Eatonville  is at 14th and V Streets NW. (Sarah Lipman)

From Sarah Lipman. You can email her at sarah[AT]@borderstan.com.

A good and greasy piece of fried chicken has been known to melt my heart. So admittedly, Eatonville is my kind of place.

Inspired by Zora Neale Hurston and named for her Florida hometown, Eatonville delivers dependably delicious southern cooking. Bold, bright murals cover the walls, and chintzy touches such as scattered rocking chairs set the southern ambiance.

With a mix of Motown greats like Marvin Gaye playing in the background, we started our meal off right with a couple of cocktails. On the sweeter side, cocktails at Eatonville have funky names like “Daisy Lemonade” and “Grown and Sexy,” the latter of which I almost ordered just for the fun of it.

An order of the honey-cornbread muffins served with sweet whipped butter is a must; an order of four muffins costs only $2. While unfailingly southern, the menu does feature a shocking number of healthy options, such as cauliflower and goat cheese spinach salad, vegan gumbo, and pan-fried tofu with mushrooms. That being said, if you’re here, I say go for it — if it has “fried” in the name or description, it’s almost certainly tasty.

The fried green tomato starter is served with avocado and has a surprisingly spicy kick of oil. Southern fried chicken arrives on a plate chock-full of collard greens, mac and cheese and a buttermilk biscuit. Other stand-out entrées include:

• Catfish and grits, which featured fish, which was at the same time flaky and crispy, and cheesy jalapeño gruyere grits.
• Pan-fried pork chop with sweet potato hash and broccolini.
• Pecan-crusted trout with hoppin’ john (essentially dirty rice).

That southern influence extends to their hospitable service. At the end of a meal I had there, a busboy accidentally removed and tossed a dish my friend wanted to take home. The waiter promptly fixed her a new (slightly smaller) portion of her entrée.

Next up on my list to try at Eatonville — the BGLT sandwich (bacon, fried green tomato, lettuce).

Eatonville: The Details

• Where Am I Going: 2121 14th Street NW (at V Street)
• When Am I Going: Eatonville is open Monday-Thursday, 11:30 am to 11 pm; Friday, 11:30 am to midnight; Saturday, 10 am to midnight; Sunday, 10 am to 11 pm. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 3 pm.
• Paycheck Pain: Starters are all under 10 bucks, entrees $21 and under, and sandwiches in the $9-$13 range. Cocktails will set you back about 10 bucks.
• Say What?: You can clearly hear both your dining party and the great tunes with ease.
• What You’ll Be Eating: Down-home, feel-good, southern cookin.’

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From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter @rnania, email her at rachel[AT]borderstan.com

The guys behind local sandwich favorite Taylor Gourmet are expanding their restaurant chain to feed the hungry souls of Dupont Circle, according to Eater DC.

Taylor Gourmet expands to Dupont Circle this July.(Ashley Lusk)

And if that news wasn’t enough to knock your socks off, then brace yourself my fellow hoagie lovers, because the new 19th and M Street NW location is also rumored to be serving breakfast.

The Dupont location, set to open July 2, will be Taylor Gourmet’s fourth spot in the District and sixth in the metro area.

Read our two previous posts on why Borderstanis love Taylor Gourmet on 14th Street NW — and why President Obama does, too!

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From Namita Koppa. Email her at namita[AT]borderstan.com.

Featured image of the bar at The Pig by Luis Gomez Photos. See more photos of the interior of The Pig on Flickr.

EatWell DC’s newest restaurant, The Pig, recently announced their new brunch offering. Beginning Saturday, June 30, you can park a seat and fill up on classic brunch fare with a twist as curly as a pig’s tail at the 14th Street restaurant. (Also, see EatWell’s Newest Venture: The Pig Opens Thursday.)

The Pig’s David Winer with a photo from the farm where the restaurant’s pork is raised. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Featured dishes include a smoked ham Benedict with a buttermilk biscuit, duck egg, and poblano hollandaise; gnocchi & eggs bacon lardon; and huevos tomatillos, complete with eggs, smoked chorizo, lentils, and house cheese on a corn tortilla.

Vegetarians and vegans, don’t fear!  The Pig will be offering a garden omelet complete with salad and grilled bread; chickpea hash with eggs and greens; sweet potato pancakes with crème fraiche; and roasted beets salad with chef’s cheese and pomegranate reduction. Vegan options include an heirloom radish salad and fruit salad.

Since opening its doors in mid-May, The Pig has offered up delicious meals featuring every part of our porcine companions. Sourcing fruits and vegetables from EatWell DC’s Natural Farm in La Plata, MD, The Pig’s culinary team receives whole pigs, which they break down in-house.

Ranging from a salad featuring crispy pig ears to an ice cream sundae containing pig’s blood, the menu by Chef Garret Fleming is diverse, creative, and tasty. Also featured are a number of craft beers and cocktails made from small-batch spirits. The Pig is at 1320 14th Street NW, just south of Rhode Island Avenue.

