Better Know a District: J&G Steakhouse
Welcome to Clarendon Culture’s new series: Better Know a District! This is the first installment of what will be a monthly or bimonthly feature. Better Know a District will highlight our adventures, dates, and dining experiences in the nation’s capitol. Fear not, my friends – Clarendon Culture will remain almost entirely devoted to Clarendon, but every once in awhile, you’ll see me give a shout out to our friends in DC.
Tonight, a recap from our unforgettable dinner at J&G Steakhouse (at the W Hotel) to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary.
Walking into the W on a Friday night was as eye-popping as one might expect. With soaring ceilings, bright wisteria-colored chandeliers, and a vibrant social scene, the lobby of the W brims with energy. We were so preoccupied by the people-watching that we almost forgot how starving we were.
The J&G dining room is itself an artful continuation of the hotel’s gorgeous lobby. The huge columns and arched windows add height to an already towering room, while the lovely ceiling fresco gives your eyes something to feast upon while you enjoy your meal.
Bill pored over the wine list while I munched on fresh house bread accompanied with a nicely salted butter. As an appetizer, we chose the calamari, which had received high marks on Yelp and a hearty endorsement from our waiter. Before the calamari was brought out, we were served a raspberry Bellini amuse bouche: a perfectly refreshing little tonic from the scorching Washington summer outside.
Next, the waiter brought out our appetizer, and it wasn’t the typical basket of rubbery o-rings to share. He brought out 2 fully dressed half-portion sizes for each of us. The calamari was as good (if not better) than the calamari we had in Greece (when the fisherman pulled the giant squid out of the water and beat it to its death before grilling him up for our dinner.) It was juicy, melt-in-your mouth tender, and flavorful, which is a rare combination when having calamari. The breading was fluffy yet maintained a nice crisp shell. The dipping sauce was foamy in texture, and gave the calamari a subtle acidic pairing. This dish absolutely won over our already high expectations.
Deciding what we were going to have for our entrees was not an easy task. The menu is not especially large, but each of the items sounded appealing, and with a diverse array of sides, there are several ways to customize your entree. Eventually, Bill went with the Wagyu sirloin steak, and I chose the Braised Short Ribs. For sides, we ordered the Potato Gratin and the Beet Salad. The waitstaff brought our meal to the table, and we could hardly wait to experience it. I should note here that they initially forgot to bring the potatoes out with our entrees, however, without our prompting the waiter quickly caught the error, had the dish expedited, and put it on the house. This kind of attention to detail was perfectly representative of the wonderful service we experienced all night.
We took our knives and forks to our meat only to discover we didn’t even need those knives. First time in my life I truly experienced the phrase “it cuts like butter.” The gorgeous piece of meat, sitting on a bed of perfectly-cooked carrots and carrot puree, was phenomenal. Each bite melted in my mouth. As if the tender and juicy meat wasn’t already perfect, the glaze, bold, yet with a hint of sweetness, gave this meal the grand finale it deserved. Such a work of art this dish is. The photograph doesn’t do it justice. 
After a single bite of the Wagyu steak, Bill admitted it was one of the best steaks he’d had in his life. The flavor was unlike anything he’d had in DC (yes, we’re huge fans of Ray’s, but this steak was a different animal.) Within 2 minutes of having our main entrees, a piping hot iron skillet full of cheesy, hand-sliced potatoes was brought to our table. The potatoes were worth the wait ten times over. They were cheesy, but not overwhelmingly gooey. They were soft, but not mushy. The dish reminded us of a dish we had in a small town near the French Alps called Aligot. It was a warm memory brought back by our taste buds. The beet salad was dainty and flavorful. Toasted hazelnuts were sprinkled about the salad. The beets were petite, but were so full of flavor. It was a wonderful light accompaniment to our otherwise indulgent meal.
In the best possible way, we were absolutely done. We could not stop singing the praises of this meal to our waiter. We instantly moved J&G up the queue to rank as one of the top 5 restaurants in DC we had ever experienced. Even though we had dessert waiting for us at home (a mini version of our wedding cake), we still could not say no to dessert. We ordered the strawberries and poppy seed ice cream. The strawberries were flash-boiled to help draw out the choice the juices and the true strawberry essence flavor burst forth in every bite. It was the perfect finish to the perfect meal. The waiter offered to have us escorted up to the rooftop terrace as VIP guests. Without hesitation, we happily obliged. The rooftop was abuzz with romance, laughter, and unbeatable views of DC. We had our grossly overpriced cocktails, reminisced about 4 great years of marriage, and kissed goodnight to a perfect evening. (and yes, we still chowed down on our mini wedding cake, courtesy of Heidelberg Bakery…)
