I was so pleased with my experience and I can't wait to return. The restaurant is In a Federalist home built in the early 1800s with baroque-esque portraits of late 18th century European figures. It gives a vintage ambiance with chandeliers, low lighting and warm/earthy palettes. Music was like indie soul strong vocals and slow grooves--I enjoyed it but it seemed to clash with the decor a tad. There is a cheaper tasting menu at the bar at $75, but if you go upstairs, which I did, it's $110. I added the non alcoholic drink pairing which is extra $65. Menu changes about 5 times a year with the seasons, this was the autumn menu. As I heard the couple behind me enjoy the wine pairing I was starting to regret my choice--but I was quickly relieved. The zero proof pairing was creative, innovative and delightful. I started with the Amuse aperitif - grapefruit with mint, adequately tart. I thought it was too sweet for me but after trying after the amuse bouche trio it counters the truffle/density of potato pancake. Next course was a White and purple cauliflower soup, topped with cashew cheese that had fermented for 48 hours. Accompanied by a pistachio fig mocktail (with a lot nutmeg). I was already full by the soup! Appetizer was white and green asparagus wrapped in nori. Some asparagus was stringy but I enjoyed the chickpea Parmesan. There was bread with popcorn butter (fava bean base) with caramelized parsnip bread, the bread tasted like Hawaiian roll but 1000x better. Palate cleanser was Cara Cara orange with grapefruit fermented strawberry Main was superb. Pickled baked artichoke. Grilled heart of palm. With onion chip made from onion juice, like the lightness of a funyon chip but healthier. Grilled pear. Cippolini onion hollandaise. Drink was sarsaparilla root with jasmine tea and orange blossom so light but satisfyingly bitter. Love this drink would drink it over ice all day. Even as a syrup to add to a sparkling drink would be great. Dessert was even better. Strawberry and beet mousse on top of some kind of streusel covered in hard chocolate sitting in a balsamic strawberry cacao with pistachio ice cream and fresh pistachios. There was a dehydrated thin sliced apple and a potato/wheat flower cookie. This went with a hibiscus infusion fizzy drink which highlighted the flavors in the balsamic glaze even more. The final surprise was a donut. Lightness of a beignet and mildly sweet. The staff were so attentive and knowledgeable. I really appreciated the helpfulness of my server, Spencer and also got to talk to the beverage director Emma, who worked with the chef to craft all the mocktails specific to this menu. I was also pleased to hear that the hibiscus infusion drink at the last course was in part designed by one of the other servers who is an herbalist. I decided last minute to come and the owner Elizabeth, who is also the hostess, was incredibly gracious and kind. I can't wait to return. read more

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What an amazing dining experience from beginning to end. The staff, the service, the sommelier who was so incredible with pairing the perfect wine with each course and, the food presentation which was so beautifully orchestrated. It was such an honor to have had the opportunity to experience vegetables prepared with such beauty and above all extremely flavorful. Even if you are not vegan you will be after dining at Elizabeth's. "The great" I am now your biggest fan read more

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Such a lovely experience! The moment we walked in, we commented on how gorgeous the interior was. We were greeted immediately and Elizabeth herself showed us to our table! It was the first time doing a vegan tasting menu for both myself and my friend, and we loved everything. Such unique ingredients, flavors, and cooking techniques, and everything was beautifully presented and plated. All servers were so nice and explained everything well. They have a cheaper tasting menu at the bar that we definitely want to try sometime. Highly recommend! Would be such a great date. read more

My husband and I were looking forward to trying this place for many months. We got all dressed up and showed up right at 5:30pm on a Thursday - all indications pointed to them being open. No messages. Nothing on social media. Door locked. Nobody picked up the phone. Really shocked a business would do that... at least let people know you're closed? read more

I had my intimate winter wedding here in January. Cannot recommend this place enough!! Elizabeth was absolutely incredible, meticulous and so kind ! She went above and beyond for us and her staff was amazing ! Also the Food is out of this world! So delicious, creative and beautiful. We will be spending every anniversary at this place forever ! read more

Elizabeth's on L - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is one of my favorite restaurants. I love the ambiance. It's one of the few restaurants where you can have a normal conversation, can savor each bite. You're never rushed. The staff is professional and very well versed in each dish and its ingredients. They are attentive without being imposing. Each time I've been there, I've loved the food. Tonight's fare surpassed anything I've ever eaten there. The first course was a trio of savory dishes. From a gently seasoned sip of fizzy tomato followed with 2 savory bites the first of which was a pickled beet stuffed with an almond brie followed by a tartlet with fresh peas and a baby arugula pesto. I thought I had died and gone to food heaven. This was followed by an incredible dragon fruit and lychee salad and a few more courses. It ended with a special "gift" from the chef which was an incredible home made chocolate. The Chef is a genius and a magician! I don't know how he does it, but he manages to bring each course to one of the best dishes I've ever had the privilege of tasting. I read the review complaining about the cost. In my opinion, the difference between this restaurant and some lower cost ones is that every course has multiple components. Every course is made lovingly with multiple layers of flavors, textures and colors. Each of these components takes time and effort. It is a symphony on the palate. read more

