Meridian

I went back to Meridian a couple of months ago and had an amazing, guilt-​filled, artery-​clogging plate of fried chicken; it was unbelievably greasy and delicious, and I loved every bite. I also very much enjoyed a delicious glass of South African rose, which, sadly, is not available anywhere else in D.C. BUT— very sadly, Meridian has subsequently CLOSED, which sucks. I suppose the only positive thing I can say about that is that I’m really damn glad I ate here twice before it bit the dust.

3.0 stars:-)!! One of the definitions of «meridian» is the «hour of noon» which is the middle of the day! Sporting a hip vibe with a New Orleans’ flava, you will receive good service, a middle of the road appetizer and entrée, finished with a middle of the road dessert followed by a middle of the road «check» for your experience. In other words, not great, not bad, and nothing to write home to your mother about!

I don’t live in the area, but the food, atmosphere, staff and drinks at this spot are worth travelling for. I especially enjoyed the Pomegranate Manhattan. I ordered it because I couldn’t imagine bourbon and pom tasting good and I wanted to have something to critique. Oh well, I got an amazing well-​balanced cocktail instead.
I’ve lived in DC a good while. It’s a rare night I go out and don’t run into someone I know. Meridian would be a good place to go if you wanted to have a clandestine affair because no one from downtown is there. Not that I approve of that sort of thing.

Drove down Georgia from Silver Spring /​Takoma Park and enjoyed a Saturday night dinner at Meridian with my wife. An attractive and stylish space on the first floor of a building recently renovated for condos. A bit of redevelopment on its own on the northern side of the all the redevelopment now seen in Columbia Heights, and thus also very convenient to south Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Northwest DC by way of Military road.
Had some great Caribbean cod fritters as an appetizer and Jamaican Blue Mountain glazed chicken for my main course, very tasty. My wife loves grits, and was very happy with Meridian’s cheese grits with prawns and some spicy andouille sausage.
Owner Rodney English greeted us at our table and told us they will be starting brunch March 9^th, looking forward to it. I do plan to return to what looked like a great bar to watch a game, with its huge flat screen TV behind the bar, and enjoy some more of of those cod fritters.

Meridian isn’t officially open to the public yet, but I had a chance to scope out the place at a reception hosted by the owners and our councilwoman, Muriel Bowser. Thus the three stars – I can’t accurately gauge it on a regular dining night, but I was definitely impressed by my first taste and look around the place. First off, natives and long time residents remember Meridian is in the first floor of that used to be the Ibex, the most notorious nightclub of its time in DC. When it closed it became a furniture, and now (what else) condos. Jole S. and I actually looked at them while we were house hunting, and the agent told us then a restaurant and bar would be opening. We didn’t move in the building, but I will go back for dinner!
The service was great, first off. As packed as the place was for the reception, complete with the camera crews, the Mayor and his entourage, and hundreds of well-​wishers, they swiftly moved through the crowd refreshing drinks, removing empty glasses, and passing hors d’oeuvres from the menu. Everything tasted good, including the shrimp and crabcakes. The menu is a little pricier than I expected, so it will be interesting to see how the neighborhood sustains that and if the kitchen lives up to it. Once I have an actual meal to report on I’ll update my review…
UPDATE: MERIDIAN IS NOW CLOSED. Can’t say I’m surprised. After going back for a full meal, the apps were enough to make me go home for the rest of dinner. Great drinks, but it wasn’t a bar, it was a restaurant! The owners are working with another business to bring something else to the space. Lord knows the neighborhood needs it!