21 Best Southern Restaurants near National Harbor

“The reservation was made to celebrate my birthday. We were one of the first of the day getting there soon after they opened. From the hostess Indigo greeting us with her warm smile and finding the reservation and seeing it was for a birthday. Then asking questions about if we have been to the restaurant before, (we haven't) and giving us information about the type of cuisine the restaurant has. Our server Michael continued with the warm and welcoming atmosphere. Introducing himself and giving us information about menu options. The chef even offered a special dish before our appetizers arrived. Indigo came to the table with Cornbread croutons with hot honey and pimento cheese that were delicious. We got several appetizers, each a main with a few sides and had plenty of food left over to take. The manager even came over after our meal. Believe her name was Alissa. She asked about our time and talked about some of her favorite menu items and in hopes we would come back and try brunch. All in all it was an absolutely refreshing experience to have with people that were warm and welcoming. With the food being comforting, delicious and with some interesting differences that made classic dishes, elevated. Amazing!“

“Went to Kitchen +Kocktails for the first time last night. The decor was very nice, and the music was good and not obnoxious. Our server Ally was terrific! I’m not a drinker, so when I asked her if there were any cocktails that didn’t taste like alcohol, I thought she would look at me like I was crazy, but she didn’t! She seemed to know exactly what I was talking about and immediately had a couple of suggestions. I went with the mixed berry lemon drop and it was perfect for me. The crab cake appetizers and shrimp and grits with lobster tail entree were amazing. We had a great time and we’ll be back!“

“Visiting from out of town, I was intrigued by their menu. We had the deviled eggs, cornbread, ribs, shrimp and grits. I also had the peach punch cocktail. Couldn't recommend this place more. I'd come back in a heartbeat the next time I'm in town. From the moment we walked in to when we left, we felt so welcomed and cared for. And the food was so flavourful and well presented.“

“Milk and Honey is the best restaurant ever.. great waitress and staff. Great cook overall I give it a 100 out of 10“

“Food was great, but service was poor. The waiter kept forgetting things. He was very distracted. Also they asked on open table if this was a celebration i told them yes. My daughter sweet 16. They didn't even acknowledge it. She had on a sash and everything.“

“Milk and Honey is the best restaurant ever.. great waitress and staff. Great cook overall I give it a 100 out of 10“

“I went to Hen Quarter Prime for Brunch on a Sunday and the food at the buffet was great, the only thing I wish was the crab legs were steamed instead of being on ice. But I understand that is difficult to do for a buffet setup. Z gave amazing service, my cup for the bottomless mimosa stayed runneth over. I will definitely be returning.“

“The dining area is small but I think that’s why it has express in the name. Other than that the food was delicious! Food was served in to go boxes which made it perfect to take the leftovers home (so much food!). We got the shrimp and grits, French toast and the egg and biscuit! Would go back!“

“Delicious and lovely atmosphere.“

“Great service, delicious food, and an amazing atmosphere!“

“My family and I were in dc about 2 weeks ago and found this gem of an eatery at the Union Market and it was DELICIOUS 🤤 By far the absolute BEST bread puddin I have ever had in my life and we are from the south and I have eaten a lot of bread puddin. Please let me know when you start shipping because u have a huge fan base in Texas 😊 Katrina Briggs - Dallas, TX“

“Our team of 17 held its end of season luncheon at Della J’s Alexandria VA. The entire experience (e.g., establishment, food, service, etc.) was awesome! The staff… It started with Q&A with the hostess (Yvette), who also walked me thru the website to view menu options and how to make an online reservation. Then there was the manager (Catrina) who clearly explained the reservation process, payment and the services to be provided on the day of the reservation. And lastly, our server (Maria) worked the party solo! She was professional, organized and went above and beyond accommodating every request with a smile. I would definitely return.“

“I’m not a southern food expert, but the sweet & spicy chicken and Mac-n-cheese waffles were delicious. The pimento cheese dip was delicious too.“

“Milk and Honey is the best restaurant ever.. great waitress and staff. Great cook overall I give it a 100 out of 10“

“There is always a line out the door, so I finally decided to check this place out. The service was quick, and the chicken was hot and delicious. It was freshly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and reasonably priced. I ordered mine with hot sauce. Please note that they only accept cash. I highly recommend giving it a try!“

“We were outside so it was quiet. The food was good. The service was as good as it could be- they were obviously short staffed. Our server was working way too hard and had a hard time keeping up with everyone. They had to enlist the person doing check in/answering phone to help serve.“

“It is a very unassuming location. Parking is challenging in the front, and I strongly encourage you to park in the back. We had dinner at the bar, and our bartender was amazing, very personable, friendly, and made phenomenal drinks. Food came out relatively quickly. The side dishes were great, and the oxtail dish was delicious. The downside with my fried fish was that it was too salty. The fish was well prepared and flakey, but the seasoning had too much salt, and unfortunately, the remaining spices couldn't balance it out. They have fair prices and will certainly return for dinner.“

“I haven't tasted food this fresh in a very long time! I don't eat out often because I'm very particular because the majority of food places these days have really gone down in regards to the quality of their food and customer service. This place was introduced to me by my husband. A hidden gem it is! It's black owned and operated and the food is delicious. You can tell that the food is meticulously put together with integrity. The chef really cares about what he puts out for others to eat you can just taste that. If I were you, I'd rush to give them a try!! ASAP They have this whiting fish sandwich that is absolutely delicious! There's a special sauce that they slather on there that compliments the sandwich well! Food is also reasonably priced! To me, the best food spot on this side of town! Also, for those who are vegan, this restaurant doesn't sell nor cook any pork products at all. They have herbal drinks also....the pineapple hibiscus is yummy!!

Vegetarian options: They have a portobello burger that will fool you into thinking you're eating a real burger!“

“Food was amazing! So flavorful… And the band was superb! But the service wasn’t great 2/5 ⭐️👎“

“Four of us attended early dinner on a Sunday afternoon at the Mt. Vernon Inn. Three of us ordered medium rare filet mignon while the 4th ordered shrimp and grits. The beef was perfectly cooked and very tender-the shrimp and grits were amazing!“

“I was In Falls Church visiting a friend and had to try HSCAFÉ.. @MamaNemsRVA_ I ordered Ribs potato salad collards and yams and I loved it I always post pics as an aspiring food critic but it was so good I forgot !!! For Dessert I ordered Sweet Potato Pie Banana pudding and pound cake which will last me a while but tasted them all for reviews and all three 10/10!!“