Shelly's West End, Washington, D.C...A Bar in Sheep's Clothing
Written: Nov 25 '02 (Updated Jan 14 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
 |
|
| Quality of Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: Fairly decent food, attractive dining room, service can be friendly
Cons: Slightly more expensive than it ought to be, menu does not change much
The Bottom Line: Recommended with serious reservations about the price/quality ratio. This is a better value at lunch and is less of a nightspot then too.
|
|
|
| tombarnes's Full Review: Shelly's West End |
When the old Red Tomato closed last year, all of us in this neighborhood had high hopes that something really interesting would take its place. Our hopes were dashed when the word was out that the people from Shelly's Back Room, a downtown watering hole, would be taking over. I have nothing against a good watering hole. Indeed, I have been known to frequent a few of them myself. The place has changed in significant ways, and even the menu finally changed. Not for the better, I might add, but it is an acceptable alternative to some of the other places nearby. In the end, though, there is nothing on the new menu to draw one to the place. It depends upon its brisk bar business to keep going. The CBS News building next door keeps the steady flow of bar patrons intact.
The Room
The restaurant is on the ground floor of your basic M Street office box, a building of white marble with no adornment whatsoever. The room is at lest open and airy, and they have done a few things to brighten up the space. perhaps too many.
The chairs are simple and straightforward, but the elaborate backfitting at the bar is too much for the room. Its glowing stained glass butterfly is strange at best, hideous at worst. Try to ignore this central feature of the decor and move on to a table where you don't have to look at it. It's better when they turn off the lights in this thing entirely.
The Menu
The menu really did not change much at all for about eight months after the new management took over. It was the same old Italian menu with an American accent. Finally, they brought in a new menu about three months ago and the results were less than exciting.
First Course
This evening, I tried the calamari ($7.95), lightly fried with a sprig of fried basil on top. This added some color, if not much taste. The calamari were light and mildly flavorful--not rubbery or chewy at all. Only the dull tomato sauce needed fire. I asked for Tabasco and this perked things up a bit. The lemon wedges also helped. A better version is available at lunch, the simple Grilled Calamari, served with arugula and drenched in olive oil.
The Shrimp Ala Jillo ($8.95) come with a beurre blanc sauce, garlic (not enough) and green onions. The wretched little plum tomatoes make their appearance here again too. Give this one a miss, as it isn't very interesting or flavorful.
Another option is the Bubba Shrimp (they deserve to be punished for borrowing from the mawkish movie here) ($13.95), ten large shrimp flash fried with a Habanero cocktail sauce. There is very little fire in the sauce and one mostly tastes the deep fryer here.
Salads
The salads are not particularly interesting either. The Tomato and Cucumber Salad ($6.95) is exactly that, with little adornment. There is a little feta thrown in for excitement, but the whole is drowning in a tepid oil and vinegar dressing that could have been thrown together by a five year old.
The Juilus, their version of a Caesar salad, is much better ($6.95), but it is nothing out of the ordinary.
Main Courses
One of the more reliable main dishes here is the double-cut Pork Chop ($17.95). A thick and generous chop arrives with a tasty demi-glaze and mashed potatoes. The potatoes are a bit gummy, but the chops themselves are usually cooked perfectly, with the meat being neither dry nor gristly. Perhaps their most successful dish.
The BBQ Lamb is not bad either, though for once the sauce has a bit of a tang to it and nearly takes over. The roasted potatoes and green beans are tired sidekicks, so you can push them off to the side without feeling too guilty about not eating them.
Another mild success is the Lemon Chicken, a roasted half chicken with a simple lemon pepper sauce and herbs. The mashed potato mound can be forgotten, but the chicken is usually moist and tender. ($16.95)
The New York Strip ($24.95) is modestly successful, if not noteworthy in any particular way. Sixteen ounces of flesh with a simple, straightforward demi glaze, onion strings and mashed potatoes/
They offer lots of sandwiches at lunch, and a few of them at night as well. Their Chicken Breast Sandwich ($7.95) is reasonably good, though the bacon is lost in a swirl of gooey Swiss cheese and a forest of wilted greens. The breast is surprisingly moist for one of those frozen things. Even the bread was almost good.
Wine List
The wine list has been truncated considerably since it ceased to be the Red Tomato, but they still go through the motions. I am usually working when I go in this place, so I really can't comment on the wine too much.
Dress Code
Though the place is casual, it is still downtown and in an area of businesses, so you would likely feel most comfortable in business clothing here. The dress code in the evening is more that of a club than a restaurant.
Cost
The prices are generally moderate, especially at lunch, but the dinner prices are such that one might find better values elsewhere.
Reservations Etc.
You will likely not need a reservation here. I usually see lots of empty tables here whenever I pass by. Lunch can be busier than dinner, though the bar can be very crowded at night.
The restaurant is open as follows;
Monday-Thursday 11:30 AM-11:00 PM
Friday-Saturday 11:30 AM- 2:00 AM
Closed Sunday
Shelly's West End
2030 M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel. 202-463-9030
FAX 202-463-9034
http://www.shellysdc.com
I should note here that Shelly's West End closed for business permanently in January, 2003. TAB 1/14/03
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Reservations probably not needed--don't go too late or you may find it closed
Best Suited For: Friends
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
|
 - Top 200 |
|
Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.