The Pig: Washington, DC
How could I stay away from a place called The Pig? During my first, brief visit, I sampled a few small plates and the "Little Pig" charcuterie platter. I loved the lamb and pork meatballs with creamy grits. I also enjoyed the charred pork belly with celery root puree and what can I say about the trotter ravioli other than they were foot-smacking good. (Get it?)
I had one tiny issue with the trotter ravioli, however. I thought the duck egg yolk was too powerful and drowned out the delicate and flavorful ravioli. My suggestion: yolk your ravioli sparingly.
The charcuterie platter or "The Pig" was solid. Besides the meats, I also liked the raw ramps and sage-flavored sauce accompaniments.
If you're a bourbon lover, The Pig has a decent selection, although some are a bit overpriced compared to pricing at other local eateries/bars.
For those that don't want to pig out on pork, The Pig offers non-pork options that include some seafood, rabbit, lamb, and venison. Vegetarians, there are a few options for you as well, mostly in the form of side dishes.
All in all, my first visit left me interested enough to make a second trip and try the crispy pig ears and other pork dishes.