Take the Bait, Try "Iron Gate"

C Says...

I’ve live in D.C. going on 9 years now, and have never been to Iron Gate despite numerous recommendations to do so. Iron Gate is located across the street from the Tabard Inn and is so inconspicuous, you’d walk right by it if you weren’t looking for it. A bonus point for the restaurant is that seating is in a courtyard – lovely for the warm night we went.

I started with the goat cheese torte with red peppers. It was a hefty portion served with 3 pieces of toasted bread. I wasn’t able to finish it all, but it was a completely nice, if unexpected way, to start the meal. For my main course I opted for the roast chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli. This dish was the epitome of comfort food, and after a 4ish mile run, I devoured the whole thing.

The meal was straight forward and offered little in the way of bells and whistles, which is just fine by me. I’ll be sure to go back to Iron Gate, for a nice outdoor meal, or a nice afternoon, outdoor cocktail (but I’ll pass on our dining neighbor who was more NJ Housewife, then D.C. diner).

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J Says...

I had never heard of this restaurant when C suggested it, so I really had no sense of what I was getting myself into. Off the beaten path a bit, the courtyard is truly somewhere I'd want to do a happy hour that actually involved talking to the people I'm with. And on a warm spring or fall night, Iron Gate would be perfect for that (particularly if you work downtown).

While the wine list is less than spectacular, I tried the mussels to start. Plentiful in flavor and quantity, I highly recommend this appetizer which is served...oddly enough...with tomatoes. Quite delicious, I do so hope it is offered on the bar menu as well.

For my main course, I tried the grilled shrimp in pasta. The dish was pleasantly prepared and again the quantity was perfect. My only complaint would be the inclusion of broccoli, which I do like, as it took on the flavors and juices of its neighbors and destroyed the unique taste of the vegetable. C and I both opted against dessert this time.

The outside decor is interesting in that it reminds me of a popular cowboy-inspired bar on U-Street...but with french doors opening up on a stairway into the fire pit in the center of the courtyard. The bathrooms will remind you of a cabin or family camp on a lake. That aside, it was a nice meal with very attentive staff.


Iron Gate - 1734 N Street NW, 202.737.1370, www.iron-gate.com