Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - DC — Restaurant in Washington

This came across my radar a couple of months ago and got the opportunity last night to go. Review time! I just want to speak on service 1st and foremost. The security/doorman and hostesses were amazing. So welcoming that I made sure to include a picture with them in the review. From the time we entered, they did a wonderful job letting us know what was happening and just informing us about menu choices and making us feel as if we truly were at home. Rashida was our server... I don't know how to even give her the credit she deserves. She was FABULOUS!!! A great job from the time we sat to the time we walked out the door. She was always just one step ahead even when dishes or drinks were coming out. She paid attention to the little details that really add up. I always say the food can be off, but if the service is A+, you will still have an amazing time.

I will acknowledge the music because I do know a lot of guests have remarked about how loud it is in the restaurant. I, however, think it is less about the music and moreso about some very loud patrons and the overall acoustics in the restaurant. Lastly, I will mention that tables should be bigger or chairs should be smaller. The blue chairs are lovely and esthetically pleasing. However, they don't allow you to sit under the table properly/ comfortably. They are rather large... just a bit awkward.

Ok, let's speak about what we all know is most important! The food!!!! We ordered a little bit of everything. The salmon bites (fried) were a but overcooked and overly seasoned. I do think that the repetitive statement throughout the night was that things battered were overly seasoned (or too salty). The fried cauliflower was a show stopper. I was sad that it was a little salty but drizzled over the Thai Chilli sauce and it was workable. The crabcake appetizer was pretty good, nothing that I would say I had to have again, though. On to the main dishes... Surf and Turf was good. The lamb was a bit overcooked (ordered it medium) it came out more on the well done side however it wasn't dry. The fried lobster tail was good. The chicken and waffles were yummy. I tried the pecan ones buy wish that I would have tried the peach option. Chicken was fried nicely... would order that again for sure, and I don't even really like fried chicken. The pasta was a bit saucey for my taste, and the crab leg didn't really add to the dish. It also wasn't precracked as most restaurants do, especially when they don't provide you a cracker to do so yourself. It just really made for a messy experience. The fried catfish was good again it was overly seasoned, but that I believe was due to the batter. The batter is thick, which gives it a good crunch but takes away from the fish if it's too much. For sides we ordered cornbread which I loved!!!! Collard greens, nobody tried them, they looked fine though. Sweet potato fries were yummy as well and lastly the lobster mac-n-cheese. Mac-n-cheese is something that either goes really well or doesn't. This wasn't the worse I have ever had in my life but also not the best. It needed bit more lobster and a different type of cheese in my opinion. We passed on dessert so I can't speak on those. The drinks were fabulous and something I would get again.

All in all it wasn't bad. I do truly think my server and the front end staff made our meal though and experience. I think I could come back grab a drink or two at the bar and some fried cauliflower, and that would be enough.

Many people mentioned the food cost. I don't ever have a problem paying for great food and wonderful service. I loved that they gave 20% gratuity automatically (even though I always leave more). But I do think if you are going to charge at a certain price point, you must provide a certain caliber of food...

My husband and I went here on our first night of AwesomeCon! I've been looking for a more upscale soul food restaurant, that also had GOOD FOOD! Boy did I ever find the place! Kitchen + Kocktails is an amazing flavor explosion. This is a restaurant truly for soul foodies. The atmosphere when entering was a little buzzy, but the hostesses were beautiful and kind. Our attendant, Amber, was perfection! As a bariatric patient, I don't eat large portions. So, I was grateful when Amber understood that I would be grazing off what my husband ordered.

We started out with the fried green tomatoes. This is a delicious stack of two, thick slices of the freshest green tomatoes. They are battered and fried to perfection, laid on a bed of thick grits, and smothered in a zesty (not spicy-spicy, but a bold flavor) gravy. Topped with two perfectly grilled shrimp, these fried green tomatoes were superb!

