"Georgetown Irish pub Ri Ra has a new chef with an interesting history: Charles Sutherland once served food to Michelle Obama and the New York City mayor during his decade-long trek through the hospitality world. But in June, Sutherland was up to something totally different. He revamped Ri Ra’s menu and added upscale options to its upstairs whiskey bar, including foie gras, pate, and poutine. Sutherland’s new dishes “bring color and life,” with an emphasis on Mid-Atlantic favorites. While he kept staples like shepherd’s pie on the menu for fear of revolt, now there are local oysters served raw or broiled; local crab sandwiches spiked with Old Bay; vegetarian risotto; and — possibly the dish to try — buttermilk fried chicken flanked by his take on D.C.’s iconic mumbo sauce. Wings also get slathered in the sauce, and tough critics are signing off: “The beer delivery guys [from here] said I should bottle it,” Sutherland says. Along with putting his stamp on offerings served on the first-floor level (a mecca for sports fans), he’s also created a second menu entirely exclusive to its upstairs whiskey den. There patrons can find foie gras pate; short rib poutine; lamb skewers; charcuterie; and baked brie. Everything, of course, can be paired with one of the bar’s exhaustive whiskey selections (just ask)." - Tierney Plumb
