I've been to dLeña twice. Once for dinner and once for drinks on the bottom floor. They have live jazz music a few nights a week. Now, to the food. Everything was delicious! I had the half chicken which was very filling. We ordered all the desserts and they tasted amazing. My favorite was the Carajillo Crème Brulée. The service was amazing as well. Every time you turn around, someone is within earshot to serve you. read more

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Amazing food. Loved the bone marrow and octopus, ceviche, crab guacamole! We also got a martini and was presented with what seemed like a drink someone drank half of already. read more

dLeña - This is the portion size of one martin straight from the bartender. Where's the second half? - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

dLena is and always will be one of my favorite restaurants in DC. From the ambiance, to the drinks and the food, it just never disappoints. On this particular night (Friday), we had reservations but when we arrived they had overbooked and we had to wait. A little annoying but I know it happens and I'm certainly not going to give a restaurant a bad review because of it! We were lucky enough to snag bar seats while we wait for a table which is where we had the Casa and Mercado margaritas! Great bartender and even better drinks! Once seated we ordered traditional guacamole as an app and we shared the short rib and Cameron tacos! DELISH! The short rib was delish and peanut sauce is just the right amount of heat!! The Cameron was full of flavor! So many times shrimp can be bland but not here! 10/10 as always! It was both of your birthdays so after dinner we were treated to a little dessert and then we made our way to the cocktail lounge downstairs! It was packed (shocker!) but we were able to snag seats at the bar. Drinks were delish and the bartender was amazing! Thank you, as always Dlena for showing us a great time! read more

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The food here is amazing! We sat outside and received a complimentary shot of aqua fresca to start. I ordered a mocktail and hubby ordered a cocktail. The drinks were pretty and very refreshing! We ordered guacamole, queso fundido, ceviche, wagyu steak tartare, a bunch of tacos, and some grilled oysters. Every single item was presented beautifully and very flavorful. The tomahawk was so fun to watch being torched. It was quite a show! For dessert, we got the carajillo creme brûlée, cheesecake, and trio of sorbet. The creme brûlée had a light flavor and was torched table side. Service was excellent! The manager? came out to check on us and we had such an enjoyable time here. I'm so glad we were able to dine here while in DC. read more

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Second time visiting and can confidently say this is one of if not our favorite spot in D.C.! The food is not only beautiful but absolutely delicious but what makes a place special is the service and the atmosphere. We thought it was luck the first time but tonight Kathia F. was such a joy and made our expierence even better. Top tier food. Beyond top tier service. read more

Beautiful ambiance! Though, it seemed everyone at our table was being polite about the taste of their food. A bit of overpriced dishes for the lack of deliciousness. I was disappointed to get a $17 salad that was difficult to enjoy. Though, it looked tasty. The waiter was great. Though, I wish he could have been more intuitive before insisting everyone split the tab in half when someone at the table only got a water and salad. Thus, should not be added to split a $300+ tab. I usually do not mind splitting a tab for group gatherings. Though, due to fasting, I was not indulging in the additional orders made for the table such as appetizers, including alcoholic beverages. Nonetheless, I was charged $89 for items I did not eat or drink. As we wrapped up dinner, the waitress was visibly rolling her eyes waiting in the corner for our birthday dinner to conclude. Which, we had been chatting quietly and sharing fun stories before taking pictures and leaving. When I noticed her perhaps simply exhausted, I flashed a warm smile. She returned a smile and seemed to feel less overwhelmed for the moment. read more

dLeña - Ensalada de Kale - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was amazing, but unfortunately the service completely ruined the experience. First, we were rushed from the moment we sat down. Our table was being bused so aggressively that at one point I still had my drink up to my lips when a staff member asked if I was finished and took it away. Throughout the night, I felt pressured to hurry through our appetizers because as soon as a plate looked nearly empty, someone was in our personal space clearing it. It made the entire meal feel stressful instead of enjoyable. Second, the way our table time was handled was incredibly off-putting. We sat down at 5:40 PM and were in the middle of finishing our last drink when, at 6:45 PM, someone I believe was the manager approached and told us we had reached our time limit and had three minutes to leave. This was shocking, especially considering we ordered two appetizers, two entrées, and two drinks each. We were there for just over an hour, which is not an unreasonable amount of time for a full dinner. When I later called to express how this made me feel, the hostess told me this is "standard practice" because they are fully booked. If that's the case, then reservations are being overbooked. Paying customers should not be rushed out with drinks still on the table. My advice to dLena: respect your guests and allow them to enjoy the experience they're paying for. Great food doesn't make up for being treated like this. read more

