Went here for a birthday celebration and a great experience! The staff was great, and the food was great also! We go the steak and felt really fatty and with the portion size it did feel like a lot after a few bites. What I did love was the Foie Gras, honestly the best I have ever had! The restaurant was bright and great décor. The staff team was good, nothing special, just expected a bit more due to being a Michelin star restaurant. The Foie Gras alone is worth the trip! read more

Researched several Michelin star tasting menus and I'm so glad I settled on Bresca for a birthday dinner! The food was excellent, very flavorful, best sliver of duck I've had in the area. Service was impeccable and the low lightening ambience was swanky and fun. Great cocktails as well. Perfect for a classy, delicious, and lively celebratory dinner. Will definitely be returning to sample additional eats on the menu! read more

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The food was good and well done tasting menus are always fun. For the price I expected high level presentation, and several dishes that really hit and provide cause for gustatory celebration. That did not happen here. The first course was truly amazing and the dishes that followed were good to cery good. The service was attentive, but what you would expect and nothing more. Decor was fine but again nothing special. A solid restaurant and tasting menu but was it worth the bill? We got the wine pairing. The pairings were okay but the pours were really small. I enjoyed the meal and was glad to have tried Bresca but once was enough. read more

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First and foremost, Bresca is expensive.  That is ok when the dining experience is really something special.  You pay not only for delicious food but for service and ambiance and for a bit of something special when it comes to presentation and the excitement of the evening.   Though it provided some of these aspects, we found Bresca a little lacking when compared to other high end tasting menu experiences.    The food was good the night we went.  We especially enjoyed the scallops and the agnolotti. But, it was nothing extraordinary.  Plus, a bit of the magic was missing when it came to presentation.  So many restaurants now put a lot of effort in providing interesting plating and/or dishes and stemware.  Bresca was fairly straightforward and thus lost the opportunity to make the experience a little more unexpected and special.  The drinks were tasty but quite small.  The service was very attentive.  Sometimes a little too much so as they checked in very frequently.  The décor and the dress of the staff seemed at odds with the fine dining experience.  This is not something we normally notice unless it really stands out.  The cost - expensive, the dress of the staff - jeans.  The space itself was fine, but, again, fairly plain and noisy with all the hard surfaces.  All in all, though we enjoyed our meal at Bresca, when compared to other high end tasting menus at a similar price point, we were disappointed. read more

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Bresca is deserving of its Michelin star in some aspects, but falls a little short in others. But ultimately the food is fantastic. The main dinner service only has one option on the menu: their $148 chefs tasting menu. While expensive this is not terrible for a Michelin tasting menu. Nonetheless, not having à la carte options and carrying a Michelin star sets a high bar. Every dish was delicious. The appetizer - a pairing of fish and raspberry - really surprised me as a combination I would never have expected to like. The sauces on every dish blew us away - really unbelievable. A few negatives. The Doppio ravioli, which seems to be a recurring item on their menus, was nothing exceptional. Don't get me wrong - it had truffles shaved on top and I LOVED the parmesan foam sauce - but the pasta itself was just another (admittedly well executed) Doppio ravioli. If I can make it at home just as well (and I can) I'm not going to be blown away. Was it delicious? Absolutely. Was it an incredible Michelin star-worthy dish? I don't know about that. Another dish they should rethink is their brioche stuffed chicken. It's two disjointed dishes. The cavatelli (which was listed on the menu as an item in the dish) was completely unrelated and did not go with the chicken at all. It wasn't even served on the same plate. The cavatelli added nothing - it should be cut out altogether. There were some service issues. First, we couldn't understand our server (even when we asked him for clarification). Every time he brought dishes he mumbled, spoke under his voice, and didn't look us in the eye when he explained dishes. It was a lack of the basic level of professionalism that I expect at this tier restaurant. These are not straightforward dishes, the menu does not explain much at all about them, and we didn't choose what we we ate - so we wanted it all explained. Out of all of the negative comments here, this was by far the biggest. We lost a large part of the fine dining experience. Their birthday treatment for guests was pretty weird. We came on a birthday and, looking around the room, it was clear a lot of people came for birthdays as well. But it was odd how some people received special customized menus printed with a handwritten note wishing them a happy birthday, while we (and several others) got a generic printout of a duck. Very strange. Ultimately, $148 for a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant is expensive but certainly not terrible, and I do think you get your value's worth. However, that coveted Michelin star is not easy to keep. The service and some of the more thoughtless dishes could use improvement. I'm glad I came here but would I come back? Maybe on a special occasion, or maybe I'll just try one of the many other restaurants in town. read more

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More like a 4.5 star based on the tasting menu. Too much fish for me. Although it was good, I was kinda over it. We had impeccable service though. They really make you feel special. Plus they accommodated my food allergies. They had a great selection of cocktails and impressive wine list. Although I accidentally ordered the wrong bottle, it was delicious and I was actually tempted to order another bottle from the Bekaa Valley. The tastings were flavorful and interesting. I loved the combinations! We would definitely return. read more

