Kinkead’s Restaurant

We were looking for a place with some decent seafood and oysters. This place fit the bill and satisfied our craving. We started with a heart of romaine salad with cilantro lime which was very, very good and we were off and running. The oyster and shellfish platter for two came next. Everything was very fresh and the accompanying condiments of horseradish and a tangy vinegar dipping sauce complimented well. The assortment of oysters was as expected by the menu description. Nice, large and surprisingly sweet shrimp we paired with crab claws.
My buddy ordered the seared scallops over pasta with a tasty lemon cream sauce and I had the soft shell crab with artichokes and smoked bacon I am normally not a fan of smoked bacon, but this really did the dish justice and the plate balanced very well.
For desert we had a chocolate gnash cake and apple tart. These were both prepared well and again, obviously fresh.
Great service, slightly pricey, a nice décor, although is was quite warm that weekend and it seemed as the air was not working properly. None the less, a recommendation in my book if your in D. C and looking for some good seafood.

I’ve come here a few times with my man friend’s family.
Seafood dishes pretty yummy but my favorite (like ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) is their crème brûlée trio. Regular Crème Brulee, Pistachio and Chocolate. All three are creamy, tasty, and divine but their chocolate crème brûlée OH.MY.GOD!!! I close my eyes, smile and do a happy dance in my chair because its more socially acceptable than me jumping up out of my chair and dancing around the restaurant…

3.5 Stars
Finally went here on a LivingSocial Deal after being in DC for over 6 years and never going to Kinkead’s because I just assumed it was expensive (it is) and old-​school. Super happy I finally went, and the food was really great, as was the service. The décor looks old-​ish but at least they get the lighting right– we were sat upstairs in a comfy booth.
I had a half dozen raw oysters, which were fresh and although not huge, sweet and delicious, Price Edward Island Mussels special (very small mussels), and the jumbo crab cake, which was FANTASTIC with the corn relish and pickled green beans. My bf, who is not the hugest fish person, got the steak, which quite frankly was not a great cut of beef– but we should know better ordering in a seafood restaurant. Overall a pleasant experience and nice date, but would never come here without the coupon because the prices are just absurd.

We were staying at the Hotel Lombardy across Pennsylvania Ave. While waiting for our car service to come and take us to the airport we needed some food after a morning of sightseeing. It seems every place to eat in the area is either packed or closed at 2:30 in the afternoon. The hotel had recommended this as one of 3 or 4 within walking distance and we had tried all but this one. Last on the list — only one we could get into. They only had the bar lunch menu available.
Whatever…I’m hungry. They seated us at the bar and were quite friendly and professional. It did bother me all the staff coming in for the evening shift and milling about the bar while we ate. But it was an odd time of day and we were the only folks in the place.
I loved that they brought cornbread with the bread basket. I wish all places would. It’s so much more welcoming than crappy little French bread.
The little neck clams were a nice treat. Sorta expensive at a $ 1 a piece. I mean they ARE very small. But I wanted something different before we left. so I had them. Bringing the lemon wedge wrapped in cheesecloth was a nice touch. It kept the seeds from squirting out and the juice out of my eye!
The chowder was chowder. Nothing special. But it was warm and filling. The fish and chips were a disappointment. Two smaller sized fish fillets and some regular ol’ fries.
Neither of us had a cocktail and it was still $ 50 to get out of there.
The bathroom was clean but it smelled like it had been flooded recently. Kinda a last minute black mark on the place. But the dining area itself was comfortable and pleasant.
Since it was the only place we could get into and we were starved and short on time it was the best meal of the day. But it really wasn’t anything special.

I’ve wanted to try Kinkead’s for a while now and I’m so glad a Groupon deal finally pushed me into their door.
Hands down, one of the BEST seafood dinners I’ve ever had! The Pepita Crusted Salmon and the North Atlantic Cod were both AMAZING. I can’t decide which one I liked better. They were both THAT GOOD. The crust on the salmon was genius, and perfectly crunchy. The shrimp was slightly overcooked, but now I’m just being nitpicky. The crab imperial that topped the cod MADE the dish. You cannot go wrong with either one of these two entrees.
I also got the Jumbo Crab Cake as my appetizer and it was easily one of the best crab cakes I’ve ever had. ALL crab, no filler, and cooked so that there was just a slight crisp on the edges. I loved everything I ate at Kinkead’s and I would definitely go back!