I've been for HH, dinner, and brunch, so I believe I can give a detailed review. Reservations: Can be made on OpenTable. You will not be seated until your entire party arrives, it doesn't matter if someone is parking. Parking: It can get busy depending on when you come. It was hard finding parking in the summer on a Friday during HH, naturally though. Happy Hour: HH prices are reserved only for those sitting right at the bar. No standing at the bar, not the high top tables near the bar, only the bar. This isn't my favorite practice, but I get it. The margaritas are the most delicious margs I've had stateside. The HH food is also magnificent. You could come for HH and have that as your dinner because the tacos are so delicious. Dinner: - You have to get the crab guacamole. I was nervous about the aioli on top of the guac because I thought it would be too fatty (not calorie wise, but flavor) but nope it was delicious and I like how it's served with pretty homemade charred tortillas + extra chips. Some restaurants never serve you enough tortillas to go with your guacamole but that didn't happen here. - I was nervous about the waygu empanadas because it had truffle in it and I'm not a fan of truffle, but they were TOO good. I squeezed lime on each bite and it really set it off with the green sauce (maybe a salsa verdeor chimichurri). The tacos with the peanut sauce were amazing too. You really just can't go wrong with any of these options. Brunch: They were rated best DC brunch for 2023 and I have to say it was well earned. I think DLena and the Four Seasons are neck and neck for brunch. I like that DLena has margaritas on their brunch menu. The "May May Mimosa" was my favorite. The food was served a little slow at brunch, BUT I think it's because it was a good quality. Most brunches fill you up with bread and fried foods, but they had a great mix of food on their menu. They didn't spare anything with the flavor. The salmonw as cooked perfectly, the shrimp cocktail (or was it ceviche) had a great flavor, I loved the pickled onions on the chicken & waffles and how you could just pick it up and eat it. read more

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This was a culinary experience that almost busted my belly. The food for the bottomless brunch was amazing. The ambiance was soothing and artistic. The service was right on time the whole time. I would finish my drink look up and the waitress was there instantly! A wonderful experience and a must visit if in the area. read more

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Favourite. Restaurant. In. DC. I've dined at dlena 2 times-- once for dinner and once for the bottomless brunch. Both times, I was blown away. Definitely order the short rib tacos, churros, and the fruit cup. As for the ambiance, the ambiance for dinner was very date-night, while the ambiance for brunch was more casual. Both times, the service was great. read more

dLeña - Seasonal Fruit Cocktail - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Unfortunately we were pretty disappointed with this experience. The appetizers were very good and honestly their saving grace. Once we were served our entrees, it went downhill. The short rib tacos were unnecessarily extravagant. Looking the menu, we noticed peanuts were part of the dish, expecting a sprinkle of them for a crunch on the tacos. No. The bright orange sauce seen in the photos is the overbearing peanut sauce that does not belong on the plate. The restaurant is quite expensive, so we tried to send the tacos back, but were told they could only make one because the kitchen was closed..? The pulpo tacos were good but not worth the price. The pork belly tasted like something you could get at a Chinese food restaurant for half the price. The drinks were about 18-20 dollars and completely watered down. read more

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Me and my family went here for my birthday dinner and it was a great choice! The restaurant is very vibey and modern. We ordered a few items but my favorite was the crab guacamole. The cocktails are very unique. I had the guava me honey and it was absolutely delicious! Service was great! Our waiter was very helpful with answering our questions about the menu. There is a gorgeous lounge downstairs that I would love to return to try! Overall a great experience! read more

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Visited on a Sunday evening. Parking is ample. Decor was lackluster. Food was not great. I ordered the seafood guacamole, empanadas, enchiladas and the beef tacos. The waiters were pleasant enough. The food came out promptly. The food is overpriced. read more

