Where I’m Eating: City Tap House
City Tap House Mussels
For years I have said the space at 901 I Street was bad real estate. Pearl came and went with 901 following the same suit. City Tap House has arrived and I think that bad luck may have come to halt. Finally this space has a restaurant that makes sense for this space where the prices are reasonable and the food is comparable to what you will find at its Chinatown neighbors. Boasting local ingredients and seasonal favorites, City Tap House brings something to this space that was not here before its opening. Instead of boring you with details that can be only enjoyed if you visit, I’ll just get to the good stuff: what to order. Here you go:
For starters: The mussels at City Tap House give some of the local favorites a run for their money where the flavors boost the taste of the bivalves instead of overpowering their main attributes. Not to mention, you can get a seat and actually have mussels in the half the time it would take you at other places. Le sigh.
Next: The grilled hanger steak is the way to begin a night before a Wizards or Caps game. Tender and cooked to your liking, the restaurant has the hang of how Washingtonians like their steaks i.e. with a little red wine on the plate.
Dessert: We wrapped up the night with a warm peanut butter cookie served in a skillet dish with a topping of vanilla ice cream. Though I cannot make any promises whether this will make the menu every day, I can assure you City Tap House will have something where warm sweetness meets cold sweetness.
Honorable Mention: Brunch is really the star of the show for City Tap House (besides the beer selections). Their ricotta pancakes are my favorite in the District. Fluffy and light, the look can totally deceive you on the fact that you’re scoffing down pancakes two or three stacks later.
Avoid: The pizza was not one of our favorites where it took on the flavor and texture of something you might have had in your high school cafeteria. I would avoid until there is a new take on this recipe.
Category: restaurant reviews, Washington D.C.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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