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Came here for restaurant week before DC restaurant week officially started because Brescia decided to do theirs for the whole month! 2 of us did the 3 course for $65 and 2 of us did the 5 course for $95. I will say in comparison to other restaurant week deals this is pricier and the portions were smaller but that is as to be expected because it has a Michelin star. With 5 courses it was so much food they were stuff but with 3 it wasn't quite fully satisfying. For the chicken main dish, it was only half of a chicken breast with 2 or so pieces of mushroom and given that the price was $65 this just seemed too small. The short rib you can add for $15 or that you get if you do the 5 course was a much more substantial serving size. While the portions were small, they did have an extra piece of toffee and Madeline cookie at the end and some extra bread during so that definitely helped. The two of us that did the 3 course also decided to get a cocktail so it ended up being around $100 for each of us all in by the end of the evening. While this was fun and I'm glad we went, I don't know that I'd go outside restaurant week based on prices and serving sizes. read more

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They charged me more than final check amount. Do not recommend going to a place that is not honest.

An expensive meal but very delicious! I also really appreciated how accommodating they were with dietary restrictions even on a set menu. And I loved the little extras between courses. I couldn't believe how many times I walked by and hadn't noticed Bresca! read more

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Although merely drink & an extremely special off menu bite I can say that I'm officially a fan of this place. My bartender Sara couldn't have been a lovelier host. She assured me they could do featured menu cocktails as well as making custom cocktails tailored to my personal taste & my God was she correct. Her milk punch as well as this custom beet cocktail were amongst the best & tastiest cocktails I've had. They're flavor forward but don't mistake that for thinking I'm implying they're not stiff drinks. The chicken stuffed chicken was arguably the best chicken I've ever had! It's a double fried chicken wing stuffed with all the chicken trims & drizzled with a little bit of honey .Formal but not stuffy, huge smiles from every staff member so with that said I'll be a regular here very read more

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I had high expectations for this spot...but seemingly too high. I went with a group of three other girlfriends on one of the last few days of their extended DC restaurant week. For starters, I totally agree that RWs may not always be the best time to form an opinion of a place but in my mind that usually has to do with the food options/quality not the service; my issues here were completely service based and the food was excellent. Also of note - their RW week menu was largely overlapping with their standard preset, so it was also not a large lift that can be attributed to RW. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. First red flag was they didn't ask to take our jackets or indicate a place we could put them; the corner booth where we were seated had large pillows and so was quite tight and no back of the chair to hang it on. I sat on the end with my coat in my lap and nothing was said when the waiter came. Eventually I ended up sitting on it for the duration of our meal. Next when we were offered water it ended up being bottled rather than tap even though this wasn't stated or alluded (standard in other countries but not here). This is not shocking that a Michelin starred restaurant would default to $ bottled water but coupled with the coat thing...? It did not align. (To be clear - I wouldn't care about the costs at most places I dine but I expect a different dining experience at a starred spot). I thought that would be the worst of it... We ordered cocktails. Great! Then we spent some more time de icing between the 3 and 5 course menus before the server returned and took our food selection. Still no drinks. When I got to a nice meal I like to enjoy a cocktail (or two!) before the meal and then wine with my entree. The "snacks" arrived - still no drinks. The first course (salad) arrived, on top of the snacks, improper spacing - still no drinks. And what was worse there was no acknowledgement of no drinks. One friend intentionally slowed down eating her salad so the entrees wouldn't come before our drinks. It felt so rushed - but still no drinks. Finally we ASK about the drinks - well 2/4 of them have been made they tell us (yes, we saw them sitting on the bar just waiting....oddly, though we'd only ordered two drink types between the four of us, what was made was one and one). To make matters worse they bring the two that ARE ready to the table (even though we've known they've been sitting on the bar for at least ten minutes). They take our salads and immediately bring the entree - meanwhile only two of the four cocktails are at the table. No one eats any - we're all waiting, just like what's going on? Someone else (not our server who still hasn't commented on our lack of drinks nearly an hour after ordering them) delivered the final two drinks and asked how everything was and we told him that these were our first drink and we'd ordered them BEFORE any food and that we actually didn't even really want them anymore and had intended to have wine with our meal. Finally some recognition of the missteps he brought us wine right away and let us know the drinks (and we thought the four glasses of wine as well) would be comped. We certainly appreciated the acknowledgment but it was just such a shocking turn of events - and even still it only occurred because we said something first! Sadly the meal continued the same way with us being rushed through the remainder of our courses. And then! The server brought our bill before we'd even finished dessert!! We wanted to get another cocktail/after dinner drink! We did let him know and he took it back but the whole thing felt like they were just trying to get us out of there. Very disappointing. When we got the bill we noticed we had been charged for two of the four glasses of wine? We just wanted to get out of there at that point. (Still even at the end - nothing from the server: "oh I'm so glad my colleague took care of you," "sorry for the delay"...nothing) I've had the fortune of dining at many Michelin starred restaurants around the world and a huge component isn't just the food quality but the service and ambiance as well and this entirely missed the mark. The food was great and we loved the soundtrack and the sommelier! (After all that - the cocktails were just fine.) Might give them another try at the RW price tag but based on this experience wouldn't be going for their regular service. read more

