"Kitchen Cray’s opening in 2013 marked a pivotal turning point in chef and owner J.R. Robinson’s career. At his Lanham, Maryland, restaurant, he served a contemporary take on soul food recipes to celebrities such as Janelle Monae and secured his placement as a contestant on Hell’s Kitchen. He recently expanded Kitchen Cray to H Street NE, where customers can find its signature buttermilk fried chicken topped over a mountain of french toast drizzled with caramel and vanilla sauces." - Stephanie Williams