Second State Restaurant

Very impressed with this restaurant. Brought a party of 6 back in May 2015… the food was delicious and the service was very welcoming. Their specialty seems to be whiskey, not necessarily my forte… but I may try a smidge :-).

I am shocked the old Mighty Pint could transform into such a nice restaurant. The layout will still be recognizable to those familiar with the ol’ girl, with a looong bar and booths downstairs, and a separate upstairs section. The upstairs has a completely different feel from the downstairs — it’s all tables and dining up there, while the lower area seems more fit for drinking and relaxing awhile. As soon as I sat down, I got good vibes because the seats are as soft and plush as sitting on a velvety cloud. Great choice, people. Instead, of bread at the beginning, they bring you a spiced popcorn. A bit messy, but an interesting twist that we enjoyed.
Now, down to business. The filet mignon is delicious. It is seasoned perfectly with a very heavy hand with the black pepper, just the way I like it. The chicken with brown ale butter is good, too. Thick and moist, with a perfectly crisp skin. It was very tasty, but the steak was the true star. It really was on par with just about any steak I’ve had in DC. One note, we ordered medium and it was a few red notches south of medium, but it was so delicious, we didn’t even care. Keep that in mind just in case.
For sides, we got grilled asparagus and truffle mac. Both were addictive, we ate half of each before even touching the entrees. The asparagus were THICK and had great char flavor. Come to think of it, the mac was also thick, with some big fat noodles mixed with crispy onions. Nice touch. It’s a very good take on a classic. It is all a bit pricey for the size, but given how good the flavor is, we didn’t mind all that much.
Unfortunately, the bathrooms were not transformed as wholly as the rest of the establishment. Men still need to wash their hands out in the hall in a dingy looking sink, and the women’s room (reportedly) still has a smell of funk like the old days. If you’re feeling nostalgic, head on in.
One last footnote, we came at 9 on a Friday. By the time we left, around 10:30, the place was nearly deserted, with just one couple sitting at the bar. So sad. This place used to be teeming with life at 10:30 on a weekend. They say they’re open till 12 on Fridays, but dang. The bar looks comfortable and inviting, so I wouldn’t mind stopping in for a late night drink if looking for something chill. The rye selection, their specialty, is impressive, and of course they have a full bar on top of it. The beer selection isn’t great, but they do offer several different styles. The signature cocktail list isn’t bad, either. I tried a machinist, a slightly fruity rye based drink with orange bitters and maraschino liqueur. I’d say it’s right up there in quality to something you’d find at any other bar known for its cocktails, like an All Souls. All in all, definitely worth a try.

Second State… I left my meal pretty unsatisfied. The food was just not good.
Okay, so let’s start with the positives! The service was VERY friendly, and I will say that was probably the best part of the experience. Waitress tried her best to give us great recommendations, and I really appreciated that.
However (onto the negatives), the food just wasn’t good. The only dish I really enjoyed was their mac ‘n cheese. We got their «famous» brussel sprouts, and they had an extremely bitter aftertaste. We got their short ribs and they were probably my second favorite dish, but they were drenched in sauce and super tiny. Got the venison and it was almost inedible — the rub they put on it completely overpowered the meat and it had a horrible flavor.
I found myself literally chasing every bite I had of their other dishes with their delicious mac ‘n cheese. Literally felt like I was a college student again who was trying to get through a crappy shot of Popov (blegh, never again) by quickly drinking a soda.
I would probably not return — my friend mentioned that they seem to be a lot better for brunch, but the dinner left a bad taste in my mouth (literally).

Came here for a quick weekday lunch. The food was good, but unfortunately a little dry for a pulled pork sandwich. Maybe the kitchen was off that afternoon. The draft beer I got (a PA lager) was very good.
Service was attentive and they even nixed the charge for the dry sandwich, which was excellent.
I would definitely come back especially for a happy hour. The alcohol selection looked great, and the atmosphere was kind of cool, prohibition-​y.

Ok. Full cocktail list and menu. Cocktails sound good on list and taste ok, but not at a craft level. Food on menu is good. Had the chicken Marsala. It hit the spot, no complaints. This is really more a place to grab a drink and socialize, then anything else.

