Hank's Oyster Bar Awards

Hank's Oyster Bar Restaurant Review:

Chef Jamie Leeds took Dupont Circle by full gale force, sweeping along the 16th Street stretch like a typhoon. Thanks to front-porch seating, tiny Hank's Oyster Bar can accommodate overflow crowds, but woe to us when cold weather hits home. Cramped indoors, you'll find that you and your neighbors will become fast friends by meal's end. As the restaurant’s name suggests, the food here focuses on the deep blue sea, with only a few steps onto land. And of those land-locked dishes, we're happy to note, Leeds' braised pork shanks are on the menu, though as a Tuesday and Thursday night special with two sides. Look for the short ribs on Mondays and Saturdays. The kitchen, under her direction, handles seafood well, however, and that makes ordering such dishes as the shrimp and scallop appetizer --- deep-fried and crispy --- with a chipotle dipping sauce pleasurable.