stable

h street corridor | Washington, dc

Price Range: $$

Cuisine: Swiss- American

Atmosphere: Rustic Casual

My Rating: * * * * * * * (7 out of 8 stars)

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Swiss- American… what is that!? During this Saturday brunch adventure we knew two things for sure: (1) We were hungry and (2) H Street was the chosen location. We had no idea where to go, but knew we were willing to try something new. There is always a bit of angst when you’re starving, looking forward to the comfort of a great brunch dish (cocktail included), but decide on an unfamiliar location that hasn’t been vetted yet.

How much further out of the box can you get than Swiss food in DC? And for brunch? Unfortunately, I haven’t been to Switzerland before, so this would be my first experience with the cuisine. Let’s start with the drinks shall we? Of course they offer the typical selection of mimosas, wine, cocktails, and beers. I was immediately drawn to what Stable calls a Schnapsicle. What is a Schnapsicle you wonder? Think popsicle in a class of wine with fruit. I knew I wanted one so it was only a matter of choice. I settled on the Schnapsicle Spritz- a perfect mix of frozen treat and sparkling rose. Once it melted…ahhh perfectly crisp, cold, and refreshing.

Now for the food. One of my friends that joined me loves chicken liver anything. To her surprise there was a Chicken Liver Pate’ appetizer. To my surprise, it was actually pretty good. It was served with an Apple Chutney and fresh bread. Choosing the entree was a bit like a game of Russian Roulette, especially since none of us had a reference for what we were ordering. I must say, totally worth the gamble! My first experience with Swiss cuisine was an A+ for sure. I ordered the Stable Casserole and it was unfamiliar, yet reminiscent. A sweet, savory, creamy delight. The pan fried egg dumplings added a soft, airy texture to the otherwise densely creamy dish. I’d order it again without thinking twice. The other two dishes that my brunch companions ordered were also visually interesting and equally tasty. Both of their dishes were served with a hash brown- like component (think IHOP- inside your omelet) called a Rosti. The Rosti was perfectly crisp, and soft in all the right places. It’s safe to say we were all pleasantly surprised and satisfied. To top it all off we shared an awesome Chocolate Praline Mousse. It was topped with a Hazelnut crunch. I’m usually not a huge mousse fan in the dessert department, but it was actually very good. Not too bitter, not too sweet. It was a nice way to throw in the cards after a successful gamble at the ONLY place in the city to get Swiss-American food. Stable is a guaranteed win in my book. Make Stable your new brunch staple!