Lots to enjoy here…read more Food is excellent and for tapas style the portion sizes lean in the large direction. Prices are very reasonable for DC and the quality. Loved the kefta lamb skewer. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. The piquillo tahini and sumac onions added more flavor punch. The hummus was exceptional. Strong tasty chickpea and garlic flavors balanced by lemon and dill. The pickled turnips presented in a flow shape was a nice touch. Service was excellent. Reservations via Open Table.

Gypsy Kitchen was another great stop. It's Spanish tapas-style, and everything we ordered was so…read moreflavorful. We shared the tabbouleh, beef kabob, octopus, and croquettes, and everything was on point. Special mention to the chocolate raspberry espresso martini because it was amazing -- I genuinely wish I could've had ten of them. We finished with the olive oil cake for dessert, which was also delicious. Our waitress was awesome too. Such a fun meal overall.

Hidden gem! Atxondo puts out quality small plates and entrees in a relaxed atmosphere. Personal…read morefavorites include the grilled scallions and the seared scallops.

I went to Atxondo hoping to taste the work of a Basque chef, and found out that the new chef is…read morefrom El Salvador, but has studied cookery in Spain. After having a full meal with cocktails, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee (about $70 per person), I concluded that Atxondo will be a definite future destination for Happy Hour and light bites, but that my full meal dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. The Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes) were outstanding, with their two tasty sauces and rich, crispy flavor and texture. The Hibiscus Margarita with its salt and tajín rim was good enough to warrant a second one... but the Sangria was lackluster due to the complete absence of cut-up fresh fruit in my glass. The "Crispy Duck Breast" is no longer served whole, but sliced on a bed of sauteed kale... and, sadly, seemed to be only a shadow of its former self. The Lamb Meatballs suffered from being mushy (a coarser grind would have made a world of difference in the texture) and lacked that meaty exuberance one treasures in any kind of meatball. My serving of Basque Cheesecake was almost comically tiny (at $9 per serving, perhaps not so funny after all). But my cup of Americano came out of the espresso machine strapping strong and piping hot, with a gorgeous head of natural crema from the oil of the coffee beans. So I will definitely return for a future Happy Hour to devour the outstanding Patatas Bravas and sip the good Margaritas, and to try the bargain Manchego Burger and other Happy Hour bites. For serious dining, Atxondo falls short of the mark... but for drinks and bar food, Atxondo turns out to be a real neighborhood gem. .

No matter what city I'm in Barcelona does not disappoint! We have visited Barcelona in three states…read moreand always have a great meal and great service. They are a great spot for celebrating a special occasion because of the atmosphere and decor, liveliness, and complimentary desserts and drinks. At our last visit, we were celebrating a graduation and our server made sure our guest of honor felt celebrated. There was something for everyone on the menu, even our pickiest eater. Some of my favorites are the whipped sheep's cheese, croquetas, pork belly, and gambas. And we always order a pitcher of red sangria. :)

I usually love this place because of the tapas and atmosphere, but this last time was so…read moredisappointing with the portion sizes. We ordered the steak, potatoes bravas, mussels, chicken, and cheese bread. The steak was extremely tiny compared to the usual portion sizes. Half of the mussels had nothing in the except the shell. I don't think I'll come back after this time, which is so disappointing because I usually come here when I'm in DC.

My uncle was a founding father of this establishment and after a recent visit on the day of his…read morememorial, we decided to make this our watering hole. The food is fantastic, and the bar really gives you "Cheers" - if you came here enough, everybody would know your name. Service was great and the bartender was particularly amazing. I love the quaint, homey vibe of this bar and it feels nice to hang out where my uncle used to hang his hat.

I was extremely disappointed with my meal from Hitching Post. I ordered the pork chops with collard…read moregreens and macaroni and cheese, and unfortunately, none of the dishes met my expectations. The pork chop tasted burned and seemed as though it had been cooked in old oil. The collard greens were, without a doubt, the worst I've ever had. They were tough, lacked flavor, and tasted like they had simply been cooked in salt water. The macaroni and cheese tasted like it came straight from a box, with very little seasoning or flavor beyond salt. I ended up throwing most of my meal away because it was take out. If I was in the restaurant I would have asked for my money back. For the price, I expected much better quality and flavor. This was a very disappointing dining experience, and I would not recommend these dishes based on my experience

This spot has two entrances -- One from the main street in the front and and one in the back…read moreconnected to a parking lot and the restaurant's patio seating. I came in the front not even knowing that the back area existed. There's a whole other bar, some cool decor and everything. The mezza platter on Mondays is such a steal! Money aside, everything in it is so delicious and worth it. And I love that it is totally vegetarian -- grape leaves usually half before lamb in them, so it was a nice surprise to see that they didn't. I'd be excited to try their $10 burger Tuesdays and other great daily deals. Happy hour is every weekday from Monday to Friday ... And the staff were super friendly and attentive, including the one who just recently started (I think her name was Heather?). I would be delighted to return! Mediterranean + bar food makes for a fun time.

A Hidden Gem in Takoma Park!…read more Olive Lounge exceeded my expectations! The food was fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their drinks. Their happy hour prices are very reasonable, making it an easy spot to enjoy without breaking the bank. I ordered the spinach dip, which was absolutely amazing, along with the pita and hummus, which was fresh and tasty. The standout for me, though, was the steak and cheese egg rolls, super good! Everything came out fresh, and the service made for an enjoyable experience. An added bonus is their outdoor lounge area, which creates a great atmosphere for relaxing with friends or enjoying a nice evening out. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Olive Lounge to anyone looking for great Mediterranean food, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe in Takoma Park.

