Absolutely amazing food. The service is off the chain. I eat there every time I am in the area…read more Construction workers to suit and ties are common sites there. If you want a great, reasonably priced meal in DC, this is your place. I wish they were closer to home. I would eat there more often.

Food was good, place was clean, people were nice. Horchata was excellent…read more Solid choice and decent pricing.

I had gone here for a family dinner on Sunday,March 22nd. This is my second time dining at this…read morelocation and the food always has a great flavor, the drinks as well. I had made a reservation for 7 but one of my family members had to cancel last minute. When we were walked to our table, we walked past a table for 6 and then we continued walking past it. We ended up being sat at a table for 4 with two chairs on the end of it. We had asked to be moved over but they had said they were going to split the table into two seperate tables. Now, I question where they were going to seat us if we were 7! Personally, I don't like to be bumping knees at the table, especially if we are paying a few hundred for our dinner. I understand that the restaurant wants to make as much money as possible however I believe they can do so without making an uncomfortable experience for their patrons.

This is a must visit when in DC…read more I enjoyed this place so much that I dined here back to back with two different groups and both raved about the octopus. We came during happy hour from 4-7 PM, which only applies to alcoholic beverages. The cocktails were excellent and definitely worth ordering. Service was a bit inconsistent, as our first visit had better timing and attentiveness, but both servers were pleasant. Each table was also given a dish of corn nuts to snack on while waiting for food. *Pinazo: the lightest cocktail I tried. The pineapple flavor came through clearly even though the puree was not visible. It was very fragrant, though I could not detect the amarena cherry. The fruit largely masked the vodka. *Lychee Pisco: the lychee puree itself was mild, with most of the flavor coming from the fruit garnish. The elderflower and hibiscus notes were more prominent. As someone who enjoys floral profiles, I liked this, though others may find it more perfumed than expected. *Guapo's Pisco: the passionfruit was again on the milder side, while the ginger beer stood out more. Served in a metal mug, it drank like a sweeter Moscow Mule. *Passion Pisco Sour: the pisco sours had more distinct and vibrant flavors overall, and I would highly recommend them if you enjoy fruit forward drinks with an egg white finish. There is also a flight option, which I would have ordered if not for happy hour. This one was my favorite, with a well balanced mix of tartness and sweetness. *Chicha Sour: more tart than the passion version, with a warmer, spiced undertone. The cinnamon added a subtle smokiness, though it still leaned sweeter than expected. *Ceviche Sampler: includes tradicional, cremoso, and callejero. A great way to try a range of flavors, and everyone in my group had a different favorite. I would recommend asking for crispy plantains, as they were not automatically included and help carry the seafood. The tradicional leaned heavily on acidity, allowing the fish to shine, though it felt a bit one note. The sweet potato helped balance it. The callejero was my favorite, with a noticeable kick in the leche de tigre. The cancha and choclo added nuttiness, earthiness, and crunch. The cremoso sat in between, with more body and a slightly sweeter, richer profile thanks to the sweet potato. My only complaint was that the fish pieces were cut quite large, so we had to break them down further. *Causa Sampler: another trio featuring crocante, tartare, and pollo. These were heavier despite the smaller portions. The whipped potato base was well seasoned and had more structure than typical mashed potatoes. The crocante featured a large fried shrimp with rocoto aioli, though I would have preferred the sauce on the side. The flavor leaned like a standard spicy mayo. The tuna tartare had a Japanese influence, but the aioli was overly sweet, making the dish feel cloying. A thicker layer of avocado could have helped balance it. The wonton crisp was also missing both times I ordered it. The chicken version was the most mild and rustic, and needed more acidity or spice to bring it together. Despite this, the trio had potential with some adjustments. *Plancha Pulpo: a must order. This featured a large grilled octopus leg served with causa and choclo on a sizzling plate. The octopus had a smoky char and garlicky chimichurri, with a perfect balance of tenderness and chew. It rivaled a well cooked steak and was easily the standout dish. *Lomo Saltado: medium rare tenderloin stir fried with onions and peppers. The savory sweet sauce coated the fries, rice, and meat beautifully. The flavor leaned slightly Asian, and the beef was juicy and tender. The vegetables were soft and naturally sweet. *Pionono: fried sponge cake filled with Nutella and dulce de leche. It was quite sweet, but the coffee chip ice cream added a deep, rich contrast. The ice cream alone was standout quality. This dessert is easily shareable among four. *Flan: a classic base topped with grilled pineapple and quinoa tuille. The flan itself was smooth and creamy, though the pineapple's acidity distracted from it. It would have benefited from more caramelization. The quinoa tuille added texture more than flavor. *Suspiro: a polarizing dessert, but one I personally enjoyed. The manjar blanco was extremely rich and sweet, paired with an equally sugary meringue. I would have liked more texture or a torched finish for contrast. The passionfruit glaze was my favorite element, though it was used sparingly and could have helped balance the dish more if incorporated throughout. Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar deserves its praise. The portions are generous, and the flavors are thoughtfully composed. While there are small tweaks I would make, the overall execution stands out and feels a step above many other options in DC.