SO and I were in town and had the 3 course tasting menu with the duck and caviar supplements.  We started off with some refreshments, she had the bee's knees, which came in a bee-shaped glass, and I had a few Kronenbourg's throughout. We were able to split most of the offerings between us and shared each (the pork loin from the main course was the only one we missed).  To start, a snack plate was delivered comprising of 3 types: 2 snack-sized bites (something creamy on the bottom, topped with what I think was trout eggs and shreds of dried seaweed); a small bowl of mixed custard-types with onion on the bottom and hollandaise on top with popcorn; and a small slice of a raw fish in a pool of a warm tasty sauce (forgot what it was)...this was a generous surprise! We highly recommend the caviar, which was fresh with each little egg bursting with flavor along with being affordably priced compared to other establishments. For the 1st course, the tuna crudo comprised of small slices of tuna with a beet sauce and pickled cherries along with a little grated horseradish.  The doppio ravioli comprised of 2 different raviolis, one with broccoli filling and the other with cheese, topped with a tasty, seasoned froth.  Both appetizers were delicate, novel and delicious! For the 2nd course, the brioche stuffed chicken was amazing...it was an Amish chicken, which was very delicate (a word I have never used for chicken until today) with a crispy skin and tasty stuffing underneath it on top of a pool of jus gras.  The swordfish roulade, was creative and dressed with a delicious wine sauce mixed with peanuts and some type of small berry or grape.  These were both delicious! Then, we shared the duck breast, which was perfectly cooked, juicy and with a crispy skin along with a nice, rich sauce.  We didn't need this dish, but we wanted to see how it was prepared and they passed the test! Lastly, the strawberry pavlova was a nice ending to the dinner...wasn't too sweet and all the ingredients complemented each other well.  Again, generosity was displayed with a plate of some madeleines and other sweets! We were very impressed with the creativity of the dishes.  All the while, I was expecting to criticize something, but in the end there was no rationale to do so. Although we see a graduation to 2 Michelin stars in its future, we would be disappointed if it turned into a more exclusive type of establishment where prices would be out of range for regular folks like us and the bar, which is a visual experience in itself with all the different concoctions being made and chemistry-type experiments being conducted, would no longer be accessible for walk-ins.  Bottom line, the service and food were impeccable and outstanding.  You have to try this establishment at least once in your life. read more

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I love trying fine dining places abs Bresca is no exception! Booking a time is relatively easy online and the location itself isn't bad. You might have trouble finding parking depending on the day you come but be prepared to find street parking. We all tried three course menu and it food was delicious! We split the food so we were able to try everything on the menu. Some of the best dishes were the Diver Scallop, Red Devon Beef and the Halibut. They were all delicious and unique in their own way. The only thing I wasn't a big fan of was the duck which was surprising considering all the positive reviews but I found it a bit too gamey for my taste. That being said, Bresca is a restaurant that offers delicious food that is definitely worth trying. read more

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I recently had their 6 course dinner. I've walked by Bresca many times, but didn't think of ever having dinner here until I did some research for great dining options in the area. I do love a nice meal. Service was great, and the next plate always came out as soon as were were finished. Not sure what happened, but they brought out bread at the end of our dinner. It would have been so nice to be able to enjoy it at the beginning, rather than with our duck. While each dish was beautifully put together, I found that the Pear and Endive, and Wagyu Beef were most memorable for me. I bet it takes a team back there to make sure ingredients are laid out nicely on eat plate before coming out to the table. I especially loved the froth in the Pear and Endive. Shims Aji Mi-Cuit Pear and Endive Pierogi with black truffles Maine Scallop Wagyu Beef Ambrosia Parking is terrible in the area. I recommend taking a ride share or public transportation option into the 14th Street area. read more

