Gypsy Kitchen DC brings a new adventurous culinary experience to the 14th Street Corridor in Washington, DC. Despite many 2020 coronavirus-related restrictions, and many restaurants turning off their lights permanently during these times, this new restaurant brings much needed excitement during these COVID times.
This is the second Gypsy Kitchen; the original one is in Atlanta. The restaurant is one of Southern Proper Hospitality Group brands and represents the group’s first foray into the DC market. The group is based in Atlanta and has over 20 restaurants in the South East.
Ambiance . . .
Upon entering the restaurant, the space conveys warmth and comfort, combining motifs reminiscent of the Mediterranean, Spain and the Middle East. It has a large bar and dining room on the first floor and a beautiful rooftop. The rooftop feels like a much-appreciated oasis in the hectic neighborhood. The retractable roof makes it possible for customers to have an al fresco experience year round. In addition, there are outdoor tables on the sidewalk.
Concept . . .
Gypsy Kitchen’s food options are exciting and quite tempting, merging flavors from Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Morocco and Israel. Furthermore, the plating presentations are beautiful and well thought-out. The menu, consisting of mostly small plates, provides a perfect opportunity to explore this “Iberian Fusion” cuisine. In addition, there are several options of cured meats and cheeses, and large plates.
The Kitchen . . .
Even though there are alluring selections in the cured meats and cheese section, we decided to focus on the small plates. The delectable selections at Gypsy Kitchen are plenty. And the staff is particularly adept at guiding you through all the choices and how much to order. So, there is no reason to feel lost or overwhelmed.
We started with a beautifully presented Cucumber Soup with argon oil. Unlike most of the other dishes we ordered, its flavors were subtle, cool and smooth. From then on, our taste buds exploded with bursting flavors and delightful surprises. After the soup, we savored the Tuna Crudo, impeccable with harissa, squid ink tuile and smoked salt.
Vegetarians will be very pleased with the Gypsy Kitchen menu. The Crispy Cauliflower with lemon tahini, dried fruit relish, caper berry and pistachio was heavenly, rich and delicious as was the Charred Rapini with nduja, aged manchego and cured yolk. There are also vegan and gluten-free options.
We finished off with two other small plates. First, we had the Crispy Chicken Briouat, wrapped with a delicate phyllo though, walloped with flavor from Turkish spices and an oven-dried confit tomato jam. Lastly, we went for the plump, succulent Gulf Shrimp a la Plancha, nicely complemented with a saffron rouille, nantua sauce and charred lemon.
Unfortunately we got over excited with our savory order and left little room for dessert. But the Chocolate Pavlova sounded very tempting. We’ll be sure to give it a try when we return.
The Bar . . .
Gypsy Kitchen also has a very innovative menu of craft cocktails. Many of the concoctions include lesser-known spirits, so don’t feel self-conscious if you need some assistance when deciding what to drink. Likewise, there is an extensive well-thought out wine list focused on growing regions that include Greece, Spain, Italy, Lebanon and Israel, among others.
The Promise . . .
Gypsy Kitchen and the SPH Group certainly fulfilled their promise – “to provide a short-term escape for diners by creating distinct dining experiences that appeal to our guest’s sense of adventure”. It’s an escape that I’d like to take over and over again, especially during these COVID times.
Location and Contact Info . . .
Gypsy Kitchen DC
Summary
Great culinary adventure. Don’t miss it!
