Let's admit, the pandemic has been hard on us all...in so many ways. My husband and I travel and dine out quite often, but Covid shut that down. As numbers started to decline, I took a leap of faith and headed to DC. The highlight of my trip was our dining experience at Bresca. Bresca offered private dining in their heated igloos, which was amazing! We left the typical deposit for the igloo, which was applied to our bill at the end. We dined at Bresca in mid-February and the weather was not ideal. It was a chilly, rainy night, but the igloos kept us warm and dry. The igloos were equipped with a small space heater, blankets, and your own portable music speaker that you could play your own music through. Just the fact we were able to dine completely alone was amazing. Let's get into the service. Bresca being a Michelin Star rated restaurant, the service was outstanding. I admire the positivity of our server after having to constantly go back and forth in the rain. Knowledgeable and accommodating throughout our meal! The food: outstanding! We chose the to order one of each option on the tasting menu and share. It was absolutely the best choice! The raspberry foie gras tart was rich and had just the right amount of sweetness to cut through the richness. Wagyu, lobster, tuna...the list goes on! A phenomenal tasting menu. A must for anyone who enjoys Michelin Star experiences or wants to get their feet wet. A wonderful menu with an amazing cocktail program. read more

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We get the 6 courses menu and we have to say that the service from all the waiter and waitresses is very impressive. you guys frequently asking us and we don't have to call for you guys. the food isn't what I expected but the duck cooked just right. read more

Bresca - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had an amazing experience today. I did the 4 course meal at the bar with the wine pairing. The bartender was knowledgeable and polite. The food was amazing and the service was what you expected at a Michelin restaurant. They introduced every meal and drink. I highly recommend getting a cocktail that is the bartender's choice. She will ask you about your preferences and make you a drink you won't forget. read more

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We love Bresca and will continue as frequent customers. The food certainly deserves its star and the service has improved. One substantial quibble: the wine list markups are *ridiculous*. I spot checked some of the more common bottles, and sure enough, the markups are dramatically higher than just about every other DC-area wine list, with perhaps the exception of Inn at Little Washington, which has 3 stars. Stick to the cocktails until they come down to Earth. (One quick update: it's interesting that if you sort the reviews by most recent, you see a ton deducting a star or two for value. Inflation is real, but you can only trade on Ratino and a Star for so long in a super competitive DC market. We eat out all the time around here, and at the moment, Bresca has tipped that balance in the wrong direction.) read more

First things first. Don't bring your Asian parents here. The food is overly heavy for their palette so they won't like much of the food since all of it has a lot of butter or is heavily reduced. The experience for me was pretty good and memorable even though I wouldn't come back due to the price. The course meal includes three appetizers, a main course, and dessert. They also give small treats or bread to pair with some of the courses. Some of the dishes were pretty heavy yeah but there were flavors that I've never tasted before and probably will never taste again. So probably worth it! read more

Bae appreciation post (by Chanel)! Get you a man who understands the assignment... checking out GOOD food for the blog AND waiting until you take pics, boomerangs and videos of everything before touching it! For our one year anniversary we checked out DC's @michelinguide restaurant @bresca & it was soooo good... going backwards with these pictures of the four course menu because personally, the dessert was the Squash Tartsmoked roe - soy - buckwheat (Interesting....) ---First Course& Hiramasa "Mi Cuit"horseradish - turnip - green apple vierge (Fresh, thick cut fish) & Burrata & Winter Citrusradicchio - sweet herbs - radish (Probably our favorite dish, citrus gave an extra layer of flavor) & Sunchoke Agnolottiyeast - macadamia - maitake (Flavorful ravioli adjacent) --- Main Course(ME) Brioche Stuffed Amish Chickenblack truffle - "caramel apple" - girolles (Sooo flavorful & juicy. Caramelized chicken skin on top for extra dimension) (HIM) Dry Aged Duck a la Pressedate - beet - shiso - dukkah ("It was delicious", really good flavor and a crunchy)crusted top) read more