I was able to get in with no reservation, but I suggest you make one because it gets packed on the weekend very quickly. I was able to sit downstairs. There was live music, speakeasy vibes and the drinks were great. The service was excellent, the tables do have a two hour limit but the server was very nice about it. The food was filling and of great quality. Nice place for a date or to hang out with a group! read more

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

Chefs kiss for the aesthetic at Dlena. Once you arrive you definitely feel like you've left DC and been transported to a nice restaurant in Mexico. I loved all of the cacti and Halloween decor that they had during my recent visit here for lunch. Our server was very friendly. It seemed like he was the only person working during the lunch hour which explains why he'd accidentally forgotten my drink and didn't send it over until half way through my meal. He was apologetic though which I really appreciated. During my visit here I had the, - Guac and chips 10/10 perfectionnnn! - Salmon and elote 7/10 - plating was beautiful but the salmon lacked seasoning in my opinion and the char on it came through a lot. The salmon was cooked wonderfully however - spicy cocktail (I forgot the name) 3/10- wish I would've skipped out on this one it had wayyyyy too much lime/lemon juice in it and it really messed with my taste buds. Not sure if this is how it normally tastes but I would skip this $17 cocktail. Overall, I loved the vibe. Would come back to give their tacos a try. read more

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

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I don't have a single bad thing to say about Dleña. I've been about 3-4 times, and my most recent visit solidified my love for this place. A friend was in town visiting, so I recommended we meet @ Dleña for happy hour. (FYI: happy hour is only at the bar and seats fill up quickly, so get there as close to 5 as possible if you want to indulge in HH cocktails.) The happy hour margaritas are all delicious and well-made. My absolute fave thing to order here, though, are the camarones a la diabla. They are fantastic! The sauce is so good! I always use my fork and knife to scrape up every last bit of it, lol. On my last visit, I also ordered a ribeye which was delicious, tender and perfectly cooked. Lastly, I found out there's a speakeasy on the bottom floor! After we closed out at the main dining room bar, we went to the bar in the speakeasy and ordered a tequila flight while listening to the live band. Great happy hour option! read more

dLeña - 14oz 30 Day Aged Boneless Ribeye* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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dleña continues to be top tier experience for me, whether I'm introducing a new person to Sandoval's culinary experience or coming back for my monthly date nights. I enjoy consistency and I have not had a miss at all, my fave drink is the passion fruit/hibiscus marg and I love the Wagyu on the menu (I could low key just come and try all the apps and soups.) the presentation, ambiance and wait staff is friendly but they don't hover. The jazz lounge in the basement is icing on the cake! Can't wait to return and try something new on the menu! There's outside seating while the weather cooperates! Don't miss this opportunity to people watch in the City while you eat good! read more

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The service was AMAZING. I noted that it was my boyfriend's birthday in our reservation and as soon as they greeted us they wished him a happy birthday. I highly recommend the crab guacamole. It was so good and definitely worth the hype. I am not a Mexican food person so the meal wasn't my favorite but my boyfriend LOVED it. So take his word for it over mine!!! The vibes are amazing and it's definitely more upscale Mexican food, perfect for special occasions! read more

dLeña - Ribs and chicken - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food was superb. A bubbling cast iron skillet of cheese?! YES PLEASE! We ate at the bar and it was still a nice experience. The bartenders were busy; but attentive. I booked my reservation for the wrong day so I was a walk in at 7pm on a Friday night and was able to get a seat at the bar very easily. The downstairs bar is a vibe, too! Definitely check this place out! read more

dLeña - Mercado (left) - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love elevated Mexican! I had been wanting to check out this DC restaurant for a while but hesitated because it is a little pricey. We went on a Friday and it was busy but were able to get seats in their downstairs lounge which had a different craft cocktail menu but you could order from the main food menu. They had a small band playing towards the end of our time there. Very "hip" atmosphere and of course a little loud. Lots of young folks, which is weird to say since I feel young at heart as a 49 year old. Doesn't really bother me though my wife usually feels old in those situations. The food and drinks were great! We got the tres salsa which you can't go wrong with chips and fancy salsas. I got the short rib tacos and my wife got the mushroom tacos. We each got a drink and tab came to $110 with tax and tip. So like I said it is a little soendy for what you get, even though it is delicious! Going out has just gone up everywhere, such that it can be a "luxury", which thankfully we can afford but one does start to pause and think about it... but I digress. Love the place and hopefully will go back on another visit to DC. read more

