Excellent service all around! Three courses for dinner - family style is a good deal for two people! read more

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Came here for brunch- it is very reasonably priced and has beautiful ambiance with several fun cocktails. They have several vegetarian options but nearly all involve eggs- I would recommend adding a hearty vegan option as well. Otherwise I had a great time- beautiful decor and fast service! read more

It was the sign that first caught our eye as we strolled through the neighborhood. Otherwise very inconspicuous, Iron Gate, made us stop in the middle of the tree-lined street. The posted menu seemed very intriguing and we made reservations for brunch. When we entered through the iron gates, the long bar and high ceilings were surprising. The patio with the roof of wisteria vines and fairy lights were very charming and then they led us through a carriage way to a cozy bar with leather chairs and a fireplace. We convinced them to let us sit on the patio and it was quite pleasant. We started with loukoumades, lightly fried tiny dough with lemon, sesame seeds and orange blossom syrup. The cremini mushroom arancini were crisp and filled with fontina cheese and rosemary and drizzled with a black garlic aioli. The brunch selections are quite unexpected from the usual fare. I ordered the Maple roasted autumn squash. The thinly sliced Asian pear with slight citrus and the spiced nuts and seeds were a bracing counterpart to the mellow squash. I would have preferred the squash to be a bit more tender. I appreciated the salty/spicy/crunchy nuts/seeds in contrast with the sweet and squash. The rest of our party ordered Bread pudding French toast, Two olive oil fried eggs, Hearth baked hen eggs and trumpet mushroom panino. The flavors were rich and earthy, savory and hearty. We were pleased with the unexpected and unconventional flavors and the gentle and relaxing ambience. This was a brunch we savored, all the more because it was unusual and surprising. read more

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Vibe: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Value: 10/10 - we got a wonderful brunch deal for restaurant week! We visited during Summer Restaurant Week for brunch - unfortunately, I waited too long to review and no longer have the menu to reference for individual item ratings, but every single thing we had was delicious. Iron Gate is a must-visit in our book! read more

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Lunch at the iron gate was an absolute delight. The food is delicious, and the ambience is charming and beautiful. My sever Jonathan was attentive and helpful, and most importantly, a joy! I will definitely visit again when I'm in town. read more

The food was amazing, and the location is so beautiful. We did a wedding luncheon there and it went perfectly!

Iron Gate is an amazing restaurant for work lunches and dinners. I have been here so many times, all for work or work-adjacent dinners and lunches and everything is always great. The menu is always rotating but there are a few items that are almost always available. The service is very good and the servers are very knowledgeable and efficient. I love the back area with the fireplace. It's so cozy. For special events, they have a back table that's covered with a tent that can be enclosed. It's very quiet and private, and is very comfortable for larger groups. read more

Very thoughtfully curated menu and delicious. The pickles drink was a bit tart for my taste but everything else was incredible. I'm still dreaming of those squash blossoms! And the honey yogurt cocktail! And such a cute vibe!!! My only complaint was the mosquitoes but they so kindly brought bug spray. It's pricey and small portions, but I'd definitely go back for a special occasion. read more

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I visited Iron Gate during DC Restaurant Week and enjoyed their $65 three-course meal. We opted for the patio seating, which felt like a serene retreat from the bustling city streets. The covered wooden trestle with vines overhead created a charming Mediterranean atmosphere, plus they had fans that kept the bugs away. For starters, I had the watermelon and feta salad, a delightful mix of sweet and savory that set a high bar for the meal. We also have a tomato salad, which was good. The main course featured perfectly cooked, flaky fish with corn. Dessert was a rich chocolate-hazelnut mousse, generously portioned and very satisfying. While the wine selection was extensive, I would have appreciated more non-alcoholic options beyond Coke products. The indoor area seemed a bit warm, though I was happy to be on the picturesque patio. read more

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Celebrated my birthday tonight with my honey and enjoyed every minute. We sat outside despite the chilly temps as any new englander would (dress appropriately) - a fabulous night was had!! 100% recommend as the staff is beyond efficient and attentive. Multiple fireplaces and heat lamps provide a significant amount of warmth to enjoy the evening comfortably. Shoutout to Jonathan our server for an incredible night. Jonathan truly has a contagious spirit and moved intentionally to make our experience special. We really enjoyed sharing the night here at Iron Gate - Thank you so much - will absolutely be back soon! read more

