We supported Chef Edward Lee on the Culinary War show, so we decided to try his restaurant since he curated the menu. The decor is a bit outdated, and I think it could use a refresh. The service was outstanding, and the food was good, though I wouldn't describe it as exceptional. We ordered the Taste the South. We might return if we're nearby, but we probably won't make a special trip for it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Gloriane Tong
Highly recommend the devil eggs and the kimchi collared greens š„
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
ģ ķ“ģ
We ordered the weekend brunch course (Taste the South) and two mocktails. The atmosphere was great and the staff was friendly. In particular, Bryan, who was in charge of our table, was very friendly and kind, which made our dining experience at Succotash even more beautiful.
I really enjoyed the chicken and waffles. How can they fry the chicken so crispy on the outside and moist on the inside? It went well with the waffles. Also, the kimchi tasted like kimchi stew, so I wanted to eat it with a bowl of rice. Overall, it was delicious.
However, the pecan buns that came out as the last dessert were too sweet and chewy, so they weren't that great...
For reference, I visited because it was an American restaurant run by Chef Edward Lee, a black and white chef, and I wanted to try the tofu dish that was featured on the show, but they said it was only on the menu until January 2025. It was a pity because it was a menu I wanted to try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Lily
Iāve been a regular at this restaurant since last year, but after todayās experience, I will never be returning. My friend was visiting from out of town, and our waitress, Tram, blatantly tried to scam him because he was a tourist, after he mentioned this to her. She asked, āBottled sparkling or still water?ā without mentioning tap water, which immediately raised red flags. My friend said ānot sparkling.ā She asked if we wanted the still water and my friend said yes. I hesitated to clarify, but since we had always received a carafe of tap water when requesting still water in the past, I assumed it would be the same.
However, instead of a carafe, Tram brought out 2 bottles of water ($14), while other tables in her section had 1 one bottle per table, and those in other waitersā sections had carafes of tap water. When I explained the miscommunication and requested tap water instead, she refused to correct the mistake, insisting we had to pay since she had already opened the bottles. I told her that, as an attorney, I found this ridiculous and simply wanted to clarify the misunderstanding. I was not comfortable paying for something we didnāt intend to order. She told me to speak with a manager, which I immediately agreed to. Instead of doing so, she began arguing, falsely claiming, āJust so you know, in DC, we donāt serve tap water. We have to filter and bottle it.ā Iāve dined here over 10 times and have never had an issue receiving tap water, nor have I had this issue at any other restaurant in DC.
Rather than escalating the issue with her, I told her again that Iād prefer to discuss the matter with a manager. Afterward, she became visibly passive-aggressive while serving our appetizers, still never calling the manager. At some point, she silently served us tap water but avoided eye contact. During our meal, we were also āservedā extra chicken wings that we never ordered and we sent it back. We ordered the pre fixe menu, which already included the wings.
When our main course arrived, a manager finally came to check on us. I explained that I was a regular and had brought my friend, a fan of Edward Lee, to experience the restaurant. We also noticed the manager had a phone in her pocket, camera facing us at eye level, which was bizarre and unsettling. We think she may have been recording us.
Shortly after, another table was seated next to us, and we explicitly heard Tram offer them ābottled water or tap water,ā an option she never gave us. At this point, my friend became perplexed by the clear inconsistency.
To make matters worse, when we were ready to leave, I asked 4 different waiters for the check, specifically telling them āsorry we are in a rush.ā Despite making prolonged eye contact with 2 waiters at the register, they actively ignored us. About 20 minutes of waiting, Tram finally returned, saying, āI heard you were in a rush. Would you like to skip dessert?ā My friend asked if we could take dessert to go, and I requested the check again. Tram came back with the check, and it still charged us for 1 bottle of water, so I asked her again if she could remove it. The restaurantās general manager came to deliver the correct check and did not say anything. It was difficult to just pay for our meal and leave.
This experience was bizarre and unacceptable. Between the dishonest upselling, poor service, and strange behavior from both Tram and the management, I cannot recommend this restaurant anymore.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Fried Green Tomato Salad
NMB Traveler
My husband and I both felt unwell after eating here. Their food is like way way overpriced KFC but clearly even less healthy. Not sure if there are health code violations or what's going on. Our server was also extremely rude. I'd give the Succotash DC location negative stars if I could. Do not recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
EH Yang
My wife and I have been big fans of Chef Edward Lee, so we made a special occasion to visit SUCCOTASH DC on Monday, March 17, 2025, for the first time. We were the first guests of the lunch (11:30 am reservation) and ordered the Express from the menuāmy wife chose the steak, and I chose the fish.
