TL;DR

• Traditional American fare done right.
• Great dining experience
• Service sort of slow
• Make reservations. Popular.
• Get the Banana Split dessert. Trust me on this one.

I've done it. Finally, I've located the the perfect downtown DC dinner spot. Accomplishing this feat was harder than I imagined. As someone who doesn't usually reach out for traditional American fare, this place becoming my new go-to was also unexpected.

So, what makes this place so great? I'm glad you asked. Firstly, and most importantly, is the establishments use of space. The lobby is large enough that you won't have to have some stranger sit on your lap while you wait for your table to be cleared. By saying "wait for your table to be cleared" this implies that you should have a reservation waiting for you. Do this early. Reservations fill quickly, especially on holidays. Additionally, and this is huge for me, the restaurant doesn't sacrifice your comfort in the name of making more money. Meaning, tables aren't crammed together so tightly that you end up hearing your neighbor's chewing noises. I have no idea why, but this congested table setting seems to be a recurring theme in most DC restaurants. Thankfully, that isn't the case here.

Next, our waiter was attentive to our needs but not overbearing. This is a difficult, but important, balance to strike and he nailed it. He regularly circled the area, but didn't repeatedly do that obnoxious thing where they ask you how your food is while mid-chew. This allowed me to get his attention when required, but was invisible otherwise.

Food was moderately slower to arrive. By that, I mean that right when you start to wonder what the hold up is, it shows up. This, in my mind, means that it is being prepared freshly. At least, that is how I rationalized it. What made less sense was the fact that my beer took an uncomfortable amount of time to show up. The appetizer I order (which was the amazing Parmesan cheese bread) managed to arrive prior to my beverage. Minor annoyance, but still odd.

I selected the Mustard-Seed Crusted Twin Lamb Chops ($26). Girlfriend selected the Mid-Atlantic scallops (also $26). Both of these were absolute knockouts. I was immediately enamored with the fact that my lamb was cooked as specified (medium-rare. Pink on outer edge, bloody inside). It is astounding how hard it is to come by actual medium-rare anything in DC. What made it truly memorable, though, was the mustard seed seasoning.

However, portions seemed awkwardly disproportionate. My meal would have been better called "Friggin' massive baked potato with a splash of lamb and some green beans". I realize this doesn't have the same ring to it. I would have rather paid more money for the meal to primarily feature the item in the name of the dish, rather than gorging myself on an over-sized spud.

Now, I don't know if all of their dessert are this outstanding, but if nothing else, you need to get a banana split after your meal. The thing is a glorious, massive tower of varying ice cream flavors, chocolate drizzle, peanuts and bananas. If you weren't full after eating your main dish, you will be after this. But, it will also be totally worth it.

All said, I'd say this location is a solid 4 1/2 stars, but I nominated to round up due to how minor the discrepancies were and how amazing everything else was. Also, 4 1/2 stars is not an option so... :)

This place is date night, done right, but it's versatile enough to be a hangout with friends venue, too.