Against the grand backdrop of an illuminated Capitol Dome, the deck of newly renovated restaurant, Art and Soul, welcomes friends, foodies, and their furry companions. Here, you can experience fine dining and seasonal new-American cuisine among DC locals, politicians, and tourists alike. But this isn't your typical bring-your-pooch to the patio experience. Award-winning chefs have added scrumptious meals designed for dogs to the regular menu, meaning both you and your dog are highly valued customers.  

Stella participating in al fresco dining at Art and Soul. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI

"We understand that dogs are part of our families. They are part of Danny's family and part of mine, so we decided to bring back Pooch Patio Menu to have some options for the dogs. He pours so much art and joy and passion into the food, and he knows that we as people pour that into our dogs as well. "

-Betty Woodward (general manager)

We decided to dine al fresco during a cool summer evening, under warm patio lights and surrounded by several groups of guests. For the current season, the main menu features a contemporary twist on summer favorites in the area - roasted chicken roulade with truffle jus, buttery garlic duck with fruity and peppery chanterelle, and maple brined smoked pork chops served with peach chutney, to name a few. I particularly enjoyed the shrimp & grits.

Shrimp & Grits. Delicious.. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI

The first time I ever had grits was during a trip to OBX with my oh-so-Southern friend, whose family prepared grits the North-Carolinian way. Ever since then, I couldn't find the same kind of grits... until now. Bits of seasoned and flavorful house chorizo top the Chesapeake Bay shrimp, sitting on a bed of geechie boy style grits that are made exclusively by a married couple in the Carolinas. Mixed in are both the cooling taste of wholesome crème fraîche against a warm lobster sauce and Calabrian chilis. Unique to this dish is the fragrance and almost lemongrass-like quality that the cilantro provides, which balances the burst of flavor in each bite of shrimp and chorizo.

Something amazing about this place is that the attentive and courteous service shown to patrons is also shown to canine patrons. Each dog gets a water bowl that gets refilled with ice water just as much as your glass. This is especially important for dogs who get excited easily, like Stella. The Pooch Patio Menu featured biscuits and gravy for pups, but the revamp allows dogs to enjoy new dishes:

• • A-woof con Pollo: a play on Arroz con Pollo, this dish is a medley of chicken, rice, and fresh vegetables topped with an ornate row of thinly sliced carrots.
  • The Hungry Dawg: almost tempted to eat this myself, juicy grilled and sliced sirloin strips with a delicious aroma.
  • Peanut-Banana Pupsicles: small frozen treats to keep your pup cool in the summer.

Art and Soul refills water and serves dishes for pets on the patio grounds. | Kitty L. / SHIROOKAMI

Interestingly, while some items can be savored slowly by your pet, the sirloin might as well be instantly inhaled. Even the juices were not left behind when Stella had her bowl.

Beyond the incredible food and dining experience, Art and Soul offers another thing that can't be served on a plate: hope for local businesses. At a time when restaurants were shutting down in waves across the country, Art and Soul managed to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion from the ground up during the pandemic. What was anticipated to be a 4-6 month project took over a year to complete as COVID shut down many processes to accomplish the renovation. At the same time, Ms. Woodward and Chef Chavez witnessed the passing of their beloved dogs.

"We didn't see each other for a year, but our team came back extremely ready to work, so happy to be here. It made us feel really inspired to see how much heart everybody has after a long year. So many have lost so much, even our team, and it was just so wonderful to see the way everyone came together."

-Betty Woodward (general manager)

According to Ms. Woodward, one of the greatest experiences she had at Art and Soul was seeing the team come together again. "We didn't see each other for a year, but our team came back extremely ready to work, so happy to be here," Ms. Woodward said. "It made us feel really inspired to see how much heart everybody has after a long year. So many have lost so much, even our team, and it was just so wonderful to see the way everyone came together."  

This incredibly risky but rewarding move not only saw the establishment through tough times, but also ensured it came out of the crisis stronger and better than before. As for Stella and myself, we'd say it was worth it!

Art and Soul can be located on 415 New Jersey Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20001, just steps away from the U.S. Capitol Building.

Special thanks to Ms. Betty Woodward, several kind waitresses, and Chef Danny Chavez for taking the time to bring about this great experience and share their thoughts with us.