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

Carolina Kitchen - Hyattsville, MD

Met up with some old family friends for dinner. We try to go every couple months and this time it was for time some Southern soul food at The Carolina Kitchen. The first time I had eaten their food was when I was in high school. Their original location was in downtown Silver Spring, but a fire had destroyed the entire strip of shops they were on. Located in University Town Center, there is garage parking (1st 2 hrs are free). The closet metro is Prince George's Plaza on the green line.

Right when you walk in you see their 'Take Out' counter. It's really awesome because you can either dine-in or go through the line and take food to go! Even if you're dining in, you can walk through the line to help you make your decision.

The decor is beautiful. I think it's New Orleans meets Harlem Renaissance. The high ceilings, attention to detail, and warm colors are very inviting.

Look how cute the water glasses are! I love the idea of the mason jars.

Our group of 5 shared a few appetizers. The 'Cheese & Bacon Cajun Fries (Golden fries with Cajun seasoning loaded with melted cheese and bacon)' for $6.49 were so good and cheesy!

We ordered two kinds of wings:
Top: Spicy Thai Chili Wings (Covered with our sweet and tangy Thai Chili sauce)' for $8.99. My favorite out of the two because they were sweet.
Bottom: Grilled Jerk Wings (Slow cooked grilled wings with spicy Jerk seasoning)' for $8.99. The table's favorite, but too spicy for me.

The BEST cornbread I've ever had in my life. They were thick portions topped with honey butter, and just so light. They come with your main meal, and I know I could've just eaten a whole tray of it by myself.

Here are some of the items my friends ordered so you can get an idea for what they look like:
Top: Smothered Fried Chicken (Two pieces of fried chicken covered in grandma's gravy over fresh garlic mashed potatoes and two side fixins)'for $14.99. This gravy was very thick and creamy.
Bottom: Grilled Baby Back Ribs (Slow cooked, tender grilled pork ribs, basted with Carolina Kitchen's "award winning" BBQ sauce with baked beans, homemade coleslaw and Cajun fries, half rack)' for $15.99. The meat was falling off the bone and very tender.

The bf ordered the 'Cajun Grilled Pork Chops (Two flame grilled, tender pork chops with zesty Cajun seasoning served with rice pilaf, macaroni & cheese and classic vegetable blend)' for $14.99. He enjoyed it a lot! I was IN LOVE with the collared greens he got. I will be getting those next time!

I ordered the 'Rotisserie BBQ chicken' for $11.99. I got the Mac & Cheese and Candied Yams as my side. The Mac & Cheese was a table favorite too! Thick and cheesy. The yams had more cinnamon and orange flavor than I usually like, but the men at the table liked them.

The service was very friendly and helpful! The food came out in huge portions, and there is a large menu to choose from. Most of their main entrees range between $11-15, with some of their seafood platters being more. If you're there for your birthday, they sing a really cool song to you! They offer karaoke nights and reggae nights too during the week.

6501 America Blvd
Hyattsville, Maryland 20782
(301) 927-2929
www.thecarolinakitchen.com


SUN-THU 11am-10pm
WED 11am-10:30pm
FRI-SAT 11am-12am
BAR open till 1am