26' Summer Restaurant Week Review…read more First, there is no denying that the level of hospitality at this restaurant far exceeds any experience I've had at several DC establishments. The team was beyond friendly and it was not forced, it felt natural. From the post-reservations message to inquire about any special occasions to the warm friendly greeting at the door, this restaurant not only provides exquisite culinary but the service is magnificent! Thank you to everyone who took care of us. Next, the ambiance was simply beautiful. The decor was soft, modern, and boutique stylish. Fun fact, the Jônt, which is located upstairs is a private dining experience of theirs so I'm definitely curious to check them out really soon. They also have Ox and Olive under their umbrella of top restaurants so that's another fun place to try. Personal touch- on top of the impeccable hospitality, we received the sweetest card to celebrate my personal occasion. We also had a refreshing shot of their non-alcoholic house made kombucha-unmatched!!!!! DRINKS My first drink was a Smokey and sensational glass of Corpse Reviver No. 2. This drink contained a beautifully smoked vida mezcal among other fine ingredients. It's a drink which sparked an immediate conversation over starters as it left me feeling refreshed and ready to continue the evening. For dinner, I didn't do a traditional wine pairing but wanted a nice glass of dry white wine. The recommendation was Attis. This was more than a recommendation but learning the history behind the wine made every sip very special. Such a crisp taste and lingering floral scent. Enjoy a glass! DINNER I did the Seasonal Tasting Menu and my honey did the 4-Course Restaurant Week menu. Here is everything that I had and rated: Watermelon Gazpacho- I'm not a watermelon lover but I took a quick bite and honestly, there was a nice spicy/smokey flavor to this. Can't expound because it was a quick bite Shigoku Oyster- DIVINE!!!!! The piece of citrus added to the oyster helped balance the taste. This was succulent Fried Quail Drum- What a beautifully prepared dish. The fry on the quail was perfect but what stole the show was the tenderness of the meat, the flavors oozing out of each bite, and the magnificently paired sauce which had quail eggs folded into it. Burrata & Green Tomato- this was another favorite. It contained refreshing Thai basil and sweet herbs but the star of she show was the cardamom jam. That sweet flavor brought balance to the citrusy taste of the tomatoes and perfectly complimented the fresh burrata. The entire dish meshed together so well. Hamachi Crudo- I'm a lover of crudo and this dish was a perfect support for my love. It was fresh, tender, and incredibly delicious. Stuffed Chicken Wing- what made this dish shine were the dates inside. Hard to explain but the earthiness from the dates amplified the taste of the chicken. It was perfect!!!! Dry Aged Duck- I know there is mixed reviews of this but my review is that this was a succulent dish. The fattiness of the duck was perfectly support by the cornbread, blackberry, and shiso. Everything paired together well and the taste lingered on my tongue long after the dish was done. I loved it This beautiful culinary experience ended with their tantalizing Basque Cheesecake. This was OUT OF THIS WORLD satisfying! So creamy, perfect balance of walnut, and sweeeeet caramel. I loved every bite My honey also thoroughly enjoyed all of his selections and confirmed my love for mines as I did for some of his. I cannot wait to return because I've been desiring to try them for a while now and I'm glad that I found a reason to fall in love with this place!

High and low lights: Bresca has a fun tasting menu with some great bites, and service is really top…read morenotch, but it runs a little pricey, too many of the flavors were sweet, and man is it loud. We enjoyed our anniversary dinner. Our waiter, and the service overall, was fantastic. I felt taken care of by a friend instead of a server, and that elevated the experience. Notable foods: Caviar and popcorn, Asian Pear and Pecan, Duck entre and the Raspberry Entremet. Those were either just plain old tasty, creative, or a combo. The rest of the tasting menu was standard and fine, although there were too many sweet berry tones and sauces. The prices were a little steep for that hit or miss style (note they add an automatic 20% service fee). And it wasn't romantic and intimate, they had music blaring and you could barely have a conversation. I read reviews around this before, but it's true.

Wow, just like you would expect from the team from Albi, the dish preparations at La Shukran are on…read morepoint. The flavor combinations were subtly complex and engaging. We enjoyed every dish we ordered. The dining room is relatively small and quite noisy. The rooftop dining area is casual and airy. Note: the rooftop seating only offers drinks and the small bites from the full menu. Larger entree options are not available on the rooftop. We will definitely be back to dine here again.

Service A+ Ambiance A…read moreDrinks A Food...this is where it gets interesting. They suggest family style and 2-3 items per person which we thought was excessive bc each dish averages about $20. We ordered 5 for 2 people and could with done 4. They are still all pretty small for the price. labneh with crab had 0 flavor should have skipped it Hummus with mushroom was good but need all the items on the plate at once to get full effect. The bread that comes with the dips....omg the bread. It was probably the best part of the dips to be honest. The falafal was very good, would def repeat. An order is 3 but we added a 4th one The potato frites thing was omg probably the best item we had. Crunchy outside, soft fluffy inside but the green sauce was *chefs kiss* amazing I almost licked it from the bowl. Last item was the lamb fried rice...it was good a lot of flavors with the lamb, corn and apricots. Would I order again honestly not sure. I'd prob get a coupe cocktails the falafal and potato things and leave overly satisfied. We went with the cheese dessert bc he described it similar to a cheesecake which cheesecake it was NOT. It was ok. My dinner date loved it tho.

