Bad Saint - Washington, D.C.

Man, where do I start? I arrived at about 3:30 on a Thursday and I was first in line. I've heard people suggest that you bring bug spray, and i agree. I was on day 10 of my east coast food and drink vacation, so I fell asleep on the sidewalk. Seeing this hipster type sleeping in front of Bad Saint must have looked hilarious. Anyways, since I was by myself, I was sat at a single barstool on the expo line, giving me a great view of the kitchen. I'm a hospitality professional myself, and seeing the effective communication between FOH/BOH made me envious. I ordered a calvados cocktail, which reminded me of my go-to plantation pineapple daiquiri. Can't complain there. The food. Man, this is where my skill as a writer will fail to convey the amalgam of flavors. I was on a day fast in preparation so I ordered three items. The service staff worked as a team and multiple servers offered this perspective on dishes, describing flavor profiles and ingredients without using empty adjectives. I went with the prawn skewers, the heirloom rice salad, and the beef ribs. Everything was beautiful, and the beef ribs were easily the best I've ever had. I decided to pair an IPA with the habanero sauce on the shrimp, and a Barrel Aged Sour with the ribs. The latter of the two was one of the better beer pairings I've ever had. I'm singing to the choir here but this was one of my favorite culinary experiences yet!

My Husband and I are big foodies, we both cook pretty well, and I was raised eating the best Filipino home cooked food. So going to Filipino restaurant where I have to queue for an hour is like “why am I doing this, huh” kind of thing. But, these guys at Bad Saint surprised me. Well, they are not in Washingtonians top DC restaurant for nothing. They had a “current way” of interpreting Filipino food but the flavor and taste are faithful to their roots. Every dish brought back memories of big weekend lunches and dinners with families in Davao and Manila. Happy place . I highly recommend Bad Saint. It’s worth the long wait in the queu.

Thank you Genevieve and staff! Last evening I enjoyed the 7-course tasting menu and was thrilled that not only was there a vegetarian version but that each dish was a culinary adventure and a surprise. On top of that the staff were some of the nicest people and thoroughly knowledgeable about the content and construction of the food and the beverage pairings. All the best in 2018! Maraming salamat po!

Honestly one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I 've ever had. They don 't take reservations and as they are abundantly blessed with loads of interested diners, there is a significant wait. But from the moment we walked up to their tiny 'home ' they graciously came outside, greeted us joyfully, took our name then recommended several solid neighborhood restaurant/bar options to enjoy a snack and a couple of refreshments at prior to our arrival (2 hrs). They were spot on with that recommendation and actually called us back a 1/2 hour early. Once we did enter we seemed to step into some obviously special and somewhat magical place. We were led to a comfortable booth directly adjacent to the kitchen (5-7 ' from us) where we could see clearly, all of the culinary action going on. The presence of unique blends of spices and herbs was positively intoxicating. The staff treated us like their favorite long lost cousin and couldn 't have been more fun, warm, informative, welcoming lovely. With a background in restaurants, architecture and commercial real estate, I found the interiors to be completely attention grabbing, too. The refreshments including beers were unique and the food was perfecto! I cannot wait to return. Ps- three of us had drinks and our tummies were full and the bill was under $100.00 (before tip). Cheers to a fabulously efficient, generous in all aspects and welcoming place to share a dining experience.

Been wanting to dine here for the longest time, finally made it! Waited an hour in the cold and ended up 17 and 18th in line. Place sits between 24-26 at a time I believe. No reservations! Started off with Vigan empanada. Crispy, not greasy, the creaminess from the egg, well seasoned beef and sprouts, and that spicy vinegar dipping sauce of course! Next was the ginisang ampalaya. Brought back memories of when we would have this for dinner back home. With a twist of tausi. Lastly, the pinaputok na isda. Well-cooked branzino. Tender and flaky and the tomatoes bursting with flavor. That maggi lime sauce though, puts it over the top! I think we loved it too much! Picked that thing to the bone, literally! A bit pricey but for the amount of food you get, the quality, ambience, service, and the feeling of being home, it was worth every penny! I hope to go back in the future and get that kare kare! Non-Pinoy couple next to us loved it, ate to the very last drop of the sauce! Made me happy to see that!