We were disappointed when Little Havana closed because we liked it. But when Anafre opened we were looking forward to trying it because we have generally been happy with Solis' restaurants. Like the aforementioned Little Havana and Mezcalero. I will preface by saying I really wanted to give it 4 stars because the food was good and the value is great. But it's essentially how the wait was handled why it's 3 stars. We arrived around 6:10 and was told there were no tables available but we could be put on a list and we'd be called. We were first on the wait list for just two people (important detail). The hostess gave us an estimated time of 20 min wait. So we went to the bar (which was also full) and waited with drinks. 20 min later and first round of drinks done. In that time it went from being us as the only people waiting around for a table, to probably 15 people standing around aimlessly in any free space inside the restaurant that they could. 30 min have now passed, and there were TWO 2-person tables that had vacated but we watched those tables being given away. We regretfully gave them the benefit of the doubt that they had reservations or something. Because we were first on the wait list. 40 min later - we finally decided we needed to ask what the deal was. The hostess did not seem interested that our 20 min wait doubled to 40. Instead she replied by saying "we haven't had any 4 person tables open up" -- to which we replied "we're just two people" -- to which she replied "Oh..." I looked on the notepad in which our name was put first and they had correctly written down "2" for headcount. So they certainly had record of it. Once the mistake was realized, 10 minutes later they seated us after about 50 total minutes of waiting (Horrible I know- but it was raining outside and we were committed at this point) Waiting for tables are part of the process, no problem with that. Usually means the food is worth the wait. It's just about HOW a staff handles that wait process which separates a good and bad experience. First mistake is to give a way-off estimate of wait time by giving away our table to people after us on the waitlist. Then the follow-up mistakes were that there were no apologies and no real makegoods. To end on a positive note. If you can avoid a debacle like this, you'll enjoy it. The food IS good and the dishes were served timely once actually seated. read more

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In person dining pre covid and take out post covid were both stellar! Incredible light but rich Mexican seafood dishes. Support this local joint - seafood enchiladas and guac topped with tons of fresh seafood are musts! read more

Anafre - Seafood enchiladas takeout - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Don't you love it when something that's hyped up meets their expectations? With already plenty of success with El Sol and Mezcalero, you could've forgiven Chef Solis if he were to rest on his laurels, but that he wanted to go back to his roots and showcase an elevated seafood heavy menu of Mexican cuisine. And though Anafre's predecessor may not have lasted, I'm confident that Anafre will. At least if my appetite has anything to say about it. As an opener, I would recommend the Acapulco seafood nachos. Each chip a perfect combination of flavors covered in crab and shrimp salsa. If you're in the mood for tacos, I don't think we've had a bad one yet. Though the chili relleno one is a favorite of mine. And lastly, I can't say enough about the langosta. Just get it and don't question. Any which way you order, I don't think you'll go wrong. Anafre has become a go-to for this household and maybe for yours too. read more

This review kind of hurts to write, because Chef/Owner Solis is clearly a great human being and obviously has so much for Mexican dining in the DC area. My friends and I came on a busy Friday night (unbeknownst to us, National Margarita Day) and were told that a table for 4 would be ready in 25-30 minutes and we would recieve a call. Being great fans of the fine establishment known was Red Derby next door, we decided to not try Tequila y Mezcal (our other option for evening) and wait for the much-hyped Anafre. After about 35-40 minutes of waiting and no call, we decided to hop back next door for an update. However, we were unable to get a clear picture of our situation, as a crowd had begun to gather, overhwhelming the staff. It was clear that folks had pushed their way in without properly waiting and there was a general lack of order in the front of the house. A small, narrow entrance only exacerbated the issue and it seemed like it was difficult to try and make sure everyone know what was going on. Things continued in this fashion for another 45 minutes and we finally got to our table, 1.5 hours later than we had been told. Once we got there, service was fairly good and our food ( I had the torta de mole) was quite solid. I think it's a shame that our experience was so choatic and mis managed, because clearly it's got good good and great drinks. read more

Delicious coastal Mexican food! Highly recommend the guacamole for an appetizer which initially appears to be too small a portion but it has generous chunks of seafood on top so it makes sense. Seafood enchiladas, whole red snapper and grilled octopus were also a hit at the table. This place is worth checking out, I hope they do well! Our server José was also great. He offered good recommendations and handled a party of 8 really well. read more

I've been a fan of Alfredo and his restaurants since the old El Sol on the Randolph/Shepherd block. His new place (Anafre) has the same excellent food quality that all his places have. The menu is diverse, flavors are bold and bright, and cocktails are on point. Highly recommend. read more

Anafre - Mole tacos on blue corn tortillas. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Food was excellent, amazing cocktails, slow service. I will be back because the food is authentic and good quality.