Iron gate is the perfect place to take your significant other on a date. It's tucked away in a neighborhood like area, but also right by the metro. The dining area is in a open space so come when the weather permits. We sat inside where there's a small bar. The bartenders Tonya and I believe Ariana need a raise. They are so funny and interactive with everyone. The drinks were stellar. The food was chefs kiss. I have not a single complaint. We only sat here because the next reservation was too long of a wait. Im glad we got the full serve at the bar instead. It was the best seat in the house! These two made a perfect duo. The timing of dishes coming out was timely well. It was so much food we had to take get a to go box which they took care for us. Parking can be tricky. You'll need to find street parking or garage parking. Or metro in they have a station within. 5min walk tops. Thank you for everything we hope you come give this place a try. I know om bringing my family and friends here next! read more

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Beautiful space, attentive staff, inventive cocktails, and delicious food. Iron Gate has it all! We had the focaccia as an appetizer and I will say it was the only thing I didn't love. It was okay, staved off hunger pains, but just felt heavy. Now on to everything great! Drinks: we had the Iron Maiden, Haspiko, and Alla Moda. I recommend them all! Mains: I had the Oak Grilled Octopus and he had the Steak. Both were cooked to perfection and delicious. I look forward to returning! read more

Iron Gate - Oak Grilled Octopus, Focaccia, Steak - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We attended a family wedding here, March 14, 2025. They did a fantastic job as a host location. The food was delicious, the drinks tasty. The staff did a great job. read more

Iron Gate - Wedding menu - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I liked it, sat at the bar and ate but my son didn't like his to-go order. I had a really solid beet salad with a fired feta that was delish. The beets were nicely cooked and the fried feta balls were great. They also have a solid hummus with veggies that I really liked as an app. The kid had the prosciutto which he didn't like, he didn't like the sauce on it and after rubbing off the sauce didn't like the prosciutto. For him it was sliced a little thicker than he's had in the past. I did note that a lot of items on the menu have honey and a couple with truffle, which for me are always a no-go, but that's very personal. Bartender was awesome. read more

Very good and solid brunch spot. The outdoor patio is beautiful and the service was wonderful. My boyfriend and I walked in starving and left the perfect amount of full without feeling over stuffed and we didn't over order! The spanakopita was delicious- an absolute must try in my book. And the Gnocchi was nice and light and fluffy. Looking forward to going back and trying out some other dishes! read more

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Went here for a date and it was so fun and romantic. We did the chefs family table with 2 of us so $85 per person with essentially all the first courses plus some, one entree and one dessert. We did the flank steak as the entree and chocolate torta caprese as the dessert. The entree comes with a salad, a pasta dish, and bread as well. It was more than enough food and small portions so we didn't get too full and were able to try everything. We also had the Guide to Imbibe book so we got buy one get one free of the nikolaki cocktail. Overall it was definitely on the more expensive side but so worth it for the amount of food we got. The service was always prompt but not overbearing. Most of the available seating is outside but each table essentially had its own fire pit so even though we went on a cooler night we were more than comfortable. Absolutely would go again! read more

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I used to LOVE Iron Gate but I had a terrible experience today. Is it because of the change of Chef and Staff? I don't know. I ordered the pork gyro. It looked huge and amazing and had some good flavors but it was 80% fat and 20% pork! Disgusting. (I was treating someone so I didn't want to complain at that time.) But as if that wasn't enough, the waitress charged me for a bottle of wine ($80) instead of a glass ($19)! When I pointed it out she said she was new. I think not only should she have fixed the bill, she might have comped me for the glass of wine or do something special. I won't be back for a long while which is a shame as I love the atmosphere and the wine was delicious. They need a major renovation of their operations. read more

Service was top-notch! Food was incredible! Ambiance was charming. Highly recommend! Cameron was the most delightful server. Kind, friendly, knowledgeable. Paced the courses perfectly and made our anniversary dinner so special! read more

This is a restaurant that has been around in DC forever and I finally got myself there to meet up with a friend. I loved the outdoor place and with the fire pits and heaters, it's delightful even in 45 degree weather! They offer blankets if you want too! Loved my drink: kick the mule! They have an interesting menu where you can have 3 courses for $75 or order Al la carte. My friend and I chose Al la carte... loved the focaccia. It's carbs on carbs!! Potatoes are in it too! My four scallops were tasty -- but small portion, so order something else. My friend enjoyed a bourbon based drink, the pasta carbonara and the flatbread. Our bill was a little over $100 -- with drinks for $14 each, the bill will add up quickly! Great experience, and really loved the outdoor space! read more