I hate to say it, but sooooooo glad this place replaced Mighty Pint! We came here for Sunday brunch and I was very impressed. The décor is soooo much improved– light beechwood feel downstairs, redone bar, and it feels more like a cozy bed and breakfast than a cramped bar. The bartending staff is incredibly talented and will whip up magical concoctions for you on request, or you can order off the menu as well.
We had the French toast sticks, which were a great start to the meal. I have to say I normally don’t love bagels and lox (I know, I know), but I actually really enjoyed theirs. Just the right amount, and not too heavy on the lox. I also had the duck hash, which was definitely solid, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best hash I’ve ever had. If you’re a big duck fan, you’ll probably like it, but next time I think I would go for the short rib benedict.
Definitely a good brunch spot, although probably better for winter due to the lack of patio. I’ll definitely be coming back!

I have nothing but rave reviews for this place! I cant wait to return. Brunch on a Saturday was super lowkey. Great music, food, and champagne specials. Very attentive to a group of five. Fast service also and the food was great. I had some the crab benedict, some of the western omelette and the short rib bendict… delicious. We found a Facebook special where you get a bottle of champagne for $ 5 if you book on Open Table. They didnt have any chilled bottles so we got a bottle of Veuve Cliqcot for just $ 5 instead of the usual $ 45. Waitress accidentally spilled champagne on one of the guys and they comp a free bottle. I hope no one finds out about this place. I loved that as soon as we sat down, we received a comp glass of champagne if you’re in a dress. We got there at 1:30 pm and didnt leave until 4… Didnt feel rushed or anything. Hope the service never changes.

We haven’t even made it through the entire meal and I can’t even describe how impressed I am with Second State. We made reservations not really sure how crowded it would be, but we were greeted promptly and seated immediately. Fatima was our waitress. and Justin was the manager on the floor. Extremely welcoming and very knowledgable, they got us quickly up to speed on the menu and their offerings. The Jazz that accompanied the ambiance was a nice a delicate touch the surrounding environment and mood.
Food is absolutely amazing! From the Mussels to the Monogalia drinks, everything was made to exceptional perfection. I decided to go with the signature Pork Chop which was also their customer favorite dish and I can see why. Cooked to perfection with a hint of love, it was one of the most amazing Pork chops I’ve ever had. Imagine my delight when next to the chops sat lightly baked apples!
I think we have a new favorite…
…Waiting on dessert now!

Had a dinner date here last night. My date and I were a bit overdressed, we both thought we were coming into a much fancier restaurant than it turned out to be. Not necessarily a bad thing, I just think the décor/​vibe didn’t really match the experience. Most diners wore casual clothes, jeans and sneakers, and the wait staff wore kitchen aprons and oversized branded T-​shirts.
Anyways, food was delicious. The menu we had was heavy on bacon and brown sugar/​molasses/​ale flavors so I recommend putting some thought into how your pair your dishes. However, individually, the brussels sprouts and cheddar peirogies (spelling?) were so good. You really can’t go wrong with anything that comes out in a cast iron pan.

First we started with the Chicoteague oysters. The crusted Parm, butter & crumbs on them was amazing. Thanks to Aaron & everyone for their great recommendations.
We ordered two starters: scallops and mussels. The scallops are to die for. If you are coming in to try one item, this is it! Muscles are a close second. I couldn’t stop dipping the oven crusted bread into the cider, blue cheese, & bacon sauce.
We also ordered the bacon and blue cheese Brussels sprouts and Gouda mashed potatoes.
Unfortunately we did not have room for desert BUT we did toast the evening with the special Second State Cream After Dinner cordial. Be ready to eat outside of the main entrees portions to discover some real experiences. Thanks To the manager, Brian, for checking in on us throughout the evening.

Excellent food and service and very conveniently located in between Farragut Square and Dupont Circle! I had dinner with a friend at Second State recently and both truly enjoyed it. I’m docking one star because they don’t include sides with their entrees and their meat quantity for their A La Carte Protein options seem quite slim considering the prices they are charging. I really don’t think you’re getting much bang for your buck. Even the classiest of establishments include sides paired with the entrée. But besides that, I truly loved the atmosphere (cozy) and the delicious food.
They have small plates to share (tapas style) and appetizers, as well as the a la carte entrees and sides I mentioned above.
I ended up ordering a butternut squash soup (came with a hint of vanilla and was perfectly creamy) and a side of fried brussels sprouts (came with bacon and a delicious cream sauce) and it was plenty for me. Very filling and delicious meal. My friend also ordered a butternut squash soup but she also ordered the pierogi small plate as well, which she said was tasty.
I would definitely visit again and definitely recommend it. We didn’t even have reservations at 6:30 on a weeknight and we were seated immediately. Very nice!

