Evening Star Cafe (Del Ray)

So tonight I ventured into Del Ray, what could be my ideal neighborhood if I lived in the middle of nowhere, to Evening Star Cafe. I've frequented this restaurant a number of times in the past and always pictured it low key with really good food. But apparently for somebody who considers themself low key, Evening Star is higher end. I chose a glass of Horton Viognier, my favorite white from my favorite local winery -- snaps for the wine list. Perusing the menu, I started with the Fried goat cheese and beet salad, one of my favorite culinary combinations even though on their own I like neither -- snaps for the salad. For my entree, I chose the scallops because I had remembered them being tasty before, although the menu was different now and these scallops were not the same. I am finicky about my scallops though. They have to be cooked to the perfect balance between rubber and raw. If you can find the flashpoint between the two, they are perfect. These met that flashpoint. There were four medium sized scallops on my plate surrounding a mound of bacon and sprout hash. Again... flavors that just danced in my mouth. I had to look up on the menu to figure out what I was eating... I had no idea bacon and sprouts... it was (the good kind of) interesting and the flavors unidentifiable... but so good I ate every bite. The bacon was thick and the texture of the hash made every bite savory. The ambiance of the place, adorned with erector set lamps, loud color walls and a matching loud vibe that overwhelmed the small space made for an eclectic and enjoyable experience to supplement the A+ culinary excursion. Evening Star is a great date restaurant, clearly solid in its long standing status as one of the best restaurants in DC since its opening in the late nineties. I note its absence this year on the Washingtonian's 100 best. Perhaps the Washingtonian hasn't been there since chef Matt Cordes arrival a year or so ago when he brought a more modern American menu to the place. My dinner companion's side was jalapeno mac and cheese! Come on, who thinks of that! yum. Before he came around, I remember the menu being a bit more creole. The shift was noticeable and welcome. Highly recommended.