This swanky restaurant right across from the Waterfront metro station in Southwest comes to us from the team behind Bullfeathers and Tunnicliffs on Capitol Hill. It’s a much welcome addition to a neighborhood that is still short on great places to eat.
Station 4 doesn’t stick out as you walk by it, with its name written on the door in small cursive. The inside is beautiful and chic with a modern design. Sitting at the long bar you’ll have at least two friendly bartenders and a row of drinks to look at, plus a picture of a woman’s lips (you’ll find those throughout the establishment).
The verdict? The ambiance and decor of Station 4 are perfect. Think: classy, elegant and modern. Service is slow, so you might have to be willing to flag someone down, but everyone is friendly. The menu shines, yet for now the food is not bad, but not great.
As expected, Station 4 offers the pizza that Matchbox has made almost a requirement. The starters are very creative – on the menu you have the regular calamari and spring rolls but also a PB&J Foie Gras (brioche, tomato jelly, Serrano ham) and stuffed zucchini (goat cheese, toasted almonds, romesco sauce).
I started with the pork belly, always my go-to dish. The presentation left a lot to be desired and the pork wasn’t as moist as I would have liked. The brussels sprouts were so bland I had to ask for salt. On my third trip back to Station 4 the greens had more bacon but were actually too salty and soggy.
I do recommend the Duck Confit Spring Rolls, though it could do without the sambal-orange marmalade. Entree wise my vote goes to the Jumbo Blue Crab Cake which comes with roasted pepper, mango ceviche, and a corn puree. This is a dish that I kept trying to eat slowly because I didn’t want to get to the last bite. The Beef Shortribs Pappardelle left me a little confused by what exactly was happening on the plate. There’s almost too much going on, and I found the peas unnecessary.
I love the drink menu, and it even offers a Pisco Sour! Win. Another plus is the brunch menu, which has some great soups and Eggs Benedict to choose from.
I hope Station 4 continues to make improvements because it really could be a great neighborhood place for those in Southwest and even Navy Yard. Friendliness goes a long way, and you definitely get that here.
Station 4 is located at 1101 4th St SW. The closest metro station is Waterfront-SEU (Green Line). For more information, call (202) 488-0987.
