For any and everyone that has not treated themselves by dining at B Smith's,..you truly don't know what you're missing!
My evening dinner was filled with amazing food cooked to perfection, outstanding service and all while enjoying the most beautiful atmosphere.
Thank you B. Smith. It was such a delight meeting and speaking with you. Your a rare jewel and may your future success be blessed with God's favor. See you soon!
Rhonda (November 5, 2011)
Hi B. It was so nice to meet you at your fabulous restaurant during the CBC event with Congressman Al Green and my uncle Bill. Enjoy the pictures!
Arlene (October 11, 2011)
During an earlier visit, I was afforded a chance to taste much of your delicious southern food and enjoy so much of your wonderful atmosphere. Having lived four years in New Orleans, I know legitimate Creole cooking when I see, smell and taste it, and I believe you have the only authentic Creole kitchen in all of Washington. Thus, I knew exactly where to take my wife for our third anniversary last night, September 6, 2011.
I just wanted to take a moment to share that, in addition to our outstanding meal, we were treated to an extra special delight in the form of our server, Bridget. When it came time for dessert, Bridget brought our orders with anniversary candles burning bright, and she sang, out of the blue, an a capella version of "You Are So Beautiful To Me."
Well, it just so happens that "You Are So Beautiful" is our wedding song - our first dance. I had been kicking myself for not requesting the tune earlier from the cocktail piano player before he left, when lo and behold, Bridget just up and sang the song without any hint from my me or my wife. We both had tears of gladness in our eyes. That woman is a special angel, and we are so happy that she brought a joyful serendipity to our table last night.
My wife, Rebecca, and I are already looking forward to our next date night at B. Smith's Union Station. Thank you for the unforgettable evening.
Best,
Ted (September 7, 2011)
Just had to inform you of my experiences as a patron of both the New York and DC locations. At neither place have I experienced a bad meal and the chefs are wonderful at both locations. Please post that the collard greens are to die for!
Also, it's so great to see an African American female so beautifully balanced and very down to earth and compassionate as Ms. Smith. I'm loving it!
Towanda (August 25, 2011)
Dining at B. Smith's was the highlight of our week in DC. The food was delicious and we were all thrilled to meet B. Smith!.
Thanks,
Veteran's Health Administration employees from Florida and the Caribbean (August 24, 2011)
Dan-
Just to let you know that Cardinal Law enjoyed the restaurant so much that the other day he was to be in DC and went to B. Smith's in Union Square – you have a new fan.
Best regards,
Father Bob Morrissey (July 22, 2011)
We walked about 1 1/2 miles because it was our mission to step foot in the restaurant of the legendary B. Smith. To our dismay, the restaurant was minutes from closing for a private affair but the wonderful staff not only allowed us to enjoy a delicious meal but the head chief gave us a tour of the restaurant. If things could not get any better, the tour ended with B. Smith talking with us and taking photos. Your restaurant proves that southern hospitality can be found up north :) Thank you all for such a memorable trip!
Thanks,
Danita, Joi & Phillip (July 18, 2011)
Well Fed Network
6/15/07
(read online)
B. Smith's is the brainchild of former model cum lifestyle guru and businesswoman Barbara Smith, who formed The B. Smith Restaurant Group in May 1998. The restaurant has outposts in Sag Harbor and Times Square as well, and has garnered acclaim for its skillful mix of Cajun, Creole and Southern cooking. In the face of the recent trans fat ban in New York City, Harper (also known as “Chef Rock”) switched to canola oil and the menu, which includes grits, fried chicken and other Southern comfort foods, is now largely trans fat free. Located in DC's historic Union Station, B. Smith's dining room (a favored haunt of local “movers and shakers” according to her website) is large, airy and full of light- the website describes it as “grand Beaux Arts” but what simply comes to mind is the Palace at Versailles without the mirrors.There are subdued celebrations going on around us- birthdays, graduations, etc. We sit with our backs to the front of the station, where cabs and Duck Tour buses go by soundlessly, and feel like we're in another world.
If you're visiting, B. Smith's is a great place to have a meal before hopping on Amtrak or a Duck Boat. Weekends at B. Smith's are a good indicator of what you can find on the menu the rest of the week- a melange of the aforementioned Southern fusion and typical Sunday fare- Saturday is a la cart and Sunday is a buffet ($30).
A word of advice- Just because the menu offers “typical” brunch fare, don't waste your time, or tastebuds, on “typical” at B. Smith's. Skip the “Belgium” waffle and the steak and eggs, and indulge in something a little spicier. And if prices for entrees seem intimidating at $17 to $28, be assured you can make a good meal out of one or two appetizers- three if you're feeling generous enough to share. We weren't. Also, while there is a preponderance of meat (specifically anything on a pig) and seafood, there are some vegetarian dishes that are worth trying.
The gumbo ($10), lumped in with soups and salads, is an easy meal. I won't pretend that every Louisiana native will love the taste, but the generous mix of scallops, crawfish and scallops swim in a spicy roux that embodies the zing most of us expect from Cajun cooking. The menu says the dish is based around “an Asian broth” but I didn't taste “Asian”, so maybe that ambition to be all things falls through here. All in all it's a successful dish- on its own it's tasty and enough for a meal, especially when paired with the bread basket of mini corn muffins that come to the table as soon as you sit down. If you can restrain yourself they are a perfect addition to all dishes.
The appetizer section of the menu also boasts decent portions and reasonable prices. We passed on the Catfish Fingers ($9) because they made us think of the kiddie menu at Long John Silver's, and went right for the Fried Green Tomatoes ($9) - ignoring the mental image of Kathy Bates wrapped in Saran wrap. The tomatoes were baked with creamy ricotta and garnished with red pepper coulis and served right from the pan. They were firm and tasty with a crunchy breaded coating that clung to each bite rather than sliding off in a soggy mess.
The Jambalaya ($11) came next- the combo of tasso, “country ham”, Andouille sausage, bacon, chicken and shrimp served over rice is rich and meaty. The salty tasso serves as a complement to the mild flavor of the chicken and shrimp and the roux had enough spice to make us reach for our water glass before it evaporated off the tongue. The Cajun Red Beans and Rice ($9) with ham hocks, tasso, pulled pork, sausage and bacon, was a little too much pig for even our heartiest taster (funny, but the menu description says nothing about beans, or rice). The Shrimp, Sausage and Cheese Grits ($15) served with a tasso ham gravy is a dish worthy of a repeat visit.
The entrees are a bit of a snooze aside from Chef Rock's specialty. Dubbed “Swamp Thang” ($25), the dish includes shrimp, scallops and crawfish cooked in Dijon cream and served with “southern style greens.” Personally I can't get my head around the idea of “a mustard-based seafood sauce,” but it was quite tasty all the same. The scallops were fork tender (a surprising number of establishments like to cook them until they are rubbery) and the greens were slightly crisp and very flavorful. The other entrees are ribs, vegetarian ribs (unfortunately we didn't have a vegetarian among us to render a verdict), catfish, and a Maryland surf ‘n turf- fried chicken and a crab cake.
The desserts are nondescript aside from the Bourbon Street Bread Pudding ($6?) served with bourbon cream and ice cream on request. The person who ordered it warned us he would not be sharing, however he was betrayed by our server, who plunked down extra spoons for sharing.
Saturday is a la carte, while Sunday's buffet brunch includes a grit and oatmeal bar and a plethora of Southern treats as well as made to order waffles and omelets and unlimited orange juice, champagne or mimosas for $30 for adults and $15 for kids. B. Smith's is a great way to start a morning of site seeing or wrap up a business trip.
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