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I made a reservation on Opentable. I showed up right on time but a few minutes before my friend. I took the time to ask about the layout- I was confused about how many bars there were based on all the pictures. He explained the restaurant I see and bar I see and the downstairs bar ( aka lounge) are part of this place. The lounge is the speakeasy. What is not part of it is the business next door (in same building) and rooftop bar. Mystery solved! At first she tried to seat me all the way in the back near the kitchen swinging door but I requested something else closer to civilization. She offered a two-top against the outside "wall" close in-between other two-tops, once it was clean. But I thought the high top tables in-between the bar and the two-tops against the outside "wall" were better. She said two were about to be pushed together and asked us to wait for her to check if we could have one of the other two. She came back and we were seated at a high top table next to the other two that were eventually put together for another reservation. Perfect! I started with the guava cocktail and it reminded my of Hawai'i. Loved it! It was called "Guava Me Please?!" and had reposado as the base. We did an assortment of small plates and appetizers. Our waiter explained they come out as done, not all together. This is what I prefer so great! We ordered the guacamole and chips and they were good. Worth noting is the second kind of chip that was included. The queso was phenomenal. The texture the flavor, and the small tortillas it came with were a nice touch. Totally recommend. However... The 1/2 dozen baked oysters were the star of the show. So much flavor! Would get them again for sure. Maybe even two orders! My only complaint would be no small forks. I did ask and got a small spoon which worked. That delicious of a dish deserves its own utensil! But omg the flavor was off the charts. The ceviche Amarillo was good but too spicy for me. I would skip it next time. More like a salad than a ceviche. It was more liquid. It was good but not worth writing home about. I will definitely come back here. Ambiance is relaxing. Lighting is flattering. Service good. read more

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The food was great. Our waitress was also great. What ruined my experience here was a hostess at the front door who was cold, arrogant, and power crazed. I made an early reservation for 5:30 because it was a business holiday party. I arrived on time with a guest. There were maybe 6 people in the whole restaurant, the hostess says we have to wait at the door for one more person to arrive before we could be seated. Mind you the whole restaurant was empty. No line behind us. There was no waiting area so we were cramped at the front door. Horrible! We finally got seated and when another guest arrived he mentioned, without any provocation that the hostess was cold and not hospitable. He dines out constantly. So fine we eat. We are perfectly respectful, not boisterous and good to our waitress. And then at exactly the 1.75 hour mark the hostess says we need to leave because she has other tables to serve!!!! There was no line at the door!! No one was waiting to be seated,and she asks us to wrap it up!! We protested of course, and we did not rush out. We would have ordered dessert and drinks but we didnt feel welcome there anymore. The waitress was really apologetic. She said she couldn't understand why the hostess sometimes asked her to do that. When we finally left we complained and asked to see the manager. The hostess says she was the gm but the business cards said differently. She was the asst gm come to find out. She was very interested in letting us know she was in charge. We let her know what she did was extremely rude and that she alienated 6 customers. I wrote a letter to the gm. No response. Service is everything. Even though the food was good, the attitude of the hostess ruined our experience. Worst I have seen in years. None of us will ever return there. PS There were 3 people of color in our party. We wondered if there was some discrimination going on. She asked no one else to leave. Just our party. And this was a business thing so nobody was loud or drank too much. Fishy...Foul. I will never return to D'Lena! read more

Mother's Day brunch was by far the best ever surrounded by family and great food. Jeff was our waiter and he was AMAZING!! He was so attentive to our needs and made sure we needed nothing. He even accommodated those with food allergies. I would highly recommend this establishment. They get a 10/10 from me and my family. read more