I give this place 5 stars! The service and food were excellent.
I had a salad of avocado, hearts of romaine, chile cabbage slaw, & buttermilk cilantro lime dressing.
My main course was pepita crusted salmon with cilantro, chiles, crab, shrimp and corn ragout. Omg it was fantastic!
Dessert was Italian marscapone donuts (woa) with an iced cappuccino pudding-​like thing in an espresso cup. It was sinfully delicious indeed.

3.75 Stars
No discussion of the DC seafood scene is complete without a mention of Kinkead’s. Robert Kinkead’s eponymous restaurant broke the monopoly that Chesapeake-​centric seafood restaurants (think boiled crabs, rock fish, and she-​crab soup a la Crisfield’s) used to hold on DC. But after almost 20 years it’s starting to show it’s age. Its Foggy Bottom location, not far from the White House, IMF/​World Bank, and K Street guarantee it a decent lunch and after work clientele, and service is still good, but he dining room seems a bit drab and the food no longer quite as cutting edge.
So, what differentiated Kinkead’s from all the other seafood joints? In one word: fusion. Kinkead’s was ahead of the curve in that aspect. In addition to incorporating his New England roots into his cooking (he’s worked in Cape Cod and Nantucket) he’s added European, Latin American, and Asian ingredients and techniques. The problem is, a lot of these haven’t changed much over the years: squid with polenta, Yucatan style tuna soup, etc. I suppose a case can be made for «if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it», but personally I feel the menu could do with some updating.
Having said all that, I’m personally a fan of the raw bar with it’s selection of oysters, little necks, and cherry stones. And as you’d expect, the oysters are pristine, but a bit pricey at $ 28/​dozen. But remember, Bob’s a New Englander: the fried Ipswich clams are always a good bet.

I would give this place another star if the prices were more reasonable. I took a client there for lunch. If the entrée prices had been in the $ 15-​$ 20 range (for lunch, mind you) this would have been a 4 to 5 star review.
The restaurant is very tight and they have squeezed tables into every possible space. You feel like you must sit absolutely still except for eating.
For an app I had the NE chowder (a safe choice). It was good but not great.
I do have rave reviews for my entrée choice. I had the skate. While you don’t often see this in reality it is a relatively inexpensive product. That is why I was a bit surprised at the $ 28 entrée price for lunch. This dish, however, was delicious as were the sides. They do seem to love cooking their fish here encrusted in something or other. I think they overdo it a bit but I still loved my meal.
Again, the meal and service were good but the value is low here. I’m just glad this was on the company dime.

Kinkead’s looks small and not-​fancy from outside but I was pleasantly surprised when I walked inside. Very friendly hostess!
— Cozy yet elegant and spacious inside. Great for date-​night or business lunch/​dinner.
— Food: Excellent appetizer and fish entrée. Dessert was just OK.
1. Tuna soup: Sounds strange but it is really good. I’m not sure about Yucatan style but it is a very fragrant delightful soup.
2. Grilled squid with creamy polenta and tomato fondue: Another delicious appetizer. Crispy topping goes well with soft perfectly grilled squid. Highly recommended.
3. Fish: All are excellent. No need to say more.
4. Dessert: Crème brûlée and raspberry/​pistachio almond cake were good but not any different from most restaurants.
Overall, I had very good time with excellent food, service and the ambiance.
PS: Complimentary bread basket comes with irish soda bread, corn bread and wheat bread.

Despite having high hopes for Kinkead’s, I was not impressed.
For starters, the stone-​faced bar tender fixed a horrible dirty martini — after my esophagus stopped burning from the first sip, I asked him to pour more olive juice into my drink so I could finish it.
The ambiance and décor were forgettable.
Our server was the highlight of the evening. She was courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu.
The food was sub-​par. Mushroom ravioli appetizer was decent; my grilled wahoo tasted like char from the grill; the raspberry cake wasn’t much better than desserts from Costco.
I do not recommend this restaurant.

I heard about this restaurant before. My husband and I have been to the one in Tysons.
We loved the restaurant. The ambiance was very romantic. So I was expected this one is also like that. When I saw this restaurant on Groupon, I bought it.
When I entered the restaurant, there was a bar area. I saw the guy who was wearing scrub at the bar. I guess this guy work for GW hospital. When we came to this place, I researched on the dress code. It says Dress up. So I dressed up. My husband wore suits. My first impression on this restaurant was very casual place. We felt that we dressed up too much.
When I checked on the menu, I thought that the price was a kind of high. I was shocked. The sea food is usually pricey but I thought it is too high. The location is near GW but the ambiance is causal.
We had Hawaiian Style Tuna Tartare «Poke» with Sushi Rice, Mango,
Toasted Macadamias and Taro Chips as Appetizers. I had Brioche Crusted Cod with Bouillabaisse Style Sauce, Croutons and Pickled Fennel as main course. Both were very good. I loved it. But it is a lack of presentation. When I look at it, I felt that I can make this.
This place is nice but it is too pricy for a casual looking restaurant.