For our entrée, my husband ordered the surf & turf. This was three gorgeous lamb chops with a fried lobster tail. For the side, I ordered black eyed peas with smoked turkey. I really wanted the collard greens, but I'll admit, in DC, I don't trust everyone's greens. Too many places here put sugar in their greens (looking at you Unconventional Diner) and that irritates the Southerner in me. Since I couldn't verify how the collards are seasoned, I went with the black eyed peas. These peas were a very good choice. They were flavorful and the smoked turkey really set the soul food mood.

I had water (which if you're bariatric, you know you can't drink for 30 minutes before or after eating). My husband had an 1792 old fashioned and he said it was a good drink. I'll have to take his word on that.

I want to give a remarkable KUDOS to the team that Friday 4/4/25. The staff was amazing. Our attendant was very keen on listening to our preferences, making sure to check in on us often, and was gracious in conversation with us. We appreciate it. The general manager came by our table a couple of times and that made us feel special because we were able to express out pleasure over Amber and her service. The hostesses we magnificent in making us feel welcomed, even without reservations. I cannot help myself, but to recommend Kitchen + Kocktails to every visitor to DC. Please don't ever change (unless you're adding some fried okra or crawfish to the menu)!!!

PROS: Walkable from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, The Conrad, The Westin, The Marriott Renaissance, hell, anywhere in that vicinity of 1-8 blocks. Ease of seating Window table The Staff And Of Course THE FOOD!!!

CONS: [If you are Bargain McRebater stay away] Price (The food is worth the price. It's cooked to perfection and tastes worth it and the tip) Parking (It's DC, need we say more? We don't even trust DC drivers because they've been parked since the last administration. My husband makes me drive in DC and other cities because he says I'm crazy when I drive. K+K have valet, but honestly, it's walkable.)

OVERALL: It's worth it. It's worth it. It's honestly worth it. We had such an pleasurable experience. The music wasn't too loud. The window was right across from Franklin Park. I mean, this was such an impulsive dinner that I was expecting it to go wrong, but everything went right. It was absolutely perfect. I'm impressed and I hope it continues to...

My sweetheart and I were in town for his Alumni at Howard’s University homecoming. . Giving me an opportunity to visit with my brother and his family,as well as my girl who live DC who navigated us to several different spots in including this one as our first stop.. if you live in DC and and never been are if you visiting make sure that you checkout to chill little spot. The ambiance was really nice, service was great is that a really great atmosphere friendly servers and the food wasn't too bad either..

The extremely beautiful red roses decor of flowers covered the front wall.. The decor was just absolutely matching the black walls cozy not too big but the food was really really really good. I couldn’t wait to finish it. I thought the atmosphere was really nice, very cozy I will set up I love the Rose set up with the K and K in the middle. The restaurant to your right side and then on the left a bar area that they had going on never Neon lights with symbolic writings on the wall giving it a little pizzazz now the main reason why we come to the restaurant is to eat and to drink and tell you our experienced. I had the jerk chicken my sweetie had the fried chicken and you put the sauce on top of it or you can actually have them mix it with it he had the Tennessee rub and the greens the Black Eyed Peas, we had the fried okra cornbread. I had the end in the salmon bites. The food was actually season very well. I do gotta say that now the portions are very small. I think the fried chicken itself was a nice size but the other stuff the portions are very small, so it’s not like you getting big plates for y’all be really hungry I think they only give you like two pieces of meat for the jerk which usually most restaurants give you about four nice sizes Dee was pretty tiny so know that they fried green tomatoes was really good. The okra was was was OK just a little salt but they were really good. I love okra. I did not try the Black Eyed Peas but my guy said they were good and that the green beans were good as well. We did not have any cocktails, but we did have iced tea which is really refreshing, so overall this restaurant give it atmosphere I give it a five star I love it they play the music in there. The food was good to the hoses was just so sweet her name was Nini. She was so so beautiful and so inviting she was perfect for the place as when you have people who work there to make sure that they’re you know, patrons are being taken care of while they’re in your establishment and I love that so I give the Restaurant High marks I think if they could add a little bit more of food on there entrées that be perfect I think that would be better but other than that I think it’s a great restaurant and I live in Houston so I’ll see what the one in Dallas is Like definitely recommended if you’re ever in the DC...