Date Night: Agua 301

In an effort to experience all of the Mexican cuisine this city has to offer, passing up Agua 301 would have been a brutal mistake. Situated perfectly on the Riverfront in the vibrant and upcoming Yards Park in SouthEast DC (just blocks from the Nationals Stadium), this modern Mexican restaurant boasts so much more than an excellent view.

If you’ve been in one Mexican restaurant you think you’ve been in them all. Our first impression was a good one when we discovered that not all Mexican spots need to be dripping in loud colors and draped with sombreros. Agua 301 has a pleasing neutral design palette with only pops of the traditional colorful flair – one that won’t interfere with the flavors of your meal. Surrounded by brilliant ceiling to floor windows and coupled with wooden accents, the scenic surroundings are reflected inside even after the sun goes down.

Any spot that offers an assortment of guacamole is the place for me, and though we appreciated the Traditional Guacamole and Gucamole de Jaiba (jumbo lump crab and corn) on the menu, we found a sense of adventure by ordering the Guacamole de la Dia – a Cuban spin on the dish complete with bacon. The verdict? Easily one of my new favorites in DC. One of my biggest peeves when ordering guacamole is that there is never enough to share – not true at Agua. This means Scott keeps all of his fingers when reaching for more…

The menu is definitely on point for a modern Mexican spot, complete with an assortment of ceviches, empanadas, huaraches and and tacos. However, one of our favorite dishes of the night came from the Soup and Salad portion of the menu – the Sopa de Mariscos (mussels, clams, shrimp, crab meat, plum tomato, poblano chilies, and seafood broth). It has taken me a great deal of time to warm to seafood and I’m still not all the way there, but this seafood-laden plate was enough to make me a giant fan.

Among the other dishes we tried were the Huarache of the Day (shrimp) and the Salmon Tacos. Both were deeply flavorful and a bargain for date night (the entire menu is priced right, ranging between $7-$22).  We suggest treating the tacos as a small plate and ordering a few to share (2 tacos to a plate).

By the time we got to the entrees, I was stuffed. That didn’t stop me from taking more than my fair share of the Lomo Saltado (carne asada sliced with onions and tomatoes, served over rice and topped with fried potatoes) and the Camarones en Crema de Chipotle (pan seared shrimp in a chipotle cream sauce served over Spanish rice).  I attacked the shrimp while Scott went nuts over the carne asada and fried potatoes.

If that didn’t push me over the edge, the dessert menu did. While Scott doesn’t leave a restaurant without giving in to the dessert menu, I am a tougher sell. We ended up tasting both the Chipotle Infused Chocolate Mousse and the Tres Leches Cake. Both were equally appetizing for the sugar-lover, however I far preferred the spicy kick of the mousse to balance out the sweet.

It’s hard to compete in this city for a culinary nod from the critics, but Scott and I found so much more resting underneath some of the salty reviews in the past for Agua 301. The service that night was excellent, and Executive Chef Will Vivas allows his Cuban heritage to mingle with modern Mexican. Combine the view, atmosphere, and location with a solid menu and you get one incredible date night spot.

AGUA 301
301 Water Street, SE
(next to the fountains at Yards Park)
Washington, DC 20003
202.484.0301

Brunch is served Sat-Sun 10:30-3 and Happy Hour runs daily 3:30-7PM.

Cheers!

Al