There always seems to be a new restaurant popping up along my walks in Downtown WDC and the latest is 901 Restaurant & Bar. Close enough to the Verizon Center for a bite before or after a game, but, far enough away that you have to look for it. But, once you find it…

Atmosphere: The decor is shades of black, gray and silver. Very contemporary – somewhat hip and trendy. Dark, but, quiet. We like quiet meals anytime of day. Situated right on the corner of a major street, once inside, you forget you’re in the middle of Downtown. Gets a B+.

Food: Guess what I got? The steak medallions were good, but, I started with a grilled sugarcane shrimp dish with a jicama salad. A refreshing choice on a hot summer day and my favorite part of the meal. My lunch-mate had the butter poached lobster tail and because she is my resident seafood expert, I take her word for it that it was very, very good. The only part that was just not good was dessert. We tried a sampler of several of their creations. Clearly not their forte. But, the vanilla ice cream was good. 🙂 Food gets a B.

Service: We didn’t get such a great reception from the hostess, but, because we were there for the food, we ignored her. Our server was a nice young man; Very knowledgable about the food; Fairly attentive. The food came out in a timely manner and nothing was out of order. Service also gets a B.

The final word on 901 Restaurant & Bar: Well, they pretty obviously get a B. I think this was a matter of having a nice lunch in an average place on a good day. That’s what made them just better than average. The extensive menu from which to chose also helps. Go if you’re in the vicinity of the Verizon Center and need to kill some time or want to avoid the crowds before or after a game.