Came last night before a comedy show at the Capital One Arena and OMG...10/10 hands down I have no…read morenotes. We went in right as they opened, on a Friday at 5 pm, and there was already a line! The reservations were full, but we were offered a seat either at the bar or outside. Luckily it was a beautiful day so we took a seat outside. They started us off with a sweet hibiscus flavored juice as a palate cleanser which was super refreshing. The left side of the menu had appetizers and shareables, while the right side had entrees. We ordered the short rib tacos, pork belly, wagyu empanadas, and seafood enchiladas. Everything had a beautiful bright orange sauce on it and made it look like it would be spicy but it wasn't! I think it's their signature guajillo sauce and it was VERY good, super creamy. Seafood enchiladas: This was my fav. Might have been because it was extremely hungry and it was my first bite. Definitely best when eaten warm, as the cheese is gooiest and the seafood inside is hot. I wasn't sure how the salad was going to be but it added a perfect refreshing and acidity to balance out the creamy sauce. Wagyu empanadas: Much gooey-er and cheesier than expected, but also a hit! Came with a decent amount of beef inside. Comes with the orange sauce and a chimichurri, which I think was a good idea because given how cheesy and creamy the filling already was, the chimichurri was a nice balance as well. Pork belly: Melts as soon as you cut into it. The Asian in me low key wanted a giant bowl of rice with this so that I could soak up all the sauce and veggies. Pretty fatty so if you're not a fan of that you might not like this. Short rib tacos: These were loaded, not with meat but with tons of crunchy topping (maybe fried carrots?) Could have done with slightly less crunch but overall still good. The orange sauce on the bottom had a peanuty flavor which I thought added a unique kick. Also, we were surprised at how quickly the food came out. We were in and out in under an hour. Our server Rebecca was also extremely nice. Will def be back if in the area. Highly recommend all around!

I came to dLeña for brunch with friends on a Saturday, and overall, it was a decent experience but…read morenot one I'd necessarily go out of my way to repeat. We went around 11:30, so it started off pretty quiet, but as brunch picked up, it definitely got louder. The ambiance is nice though, very laid-back, chill, and a great vibe for a group brunch or celebration. We did the bottomless brunch, and one thing I really appreciated is that the bottomless food and drinks are priced separately. Not everyone in our group wanted drinks, so it was nice that we were only charged for the people who actually ordered them. The only downside is that mocktails aren't included. The food is served as small plates brought out progressively, but I do wish this had been explained better upfront. It was presented as if they would just bring items out, but it wasn't clearly communicated that we could also order anything we wanted from the menu. That made the experience feel a bit confusing. The meal started off strong. The salad was fresh, and there was a fruit/yogurt dish with agave that was honestly one of the best things we had. From there, it became hit or miss. The ceviche and chips were good, the fish tacos were solid, and I appreciated that they had some vegetarian options (though somewhat limited). The waffle and churro were highlights, but the potato hash fell flat. As the meal went on, service slowed down quite a bit. We were waiting a while for certain items (like the corn), and it felt like things just started to lag toward the end. Service overall followed a similar pattern. Strong at the beginning, but less attentive as it got busier. Overall, I'd rate it around a 7 out of 10. It's a fun spot for the experience and group setting, but the lack of clarity and inconsistency in pacing took away from it. I might consider trying it for dinner since I've heard good things, but for brunch, it's not a place I'd go out of my way to revisit.

Must try!!! Amazing ambiance combining Palestinian and Peruvian food all in one…read more As a Peruvian the ceviche blows it out of the park! Before today I had yet to try a great ceviche in a restaurant that isn't in the actual homeland of Peru. Chicha morada pisco is also fantastic. Amazing service to top it all off. Glad I made this pit stop on my last day in DC

I thought this place was good for large groups. The lighting was really dim and the music was loud…read more We had an individual that was gluten free and vegetarian in our group so they were limited on options but the rest of the group was able to share a variety of food. Huge fan of the ceviche. The bathroom is beautiful for make sure to visit.