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Can't believe i have lived in this area so many years and never been to iron gate It feels cozy and tucked away Nice ambience. It has high ceilings and a medieval chateau vibe without being tacky. Space is small like narrow bar. Drinks were great. I ordered the pandora. They also serve it to you in a box for pandora's box. I was a tool and made the bartender re-open the box so i could video it. Another person that ordered it after me did same thing so it is what it is I think the drinks here are creative or a little more surprising than other places--not referring to the pandora's box thing--just talking about taste of the cocktails. There is a gin drink that has filtered yogurt in it which to me is very different. Bartenders are attentive and professional. They keep water glasses full which i really appreciate. Had just come from dinner but food menu looked good. Will come back to try it! read more

Iron Gate - Pandora and gin martini with gin mare - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had the chefs table here and everything was delicious! Our server lem lem was extremely kind and helped us decide what we wanted to order and it did not disappoint. The food portions are perfect I did not leave here feeling too full it was the perfect amount to try everything. Would definitely recommend and come back! We sat in the lovely garden area outback and the vibes were great. read more

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The staff is spot on.from Joe to Gloria all the staff has been very attentive.the food is very well prepared.

Was honestly pretty disappointed in my experience here. After reading all the reviews, i was really surprised by the mediocre experience. Pros: 1) Nice ambiance -this is a beautiful restaurant 2) The restaurant handled my sesame allergy very well and i had no issues 3) It was easy to make changes to the reservation once we found out we had to add people. Cons: 1) Our waiter seemed to have forgotten about us and the meal took way longer than it needed to. Multiple times we were just sitting around with empty plates trying to get their attention. I can understand a two hour, easy going, nice meal - but 3.5 hrs was overkill. 2) We came to celebrate a birthday. I called ahead and confirmed with the wait staff that they do a specific dessert for birthdays. I even confirmed when we came and they knew it was our friends birthday. However, no special dessert came out and no acknowledgement of a birthday. 3) The food was good - but i think because of the wait i mentioned before, some of the warm food came out lukewarm or cold. Maybe it was an off night for the restaurant but i was very surprised and it was quite a damper on my friends birthday. read more

Wow! The tomato and watermelon salad (arugula puree and sesame toasted feta) was amazing. The gyro was really good and mushroom panini was okay (the latter didn't taste like fresh mushrooms and they were just portabella). Ambience was really great. Service was, unfortunately, VERY slow. It took 2 hours for lunch! read more

Absolutely amazing experience. Food was incredible and the service was phenomenal. Our waitress was Lemlem and she made the entire experience one of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!! read more

Phenomenal! The ambiance is beyond compare. Former horse stable with nature and indoor-outdoor feel. 100 year history. We enjoyed the smoked oysters, short rib and swordfish. Truly delicious. Service at bar was friendly, attentive and professional. You must experience! read more

We had some friends visiting a few weekends ago and they really wanted to try this place so we made a Saturday night reservation. I hate to say it, but for us, it didn't live up to all the reviews. First, let me say that the ambiance is great . I love the outdoor garden vibes and that every table has a fire pit. Our server was also nice and tentative. To start, we got cocktails. I got the alpine, which I enjoyed. We all thought the cocktails were real good. For dinner, I got the octopus, two of my friends got the duck, and another got the gnocchi. For the prices, everything was extremely small. The octopus was literally one tiny tentacle sitting on a bed of small salad. It was good but such a tiny portion for the price. The gnocchi was also just okay. We all tried it and didn't really understand the hype. It was simply average. The duck was good but again, an extremely small portion. Honestly, everything was just fine. We weren't blown away as we expected, and for the price, we definitely expected more. Maybe a la carte is not the way to go here. We found ourselves not very full by the end. The ambiance is great and the drinks were good but we expected more from the food. read more

Iron Gate - Fire next to the table is nice - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

While initially skeptical, I turned to love Iron Gate. Located in a great part of D.C., central but away from the noise and bustle of the city, Iron Gate is the perfect spot for a secluded date. My partner brought me here for my birthday.... and wow, did they deliver. Course after course, the flavors and pairings were wonderful. The waiter was very personable and down to earth. He walked us through the choices, noted any preferences and suggested various cocktails. Furthermore, when we didn't like something, he immediately and without hesitation offered to substitute it. He truly cared. Some of the dishes that stood out the most: their focaccia bread and pattypan squash. Both were simple yet so tasty! Thank you for an unforgettable night and I'm sure to return. Bravo. read more

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I've been to Iron Gate on a number of occasions, a few dinners, brunch, lunch, and even a corporate holiday party. My favorite time to go, however, is for restaurant week. For their regular meals, the portions are quite small and overpriced for what they are, making appetizers and/or a dessert wholly necessary. But for restaurant week, it's almost so much food you feel like you want to roll out of there, and a great deal for sure. Both dinner and lunch restaurant week were fabulous both times I went but--wow--the lunch was amazing. I believe everything I ordered is available on the regular lunch menu and I would recommend them all. I started off with the mushroom arancini, which were deliciously cheesy, hot, and paired with an amazing sauce. With (I think) six of them, it was a nice-sized portion, particularly for one person. Definitely shareable! For my main, I ordered the lamb gyro keftedes. It was extremely difficult to eat, being a cross between a pizza, pita, and salad of some sorts, but also delicious. A very strong lemon flavor, which I enjoyed. Definitely more of a lunch entree than a dinner entree, and may have been considered small if not for all the other things I ate. But the highlight of the meal was dessert. I had the chocolate bundido. Not only was it DELICIOUS in all caps, it was HUGE. It basically came in a cereal bowl, filled with essentially chocolate pot de creme, homemade whipped cream, hazelnuts, crumbled shortbread, sea salt, and olive oil. Honestly, it was so good but I couldn't finish it I was so full. I could have done with half a portion and been happy--I wish it was something that would have been easier to take home. I may come back for that dessert alone, and will have to find time to bring back my mother who is a chocolate fiend. The ambiance is A+, with an openish kitchen, relaxing music, and cozy cabin vibes in their indoor section. Their outdoor patio is equally tranquil and has numerous fire pits, weather permitting. There are some problems with temperature regulation--the bar area felt like a sauna and the indoor dining area was a bit cold--but it's otherwise beautiful. A very nice spot, for sure! read more

Iron Gate - Chocolate Bundido - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Building off my previous impressions, Iron Gate continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in DC. The layout of the restaurant gives speakeasy vibes, with a beautiful, trellis-covered patio for outdoor dining. I love that the food is rich but doesn't feel overly fatty or oily. I did the pre fix menu and with two friends, and the chef sent out additional dishes, which was an exciting surprise! Each item was so different in flavor and texture, and we had food to spare after stuffing ourselves. The waiter was also very personable and attentive. My only note is that the drink was WAY too strong for me, even after having it cut with juice twice. This would be a pro for most people though. read more

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Let's start with the highlights- the service was great. The hostess, server, and food runner made our experience quite pleasant. The hostess accommodated our last minute request to sit on the patio and the ambiance was lovely- felt like we were in a secret garden. Our server did a wonderful job at breaking down the menu and explaining how the chef's menu works. The food runner always made sure to explain what was in each dish and was quite enthusiastic about it. Even though we had wonderful service, the food was disappointingly underwhelming. Either it was too salty or there was too much mayo flavor (deviled eggs and Caesar salad). The focaccia was too thick and bland despite being topped with zucchini, roasted garlic and cheese. The only decent food items were the spelt bread, gnocchi and heirloom beet salad. Again, they were decent but nothing wow-worthy. My husband says I can be a tough cookie with food, but agreed that this place was not worth coming back to. While we loved the ambiance, the food was just too bland and forgettable. I say skip this place. read more

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We went and sat at the bar for some drinks. I got asked to move one seat over (no problem) to make room for others. Was given a free drink for something I thought wasn't a big deal. Shoutout to our bartender Jose, spectacular drinks and great guy! read more

I've always loved Iron Gate. I've been several times and have consistently enjoyed the food, service, and ambiance--it's one of my favorite spots. So naturally, I chose it again to celebrate a special occasion: my wedding anniversary. As always, the service was fantastic. Our server, Joey, was phenomenal--warm, attentive, and made us feel truly cared for. I really want to commend him for that. That said, I was disappointed by the food this time. We had the pre-fixe menu, and while nothing was outright bad, it simply didn't live up to the high standards I've come to associate with Iron Gate. The flavors were just average and lacked the finesse and excitement I've come to expect. It didn't feel "Iron Gate-esquire," and especially at the price point, I expected more. I didn't raise it in the moment because Joey was so wonderful, and I didn't want to dampen the mood. But I truly hope this was just an off night for the kitchen. Iron Gate has always been spectacular, and I'd love to see it return to that level of excellence. read more