I have had several superb dining experiences at Elizabeth's on L, including the seasonal tasting menu in the dining room and a la carte dishes and drinks at the Onyx Bar. Here you will find vegan dining at its finest. The food is a sight to behold and the taste is like no other. The atmosphere is refined, but welcoming. And the staff, welcoming and professional. read more

First vegan restaurant experience! Elizabeth Petty, the founder and owner, started Elizabeth's Gone Raw, the vegan restaurant that's only open Friday nights and offers a six course tasting menu, as well as a catering company. Elizabeth's on L is their private venue that Ms. Petty bought 11 years ago (formerly a federalist townhouse) and renovated into a gorgeous, open space that comfortably seats up to 90 guests. They also cater off-site. I came here for a work lunch to discuss renewable energy and green initiatives. Elizabeth's on L was the perfect venue for this roundtable discussion. Everyone mingled downstairs while the staff set up upstairs. Once they were done setting up, we were taken upstairs where in the main area, there was a long table for us to dine at. There was also another waiting/mingling area that faced the street, enough for all of us to stand and talk. The table was set up with immaculate place settings and decorated with fresh flowers in the center. After we all sat down, staff members bought out both sweetened and unsweetened ice tea and then the first course. Elizabeth Petty was there to give a brief introduction into Elizabeth's on L and Elizabeth's Gone Raw. Another staff member talked about what the appetizer was before we started eating and going into our discussion. The three courses were: + Beet and apple ravioli with macademia nut ricotta and fennel foam + Green papaya risotto with wild mushrooms, asparagus, and nut parmesan + Strawberry cake with banana buttercream My favorite was probably the beet and apple ravioli. I think it had the most complexity in terms of flavors. Staff would replenish waters and teas quickly and take our empty dishes and silverware and replace with new courses efficiently. All staff members were highly professional and friendly. We had a guest speaker present for most of the lunch, but the staff moved around discreetly and skillfully while still switching out courses. At the end of our guest speaker's presentation, the staff discussed the other courses we ate. This venue does not charge a booking fee, so if you're looking for a cozy and chic place to hold a dinner party, cocktail hour, professional forums, or even a wedding reception, you should definitely consider this space. The space is decorated with paintings, rugs, and even a fireplace. read more

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Lovely venue with beautifully presented platters. But it was stupidly expensive. Cost for four would have bought a whole vegetable stand, stand included. Give me a break! Little bits of things artfully stacked on other little bits of things. None of it readily identifiable. Fully of equally beautiful, young, self indulgent patrons. Healthful eating? Not for your wallet. It just wasn't worth $150 (with tip) a head. For the cost of dinner, I could have bought a cow instead--for a pet, and I should have. The food was pretty good, but very over priced. Very. read more

In short, Elizabeth's on L offers one of the most intimate and elegant event spaces in the city, with food to rival what's served at D.C.'s best restaurants. What a rare gem! This is not the catering/gala-food you're used to--i.e. The bland and lukewarm lamb chop served with roasted carrots and fingerlings. No... This is food that evokes Eric Ripert, not a white catering truck: delicate bites of lamb carpaccio roulade filled with chevre and mache, crispy eggroll cups stuffed with duck salad, frog leg tempura tossed in a lemon/garlic sauce--all doled out during cocktail hour; an appetizer of rich artichoke risotto topped with Reggiano cheese and mandolin-thin slices of flash fried artichokes; and an entrée of that obligatory rack of lamb--but here you'll get the chops rare, atop a flavor-packed mound of moist braised lamb shank and spaghetti squash. And just when you think you can't be any more impressed, the dessert will arrive. It's too beautiful to taste good, you think, then you crack the nest-like pistachio cup filled with a buttery lemon cream, savor your first bite, and think: OMG, Am I really eating this at a corporate party??? I shouldn't have been surprised by the food. The chef hails from CIA and Citronelle (he opened Michel Ricard's Baltimore branch) and the company's been a successful operation for 31 years. But I was still really impressed by my experience. I found out that the space is actually free when you book dinners/parties (many venues around town charge you for the venue and the food!). The space is lovely--it fits 60 comfortably for a sit-down dinner; twice that many if you're just doing cocktails. Aside from the fireplaces, gorgeous hardwood floors, and intricate oriental rugs, the room includes drop-down projection screens--for that compelling office PowerPoint or say, a cycling photo album. If I were getting married anytime soon (hint, hint!), I'd definitely use the space for a rehearsal dinner or small wedding reception. And for all you foodies out there: Finally, here's a caterer whose focus on quality and taste are paramount, with an elegant space to boot. read more