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This place was a great brunch spot! It was different because all the brunch food was Mexican-inspired. So the endless brunch works like this. You get to test everything on the menu at least once. Any items that you like you can request more of from the waiter. So I will start with the items that threw me off a bit. The Dlena Caesar salad was different. It wasn't bad at all, but it seemed out of place. Now the shrimp aguachile was fantastic! It was sweet with a citric cut that made it very refreshing. The Birria beef taco was very tender and juicy. The enfrijochiladas were rich in flavor, I loved the black bean sauce and the pork chorizo was crispy with a kick. The zarandeado salmon was large and flakey and the Napa cabbage gave it a great crunch. Also, the grilled street corn was exploding with taste. The bacon piece in the dish with the chipotle mayo was excellent. Now the number one star of the whole experience was the seasonal fruit cocktail. This dish was literally out of this world!!!! I have no clue how they made orange juice into a foam but they were able to do it very well. This dish is the best type of sweetness you can get and the berries were fresh and plump. I loved this dish so much that I was stuffed from eating everything but I made a little room for another one of this dish. Overall, the atmosphere was very classy with a slight South American flare. The staff was amiable and informative as well as attentive. We did not get the bottomless drinks, so sadly I cannot speak on that. If you are in the area, give this restaurant a try it is worth the price, the amount of food you get, the type of food you get, and the beautiful atmosphere. read more

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A friend and I came here when we both found ourselves in DC for work. On a Tuesday night, the upstairs was full but as walk ins we were able to be seated in the lounge downstairs. The lighting is low and the interior is filled with living room-style leather and wood furniture. It definitely says "sit and stay a while". We ordered food to split: guacamole, kale salad, and the short rib tacos. Everything was delicious - the kale salad was well dressed with a nice citrus balsamic vinaigrette. The short rib tacos were the stand out - with a chile árbol peanut sauce, the fattiness of the meat was cut by the sauce and salsa on top. Surprisingly, the corn tortillas we asked for in place of the flour ones usually offered stood up well to the juiciness of the short ribs. While a bit pricey, I left full and eager to come back here to try more of the wood fired meats and veggies on offer here. read more

Was looking forward to trying this restaurant. First of all the service was EXCELLENT. Great waitress and support staff. Decor was nice and comfortable. We ordered a bunch of appetizers to start. The crabmeat guacamole, the empanadas, and the queso fundido. They were all good, but the tortillas were not very good. The entree of waygu steak fajitas was really pricy and not very good. The steak was so so and the vegetables were soggy and bland. And it too came with those tortillas that were like they came out of a bag. Perhaps I was expecting a lot as the reviews were so good, but I honestly wouldn't come back. read more

Had time after work so I walked 15 blocks to find this place. It was well worth it. Ordered the Mercado Margarita and the 14oz 30 Day Aged Boneless Rib-eye The drink was so refreshing and presentation was on point. So I ordered a second one. The steak was cooked perfect and the grilled Serrano chili on top was a nice touch. No steak sauce needed perfect grilled flavor and no fat on steak edges. Yes a little pricey but I don't mind paying for quality $100 after adding in tip. Stop in while in DC but take a taxi or Uber my feet are hurting. Jk. read more

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One of my favorite moody date night places in DC or just a place to come for any night! The Mil Hojas Argentino is to die for! I dream about that sometimes... and the branzino is chefs kiss! read more

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Went here for my birthday dinner and had a great time! The ambience is perfect and is reminiscent of mexico. My party got seated at a comfy spacious booth. The service could be slightly better as I feel that our server could have done a better job explaining the menu since it was our first time here. Also, if you have a shellfish allergy I would be aware that almost everything on the menu would be off limits for you as they fry most things in the same oil. For a restaurant at this level i thought that was strange. Other than that, the food was cooked to perfection and is definitely worth a try especially for a special event. read more

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This establishment gets a high rating on service. Troy, the waiter, took care of us two nights in a row . He had a great personality and was very helpful in making our reservations. Now to the food... If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this isn't the place. They take traditional dishes and add American glamor to them. Presentation is A+ but portions are small; although, filling. I had the short rib tacos on my first visit. These tasted amazing. They had a great flavor that I wasn't able to narrow down what I was tasting. For desert, we all shared the following: Carajillo Crème Brulée, Mil Hojas de Panqueque and the Smoked Chocolate Fondant. Each one had a unique flavor of their own and were great. Day two, our party shared their camarón (shrimp) tacos. These were a bit odd. The tortilla was ice cold. It caused the tortilla to break in half when folding it over to eat it. The shrimp was hot and crunchy, as a traditional shrimp taco should be. Other than the frozen tortilla, it was great (non-traditional). We also shared the guacamole and chips. This was very tasty and close to traditional. Next I had their Birria de Hongos tacos. The only way I can explain these is as follows: shredded beef marinated, cooked slowly and thrown in a tortilla. Then topped with bbq sauce. This was nothing close to traditional birria tacos he hongo. After the first bite, I was grossed out. In fact, I had to force myself to eat two tacos. Pure garbage for me. Overall, service and atmosphere is great. I'd recommend it just be cautious of what you order. read more