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I was super excited to try Bresca. In fact, I had a reservation to Jont that I needed to cancel, but I was happy Bresca was able to accommodate me as a Walk-In (Very much appreciated). The service was top notch. I was greeted at the door and immediately seated in the dining room. The ambiance was really nice. Cozy but not cramped. Busy enough to be interesting, but didn't feel chaotic at all. The sommelier was the first to greet me and asked if I had any questions about their beverage program. I let her know I was going to be having the tasting menu and she walked me through both options for the wine pairings. The Somm is who took my food and beverage order, then there were a lot of different folks that attended to me during the meal. This was fine for me, but some people who like to have a consistent attending eye may have bee disappointed I suppose? I found the service to be extremely efficient and also warm with them knowing that they are just playing a supporting role to the meal. 5/5 As mentioned, I opted for the tasting menu at $158 for 5 courses. They list "Snacks" as a 6th course on the tasting menu, but seemed like those were given to all. There were also options to add a Foie Gras course for $30 and a Wagyu course for $65. I chose not to add either. Everything was impeccably plated (even if I may have taken a photo after I already dug in on the scallop!). The 3 Snacks were all fun single bites. The Truffle Choux being the remarkable one. Kanpachi Crudo came next. It was really tasty with a perfect blend of sweetness from the green strawberries and herbal flavor from the basil. Three small pieces of fish -- so, three bites. The Scallop had an incredible hazelnut sauce and was perfectly seared. Single scallop, so three bites, plus some Broccolini. Lamb Saddle -- Really nice as well. Very much liked the earthy beets combined with sweet raspberries with the lamb loin that was perfectly cooked. There was also a piece of lamb belly (I think?) as a second, smaller piece of meat. It didn't do too much for me, but it was fine. The sauce on the lamb was to die for. Dry Aged Duck -- The Duck Jus may have been the tastiest thing of the whole meal -- really nice! My Duck was cooked nicely, though I wish the skin had been rendered a bit more and was a bit more crispy. The stuffed morel was a single bit and was pretty underwhelming. The blueberries were a nice pairing. This was served with their homemade brioche which combined with the Jus could have been its own dish. Really tasty! Strawberry Cloud Cake -- Nice, refreshing, cake with ice cream. Nothing super inventive, but still tasty. If you've read this far, you might be asking why only 3 stars? I think it all comes down to "Was it worth it?". The cost of the tasting menu plus wine pairing was $385 (Including tax and tip) for a single diner. The price was not a shock... I knew what I was getting into. But the experience and food and frankly the quantity of food was not worth the almost $400 price tag. The food, while tasty fell short of inventive or super creative. The meal also felt simultaneously rushed and slow. Rushed because the portions were so small that a plate would only spend a mere 3-5 mins on the table before it was finished. Slow because after the previous course was finished I would be poured another glass of wine and wait 15 mins for yet another small portion. There was just something off about the portion size and the wait times, especially for the first 3 courses. Before getting the Duck Course, I really thought I was going to be leaving hungry. I am not a diner that requires large amounts of food, but if it were not for the substantial portion of Brioche and the nicely portioned dessert course I would have needed a couple tacos before bed. While the Bread was phenomenal and filled my belly, it's not the thing that I expect to save me from needing to immediately pop over to a taqueria after a meal. The food and service were both quite good overall. But we need to hold places charging 4x the price of a good meal elsewhere to a higher standard and I think Bresca missed the mark. read more

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I have always found contemporary settings carry a pretense about those who are welcome and those who are not. Bresca breaks the mold in a fantastic fashion! Blue Jean and blouse attired, the servers (or who I call "dining consultants" for Michelin rated restaurants) carry a professional yet amiable tone as they unobtrusively get to know you with each passing course. By the time you're finished with the mango sherbet-filled meringue on coconut tapioca, you feel like you've been hosted by friends, not just service providers! The experience is really worth the expense! My dinner group of four, the Bougie Dinner Club, noticed a few stellar touches that categorize Bresca among my favorite DC dining experiences so far: 1. Always folded napkins once we left the seats. - It's small, but surprisingly thoughtful. Draws attention to you that even your napkin is treated with warmth. 2. Nice waiting room space reserved for early arrivals. - One of our party members arrived notably early and was ushered into a nice space until the rest of us arrived. Small but kind gesture, especially with January temperatures in DC. 3. Far exceeded our expectations from the menu. - I don't want to spoil the continuous wonderful surprises, but I will say, the experiential expectation management is well calibrated here to make you feel like an honored guest! All in all, the other elements live up to the Michelin star they clearly deserve. One of DCs more welcoming dining experiences! Certainly recommend! read more

