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In today’s review… we’ll cover the latest Wharf addition that seems to be rounding out the desire for southern comfort food, but this time with a BBQ twist.

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The Ratings

Our simple & honest checklist covers a restaurant’s key ingredients:
Ambiance, Service, and Food.

6.5/10

Yeehaw! The soothing country-pop music playing in the background will surely bring a Southern smile to your face.

Kinfolk is the newest addition to the Wharf's dining scene, brought to you by the Eaternity Hospitality Group, known for their rapid expansion of Wharf restaurants. Positioned a bit further down from their other spots, La Vie and Nara-Ya — which are stacked on top of one another, Kinfolk offers up Southern comfort food with a BBQ twist, which is good competition for, and a better alternative than, its Southern comfort food nearby neighbor, Milk & Honey.

Upon entering Kinfolk, you're immediately struck by the eclectic mix of textures and colors that adorn the venue. The décor seems to play with your expectations. While the bar subtly resembles the hull of a ship — a nod to its maritime surroundings — the overall vibe initially contradicts the anticipated BBQ theme. However, the bar stools, crafted from patches of blue, grey, and white leather, exude a rustic, cowboy-esque charm that aligns perfectly with the barbecue aesthetic.

Moving further into the restaurant, the leather pattern of the stools seamlessly transitions into the high-top table seats, maintaining a cohesive theme. Yet, as you explore the space, the décor evolves with each section. From deep forest green seats to vibrant orange chairs, and finally settling into earthy browns on the patio, each area tells its own chaotic design story.

For instance, the indoor/outdoor patio is adorned with brown hues, creating a rustic Mediterranean atmosphere complete with hanging pots, plants, and artificial olive trees. Very nice. But, how does this fit in with the green, orange, and maritime connotations?

Despite its diverse elements, the restaurant's décor seems to shift between different styles and might be having a bit of a bipolar moment.

6/10

Good stuff. Kinfolk does have generally prompt and attentive service. However, given the large and dense food portions, faster water service, or simply having a bottle of water on the table, would be helpful.

While many DC restaurants automatically include a 20-24% tip (which we're not fond of! But, thankfully, the District Council recently voted to cap these surcharges at 20%), Kinfolk doesn't do that... but, they do tack on a sneaky 4% surcharge that they don’t clearly advertise up front (we're not fans of that either). It might not be 24%, but not distinctly informing customers about it isn't cool.

7/10

Holy smokes!

If you're visiting Kinfolk, here’s what you need to do: order the ribs. The end.

Kinfolk offers a diverse range of brunch, lunch, and dinner options. True to its Southern BBQ roots, you'll find all the classics — from Deviled Eggs to Shrimp & Grits.

The menu is organized with snacks, bread & dips, a selection of soups and salads, a handful of hearty entrees, and of course, BBQ choices like Smoked Beef Brisket, Smoked Chicken Tandori, and Baby Back Pork Ribs.

Given it is BBQ, expect to leave feeling satisfied, full, and perhaps even a bit stuffed.

But here's the standout moment.

We were genuinely surprised by the generous portions of Baby Back Pork Ribs. A simple half-rack boasted 14 huge ribs — easily enough for two people. Unlike many places where the bones outweigh the meat, here it was the complete opposite: the ribs were meaty, juicy, and practically fell off the bone. The ribs easily score a 9/10 on their own. They were incredibly tender and not at all messy to eat.

Another scrumptious option would be the Smoked Chicken Tandori, served with raita yogurt sauce. These four pieces of chicken were juicy and well marinated. You won’t find this blend of BBQ & Indian flavors often, so do enjoy!

The other dishes were decent. The Crispy Shrimp appetizer served with gochujang aioli was okay, though at $20, four shrimp and a few shishito peppers didn't quite justify the price. They were tasty, but nothing extraordinary for a good BBQ joint.

Regardless of what dishes you try, do tack on the Charred Broccoli, served with a lemon and sweet and spicy coating. Each crunchy bite will please.

Overall, Kinfolk is a pretty good Southern joint for a hearty BBQ meal.

TL;DR: Fantastic ribs!

Reservation & Menu: