I came here yesterday evening with 3 friends. Our reservation was for 3, but they were able to seat us at a table for 4 thankfully. The outdoor patio/bar area was packed! The vibe was very lively out there. The indoor seating was nice too, with a very distinct decor. The waiters were very attentive, always filling up our water whenever it was running low. The food was pretty good as well. I ordered the black cod Al pastor tacos and a side of fried plantain. The tacos were very tasty, just a little bit small. The plantain was a sizable portion, and cooked just how I like them! read more

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The food here is amazing. We started with the nachos which were sooo good! I kept wanting to grab more. I moved onto the black bean enchiladas which had a beautiful presentation. I never had black bean enchiladas like this but I loved the uniqueness of this dish. We went on a Saturday for lunch and the entire place was packed. I loved how lively it was and it was worth the visit! read more

El Presidente - Black Bean Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've always heard good things about El Presidente and every time I pass it, it's usually very busy. Now that I've been there I'm a bit puzzled..It was alright but very much so just making average. I ordered the whole branzino and it came with a lot of garnish but still managed to taste plain. The sauces were really the only thing that gave the dish flavor. It was perfectly cooked so I will give them that. The plantains just didn't taste right, I wouldn't get it again. The star of the meal was actually the kale salad. The flavor was unique, there was a nice crunch with the garbanzo beans so I really enjoyed it. It was my birthday, so I got some type of ice cream on the house. I understand why it's on the house..I took one taste and left the rest for the table, no one wanted to eat.. Love the decorum, you can get pictures here. The staff is very nice. However, the service was very slow and the place was only at 50 percent capacity, if that. Overall, I don't think I'd come here again, there's just so many better places. If I somehow happen to come here again, maybe I did wrong and I'll just stick to getting tacos. read more

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Second time there, ordered a little better this time. Nice spot, food was good, but a little pricey for some of the basics. Pretty broad cocktail list, beer list was a little lacking, but a couple of good choices there. Staff are very attentive and helpful, fun atmosphere. Seems to be a good after work hangout as well. read more

Talk about a whimsical restaurant. El Presidente has a beautiful bar and interior design. It's super cute. I've come in for dinner and sat in their dining area and also at their bar during happy hour. I enjoyed my experience more during the dinner service. Tacos are pretty good, prices aren't too bad and I love the fact that the garage right next to the restaurant offers free 3 hour parking. I recently went for drinks and wasn't too impressed with their traditional margaritas. There was a lot of sour mix (I think that's what I was tasting). The happy hour prices are really good though and during the weekday the bar was packed! Check it out if you're ever in the Union market area read more

El Presidente - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is great. What a beautiful restaurant! The decor is everything. Small details, different dining areas, and a beautiful bar. They also have an outdoor seating area. Came on a Friday for lunch was very chill. Ordered a Cesar salad and the Fried Snapper and My friend ordered a cocktail called Como la Flor- she said it taste like a Sorrell spiked- if you know you know. Cesar was good; fresh with just the right amount of dressing and parm. House made croutons. Snapper was delicious! Seasoned very well. Came with 2 sauces and one had a kick! Very good overall. Service was mediocre- not too much interaction just took the order and brought the tab. We also were chatting a lot so. read more

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This is a very nice restaurant and the staff is nice. I'm giving this place a 3 because there are a few things that I didn't like. 1. Salsa should be something that just comes to the table as a staple for a Mexican restaurant. 2. The street corn had waaaaayyyy too much sauce in it. It tasted like i was eating mayo out a jar with corn in it. That was an epic fail. 3. I'm use to my short rib being seasoned really well and having lots of flavor. My tacos literally had no flavor. It was quite underwhelming. 4. They literally cut one broccoli in half and lay it flat on the plate. Look, give the people more because honestly that was the only thing I really enjoyed. Let me be clear, I have ate at a lot of restaurants and don't mind paying for amazing food and service, but this was not it. It sits in the perfect location and has a beautiful patio situation near the bar. It really does have a nice ambiance, but it's a NO for me. I probably won't ever go back. read more

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Omg this place does NOT disappoint. This is right in our neighborhood and never been because we heard it was overrated. Well, we were pleasantly surprised when we started off with the nachos which is what they are best known for. It's like a Mexican pizza, so good!!!! And then I got the dirty veggie tacos with the refried bean side dish and it was delicious! The service was good but the ambiance was so impressive and beautiful. read more

El Presidente - Nacho Mama - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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this post is about the drinks because I was so blown away with the level of dimension with the drinks provided by the Mixologist at the bar. I did not expect my margarita to come in a glass like it did. I will post a food in a different post, but I will say the food is also very good. The vibe inside the place was fun, modern and trendy. read more

We had an amazing experience at El Presidente! I brought my parents here when they visited from out of town, and they loved it. We had a Friday night reservation, and they were not able to seat us right away. So we were delayed getting our table by about 15-20 mins. However, they made up for it with the service and offerings. One of the managers came to our table to apologize and then comped our appetizer, which was so nice! We hadn't even complained or anything. The drinks were good. I had the house margarita. My husband got a cocktail that came in a cute shark ceramic. The guacamole with crab was excellent. We didn't leave a drop behind! We also enjoyed the queso fundido, which was decadent and delicious. For my entree, I had short rib enchiladas. The flavor was great, and the portion was plentiful. I got to take some leftovers home. My friend got a caesar salad with shrimp, which is not typically on a Mexican menu, but even that was outstanding. She said they were the best croutons she ever had. We had to try the dessert, so we ended our meal with tres leches AND churros. I could have eaten all the churros with the raspberry sauce. Soo good! The servers were prompt and friendly. They spoke Spanish with me and my mom, which was nice. The decor in the restaurant is part of the fun. There are bright colors, animal sculptures and art. It's a beautiful design. 10/10 recommend. Worth the hype! read more

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Everything was mediocre / below mid. Was not impressed by drinks or food. However, our server was attentive and provided decent service. read more

The place is cute and a nice vibe. Sat outside had heaters that worked perfectly. Service great servers are attentive the manager accommodates. Asked server for a good mocktail. He shared they can make daiquiris and everything mocktail so opted for pina colada mocktail wasn't all that but still good 3/5. The nacho mama pizza with chicken omg everything 10s across the board. The crab enchiladas not too good in my opinion definitely needs a different sauce. Manager nicely swapped out for me to get birria tacos which were great and tasty 8.5/10. Got churros they were tasty cooked how they are supposed to and a nice size. Raspberry sauce tasted fresh not store bought. The rice didn't necessarily fit the theme but it was good. Really tasted the butter which I liked 7/10. Honestly would definitely return and recommend. read more

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Cinco de Mayo visit was a success! It was extremely packed on a very rainy Monday night but when you taste the food you understand why. The chips and guacamole were so fresh you could taste it! These chips aren't store bought and that guacamole isn't held with preservatives. My group didn't make it to the entrees before we wanted to kiss the chef. Who actually came to our table on a busy night! My friend really enjoyed her shrimp tostada that I got a sample of... AMAZING! We each ordered a different taco because duh it's Cinco de Mayo! However, we each enjoyed our orders so much we couldn't share. I had the carnitas taco based on our servers recommendation and he did not steer me wrong. There were only two drink specials which kind of brought the excitement down for everyone. I ordered a Mezcal martini...so strong! I had to order a Hibiscus Agua fresca to mix it with. For $17 I shouldn't be complaining but it caught me off guard. I probably wouldn't go back for drinks based on the price unless it's happy hour but I'll definitely be back for food and to try the dessert. read more

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Happy hour review Affordable happy hour for the area ($9-10 per item). The food options are actually filling as well so you could only eat the happy hour menu and not leave hungry. Tried the classic margarita because if that isn't good I can't trust anything else lol. Food & drink: Elote fries were surprisingly good but I would love more corn. Tacquitos were not my fave. Pretty bland chicken. The crab dish was refreshing. Would like that again but it is the smaller portion of anything we tried. Basics margarita is on the sour side but I like that! Ambiance: It's le diplomate with a different theme. Big interesting art work and sculptures. Huge main bar. Wasn't too loud even tho it was crowded at the bar area. Service: Sat at the tables near the bar which is considered the bar area. John was great - knowledgeable. Accurately captured our order. Attentive. However, before he took over service was kinda wonky from the people we had before he arrived. Waited about 15 mins for water. Recommend to have dedicated servers for the bar area tables inside and out because the bar is very full most of the time and having the bartenders also serve tables seemed to cause a lot of delays. Would return. read more

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We came here for our anniversary and what an excellent choice. The moment we walked in... we felt welcomed. Service was attentive and friendly. The restaurant has a vibrant decor and what a sexy looking bar! I love the energy here. Chips and salsa- loved the texture of the chips and so crisp. The salsa was good too. It would be so easy to fill up on this. *Chicken quesadillas app-delicious! My husband and I shared it. Could easily be my main entree. The tortilla was a little crisp and the filling was flavorful with just a little kick of heat. Just perfectly prepared. *Snapper CHICHARRÓN- it was good. The breading was crispy and chipotle aioli elevates it. *carne asada tacos-3 in an order. Not enough to keep you full so order sides. *Mexican street corn- delicious! *Mexican pudding-was light. It satisfied my sweet tooth. We will definitely return. So many other menu options we want to try. Shout out to our server Niko, thanks for ensuring a great dining experience. read more

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The restaurant is very beautiful visually. Our server took a while to get to us but the food and drinks came out fast. The guac presentation was great and the taste was good. I had the tacos which came in a very basic form of preparation. They tasted just fine but frankly you're better off going to your local taco stand if you're coming here for the tacos. I enjoyed my time here maybe because I came without any preconceived expectations read more

If you like authentic Mexico City cuisine and flavors that smack you with satisfaction- then El Presidente is worth the trip. With decor that creates an incredible vibe from tables to art you feel like you're surrounded by somthing special. Service was wonderful as well! read more

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3.5/5 El President was good. Nothing particularly special, I've had better Mexican at La Michocana. The presentation of food was nice, servers were attentive and made some really good recommendations for their extensive Mezcal list. Nothing special, you're not missing anything if you skip read more

El Presidente - Birria taco - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Only went for drinks and apps. Got the spicy guacamole and a Margarita, the Marg was delicious and we were asked which tequila we'd like in it which was nice to be able to pick the tequila. The service was great, I forgot our waiters name but he was very nice and checked on us often. The place is very well decorated and feels surprisingly cozy. read more

El Presidente - Chips & guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The good: We loved our drinks and the service was great! Very friendly and helpful! The decor in there is elaborate and beautiful, it felt a little like being at Disney (lolol). The bad: Honestly the food was really really just ok and the portions for tiny. For $17 I was surprised the entree plates were smaller than my hand and they simply weren't that flavorful. We ended up going to another restaurant for more food after we had finished our entrees. Overall: Go for drinks and the ambiance, skip the food! read more

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Another hit by Stephen Starr!! Such a fun vibe with cool decor! Great menu as well. My drink came in a cup that looked like a shark! Food was great as well. read more