Unfortunately, the steak was nearly inedible due to excessive fascia, making it difficult to chew. My wife, who generally enjoys food without issue, was unable to finish it. My fish dish was also underwhelming and lacked the quality we had expected.
Maybe it was just our bad luckāperhaps we visited at a time when none of the major chefs were present? However, given Chef Leeās reputation, we were deeply disappointed. We sincerely hope he visits this location more often to ensure the food meets the high standards one expects.
Would love to return if the quality improves, but this experience was a letdown.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
Kobe Bryant
Disappointed at the food and service. Pretty overrated.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Paria Parto
We had a very disappointing experience last week on Sunday in your restaurant. My son and I ate long legged crab and both of us has food poisoning for over 3 days which starts after 6-7 hours of our lunch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Linh Bui
I visited this place around 2 months ago, the food was okay tbh, this place have a fair price for a stunning indoor restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
James Ferro
If you give me a cinnamon roll/sticky bun in a skillet you better have cooked it in that skillet. SUCCOTASH had the audacity to place this stale, disappointment of a crunchy gross cinnamon roll into an ice cold skillet and said "MONEY PLEASE!!!". I SPENT $12 ON THIS TRAVESTY! The flavor was meh at best, way too sweet for the icing, the roll itself was fine. The texture was WAY off. I shouldn't hear myself crunching on a cinnamon roll. It was clearly stale, dry and over cooked. For the price of 2-3 fresh bakery cinnamon rolls in a pompous cold skillet this is nothing more than a slap in the face, and I feel personally insulted!
I'm not sure what type of Southern Cuisine this was but this is not from the places I was born. The food was not good or worth the money.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tomatoes, Mac N Cheese, Wings, Smoked Chicken Wings, Collards Kimchi & Country Ham
Mark Eisner
We visited on a Saturday for brunch and we were pleasantly surprised by The emptiness of the restaurant and the quality and diversity of the food on the southern sampler.
Wait staff is reasonably confident and very personable and considering the downtown DC location, what we got was priced fairly reasonably for the quantity and quality of the food. We probably spent all told around $75 or so for two of us.
There are a bazillion restaurants in the neighborhood so I'm not sure we would hurry back as our visits to downtown DC are infrequent as it is. But there really wasn't anything not to like.
Parking: Drive here at your peril. Metro is super-close.
Kid-friendliness: I would not take a young kid here.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken & Waffles BBQ Pork Ribs Crispy Blue Catfish, Collards Kimchi & Country Ham
Dennis Quah
Came here on the back of wanting to try Edward Lees culinary genius following his forray into Korean Reality TV.
The restaurant has a very nice vibe, taking the space of a former bank, with dining across 2 floors and 2 bar sections.
The menu was wide enough to be interesting but not too much to make it feel like a chain restaurant.
The smoked chicken wings was nice, albeit a tad dry. But it could very well be a personal preference thing as I could see this as a Korean interpretation of the classical buffalo chicken wings.
The corn bread was well executed and a good place to start, with a special butter that was interesting.
Having had the chicken wings to start, we struggled with the next decision for the main course. We ended with the dirty chicken as it was the spicey option vs the chicken and waffles which was the sweeter option.
The dirty chicken was certainly well executed but heavy. You HAVE to love blue cheese.
The burger was very typical, but the gojujang tomato sauce gave it the Edward Lee tip of the hat.
Cocktails were very delicious and STRONG! Or maybe it was the jet lag ....
Overall nice meal, and service attentive and quick. Prices seemed reasonable as well compared to the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Seung Yeon Kim
I was here for 10 years anniversary. Our seat was close to the bar area and it was too dark for dining. I barely could see my wife sitting across from me. We ordered Taste the South course menu.
Starting with first course, cornbread and fried green tomato were amazing. I could taste the detail that chef intended in sauces and garnish. Wings and eggs were ok. Nothing too special.
For second course, our steak came out cold and it was disappointing. Chicken and Waffle was mediocre. Shrimp and grits were good. Collard green that we chose as a side was the best dish in my opinion.
Desserts were ok. Not a great fan of either and didnāt really excite me.
The best part about this restaurant was my drink. I ordered old-fashioned and the taste and scent was woody and rich - it was very smooth and didnāt taste like hard liquor.
I think itās worth trying. The price is definitely reasonable and affordable considering itās a three-course menu. I would definitely come back here for drinks and love to try other menus.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp N Grits, Fried Green Tomato Salad
ģ“ķģ
I guess I was expecting too much from the food. It's an ordinary American restaurant. Still, I'm satisfied with having tried Edward Lee's restaurant once.