Everything was amazing! I went to second state for brunch while I was visiting town with my sisters. First off that have a brunch vueve special, $ 45 for the bottle, that’s a steal!
We started with the French onion soup because who can resist a cute crock full of amazingness and topped with beautiful melty cheese? One of the best french onion soups I have ever had.
The ricotta blueberry pancakes were TO DIE FOR. Light and fluffy on the inside and had a crisp outside. Let’s just say Im still thinking about them and no other pancake will ever compare.
I also had the crab Benedict which was delish with a fresh made hollandaise sauce and the crunchy potatoes did not disappoint either.
If I lived in DC you would find me here most every weekend taking advantage of their delicious food!

Came here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon with a friend and really enjoyed it. The atmosphere is really cozy and the staff all-​around was very friendly. Instead of bread, They start you off with some complimentary (Cajun-​spiced, I think) popcorn. It was definitely unique and a nice change of pace. It wasn’t amazing but it was still enjoyable and very addicting (as most popcorn is).
I ended up choosing the keystone burger. I’m typically a breakfast food for brunch person but once I read the description for the burger, I pretty much had to get it… coffee rubbed, sharp cheddar, and a red wine aioli. Although the burger was super tasty, sadly I didn’t really taste the subtle flavors that I hoped would be there between the coffee run and the aioli. That was a bit of a disappointment, but then, I asked from some bbq sauce and everything was okay because it was awesome: not spicy or heavy, but light and powerful. It reminded me of an Asian zing type of sauce. Definitely get some if you have anything that could remotely go with some bbq sauce.
The burger also came with a side of house garlic frites and those were really great. A strong garlic flavor but not overbearing at all. They were pretty dynamite with the bbq sauce as well as the ketchup (which had its own bit of kick to it). The dish wasn’t my typical brunch pick but it was still a solid one that I would surely get again.

Delicious scallops to start with mushroom bruschetta.
I ordered mussels and ate them quickly. So delicious. Popcorn on the table when we arrived.
Wine was fantastic.

Second State is a huge improvement over Mighty Pint and a nice new addition to Dupont Circle.
The space is reminiscent of the old dive bar but the renovation is nicely done and feels different. My friends and I took one of the booths and sat down for lunch.
We were told by our waitress that the French Onion soup was amazing, so of course we had to try it and I’ll confirm it’s damn good. Warning: it’s very filling so be careful not to over order when your eyes are scrolling over all the wonderful options on the menu.
To balance the decadence of the gruyère cheese oozing all over the French Onion soup, we decided to go healthy and order the arugula salad with roasted beets and grapefruit (yes, it had goat cheese; so sue us)
We decided to split the lamb burger and Bahn Mi sandwiches, since we anticipated being full from the french onion soup and salad but we still wanted to try different things on the menu. Both sandwiches were delicious.
If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, I highly recommend the Keystone Whiskey Sour (which our waitress also suggested). It was really good. It’s similar to a pisco sour if you’re wondering. Who knew egg whites, whiskey, lemon, bitters, and apple cider go so well together?!
Oh and for you trivia buffs out there, the Second State is… Pennsylvania.

An intimate and classy location with excellent food and mixed drinks, but expect a hit to your wallet.
I had mixed feelings walking into Second State. On one hand, I’m heartbroken at the transformation of the divey Mighty Pint into this more upscale restaurant/​bar. On the other hand, as a Pennsylvanian born and raised, the idea of a Pennsylvania themed farm-​to-​table restaurant really excited me. Walking inside, it looked completely different from the old Mighty Pint — minimalist, modern décor with cement floors, low lighting, and a large sign telling customers to get off their phones and enjoy each other’s company. A little bit hipster.
Sitting at the bar we were greeted by a very reserved bartender and my girlfriend and I ordered our drinks. They have a very large mixed drinks and rye whiskey menu, all with a PA twist. I ordered the Second Statement ($ 14), which had Wigle Rye Whiskey (PA), Pennsylvania raw honey, Absinthe, and aromatic bitters served with a large square ice cube, and my girlfriend had the Betsy Ross ($ 12), which had Laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy (NJ — close enough I suppose), orange liqueur, port wine reduction, aromatic bitters, with a pinch of nutmeg. Our bartender took several minutes to complete the drinks, which were crafted with immense care. They tasted as good as they looked — the edge of the rye whisky and absinthe was dulled by the honey and bitters, and the Betsy Ross was sweet and immensely drinkable.
For food, we arrived before they switched to the Dinner menu, so we ordered the Lobster & Shrimp Salad Roll ($ 16) — chopped lobster & shrimp, tarragon aioli, onions and celery with lettuce on a butter toasted banh mi roll, served open face. Not exactly sure oh Pennsylvanian lobster and shrimp are (after all PA has no coastline… thanks Delaware), but it didn’t matter because the sandwich was very tasty. Big hunks of lobster and shrimp and the bread was crispy and buttery. It was served with a side of fries (or frites if you’re fancy) which were honestly some of the best I’ve had in DC. The ketchup tasted homemade.
We were also able to take advantage of the $ 1 oysters (M-​F, 5−6PM). This is easily the best part about Second State. The oysters were a little smaller than half dollars in diameter. Absolutely fantastic for DC — if you love oysters this is one of the best places to get them.
Overall, Second State adds some class to M Street (what with the strip club and Sign of the Whale next door), and the mixed drinks and food are top notch. Just remember you get what you pay for — our two drinks, one lunch platter, and half dozen oysters set me back $ 50 not including tip. If you’re trying to save money don’t come here, but if you want a classy night out with friends or want to impress your date, Second State will certainly deliver.