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5.8.22: Husband surprised me with reservations at Bresca for Mother's Day Lunch. It was a prix fixe four course lunch with options to modify based on dietary needs. In my case, vegetarian options. They actually called him a week or two in advance to inquire if there were any dietary restrictions. Wow. The food, drinks, service and atmosphere. SPECTACULAR! There's so much technique and thoughtful preparation that goes into the food and beverages. The portion sizes were appropriate for a four-course meal. You pay a very pretty penny, but it's SO WORTH IT! Food: We started with something in a tart shell and avocado mousse. Husband had roe on his. Very nice quick and light bite. The cup contained something like a cream with ramp and butter, topped with two pieces of popcorn. Idk what it was but it was really good and rich! 4 Course - Tuna Crudo - husband ate this and said it was good! The vegetarian modification was a Roasted Beets Crudo (so just take the tuna out). It was packed with flavor! The beets were beautifully roasted and swimming in what tasted like a cherry, basaltic and OO reduction. The flakes of sea salt and micro greens rounded it out well. Broccoli Agnolotti - this was vegetarian friendly, so I didn't need to substitute. The pasta pouches were filled with broccoli, peas, fava bean. There were slices of Maitake mushroom in the sauce. Topped with a foam and pea shoots. So good!! Even the kids liked it Bresca Duck A La Presse - the beauty of this dish made me want to eat meat! Seriously. The duck was moist and perfectly seared. The server poured a balsamic reduction of sorts over the duck. The dots are mango purée which husband said was a nice pairing to cut thru the duck. (I could only taste the mango lol) Strawberry Pavlova - this was bursting with fresh flavors. The kids loved breaking through the meringue shell. The tapioca pearls, basil and coconut really shined through. The STAR of the meal, for me lol, was the Maitake Mushroom. It was an excellent meat alternative and lacked absolutely nothing! The onion jus was sweet. I would've licked the plate clean if I could haha. The artichoke quarter was simple and roasted. I wish I had more of it. I now have a new way of preparing Maitake mushrooms! Kids' Option - Pasta with Butter and Cheese - the kids loved this! It had a nice flavor. The noodles were well coated. Brioche Rolls came towards the middle/end of the meal and were more for the kids to eat with their pasta. They did bring out another plate of fresh rolls to go with our third course (duck and mushrooms). They're cute, small, poppable rolls. Even after we ate the pavlova, they brought out two more plates (one for us and one for the girls) with petite desserts. The salted caramel, macaron and madeleine were magnificent. The item on the end tasted like a fruit chew. Somewhat of a palate cleanser but good. I had them surprise me with my two cocktails && was very pleased! Husband was happy with his cocktail. I would totally come here again. Awesome fine dining and date experience. read more

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Fabulous dining experience here, with unique flavor profiles and tasty drinks. We visited for the Valentine's Day experience which was a multiple course meal. We sat outside in one of their little private dining experiences, which I always get a kick out of but this one was super cute! They even have a Bluetooth speaker in there where you can hook your phone up and listen to whatever music you want to listen to. Every course we had was delicious and unlike anything I had ever had before. I can see why this place is beloved in restaurant critics' minds and hearts! read more

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

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I came to Bresca for Restaurant Week and it was absolutely incredible! We opted for the regular three course meal without the add-ons. They first brought out kombucha made in-house, which was delicious - I considered even buying a bottle to take home! We then received a small appetizer with fish and a cucumber/sour cream mixture, which were both tasty. The first course was the Cavatelli Pasta, which had corn and breadcrumbs. The flavors all worked together and it was deliciously creamy. Next was Australian Wagyu Beef, which came with eggplant purée and a shishito pepper stuffed with more beef - the beef practically melted in my mouth! Last was the pistachio and olive oil dessert which was a great way to end the meal. I also ordered the house cocktail, the Good Idea, which was in fact a good idea because it was delicious. The interior was very cute and I liked how the seating was set up, so guests are diagonal from each other rather than across. The service was very nice and prompt. I will absolutely be back! read more

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Came here for DC restaurant week and one of the better Michelin star restaurants! The merengue dessert easily falls within some of the best desserts I've ever had. Amuse was a lovely housemade kombucha and the short rib was phenomenally soft. Loved the black truffle sauce on the pork loin, which was a little tougher to chew (as is to be expected for pork loin). It was a little busy for Restaurant Week but our servers were still very attentive and patient. read more

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Michelin starred restaurant in the same building (and same chefs/owner) as 2 starred Jont on the second floor. Bresca offers both a tasting menu and a la carte options. The tasting menu was delicious and decently priced for what you got. Each dish was creative, tasty, and you could tell was prepared with care. The cocktails were very tasty and while we considered the wine pairing - the cocktails sounded too good to pass up. Service was quick, friendly, and our food came out at a good pace. While a highly rated restaurant, it was also nice to see that Bresca did not take itself too seriously with light music playing in the vs ground from the 90s and 2000s. While people were dressed up, some were casual and it was not overly stuffy, which added to the comfort and made a better experience. read more

10/10 experience! The atmosphere is amazing inside and feels very cozy. The food waI came in with very high expectations and it did not disappoint. I've been wanting to try this restaurant since 2020 and i'm glad I got the opportunity to for dc restaurant week. I've been working in the culinary industry for a few years and the service and food was unforgettable. Can't wait to come back! read more

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After being blown away by Jont upstairs, I knew I had to come back for Bresca too. I made a reservation for my birthday and they really took note! The hostess immediately greeted me with a happy birthday and there was a handwritten card waiting at the table. With dessert they brought out a cute candle that I probably would've stolen if they didn't collect it back lol. I got another happy birthday on my way out the door too. Such little gestures, but it shows how attentive all the staff are to their guests. Our meal was delicious. Great service and perfect pacing. The cocktails were fantastic as well! I didn't expect mine to come in a bee shaped glass, but that was a fun touch. I couldn't stop giggling over drinking out of its butt. read more

