St. Anselm

St. Anselm located near Union Market is the second outpost of Joe Carroll's popular NYC restaurant that aims to bring some of the laid back vibes of Brooklyn to Washington, DC. This welcoming American tavern is devoted to the pleasures of "grilled meats and great ingredients simply cooked". Closest Metro is NoMA-Gallaudet.

November 2018: We arrived for dinner at 7pm and the energy was buzzing, warm and inviting.  Our server was incredibly friendly and welcoming.  We quickly looked over the 58-page wine list and chose a bottle of 2015 Casas del Bosque, ‘Gran Reserva’ from Casablanca Valley, Chile.  This syrah was dry and light on the palette that paired well with all the grilled food we were to eat.

We started with the Blue Crab Deviled Eggs.  They tasted good and the lump crab meat was prevalent in each bite.

The Grilled Oysters were plump White Stones served with smoked herb butter.  Six come in an order and were full of great flavor. I really loved these.

For my main course, I chose the Salmon Collar.  Grilled and served with simple lemon, the fish was tender and fatty, pairing perfectly with the wine.  Just be careful of all the bones.

Keith enjoyed the classic cut of Prime 16 oz. Ribeye.  It was seasoned simply and cooked at the correct temperature to his liking.  They had other larger cuts great for sharing or to take home as leftovers, but since I don't eat red meat it would be too much and not worth the expense so he was happy with this size of steak.

We also shared sides of Pan-Fried Mashed Potatoes and Creamy Spinach. The potatoes tasted like a knish and the spinach was basic, yet both went well with our proteins.

Image via Eater DC

We did not have room for dessert, but they had a couple that sounded good.  We saw some other tables order them and the size was enormous.  We knew better than to force ourselves.  Overall, we had a great dinner at St. Anselm.  While steak is a specialty, Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley's creativity doesn't stop there.  The frat house meets lodge interior design was eclectic but not cheesy.  The staff were all professional giving excellent service with a friendly breeze of hospitality. We were pretty impressed with this new restaurant.

February 2021: We returned to St. Anselm to celebrate Keith's birthday, COVID-style, by reserving one of the outdoor "chalets".  Our temperature and contact tracking info was taken before being escorted to our seats, where we were instructed to wear our mask anytime a staff member approached.  Using our phones to look up the digital menu, we settled on our dinner choices pretty quickly.

For wine, I selected a lovely red blend (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Syrah) 2017 Efeste, Final-Final, from Columbia Valley, WA. I really enjoyed this wine. The nose has hints of olive tapenade which is then followed by dark, robust, and spicy flavors. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes through in the finish as long and generous.  

For starters, we ordered the Grilled Oysters with smoked herb butter. We ate these during our first visit and remembered how much flavor they had. This time did not disappoint either!

We also ordered one of the night's special - Grilled Prawns.  They were large and cooked simply, served with a lemon wedge.  The meat was tender and slightly sweet.

For my main entree, I chose a new vegetarian option - Stuffed Acorn Squash. The filling was a mixture of fregola, walnuts, and boursin cheese with fresh rosemary.  I loved the crunch from the walnuts and found this dish to be filling and paired well with the red wine. 

Keith ordered the 44 Farms Ribeye and while cooked well, found it a tad under seasoned.  I happily offered him the spicy pepper slices from my dish, which he accepted without question.  The steak was a large portion, and he was a happy birthday boy.

We also shared the same sides we ordered during our first visit - Pan-Fried Mashed Potatoes and Creamy Spinach.  

Lastly, for dessert we enjoyed a slice of Ice Cream Cake made with vanilla and brownie ice creams and chocolate crunchies.  It was a huge slice and came with an unlit candle, cause you know, COVID.  

All in all we enjoyed our rare night out. We were happy to do something celebratory *outside* of the house, and St. Anselm had all the safety protocols in place to make us feel comfortable.  We were also happy to continue to support restaurants more directly.  #saverestaurants

 

Total Rating: 4.43
Food: 4.5, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 4.5, Accessibility: 4