Came to Boqueria during DC's Winter Restaurant Week and had a great time! It was a good deal too,…read moreand I left so full. Started off with the "Taste of Spain" which included Pan con tomate, Aged manchego, Jamón Ibérico de bellota, and Boquerones con naranja. Since I couldn't eat the latter two, the server said they could double the first two, which was so appreciated. For my first course, I chose the Escalivada (fire-roasted eggplant, red pepper, labne yogurt, fresh herbs, olive oil, served with focaccia) and Croquetas de setas (creamy mushroom croquettes with truffle aioli). The Escalivada was tasty, but more on the tangy side; the bread was more crostini-like than focaccia. The Croquetas were so good: creamy, savory, umami inside and crunchy outside. Next, I got the Zanahorias (spiced baby carrots, sweet and sour reduction, orange honey yogurt, mojo verde, Marcona almonds) and Patatas bravas (crispy potatoes, salsa brava, pimentón, garlic aioli). When I tell you those carrots had me dreaming about them later, I'm not kidding- all of the different flavor combos paired with the perfectly cooked carrots were amazing. The Patatas bravas was pretty classic- crispy potatoes with creamy aioli and tangy tomato sauce. Finally, for dessert, I had the Tarta de naranja (orange olive oil cake, citrus-honey yogurt), and my friend had the Tarta vasca de chocolate (Basque chocolate cheesecake, macerated strawberries, chantilly cream). Both were tasty, but the Tarta de naranja was so good: perfectly dense cake, refreshing citrus, and great contrast with the yogurt. For my drink, I got the Forget-Me-Not refrescante (butterfly pea flower, thyme, honey, lime, ginger beer). Very interesting drink, not sure I'd order again but it was good. Service was great, super willing to accommodate my vegetarian dietary restrictions. Ambiance is really nice, very modern and elegant. Very accessible by metro, just a short walk from the station. 10/10 would recommend!

First... man the chairs were UNCOMFY. Theres two types of stools and the padded one feels slightly…read moreslanted forward and small. But anyways Paella was delicious, the flavor profile was super fun. We got the short rib and seafood, and we all preferred seafood as the short rib was a bit heavy. The fish in it was crispy and so good, especially with the green sauce- nice herby and refreshing contrast. The figs were interesting and fun. But not that filling... I did not like the patatas... sauce was good but the potato itself had none of its own seasoning and was tough. Yes crispy but not pillowy inside. The octopus was delicious and super tender. Would come back for seafood paella and charcuterie.

Service was very detailed and intentional. Serving as well as describing each dish in such depth…read moreand maintaining the authentic story of the chef. Elegance in the form of assorted napkins based on your pant color and delicately pouring warm hygienic hand wipes before and after snacks and clearing every course in pairs like a choreographed dance. Our sommelier Aran did something I rarely see at restaurants which was down sell us rather than try to upsell us on something we were unsure of. The bottle of wine he selected for us from Portugal was from 96' and was great value. We also enjoyed a few glasses of White wines by the glass and Half glass that he recommended with the first 3 courses and it was spectacular and complimented the food wonderfully.

We visited Xiquet by Danny Lledó for the Summer Tasting Menu and to celebrate An's birthday. The…read moremeal showcased modern Spanish cooking inspired by Valencia, with seafood, seasonal ingredients, and dishes prepared in the woodfire kitchen. The presentations were beautiful, and the lobster paella was especially memorable. We also added the signature Ibèric Wellington, but weren't impressed with it. I communicated my allergies a few days before our reservation. The kitchen accommodated them, but several of my dishes arrived without sauce. I understand that substitutions can be difficult with a tasting menu, though I was disappointed that an alternative sauce couldn't be offered. Those dishes felt less complete than the chef intended. There was also an awkward moment when we asked a staff member to take a photo of the chef with our party of four. One person was cut out of the picture, so we didn't get the group photo we'd hoped for. Overall, it was a special way to celebrate An's birthday, and we appreciated the creativity and care evident in the meal. The allergy accommodations and photo experience kept it from being a five-star visit for me.

It is my second time at Casa Teresa. Both times the gastronomic experience has been pleasant. We…read moreshare two appetizers: setas ( mushrooms) and gratínate onions. The onions had a crust prepared of egg yolk and spiced pork sauce. Very interesting taste. We also tried the beet gazpacho which was delicious. They added small croutons and blue cheese. We shared the bellota pork sirloin. The portion has been dramatically reduced but the taste still very good. I had a glass of White Muga which I love. Overall the experience was very good. Waiters are attentive without been intrusive. They have a great balance of being attentive without been intrusive or annoying.