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Bresca is a one-Michellin star restaurant and it's very well-deserving so! The service was the best we have ever had anywhere. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and professional. We came to celebrate Mother's Day with our little one and were originally a bit worried that the restaurant may have a hard time handling us but as it turned out the staff were so sweet and accommodating to our son while also making sure we have a good time. Now the food was great, but definitely not mind-blowing. We did the four course meal and everything was delicious. The highlight of our meal was the Wagyu beef that melted in our mouth, the complimentary bread which was lighter than air, and the Madeleines which were warm, crunchy on the outside and airy on the inside. Overall, we had a really great time and would recommend to anyone. read more

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The 3 rating is for comparable 1 star Michelin guides. Very disappointing, came here for early seating and with late lunch, decided on 2 course pairing. Selected the scallop appetizer and the Australian Wagu. Scallops are raw, with flavorful light broth but Wagu was not good. Very chewy and couldn't finish my meal. Server didn't even ask me why I left have my dinner half eaten. Low rating for quality of food and service. Do not understand why this restaurant got the reviews it has. read more

I really really wanted to like this place, from the sustainable sourcing, the bronze fish heads protruding from the wall, and the other moss wall...but I was a bit let down. Now, we did partake during restaurant week so perhaps the quality was not up to its normal standards but I can only review based on the experience I had. Now, as I said, the indoor space and decor were fun and lively although the space was smaller with a slightly elevated noise level but that is to be expected. But all the waitstaff were fantastic, suggesting drinks, refilling drinks, and cleaning out dishes. For the food, the scallop crudo was fine (6/10) but underwhelming for a Michelin starred restaurant. Although the burrata was exactly how it should be made. For an entree I had the saffron fettuccine which again, was fine but underwhelming (6/10). My friends let me have a bite of their wagyu beef (10/10) which was delicious, exactly what I expected from a Michelin star place. I also tried some of the swordfish (8/10) which was also quite good, definitely the Goldilocks of the three entrees. The dessert I had was the tropical ambrosia which was by far the best dish I ordered, there was a variety of textures and flavors and all together it was a great dish, definitely Michelin worthy. However, my friends were disappointed in the foie gras cake pop which was small and dry, would not recommend. On the whole, underwhelmed by the food for a place with one star but I'd be willing to go back not during restaurant week to give it another try. read more

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Was not a great experience. It wasn't "plate picking" delicious it was "eat the main ingredient and leave everything else and don't eat the sauce directly." The flavoring and texture of the food was great, to an extent. The problem is too much fatty sauces, fatty cuts, fatty everything. It makes you feel stuffed in a bad way. I don't mind fat and I love butter but this felt very heavy and it was basically fat encased with fat. You start with 3 appetizers, one pastry, one fried cheese ball with cured pork, and one tiny serving of a cream pudding. All a bit of fatty. Then you move on to a bowl of Alfredo style pasta with lots of cheese. Then 2-3 larger meat dishes topped with a fatty sauce. Also one of the meat dishes they introduce as an extra fatty cut of pork with a very buttery sauce. This is finished with cheesecake dessert. You can see here - it's all fatty..! I'm not trying to lose weight at a Michelin restaurant but a fully fatty meal makes me feel super sick and stuffed and it just isn't a great experience tbh. We also got a caviar option that cost a lot extra but it was paired with a heavy buttery fatty waffle topped with heavy ranch. Again I'm fine with fat and love me some good sauces but this whole experience was fatty ingredients overloaded. For the service and time and ambiance, it was all relatively fine but food was slow. Around 20-30 min wait between dishes and it was more than once. Other places typically take 5 mins after you finish your last dish. They had to apologize for the wait and we didn't complain or look upset. Room was WAY too cold I was shivering the whole time and my gf felt the same way. We keep our home at like at 68 for perspective. Also vents point at almost all the tables. Bad room design! We shifted a table and still got blown in the face with AC for two hours. Staff was attentive and kind. The staff was all a good experience and adds to my rating but can't overcome the fatty-stuffed feeling of the overall meal. read more