El Presidente - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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While visiting DC, we took the advice of a friend to check this place out. It is clearly a local hot spot, so reservations are STRONGLY SUGGESTED. When I made our reservation about a week in advance, the only space available after 5 pm was for the patio and the disclaimer that popped up about choosing patio seating at your own risk should have been a red flag for me. As we were waiting for our Uber at the hotel, it started raining and while the "patio warning" crossed my mind, I thought to myself, "they wouldn't dare". Upon arriving, we checked in and were immediately informed that since we reserved the patio, we HAD TO be seated on the patio. And, since I had checked in, I couldn't change my mind and pretend to be a walk-in. Insert my side-eye, eyebrow raise, and scowl... But, for some reason, my usually impatient and picky husband insisted on waiting for what would certainly be damp seating on the patio. Once seated in the covered patio with tie-down canvas panels section, it was indeed wet (not damp) and as the rain continued, one of the managers was leading a team of servers to reposition tables to keep them in the least wet spaces. It was almost comical, except we were getting wet. After finally finding a table that wasn't under a constant drip, we exhaled and ordered. My husband declared that he had a feeling that this would be GOODT! And, boy, was he right! From the pineapple margarita on the rocks to the frozen pineapple margarita and the "elephant in the room" cocktail, the drinks were wonderful. And, the guacamole with crab was outstanding. I'm not sure why they don't offer this more in Texas, but I will be asking for it at my local spot when I get home. We did try their salsas, and they were just ok. The red salsa was super simple, heavy tomato, and mild. The green was better but we wouldn't order them again (chips and salsa are not free). The tuna aguachile was AH-MAZING... trust me on this... the coconut cream adds a beautiful rich, creaminess to the dish. And, we shared the Macho Nachos because it IS HUGE. the homemade chorizo on it was deeee-licious... seasoned just right and not greasy. And, they clearly pickle their own Jalapeños and onions because I could taste their freshness. The portion was so large that we couldn't finish it. But, that didn't stop my husband from getting a Tres leches cake to go, which he ate the next day and said was pretty good, which is high praise from him as this is his favorite cake. All in all, the only reason that they lost a star from me is because the hostess was inflexible and came off unsympathetic. The young blonde-haired gentleman working so hard to make the patio space better is honestly why I "fixed my face and my attitude". I now wish that I had his name because HE should be commended on how well he represented the restaurant from the moment he showed us to our table to the final farewell of the evening. Clearly, he knew that the food was not to be missed and made sure that we didn't. We will be back read more

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El President is a beautiful open space with festive decorations and a bright colorful interior. The music is a perfect vibe and is played at the right volume. But you didn't come here for the ambiance, you came to hear about the food. Everyone liked their food. The duck confit the tlayuda and the huevos rancheros were something to write home about. The meat was tender and juicy. The short rib enchiladas were just alright. Also we had a fantastic server who was honest and helped us with a great pace. He anticipated everything that we needed. Overall, definitely recommend this place! read more

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Went here for my birthday and the food was amazing! I had the snapper and my friends got enchiladas. The snapper was fried well and was fresh. I had a taste of both enchiladas and would definitely come back to order those. The spicy guacamole was my favorite of the night. I think it's made with Jicama, which really adds to the texture. Not pictured was the tuna ceviche, which was good but a little adventurous. The ceviche is not traditional but instead is in like a coconut cream. Also not pictured were the churros and chocolate pudding. I'd give the dessert a 4 out of 5. Overall, this place is definitely worth returning to. read more

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The ambiance of this restaurant is reason enough to go - it's absolutely gorgeous! Their happy hour is great, if you can get a seat near the bar. The brunch and dinner is quite good too. It's fancier than authentic Mexican and pretty tasty. The staff is all very friendly! read more

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This place is not bad! We came to celebrate a birthday. Service was great, the margaritas were fantastic and the food was decent! Nothing that will leave you dreaming about the meal later that night but also not bad at all! Not my favorite tacos, but the guacamole and mushroom queso were delightful. read more