As a DC Native who lived in Spain for years I want to support Casa Teresa, yet Casa Teresa took…read moreaway my sense of safety while dining in America. During a visit to watch the World Cup a fellow customer claimed I was "bothering her." Management immediately asked me to leave and then instead of attempting to understand the situation, Richard Brandenburg, the CEO, escalated the situation by calling the police. At the time I believed he was management. The staff continued to serve me food while the police were on their way. I have a hard time believing the actions of staff or the women were not motivated by my race or gender. Sharing this online is difficult as racism, microaggression and unconscious bias exists in many forms and we learn to stay silent due to shame. In this case a post needed to be shared so other patrons do not face the same experience I did.

RESTAURANT WEEK ONLY. I can't comment on day to day dining here…read more I can say I do highly recommend for restaurant week. They worked hard to accommodate allergy concerns and everyone enjoyed their food. They had a good selection of options. Excellent service. The churro is absolutely incredible! Classy atmosphere inside.

Food score: 4. The branzino is great, the truffle fries are…read morewhat truffle fries should be. The ramen noodle came in with separate broth and noodle, so you pull broth yourself to the noodle. Cool presentation but the broth needs to be hotter and taste a bit blend (for someone likes blend). The cocktail drinking menu, however, is quite impressive. It is a little booklet listed and drew out all the detail ingredients go into the little glass! Ambiance 4 As it is inside Ritz Carlton, you can expect that it is a pretty nice place with a bit of luxury feel, but lack of wow effect for a Ritz. It is July, perfect seasons for all the flowers, but there is an empty flower bed outside the window. Not the best view. There is a big gathering/conference thing going on, so some old friends were very happy seeing each other and were a bit too excited and loud. I hope that they could have gently reminded the guests as shouting and laughing uncontrollably have effects on other guests' dining experiences. Service: 4 It is fine for Ritz, nothing stand out. Overall: you may stop by for a drink or you are nearby, but no reasons to venture out here.

The best experience I've ever had at any restaurant…read more Shoutout to Derique for making sure we were taken care of and expelling his positive energy. Y'all hit that jackpot hiring that man. To Zach who moved an umbrella for us to make sure we didn't get rained on. It wasn't raining yet, and we didn't ask for it, but sure enough it started to drizzle a little while later. Finally to Dem who took an item off the bill because she could tell my Wife didn't really like it. Again, we didn't ask or say anything about it but she did it anyways. Of course the food was great, but the people were the best thing about this place.

I hadn't been to Blue Duck in years. It was nice to see what they've been up to…read more The build out is a modern open kitchen concept where you can walk right through the prepping area to get to the restrooms. They still had the beautiful glass encased booths on the other side, which I learned had a bar menu that offers sandwiches and other selections. I would have much rather sat on that side-The Blue Duck Lounge, but instead we were sat in the main area where there is a fixed menu, and because it was so much food we ended up sharing an entree. The duck roasted to perfection; the greens had too much apple cider vinegar in them for me to enjoy. The cheesy grits were pretty good, although I personally would have preferred a really good mac with a hoity toity locally sourced-cheese. Strawberry martini was good, fruit forward and solid on the vodka. I look forward to coming back and sitting on the lounge side with the small plates, so that I can try a variety of things. Overall Blue Duck is still thriving and a very delightful place to dine!

Great service and very unpretentious IMO. We had an amazing meal and all agree this is our favorite…read moreIndian restaurant in DC! We did not have a single bad dish. The four of us ordered different things and really enjoyed them all. The standouts were the oysters, lamb shank, and the duck. However, everything was fantastic. The cocktails were delicious and served in a whimsical fashion. We really enjoyed ourselves and want to return ASAP!

Beautiful Restaurant, and the service was okay (for Michelin). There was just something our…read moreexperience lacked here. I didn't take any photos because I really just wanted to enjoy it, etc., without whipping out my phone for every course. Even for a Micheline restaurant, I felt it unnecessary to serve the drinks on their own stage/platter with other things surrounding it (inedible trinkets and whatnots). The drink is presented to you, and the whole "stage" for the drink gets whisked away. I say bring the drink in the glass you're supposed to drink out of and let it speak for itself. Maybe this is done for quick Instagram picture moments? Other than that...meh...My husband did enjoy his drink, and I thought it was wonderful as well, as I tasted it. The Stage presentation was so unnecessary to me, though. Unfortunately, there are no non-alcoholic spirits, and for a Michelin-Star restaurant. I feel like this is a must have (non alcholoic, wines, sparklings, whiskeys, gins, ect.) That would be my number one recommendation for this spot. We found the menu a bit confusing at first, and didn't receive the best explanation of what the "rundown" was on how to order. Each course was okay, Service was quick to put the dish in front of us, and wander off, without explanation of what was going on, on the plate ( ya, we picked out what we ordered, doesn't necessarily mean we knew what we were eating lol)... The best dishes for both my husband and I were the mains. He had a monkfish, and I had the crispy duck...pretty good Our mains came with really great rice and lentils. The Naan, was incredibly underwhelming, didn't seem like it was the freshest, and lacked the salt and fat/butter/herbs and warmth I was hoping for. So interesting experience overall...