to take advantage of the 1/2 price bottles of wine deal! This is a major win.
Bathroom Rating: I’ve never thought a bathroom was pretty until now. Take note of the antique details and elegant decorations. Both male and female guests have the choice of 2 private restrooms which is a nice touch. However, if you’re unlucky enough to have to wait for the restroom, your only option is to stand out in the hall way – in the way of bustling servers and in plain sight of the dining room. Woof.
High Heel Quotient: Nice flat surfaces welcome any type of shoe and challenge you to wear your highest heels! I was comfortable in my 4.5 inches and never worried about slipping into some random crevice or sliding on a slippery floor. A major public thank you to the designers of Againn!
Eye Candy: None except for the hottie I was with. Back off, ladies.
Waitstaff: The food runner and our wine guy knew more about the food than our waitress. Our food runner described the charcuterie plate with passion and the lovely gentleman who kept our glasses full (the way to my heart! swoon) spoke about his favorite dishes with determination. A+.
Overall: I liked it but I didn’t love it. The restaurant never seems to be full but some of the waitstaff seems perpetually flustered. Nice flavors and interesting ideas – I definitely think the Chef is on to something. Maybe it needs a few more months to iron out some wrinkles. especially in the front of house? If so, I’d definitely try it again. 3 out of 5.
