Sherry and Mike, Diane and John and Debbie and I had dinner on a Sunday night at “the grilled oyster”.
Once we sat down a couple of plates were placed in the center of the table, each containing several pieces of carrot, celery and a form of cracker and a sauce.
John ordered Fresh Maine Mussels for the table and I ordered Fried Calamari. The mussels were slightly more popular than the calamari, although even those who are not calamari fans were quite positive about these.
Mike, Diane and I ordered the Roasted Red & Golden Beet Salad, including mixed greens, goat cheese, and spicy Chili Lime Vinaigrette.
As main courses Debbie, Mike, Diane and Sherry selected the Jumbo Lump Maryland Crab Cakes, with grilled corn and cucumber succotash, fennel & whole grain mustard sauce. John ordered the Seared Sea Scallops, with shitake & Portobello mushroom risotto, sauce romesco. I ordered the Sautéed Monkfish with shaved Brussel sprouts, Maine lobster, lobster cappuccino cream. A while later our server came back to the table to tell me that they were out of Monkfish and suggested I try the Pan Roasted Chesapeake Rockfish with sautéed kale, bacon, roasted sweet potato with almond brown butter.
There are various sections to the restaurant. As you enter, the reception desk is straight ahead. To the left is a section of 2s, 4s, and 6s which can readily be combined. There is a wall separating this section from the back section of the restaurant. The wall is about person height. The ceiling is very high.
The back section contains three types of seating. There is a long curved bar that is split in two about two-thirds of the way down. It has high chairs that will seat at least 25 people. There are a series of high tables with related chairs. There are a number of 2s and 4s.
One of the interesting features of the bar is the bottle storage behind it. There are a series of shelves from waist height to the high ceiling and on each shelf a variety of bottles of various type and sizes. There is a sliding ladder that allows the bartender to reach the upper selves. On each side of the fore described section there is a more narrow section on which are stored what appear to be wine bottles on their sides.
The restaurant seats 130 people inside with an additional section for 70 people at various size tables on the outdoor patio at the front of the restaurant. (The patio was not being used the night we were there except for a group of six people sitting by a fire enjoying a libation.)
Because this is a relatively new restaurant the men’s restroom is quite fresh. There are two wall hanging urinals with a shiny metal partial wall, attached to the wall between them. Across the way are two sunken metal wash basins in a brown marble counter with accompanying wall mirrors. At the end of the room there is a metal encased commode room. Like so many new restaurants the walls are covered with mid-size tan tiles and the floor with very large rectangular tiles.
When the check arrives I take a quick look and pay it. Mike tends to examine the check more carefully and this time it paid off. You will recall I ordered the Monkfish and then was told the restaurant was out of that selection. I then picked the Rockfish. The check contained a charge for each of the two fish selections. Mike pointed that out and of course it was changed.
The service left something to be desired. Even though the restaurant was not full our meals were quite slow in arriving. And when the time came to get our check we couldn’t get anyone’s attention.
Notwithstanding the service and the check, we will go again.
Parking is available and free up to 1.5 hours in the Cathedral Commons garage below the Giant with a validation of the parking ticket in the restaurant.
Addendum – Diane reported that she had been to the restaurant since our joint visit and had an excellent dinner.
The Grilled Oyster Co.
3701 Newark Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-362-1719
Info@thegrilledoyster.com
Open daily 11:30 a.m.
Closes at 11 p.m. Sunday – Thursday
Closes at 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday