Lori had been wanting to go to Todd Gray's Watershed restaurant for months so we decided to celebrate her birthday there on a recent hot, humid June night. Todd and Ellen Gray opened the restaurant recently in the NoMa (North of Mass Ave) neighborhood, and Chef Gray enjoys creating regional cuisine using seafood, and produce from growers and producers from Maine to Florida..as they call it,"Coastal Cuisine of the Eastern Seaboard."
What a treat to get street parking right in front of the Hilton Garden Inn where the restaurant is housed on the second floor. The surrounding area is full of new residential and office buildings housing restaurants and a Harris Teeter. The cool teal, beige and brown decor are warm and inviting. Floor to ceiling windows and high ceilings set off a cheerful and comfortable ambiance. It was too hot to enjoy the lovely outdoor patio with brown rattan furniture and beige cushions. We walked through the modern lounge full of business people and tourists, and past the raw bar. Sleek black and brushed nickel tables (including some long, tall communal ones) with rose orchard plants as centerpieces, and cloth and leather chairs fill the dining room. Squares of fabric, mirrors and colorful metal fish sculptures adorn the walls. Mosaic tile and granite complete the cool and refreshing look. We had a view of the somewhat open kitchen.
Thanks to a person with connections (you know who you are) we got royal treatment from the wait and bar staff, hostess, and chef. We ordered drinks (Lori sipped a NoMa Blend, a Stoli ohranj, lemon and soda concoction, while Kari and Sheri savored chilled white wine) and grilled sour dough crostini with wild mushroom with sweet garlic and crispy onion to start. We don't think our very friendly and attentive waiter with a very thick Guinea/French accent was in the know originally, because out of nowhere a bartender arrived with complimentary muli-colored refreshing lemony drinks with berries and umbrellas in delicate petunia-shaped glasses, and birthday greetings for Lori. Before we knew it complimentary appetizers of "Shed" hush puppies-so crispy and airy- with a tangy orange-colored dip along with steamed slightly crisp asparagus with butter garlic ailoi showed up at the table along with warm, doughy bread in dainty wire baskets. Not that we were complaining mind you...it was a wonderful treat and great surprise. We are not sure what our fellow diners were thinking between all the attention (and food and drinks) we were getting and all the pictures we were taking...maybe they thought we were celebrities who knows...it was a hoot.
Now for dinner....Sheri enjoyed the delicious smoked Carolina trout with arugula leaves, cucumber noodles, and trout roe vinaigrette. Lori shared bites of her meaty and zestful Watershed crab cakes served on top of crisp shoestring potato patties, wilted spinach and caper remoulade sauce. Kari choose two appetizers to satisfy her love of shell fish...succulent steamed Maine mussels with delightful tomato and garlic broth with white beans, and crispy Point Judith calamari with Watershed aioli, scallions vinegar and olive oil. More white beans would have been appreciated.
The staff brought out a small scoop of vanilla ice cream with a candle that wouldn't go out which was very nice and we sang happy birthday to Lori. But we wanted something chocolate. So we devoured the dark chocolate pudding with banana ice cream and crumbled chocolate cookies served in a large stemless wine glass, and the warm, perfectly crisp and gooey chocolate chip cookies we asked for on the side. Scrumptious. And, once again, specialty cocktails showed up in dainty glasses...chocolate syrup drizzled on the inside slightly filled with something like Kaluha-an adult chocolate milk. Yummmy!!!! Lori opened her gifts. More photo ops. Out into a hot, humid DC summer evening with our delicious left-overs and a memorable evening.
Thank you Lizzie and the wonderful staff at Todd Gray's Watershed. Excellent food, great service, amicable decor, easy parking (valet available too). Ready to go back and enjoy the outdoor patio on a cool, brisk evening. Visit www. toddgrayswatershed.com
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