My boyfriend surprised me with our Post Valentine's Date at El Presidente! We went for lunch and had a pretty good time. The service was good! Our server had a great balance of checking up on us but also giving us the space and time to enjoy our time. The food was pretty good and the drinks were delicious and STRONG! My only dislike was the actual dining room we were seated in. We were seated in the area with a portion that looks like it can be roped off for private dining. We sat at a two-top booth and it was tiny! Because of the cold rainy weather we had coats and an umbrella and had to drape our coats over the booth/ledge area and the umbrella was by our feet near the aisle. The restaurant wasn't packed so I would've loved if they could've accommodated us at a larger seat. Food/Beverage Ratings: Classic Margarita - 5/5 Strawberry Margarita - 5/5 Both were refreshing, strong, and flavorful. Loved them! Guacamole - 4/5 pretty fresh but a small portion for the price tag Birria Tacos - 5/5 my boyfriend loved them Plantains - 4/5 sweet and tasty just wish there wasn't as much cheese Shrimp Fajita Style Tacos - 3/5 they were served cold, although they were over coals. They were flavorful and the beans were delicious but the $34 price tag and what you get don't match. You only get 6 shrimp (maybe the large size). You can get shrimp fajitas that come with way more for at least $10 less at most places. All in all we enjoyed our time here but will likely come back for happy hour or just drinks/apps next time! read more

El Presidente - Guacamole and a Classic and Strawberry Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I visited on a Monday for a quick happy hour and I was pleased with the food quality and price. El Presidente recently added happy hour from 3 PM - 6 PM Monday to Friday. It has a good selection of four snacks ($6-$10) and four drinks ($9-$10). The restaurant has a cool space with a large bar in front, a covered outdoor patio, some back dining rooms, and a huge, two-story glass wall that they can open up (garage style) when the weather is nice. The bar area was popular when we visited but the rest of the place was quiet. We snagged two bar seats around 5 PM and tried the Chicken Taquitos (3 for $7), Frozen Pineapple Margarita ($9), and "The" Margarita ($9). The Taquitos were great. They were a little wider than your typical grocery store frozen taquito, they had recognizable chicken pieces inside, and they came with a decent amount of sauce on top and guacamole on the bottom. The frozen margarita was also tasty and had a nice salt + tajin rim. The regular margarita was not very good -- bland, and way too much salt on the rim. Service was friendly but a little slow. I will definitely stop by again for happy hour and I hope the other Starr restaurants in DC also add one! read more

El Presidente - The Margarita ($9) and Frozen Pineapple Margarita ($9) - happy hour - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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It was happy hour and me and my friend had to go to the bar to order. We didn't receive any water. The queso tasted more like Mozzarella cheese than queso and had mushrooms which is weird. The birria tacos and chicken taquitos were good. nothing spectacular. read more

El Presidente - Queso Fundido - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My girlfriend and I came for a late dinner here at what is considered a preferred option for Mexican fine dining in DC. It is not an extraordinarily authentic experience across the full menu, but the vibes are good, and I automatically give a high rating for anywhere that has a solid huitlacoche option on offer. While we were too full from the huitlacoche quesadilla and superb nachos - both delicious - to fully enjoy the portobello tacos that we ordered, the masa tortillas were amazing and only needed the lightest of toppings to enjoy. read more

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Nachos are amazing! The cocktails were okay, but not the best. Guacamole was solid Branzino was also really good Service was great! Can't wait to go back for the nachos read more

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We came here to celebrate a birthday for a friend. All of us are gluten free so Mexican is always a good option. the chips have cross contamination, and a few items come with flour tortillas instead of corn. So be sure to ask the server for options as they are ready to accommodate. Overall the food was great as was the margaritas. We came on a Monday so parking on the street was easy, but I suspect weekends will be harder. The place was really well decorated and we loved it. The birthday girl claimed this was the best Mexican she has had. I would definitely place it in the top 5 in DC For me. read more

El Presidente - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Buzzing atmosphere, great food, and great service! Our server was very attentive to us throughout our entire dining experience. I highly recommend their ceviche and enchiladas. I regret not trying their nachos, will order that next time I come here! I recommend making a reservation as this place is usually pretty busy in the evenings. read more

