Get your Southern Fix in the DMV!

Hen Quarter opened its second location in the DMV last week in Silver Spring, MD, owing to the success of their flagship restaurant in Alexandria, VA.  The Southern-style restaurant features all things comfort food, boasting a family focused atmosphere and supporting sustainable agriculture in the region. I had the opportunity to check out the new brick and mortar for the grand opening and will share my thoughts below on how to approach the down home eatery.

Drink.

The restaurant is warm and welcoming, adorned with rocking chairs on the patio, farmhouse tables inside, and cozy leather booths to relax in.  The bar is stocked with an extensive list of bourbons, whiskeys and ryes -- all available as FLIGHTS. Yes, please! I tried their take on the French 75, with a drop of absinthe.  It was light and refreshing with the perfect balance of sweet, sour and effervescent.

Eat.

The things you should 100% eat mostly have to do with fried chicken and bacon; you're welcome.

1. BELLY POPS

How could any resist ordering something called belly pops?  I don't care what it is, I have to try it.  These pops happen to be skewered smoked pork belly with rosemary, sugar brûlée, and a fig gastrique.  You can see why it was impossible to get a photo of the full tray, amiright?  Tender pork belly with a caramelized sugar crust makes these pops completely irresistible. I once heard, "Once you pop, the fun don't stop."  Agreed.

2. Fried Chicken Crackling

Seriously? You're going to serve me fried chicken skin drizzled with roaster hot honey?  Just kill me now - I'm ready, I've had all I could ever want.  Tell me you don't continue to tear the fried chicken skin off of the leftover pieces even when you're too full to eat the actual meat.  It's never as good reheated, so might as well eat all of that crispy, hot, fat.  The fact that Hen Quarter just serves you this decadent cholesterol bomb by itself is ok with me, more than ok.

3. Fried Green Tomatoes and Blue Crab Fingers

Cornmeal crusted fried green tomatoes are hard to beat.  But, as a Maryland girl the Blue Crab Fingers were the star of the evening.  Southern fried blue crab claws served on an onion hay stack and Cajun remoulade are a perfect start to any evening.  Go order them right meow.

BE MERRY.

“Hen Quarter was conceptualized as a restaurant that appeals to both young and old generations, yet is based on traditional family values and memorable recipes, “said Robyn Leenaert, Pheast Food Group’s chief marketing officer. “Due to the success of our Alexandria location, we knew it was time to give our Maryland friends their own location, with subtle menu variations specially curated with that delicate southern touch.”

Thank you, Hen Quarter, for bringing some down-home cookin' to the urban folks in MD and DC, I'll be back soon!

★★★