There's decadence and then there's Bresca. It is truly an experience of a lifetime. The 6 course tasting menu may sound overwhelming but it is so, so worth it. We loved every dish, every presentation but our favorites were the scallops by all means. I also want to add a few words about the staff. I've never encountered waiting staff who was that well trained, polite and all about making customers feel welcome. This is a must place to take someone special in your life. read more

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A fine dining restaurant serving only fixed price menus with a choice of 5 or 4-course menu. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. Service is excellent! Each guest is served simultaneously and after each course, the table is cleared and cleaned to make way for the next. Food was beautifully plated and delicious. Before ordering, we were served with a sparkling yuzu palate-cleanser. The 5-course meal began with a trio of refreshing appetizers: a cucumber mouse, foie gras corn bread and a pastrami beet tart. The tomato and stone fruit with flakes of crisp tuna and feta came next. Our cauliflower ravioli was supplemented by generous shavings of truffles (a steal at $12 upcharge!) Main entree was a medium rare wagyu for me and a brioche stuffed chicken for my date. For an added $10 we got a 3rd entree, a dry-aged duck to share - this was the best of the 3 entrees and a must! We ended the meal with warm, sugar-powdered madelines accompanied by raspberry spread and clotted cream with a cup of hibiscus tea. Tip was included at 22.5%. With a bottle of wine, this meal for 2 could easily reach $400. An excellent special occasion dinner shared with a special someone. read more

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Was able to snag a reservation at Bresca for restaurant week, and boy, it did not disappoint! It received a Michelin star last year and I definitely saw why. Pickled winter vegetables with slowly roasted lamb shoulder with a blackened garlic sauce? Still scratching my head how they were able to encapsulate the flavor of blackened roasted garlic without the bitterness. Not depicted was the first course, buratta with light greens and notes of citrus. This one had mandarin, blood orange, radicchio and a marmalade (i think) which was amazing. Will definitely take a stab at replicating. The final dish was a Paris Brest. I am not a sweet tooth, but I almost shed a tear. A great end to a Sunday! I always love going to restaurants for ideas and new flavor profiles. Cannot WAIT to return for the next RW :) read more

Bresca - Ambiance - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Service was terrible, and do not get the foie gras since the serving size is as big as the size of a pie. For dishes like that, the server should let customers know that the portion size is too big, and recommend sharing or only getting one foie gras for the table. Also our server did not fill our water after getting the check back, forgot our take-out dish, and generally did not check in with us as much as he did with his other tables, likely due to us looking relatively younger. Terrible experience. read more

Top restaurant in DC. Cannot recommend enough. Food was insane. Service was top notch. Excellent atmosphere

Came here to celebrate a birthday, and overall had a solid experience. We got lured in by the duck, so ordered that for the table (4 people), and also opted for a couple appetizers to share: 1. Beef tartartlets ($7): comes with 2 "tartartlets" -- As small as these were, I really enjoyed them! Very rich and umami, portioned perfectly. Excellent way to start the meal. 5 stars. 2. Scallop ($18): sweet corn agnolotti, brown butter, chanterelle mushroom, nasturtium -- Came with 2 good-sized scallops, and thought it was reasonably priced. While I was not the biggest fan of the creamier flavor profile (that's just personal preference), I will say that these were some of the freshest scallops I've had in a long, long time. Just that made it worth the purchase. 4 stars. 3. Rohan duck a la presse ($125): they serve a maximum of 4/night, and it is portioned for 4-6 people. Per menu, it comes with 4 things: 1) 21 day dry aged duck breast with coriander & pink peppercorn crust, local honey; 2) roulade of duck leg and thigh, sweetbreads, morel mushrooms; 3) salad of roasted nectarines, pickled mustard seed, lolla rosa, duck sausage; 4) charred wild onions with duck jus -- I really, really wanted to like it. Especially since it is exclusive, flashy (I mean, they bring out the machinery to the table), and sounds so delicious on paper. The verdict? Not bad, but fell short of expectations. The duck breast was really, really chewy, and the roulade of duck leg/thigh was uninteresting and mediocre in terms of flavor profile. I didn't regret ordering it, but would not order again. 2.5 stars. 4. Foie gras cake pop ($5) -- Only tried a bite, and it wasn't bad. Wouldn't necessarily order again. 3 stars. 5. Tropical ambrosia ($11): -- Apparently their keystone dessert, comes with tapioca, mango, meringue, and passion fruit. Worth the order. The immense variety in flavors and textures made for an extremely engaging and interesting experience. 4.5 stars. 6. Blueberries and cream ($11): tonka bean, sugar cured egg yolk, lime. -- Wasn't a huge fan, thought it was just okay. I definitely focused most of my time/stomach space on the tropical ambrosia. 3 stars. We also each tried a cocktail, which we mostly enjoyed. Thought that their drinks were overall well crafted and reasonably priced. One of the biggest highlights of my experience here was the phenomenal service. Our waitress was supremely knowledgable of the menu, fun to engage with, and overall an excellent, excellent point-person to have throughout the meal. I wish I remembered her name! Overall, would come back because the food showed a lot of promise, but next time I'd avoid the duck and focus on trying as many of their other dishes as possible! read more