We were visiting DC for the annual Cherry Blossom festival. Kinkeads has been a place my friend wanted to try and after reviewing their menu (with the help of my foodie soul mate), we chose this place. Nestled amongst beautiful brownstones, Kinkeads takes you back to a time when formal dining was the norm and not the exception. While times of changed and so has dress code, the dining experience from what I have read and then experienced has not changed. We were on time for our Saturday night reservations. We were told to meet the hostess at the top of the spiral stairwell which we did. There, they took us to a booth which could easily have fit 4 – 5 people.
Soon after being seated we were met by our waiter/​sommelier. We were trying to find a proper white wine before settling on Roero Arneis, Vietti, Piedmont, Italy. The Sommelier approved of our choice explaining the nature of the grape and how it was a personal favorite of his. Soon we were greeted with the wine to go along with our breadbasket and whipped butter. The wine was exceptional. Crisp, smooth with the savory flavor of the grape.
We had decided to split an appetizer and then order separate entrees with a shared side. To start we went with mussel in a Thai coconut curry. My friend went with North Atlantic Cod Topped with Crab Imperial, Country Ham and Corn Spoon bread, Sweet Potato Purée and Creamy Mustard Sauce. I went with the Pepita Crusted Salmon with Cilantro, Chiles, Crab, Shrimp and Corn Ragout. My original choice was the Trio but sadly that was not on the menu. Still, the dish I chose was highly recommended and had the essential components of the trio so I went with it. We added a side of Sauteed Garlic Spinach.
The mussels were cooked nicely in an intoxicating broth. I literally could have drank all the curry out of the bowel, using just the container as my bowl. It was so good! That and having it with seasoned mussels made for a great start.
The Pepita was amazing. A crust made of pumpkin seeds, The crust, as crunchy as it was protected the soft, melt in your mouth salmon. It was cooked to perfection. The Ragout was blended smoothly so that each fork full lead to an explosion of flavor. My initial thought of the meal was that it was small. I was mistaken. The salmon cute was thick and filling. I could barely finish that and the sides of beautiful garlic spinach.
The ambiance of the room and booth allowed us to talk, drink and enjoy our meal. No rushing at this place and they were very considerate to ask us how our meal was. Before we knew it, it was 11pm and we were one of the last people to leave the restaurant. Overall I would say this is definitely a place to visit in DC when you seek semi-​formal dining from a time long ago. The people from top to bottom treated us to an experience I will not soon forget.

Most excellent Oyster, Clams & Shrimp Sampler platter.
I bought a $ 50 Groupon back in September for $ 25.00, it expired ³⁄₂₁ so I had to use it or lose it.
What a treat this was, easy access from Foggy Bottom Metro.
I sat at the bar during a late Friday lunch as I was flying solo.
Had the place all to myself watching March Madness.
I had Bluepoint from Long Island, Westport from Mass, James River, Va, Stellar Bay from BC & Buzzard Bay from Mass. this with six Clams & four jumbo sized shrimp all at @ $ 44.00 what a treat.
Everything was fresh and delicious, excellent quality on the oysters. The jumbo shrimp were exceptional. The clams… meh, not so much.
This is an excellent location near George Washington University and a 10 min walk from Foggy Bottom Metro on Eye Street to Pennsylvania.
The building is part of a series of store fronts that form the façade of 2000 Penn Shops. There is an open, airy and lighted atrium that joins all these building in the rear and opens to a plaza on the back that has a small garden and many tables and chairs.
Kinkeads has tables and chairs that open up to the atrium as well so if the weather is cold it would be nice to dine there with the sunshine coming thru the atrium.
I will def go back!

