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American Son

The thing about upscale restaurants is that the price points are going to be high and the portions significantly smaller than your average gut-busting Cheesecake Factory plate, but when they are done well the result is totally worth it.  American Son succeeds on all levels.  The setting is bright and breezy, the wait staff efficient and very friendly.  The food is the absolute star of this show.  I ordered the Baby Kale Salad and the Tofu Gnocchi.  Both dishes arrived so pretty I wanted, for the first time in my life, to post pictures of them on Instagram.  The looks were nothing compared to the taste.  Like Rasika, this a a place where you just need to slow down and savor absolutely every bite.  The Baby Kale salad was dotted with puffed quinoa, small almond slices, sliced grapes and a transcendent avocado dressing (yes, it's vegan).  The combination of sour, sweet, creamy and crunchy was perfection.  If I could make Kale this well I would eat far more of it.  The salad was followed by an even more stellar gnocchi, which was "OMG" delightful with another mix of flavors and textures which complemented each other beautifully.  Would absolutely return just to see what the chef comes up with next.  Note that there is a real effort to honor dietary issues from Veg and Vegan to Gluten Free.

Upscale American Comfort food with a twist -- they call themselves "vegetable forward cuisine".
1201 K Street, NW (inside The Eaton, to the left of the main doors)
https://americanson1978.com/

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