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Wonderful evening thanks to Sherman and the rest of the crew. Highlights: 1. I brought a bottle of Krug Rosé (well worth the $65 corkage on a $400 bottle), and before I even blinked, proper Krug flutes were placed on the table. Win my heart. 2. At one point, literally half a second after I set my empty glass down on the table, Sherman came in with the refill. Ninja level. 3. Caviar service: the quail eggs, the chive oil crema, the madeleines, and the plating, all top flight. And at such a reasonable price point. 4. The first courses and the chicken punched above their weight. 5. The decor, the vibe, the staff, everyone was so damn nice. The service was worthy of a two star joint. Not at all the choreography I would seek from a ***, but far better orchestration of a dining experience than what you get at many of DC's borderline * spots like Tail Up Goat or whatnot. Lows: 1. The caviar itself. Maybe I have a psychological aversion to Chinese roe. (Like, what actually do they feed those suckers.) But I just don't think the depth of flavor is there. Marshallberg Farm is my go-to and this stuff didn't come close. I would LOVE to do the caviar service with some Marshallberg or Petrossian or Markie's. Triple the price and call me, save me a hundred grams, I'll fly in for it. 2. The duck. Skin was good but the meat lacked the tenderness that I get when I use cast iron or sous vide (or both) at home. I'm still glad I got it over the lamb (I'm not really a saddle guy) but it was hyped pretty hard, so that nudges the 4.5 down to a 4. 3. The reserve wine pairing. My friend who joined me got it after enjoying a glass and a half of my bubbly. The riesling and the pinot noir were quite nice (my end of the bargain was getting a swig of each pour), but we were both totally miffed by the absence of French wines from a French starred joint's pairing. I kept saying "surely you'll get a nice Bordeaux with the duck" but it never came. Just unexpected. All in all, a wonderful entry-level Michelin star experience, especially given the price point. $148 for a proper six-course with a $44 caviar add-on is a steal, and if you're not used to eating like this you will have a phenomenal meal at a very reasonable price. read more

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Although there's still half of 2019 left, this might've been my favorite meal this year. (Himitsu took my heart last year). Typically my bar for Michelin star restaurants is if the experience doesn't have a lasting impression, it's not a 5 star. Hence Rose's was a 4 star even though I enjoyed the food and service. While Himitsu isn't a Michelin star, I still remember the dishes I ate there and the Scallop dish here reminded me of their crudo with tiger's milk. But that's enough blabbering, Bresca gets a 5. (The chicken dish will have lasting impressions). DRINKS Eagle Whale Wolf: Reminded me a bit like a gin martini but a bit sweeter.  Koi of Jerez: My date's favorite drink. It was light, refreshing, delicious. Bee's Knees: Had to get it but it tasted like honey lemonade. Not a bad thing. The Golden Hour: My favorite drink. I just love anything mezcal and anything egg white.  The Other King: Probably the least favorite drink because it was too sweet. Still delicious--might've been good as a dessert drink.  FOOD My partner and I really wished the items in the tasting menu were offered in the regular menu such as the puffed beef tendon and scallop & hokkaido urchin but went with variety so here it is.  Scallop: Thin sliced scallop in a buttercream with roe popping in your mouth. It was a light delicious appetizer. White Asparagus: Loved the potatoes. Asparagus didn't even taste like asparagus though had the texture.  Young Chicken: I'd eat this over and over and over again if I could. This dish came with a fried leg and thigh. Thigh had been deboned and garnished with chive flowers. So tender and delicious. The breasts were stuffed with a brioche and herb panade rested on top of wild allium with foie gras jus with a few blueberries giving the jus a vibrant purplish color. This was the star of the night. The chicken came with a truffle honey that I could also eat forever but the gribiche sauce was a bit too mustardy for me. It was a delicious sauce but for the amount served overpowered the other components of the dish.  Dry Aged Striploin: Loved the miso-mushroom rub on the steak. While some cuts looked more like medium, it definitely tasted like medium rare. Excellently cooked and prepared. I loved the marrow emulsion and wished had more of it but probably better (for my health) that I didn't. The dish came with a wedge salad which was probably better left omitted just because it was way over dressed. It was more dressing than salad.  DESSERT Ended the night with the Foie Gras cake pop. My partner was hesitant to trying it but it's covered in chocolate and nuts and has tastes of almond inside so it was very enjoyable.  Our server, Jess, was extremely attentive, friendly, and stellar as were the hosts. Food was all perfectly timed and hardly waited in between dishes. Our waters were always filled and napkins always folded. Despite the overdressed salad, all in all, wonderful experience that I'd do again. read more

