SUCCOTASH — Restaurant in Washington

I’ve been a regular at this restaurant since last year, but after today’s experience, I will never be returning. My friend was visiting from out of town, and our waitress, Tram, blatantly tried to scam him because he was a tourist, after he mentioned this to her. She asked, “Bottled sparkling or still water?” without mentioning tap water, which immediately raised red flags. My friend said “not sparkling.” She asked if we wanted the still water and my friend said yes. I hesitated to clarify, but since we had always received a carafe of tap water when requesting still water in the past, I assumed it would be the same.

However, instead of a carafe, Tram brought out 2 bottles of water ($14), while other tables in her section had 1 one bottle per table, and those in other waiters’ sections had carafes of tap water. When I explained the miscommunication and requested tap water instead, she refused to correct the mistake, insisting we had to pay since she had already opened the bottles. I told her that, as an attorney, I found this ridiculous and simply wanted to clarify the misunderstanding. I was not comfortable paying for something we didn’t intend to order. She told me to speak with a manager, which I immediately agreed to. Instead of doing so, she began arguing, falsely claiming, “Just so you know, in DC, we don’t serve tap water. We have to filter and bottle it.” I’ve dined here over 10 times and have never had an issue receiving tap water, nor have I had this issue at any other restaurant in DC.

Rather than escalating the issue with her, I told her again that I’d prefer to discuss the matter with a manager. Afterward, she became visibly passive-aggressive while serving our appetizers, still never calling the manager. At some point, she silently served us tap water but avoided eye contact. During our meal, we were also “served” extra chicken wings that we never ordered and we sent it back. We ordered the pre fixe menu, which already included the wings.

When our main course arrived, a manager finally came to check on us. I explained that I was a regular and had brought my friend, a fan of Edward Lee, to experience the restaurant. We also noticed the manager had a phone in her pocket, camera facing us at eye level, which was bizarre and unsettling. We think she may have been recording us.

Shortly after, another table was seated next to us, and we explicitly heard Tram offer them “bottled water or tap water,” an option she never gave us. At this point, my friend became perplexed by the clear inconsistency.

To make matters worse, when we were ready to leave, I asked 4 different waiters for the check, specifically telling them “sorry we are in a rush.” Despite making prolonged eye contact with 2 waiters at the register, they actively ignored us. About 20 minutes of waiting, Tram finally returned, saying, “I heard you were in a rush. Would you like to skip dessert?” My friend asked if we could take dessert to go, and I requested the check again. Tram came back with the check, and it still charged us for 1 bottle of water, so I asked her again if she could remove it. The restaurant’s general manager came to deliver the correct check and did not say anything. It was difficult to just pay for our meal and leave.

This experience was bizarre and unacceptable. Between the dishonest upselling, poor service, and strange behavior from both Tram and the management, I cannot recommend this...

Succotash Prime offers a truly unique dining experience with its expansive, two-story layout and breathtaking bar area that greets you as soon as you step through the doors. The Front of House staff are incredibly welcoming and friendly, setting a pleasant tone for the evening.

The bar staff were both friendly and efficient, despite the length of the bar. The glassware used here is of high quality and slightly oversized, adding to the overall experience. The selection of spirits is extensive, and the cocktails are well-crafted. I was particularly impressed by the affordability and variety of the Happy Hour specials.

Moving on to dinner, our party of five was fortunate to dine in a booth-style private area that was once a vault when the building served as a bank. Kwame, our server for the evening, was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, and his attention to detail in maintaining the cleanliness of our table was commendable.

Snacks & Starters: The deviled eggs are a must-try. The presentation is delightful, and the egg filling is perfectly creamy. Each bite is enhanced by the delicious bacon jam hidden underneath, making it a delightful treat for bacon enthusiasts. The fried green tomatoes are not prepared in the traditional manner, but they are still enjoyable. The dish leans more towards a salad, with the fried green tomatoes serving as a base. The salad and dressing are delicious, but they somewhat overshadow the thinly sliced fried green tomatoes.