We supported Chef Edward Lee on the Culinary War show, so we decided to try his restaurant since he curated the menu. The decor is a bit outdated, and I think it could use a refresh. The service was outstanding, and the food was good, though I wouldn't describe it as exceptional. We ordered the Taste the South. We might return if we're nearby, but we probably won't make a special trip for it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Highly recommend the devil eggs and the kimchi collared greens š„
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
We ordered the weekend brunch course (Taste the South) and two mocktails. The atmosphere was great and the staff was friendly. In particular, Bryan, who was in charge of our table, was very friendly and kind, which made our dining experience at Succotash even more beautiful.
I really enjoyed the chicken and waffles. How can they fry the chicken so crispy on the outside and moist on the inside? It went well with the waffles. Also, the kimchi tasted like kimchi stew, so I wanted to eat it with a bowl of rice. Overall, it was delicious.
However, the pecan buns that came out as the last dessert were too sweet and chewy, so they weren't that great...
For reference, I visited because it was an American restaurant run by Chef Edward Lee, a black and white chef, and I wanted to try the tofu dish that was featured on the show, but they said it was only on the menu until January 2025. It was a pity because it was a menu I wanted to try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Iāve been a regular at this restaurant since last year, but after todayās experience, I will never be returning. My friend was visiting from out of town, and our waitress, Tram, blatantly tried to scam him because he was a tourist, after he mentioned this to her. She asked, āBottled sparkling or still water?ā without mentioning tap water, which immediately raised red flags. My friend said ānot sparkling.ā She asked if we wanted the still water and my friend said yes. I hesitated to clarify, but since we had always received a carafe of tap water when requesting still water in the past, I assumed it would be the same.
However, instead of a carafe, Tram brought out 2 bottles of water ($14), while other tables in her section had 1 one bottle per table, and those in other waitersā sections had carafes of tap water. When I explained the miscommunication and requested tap water instead, she refused to correct the mistake, insisting we had to pay since she had already opened the bottles. I told her that, as an attorney, I found this ridiculous and simply wanted to clarify the misunderstanding. I was not comfortable paying for something we didnāt intend to order. She told me to speak with a manager, which I immediately agreed to. Instead of doing so, she began arguing, falsely claiming, āJust so you know, in DC, we donāt serve tap water. We have to filter and bottle it.ā Iāve dined here over 10 times and have never had an issue receiving tap water, nor have I had this issue at any other restaurant in DC.
Rather than escalating the issue with her, I told her again that Iād prefer to discuss the matter with a manager. Afterward, she became visibly passive-aggressive while serving our appetizers, still never calling the manager. At some point, she silently served us tap water but avoided eye contact. During our meal, we were also āservedā extra chicken wings that we never ordered and we sent it back. We ordered the pre fixe menu, which already included the wings.
When our main course arrived, a manager finally came to check on us. I explained that I was a regular and had brought my friend, a fan of Edward Lee, to experience the restaurant. We also noticed the manager had a phone in her pocket, camera facing us at eye level, which was bizarre and unsettling. We think she may have been recording us.
Shortly after, another table was seated next to us, and we explicitly heard Tram offer them ābottled water or tap water,ā an option she never gave us. At this point, my friend became perplexed by the clear inconsistency.
To make matters worse, when we were ready to leave, I asked 4 different waiters for the check, specifically telling them āsorry we are in a rush.ā Despite making prolonged eye contact with 2 waiters at the register, they actively ignored us. About 20 minutes of waiting, Tram finally returned, saying, āI heard you were in a rush. Would you like to skip dessert?ā My friend asked if we could take dessert to go, and I requested the check again. Tram came back with the check, and it still charged us for 1 bottle of water, so I asked her again if she could remove it. The restaurantās general manager came to deliver the correct check and did not say anything. It was difficult to just pay for our meal and leave.
This experience was bizarre and unacceptable. Between the dishonest upselling, poor service, and strange behavior from both Tram and the management, I cannot recommend this restaurant anymore.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Fried Green Tomato Salad
My husband and I both felt unwell after eating here. Their food is like way way overpriced KFC but clearly even less healthy. Not sure if there are health code violations or what's going on. Our server was also extremely rude. I'd give the Succotash DC location negative stars if I could. Do not recommend.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
My wife and I have been big fans of Chef Edward Lee, so we made a special occasion to visit SUCCOTASH DC on Monday, March 17, 2025, for the first time. We were the first guests of the lunch (11:30 am reservation) and ordered the Express from the menuāmy wife chose the steak, and I chose the fish.