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Really I give it 4.5 stars. The food was delicious and I liked our server the most out of all the restaurants we ate over the long weekend we were in DC. He was just with it compared to most others. The ambiance was the "hippest" out of all the Michelin restaurants we ate at. I didn't love the by the glass wine selections and I didn't like that the only dessert option was a fruity porridge (a non fruity or a chocolate option should always be offered imo). I hated the 22% already added tip to the bill. It's one thing to mandate 20%, but idk, 22% just left me with a bad taste in my mouth (no pun intended bc the food was great!). Pay your employees more! read more

Service was good. Cozy restaurant. Not impressed by the food. Scallop (one covered by a slice of beet) was sitting in a sauce that was salty that night. Duck fat wasn't rendered (it's just how I prefer my duck though). Veal covered by a cabbage leaf (pictured) - unmemorable. Plating wasn't appealing. I wouldn't go back. We ordered 4-course menu plus the truffle pasta and wagyu read more

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As a new Michelin starred restaurant, Bresca definitely lived up to that standard. I heard reservations can be pretty hard to make but I was lucky enough to get one. The cocktails there were very interesting. I liked them a lot. They have small plates and shareable main course here. I was very impressed by foie gras with waffle. I highly recommend it. It looked amazing and tasted even better. The pasta dish was very good too. The main course and dessert were a little bit mediocre though. The steak was a little bit chewy for some reason but seasoning was perfect. Dessert was good but not very special. I honestly don't remember the dessert I had. I loved the decorations of the place. It felt very cozy and comfortable. The wall with plants was definitely a highlight. This place can be pricy. My friend and I spent $100 each. read more

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Such a delicious experience and wonderful service! Bresca exceeded my expectations. Don't forget to order their fun drinks! read more

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Back 3 years later and one michelin start later/ and helllloooo deliciousness and FABULOUS service !! Talk about being made to feel like a rock star by every single staff member- and watching what a true well oiled machine looks like !! Probably one if not THE best pre-fix michelin spot in the city right now- what you get for $90 pp is really beautiful and delicious - the artistry and complexity of the flavors were so thoughtful - and I couldn't believe how many sweet salty savory textures sights and smells they managed to trigger .... the gazebo was a dream and just all crazy awesome ! read more

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Wow. The Tasting Menu is a MUST. My partner and I celebrated our anniversary here and I know in 20 years, I'll look back and realize it was this amazing dinner that must've kept us together. The chef took us by the hand and guided us on epic journey. The flavors transition plate to plate seamlessly but also outline the stark contrast its Bohemian Rhapsody (for those not privy, imagine SICKO MODE) All in all, please please please do yourself a favor and experience this. When's the last time you took your mom / partner / friend / boss / mailman / idc out? (You have to find an excuse to come here, seriosuly you'll thank me) read more

