Black Elegance, Bold Flavors & a Birthday Dinner Worth Repeating!…read more
One of my girlfriends invited me out for a belated birthday dinner and suggested Vortex since neither of us had been before. And let me tell you, she made a GREAT choice!
Vortex is a Black-owned restaurant in downtown DC with a menu inspired by Caribbean, West Indian, and African cultures. As someone who loves bold flavors and creative takes on traditional dishes, I was excited to see what they had to offer!
Let's start with the cocktails!
My friend ordered the Strawberry Apricot French 75, a fun twist on the traditional French 75, while I went with the Honey & Smoke, a mezcal-based cocktail featuring Ethiopian wine. Both were delicious! The French 75 was a little too sweet for my taste, but I appreciated the creativity. My Honey & Smoke, though? Right up my alley!
We also ordered the spinach dip from the happy hour menu. Now, I'm not gon' hold y'all -- it was DELICIOUS! The flavor was absolutely there, but it was giving cheese with a side of spinach rather than spinach dip. Lol. A little more spinach, please and thank you!
Now, the entrées deserve their own moment!
My friend ordered the oxtail ragu, which I never knew I needed in my life. And technically, I don't, because gluten and I are not friends. But the small bite I tried was SO decadent and flavorful that I was ready to bring my own gluten-free pasta on my next visit and ask them to just pour the sauce on top. I'm only halfway joking!
I went with the jerk lamb shank, and WOW! I've had my fair share of lamb shanks, particularly at Middle Eastern restaurants, but I never imagined a Caribbean-inspired jerk version. Let me tell you, Vortex is giving some of those spots a run for their money! The lamb was delicious, and I loved the creativity behind the dish.
It comes with mashed sweet potatoes, but you can substitute garlic mashed potatoes if that's more your speed. My only suggestion? Add a vegetable to the plate! It doesn't have to be a huge portion, but give us semi-healthy folks a little something green. I ended up ordering a side of spinach separately.
And can we talk about HAPPY HOUR?!
Vortex offers happy hour from 5-9 p.m., which is a pretty generous window! The menu features five signature cocktails, wine and beer options, and about seven or eight appetizers, including spinach dip, wings, and tacos. I love a happy hour that gives you actual food options instead of just discounted drinks!
Outside of happy hour, the prices are a bit steep. But considering the downtown DC location, I get it. That rent ain't cheap!
The atmosphere? Black elegance, honey!
The restaurant spans two or three floors, although we sat on the first floor at one of the bar tables. The décor is beautiful -- sophisticated, chic, and elegant. I initially wanted to describe it as Black elegance, but honestly, it's simply elegant, period!
My one issue with the atmosphere is the hookah. The women seated behind us had one, and personally, I do NOT enjoy smelling hookah while I'm trying to eat a nice dinner. I understand that it's part of the experience Vortex offers, but I'd love to see it reserved for a designated lounge area. Can we just enjoy dinner and cocktails in the dining room like the old days? Please and thank you!
Now, the service was wonderful!
We arrived a little after 6 p.m. on a Wednesday, and the restaurant wasn't particularly crowded. The hostess greeted us warmly and made us feel welcome right away.
Once seated, our server came over promptly and was incredibly pleasant and helpful. We had a few questions about the menu -- mainly which signature cocktails were the best and which entrées she'd recommend. She thoughtfully walked us through several options, and funny enough, some of the dishes we already had our eyes on were among her favorites! Clearly, we were on the right track.
Overall, Vortex was a HIT! Between the delicious food, inventive cocktails, beautiful atmosphere, generous happy hour, and wonderful service, I thoroughly enjoyed my belated birthday dinner.
There are a few things I'd tweak -- more spinach in the dip, a vegetable with the lamb, and less hookah near the dining tables -- but none of that takes away from how much I enjoyed the experience.
I love seeing Black-owned establishments deliver this kind of elevated dining experience, and Vortex is absolutely worth supporting.
I'll definitely be back! And next time, I may have to figure out how to get that oxtail ragu over some gluten-free pasta.