Had a great time and dinner! Chicatana is unassuming and unpretentious, staffed with attentive…read moreservers who do an amazing job (water was always filled and empty plates removed quite efficiently). The decor is simple, no table clothes or frills but it does live up to 'fine cuisine' with excellent food and presentation (another subtle touch is if you leave the table, you return to a nicely folded napkin). We got nearly everything on the menu including all the desserts and Mexican hot chocolate (yum, lightly spicy and piping hot!) . As others have said their guacamole is excellent...do check the charges though bc they added salsa and chips to the tab which we did not order (they removed). Also, the first order of guac came with big bowl of chips, but none with the second order of guac- not a problem though because you do not go hungry. Portions are quite generous. We even tried the ants which was a fun novelty

This was the valentine's day 2026 stop. I had no idea it was in the area it was, but alas, we made…read morethe trek from lowly ballston anyway. After parking in the Giant parking garage (decent price), we walked the few blocks to the restaurant. We spotted it with the poster sign hanging up on the outer walls. Inside you head up the stairs and you're greeted by the host stand. We checked in and got our table, right at the window (hellya). There was a rose and a candle on the table (vday vibes) and we also received a vday specials menu. We landed on queso fundido to start and a cocktail each: prickly pear marg for her, a viva mexico for me. After fundido'ing it up, we ordered our entrees. We're simple folks it was a 2 carne asada tacos, 1 al pastor taco, 1 pescado taco, and 1 chicken quesadilla. Unfortunately we weren't bold enough to try the insectos. Food was great, drinks were great, service was great. You can pay your tab via Toast for no additional fee which was convenient. There are two, single use bathrooms in there too. Overall, solid spot.

Cuba Libre's food and drink reputation speak for themselves - Excellente!! What I'd like to point…read moreout is how they are amazingly maintaining the 'art' of customer service. Their management and staff handled an initial issue with our large party reservation, extremely well using the lost 'art' of customer service. In an age where tech and social media have caused us to have an 'anytime access to all' mindset, customer service has faded to the background. Cuba Libre however, has mastered providing customer service gently, with grace and humility. If only there were more establishments willing to work diligently to establish a relationship with their patrons that's worth preserving.

Had the Cuban sandwich combo and it was great. Perfect size and crispy bread with all the toppings…read more It was served with black bean soup and a salad. I personally didn't think the black bean soup was anything special. If i could get the sandwich without the sides I would have. For others, ask for the sides to be replaced.

The food was delicious. We didn't have to wait long to receive the food we ordered. The staff were…read morevery helpful.

Delicious food and friendly people! The plates are HUGE, I couldn't finish a whole plate despite…read morehow tasty it was. Great hole in the wall joint in Columbia Heights. Get the yellow rice!

Came in recently on a Saturday with a friend. Had read the reviews before and was a little wary,…read morebut I was pleasantly surprised. We actually came in at a great time without realizing it, it was a happy hour, even on the weekend, that started at 9pm I think. Drinks were half off so that was amazing. We each got two margaritas which were great sizes. My only complaint here is that I wish they had more flavors for the on the rocks margaritas. They only have flavors for the frozen margaritas. I ordered the tacos Al carbon which comes with two tacos, but they are big tacos and are white hearty. I got the beef and it was very flavorful. The salsa was mild and didn't seem so authentic, but it was still good. We sat outside and typically I'm nervous about service quality outside, but here, the servers went above and beyond. It was a little chilly the night we went and even then, the staff was super attentive. I think this is a good fun place to go to locally and would be open to trying other menu items on my next visit!

When I first arrived to this restaurant I was surprised that they have on-site parking. It is $5…read moreper car but it does help with not having to fight for parking in Washington DC. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted immediately and sat fairly quick. My waiter was very attentive and did a great job with offering some recommendations. For starters they give you salsa and chips. He recommended trying the cheese which was very tasty. For my entree I had salmon stuffed with crab meat which was amazing. The sauce that they put over it was the star in my opinion. The salmon was cooked very well and was a good portion. I also tried their Margarita/ sangrita which I can tell is a popular drink. If you are into a fruity flavorful drink then this is the one for you. You can order it by the cup or by the pitcher. For dessert I had tres leches cake And it was to die for I'm glad to finally find a tres leches worth $10 a slice. Overall my experience was great. I really recommend coming if ever in Washington DC Salmon 8.5/10 Cheese 9/10 Cake 9/10 Margarita 10/10

I am a huge DC restaurant week fan as it truly provides an opportunity to experience different…read morecuisines in the area. I haven't heard of Seven Reasons before but now was as good a time as any to check them out. To start, our hostess Ayana - fantastic and she took great care of us the whole evening! A few standouts: Hamachi tiradito - bananas!!! So good we ordered it twice Bread - could miss it but the Brazilian bread was interesting Snapper ceviche - 8/10 Cauliflower peru peri - 9/10 -I didnt know where this dish was going and as a cauliflower lover, I had to try it. Perfectly fried and sauces were so good. Yellow curry rockfish - 9.5/10. I love that they arent afraid to actually use curry! The tenderloin was so tender too!! And the taro cake very interesting, in a good way. A true stand out was the guava cheesecake - absolutely incredible and nothing like you'd think it would be. I love it when restaurants are super creative with food and the play on flavors were top tier during this meail. We also ordered a bottle of the Chilean sauvignon blanc, which paired perfectly with the food and stood on its own with the tenderloin. Our meal was a pleasure and I look forward to returning to this restaurant.