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This was my first experience with Bresca and I was blown away. We did a takeout order and even with a 30 minute drive to get home, the food was still amazing. It seemed like Bresca took into consideration the longevity of the food that they would be sending out for takeout orders as many could have a decent drive home which I really appreciate the thoughtfulness of. I can't imagine how amazing it would be fresh out of the kitchen. The food was packaged and plated so carefully and beautifully even for a takeout order. They seemed to put thought into every little detail! The Tomato Burrata Salad was by far my favorite dish of the meal. It was seasoned perfectly, each component of the dish worked so well together. It was light and refreshing, I tried to savor every single bite. The Compressed Melon, although may not be something I would order again, was such a wonderful experience to try. It really wasn't anything I've had before but it worked well! The grilled melon was slightly sweet while the chili and mint added a savory element. It, like everything else, was seasoned perfectly to add that hint of salt - all the flavors were so well balanced. The Confit Duck was a hit amongst all of us. It was cooked perfectly, so nice and tender. My portion was huge too! The side of zucchini add a nice crunch. The duck/zucchini was a bit on the saltier side with some bites though, but I didn't mind! It was delicious. Lastly, the Chocolate Tart. I will it wasn't something that stood out/amazed me, but by no means was it not delicious. The creamy chocolate and peanut butter filling along with the crunch of the chocolate shell created a nice balanced texture. It wasn't too sweet but is definitely on the heavier/more decadent side. I couldn't finish mine but am very happy to have it as a leftover for tomorrow. It also came with a couple mini Le Madeline cakes which was light and fluffy. A nice little extra touch. Bresca is well known for their Michelin Star and totally deserving of it too. Especially during these COVID times, I'm amazed at how well they pulled together a well transportable and delicious takeout menu. I will definitely be returning for future occasions. read more

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We had exceptional service and food here on a bustling weeknight. I was running late but the hostess scooped me at the door upon arrival and seated me at our table. Our cocktails were well balanced. We had one of their tasting menus and every course felt creative, inspired, and thoughtful. Every bite of food was delicious and worth savoring. We were pleasantly full at the end and impressed by this wonderful experience. read more

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Absolutely divine! The most amazing experience from start to finish. I would absolutely recommend the house special or the pièce de résistance - duck a la presse! read more

Bresca - Duck a la presse - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my favorite places in DC. It's (dangerously) the kind of Michelin star restaurant you could eat at everyday. During Covid they have this cute little winter heated lodges for two people. It's just a tiny heated greenhouse meant for two people. Very cute, keeps you warm. It was actually raining the day I went and I still had a great experience. We had a set menu for New Year's Day and we added the foie gras course to ours. It was worth it. We enjoyed everything we ate. You must get the drink that comes in a large bee!! read more

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The food was amazing. We ordered drinks, apps, and mains. The tagliatelle and the duck were incredible. The service was a little slow at times, but we enjoy a leisurely dinner. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed my dinner in one of Bresca's huts outside. The duck fat waffles were especially delightful visually and taste wise! And so was the bread rolls and madeleines. read more

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After having an amazing meal at Chef Ryan Ratino's new restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Maas, I had high expectations for Bresca, one-of-two Michelin-starred places in DC. We were disappointed with the meal, the space, and the service. It just felt ordinary. It was like a meal at any other 14th Street storefront restaurant, charging half the price. The space is very noisy, and the food is good, but not great. My short ribs were just a chunk of fat with very little meat. I showed the waiter and they gave us a discount on our meal. He did offer to bring me another one but in my opinion, a Michelin-starred restaurant should never have served it! read more

