| Address | 1624 Q St., Washington, DC 20009 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Sun-Tue, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., Wed-Thur, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m., Fri-Sat, 5:30 p.m.-12 a.m.; Brunch: Sat-Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Phone | (202) 462-4265 |
| Fax | (202) 462-8888 |
| Website | http://www.hanksdc.com |
I have been an avid raw bar oyster foodie for years now and have eaten raw oysters all over the East Coast - now when I read the reviews online of Hank's Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle, I was truly intrigued. I got there, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere, it's a small place, but not too small, very cozy and has outside seating for warm days. Now, when it came to the food, it was excellent, my only complaint is that the raw oysters I ate were a little sandy, in otherwords, they tasted almost as if they had not been completely washed off properly, from the ocean, I could taste some of the grit in each bite. I think their prices are really decent - you get a lot of bang for your buck here. The only other thing I did not like was the fact that they didn't offer any dessert items, just pieces of dark chocolate. I am all for originality, honestly, but I think even if Hank's is to offer even one dessert, it should be more upscale than broken up pieces of dark chocolate. The owners should research what pairings go good with oysters, when finishing a meal. My colleage really enjoyed his fried oysters, because they weren't bogged down with too much fried breading, as is almost 'normal' these days at some seafood restaurants. Overall, this was a great experience, and I will go back to try more of their food, especially the lobster roll. I find their prices to be reasonable as compared to the quality and freshness of the food they are serving.
I like this place a lot. Note that the oyster happy hour is only during the winter months. Quality fresh oysters served by knowledge staff. I also had the caeser salad which is quite good, but a tad smaller than most other places.
Crowded, sometimes noisy. But on two visits it has served good food, well prepared.
For a restaurant that has Oyster Bar in the name, there needs to be more Oysters. Varied both by price and type.
The food here is very good. The service peppy and very cheerful
Starter of fried oysters are a treat not over done, but moist and tender inside.
The lobster roll is okay, the toasted bread and the fries could be better. The fries were decidedly re-fried. Vegetarians can enjoy their choice of sides put together in a plate with variety.
Definitely will return.
This was my second visit to Hank's and it was even better than the first time (which was also good). The food is really terrific, I just wish the portions made more sense. I'm a scrawny little guy -- not a big eater -- and so I find it psychicly painful to need to order a $6 side dish on top of a $10 appetizer and a $20 entree in order to avoid going home hungry. Can't the side dishes just be thoughtfully paired with the entrees and rolled into the price of the entree?
Hank's is one of DuPont's best restaurants, competing with Komi as the king of the 17th St. Strip - in the land of the mediocre, the hamhanded but talented American restauranteur is king. High caliber fresh ingredients make all the meals a delight, although the kitchen has a tendency to rush and undercook thicker pieces of meat. The greatest drawbacks of Hank's are the size and the staff. In terms of size, Hank's is a small restaurant, crammed to bursting with too many tables - I've eaten there at least twenty-five times and on more than one occasion felt like I was being crammed into a corner most restaurants would reserve for a plant. Staffing seems to be another serious issue for Hank's; waiters keep coming and going, and more often than not don't stay long enough to learn how to do the job well.
Other things to beware - entree dishes are tiny, so be sure to order a side or two. Try to avoid the disgusting margarine-like product (if that stuff is actually butter, God help us all) served with the bread - even McDonald's gives out better stuff, and Jamie Leeds should know better. Be careful ordering entrees served in bowls - the poorly chosen bowls take up half the table and you won't have space for much else. Last, if you like fine wines or desserts, you won't find either on the menu at Hank's.
Despite obvious flaws, Hank's is an excellent first restaurant for Jamie Leeds, and if this is what she can do on the first try, I can't wait until she can expand when that nasty diner next door finally goes under, or she decides to open another restaurant. I'll keep eating at Hank's once a week as long as I'm in the neighborhood.
I loved the scene. The oysters were perhaps the best I have had in DC. The popcorn shrimp and calamari was a little greasy and the present made for the lat few bites being soggy. The skate wing was good, if basically unadorned, but a little expensive. Wine was expensive for what you got and a very limited selection. Beer good and cold. I forget what I drank, but it was a good California Microbrew that washed down a lot of delish oysters. It ain't Swan's Oyster Depot (SF) but hey! What is?
We went to Hank's for an early dinner last Thursday and were thrilled to get a seat on the bustling patio right away. We started with a dozen of the west coast oysters (kumamotos and pencotes) which were nicely chilled and meaty. Loved the option of cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish OR mignonette sauce. My dining companion and I shared the much-touted lobster roll, which was really just OK--I'm not a judge of lobster roll authenticity (Hank's is said to be very authentically New England-style) but to me the lobster was a bit on the rubbery side. I think it may have been cooked for just a hair too long. Other than that, no complaints--the roll it was served on was of high quality, and dressed with a very light hand. The fried calamari and popcorn shrimp "pail" was terrific--I loved the nicely seasoned but light batter, and the calamari/shrimp came out nicely crispy. As a side we ordered the mac-n-cheese, which was hearty, and nicely tangy/smoky with gruyere. I've had that dish before, however, and liked it better the first time. The crispy breading topping was not as crispy the second time--perhaps the result of a second too long under the warming lamp? We washed all the goodness down with a nice (well-priced) Albarino. I concur with other raters--Hank's is a welcome addition to Dupont. The chunks of dark chocolate served with the check were yummy--though I know some are annoyed by the lack of dessert. For me, a taste of free chocolate is all the dessert I need or want!
Hank's is the perfect compliment to the bustling 17th street neighborhood. It's a mix of class and pizazz, with fabulous comfortable food. There is nothing unfamiliar on the menu, most of which is reminiscent of childhood trips to the shore. The fried shrimp and calamari small plate comes in a cute tin bucket adding a little distinction to the standard starter. The crab cakes were good, very meaty with the right spices, however they lacked a little of the flair found at other area seafood restaurants. My friend loved her oyster po'boy and thought her side order of spinach was easily the best she's had within the district limits. The prices are reasonable, especially for seafood. I will definitely be returning, even if it is just to sit at the bar (the bartender/sommelier was very attentive and helpful) to munch on the delicious fried shrimp and calamari.
This place brings me back again & again--wonderful oysters (and, thankfully, the calamari/popcorn shrimp appetizer made the move from 15 Ria!). The chef's thoughtfulness is apparent everywhere, from the delicious bread to the yummy desserts (now, if only the servers would get on board). High quality without pretension--I wish Hank's was in MY neighborhood.
This addition to the 17th Street corridor brings fresh oysters and other seafood to Dupont Circle. The service is great; the servers are very knowledgeable about the oysters being served that day (texture, flavor, where they were caught) and about the wine list. They try to have 3 types of oysters per day.
They have a good selection of appetizers (onion rings, crab cakes, etc.) but the french fries don't fall into the 'can't miss' category. They are rather basic.
The outdoor area in front, which seats about 14 people, is nice for a date or for a drink to catch up with friends. It's quieter than the inside, which is very nice but a bit livelier.
This was my 4th or 5th visit to this new seafood restaurant. The oysters and clams are always delicious. The fish and seafood changes and is top quality and well prepared. The side dishes, especially the beets, are a welcome extra. There's a vegetarian and meat choce each day but the seafood and fish is so good and varied that I haven't tried the daily meat choice yet. An appetizer special of soft shells was wonderful with a barely spicy aioli; the halibut was perfectly cooked and impecably fresh, and the griddled squid nicely smoky and crisp. The offer of semisweet chocolate in lieu of dessert is welcome (our server said the kitchen is so small the chef isn't making desserts yet). The wine list is a good match for the food.