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Came here for lunch and it's a good deal - 3 course for $28 and they have all the good stuff as options so I recommend! - ceviche: both of our favorites, not too sour and just a perfect mix of fish and veggies/fruita - queso fundido: nothing standout, what you expect - birria tacos: the most amount of beef a taco could hold, super savory and rich - pollo: liked it but nothing standout to me - pastel de elote: tastes like bananas but in a good way, sweet and somewhat savory as well - salted caramel gelato: love the little crunchies they serve with this - churros: perfectly crisp and soft inside read more

My partner took me here for a surprise birthday dinner. And when I say I was surprised to see my friends waiting for me..... she really got me!! I was clueless and thought it was a coincidence. Ha! DC has changed so much throughout the years I almost didn't recognize where we were. If you've been around DC awhile you'll remember the OLD Busboys & Poets on K Street. Dlena is right across the street. But the area looks so different. Enough about that tho... She's been bragging about this place since she came with friends. It's somewhat tapas style, but with a Mexican theme. Let's start with the drinks, cuz that's how we roll. That Mercado margarita was a sneaky little devil. At first I was a bit upset because I couldn't taste the alcohol (after all, it's my birthday). But you know what they say about those types of drinks; they sneak up on you and SHE DID! ...got me feeling all warm & happy! It's made with serrano-infused blanco tequila, passion fruit, agave, lime, and hibiscus-rosemary foam. Our server brought us the hibiscus juice so we could taste it. It's refreshing without being too sweet. Anyway, the drink was bangin'! I had another. Secondly, the Maryland Crab Guacamole (yes, you read that right) was amazing! I even looked up the recipe after I left to see if I could make it myself. I ordered the Empanadas de Wagyu, Pulpo al Pastor (octopus tacos), and the seafood (shrimp & Maryland blue crab) enchiladas. The food was good, the tacos tasted FRESH! The crew all loved their food, we ordered various items. And of course they brought me some churros on a "Happy Birthday' platter. Those churros were YUMMY! They tasted like they were stuffed with some sort of cream, but when asked our server relayed they were not. She said, due to the way they're cooked they have that moist center. I could have had more of those! Lastly, they have a little speakeasy downstairs. It appeared to attract a large clientele. The manager told us it was standing room only and once it gets to that point they manage those entering w/1 in 1 out. I'd like to check that out at some point. It was a pretty cool spot. read more

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Recently had a girls night at Dlena and really enjoyed myself. The whole restaurant is a vibe, especially the downstairs lounge which had a live band performing r&b covers. A WHOLE VIBE. For dinner we had the empanadas de wagyu and crab guacamole to start and a couple orders of the short rib tacos and pulpo tacos for the entrees. To my surprise, the crab guacamole was the stand out dish.. Idk what they did but crab and guac did not go together in my mind and I'm so glad my friends talked me into it. Don't skip it. The empanadas were creamy and the meat tender. The short rib tacos had good flavor but the sauces made up for the meat that was a bit dry to me on it's own however, my friends loved it. For the pulpo tacos, I only wish they had more of a char or grilled taste to them! This is def a spot where you can order a bunch of diff things to share amongst the table. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience. The ambiance is very sexy and perfect for a girls night or date night. read more

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Had a great HH here with friends, however HH is exclusively at the bar only and it full by 5:01pm, so we sat at a high top. The margaritas were all phenomenal, especially the cold foam hibiscus one. We shared the pork belly (melts in your mouth), corn empanadas (favorite), guacamole and prawn tacos (divine). Overall we would come back! read more

dLeña - Corn empanadas and prawn tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely love this space. Beautiful inside, incredible flavors, and really wonderful staff. I enjoy most of the menu. I recommend the crab guacamole, tacos hongos (mushroom), zanahorias rostizadas (carrots), and for the love of God the skirt steak *I recomment you order this medium, it's been prone to overcooking, especially since it's served on a cooking stone . I cannot say this enough: Even if you're not a veggie fan, you MUST order the carrots. They're worth it! The drinks are great, the vibes are great, the location is perfect for a nice walk after eating, and apparently they have live music downstairs...so I'll be back soon. read more

