Chef/owner Lance London of The Carolina Kitchen is pleased to announce the January anticipated opening of his first restaurant in The District. The 6,000 square-foot Carolina Kitchen will serve authentic Southern comfort fare in the vibrant new community of Rhode Island Row, located just steps from the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood metro stop at 2300 Washington Place, NE, 20018. This is London’s third restaurant in the DC area as he is the proud chef/owner of Carolina Kitchen in Largo, MD and Carolina Kitchen Bar & Grill in Hyattsville, MD. The Carolina Kitchen will serve lunch and dinner, in addition to offering a carryout for those who wish to grab-and-go.
“The Carolina Kitchen will have something for every occasion,” says Lance London. “The restaurant will be in the city, feel like the country and taste like the south. I’m thrilled to serve savory home-style cooking that everyone can appreciate.”
London’s menu, inspired by fresh ingredients found in his grandmother’s recipes, will include a variety of appetizers, homemade soups and salads, home-style meals, sandwiches, famous fried chicken, and a number of “Ma Pearl’s” specialty entrées. The restaurant will also feature a custom glass oyster bar, unique to the Rhode Island Row location. Appetizers on the opening menu will include Southern Fried Lobster Tail hand-breaded, golden fried and served with dipping sauce; Crab Claws steamed and seasoned, served with warm butter; Fried Green Tomatoes and Pan Fried Asparagus hand-breaded with parmesan cheese and country fried served with spicy Creole dipping sauce; Rustic Chicken Soup For The Soul with sauteed chicken, onions, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and potatoes; Myrtle Beach Salad mixed field greens, dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, grapes, sliced almonds, and blue cheese crumbles with housemade Caribbean mango vinaigrette, as well as four flavors of Rocky Mount Wings: Old Bay, Grilled Guinness BBQ, Grilled Jerk, Spicy Fried, and Spicy Thai Chili.
Ma Pearl’s specialties not to be missed include Creole Grilled Salmon with a New Orleans-style cream sauce with lump crabmeat and shrimp sevred with garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese and collard greens; Grilled Baby Back Pork Ribs basted with Carolina Kitchen’s award-winning BBQ sauce and served with baked beans, coleslaw and Cajun fries; Southern Fried Red Snapper served with collard greens and potato salad, as well as Smothered Chicken served over rice covered in Grandma’s gravy with blackeyed peas and Southern style green beans. A variety of home-style meals that embody wholesome southern classics will also available and include Jerk Chicken with rice; Mom’s Meatloaf; Blackened Catfish; Shrimp and Grits, as well as Mama’s Stew Chicken with rice.
Guests will want to make room for dessert, as The Carolina Kitchen will offer homemade Southern classics such as Banana Pudding with fresh bananas topped with whipped cream and wafers; Granny’s Sweet Potato Pie; Red Velvet Cake, as well as a new addition, the Sweet Potato Milkshake.
London is collaborating with Tom Mulhern of 2 Scales Interiors to design the contemporary-country themed space. The Carolina Kitchen will combine traditional country-style wood paneling with swirling iron accents to create a uniquely modern-rustic interior design. The elegant, rich textures and earthy hues will transform the space into a welcoming neighborhood spot. The 152-seat restaurant will feature a wall lined with vintage whiskey bottles guiding patrons up the stairs to the second floor mezzanine overlooking the space, which will accommodate an additional 40 guests for private events. An illuminated vintage city skyline along the wall, and a classic model car collection in a custom glass display add a dash of whimsy to the antique-themed Carolina Kitchen.
