K is for Kielbasa: Restaurant Kolumbia

This post from DCist contributor Jamie R. Liu

You can't help but want to root for Chef Jamie Stachowski and Restaurant Kolumbia. How can you not love a man who, when asked on the Today Show, “What if you don't have a larding needle?”, responded with a jovial, machismo-filled, “Well you better get one!” You love the great team he forms with his wife and general manager, Carolyn, who has applied her artist's eye to the fascinating decor. The cuisine itself is filled with personality as well - New American with French and Polish twists, a nod to Chef Stachowski's culinary training and heritage. All these little things make it hard to be objective.

For sure the bar at Restaurant Kolumbia has one of the best lunch deals downtown. Nine dollars gets you a choice from four different options, which change on a monthly basis. Some real winners have been the mussels frites with their delightful white wine sauce, as well as the turkey bob, a Thanksgiving-time sandwich with turkey, stuffing, cranberries and other goodies. It's a lot better than the usual post-Thanksgiving mashups. The mussel chowder, which at first thought would be a warm winter dish, tastes more of spring with its slightly crisp fennel and leeks.

Another great option, available at lunch and dinner, is the butcher's board, which is a selection of house-made charcuterie. There are nine types of meat – you can choose to get a set of three ($15), five ($21) or all nine ($39). The petite club is excellent, a combination of three different types of smoked fish, which is comparable to a tea sandwich on steroids – really, really good steroids. And don't neglect Chef Stachowski's nod to his Polish roots - order the kielbasa.