I met a friend for drinks last night at the bar at District Commons and was wowed by the size of the restaurant. It’s large and open, the kitchen is mainly visible to the diners, and the bar area includes multiple different seating options for those just looking for a light snack or quick cocktail. My friend Jenn and I were immediately impressed with the service as the waiter was very knowledgeable about wines and recommended a buttery Chardonnay that we both loved. We were off to a good start, and the restaurant was bustling with many professionals, students, and tourists. A great mix.
The menu offers craveable American classics including a raw bar, flatbreads, a burger made of shortribs, vegetable pot pie, shrimp and grits, steaks, and crab cakes. But, the one thing that really jumped out at me was the three different preparations of mussels: red, white, and blue. All three have interesting ingredients, but we decided to split the white mussels which were made with house Lemoncello, oven cured tomatoes, and lemon thyme cream. They were served in a beautiful white cast iron Le Creuset dish and as soon as the lid was removed the aroma was hard to resist. The mussels were huge in size and the sauce was so creamy and worked beautifully with the sweetness of the tomatoes. We were also served a homemade loaf of bread with the mussels which was piping hot and was perfect for soaking up the sauce.
The entire experience at District Commons was a great one. Excellent service, friendly and helpful staff, delicious food, great wine, and a really comfortable and pleasant space for spending time with friends, family, or even colleagues. Chef and Owner Jeff Tunks was walking around the restaurant and checking in with guests which is always a great sign. I have high hopes for District Commons and I plan to be back very soon… in fact, that shortrib burger is definitely calling my name.
District Commons
2200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20052
www.districtcommonsdc.com
