We decided to catch an early dinner here before watching a comedy show at nearby DAR Constitution Hall. It was pouring rain and our Uber ride arrived 15-minutes earlier than our reservation, but they had no problem seating us right away. The ambience was dimly lit with a view of the open hearth fire and kitchen in the background.
We decided on a bottle of 2016 Pulenta La Flor, Malbec, from Mendoza, Argentina. This red wine was smooth and supple, and perfect with the meat Keith would eat as well as the seafood that I would enjoy this evening.
We debated over appetizers and settled on a ½ dozen of the Chesapeake Oysters. We didn't catch the exact name of this varietal, but they were super mild and subtle with only a clean ocean finish. I squirted lots of lemon on mine, while Keith loaded up on the onion mignonette.
We also shared the Ahi Tuna Poke served with pickled okra, sweety drop peppers, creole remoulade, and crackers. The tuna was fresh but overpowered with the strong mustard sauce. I was anticipating a more traditional Hawaiian or Asian take on the poke, yet this unexpected French interpretation was still quite tasty.
For my main course, I ordered the Potato Crusted Alaskan Halibut with blue bay mussels, sweet onion, fennel, apple, in a cider broth. The fish was cooked beautifully and was very meaty. The mussels were delicate and the apple and fennel combination were very warm and satisfying. This dish was delicious.
Keith ordered the Marcho Farm Veal Loin Chop. This 16-oz thick cut meat was presented with a house steak sauce. The meat was tender and had great flavor. He also ordered a side of the Fried Brussels Sprouts with applewood bacon and sweet cider glaze to accompany.
Lastly, we ordered the Hazelnut Crème Brûlée to share. Topped with a lemony hazelnut cake and grapes, this dessert had strong nut flavors and was not overly sweet. It paired well with the rest of my red wine. Keith wanted a little extra sweetness and ordered a White Russian as a night cap.
Offering a classic DC Steakhouse/hotel restaurant vibe, Woodward Table highlights local ingredients in an elegant manner that is suitable for a casual date night or celebratory event. The staff were attentive and the service flowed nicely. We did not feel rushed and enjoyed our meal at Woodward Table.
Total Rating: 4.18
Food: 4.5, Price: 3.5, Service: 4, Ambience: 3.5, Accessibility: 5
