Southern Comfort Food: B. Smith’s

If you want to try Southern food without the grits, put the napkin under your chin at B. Smith’s. We ate recently at her gorgeous restaurant in historic Washington, DC’s Union Station – a national landmark that’s been called one of the most beautiful dining rooms in America. It’s also the former Presidential Suite dating back to the early 1900s. There are two other well-appointed B.Smith’s on Manhattan’s Restaurant Row and on Long Wharf at Bay Street in Sag Harbor.

B. (Barbara) Smith is an ex-model and TV personality. Her venues feature a combination of Cajun, Creole and Southern cuisine. In DC, your chin will drop at the grand Beaux Arts style dining room with its 30-foot ceilings, period chandeliers and turn of the century elegance. Specialties of the house include Swamp Thing – a mixed seafood dish over southern style greens in a mustard based seafood sauce; Grilled Lamb Chops with mint-flavored au jus; Fried Green Tomatoes; and Spicy Cajun Jambalaya. We tried the Southern Fried Chicken which was moist and light and finger-licking good. So were the Barbecued Ribs. Tasty!

There’s also a great bar where the district’s political movers and shakers, celebrities and people meet to bend an elbow or an ear.

For more info or reservations: www.BSmith.com.