Johnny's Half Shell
Address: 400 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-737-0400
Neighborhood:
Capitol Hill
Cuisines:
Seafood, An example of a traditional Southern meal is deep fried chicken, field peas, turnip greens, cornbread, sweet tea and a dessert that could be a pie (sweet potato, pecan and peach are traditional southern pies), or a cobbler (peach, blackberry or mixed berry are traditional cobblers)., Modern, American
Opening Hours: Open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Open for dinner Monday through Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Closed on Sunday.
Nearby Metro Stops: Union Station
Price Range: Moderate
Dress: Upscale Casual
Noise Level: Chatty
Reservations: Recommended
Best Dishes Roasted-beet-and-cucumber salad with smoked sturgeon and a caviar parfait; charbroiled Chesapeake oysters; made-to-order oyster stew; gumbo; Maryland crabcakes; lobster with drawn butter and fresh shell beans; coconut cream pie.
Price Details: Entrees, $17.95 to $27.95.
_
The Capitol looms in the distance, but the moment you step onto the tiled floors of Ann Cashion's restaurant, bipartisanship prevails: Bickering gives way to partying as politicos and their posses blow off steam. The feel-good food helps--time-honored dishes from the Gulf and Chesapeake, prepared without preciousness or ego.
In summer, don't miss the barbecue crabs served on the patio, accompanied by live jazz.
What to get: Grilled chicken wings with green-goddess dressing; oysters on the half shell; oyster stew; seafood gumbo; Dungeness crab Louis; sautéed soft-shells; a definitive crabcake; spicy grilled lobster; chocolate angel-food cake; coconut cream pie.
Open Monday through Friday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Saturday for dinner. Expensive.
