‘Smothered Fried Chicken’
courtesy of ‘Sabine01’

I’m a southern girl, I think I’ve made that abundantly clear on this blog. (Also, while we’re at it, let me just say, UNC is going to PWN you during March Madness, everyone. But I digress…) So what southern girl can’t love some Georgia Brown’s? A few friends and I headed there during my favorite week of the year, restaurant week, and were treated to some down-home food. I’ve been raised on southern cooking like Crook’s Corner and Mert’s Heart and Soul, so I was dying to find out if Georgia Brown’s lives up to it’s famous truly southern brethren.

I’m all about bread, I think I’ve also made that clear on this blog. If you start me off with some crappy bread, I’m going to be sad. It’s like a warm up jog before the workout, I need the bread starter to shine for me, gear me up for the meal to come. And boy, did Georgia Browns give me a run for my money. They sent out biscuts and corn bread and I’m not just warming up, I’m basically working out. They dished up biscuts with peach butter and corn bread – fresh, with actual corn in it. (Insert heavenly angelic aaaaah noise here!) Now that’s a way to start a meal. So I was sold right then and there, in my mind, there’s little you can do wrong after some biscuts and sweet butter… or is there?

‘Buttered Biscuits’
courtesy of ‘Sabine01’

Georgia Brown’s is famous for their goat cheese fried green tomatoes, and as a GRIT (girls raised in the south, thank you) I know me some fried green tomatoes. These hit the spot! I think the entire table ordered them – they were exactly as they should be – crispy, fatty and delicious. The goat cheese was just the right twist, too!

Also, I should mention – they do have sweet tea. For those of us raised on Bojangles and McAllisters, southern sweet tea is an art to be reckoned with. Although I didn’t try it myself (I was drinking my go-to beer, Blue Moon, since you asked!) I heard it was perfect.

Next, I tried the obligatory fried chicken. I found mine a bit dry, and there wasn’t nearly as much drizzle as on the chicken pictured before the break of this post, but my green beans were done just like they do them in the Carolinas and my mashed potatoes were great. Also at our table was some delicious skirt steak that I may or may not have had food envy for. Well flavored and cooked to perfection, I’d recommend the skirt steak over the fried chicken. I’ve actually heard this about Georgia Brown’s – everyone goes for the fried chicken, but the other dishes shine.

We rounded out the meal with desserts. I think I may have gotten my entire week’s worth of calories by chowing down on the pecan pie. It was done well, the crust was flakey, but the chocolate sauce had a grit to it that made me a touch suspicious. It made me wonder if we were just victim to an over-busy restaurant week night where they were trying to crank out as much food as possible. Don’t get me wrong, it warmed my little southern heart, but there were some inconsistancies, the gritty chocolate being one of them.

The service was fine, harried, but friendly. I was with a friend who will just start talking to anyone, about anything, any time, and I think he warmed up the frenzied waiter by joking with him – never hurts to butter up the staff, especially during such a busy time for them.

All in all, Georgia Browns is a DC institution – and for a reason. It was fun, truly southern, and the food was great and would be even better on a night where they were less frantic in the kitchen. I’ll be back…

Georgia Brown’s is located at 950 15th St. NW. Closest Metro stop: McPherson Square (Blue and Orange lines). For more information, call (202) 393-4499. Reservations on Open Table.

Katie

Katie moved to DC in 2007, and has since embarked upon a love affair with the city. She’s an education reform advocate and communications professional during the day; at night and on the weekends, she’s an owner here at We Love DC. Katie has high goals to eat herself through the entire city, with only her running shoes to save her from herself. For up-to-the-minute news and reviews (among other musings), follow her on Twitter!