I remember Second State space when it was the old Mad Hatter and then the Mighty Pint. Wow did they really change the décor/​atmosphere. You would never guess that this space used to be a dive bar.
I went to brunch with a group of friends on a Saturday and we were the only people in the restaurant. We were seated in a booth upstairs. The booth was huge and very comfortable with six people.
The lamb burger was delicious (I recommend adding bacon!) and the bloody marys were fantastic.

I came in to get out of the cold for a quick pre-​lunch snack. Ordered the French Onion soup. The broth was not too oniony and the gruyère cheese was melted to perfection. In lieu of a basket of bread, the exceptionally seasoned popcorn was a nice added touch. I can’t wait to return for a complete lunch and or dinner.
Staff was knew the menu very well and was very attentive.

Whisky, Whisky, Whisky. If you love whisky come to Second State, if you don’t love whiskey come to Second State. What an improvement over the Mighty Pint. That being said, it’s very small so make a reservation!
Second State has delicious farm to table fresh food. Instead of bread you are greeted with spicy popcorn which I throughly enjoyed. The drink selection is a bit limited for those of us who don’t like whisky, but we opted for a bottle of wine which nicely complimented our dishes.
We started off the evening with the Steak Tartar, probably one of the best tartars I’ve ever had. Incredibly fresh and served with crispy buttery toast. A must try!
All of the entries are served al a cart but the portion sizes are quite large with a long list of sharable sides to choose from. I ordered the Swordfish steak which came topped with sun dried tomatoes and olive relish. Delicious and so filling. My fiancé order the filet, it was a bit too heavily peppered for my taste but he enjoyed it and it was cooked very well.
We shared a bucket of garlic french fries which are to die for and finished the meal with a stout brownie with hazelnut ice cream. So good.
As an added bonus they bring you a whiskey drink to finish off the meal. It was a smooth chocolatey mix with orange flavoring. Really tasty.
All in all a really solid, farm fresh meal. A must try!

I don’t want to make it sound like I was expecting Second State to be just ok but I was, I couldn’t have been more wrong this place is going to become one of the new hot spots in town. We were in town for the Emporiyum over at Union Market and I wanted to find a place where a bunch of us could get dinner. The Partisan was booked up and I was looking for somewhere that had a similar vibe and menu as there. Second State popped up as a place that had just opened and looked cool so we said what the heck.
The space is very nice and I have to say that the bar is especially inviting. We had an early reservation and were promptly seated by a friendly hostess. The service was good and our server was quite helpful and friendly. They are quick to tell you that this place is farm-​to-​table and that they source everything from 3 farms in the area.
We started off with some drinks, the Dutch Mule is quite good and they even did some Hot Toddy’s for us. We started off with some appetizers, the short ribs, the scallops and foie gras, and the cheddar perogies. Everything was exceptional, especially the short ribs and the perogies. For dinner we did a bunch of things from the chicken, to the filet, to the double cut pork chop, and the duck. We also ordered pretty much all the sides including the brussel sprouts, the spinach, the mashed potatoes, the french fries, and the asparagus. Everything was wonderful and they will even cook your pork chop medium rare if that’s how you like it (which I do). Unfortunately we were too full for dessert so I can’t comment on how that was.
All in all I would say that this was a wonderful dinner and we look forward to returning to Second State in the future.