100 Best Restaurants 2009: Vidalia

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Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Rina Rapuano , Eve Zibart

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Vidalia

1990 M St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-659-1990
Fax: 202-223-8572

Cuisines:
American, Southern, Modern

Opening Hours:
Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu:
Evening: 05:30 PM - 10:00 PM Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri:
Afternoon: 11:30 AM - 02:30 PM Fri,Sat:
Evening: 05:30 PM - 10:30 PM Sun:
Evening: 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Dupont Circle
Farragut North

Price Range:
Very Expensive

Dress:
Business Attire

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Recommended

Special Features:
Party Space

Parking:
Valet

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Mint julep; smoked golden trout with roasted-onion purée and steelhead roe; braised pork cheeks with red cabbage, hot pickle vinaigrette, and cracklings; pumpkin soup with chestnut-filled agnolotti; shrimp ’n’ grits; Southern cassoulet; apple-cider doughnuts; lemon chess pie.

Reader's Rating:

3.3 out of 5

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No. 7: Vidalia

Lobster, truffles, and foie gras make a luxe trio at Vidalia.

Cuisine: Shrimp ’n’ grits and pecan pie are still on the menu, and the bread basket is the best this side of the Mason-Dixon Line, but calling this a Southern restaurant doesn’t begin to get at the intricacy and imagination of James Beard Award–winning chef R.J. Cooper’s cooking. Masterful French technique, ingredients from around the globe, and a restless need to experiment (last summer he debuted Ritz Cracker ice cream—as a condiment) are all put in the service of rooted, accessible food.

Mood: Convivial yet elegant, the subterranean dining room exudes sophistication and confidence. It can make you feel buoyant even in the depths of winter.

Best for: Sips and nibbles at the bar; a client lunch; a blowout multicourse dinner.

Best dishes: The area’s best mint julep; smoked golden trout with roasted-onion purée and steelhead roe; braised pork cheeks with red cabbage, hot pickle vinaigrette, and cracklings; luxurious pumpkin soup with chestnut-filled agnolotti; shrimp ’n’ grits; a Southern riff on cassoulet, with pork shank, ham hock, pork cheek, and heirloom beans; warm apple-cider doughnuts; signature lemon chess pie.

Insider tips: Happy hour, 5:30 to 7 weekdays, remains the best around for people who like to eat as well as they drink. Cooper’s free hors d’oeuvres are terrific, and you can sample small pours of the restaurant’s exceptional wine list.

Service:*** (three stars).

Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday and Sunday for dinner.

See all of 2009's 100 Best Restaurants

Villa Mozart

The Oval Room

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review

um, no.

lmitchell1981 — June 26, 2009 8:08 PM

really, what's the big deal about this place????

I was drawn to the chalkboard sign outside, which read 'Three Course Lunch $19.90.' Who wouldn't want to eat a three course lunch for under $20 at one of DC's 'finest restaurants'????? Maybe More ...

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Layers of an Onion

cs2aq — March 8, 2009 9:40 AM

From outside Vidalia looks unimpressive, but I discovered the setting is far more comfortable than the outside indicates. The lounge is most inviting. Low couches beg to sunk into after a long day at work. The dinning room is more formal, but More ...

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Innovative & well balanced food

AlexandrianFoodie — February 23, 2009 8:53 AM

If Vidalia's food & service are to entice new customers during Restaurant Week, it worked. Food was well balanced & innovative. The goat rouladen was amazing with layers upon layers of flavor. Shrimp & grits had nice flavor though the shrimp was a More ...

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