Fool me once? Something.
Fool me twice? At least I had a Groupon.
To do this place correctly, you’re looking at $ 75 per person. There are several dozen (maybe over 100) other places in the DC area that are better for the same or less money than Kinkead’s.
I can see this place being a favorite with «power» folk. It’s got a god-​awful interior that likely cost a fortune in the late 80s, but hasn’t been touched since… and the food isn’t cheap. I don’t know, something about those two notes alone lead me to believe it’s a favorite for that 55 year old suit who thinks he’s still relevant and is looking to impress someone. The place was likely bomb-​ass when he first came to it decades ago (I could be entirely wrong on this; I don’t know the history of the restaurant).
The food is decent, but I have yet to be wow’d, and for a place as highly touted as Kinkead’s, I expect to be. The chef knows what he does well and is clearly sticking with it. You will certainly not leave saying it’s one of the best meals you’ve ever had, but you’ll leave somewhat satisfied. I have yet to think the quality of the food justifies the cost of the evening.
Service has been very, very good, but almost to the point of trying too hard.
Unless you’ve been everywhere in the District, you’re better off going somewhere else.
This was a three star review, but my table was between 78 and 80 degrees last time. Yes, I was sweating and I’m in impeccable shape. Yes, I was sitting next to the thermostat. Attempts to rectify the situation failed.
Attire: I’d recommend wearing a jacket. Jeans will get you odd looks.

Went here the other night with my boyfriend and two other friends.
I had the Pepita crusted salmon with cilantro, chilies, crab and corn ragout. For our wine, we had the Ash Hollow Syrah. The Syrah went well with everything we had that night.
My salmon was very good, it had a good flavor, was not overcooked or mealy like sometimes salmon can get and the chilies gave it a nice little bit of spice where as the corn ragout gave it a bit of sweetness. The sides that we had were sweet potatoes which were way sweet, french fries which were okay, but not as good as West End Bistro’s or Bourbon Steak and creamy polenta of which was my favorite. For dessert we split the trio of Crème Brûlées of which it was hard for me to choose the «favorite». The pistachio was certainly different, but the chocolate was rich without being over the top.
Adam was excellent and made sure we were well taken care of. A very pleasant experience and one I would gladly repeat.

The girlfriend and I went to Kinkead’s for dinner with a two other friends. We were a few minutes early for our 7:30 reservation on a Sat night. Although the rest of our party had not yet arrived, the hostess sat us at our table in the downstairs café. I always appreciate it when a restaurant will seat a party even if everyone hasn’t arrived. Our fourth soon arrived and we made our important food and wine decisions.
We ordered a bottle of the 2007 Ash Hollow Syrah. I’m a big fan of syrah and Washington State wines. The Ash Hollow didn’t disappoint with it’s full-​bodied, but nicely balanced taste… very enjoyable. We skipped apps and went straight into our entrees. I had the Crispy Red Snapper, a whole fish nicely breaded and deep-​fried, accompanied by a tasty Chinese-​style black bean sauce and garnished with cilantro, red onion, green onion, and cucumber salad. Fried to perfection, the crispy breading formed a «shell» which sealed in the juices resulting in a deliciously moist and flavorful white fish. The spicy (not hot), slightly sweet, black bean sauce provided a pleasant contrast and added to the overall success of the dish. The GF had the Pepita Crusted Salmon with Cilantro, Chiles, Crab, Shrimp and Corn Ragout. Her dish was cooked to perfection. However, even though I’m a big fan of salmon, I think my red snapper was superior. Since we didn’t have an appetizer, our table split orders of the creamy polenta, sweet potato purée, and french fries for our sides. The polenta was spot on. The sweet potato purée was a tad too sweet for my tastes, and the french fries were certainly not in area code of goodness as the ones found at Bourbon Steak, Westend Bistro, or even Five Guys. Finally, for dessert, the GF and I split the Trio of Crèmes Brûlées consisting of a Semi Sweet Chocolate, Pistachio and Vanilla Bean brûlées. All were quite good, but the pistachio was the clear standout of the three.
Kinkead’s was a nice surprise. While not an inexpensive restaurant, I felt that we got good value for what we paid. Adam, our pleasant and professional server, provided stellar, attentive service throughout our meal which was icing on the proverbial cake. Our evening at Kinkead’s was a very strong four-​star outing.