Oh salmon belly coconut curry, I need more of you in my life!!! I was at a table of four, and we…read moresplit tapioca pearl dumplings & spring rolls... The dumplings by far were my favorite, I could've had a whole tray! And then we got our entrees, and seriously, that curry... *Cries* it was SO. GOOD. I'm not sure what else I can say. The tight layout of this restaurant made me feel like I was in NYC haha. Staff were great... Restaurant week situation was a little odd, but outside of that I'd return without a doubt.

One of the best spots that hits the soul! Food was spectacular: we got a variety but what stood out…read morewas the Sikoo, Thom Khem (super rich and caramelized), the Gaeng Cod curry which was personally my favorite especially eating with the blue rice, and the mee sua which had a pleasant smokiness to it. Service was quick and fast. The interior was a little tight and small, it was a little difficult to sit comfortably at the bar due to the chairs. Overall 10/10 recommend and will be coming back.

Amazing and very friendly service! We came on a Sunday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised when…read moreour sever indicated to us that they had happy hour. I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that has happy hour during weekends. The happy hour menu was very extensive and had fabulous options! The standouts: - seafood paella: 10/10, we had to wait a bit to get it but it was worth it - patatas bravas: 12/10, crispy, flavorful with a nice spicy kick to them - croquetas de jamón- my kids' favorites - pan de tomate- great option for kids (and adults lol) The not so favorite: Dates with blue cheese Overall it was a delicious meal! The ambiance is beautiful and we can't wait to be back! P.S. everything looked sooo good that I forgot to take pictures of most of the things before we ate them!

A very swanky place. Me and a date were walking around Galleryplace for a place to sit and when we…read morewalked in and we knew immediately to ask for a table. The dark warm mood lighting, the corrugated wall, the intimate seating, and of course the small share plates makes for the sexy experience tapas is suppose to be! It is typical of Spanish flavors, heavily relying on high-end cured meats and cheeses, and classics such as croquetas. There is something very special that goes into tapas because its suppose to satisfy you based on good taste over quantity. Large shrimp in a generous skillet of olive oil and slow cooked garlic slices and a iberico mac and cheese are some examples of how they elevate classics we are familiar with. We really liked that they learned into garlic and spice. We found dried Aji Caballero in our meal, great attention to source country. They have a very robust and generous drinks menu. Loved watching others not dining alone and embracing that share quality of the menu design. Perhaps it is not the best tapas I had, I would have liked to see a balance with lighter citrus flavors but maybe that was an ordering issue. At some point, since the menu heavily leans towards rich and decadent, its better to plan around that. Our waitress was amazing, she explained the questions we had on the ingredients and was on it with the refills.

one of the best meals in dc in recent memory, was blown away by the quality and value at la plaza…read more theyre doing their take on spanish tapas, so don't expect traditional versions of these. the patatas are heavily spiced, with a sauce on top as well as the brava sauce beneath, delicious. the pan con tomate is fresh, served on thick seylou bread. the oxtail stuffed pepper is delicious and filling, and the fideua is a big portion with three huge prawns - slightly overcooked but delicious nonetheless. can't wait to return to try more

La plaza is the tapas joint for chicatana, offering affordable yet upscale mexican cuisine. the…read morerestaurant is small and narrow, with just a handful of tables, but it doesn't get too busy. the food is cooked upon order. each dish marries a variety of flavor profiles, both subtle and rich ones. highly recommend everything we got: red snapper, chile con relleno, and the al pastor tacos.

Retrobottega just happened to be a hop, skip, and a jump from our hotel…read more A friend recommended it, and as soon as we sat down I understood why-everyone is so friendly and accommodating. A gentleman who worked there offered to take a photo of us, after watching us struggle with a selfie, the staff quickly grabbed an extra chair when we had a 5th guest, and our waitress was attentive, knowledgeable and sweet. While waiting for the rest of our party I tried two drinks. I can recommend both- retro passion and bourbon ginger beer concoction. We followed that with arancini and fried artichoke. Yes and yes. For the main meals, they generously let us slip large portions. I tried the short rib parpadelle, and although a tad under seasoned, everything was prepared properly and my pasta was perfectly al dente. Out of the 5 who visited 3 did not care for their meal, but I think we could all agree that the drinks, apps, and portions were on point. *So, we ended up grabbing dinner here two days after our initial visit- I can't say I recommend the octopus, and the beef carpaccio was "take it or leave it", but the gnocchi was pillowy perfection...just know that this is a heavy dish!

Finally a restaurant in Adam's Morgan that I would actually want to come back to!…read more Food exceeded our expectations- I had the ossobuco w veal shank - melted off the bone and the only bad part about the risotto is that there wasn't enough of it! The complimentary bread was absolutely divine. One of us got the bruschetta and it was beautiful (and delicious). The space is small but doesn't feel cramped. What really stood out though was the service. We were a little early on our Resi before the restaurant opened. Rather than have us wait in the rain, the staff let us in. They don't split checks, but they did it for us anyway. It's those kinds of little gestures that really make a difference. Bonus- great leychee martini.

We love Jaleo. It is Instagram heaven. The food is delicious. The breakfast/brunch choices are…read moreawesome. Metro is across the street. The decor is fun. The staff are friendly. The only thing I find bothersome is that the men's & women's bathroom have an open area under the sinks. If you wanted to enter the other bathroom, you could just crawl under the sink and you would be in the men's room and vice versa. I don't get it.

Drink of Choice: water during the work day but the sangria is definitely great to try!…read more Food: Flauta de Queso This is my go to place for lunch during the week! Their lunch specials are priced well and are filling!