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Delightful little venue. Went here for an alumni event, and was surprised by the inside. Old pine flooring (restored), fireplace, somewhat colonial feel to it. For a small wedding reception (like 50ppl), it would be perfect. As for the food, horribly disappointed. But maybe my alma matter didn't spring for the good stuff :) Cheese and grapes were fresh/fine. Didn't care for any of the tray hors' devours. Sauteed mushrooms were mushy; some tuna spring roll was definitely chicken of the sea; and the shrimp was very spicy (so I hear, I don't eat the little bastards). read more

Upscale, sophisticated menu and presentation. Be prepared to be wowed. I have been fortunate to have have been invited to a number of functions that have been catered by Elizabeth's on L and they have never failed to impress. Simply spectacular venue. read more

If you ever get a chance to attend an event here....GO. I had a pleasure of celebrating some friends' recent nuptials and it was absolutely gorgeous. From the outside it looks tiny, you really would never guess the inside was as large and yet quaint as it is. It was intimate but not stuff and really reflected well the people we were celebrating. I really enjoyed the food that came out of the kitchen. I ate and drank, ate and drank. Unfortunately I couldn't eat the chocolate mousse cake that came out but the woman who was serving dessert happily asked the kitchen if they would create a gluten-free dessert. It was something raw, vegan, chocolatey and nutty. I should have taken the time to analyze the ingredients, but they were so yummy! The waitstaff and bartender were pleasant and went above and beyond as far as I was concerned. They knew which hors' devours were gluten-free and I happily partook. read more

Lovely brunch spot! We hosted the 'day after' brunch the morning after our daughter's wedding and were very pleased. The food was delicious, the room beautiful, and the staff helpful. I was able to plan everything from out-of-town. Elizabeth accommodated a couple of different dietary restrictions. Would consider them (Catering Company of Washington) to cater an event, also. read more

Our family hosted a surprise 40th Wedding Anniversary for us at your facility this past weekend, and all I can say is WOW! What a GORGEOUS facility! It was perfectly decorated in "Island theme" which was so pretty and elegant and intimate.....no small fete for a Federalist townhouse! Emily took such great care of us and made sure everything was perfect for us, made sure our every need was met, was more than friendly and accommodating to our entire party, and was the perfect person for your venue! The food was delicious and very practical for our crowd. We especially loved the shrimp scampi and gnocchi, but everything was so delightful! I can't say enough about this place. It was PERFECT! read more

DC has been lacking a fine-dining vegan restaurant until now! I was fortunate enough to learn through the grapevine of Elizabeth's special 5-course raw vegan event held last Friday, and immediately made reservations. My husband and I were not disappointed!! The venue is stunning! The meal was thoughtful, creative, well-seasoned and prepared flawlessly. Our server was exceptional and attentive as you would expect at any fine-dining restaurant, and Elizabeth made rounds to make sure diners were completely satisfied. I savored every bite beginning with the spicy, crispy kale chips and ending with a perfectly sweetened and decadent chocolate ganache tart. The menu was filled with simple but scrumptious morsels pulled together with sophisticated flavors and subtle complexities. The presentation was outstanding and each plate was beautifully designed. I completely lost myself in this dining experience! As I was eating, I didn't think this was good for a raw vegan meal, I simply thought this is a wonderful and delightful meal -- period. As an afterthought, I remembered this just so happens to be a raw vegan meal and that gave me greater pleasure. It may seem expensive at first glance, but the prix fixe menu was worth every penny, especially considering all that it takes to prepare raw/dehydrated foods! I woke up the next morning feeling so incredibly satiated by the previous night's meal. I say this realizing that I may be at risk for not securing my next reservation, but do yourself a favor and get on the mailing list at www.elizabethsgoneraw.com. I'm not sure if the raw vegan events will happen on a weekly or monthly basis, but I'm saving my entertainment dollars for the next raw vegan gathering at Elizabeth's. read more

We had our wedding reception at Elizabeth's on L and it was perfect - fantastic food, gracious service, and there was no need to add any decor. It was a small event of about 50 guests. What really sold me was that they do not charge a separate venue booking fee. That alone saved us thousands of dollars compared to other venues in DC. They only charge for the catering which was delicious and beautifully presented. I want to relive our wedding day! read more

I just hosted a client dinner there and it was amazing! The food was some of the best I ever ate and the presentation was creative and inventive. The staff was extremely helpful and the dinner went off without a hitch. My clients raved about the place and I highly recommend it for a private event. I will certainly host future events there and I recommend you do too. You will be happy you did! read more