We entered and waited a bit at the stand for some help. We did have reservations and were sat. The…read moreservice was good, our waiter did come around and check in on us. They also refilled our waters constantly! In terms of food: - we did partake in drinks: I had the passion over perfection and my gf had the pina colada. I will say her pina colada tasted more like pineapple juice than anything else. I enjoyed my drink though. - we were recommended by our waiter to get around 4-6 dishes depending on how hungry we were. We opted for 7R ceviche, cheese arepitas, Latin falafel, and seafood jalea. I will say everything tasted so freaking good (with the exception of the falafel because they were on the drier side) but those portion sizes i would expect a little more for pricing - I will also add a side note they were providing sampling of a pumpkin soup. Did j like it? No. Did i appreciate it the ability to say i tasted it and didn't have to pay for it? Yes - we also were greedy and went in for desserts: banana bomb and chocolate and Ron. The banana bomb SOOOOO good! The chocolate and ron was more on the forgettable side. Despite the portions, the food was so good I'd come back in a heartbeat. I would love to see the seasonal things they come up with!

Michelin Star me PLEASE!…read more I'm a foodie and when I told my friend I was one, he asked how many Michelin Star restaurants I'd been to. I chuckled, because honestly I'm not a foodie snob but perhaps I need to be. Pre Bday dinner before heading out of the country he chose El Cielo to celebrate me first! Located in Union Market, El Cielo hides in plain sight on the corner. Parking is always a win at Union Market hence why I am always there! Ambiance: dimly lit, reservations only, couples galore, and definitely an intimate atmosphere. Service: TOP NOTCH this is why you pay the big bucks! Nothing was amiss! My friend has experience with high‑end restaurants, Michelin star restaurants to be exact so his perspective added a helpful benchmark with what to order. He took the lead and ensured I tried all the top favorites! *They do offer an À la Carte Menu, or traditional Pre-Fixe menu* Let's get into it! Tree of Life - Yucca bread, Brown butter, Cilantro sauce - Such a cute presentation! Butter is amazing! Ensaladita Caliente - Grilled Romaine letuce, Parmigiano, Hearts of Palms, Kumquats - Soooooo Good! Yes to this dish! Catch of the day - SeaBass Buttermilk reduction, Green oil, Chontaduro - Perfectly cooked! Loved it! Yucca Gnocchi Pecorino cheese, Shitake mushrooms, Sweet plantain, Added Truffle - VERY YUMMY! Flan - Vanilla, Salted caramel - Fantastic! Mucholate - Rum Ice Cream - I mixed both this and the Flan! Loved it!

I snagged a reservation do restaurant week and was happy with the results. The seating was prompt…read moreand it felt very warm and welcoming walking into the restaurant. I started with the tuna tartar (without the chicharon ) and it as delicious. The flavors were very interesting and oh so flavorful. The next was the gnocchi which I opted to top with the truffle. It was okay, not my favorite. It was served on the colder side which was I didn't find too tasteful. My dessert was the flan and it was amazing. It was my second favorite dish and that's saying a lot. It was wonderful! I will take a moment to hype the tree of life. It had the consistency of cloud bread but a bit more textured and firm on the outside. The butter that accompanied it was amazing. Very good and I would order again i opted to go back, I will sat there was a pretty big hiccup with our drinks. I had ordered a wine flight and my friend ordered a cocktail. After waiting thirty minutes and having our first course, including watching tables after us order drinks and get theirs, we realized they must have forgot. It was hard to grab our servers attention and we ended up finishing our first course sans drinks. This kind of ruined the wine pairing. When we did get his attention he made note that there was an issue at the bar, but the wine wasn't served at the bar, so it seemed sit was just forgotten and they were speeding to make them happen. We were comped a glass of wine which was nice, but my friend didn't drink wine and wanted her cocktail. When we both ended up with our orders drinks, we were happy. It wasn't too big of an issue in the end, but put a damper on the excitement we had for this meal since it almost took until our main/second to get it our drinks.