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This review is long overdue, but we came here for a chef's tasting for dinner, and we had such a delicious & a wonderful time! Note that their menu rotates with seasonal items, so you'll be sure to have a different experience on your next visit. I really enjoyed the initial bites of the mini tarts, as well as the Bee's Knees cocktail (made with J Rieger gin, kombucha honey, and lemon; this came in a beautiful glass and fun to drink!). If there are any dishes you want more of, be sure to ask. There's an option to add the Bresca Duck a la Presse - we were required to pay for this supplement in advance, which was included in the tasting. Service was friendly and impeccable - definitely has been a while since we enjoyed a fine dining experience in the D.C. area. The counter seating was great, as we were able to see the open kitchen and seeing all the food being prepared and plated. Limited metered street parking around the area. +seasonal chef's tasting menu +great service and staff +limited metered street parking available read more

What an amazing meal and experience. Bresca is absolutely incredible and worthy of the Michelin star it has. The staff was great - attentive without being overbearing and very on top of all the changes and transitions from course to course. Highly recommend the three-course tasting menu. You receive so many extras (and have the opportunity to add upgrades) that you will have more than enough food. To begin, they start you with a snack - a rye tartlet fill with apple foam topped with sharp cheddar cheese, then crème fraîche over squash purée. Perfect little bites with each element thoughtfully worked out. As an extra, we did not regret adding the caviar and wagyu - nori and potato waffle toasts to put the insane amount of black truffle, wagyu tartare and tons of caviar. Amazing with every bite, and the best treat. We would come back for this dish alone. NOW we start the tasting menu. We had the yellowtail and carrot cappelleti. The yellowtail was too overwhelmed by beet flavor (for such a delicate fish it's tough not to be with something that earthy), and much too fatty of a cut that you couldn't even cut through it with the fork you had. Fine dish but not the best. The carrot cappelleti - WOW. Little tortellinis filled with carrot and a carrot sauce, topped with a crunchy granola (super weird thought but it perfectly complements the softness of the pasta with a crunch) and shredded lamb. It just works and every bite is a treat. For mains, we had the brioche stuffed chicken and the Bresca duck à la presse. You just know if a Michelin star restaurant puts chicken on the menu it has to be something else, and just wow. Never have I had a chicken that melts in your mouth and this one just did. Almost stuffing-like in consistency, the chicken was stuffed between the skin with flavorful brioche bread with skin black (but not burnt or charred) to a perfect crispness. The jus was savory and amazing mixed with truffle. Can't say enough how amazing it was..but yes, amazing. The duck - perfectly crispy and cooked and totally worth the up-charge. The presentation was a work of art. Exactly what you would expect. To end, we got the tropical ambrosia- a bowl of mixed flavors and textures. Mango chunks, tapioca balls, chia seeds, a merengue covering mango sorbet, and the unique basil oil. Great balance. Really unique. Lastly, we got a last trio plate of a salted caramel cube, buttered madeleine cookie, and citrus gelatin gummy. Perfect way to wrap up the meal. I didn't even mention the cocktails and wine list that were works of art themselves (my bee's knees cocktail came in a glass bumble bee!). What an incredible evening. We cannot wait to come back, and to try upstairs at Jônt as well! Thank you for a perfect experience. read more

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Wanted to try somewhere new instead of my usual fine dining places in DC and Bresca hit the spot. This is a one star Michelin restaurant and it deserves it. The service and food was just fantastic. The tasting menu is $93 per person which is a great value considering other fine dining restaurants. But be careful when drinking cause the bill will add up! All the courses we had was great. It was evenly paced and presentation and taste was spot on. Enjoyed the appetizer courses especially the Tomato and Goat feta and Potato Pierogi. For main dishes the dry aged duck ($35 per person surcharge - you can split one which we did), swordfish and the Australian Wagyu Culotte was great. I know the portion sizes look small, but I was quite full - not uncomfortable full, but full. My favorite two dishes were the swordfish and the dry aged duck. The cocktails we tried were a tad bit sweet, but we still enjoyed them. I really liked the Card Player, their take on the Old Fashioned. For parking, we parked at the Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs on the corner of 14th and U street for $15 since they don't do valet parking. It was just a one block walk to the restaurant. read more

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Wowww. I absolutely loved my dining experience for restaurant week. The food, decor, vibes, and staff were all excellent. High caliber high quality ingredients, great flavors. I definitely would want to return to try the chefs tasting menu. Lived up to the hype!! read more

Fine dining in DC rejoice! This place is actually great. Maybe one of the only good and worth it in DC. This place is near lupo on 14th so it's on a super lively street though you would never know because the dining room is so pleasant, chic, and quiet. Got there early and they offered me some champagne in their waiting area. I also ordered a milk punch and this was my first time ever having one. Needless to say, I was converted. The meal as a whole was lovely. The portion sizes were so good for a tasting menu- not too filling or too small that you feel like you're not actually paying for anything. Pro tip: get the pressed duck. It's a specialty item and requires a supplement fee but it's WORTH it. read more