Unfortunately, the steak was nearly inedible due to excessive fascia, making it difficult to chew. My wife, who generally enjoys food without issue, was unable to finish it. My fish dish was also underwhelming and lacked the quality we had expected.
Maybe it was just our bad luckāperhaps we visited at a time when none of the major chefs were present? However, given Chef Leeās reputation, we were deeply disappointed. We sincerely hope he visits this location more often to ensure the food meets the high standards one expects.
Would love to return if the quality improves, but this experience was a letdown.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
Disappointed at the food and service. Pretty overrated.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
We had a very disappointing experience last week on Sunday in your restaurant. My son and I ate long legged crab and both of us has food poisoning for over 3 days which starts after 6-7 hours of our lunch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
I visited this place around 2 months ago, the food was okay tbh, this place have a fair price for a stunning indoor restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
If you give me a cinnamon roll/sticky bun in a skillet you better have cooked it in that skillet. SUCCOTASH had the audacity to place this stale, disappointment of a crunchy gross cinnamon roll into an ice cold skillet and said "MONEY PLEASE!!!". I SPENT $12 ON THIS TRAVESTY! The flavor was meh at best, way too sweet for the icing, the roll itself was fine. The texture was WAY off. I shouldn't hear myself crunching on a cinnamon roll. It was clearly stale, dry and over cooked. For the price of 2-3 fresh bakery cinnamon rolls in a pompous cold skillet this is nothing more than a slap in the face, and I feel personally insulted!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pecan Sticky Buns
Restaurantji Recommends
I'm not sure what type of Southern Cuisine this was but this is not from the places I was born. The food was not good or worth the money.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tomatoes, Mac N Cheese, Wings, Smoked Chicken Wings, Collards Kimchi & Country Ham
We visited on a Saturday for brunch and we were pleasantly surprised by The emptiness of the restaurant and the quality and diversity of the food on the southern sampler.
Wait staff is reasonably confident and very personable and considering the downtown DC location, what we got was priced fairly reasonably for the quantity and quality of the food. We probably spent all told around $75 or so for two of us.
There are a bazillion restaurants in the neighborhood so I'm not sure we would hurry back as our visits to downtown DC are infrequent as it is. But there really wasn't anything not to like.
Parking: Drive here at your peril. Metro is super-close.
Kid-friendliness: I would not take a young kid here.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Fried Chicken & Waffles BBQ Pork Ribs Crispy Blue Catfish, Collards Kimchi & Country Ham
Came here on the back of wanting to try Edward Lees culinary genius following his forray into Korean Reality TV.
The restaurant has a very nice vibe, taking the space of a former bank, with dining across 2 floors and 2 bar sections.
The menu was wide enough to be interesting but not too much to make it feel like a chain restaurant.
The smoked chicken wings was nice, albeit a tad dry. But it could very well be a personal preference thing as I could see this as a Korean interpretation of the classical buffalo chicken wings.
The corn bread was well executed and a good place to start, with a special butter that was interesting.
Having had the chicken wings to start, we struggled with the next decision for the main course. We ended with the dirty chicken as it was the spicey option vs the chicken and waffles which was the sweeter option.
The dirty chicken was certainly well executed but heavy. You HAVE to love blue cheese.
The burger was very typical, but the gojujang tomato sauce gave it the Edward Lee tip of the hat.
Cocktails were very delicious and STRONG! Or maybe it was the jet lag ....
Overall nice meal, and service attentive and quick. Prices seemed reasonable as well compared to the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
I was here for 10 years anniversary. Our seat was close to the bar area and it was too dark for dining. I barely could see my wife sitting across from me. We ordered Taste the South course menu.
Starting with first course, cornbread and fried green tomato were amazing. I could taste the detail that chef intended in sauces and garnish. Wings and eggs were ok. Nothing too special.
For second course, our steak came out cold and it was disappointing. Chicken and Waffle was mediocre. Shrimp and grits were good. Collard green that we chose as a side was the best dish in my opinion.
Desserts were ok. Not a great fan of either and didnāt really excite me.
The best part about this restaurant was my drink. I ordered old-fashioned and the taste and scent was woody and rich - it was very smooth and didnāt taste like hard liquor.
I think itās worth trying. The price is definitely reasonable and affordable considering itās a three-course menu. I would definitely come back here for drinks and love to try other menus.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp N Grits, Fried Green Tomato Salad
I guess I was expecting too much from the food. It's an ordinary American restaurant. Still, I'm satisfied with having tried Edward Lee's restaurant once.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
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