Entrees: Apple Cider BBQ Pork Ribs: The ribs were cooked to perfection, with the meat easily falling off the bone. The apple cider vinegar added a delightful acidity that complemented the seasoning beautifully, resulting in a very enjoyable dish.

12 oz Filet Mignon: The steak here is exceptional, smoked in white oak before grilling. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked, and the mint chimichurri sauce added a refreshing twist.

Today's Catch - Flounder: The flounder was grilled to perfection, with a wonderful smoky flavor. The meat was firm yet flaky, although it could benefit from a bit more seasoning to enhance the overall flavor.

Chicken & Waffles: This dish featuring thighs and drumsticks was quite enjoyable. The seasoning on the chicken skin was flavorful, and the chicken remained juicy. The pickled okra on top added a nice sour kick that complemented the chicken well.

Sides: The citrus, blue cheese & spicy peanuts was the standout side dish for me. The combination of flavors was exceptional, with the sweet citrus notes balancing the slightly bitter grapefruit. The crunchy texture of the peanuts and the creamy, strong flavor of the blue cheese added depth to the dish. The macaroni and cheese had a true southern flair, with a rich and creamy texture and a nice cheese topping. The collard greens had the distinct vinegar taste typical of southern collard greens. While enjoyable, this dish might not appeal to those who are not fans of the strong acidity of heavy vinegar.

In conclusion, Succotash Prime has established itself as a mainstay in the competitive DC restaurant scene for good reason. Whether you're looking for drinks at an impressive bar, a romantic evening in a dimly lit setting, or a family-style dinner, this establishment offers a...

We had high expectations of this restaurant seeing that the chef won the James Beard award, however this whole experience from start to finish was a disappointment. We had an 8:30pm reservation and when we arrived, the host told us tables were currently being cleared and we’d be seated once they were finished. While we were waiting, the host was falling asleep at her station, literally laying her head down and yawning. We finally got seated after 30 minutes. We ordered the taste of the south. The deviled eggs, fried green tomato salad, chicken wings, and cornbread came out all at once pretty quickly but we didn’t even have plates or utensils when the food arrived. The cornbread was nothing special and came out cold, tasted like it came from boxed cornbread mix. The only redeeming part of that dish was the butter and jam. The chicken wings were lukewarm and dry. The deviled eggs were nothing special and the egg whites were almost rubbery. The best dish was the fried green tomato salad. Then came the shrimp and grits. The flavor was good and the shrimp were cooked well but it was lukewarm and you could tell it had been sitting out for a while. They cleared our plates after and then brought out the ribeye, chicken and waffles, old bay Mac and cheese, and creamy corn succotash but again we did not have plates or utensils and had to ask the staff for them. All these dishes were major disappointments. Everything came out lukewarm/cold. The ribeye looked like it was leftover cuts of other steaks put together, all the slices were uneven, the meat was tough and bland. I don’t even think it was a ribeye. The fried chicken was bland and not even crispy. You could tell it had been sitting out a while. The waffle was very sweet and really the sweetness of the syrup and waffle overwhelmed the dish. The old bay Mac and cheese didn’t even have old bay on it or mixed in. It was also surprisingly bland and tasted like something you’d get at a school cafeteria. The succotash was not bad but like all the other dishes, came out lukewarm. We were so disappointed and confused by the quality of the dishes that we didn’t even eat the mains and sides after tasting them. Our server and the manager were very nice and tried to accommodate by sending the dishes back and bringing out a new batch but the second round was the same as the first, just warmer so we ended up just sending it back as well and decided to just move onto dessert, hoping it would be better. The dessert was unfortunately was also disappointing. The bourbon chocolate pecan pies were like mini hockey pucks, very hard and cold like they just came out of the refrigerator. They were more like caramel tarts than a pecan pie. The hummingbird truffles were better but were on par with Starbucks cake pops. The only thing that was really good was the whipped cream. Overall, the food was not anything close to what you’d expect from a James Beard award winner. It tasted like overpriced...