In a city known for overeating and grease, this place stands out with a refreshing style. They serve light-tasting starters such as fried okra and green tomatoes that won't leave you stuffed and exhausted after your meal.
Chef/owner Lance London opened his third restaurant at Rhode Island Row complex in Brentwood. The menu offers both classic dishes as well as his original creations - plus several plant-based options!
BBQ Ribs
CK offers traditional and southern comfort food at its finest, such as their amazing BBQ Ribs which will have your mouth watering! Their special sauce features vinegar-and mustard-based sweet-tangy notes which compliment both grilled or smoked meat perfectly.
Start off your meal right with succulent slow smoked BBQ Ribs served alongside crisp fries! They provide an unforgettable falling off the bone experience that you won't soon forget!
To prepare ribs, prepare a dry rub using smoked paprika, brown sugar, turbanado sugar, Mexican chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper. Hand mix all of these ingredients until everything has come together well before generously applying to your ribs and covering with foil for 4 hours of smoking until meat begins to separate from its bones.
Seafood
CK's is a beloved Southern food palace that has since expanded across the nation. London excels at finding unique design elements to adorn his dishes with flavor.
This restaurant's fried seafood offerings are excellent, including uncommon options like croaker and whiting that aren't normally found in more sophisticated establishments. Their okra, green tomato and eggplant fries are absolutely delectable as well. Despite being deep fried dishes, none are excessively greasy!
Brentwood features a large carry-out section, which proves popular during the summer. London is proof that even in cities with sophisticated palates, some people still crave comforting dishes made the way grandma used to.
Crab Cakes
Crab cakes topped with classic remoulade sauce are some of the finest crab cakes you will ever try! These tasty morsels will surely impress!
Combine egg, mayonnaise, hot sauce and Southern Sunshine in a large bowl and stir in green onions, parsley and lemon zest until well mixed. Gently fold in cracker crumbs and crab meat until just mixed; form mixture into six patties (or make two dozen mini crab bites)!
Fry in hot oil until golden-brown on both sides and serve warm with remoulade. Crab cakes can be prepared ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to fry them or frozen up to six months.
Oyster Bar
At this old-style seafood restaurant in New York's historic Fifth Avenue district, a visit here is like traveling back in time. Generations of both New York locals and visitors have enjoyed dining here for decades - their menu offers delicious fried oysters, fish sandwiches, clam chowder and other traditional seafood shack fare.
Customers of this restaurant have given rave reviews to it for its fresh seafood dishes and friendly service, such as its standouts such as linguini clams, lobster roll and oyster Rockefeller. Don't miss their house-pickled Dutch herring; drizzled with sweet mustard dill sauce is definitely something worth trying. Located within a casual atmosphere that makes the dining experience ideal for families or groups of friends alike.
Fried Chicken
Medford Soul Food's award-winning fried chicken will have you licking your fingers. Choose between grilled, fried or rotisserie style options served alongside mac and cheese and collard greens in this vibrant cafe characterized by modern aesthetics with sleek lines to complement its hearty soul food fare.
Lance London, owner of Carolina Kitchen chain restaurants, credits himself with having survived numerous moments that should have ended his business. Now he plans to open eleven more locations throughout Maryland including one offering plant-based options in Capitol Heights.
At the Prosper Forum, he discusses with NRN's Sam Oches his motivations for choosing it as the venue to introduce plant-based dishes.
Mixed Platter
Though these starters are deep-fried, such as okra, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato fries, onion rings and calamari they do not become overly greasy and are served with various dipping sauces for optimal enjoyment.
London is betting that Washingtonians' craving for traditional Southern food, even in an age of upscale dining culture, remains strong. His Carolina Kitchen branch that opened mid-April at Rhode Island Row complex in Brentwood shows it is. It offers sprawling seating spaces with many dining spaces. Plus, its menu boasts more items than that found at its Silver Spring original and includes both lobster tail and chicken dishes!
