C – If you’ve ever stayed at a Hotel Monaco, or any Kimpton property for that matter, you know you can expect an extraordinary experience. Jackson 20 is a modern restaurant set within the hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria. Definitely high-end, but not at all stuffy, this restaurant caters to a crowd that’s simply bored of the ordinary.
My friend and I stopped by during the most recent Restaurant Week in August. It was mid-week and it was crowded, but not unbearably so. The hostess was incredibly nice and cheerful and our waiter was outstanding, answering all sorts of silly questions from both of us and catering to our whims. This is the kind of place where quality service is clearly a priority.
I went for the Restaurant Week menu for $30.13 with the following choices:
- Wedge – my absolute favorite salad mostly because restaurants are so clever they can charge you and arm and a leg for a hunk of iceberg with a few toppings. And it’s delightful. This one had the usual wedge of lettuce plus blue cheese dressing and bacon. Rounding it out were pickled red onions which added a tiny little twist to an otherwise standard dish.
- Charcoal Slow Roasted Goat – I know. Goat! But take a look at the picture. Included in the dish was cream corn, pimento cheese ravioli and sweet potato puree. Lots going on there. Flavors combining to create a taste explosion I just didn’t expect.
- Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake – I am totally a dessert person, but by the time this came around I really didn’t have much room. But I worked through it, like the trooper I am. The cheescake came with lavender infused honey, fresh lemon curd, candied blueberries and almond brittle. Also, unbelievably good.
My friend went off piste a bit and decided against the Restaurant Week Menu. This is because it comes with dessert – there are no substitutions – and she doesn’t eat sugar. (I know, how are we even friends?) Anyhoo, she noshed on some of my wedge and then went for the New Frontier Bison Hangar Steak with tomato, red onion salad, asher blue cheese and potato wedges. Now, here’s the thing: she’s a serious meat eater and her entire trip to the US had been plagued with poorly, over-cooked (honestly, burned) steak. So there was a very critical conversation with the waiter about how the meat would be prepared with an additional request to the chef to ensure the bison wasn’t kept on the flame too long. They totally took it in stride and she was incredibly pleased with the result. They really listened to her and understood where she was coming from. That right there… that kind of service, is worth the trip to Jackson 20.
Oh – one more thing: They have a “Doggy Yappy Hour” in their courtyard, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8, April – October. How great is that?
480 King Street
2GirlsinDC 