Daylight savings time was Sunday, meaning it gets darker earlier and Washingtonians hastily retreat home instead of lingering on rooftop bars in the evening sunlight. Need a nudge to continue interacting with humanity? It’s time to venture to Mason Social.
Tucked away in Alexandria’s upcoming Parker Grey neighborhood, Mason Social is bringing a revolutionary concept to this area – catering to locals, not tourists.
“We wanted something beyond King Street, because you can walk for blocks there and never see anyone you know,” said co-owner Larry Walston, Jr. “The locals in Alexandria, especially North Alexandria, need a place to come together. That’s what we’re trying to do with Mason.”
Larry’s friend and partner, Chad Sparrow, has years of food industry experience both in D.C. and New York. They, along with two other partners, opened Mason’s Doors in February of 2015. Communal tables, shareable plates of comfort food and laid-back decor – it’s the perfect place to eat, drink and be social.
After two months of culinary experimenting, owner Chad revamped Mason’s offerings and let me have a sneak peak. Here’s the details on their fantastic fall menu:
Eat
Fabulous fried green tomatoes with grilled corn salsa and chipotle-garlic ranch.
House-made lamb and pork meatballs with Reggiano cheese, fresh herbs and tomato.
Menu Star: B&B’s smoky lemon BBQ chicken, crispy onion, grilled sweet roll and garlic aioli. The sauce is tangy and perfectly complements the sweet roll; tied for my top pick with the taco trio!
Menu Star: Taco Tuesday trio. Spicy carnitas (pickled onion, chipotle cream, aji verde and shredded jack), fish (beer battered mahi mahi, scallion slaw, ahi verde) and the chef’s special (the night of my visit was delicious duck confit).
Grilled duck breast with cider glaze, duck cracklins, root vegetable and sautéed spinach.
Chocolate chip cookie sandwich with salted caramel ice cream and apple cobbler with candied walnuts and vanilla gelato.
Drink
One of Mason’s many signature cocktails, I sipped on the Apricot Smash, a mixture of gin, lime juice, apricot juice and basil leaves.
Be Social
Mason Social is always finding ways to bring Alexandrians together, so stop by for Marrow Monday (special prices on burgers, such as their marvelous Marrow Burger), Taco Tuesday and Wine Wednesday. Even if you don’t live nearby, the tacos alone are certainly worth the trip.
The moral of the story, hungry readers, is to not let the darkness get you down. Grab your friends, head to Mason, gather round a communal table, eat, drink and be social!