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We have been to dLeña a few times in the past and always had a great experience. Last Friday was no exception. Great service and great food. There was a nut allergy at our table. Our server made sure to explain what was best to order and what modifications could be made. At one point, their tacos did come out with the peanut sauce but the server was quick to rectify. The manager on duty even came by to apologize and let us know how frustrated the server was about it. One of our favs in the city. Make sure to order the crème brûlée! read more

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Met with a college friend for brunch and it was phenomenal. The bottomless brunch allowed us to select multiple tapas style brunch items to share. The Mexican corn was incredible along with the fruit cocktail. We also orders some fish tacos and mushroom tacos. I think the best selection was the huevos rancheros on a crispy tortilla. It was so flavorful. We both decided to try the mocktails and the mango was incredible. Our food came out very fast and the waiter was so friendly. The decor of the space was so cute and boho chic. read more

First off, our server was amazing! He was so funny and was joking around with us, making the experience 10x better. Everyone was so kind and accommodating. The interior was immaculate. It was giving desert vibes and was extremely clean. The bathrooms were absolutely gorgeous! They were participating in restaurant week when we got there ($35 three course meals per person). It was amazing as we got to try an appetizer, main dish, and a dessert from the menu! The guacamole was fresh and delicious. The chips were also absolutely amazing! The ceviche was a bit salty on its own but paired with the chips, it was a great combination. My friend ordered a passion fruit margarita with a tajin rim which was pleasantly refreshing and sweet! I couldn't taste the alcohol at all which I like. The tacos were 10/10. The meat was perfectly smoky, tender, and juicy. The portion size was also huge! I was so full after three tacos. The desserts were all fantastic and had great flavor combos! My friend got the sorbet which was refreshing and not too sweet. The cheesecake was on the sweeter side but the tart fruits on top balanced it out. The pastel de elote was strangely nutty and sweet. It came with a tart raspberry (or strawberry) jam that perfectly balanced it out. All in all, dLeña was all worth the hype and absolutely delicious! I definitely recommend going during restaurant week for a great deal on your meals! read more

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Great time at dLeña. The service was outstanding and the bartender was excellent. The shareable menu options is perfect as it gives you a chance to try different dishes. I love the empanadas with the wagyu and the steak. The restaurant was buzzing with energy and excitement. The patrons were diverse; young and old; black and white; male and female. Great vibes! read more

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LOVED this place!! It's so hard to get weekend reservations so I came here recently on a Wednesday night--we were seated right away at a high top near the bar. The restaurant is dim-lit and has an intimate ambiance. Food was AMAZING. For appetizers, highly recommend the Maryland Crab Guacamole, Empanadas de Wagyu and Pork Belly--all three were outstanding, well flavored and unique tasting. For entrees, the Medio Pollo Al Carbon (grilled chicken) was okay--the chicken was a bit dry for my preference. The server told us all their food are wood-fire grilled. The Tacos de Short Rib was SO GOOD!! The meat was tender, the chili peanut sauce was interesting (and delicious) and the tortilla pieces gave it a nice crunch. Unfortunately, they don't let you mix-and-match the taco meat options (each dish comes with 3 tacos). In regards to the overall visual dining experience, I will have to say, the restaurant is a bit TOO dim--I couldn't see my food clearly because it was too dark and I had to use flash every time I took a food photo. Looks like they have a full bar! Tried the Tamarindo Margarita--pretty tasty, had a sweet and sour kick to it. For dessert, we got the Mil Hojas de Panqueque Argentino, a crepes dessert--it was good and not as overly sweet as you might expect (which I preferred), but wasn't a fan of the salted caramel ice cream which was way too sweet. Overall, I would love to come back and try more of their dishes! Side note, street parking is hard to find but there is a parking lot across the restaurant for $20. read more

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