Kinfolk Southern Kitchen

Location -  685 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC

Website - https://kinfolk-dc.com/

Food Category - Halal BBQ meets Southern Cuisine

Parking - Available - Different prices based on timeframe. On average you will spend ~ $30

Public Transportation - Two metro stations are within walking distance

Service Schedule - Serves brunch (weekends), lunch and dinner (reference the website link for specific hours)

Atmosphere - Casual to Business Casual

My Thoughts:

Background Info:

One thing to note, this restaurant is NOT black owned.  The name may cause some to think that is the case.  So if you are going to support a black owned establishment, you will be disappointed.  Do an internet search on the “owner of Kinfolk DC” and you will find out some interesting information about the owners history in ther restaurant business.

That aside, I decided to give this restaurant a try anyway……….

Seating Info:

From the pictures on various social media platforms, the establishment seems very large.  In reality it was smaller than expected.  Our seating was quite tight.  It was very crowded the day we went (Saturday evening).

Food Menu Items:

The menu is not authentic southern cuisine entirely.  You will see some common dishes like cornbread, fried green tomatoes and Mac & Cheese.  Other menu items are more inspired by the owners heritage/culture I assume.  There are a number of smoked and grilled items such as ribs, as well as tandoori chicken.  

** Information is accurate at the time of the writing of this review.  Please keep in mind based on customer feedback the restaurant owner(s) may make changes to the menu.

Drink Menu Items:

The drinks are typical of what you might find at other restaurants in the area.  Pretty much anything you ask for you can probably get.

Service Info:

Our server was not very versed in the menu.  The server did not have immediate answers to any of our questions, nor did the server follow-up after “supposedly” getting further clarification from someone else.  The server seemed more interested in servicing as many tables as possible than providing solid customer service.

Taste Info:

I’m a southerner so my expectations may be greater than the average person.  The food lacked seasoning and taste in my opinion.  It was obvious to me that the food had been prepared by someone that doesn’t have a grasp of southern cuisine.  On another note, cocktails were strong. 

Cost Info:

The cost to eat here for what you get is pretty steep.  I’m sure the cost of rent at the Wharf is factored into the cost.  For reference, I got the beef rib dish and it was literally one rib with a couple of very small sides for ~ $50.

Would I Return?

Absolutely not.  I wouldn’t even consider this spot for my out of town guests visiting the area.  Everything about this restaurant seemed off (again my opinion).  I’m curious to see if this establishment actually stands the test of time.  I’d recommend that you try this place for yourself and form your own opinion.