Ten years ago, on the corner of 14th Street and K, the flagship of one of DC’s best-known restaurant groups was born. Supplanting a wealth of fresh seafood paired with it’s exquisite architecture and elegant design, DC Coast quickly became the place for power hungry fine dining. Stellar service, along with artistically crafted dishes combined to create a DC great.

Following an exciting and historic election week, we decided to go to DC Coast to celebrate my brother-in-law’s birthday. Having celebrated his birthdays here in the past, we were excited to return to, what in our minds, is a DC staple; a go-to restaurant that offers the unwavering service that we have become accustomed to.

 

The starters, which for the most part have become my favorite at most restaurants, were definitely the highlights.

 

Delicious “Poisson Cru” or tuna tartare tossed in fresh lime juice and coconut milk, served in a carved coconut with wonton crisp spoons…went over very well with my brother-in-law, who is a HUGE tartare fan.

My sister, who is always up for some raw-bar action, opted for the Iced Blue Point Oysters topped with a Champagne Sabayon and served with a side of Frozen Level Vodka. Oyster shooters, indeed! The flavor combinations and perfectly chilled temperature of the oysters (thanks to the vodka) were excellent.

As we moved on to our entrees, (which sadly, included a bit of a lull) I was disappointed to find that though each dish was beautifully plated, the newness and originality of the flavors that had been so impressive on our initial visits, seemed sub-par. I am by no means implying that the entrees were horrible. On the contrary, they were all very good….solid even, but that’s it.

The best of the entrees (three of which were fish) was a Cider Brined Pork Chop served with delicately braised Red Cabbage, Roasted Pears and topped with a slightly sweet cider jus. This was a wonderfully executed dish, but being that we generally come here for all things “coastal”, it seemed strange that the pig won the day.

So, as we fast forward to the present, it seems that while the opulence and grandeur of the dining room remains, the innovation and excitement of the menu seems to have lost a bit of it’s luster. DC Coast remains to be a crowd favorite, and is still an excellent choice for impressing clients at those power luncheons. If you are looking for beautiful ambience and impressive architecture, this is definitely the place. But, if you’ve recently dined at many of DC’s newer and upcoming establishments, you might agree that the level of service and simplicity of the menu could use a bit of a facelift.

 

DC Coast

1401 K Street, NW

Washington, DC

202.216.5988

www.dccoast.com

 

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