Came for restaurant week the menu included a home made kombucha (as I'm doing dry January this was a nice appertive), a cheese cracker amuse bouche that was like a fancy goldfish and a cauliflower bavarois, a delicious cauliflower mouse with pickled cauliflower, pine nuts and raisins, the pasta course was a caviar Eli with pancetta and a squash sauce with some sort of crispy rice and hazelnuts, delicious winter pasta cooked al dente, for a main it was a pork loin cooked very pink which is always strange to me but can only be done in good restaurants, the texture was out of this world served with potatoes with green goddess powder (going to try that at home), and a delicious mustard sauce, they brought us some warm brioche too with butter. The dessert was probably the best dessert I've ever had as the banana fan I am, q choco banana cake with mouse, some rock candy that just made the mousse more airy, cocoa nibs and some banana mascarpone cheese on top. Seriously amazing! Going to come every restaurant week forever!!!! The service was a bit too fast they definetly have a fast table turnover but great, they also say us at a table despite having had a bar reservation since we couldn't get a regular table for restaurant week which was lovely. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place since it opened, but with the pandemic I haven't been able to find an opportunity. So when restaurant week rolled around it seemed like the perfect chance! Everything was perfectly done. The dishes were primarily served family style, it it was easy to divide up between the four of us and each of the dishes were interesting - even the wedge salad had some delish melted cheese on it! The meat was absolutely perfect - everyone loved it. The dessert was really rich but super yum! From previous reviews I was a little worried about the packaging but it ended up fine. The desserts were individually packaged, we got two small containers of the potatoes, and everything else was family style but had 4 in it so was easy to divide up. The price was also a little steep - $130 for four, plus 10% tax and 20% tip, leading to $170 for four before any drinks. Definitely not a cheap meal, but it was definitely a fun treat! read more

Bresca - Restaurant week menu for 4 - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bresca is an amazing experience from the atmosphere to the service! For a 1 star Michelin you can even snag a seat at the bar and still experience the tasting menu with friendly service! If in the DC area I would definitely go back! read more

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We did take-out from Bresca during COVID-19. They were very professional and the food tasted great but of course without the entire Michelin experience it sort of takes away from it entirely. In any event, I loved the little add-ons they provided too in addition to what we ordered, my only complaint is that they forced you to add a tip on despite not being a dine-in guest which I found odd. read more

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My friend and I dined at Bresca for restaurant week, and the entire experience from the moment we walked in to dessert was truly phenomenal. I started off with a bees knees, which is served in an adorable bee shaped glass. The cocktail was perfect, a simple traditional cocktail that was executed very well. As for the food, we started off with a winter citrus salad, which was served with burrata. It was light, refreshing, and well balanced with the creamy burrata. However, what really shined is the lacquered lamb. The lamb was perfectly seasoned and cooked, with a barbecue-like flavor. The house make tzaziki that accompanied the lamb was some of the best I've had. The restaurant week dessert was a banana hazelnut pastry, which was also truly delicious. The service was impeccable, our waitress was great at answering our questions and providing recommendations. We got bonus pours of house made kombucha, a nice treat on top off a fantastic dinner. Bresca is a true 5/5 and I'm excited to return and explore other things on their menu. read more

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From the reservation making via Resy all the way to the end of our dinner, it was a very pleasant experience, I say that especially because we were a party of 8. When I arrived there with 2 others, 3 of us were welcomed and guided immediately to a perfect table in the right hand corner. I loved this table location. Not to noisy and very close to the kitchen. When we were all at our table, our server lady with a nice husky voice brought us welcome drink. We had some bottles of white and red, and the following: Beef Tartartlets Scallop Crudo Fazzoletti Nero Foie Gras "Negroni" 62" Chicken Egg Dutch White Asparagus Ramp Linguine "Carbonara" Foie Gras Cake Pop Strawberries & Cream Every one of them was presented so beautifully. They were all delicious to my eyes as well as to my mouth and stomach. The last item, Strawberries & Cream was a lot of fun with the nitro cake butter! Compliments to Chef Ryan and his team for the very fine work. read more

So to set the stage we had eaten at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale a few weeks ago and it was the best meal I've eaten in the last 10 years, food, cocktails, atmosphere and service all extraordinary. So when we came to DC I wanted to have another Ratino experience. We knew this was not the same concept but after FLL thought it would be memorable in some way. So first issue, when we walked in it was noisy, crowded and chaotic, in a totally undistinguished way meaning it was just like every other mediocre restaurant along 14th Street. We all admitted however that the food was generally substantially above average, with the swordfish and the pasta particularly tasty and creatively prepared. I ordered the Wagyu and it however was extremely disappointing, no different from an inexpensive steak from the local Safeway. The service was attentive but the space constraints made pouring the wine almost comical as the tables were so close together that the waiter had to walk around six or so other tables to reach all of us (there were only four). Finally, one of our guests who is very much a foodie, mentioned that he had never seen such an exhibit at mark up on the wines. So if you want an expensive meal, with mostly interesting food in a completely unoriginal setting, this is your place. read more