Gravitas
New American restaurant · Ivy City
1401 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Highlights
Michelin-starred venue offering New American tasting menus.
Michelin-starred venue offering New American tasting menus.
"The Michelin-starred tasting room in Ivy City has been caught up in controversy after its chef's recent social-media reposts were documented and exposed by Anela Malik of @Feedthemalik, who captured screenshots of his retweeting history of other X users pushing "anti-immigrant agendas, pro-Trump ideology, DOGE-induced government layoffs, and linking DEI to plane crashes." The carousel was amplified by the community blog Washingtonian Problems and reported on by Eater, which reached out for comment. Financially, the venue received a sales suspension notice from D.C.’s Office of Tax & Revenue on February 19, though reservations were still showing availability on Tock. In response to the spotlighting of his online behavior, the chef posted on Instagram, calling his posts "thoughtless," saying he "sincerely" apologizes to anyone he’s hurt: "I do not condone hate or discrimination in any form," he wrote, adding that he does "not support" targeting immigrants or people of color and backpedaling on seeming to endorse mass firings of federal workers, whom he says "contribute so much to our city." - Tierney Plumb
"A light-drenched warehouse in Ivy City is the stage for chef-owner Matt Baker’s French-influenced Chesapeake tasting menus, which start at $125 and include dishes like a well-known yellowfin tuna sashimi in soy vinaigrette. A smaller Taste of Gravitas (5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday) costs $95 per person. Gravitas accepts reservations for indoor seating, outdoor seating, and spots on its Conservatory, a rooftop bar with a glass enclosure that offers more affordable fare like $22 crab cakes. Select items are also available for pickup and delivery." - Emily Venezky
"Chef Matt Baker’s Christmas Eve menu consists of two prix fixe menus, allowing for a more customizable experience. Available 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $140 per person and $35 per child (eight years old and younger, excluding tax and gratuity). Reserve here." - Vinciane Ngomsi
"Though not necessarily traditional, prefaces Matt Baker, chef of Gravitas in Washington, DC, he opts for pozole during Christmas time. “It’s a tradition that my grandmother started and ties into my roots of being born in New Mexico,” he shares about the hearty soup which he’ll make in a large batch to have it ready for guests to enjoy throughout the day. “This is a very traditional Mexican soup that is perfect for the wintertime as it’s served very hot and has a big rich flavor,” adds Baker. “The soup uses pork shoulder or pork belly, with dried corn called hominy. All are cooked in a very fragrant chili broth and topped with fun garnishes like diced white onion, chopped avocado, cilantro, radish, and lime wedges." - Jillian Dara
"Chef Matt Baker’s Michelin-rated tasting room, situated in Ivy City since 2018, celebrates with a drink in dessert form. Pastry chef Aisha Momaney riffs on a Butterfinger bar with salted caramel, peanut butter nougat, chocolate cremeux, and salted caramel ice cream. Momaney is also behind small-batch ice cream shop Wild Rumor." - Tierney Plumb