As a GW student from 1996 – 2000 I passed Kinkead’s almost every day. I was a lot more into wealth and status then and looked forward to the day where I had a lot of money and could dine at Kinkead’s. I moved out of the district in 2002 and never had a chance to try it.
On Thursday, Dec 2 2010, I was in DC for work and had a chance to get dinner there alone. I’m not into money and status like I was ten years ago and I want for nothing but am not rich. However, I decided to splurge because I consider myself a wannabe foodie and because it would make me ten years ago very happy.
Before I get to the specifics: no place that charges Kinkead’s high prices can get five stars from me. If I’m going to give you five stars at these prices the food better be mind-​blowing AND you have to win the Knicks an NBA title.
Having said that, the food at Kinkead’s is pretty damn special.
The restaurant is a lot bigger on the inside than it looks when you pass it either inside or outside of 2000 Penn. I was really surprised.
Good break basket. Corn bread and Irish soda bread. Also a whole grain that was a little too thick and bland.
I started with the Yucatan Style Tuna Soup with Tomatillos, Chiles, Lime, Sour Cream and Tortilla Strips. This is a great soup! Be warned: it is very spicy. I saved the small bit of sour cream on it for the end because of that. The tuna in the soup was great! This soup is an accomplishment.
Dinner was even better. I had the Pepita Crusted Salmon with Cilantro, Chiles, Crab, Shrimp and Corn Ragout. Wow! The first bite was salmon at its absolute best! I loved the pepita crust. And it was great having shrimp and little bites of crab under it. The corn ragout was delicious! A wonderfully composed and plated dish!
I would definitely like to eat at Kinkead’s again. Considering that I am saying that with my aversion to their prices, I must say bravo!

I went back to Kinkead’s first time in more than 5 years or so. My last memory of this restaurant was really really great. However this evening, although I liked my cod with crab meat very much, it did not dazzle me. Maybe it was the dark small dining room we were put in and I was sitting facing the wall which I hate to do in a restaurant, maybe because the busboy was wearing too much cologne and that interrupted my smelling power to appreciate the nice aroma of my seafood dishes or maybe my cooking skills and my palate have been more developed over the years. I would say I still like this restaurant but I think it lost the old glory.
But our waitress Christi was very elegant and beautiful.

My first impression upon entering was that this was a men in suits/​business deal making kind of place. However, when the hostess led my party of four to an intimate table in a cozy nook overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue I quickly changed my tune.
What a great birthday experience. Yeah, I am a lucky girl. My friend took me and two others here to celebrate my middle aged-​hood (Spell check doesn’t like this term and neither do I!). Imagine my surprise when our server asked which one of us was Libby. I meekly said, «Me». Our server, Bill handed me a menu and across the top was printed «Happy Birthday Libby!!!» That was thrilling, I must say. I am amused easily, I guess.
Bill was charming and so attentive. He made some great recommendations for our party. My one friend had the oysters sampler for an appetizer. They were from P.E.I. and Washington state. Two of our party had fish, one had the crab cake and I had a daily special which was a homemade chittara pasta with huge chunks of lobster in a tomato, garlic and clam broth. It was an appetizer, but it was more than enough considering I had to save room for dessert. It was divine. Actually everyone lauded their choices and Robert Kinkead’s cooking.
The desserts were divine too. We shared a pear tart tatin and another dessert (I can’t remember it, but it was a cake). Both were good, but I highly recommend the seasonal pear dish. It is way too large for one, so be prepared to share! Finally, I have to praise them on serving a perfect cup (pot) of tea to end a perfectly (albeit rainy) evening. Loose tea steeped in an individual pot for sipping pleasure.
If you want to celebrate a special occasion, I highly recommend this awesome place.

I had a wonderful lunch at Kinkead’s. As a visitor to DC, it was great to go to a restaurant that I understand is something of a local institution and find that it is worth the hype.
Arriving early, we were seated at the hostess’s favorite table… and it was indeed a very nice table: view of the street, nice view of the open kitchen. Server Beth Ann was knowledgeable and friendly.
They offered a nice selection of breads that tasted as good as they looked. My friend and I tried to Yucatan tuna soup, the seafood stew, and a really lovely melon salad. The seafood stew was really more of a pasta dish and contained a nice selection of fresh seafood (including perfectly grilled scallops) in a tomato broth. The Yucatan soup is built on a spicy tomatillo base definitely a keeper!
I don’t usually order dessert — especially at lunch — but the dessert menu was just too good. I ordered the crème brule trio. It was excellent and I am very fussy about my brules. The traditional vanilla had exactly the right texture and a nice crunch to the topping. The chocolate selection was rich and creamy — although without a burnt sugar topping, I think it was more of a mousse than a brule. The best of the lot was the pistachio brule with blueberries and raspberries. All wonderful.
Put Kinkead’s on your ‘must visit’ list for your next trip to the capital.