Queen's English

Good meal which was quite unusual and interesting. The service was very good during a busy time. If you are looking for Chinese food, this is not the right venue. If you’re feeling adventurous and open to a fusion experience, you won’t b disappointed. The restaurant was cold due to the front door configuration. Wear layers in the cold winter weather. Would visit again.

Friends who live in the area brought us here to DC Eater's July 2019 number one nominee on their Top 15 List. ATMOSPHERE: The cozy spot can dine about 35 souls. We got seated at the bay window, others dined at the bar and on low tops, with the kitchen in plain view to all. It got pretty smoky inside as the kitchen vents couldn't keep up with the chefs. MENU: Nothing British about this place with its arsenal filled with shareable, Asian-influenced dishes. BEVERAGE: Happy Valley - $13.00 My first whisky drink as I'm usually a vodka guy. Delish! Perfectly strong blend of sweet and citrusy. FOOD: Celtuce & Cucumber - $14.00 I couldn't find any celtuce (Chinese lettuce) in the dish, just lots of thinly-sliced cucumbers dressed in a light soy-vinegar sauce and topped with trout roe for a triple hit of freshness, salt and tang. Salt & Pepper Blowfish - $16.00, four pc. I'm sure this is a non-poisonous variety as there weren't any disclaimers on the menu. The small, headless fish were lightly battered, simply seasoned with salt, pepper and a sweet drizzle, with meat similar in texture to trout. The tails were crispy enough to eat too, and the only bone you'll find is the spine. Recommended. Chili Clams - $15.00 The clams were too small to be noticeable, so the majority of the dish seemed like ground pork with empty clam shells. Pass. Soy Braised Enoki Mushroom - $15.00 A pool of sweet and savory sauce enveloped each mushroom, topped with a poached egg and what I thought to be chicharron was actually a crispy tapioca. Mushroom lovers will rejoice. Sizzling Asparagus - $17.00 My least favorite of the night. The dish did not arrive sizzling, no biggie. Oddly, I couldn't detect any taste of asparagus in the mishmash of sweet and tangy flavors. Pass. Naked Dumpling - $14.00 Void of any shell, spongy cushions of mashed up seafood made for an unusual twist on the traditional potsticker, instead transforming it into fishcake. I passed on the spicy paste and ate it plain as it seemed overly hot by others reactions. I'll take a conventional dumpling and dipping sauce any day. Twice Cooked Lamb Rib - $16.00, 4 pc. Fork-tender, subtly seasoned and finished with a seared, black crust that was surprisingly not bitter. Daikon Fritters - $16.00 I had to taste the pork sung (meat product) topping separately as it looked so interesting, like dried moss on a rock. It tasted just like shredded beef jerky. The mashed up daikon could've passed for fishcake, with the radish's earthy notes marrying well with the creamy/oyster sauce drizzle. Recommended. Bok Choy - $14.00 Whatever the salty meat stir fried with the Chinese cabbage was, made the otherwise boring vegetable pop with life, creating an appetizing combination of flavors. Typhoon Shelter Shrimp - $22.00/five Definitely crunch on the legs and battered shell to garner the seasonings with every bite. Hand Cut Noodle - $21.00 I've never seen noodles with bi-colors of black and beige before, which is perhaps where the squid ink comes in. Bits of tender squid gave this dish subtle notes of ocean-y and savory. Recommended. Crispy Rice - $16.00 Easily my favorite dish of them all. Every grain of jasmine rice was coated in bold flavors of savory and char and enhanced with chicken, peas, catering and earthy shiitakes. Not your average fried rice. Highly recommended! DESSERT: The official name escaped my memory, but it was essentially Japanese-style mochi drizzled with caramel and dusted with sesame seeds and chopped peanuts. Gooey, sweet and nutty. SERVICE: Our waiter was very attentive, patient and professional. Drinks were never empty and we were checked on numerous times throughout our meal. TIP: No reservations are taken. We walked in without issue at 6:30p on a Tuesday night. OVERALL: Intimate menu, a bit pricey for the portion size. That crispy rice will be on my mind for a while!

This restaurant presents fabulous dishes served in a classy, but relaxed venue. We have nothing but high praise for this establishment. The staff were knowledgeable, efficient, and engaging. We look forward to returning so that we can try more menu items. On this first visit, we enjoyed the lobster salad, mushroom dumplings, zucchini, scallion calamari pancake and duck drunken noodles.

Fantastic. Superlative service, decor, ambience, and food. The staff is uniformly cheerful and attentive. Recommendations were wonderful. Bathrooms spotless, always a tell that folks are on top of their game. There is no moment where you don’t see someone tending to a diner. Felt like a universally invested family was on staff. And the food is delicious. Pig ear and hamachi a must, as are the cocktails and Ice cream. Huzzah!