The soup -- pozole verde -- was incredible. Bad tacos are still tacos, but more importantly, good tacos are still just tacos. Pozole is complex, with infinite variations that can be terrible, or like here, incredible. Best thing on the menu. read more

Anafre recently revamped their menu to make it more takeout friendly and it did not disappoint! We got two pizzas (the Jardín and the Chile relleno) and they were DELICIOUS! They were SO unique and it was like eating whole entrees, but on pizza. The crust was also super unique and yummy. They packed a powerful flavor, but were not heavy or greasy. Truly awesome! Will definitely be coming back soon and trying out more of the pizzas (and other things from the menu!). You can see the new takeout menu (along with pictures) on this PDF I found on Popville, which is more handy than the pared back list on their website: https://s26552.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/anafre_pizza_menu.pdf The only trick is that the ordering website is a bit clunky. It's not entirely clear if you'll be getting a confirmation email from the restaurant after you place your order to let you know that they've received it and when it'll be ready for pickup. The automatic email that is generated says you will but you don't. We called and asked, cleared things up in no time, and enjoyed our awesome pizzas. read more

Great spot for lunch! I had the relleno, Baja fish and fried oyster tacos. All were very good and the relleno and oyster tacos were pretty unique. Loved the service and ambiance. Looking forward to coming back again! read more

Anafre - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The chile relleno pizza is one of the most amazing things I've eaten in the last year. One of the most unique and tantalizing pizzas I've *ever* had. I hope they keep the pizza on their menu - it's like nothing else in DC. read more

Easily some of DC's best Mexican! They don't take reservations, so we showed up right before 6 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait at all. Service was very friendly, cocktails were fantastic, and each dish had a perfect blend of flavors. Couldn't recommend the seafood enchiladas enough! read more

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Great neighborhood spot, delicious food and drinks, a little crowded and service was just a bit slow but it was a cold, busy night.

We tried this restaurant on a whim today and I'm so glad we did. We sat outside and for drinks we got the michelada (amazing) and the spicy tamarindo (also amazing). For food I got the seafood enchiladas, which were so good (and they didn't skimp on the shrimp in the enchiladas). My partner got the salmon dish and said he loved his food, too. We'll definitely be back!! read more

My primary gripe is that I was drawn in by the menu posted on Anafre's website but when seated the menus we were given were very different. The website menu featured 3 cocktails made with the Mexican spirit Sotol. The drink menu now is very "plain Jane" and the bartender had not even heard of Sotol. So too with the food menu. Neither of the dishes I had picked out for my daughter and me were on the current menu. I will say that my Seafood Enchiladas were generous and tasty but my daughters hamburger was cooked to a fare thee well and should not have been served. Anafre needs to update their website as bait and switch is no way to run a business. read more

This place is absolutely delicious! We had the seafood guacamole. Fantastic. We had the submarino. Delicious! We had the fried oyster taco. Phenomenal! We had the fish taco. Yum! Definitely coming back here. read more

This place is phenomenal! It definitely deserve many more praises than it does currently. I have yet to try anything that was less than delicious, fresh, and well prepared at this place. From fried oyster tacos to the el pastor pizza, everything in between was really tasty. I'm so glad we gave it a shot when we did, bc it's for sure a place we'd be going back to all the time. read more

I really really like this place. I've been twice so far, but man they didn't disappoint. I keep trying different things on the menu and haven't had a bad thing yet. I'll update once I cycle through the whole menu lol. read more

Came here for happy hour with a couple of friends who were excited to try the happy hour...we were all sorely disappointed. The prices were reasonable for happy hour and the food was serviceable. This place would get 3 stars, but the service at the bar was just plain bad. The bartender seemed like he had better places to be. Also, he charged us for 2 mango margaritas that my homegirls couldn't even drink because they were straight up nasty. Also, they included an automatic gratuity in the bill which I would have no problem with if the service weren't so lackluster. There are a bunch of other good Mexican spots in the area...go to one of them. read more

This place is very special. The food here is out of this world--Their menu is small but curated and each dish is made with love. We shared a pizza, the lobster guacamole, and the grilled octopus dish. I licked the plate clean. read more

The food is great. Much like mezcalero, the management does not have enough front of the house staff - they will sit you fast, then you will wait forever for drinks, apps, dinner, and the bill. If this place was adequately staffed we would have ordered more food and more drinks...but I've been saying that about their sister restaurant since we moved into the neighborhood 5 years ago. read more

I'm not going to say I'm an Anafre connoisseur, but...I go there a lot, and I always get multiple meals when I do (for later, don't judge). I first went the second night it opened, and have been hooked ever since (get it?). The quality is just fantastic, and they do not skimp on the seafood. Seafood nachos, the guac, tacos, seafood enchilada, and most recently, the submarino, dominate my orders. My boyfriend loved the slow-cooked pork when they had it. I think it says something that a restaurant advertising itself as a Mexican Seafood place has incredible pork too (it says, "this place is good and you should go"). One recent change is that the menu has pictures. Thanks Anafre, now I'm addicted to the submarino. They're always super nice too. Some reviews complain about the service, but I've only ever noticed issues during the pandemic (which doesn't count. The industry is struggling so hard right now). You keep doing your thing, Anafre. And I'll keep telling people to give you money for NOMS. read more

