Feels Like Home at "Senart's Oyster & Chop House"

C Says...

Senart’s Oyster and Chop House in Barracks Row is another establishment popping up throughout the city that aims to showcase the DC of yore. Senart’s is located in a house once occupied by the Senart family – during the 1930s they lived in an apartment on the 2nd floor and served oysters and pub grub on the 1st floor. Senart’s menu reflects this: heavy on oysters, old fashioned cocktails like a Pimm’s Cup and Moscow Mule, seafood, and plenty of meat. I don’t think the Senart family would be disappointed with this new venture.

J started off with the shrimp cocktail – I sampled one of the little buggers and they were fresh and delicious. I’m partial to very tart drinks (gimlets anyone?) and Senart’s Moscow Mule was refreshing on a warm summer’s day. I had to stop myself from stealing the traditional copper mug this drink is served in.

For my entrée I chose the Blueberry BBQ Berkshire pork chop with scalloped potatoes, coleslaw and green beans. This meal was simply fantastic: the pork chop was enormous and the blueberry sauce was a great accompaniment; the scalloped potatoes were perfection; and, I even enjoyed the coleslaw and I’m not all that into coleslaw.

While we did have a few service flubs, all in all, Senart’s is a great addition to Barracks Row.

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J Says...

I was quite happy that C selected Senart's for this monthly dinner, as I had seen it pop up in the neighborhood but had yet to make it over there. After a nice stroll from our respective apartments (which are in adjacent buildings, by the way), we were seated outside on a lovely summer evening. And my dark & stormies were a wonderful addition.

As C said, I ordered the shrimp cocktail to start...4, not 8...since C only wanted one. Had I known they would be that large and delicious...and that our meals would have taken 15 minutes to come...I would have gone with the 8. The cold bar service was considerably quicker than the main kitchen, but perhaps it was a busy night.

After some hesitation due to a concern about sogginess, I selected the seafood lasagna "Cippino Style" for my main course after reassurance from the server. I'm VERY glad I did! Mussels, shrimp, octopus in a great tomato fondue with a traditional lasagna in the center...simply amazing. I can honestly say I was stumped about what to get for dinner because so many options seemed so good, so I'll be hard-pressed not to get this dish again when I go back.

The service, while friendly and fairly prompt, had some miscommunication issues that definitely weighed down the experience. All in all, a good price for a great meal, so I can only recommend people enjoy this new 8th Street establishment.


Senart's Oyster & Chop House - 520 8th Street SE, 202.544.1168, www.senartsdc.com