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Gorgeous restaurant, I was lucky to get the window seat/couch as a solo diner and it was was so quaint and lovely. I went during resturant week, so I had the prix fixe menu of Cavatelli pasta, pork tenderloin and cocoa banana cake. The pasta and pork were delicious! I have to mention that the bread they brought out was absolutely tasty and I felt it needed its own callout. The dessert fell flat for me, the proportions weren't right at all for me. I have to take stars off because the service was okay, they could be a bit overbearing and scattered at times. I also thought the wine was average and overpriced. Given that this is a Michelin star resturant and the price of the food, I feel like I need to be a bit more critical of those downsides. read more

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My friends and I loooooove food so when one of them suggested Bresca, I was definitely down! I've always wanted to try a Michelin Star restaurant and Bresca did not disappoint. Let's start with how attentive the staff were, there wasn't just 1 person attending to our table but numerous different staff member. Waters were refilled promptly and clean dishes and silverware were replaced with every course. My friends and I were discussing who was getting what because let's be real, we love sharing food so obviously we weren't going to order the same entree. The waiter overheard us and knew exactly what each one of us were going to order. If you're worried about not being full after dining at high end fancy restaurants, don't fret. With all the different courses you get, you will definitely be full! I ordered the wagyu beef and added an extra course (duck). My friends ordered the scallops and the chicken. Everything was unique, full of flavor, and cooked to perfection. I will have to say that the tea and Madeleinewere phenomenol, I could snack on these all day long! To top it off, we had some extra sweets that came out after we thought it was done. I was very pleased with my visit to Bresca and def feel like it was worth every penny! read more

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Bresca has been on my list for a long time and while it was a nice dining experience and there were some high notes, it doesn't rank up with the other recent meals I've had. (My photos came out terribly so I only have a few). I also appreciate that they were flexible with options on the tasting menu which I feel like is usual. For example, if we did want to choose the extra duck option, we could have just had one to split, instead of requiring both of us to get it. It's a beautiful space and the service was attentive without being overwhelming. The amuse bouche was a vinegar-forward kombucha to cleanse the palette and then we did the Degustation tasting. The first course was a combination of a bunch of different flavors but they all worked so well. The melon custard seemed like it was going to be strange but it was delicious. The one bite mini Reuben was delightful and I could have eaten 10 more of the mini cornbreads. The second course tomato salad was very good, a perfect summer salad, and I appreciated that it came with a large crouton to sop up the sauce at the end. The third course was the cauliflower ravioli and we added on the truffles ($12 per plate). The ravioli was good, especially the caramelized onions, but I really couldn't taste the truffles, which was disappointing. For the fourth course we wanted to try both the chicken and the beef and the highlight was definitely the brioche stuffed chicken which had a perfectly crisp skin. Both dishes came with eggplant (was it there?) and courgette (no flavor and not cooked). This course came with the most delicious, buttery, flakey bread that was served with salted butter. The final course was dessert and had the most beautiful tea presentation. I am not a fan of iced tea so when the blood-red hibiscus tea was pour and my friend said it was cold, I knew it wasn't going to be for me. We loved the madeleines with lemon clotted cream and raspberry jam. And then lastly they brought out three tiny bites: an anise marshmallow (I admit I skipped this one), a sort of fruit gummy and an oreo-ish bite. They were nice little additions but we could have done without them to be honest. I'm glad I was able to try Bresca but can now cross it off the list and don't need to return. P.S. Editing this review to note that when I sat down the staff asked if I wanted still or sparkling and I said still and then we paid for two bottles of Acqua Panna. I guess I should have said tap! read more

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Dinner here is a must for anyone who wants to fully experience the DC food scene. We decided to do the pre fixe here for a celebratory meal and am so glad we did. The ambiance, the service, the plating, even the bathrooms, everything is so precise. Admittedly we were disappointed at first to discover the three course meant one dessert, but thankfully they have an option to do three savory courses for an additional $10. Not only the taste but also the portions. It's a filling pre-fixe experience and every dish hits the mark. The diver scallop, the cavatelli, the wagyu, the duck, I want them all again and again. The textures, especially with the cavatelli, were so exciting and balanced. The sauces had so much depth, to the point where I'd even consider drinking them. Though the final bill will be memorable, the experience will be even more so. read more