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Judy Restaurant on 14th Street NW between W and V Streets offers authentic Salvadoran-Mexican food in a rapidly changing area. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

If you find yourself wanting to enjoy some authentic, affordable Latin American flavors, the Judy Restaurant El Salvadorian & Mexican Food at 2012 14th Street NW remains a good option. The restaurant has been open since 1993 — prior to that the owners ran first a billiards room and then a grocery store.

The ample space has an original taste to it with TV screens showing telenovelas or futbol that you can watch from the bar or from some of the tables in the main room. They have a second room that serves as a music stage or can be rented for private parties. On the second floor they have pool tables.

Judy Restaurant is a colorful, bright place. The crowd is very mixed — “old” and “new” customers. During the week Latin American workers as well as young, new neighbors gather for a happy hour —that is usually bilingual with a bartender that keeps   conversations going in Spanish and English.

Judy is not a fancy place, but it does have delicious food. You can say it is Salvadorian-Mexican, but there is such a thin line in that description. I am not from El Salvador or from Mexico, but the food does remind me of the good flavors from home. The menu at Judy Restaurant consists of your traditional tamales, quesadillas, pupusas and other traditional dishes that evoke real flavors.

Matty had a fried yuca and pork plate that was unbelievable (the chunks of pork are marinated before frying). The yuca was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with a beautifully golden color.

The shrimp and mushroom quesadillas were perfectly done and already plenty. However, I kept on dipping yuca and Matty’s chunks of fried pork into a creamy sauce that was flavorful, but not too hot for me. It was a substantial meal to say the least. We were not able to get dessert.

The experience was also enhanced by the great service from Judy, the daughter of the owners. She was a delightful host who told us that her parents have had the restaurant for a long time and that they own the building. Judy’s dad is actually in charge of the kitchen. Judy Restaurant is a one of those hidden gems in the neighborhood.

Judy Restaurant: The Details

• Where Am I Going? 2212 14th Street NW.
• When Am I Going? Sunday to Thursday 10 pm to 1:30 am; Friday and Saturday 10 am to 2:30 am.
• Delivery? No, but they do have carry-out service.
• Paycheck Pain? $12 to $20
• Say What? It can be loud for dinner during the weekend but much quieter during weekdays.
• What You’ll Be Eating: Great Latin American comfort food.

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Mila at 2015 14th Street. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Tom Hay. Questions for Tom? Send him an email at Tom[AT]borderstan.com and follow him on Twitter @Tomonswann.

President Barack Obama talks to small business owners at Taylor Gourmet on 14th Street NW this morning. At far left is David Mazza; to Obama's right is Casey Patten. (Image Courtesy Taylor Gourmet)

From Rachel Nania. Check out her blog, Sear, Simmer & Stir. Follow Nania on Twitter@rnania, email her at rachel@borderstan.com

The President (yes, Barack Obama) made a pit-stop for lunch this afternoon at Taylor Gourmet’s 14th Street location for a small round-table discussion with four local business owners, including the gourmet deli’s owners, Casey Patten and David Mazza.

President Obama spent his lunch break listening to concerns from the group of selected small business owners – concerns he plans to take to Congress this afternoon. (In November Obama and his daughters made a shopping trip to Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe on Small Business Saturday.)

“We discussed employee tax credits and all things that will help small businesses grow,” said Patten, who stressed the importance of increased wages and raises for employees of small businesses.

President Obama’s trip is all part of his small business “To Do List” – A list that encourages Congress to pass legislation that gives a 10 percent income tax credit to firms that create new jobs or increase wages in 2012.

“Little by little we are rebuilding our economy and it’s starting with these guys,” said Bridget Bean, director of the Washington Metropolitan Area Office of the U.S. Small Business Association and coordinator of today’s meeting.

“It was really an honor to be apart of this,” added Patten. “It was a lot of fun and it happened on my birthday, so it doesn’t get much better.”

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Opening Thursday, May 17:  Click above to see images of what is inside The Pig at 1320 14th Street NW. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Luis Gomez and Rachel Nania.

Photos of The Pig: View the slide show or the set of images of the interior of the restaurant.

It’s been a couple of very busy weeks for David Winer and partners of the DC restaurant group, EatWell DC, but finally, the team’s most recent restaurant, The Pig, is scheduled to open on Thursday (May 17) at 1320 14th Street NW.

David Winer at The Pig. (Luis Gomez Photos)

Luckily for us, we had the chance to visit the restaurant before its grand opening and speak with Winer about his fifth culinary establishment, just south of Rhode Island Avenue NW.

For him, the opening of The Pig was part of an evolutionary process; an inspiration and a journey that started with “going green,” embracing the movement and continually showing respect for the animal.

Winer fell in love with pork 10 years ago, while in Barcelona – a cultural haven for ham. And with the greatest aspirations, The Pig will bring sensibility back to food by using all of the parts and pieces of the animal, in the healthiest ways possible. The restaurant will nix the processed pickings and, instead, source fresh ingredients to populate the pork-centric and seasonal menu.

The 14th Street storefront location was a given for Winer; he loves the neighborhood, he lives in the neighborhood and owns two additional restaurants on the 1400 block of P Street NW (Logan Tavern and Commissary). Furthermore, Winer hopes to be an active part of the revitalization of 14th Street – He wants 14th to be restored to what it was: the most important street in Northwest DC, bustling with restaurants, retail and activity.

