Eatonville - U Street Corridor, DC

Recently went out to dinner for a good friend's birthday for upscale, comfort food at Eatonville in the U Street Corridor. It was named after the famous Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston's childhood town in Florida. There is street parking and a garage nearby. The closest metro stop is U Street/Memorial/Cardozo on the green/yellow line.

The interior is very open and spacious with floor to ceiling windows. There are two levels, but we didn't get to check out upstairs. Very funky and colorful story-themed murals line most of the walls. Outdoor seating is available during warmer months.

To quench my thirst, I ordered a Ginger Lemonade ($3.50) in this cute mason jar glass. I thought it was refreshing, however I would have preferred more ginger. The bf ordered the same thing and found the amount of ginger to be just right.

Since it was a celebration, I ordered a Chocolate Cinn (chocolate-infused Buffalo Trace bourbon, creme de cocoa, patron citronge) for $10. Holy cow it was SO strong! I couldn't drink it, yet was too lazy to send it back. So beware.

The menu is slightly on the smaller side, but there is a good selection of veggie, meat and seafood dishes. I ended up ordering the Catfish and Grits (cheddar heirloom grits, cider-infused collared greens, tomato butter) for $16. The fish was fried but not oily, and paired well with the softer side items. I wish the collared greens had bacon in them though. I guess it's healthier this way.

The bf ordered the Fried Chicken (cider-infused collared greens, extra-sharp mac and cheese, buttermilk biscuit) for $16. He found the chicken to be crispy, flavorful and not greasy. He also wished the collared greens had bacon in them.

Even though the bf had mac and cheese with his entree, he was being greedy! So I ordered my own side ($4) and thank goodness I did. It is the BEST I've had to date. Very hot, creamy, salty goodness with crispy-sharpness on top. Delicious. I was quite impressed.

The bf ordered a side of House-cut Cajun Fries ($4), which I liked because they were thin and packed a lot of salt and spices.

It appeared everyone at the table ordered a side of Cornbread ($2). They were more like muffins with a side of sweet butter. I thought they were a bit dry and bland without the butter.

Overall the food was on point with their style, which was more refined soul food. Nothing was overly heavy or over compensated with extra fat. Our server was attentive and the woman who appeared to be the manager was checking on us throughout the night. A cool event they offer is Food and Folklore, a monthly event mixing literature and food.

2121 14th St, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 332-9672
www.eatonvillerestaurant.com