I spent yesterday evening at a b-day happy hour with one of my DC besties. It was my first visit to Vidalia and I left pretty happy.
My normal happy hour spot at Dupont Circle is Front Page. The food and drinks are good, the prices are reasonable, and portion sizes are generous--I love the place. As a new professional, it's also great spot to meet people in similar phases of life.
I was happy to try a new spot, it being my birthday celebration and all, when my friend suggested Vidalia on M and 20.
Vidalia has a totally different vibe. It's kinda classy--not at all crowded, with an older customer base and a noise level that never reached past a low hum.
The menu is "American Cuisine with a Southern Accent". As a southerner, I'm leery whenever I see a restaurant trying to pull off Southern cuisine. Hailing from the deep South (SC!) where flavors are intense, bbq reigns supreme, seafood is fresh and abundant, and chefs are very liberal with seasonings, I'm rarely impressed.
I had a fancy pulled pork slider, bbq shrimp over cornbread, shrimp infused hush puppies, and half a flatbread pizza. I loved the flavors though it felt more like French Cuisine, with a touch of the American South.
They take drinks very seriously, which I can appreciate. My favorite cocktail was Tobacco Road, it's made with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Cheerwine. Enough said. I could've been back in SC. Dangerous though, you can't taste liqour but it packs a punch. The bartender was very friendly and was happy to experiment with mixes.
I'm used to eating and getting full at happy hour, but the appetizers at Vidalia are quite small, more like snacks. I ate a full meal, meatloaf and mac&cheese, after leaving.
It was a fun outing. I loved that it was quiet enough to talk without having to shout, that I could buy a glass bottle of Cheerwine and watch the chef cook via an exhibition kitchen. Drinks were a bit pricey for Happy Hour, $9-11/glass. Appetizers were $4-5.
I'll be returning to try the three-course lunch special for $19.99. They update the menu regularly on their Facebook page.
My normal happy hour spot at Dupont Circle is Front Page. The food and drinks are good, the prices are reasonable, and portion sizes are generous--I love the place. As a new professional, it's also great spot to meet people in similar phases of life.
I was happy to try a new spot, it being my birthday celebration and all, when my friend suggested Vidalia on M and 20.
Vidalia has a totally different vibe. It's kinda classy--not at all crowded, with an older customer base and a noise level that never reached past a low hum.
The menu is "American Cuisine with a Southern Accent". As a southerner, I'm leery whenever I see a restaurant trying to pull off Southern cuisine. Hailing from the deep South (SC!) where flavors are intense, bbq reigns supreme, seafood is fresh and abundant, and chefs are very liberal with seasonings, I'm rarely impressed.
I had a fancy pulled pork slider, bbq shrimp over cornbread, shrimp infused hush puppies, and half a flatbread pizza. I loved the flavors though it felt more like French Cuisine, with a touch of the American South.
They take drinks very seriously, which I can appreciate. My favorite cocktail was Tobacco Road, it's made with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Cheerwine. Enough said. I could've been back in SC. Dangerous though, you can't taste liqour but it packs a punch. The bartender was very friendly and was happy to experiment with mixes.
I'm used to eating and getting full at happy hour, but the appetizers at Vidalia are quite small, more like snacks. I ate a full meal, meatloaf and mac&cheese, after leaving.
It was a fun outing. I loved that it was quiet enough to talk without having to shout, that I could buy a glass bottle of Cheerwine and watch the chef cook via an exhibition kitchen. Drinks were a bit pricey for Happy Hour, $9-11/glass. Appetizers were $4-5.
I'll be returning to try the three-course lunch special for $19.99. They update the menu regularly on their Facebook page.
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