The Pig’s space is ample, bright and comfortable… and in Winer’s words, it is timeless. The restaurant seats 80 people, with room for 15 extra patrons at the bar. The Pig will serve tap wine in kegs and American craft beers, in addition to its own mixers and bitters with a variety of craft spirits.

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Masa 14 offered a preview of its new rooftop deck and menu on Tuesday evening. (Kim Vu)

From Kim Vu. He also has his own food blog, DC Wrapped Dates. Follow him at@dcwrappeddates or email him at kim[AT]borderstan.com. 

Ignoring the last few days, our unseasonably warm winter has brought on a quickly temperate spring time. All this has pushed forward the grandest of D.C. days: the first day of patios and rooftops. With even an inkling of 70-degree weather, Standard’s benches begin overflowing, Marvin’s porch starts bumping, and Public starts rolling again. What’s a recovering snowbird to do?

Rooftop details at Masa 14. (Kim Vu)

Luckily, Masa 14 has come to the rescue with a brand new rooftop deck and bar just for the occasion. While the restaurant itself has occupied its 14th Street location for what seems like an eternity, its upstairs setup debuts today (a fact that surprised me, having seen their apparent stairs to nowhere for almost two years now). Still, it seems to have taken a page out of the playbook of its sister restaurant and neighbor El Centro D.F.: rooftops and good food means a good time.

Unlike El Centro and its other contemporaries, Masa’s rooftop does it better by taking advantage of its geography and understanding a central truth of rooftops: the more sun the better. Its outdoor section of wooden-bench two-tops forms a U around the central staircase, which itself is decked in a set of flower beds and bar rails. The decor is intentionally and successfully minimalist, with straight lines of sleek wooden finishing.

But perhaps most importantly, the rooftop completely opens up the street-side half, which means the setting sun will almost always be theater at every happy hour. This floods the space not only with blessed warmth, but a picturesque backdrop, and sets Masa apart from practically anywhere else. After all, who goes to a rooftop to be underneath a hutch? If the game is called on account of rain, then the rooftop’s inside portion, a mirror image of the bar downstairs, offers ten seats to wait out the weather.

Masa 14 rooftop opens Wednesday. (Kim Vu)

What’s more, Masa’s rooftop menu impresses, curating its offerings into a limited list of successful dishes from the Latin-Asian fusion menu downstairs. A bay scallop ceviche of jicama, pineapple, red onion, and yuzu-sriracha vinaigrette offers a refreshing bite perfect for the impending heat, while two house-made hot dogs (The Rising Sun — teriyaki beef and wasabi, and El Tigre — spicy chorizo with sriracha) bring a savory counterpoint. Moreover, the cocktails provide a wonderful splash of flavor and punch to the space, especially the French and Strawberry-Basil caipirinhas.

Upon leaving, my companion turned to me to say, “We should savor this. This might be the last time we see this rooftop this empty.” Given all that it has to offer, I tend to agree.

Disclosure: Kim Vu attended the Tuesday-night preview of the Masa 14 rooftop deck and was comped on food and drink as part of the event.

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The Pig will open May 14. It will be EatWell DC’s fifth restaurant. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

In Latin America there is a Spanish saying that translated to English goes something like this: “Each pig has its Saturday” meaning that at some point something that is to be expected will happen (must I describe it for you?). “The Pig”, in this case, is the newest restaurant in the EatWell DC group. While we have known it would happen soon, we now know the date: Monday, May 14.

The Pig will be at 1320 14th Street NW, just south of Rhode Island. It is the fifth of the group, which also includes Commissary and Logan Tavern on the 1400 block of P Street NW, The Heights in Columbia Heights and Grillfish, just south of Dupont Circle on New Hampshire Avenue NW.

According to Andy Phan, EatWell DC spokesperson, “The Pig’s décor will blend industrial with urban; dramatic lighting, patinas and striking art from another era and medium.”

Chef Garret Fleming is ready to serve us crafted food from Eco Friendly Farms in Virginia. The Pig will be serving plates designed to be shared, as well as full entrees with a price range of $4 to $14. The drink menu will include handcrafted cocktails, American craft beers, boutique Bourbons and earth-friendly wines. It will also offer tap wines from kegs with two whites and one red on “draft.”

Related Stories:

• Coming in the Spring: EatWell DC Names Chef For The Pig
• Yes, The Pig Will Have Vegetarian Options

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1825 14th Street NW: The Masa 14 rooftop deck construction is underway. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Luis Gomez. Catch his photos on Picplz and at One Photograph A Day. Follow him on Twitter @LuisGomezPhotos.

Work on the rooftop deck at Masa 14 is progressing. A spokesperson for the 14th Street restaurant said, “We hope to open by the end of April. We will be offering a roof top menu and hope to be able to serve brunch shortly thereafter.” Hours for the rooftop deck have not yet been set.

Borderstan will have news and photos about another rooftop deck opening soon over on 9th Street NW. BTW… check out the Borderstan team’s list of favorite rooftop decks and brunch spots, links below.

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• Borderstan Brunch Guide: We Polled the Team for Favorites
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