The U Street Corridor is home to some of the best bars and restaurants in DC, and Hawthorne is no exception. The American tavern has a young, hip feel, and features a 4th story rooftop overlooking Washington DC. With a fairly extensive gluten free selection, Hawthorne is a must for those looking for an excellent gluten-free dining experience…
Walking into the restaurant, you can clearly feel the upscale tavern vibe. The mood lighting, the bar displaying a multitude of alcohol bottles, and the friendly staff all created an extremely welcoming atmosphere.
The food at Hawthorne is classic American with a twist. The Kale and Quinoa Salad is a must get — avocado, grapefruit, and tahini goddess dressing. I was a little skeptical of the grapefruit and avocado combination, however, it did not disappoint. The flavors blended together to create an amazing salad.
If you are a seafood person, The Garlic Shrimp and the Chesapeake Mussels are both gluten-free. The Garlic Shrimp was served in a skillet with olive oil and tomato concasse. Make sure to specify that you would like it without bread! This dish was much spicier than I expected it to be, however I still enjoyed it. My friend however did not think the shrimp were spicy at all and loved it. The Chesapeake Mussels were one of my favorites. They are served with old bay, Italian sausage, and red potatoes. The mussels had an amazing flavor and aroma to them. Again, make sure to ask for no bread!
For the main course I recommend the Salmon or the Grilled Pork Chop. The Salmon is served with rice, asparagus, and beets. The rice and the salmon were so creamy and delicate that it was hard to believe that neither contained any butter. The Grilled Pork Chop was my favorite. The pork chop was served with mashed sweet potato and sautéed spinach. The sweet potato was creamy and the pork chop was cooked to perfection.
With an inclusive gluten-free menu, and friendly and knowledgeable staff, Hawthorne is sure to be a NOBREAD favorite. If you are looking for a high-quality gluten-free dinning experience, look no further than Hawthorne!