Spork and Knife

If you want to get a sense of the excitement I had building up to my Corduroy visit, just read a few of the glowing reviews online.  

D and I made our way towards 1201 K street, through the Sheraton Hotel lobby, up the stairs to the second floor and arrived 5 minutes before our 8pm reservation. (A round of, “Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” seems appropriate.)  It felt a bit odd dodging bell boys and luggage carts on my way to dinner, but the lure of Tom Power’s culinary talents kept me going.  The word on the street is, he values local fresh ingredients, a major bonus in my books.   

Since our table wasn’t ready, the two of us sat at the bar and chatted with the very helpful and friendly bartender.  He suggested we try the Hook & Ladder golden ale, which was on tap.  Great suggestion.   Check out their website to read more about this local beer that is both tasty and philanthropic.

After about 10 minutes at the bar, we took our seats in the unassuming yet cozy dining room.  There was nothing flashy to look at, but in a way I welcomed the peaceful hotel atmosphere.  Our waiter, who also appeared to be working the front of the house quickly came over and gave us a rundown of the night’s menu.  There were a few additions to the full menu and only a few items had upcharges.  (ranging from $3-$5).  I chose the lobster carpaccio to start and the seared sea scallops with garlic mashed potatoes and chardonnay sauce as an entree.  D went with the corn soup and roast lamb loin with garlic creamed spinach.  The corn soup had a fancier name, but the exact wording seems to elude me.

I have never had raw lobster, and to be honest I don’t think I will have it again.  To my untrained pallet, the thin slices seemed to get lost in the other flavors of olive oil, lemon, and what I think was either tangy mizuna or frisee lettuce.  It was a clean and refreshing dish, and possibly a favorite of others, but next time I’m getting the oysters. 

D’s corn soup was excellent.  Creamy, bright and bursting of flavor are all words that come to mind.  I would describe it more, but I was only able to wrestle away a spoonful before D managed to mop up the remnants in his bowl with a piece of crusty bread. 

The gold star of the evening went to the scallops.  When I spotted my dish making its way from the kitchen I knew I was in love.  (See picture above to get an exact visual)  The scallops were large and flavorful, the mashed potatoes done perfectly with just the right amount of garlic, and the mushroom/chardonnay sauce…ohh my! 

I was much less enthused with D’s lamb loin.  The flavors were underwhelming, and it seemed to be missing…well, a lot.  The creamed spinach was good, but again it needed something more. 

When the dessert menus were handed to us, I was riding the high of my entree and sprung for the chocolate hazelnut bars. (very similar to the adult kit-kat bar at Central)  D tried to play it safe, and after watching an episode of the food network showcasing this, went for the honey vanilla ice cream.

Both desserts were a success.  You can’t go wrong with chocolate and hazelnut, and the ice cream had a subtle hint of honey with a light and smooth finish.  Neither of us were blown away, and time did not stand still while eating either of the dishes, but it was a satisfying end to the night.   

My overall impression was favorable.  The staff was friendly, the food was fresh, and the scallops were something to return for.  There were some misses along the night, and I was a bit disappointed to say the least.  I wouldn’t put this on the very top of the list for the next restaurant week, but I will return to try and find another gem of a meal.  I have a feeling I didn’t get to see the best Corduroy has to offer.