Capital Q

Reviewed by Thomas Head

Texas-style barbecue in the middle of Chinatown.

Capital Q

707 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-347-8396

Cuisines:
Barbecue, American, Southern

Opening Hours:
Mon,Tue,Wed:
General: 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Thu,Fri,Sat:
General: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Gallery Place-Chinatown
Metro Center

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Crowd:
Sports fans from the nearby Verizon Center, tourists, nostalgic Texas transplants, locals getting takeout.

Noise Level:
Rowdy

Reservations:
Not Accepted

Special Features:
Late Night, Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Brisket sandwiches and platters; potato salad; Texas caviar; collard greens; jalepeno cornbread; pecan pie; banana pudding.

Price Details:
Sandwiches, $6 to $12. Platters, $7 to $8.50.


From June 2005 Cheap Eats

DC's Chinatown might seem like an odd location for a barbecue joint, but the sign over the door in Chinese doesn't mean that Nick Fontana doesn't produce the best Texas-style barbecue in town. He even takes advantage of his location by offering a Chinese Cowboy Platter--rice topped with the diner's choice of meat.

Capital Q's offerings include pork, chicken, and sausage, but the star of the show is the brisket, rubbed with a blend of dry spices and smoked for 12 hours over an oak and hickory fire. Tender, smoky, and delicious, it's available on sandwiches, on a plate with two sides, or as takeout. Don't neglect the sides--good potato salad, Texas Caviar made from black-eyed peas, and spicy jalapeño cornbread.