Georgia Brown's

Such a fall from grace. You used to be one of my frequent favourites. Georgia Brown's, you should be ashamed of the food quality and portion sizes you are now turning out. Seriously, someone from both the front and back of the house needs to take an objective look at what you used to be and what you now are. DC is crowded with other, much worthier kitchens that will fill my belly and empty my wallet but GB's is no longer one of those spots for me. Very Disappointing. more

By Tom Sietsema Sunday, May 23, 2010 Even if you're a card-carrying carnivore, act like a vegetarian and ask for the meatless sampler at Georgia Brown's. Like all of the dishes at this Southern-themed rendezvous, its portions suggest you're a farmhand. Unlike some of the meatier selections, however, it's finger-lickin' good. A scoop of moist Carolina rice is tinted red with bits of tomato. A cake of corn bread, veined with black-eyed peas, comes striped with aioli lit with cayenne. Predictably, there's a fried green tomato: Golden and crisp, it's stuffed with goat cheese and decorates a stump of sauteed spinach. Rounding out the plate is a zesty slaw that snaps with blue cheese and is sweet with grapes. But first, you get a biscuit that is invariably dry and dull. That bread, and the firm corn stick that also greets you, turn out to be signals of distress elsewhere on the menu, starting with a bowl of she-crab soup that smacks mostly of hot cream and ending with sweet-potato cheesecake that leaves a slick trail on the tongue. The shrimp and grits, tasteless and swamped with yellow liquid, aren't anything they'd recognize in Dixie, and aside from the baked beans, the best part of a combination barbecue platter of dense ribs and sawdust (chicken, actually) is the moist nap for cleaning up. A bright spot in my experiences: chicken livers marinated with pineapple, a treat to find on a downtown menu. The restaurant's crisp service is another asset. The dining room, all wooden curves and undulating metal branches, is noisy but also a people-watcher's paradise; D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and CNN's Roland Martin are frequent presences, and even the first lady has dropped by. Still, this diner would gladly trade some celebs in the mix for more finesse on the plate. more

I went to Georgia Brown's years ago for the Sunday brunch and was absolutely impressed. I've been wanting to go back for lunch or dinner time but did not do so until last November with my mother. I might try the brunch again to see if it's still good, but I will never ever venture there again for any other occasion. The food was horrible. My mother wouldn't even take my leftovers home with her to give to her dogs. Yuck! I was sorely disappointed. more

...and for good reason: I didn't care for it. Unimpressive, crowded, overpriced, and disappointing. I tried to like it twice a few years ago, but couldn't bring myself to honestly do so. I believe I had their meatloaf dish, which was nondescript and tasteless. Haven't been back since, and I don't recommend it to friends/family. more

Georgia Brown's is one of my favorite restaurants to go to in DC. It's not a place to go if you're counting calories or watching your weight, but if you want to treat yourself to some serious Southern soul food, this is the place to be. I'm from Maryland and know a good crab cake when I have one, and I have to admit that Georgia Brown's does a good job with them. If you're not sure what to get and want to sample a bunch of different things, you can't go wrong with the vegetarian sampler. The fried green tomatoes are some of the best I've ever had, and the black bean cakes are addictive. My favorite dish at Georgia Brown's has to be the fried chicken livers. You're going to have to run a few miles after eating this one, but it's worth it! Pros: High-quality soul food Cons: Loud, long waits more

My guest & I had a great experience for lunch today. The service was very cordial and prompt and the food delicious. The atmosphere was a little hotelish but all in all it was very cosy! Pros: Great Service, Incredible Food Cons: No parking, Mundane interior more

There aren't many restaurants in DC that offer Southern-style cousine, especially ones that do it well. I came here for lunch one day as well as for happy hour and both times were very enjoyable. The staff is very friendly and the food is even better. For those who don't imbibe, I highly recommend the peach sweet tea. During lunch, I chose the meatloaf and mashed potatoes which was absolutely delicious. Pros: Delicious Food! Cons: Can be a long wait due to high demand more

I don't want to be too harsh but it just seems there was no connection between what they'd like to be and what they are. And the 80's hip hop didn't mesh with the atmosphere either which is the best part of this place. Way too much $$$ for what it is, the peach ice tea was the only non-disappointment. It's not bad food, just not good southern. Better Option: Eatonville. Or get takeout from Oohs & Ahhs on U St. Both beat GB's by a country mile. more

Sadly, I really wanted to like this place. It's close to work and has a unique interior, but the food was not good. At all. I had the shrimp and grits - the grits were nice and creamy, but the shrimp was so overcooked it was almost inedible. It was an odd combination of mushy and hard. I tasted a friend's ice box cake for dessert and it tasted like something out of the frozen section at the grocery store. No wonder Tom hasn't reviewed it! more

Nice place to dine. The cornbread and peach butter is DELICIOUS! The portions are large. The noise volume was a little high but tolerable. more