Steve A.
Yelp
Today was such an experience for me overall, I need to make sure I find the right words for Mulberry House. So, let's get going by category.
Ambiance: 5 stars. Restored ceiling, painted walls, clearly an old place with a huge 1st floor clearance in the restaurant. The hotel isn't open yet, but you can go up to the roof in the elevator and enjoy the top level, which has been outfitted with a modern theme but you can see the old edges around it. Now the view... not so great, but that's not their fault. From the far corner of the house you can see pretty far downriver, but the walkable part ends before you can really see downtown (so not over the street). So it goes. Still lovely.
Service: 5 stars... asterisk. We had a wonderful server - I forget her name but she was 24, just had a kid, and was both behind the bar and serving us the whole time. She was wonderful to chat with and paid plenty of attention to our table. But that's us. A lot of the other waitstaff I saw looked much younger, not even sure if they're 18. So the oldest one gets to work the bar by virtue of being over 21. That makes sense, but it does make me feel biased... why does no one older want to work there? Pay issues? Shortage of people in their 20s (or 30s) in town who would do this in general, compared to the surge of places like this in the last few years? I'll leave that alone since I don't know Washington that well. I noted a mostly older clientele though, compared to the young staff overall.
Food: I'm so conflicted, let's try again.
Food quality: Strong 4 stars. I had chicken and waffles. Chicken was a bit undersized compared to the waffle in one case, but just right in the other, and BOTH sides of the waffle were drizzled in the perfect amount of maple syrup. She even offered to bring more (at my aunt's request - I was fine as is)! I had sweet tea with lunch and it was northern-style, i.e. just the right sweetness for me. True southern-style tea I need half & half, but this was spot on. So if you REALLY want sweet tea, you'll rate this lower I suppose. So it goes.
Portion size: 2 stars. Tiny food. If you're gonna charge prices consistent with a decently nice breakfast and lunch place, at least serve portions consistent with that. You would have to order two meals here to get the equivalent of one, and I am dead serious on that count. Only because I knew I had a nice dinner coming up did I not worry about this, but man my plate was not at all a meal. Not even lunch. So that totally degrades the value of the place overall - I have to tell you that this is expensive food, and probably gonna be an expensive hotel.
I originally had this as 3 stars, but between all of the elements, the only trouble was the value, so I'm not gonna be too too harsh. Again, wonderful service, despite the other reviews I see, so it may depend on who you get! (And how old or experienced they are, right?) I would honestly say, if Mulberry reads this review, I would rather they charge $25 and serve a filling meal of 4 chicken/waffle sandwiches than charge $15 and only serve 2 and make you order something else. It just feels better that way. But new place, still growing, still room to improve, so good luck in the growing Washington downtown!