Bresca - Short rib cavatelli & pacific halibut - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I visited Bresca once before a couple years ago, and I really enjoyed it then. But it didn't stand out in the same way other Michelin restaurants have... until tonight. Somebody give Bresca a second (or third?) star, because the meal I had blew me away. While the winter restaurant week menu only had three items offered (plus a supplement), Bresca gives plenty of extras throughout the dinner, leaving you comfortably stuffed and seeping with incredulity. From the kombucha to the tartare tartlets to the bread service, it's all plentiful and plenty flavorful. Of the main dishes, however, my ratings are as follows: Ocean Trout: 5/5. If you eat the trout by itself, it might taste too acidic, so be sure to incorporate all the ingredients in a single bite. The yogurt certainly softens the acidic taste of yuzu and the red cabbage adds a wonderfully earthy flavor on the dish, making it beautiful complex. Brioche Studded Chicken: 10/5. My favorite dish of the night and a technical masterpiece. The crispy skin, soft and moist brioche, and the perfectly cooked chicken is textural genius. Bresca Duck: 5/5. Duck is my favorite meat, and Bresca did not disappoint. It was tender and juicy, with a light crust that was pure divinity as you chomped through each piece. And the sauce? Amazing. My partner and I split the supplement, so the pictured version is about half the size of a serving if you were to have it all to yourself (but also, isn't it so great that they plated our halves separately and with such attention to detail?!). Mont Blanc: 5/5. If you have a sweet tooth, this may be too much for you. But for me, it was perfect. I would suffer a million cavities for this dessert, even if I could only eat it once. The chestnut cremeux and toffee are wonderful little flavor bombs, and the silky syrup at the bottom of the dish was a lovely surprise in every spoonful! read more

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call me an Oscars worthy actor because last night I was certainly pretending to be in a different tax bracket - this restaurant serves a la carte only three days a week, has a preset menu more expensive than three weeks of groceries, and the price of one drink computes to over three bagels (best way to do math) - the bartender heard my friend liked coco banana desserts so made us a drink that not only tasted somehow identical to a chocolate covered banana without being a 90% spring break sugar beach drink but also had me seeing sideways - started the night with champagne in comically tall glasses, sipped on an espresso martini (I simply couldn't even tell this had rum instead of vodka so don't be unnerved by that), and a lychee martini that completely tasted like summer without once again being a sugar bomb - the burrata was the best burrata I have ever had. it was shockingly powerfully rich and salty. the burnt vegetables around it added a break in texture and put more on the plate....which we all know is needed at boujee restaurants - the cheesesteak. gouda cheese whiz. WHAT. SO intensely sharp which paired with the buttery meat and crispy toast that alone would have been too dense - who would ever though a pierogi in a sweet vanilla foam with mushroom and peas would work? I don't know who thinks of these things but these chefs are certified geniuses because this was insane for no logical reason. same with the little tuna tartare bite with cheese like I don't even know what it was I just know it was the kind of food where my friend and I just stared at eachother dreaming of the day we can eat this casually read more

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HAD AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE HERE! My friend and I came here for dinner this past Sunday in their Outdoor Lodge for their 4-course Prix Fixe dinner ($83 per person). The lodges are super cute, they look like mini greenhouses and only fits up to two guests--they are individually heated too! There is also a Bluetooth speaker if you want to set up and play your own music. Service is top notch! Our main server Kendrick was awesome--he was attentive and friendly, always making sure we were doing okay. The rest of the staff were great as well. Food was delicious and well presented (in a fancy and bougie way). We ordered the Coddle Egg, Foie Gras Gateau, Poached Lobster, Black Cod and the Iwate Wagyu Zabuton ($15 additional charge). The Wagyu was amazing, highly recommend this dish and worth the upgrade charge! I was not a huge fan of the Foie Gras, it tasted sweet and had the texture of a cake (not the typically Foie Gras taste I normally eat). Desserts were great, we had the Ambrosia and Chocolate Crunch--they also brought out additional mini complementary desserts for us to try. We weren't too interested in their cocktails offered on the menu, but were able to order basic cocktails off the menu! One thing I really appreciated about this place was that in between each course, they offered some suggested (complimentary) drink--either tea, broth, etc.--to cleanse your palette for the next course! Overall, we had a GREAT experience and would recommend the outdoor lodge experience! We got some cute pictures too! read more

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I had dinner with my wife and another couple on a Friday night. The restaurant was busy and lively and we were seated right at our reservation. We decided to to the chef's tasting menu, 1.5 oz of Caviar and the reserve wine pairing for two of the four. We really enjoyed each course, especially the beef tartare and brioche soldier for the starters. The duck fat waffles that come with the caviar are ridiculous and worth eating, even if you dont get caviar. I cant speak much to the wine pairing as I'm not a huge wine guy but at $225, I'd imagine it would be considered good by those that care about that stuff. I enjoyed each pairing though. The service definitely seems more lax than other Michelin star restaurants but I think that is on brand with Bresca. It just seemed more casual which isnt an issue at all. Bresca is certainly worth the money. read more