El Presidente - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you're looking for a nice place to impress your friends, family, or a date- El Presidente is it! The vibes are immaculate as far as interior goes. I've come a few times now and the food items that stand out to me the most are their seafood items. The aguachile verde is a must get item and I love both versions of their shrimp tacos. Another must order item is their Mexican street style corn- but off the cob! Make sure to order a prickly pear margarita which is an off menu item, but it can be hit or miss depending on who makes it. Although service is always pleasant, it can take awhile to get your food and drink orders in on busy days. read more

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El Presidente was a cool place, but for some reason it didn't impress me as much as I would've liked. The food itself is good but it didn't feel particularly special or elevated. Case in point, my shrimp enchiladas were average. I will say that the decor inside is very lush, with lots of deep colors and plenty of velvet. Service was consistent but sometimes hard to flag someone down. One item that I did not like was the flavor of their ice cream. Not sure if it was because it was poorly paired with the churros, but the combined flavors were slightly off-putting. read more

El Presidente - Shrimp enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Everything was delicious! Best Mexican restaurant that I've ever been to! And the tequila old fashioned was amazing!

I absolutely loved my visit to El Presidente. When I heard that the restaurant group that brought us Le Diplómate opened up a new spot, I knew that it would be a vibe. My friends and I visited for brunch and I was first and foremost impressed by the gorgeous decor. Everything is absolutely beautiful and sets the tone for a great dining experience. I started with a frozen pineapple margarita. It was balanced and not too sweet. We also got queso fundido and a tuna tostada to share. I loved the tortillas from the queso fundido. I moved on to a spicy margarita which was delish. For the mains we decided to split tacos. We opted for carne asada, carnitas, and birria. They were all great but the carne asada and birria were some of the best I have ever had. Our server was super sweet and attentive and I loved my experience overall. If you're in DC this is a must! read more

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Personally love this spot! Located in DC's Union Market District in the cut is El Presidente! I loved this place! You want Mexican with a flare, you've found your spot! Make a reservation cause you'll need one. Bar stays busy! They have brunch! Trust me you'll love this place too! read more

El Presidente - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

There are sooo many things to like about El Presidente. Located in uber popular Union Market, El Presidente undoubtedly has become my go-to restaurant for Mexican food after just one visit! Esthetically, this restaurant is flat out beautiful. Attention to detail was high priority for the owners and they hit on all cylinders. El Presidente is large with different dining areas with their own design personality. The patio is also large and on a warm January evening, the patrons were having a ball dining outside..I was slightly jealous..LOL I have embarked on "dry" January, however, when my friend ordered a pear margarita, the bartender made the mistake of making two. Who am I not to take a free drink.. sorry "dry" January..LOL. It was super tasty!! We didn't order a ton of food but what we did order was great. The "El Presidente" guacamole has no rival. Loaded with chucks of lump crab, it could not have been any better! Honestly, I could have just ordered another bowl and called it a day..LOL! The Mahi tacos, crispy shrimp and Mexican street corn were very good as well. I was EXTREMELY disappointed that the giant prawn was no longer on the menu so please management, correct that mistake and find some giant prawns somewhere.. pleaseeee!!!!! Last but not least, I cannot think of anywhere in DC where there's a garage ANY garage that offers THREE hours of FREE parking especially in a DC Hot Spot.. well, there's one just steps away from El Presidente. I must say, THAT was the cherry on top of a great dining experience!! read more

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It's restaurant week!!! They have a 3 course meal for 55 dollars per person. I believe this is a fairly new restaurant. Beautifully decorated with a red theme. You will definitely want to wear something nice. So cute for a date night! We started off at the bar. My friend asked the bar tender for his recommendation and it was like pulling teeth. He explained he had a bad experience with making someone a recommended drink but eventually he just did it. It was a tasty passion fruit/ guava drink. All of the servers are wonderful. They are very attentive and everyone is constantly checking in. All the food we ordered was pretty tasty. We ordered a range of food. The dip and tostadas are not seen in my pics because they look similar to the pics already posted up here. I think I will be back for the brunch menu when it gets warmer outside. There is outside seating and I just have a feeling this place will be great in the spring! read more

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