Boneless Spare Ribs
Pork Belly with Mustard Potatoes
The warm and inviting atmosphere of Pilar was immediate. The crowd on a Tuesday night is one of young, urban professionals looking to unwind after a long day.
To pair with our Happy Hour Pilsners, my friend and I ordered the boneless rib dish and the pork belly. Both dishes came almost cold, which already detracts from their flavors. The rib dish was, to its credit, extremely supple and fell apart at the mere touch of a fork. The mashed potatoes on which the ribs were laid were nice, light, and flavorful. The dish was swimming in a gravy broth which, while unctuous and delicious, was too fatty for my liking. Interestingly, the dish was already on its way to being so cold that the fat in the gravy had begun to solidify. Appetizing? Not so much.
The pork belly was an absolute fail. The fat on top of the belly wasn't fully crisped through, such that while it was tasty, the texture was gooey, and just plain wrong. The meaty part of the belly was decent, but lacked seasoning and heat. The accompaniment, which I assume were small-cut potatoes in a mustard seed dressing, was atrocious. There was so much mustard dressing that it was an attack on the senses. I may have even started to tear. The chips were crisped on the outside but tasted and felt expired. They needed to be fried at a higher temperature and to have been seasoned with salt. Needless to say, the plate was returned to the kitchen unfinished.
All in all, the atmosphere is nicer than the food. Go if you're in the area and want an intimate place to have a pint, but not to enjoy a nice meal. Unless you have low expectations, in which case, enjoy!
ADDRESS: 1833, 14th Street NW, Washington, DC
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