We already visited Jont (upstairs) earlier this year and wanted to try Bresca as it is another Michelin starred establishment here in DC. Since I am subscribed to their newsletter, I saw that a special dinner "Hunter's Bounty" was available so I used this as an excuse to visit the restaurant. Of course, we expected the best as Jont was a memorable experience with their Japanese inspired cuisine. Bresca is a "contemporary Parisian bistro showcasing techniques rooted in France but influenced by our regionality, carefully sourcing only the best ingredients from both the mid-Atlantic and abroad" according to their website description. Our menu for the evening included honeynut bavarois (maple - creme fraiche), caramelized apple (rye - cheddar), sea urchin (furikake - venision), scallop & lamb belly (sunchoke - black garlic, beurre noisette), carrot cappelletti (king crab & guinea consommé with Alba white truffle), venison loin (celery root - cocoa, maitake mushroom), duck à la presse (chestnut - foie gras, sauce à la royale), mont blanc (chestnut - white chocolate - toffee), and the petit fours. The dinner started with the honeynut bavarois, caramelized apple, and the sea urchin small bite appetizers. In the similar vein of Jont, these were exploratory bites that really kickstarted the meal. The honeynut bavarois was wonderfully smooth, velvety, and had a relaxing not overly sweet taste to it. The creme fraiche was a nice touch to balance the sweetness of the bavarois. I really loved the sea urchin and venison bite, the familiar luxurious sea butter taste of the sea urchin with the savory meat taste of the venison worked in unison to create a harmonious bite with the crisp pastry shell. The caramelized apple bite had notes of sweet and savory (on the sweeter side) but was a welcome contrast to the more savory sea urchin bite. The scallop & lamb belly was our first savory course, and it did not disappoint. The scallop was perfectly cooked and succulent; as many of you know it can be overcooked easily. The milk foam obfuscated the sunchoke, little crispy cubes of black garlic, and the beurre noisette, but nonetheless a fantastic dish. The carrot cappelletti was also amazing, cooked to a perfect al dente and topped off with the supplemental Alba white truffle shavings. The intense aromatic perfume of the white truffle wafted into your nasal passages with ferocity. Amazing! The consommé provided a delicate savory contrast to the cappelletti which contained a sweeter filling. The two main proteins were the venison loin and the duck à la presse. The venison loin was so succulent and tender; there wasn't even a hint of the gaminess that you might expect from a wild game meat. The finishing salt on top of the venison was also a nice touch. We actually had the duck à la presse from Jont but I feel this rendition of the duck at Bresca was more satisfying, substantial, and better executed. The duck breast was perfectly prepared, succulent, and had no hint of grey overcooked flesh in sight; the salted and herbaceous crunchy skin was also executed perfectly for the textural contrast component to the pink duck breast. The portion was very healthy and the accoutrements of the foie gras, sauce à la royale, and sweet puree paired beautifully with the duck. Finally, the dessert was delicious and provided textural contrasts and varying levels of sweetness between the chestnut, toffee, and white chocolate components. The petit fours were a nice touch and rounded out our evening. If you want to have a luxurious French inspired meal, come to Bresca! read more

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We got the Easter feast for 2, and it was a lot of food. The menu started off okay, but it got way better as we moved on. There was a toast, salad, and seasoned radishes to start. The main dish was a brioche stuffed chicken, which was delicious. The skin was crispy, and the stuffing was good. I loved the brioche bread and homemade butter on the side. For dessert, the ambrosia was amazing. It was passion fruit and mango with sago and a hard meringue shell. My boyfriend got the chocolate crunch bar, and the caramel bits added the perfect smoky crunch. I would come back just for the desserts. Outdoor seating was nice. There were transparent greenhouses, but they only fit 2 people. Service was attentive, and we had a nice brunch! read more

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Wow, my first Michelin star experience did not disappoint. The service was immaculate, it was almost military like. Everyone was on cue when setting silverware, plates, and drinks. The food was amazing too, we did the 6 course with the duck add on. My favorite was the scallop, it was seared beautifully. It was salted and there was a pasta underneath that was a bit sweet. Such a great blend of flavors, it was like remy from ratatouille when he was explaining flavors. Different beats danced off my pallets. The only odd thing or gripe that would make this 4 stars for me vs 5 is the wagyu. I ate with a party of 6 and everyone had mixed cuts. Where mine was more dried and chewy, the person to my left had a buttery soft cut. That really hurt our experience but overall I would still recommend Bresca. read more

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Could not rave more about Bresca! I am so amazed by not only the food but also the atmosphere. Throughly impressed is an understatement! Kyle, the chef, is absolutely brilliant with his menu planning. The white asparagus was out of this world and I'm rarely stunned by unusual pairings. The staff was attentive, the flow of the courses was timed perfectly and we were very well taken care of. A 10/10 experience and an amazing way to end our trip in DC. read more

I took my family here for a special occasion and we all got the tasting menu, absolutely insane from start to finish. Interesting flavors, everything was spot-on. The duck there was my favorite. They even accommodated dietary restrictions (vegetarian, nut allergy) with ease. Excellent for a special occasion! read more

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One of the best one star Michelin restaurants! We were completely full!!! Everything was delicious and beautiful. read more

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