I have no idea why this place isn't just as popular as its sister, Mezcalero and it's distant cousin, Habañero. I picked up the Valentine's Day special, which was an app, main, cocktail and desert for $35. It was a steal. Between two we had calamari (chicharon), tostada yucateca, salmon, seafood enchiladas, tiramisu and two strong AF margaritas. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was great. I have two very little ones, who can't sit still, but would love to stick around longer. The tortas and pizza are next on my radar. A message to my fellow Petworthaleños: Support this place! read more

Lobster over cooked, hardly any meat in it, definitely not nuevo style but tasted well. Seafood guacamole was yummy. Has a little kick. They can keep the purple cabbage. Decent, I'd go again but definitely not for the lobster. $30 down the drain. read more

The food was incredible. We started the meal with the seafood guacamole and cocktails! Mula Mexicana con mezcal was refreshing. The cucumbers made a real difference. We then split some tacos and one entree. A nice diversity and no too much food. The oyster tacos and the papas con rajas tacos were amazing. The papas con rajas were so soft, "luxurious" and the oyster tacos tasted lie the sea... I wanted to be in the beach in Mexico while eating them. The pork shank meat was tender and spicy. The salsa verde was perfect with it. read more

We always want to support neighborhood places. The ratings made this place seem like a good bet. While the service was friendly, it was exceptionally slow (who waits 25 minutes for a single happy hour taco?). The food was decent, though I found the steak taco (once it arrived) was unnecessarily spicy and the 1/4 chicken, while well seasoned, was dry. Also, there were no Chico's and salsa - not even for a fee. That's just not right. Anafre needs a bit of work. read more

Excellent lunch with service to match! The tomato-citrus ceviche was so flavorful and full of fresh fish. We will definitely be back. read more

Anafre - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delicious. Very different from the typical street tacos scene piling up on this strip. Oaxacan flavors and dishes all cooked to perfection. Very reasonable prices for food dishes. Only complaint would be drink prices -- a bit on high side. Get in while you can before the word is out. read more

This place is amazing. Seafood is very fresh and often served sizzling. We go here weekly as a family and I'm totally shocked that other places next to it are way more crowded, this place is the best and service is great read more

We had the BEST meal at Anfare! We had the the pulpo, the the 12 Horas Pork Shank en Salsa Morita, bread pudding for dessert, and mole old fashioned to drink. Every single dish was cooked to perfection, a great portion. The octopus was some of the best I've ever had and the pork was literally fall off the bone delicious. The service was lovely as well. Highly recommend. read more

really really great mexican seafood. incredible prices for the quality of food. would recommend to a friend!!

Begin here probably 5 times and never have gone wrong with the selection of food but my favorite has to be the ceviche hands the best I've had in the dc area by far..!!! read more

My father and I ordered the Al Pastor and Octopus pizzas. They honestly could not have been more perfect. Anafre is now my go-to for Friday take away. That good!!! Seriously. read more

So very very good. The chicken pozole is incredible. I love the seafood tacos as well. I want to go back with a friend and try the lamb chop too! Two things would really improve the place. 1) The alcohol menu was clearly written by someone for whom English is not their primary language (which is fine!). It's able to be understood but just having someone look it over and correct some things might just add to the restaurant aesthetically. 2) There are no bag hooks at the bar (though there are outlets!). Those are necessary! read more

Amazing service and great food! Came with my family to celebrate my engagement and was not disappointed! We had the calamari and the crab stuffed oysters as apps which were great. I had the octopus as my entree and my fiancé shared his gringo quesadilla with me. Both were amazing! Great cocktails too and very affordable. Will be back!! read more

My friends and I went last week. We were going to check out one of the other restaurants on the strip but we were able to find seating at the bar here. It was a great experience! I had a guava margarita which was tasty. We shared seafood guacamole which was delicious! I ended with tacos one steak the other salmon. Both were good. All the food was really flavorful and tastes fresh. The staff was very nice and friendly. And the whole vibe of the place was cute. I will definitely be back. read more

Everything was absolutely amazing. Best Mexican food I've had since California. The mole poblano was exceptional - smokey and sweet. The 12 hour pork shoulder was delicately spiced and tender - spicy but not overpowering. The blue corn tortillas were also a very nice touch! And the pinched masa and chorizo was just unbelievable - savory crunchy soft salty and downright delicious. Will be back many times. read more

There's a new gem just around the corner. The food was excellent. The environment is very relaxed. The servers were very friendly. It's everything you need in a neighborhood restaurant. I see us walking there a lot in the spring. I will definitely recommend this place to my friends. read more

Love it. Great, unique, and delicious options. Welcoming and friendly service. Cannot wait to go back.

Excellent! My wife, two friends, and I ate dinner here on February 27, 2020. It was our first visit but not our last. Our server, José, was great. The four of us shared the queso fundido, my wife and I shared the Anafre parrillada. Delicious. My Mucama Mexicana cocktails (with mezcal) were tasty. read more