I had such a lovely dinner at Rappahannock Oyster Bar on 8-19-2017. It was relaxed and low key but seriously delicious. Chef Autumn was also so generous with her time!
Rappahannock Oyster Bar is inside of Union Market, a “gourmet food hall” in Northwest DC.
The restaurant is literally an oyster bar with a few tables. It’s not enclosed or separate, which makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of everything.
Love the artwork showing the provenance of the various oysters.
Speaking of the oysters, here’s our first peek at them!
And now to the meal!
Corn and shrimp tamale (sauce of parsley, cilantro, tomatillo, peppers, cream). This was delicious. I liked the corn and shrimp flavors but man did I REALLY love the sauce.
Rappahannock, Rochambeau, and Old Salt Oysters. I liked all three but the Rochambeau was a nice middle ground between the bright juiciness of the Rappahannock and the intense brine of the Old Salt.
Cobia Summer Ceviche (green apple, jalapeno, cilantro , hibiscus, mezcal water, avocado, tortilla crisp). OMFG was this good! This is probably the best ceviche I’ve ever had (or at least tied with Bad Saint’s). It was just perfectly balanced between the acid, spice, and the soft, cooling avocado. It was also the perfect level of “cooked” and had overall a really great texture.
Grilled Whole Fish of the Day (charred corn succotash, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, ancho chili). Okay in all honesty this belonged to the people next to me but it looked too pretty not to picture!
Lambs & Clams (merguez, sofrito, pigeon peas, aioli). This was really well done. It was kind of like a stew except it wasn’t too brothy or too thick. It had a really great flavor: I could definitely taste the lamb, tomato, peas, and clams, all while being a little spicy. Also the bread was perfectly toasted–not too hard, not too soft.
Executive Chef Autumn Cline! She was so nice to come chat, sign my Michelin Guide, and take pictures. I found her approach to being a chef, really focusing on empowering her staff, to be inspiring.
Overall this was a really tasty meal in a fun location. It’s nice to have a sit down restaurant amid the buzz of Union Market. It doesn’t hurt that it’s delicious as well!!
MissionMichelin 