| Address | 1322 U St., Washington, DC 20009 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (202) 234-1884 |
Have not had a bad meal here yet. the shrimp and grits are to die for, as are the mushrooms and the spinach and the short rib.
I have been here twice, after reading very good reviews elsewhere, and was very pleased both times. The shrimp and grits dish--which is one of their specialties--is worth coming back for over and over--creamy grits, covered with nicely cooked shrimp and spicy andouille sausage, in a tomato-y broth. Delicious. The short-ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, and the slow-roasted chicken, which we thought might be a tad dry, was moist and succulent. Servings are large, so no room for dessert, but next time we might try the sniglet, just to see what it is. The waitstaff is just ok--could definitely be more attentive.
The food here for brunch is truly first-rate. I especially recommend the chicken and waffles or eggs benedict, both of which were fantastic and could have cost twice as much someplace else like Georgia Brown's. I havent been here for a meal other than brunch but for that I highly recommend it.
I do not recommend this place. It is a yuppified gesture to soul food that lacks taste and thought. I orderd the shrimp and grits with a side of the spinach. The shrimp and grits were do watery that there was all this liquid runoff at the bottom of my plate, the side of spinach was loaded with salt, my drink did nothing for me. That being said I wish I could say the atmosphere or service was redeeming-but not in the least. The space is narrow and tiny and we just lucked out in getting a table that had just become free, had we actually had a wait this experience would have been even more disappointing. This review is coming form someone who is not a picky eater and can be comfortable at the smallest hole in the wall. My guest from out of town was equally disappointed so much so that after we left I look her to the Diner in Adams Morgan where she was more satisfied with their sandwich than anything we sampled that night at Creme. Sorry Creme you just don't cut it.
I don't remember the exact date --partly because I want to forget all about this dining experience as quickly as possible. Overrated, thy name is Creme. The shrimp and grits had little flavor, the andouille tasted as if they had boiled it until the spices ran for cover; the texture of the grits was off, and the "sauce" was too watery and chicken-brothy in flavor. The service WAS AWFUL. Our waiter brought our food almost 2 hours after we sat down, apologized but made no other offers to make up for it, spilled my drink on my dress (again, a perfunctory apology but no other offers --then again, a free dessert or drink wouldn't have made up for anything). There is very little selection re: beer, wine or mixed drinks. They either need a new bartender or a new menu or both. The only good thing about the place? Price. But let's face it; this is no bargain. You spend little, you get little in return. Cute place but tiny and loud. Not going back. Not recommending it.
Every time I eat at Creme it makes me wonder why I would pay more to eat anywhere else. The dishes that come out of this kitchen, priced under $20 mind you with most hovering around the $15 range, are models of comfort food perfection. Mama Laura's herb roasted chicken falls off the bone, Shrimp & Grits melts in your mouth -- the grits flaky yet sufficiently unctuous -- and the brown sugary sweetness of the dressing on Oprah's tomato salad is a perfect complement to the greens. Service here is usually good, sometimes excellent, but always friendly.
I love Creme. Valentines was my second time dining at Creme and it was as good if not better than the first time. I love their chicken noodle soup! Every item I've had I would recommend... including the crab cake app, the lamb chops, the surf and turf, and the chicken noodle soup.
In addition to having good, solid food the service is fantastic! I have been in the service industry for years, and at Creme I had the best service I have ever had in DC. I can't wait to go back soon!
Creme is a great new addition to U St. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. I've been for both dinner and brunch and neither was a dissappointment. In fact, the spinach applewood smoke bacon quiche, was a unique brunch offering, that I will definitely go back for. Unlike most upper-end restaurants in DC, it offered fair prices for great food; entrees were all in the $10-17 range, as opposed to that popular DC $21-28 range. I was hesitant to order lamb chops, but was really happy I did. Definitely dellicious! The only problem with Creme is the size. I arrived at 6:30pm on a cold Tuesday evening, and was told I had to wait 20-30 minutes for a table. Due to the positive word of mouth and good reviews, I can't imagine Creme won't always be crowded. Also, due to the small space, even while waiting for a table, you are often forced to leave the restaurant, because there is simply no where to stand, if you aren't lucky enough to get a seat at the bar.
All that said, do not let that deter anyone from visiting Creme, it is an experience worth having. High quality food, good service, and a great menu.
Wow....the food was fabulous. I would highly recommend this establishment.