We went there for Father's Day and sat inside in the back. The service was good and all the food was fantastic. Honestly, I think the way they make and Serve the hummus was the best I've ever had in my life. It has me investigating how to make it myself at home. Two in our party had the rib roast and it was cooked perfectly--very tender and flavorful accompanied with some nice vegetables and a fancy potato concoction. The other two in our party had the two pasta selections and both loved it. Desert was great. This place has really nice ambiance. But they pay close attention to their product and it's worth it. We were confused by the parking in front. Short answer is there is valet parking across the street so pretty easy in and out. read more

What a place! This is a great place for an intimate dinner, tucked away on a tree lined street yet in the middle of downtown Washington D.C. We were seated indoors, which was the better option on a hot night like the one we had (90F at 8pm!), but the outdoors patio sure looked romantic and cozy, so if you're on a date night - opt for that. The food was really good, and the only negative I have to say about it was that it was just too much! The dinner for two consisted of enough starters that you'd be full from just that, and then the main came in with sides that were just as big as the main itself! Wowza! I mean, sure, it's "family style", but we felt bad for barely touching the sides! Highly recommend them to adjust the portions for the number of people at the table. Service was attentive and dishes were cleared and new ones brought in at a good pace, definitely did not feel rushed. I think we spent almost three hours at the table. Staff was friendly and the little history introduction to the place was a nice touch that set the mood to be a little bit more special than "just dinner at any restaurant". Did not take any pictures, because really, when going to a place like this your focus in on your company and the food and you should definitely leave the phone on silent in your pocket... read more

This for me was an okay experience. I happen to come during restaurant week and so the menu was extremely limited. We didn't do the restaurant week menu which was a three-course meal for $65, but rather picked a appetizer to share as well as a dessert to share. And we each got our own entree I ended up getting the arancino balls which were good and also the chicken entree that came with potatoes. The Aaron Chino was pretty good. Didn't have too much flavor. I would have liked them to be a little bit spicier but they were prepared. Well. The chicken entree was fine. It did have a little bit of a bitter aftertaste which I wasn't sure what that was coming from but it was prepared well. For dessert. We ended up getting the chocolate pudding which was fine. No major issues with the service. Everyone was very nice. The one thing that I did not care for was they had a lot of fruit flies and bugs that were flying around which made it very annoying to deal with. Also some of the dishware that they serve definitely wasn't totally cleaned. I didn't bring this up to the server but it's just something to make note of as I suspect it might have to do with the cleanliness of the place. Ambience was very nice. I actually regret not sitting in the garden area. I think it would have been of a better experience if we sat there but the indoors was fine as well. Parking is on the street. Overall. I think it was a solid experience but certainly not the best In DC. read more

We went here for our anniversary dinner, and had a table outside in mid-July. The patio is covered and equipped with fans, and somehow we were not sweltering but instead were comfortable. Within seconds, our server was at our table and explained everything. He was over several times within the first 20 minutes, requesting our order, and I was worried the entire dinner was going to feel rushed. However, once we had ordered, everything was staggered and brought over at our own pace, which was a nice surprise. The sommelier was also at our table promptly, and asked if we were interested in a bottle of wine; upon saying yes, we were asked our preferences and then he brought a few options over. We actually ended up drinking 2 of the bottles he had suggested, both of which were spot on with what I enjoy in a bottle of wine. We opted for the $75pp chef's table, which was honestly a steal. It seems a little confusing on the menu, as we originally thought each of us would pick an item from both the second course and third course, and that is not the case. Instead, the "first course" is plated according to how many people there are in your party, and then you select one second course and one third course for the table to share. We did opt to order a 2nd second course a la carte as each of us already had our eye on a specific dish. We were served a small hummus dish first, compliments of the chef. The first course items (and more) arrived shortly after, and everything was very good. We slowly made our way through all 7 dishes we were presented with, and did not feel rushed at all. The second course was also plentiful, and everything we ate was tasty, but no dish stood out as truly spectacular. We do plan on going again, perhaps even twice a year as the menus change. For a good deal and plenty of tasty food options, how could you not! read more

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Wooooow I was absolutely blown away by so many details about this place. This is probably my favorite restaurant in DC after an incredible brunch yesterday. First, I love that this is located in such a charming, quiet neighborhood. We had made a reservation to sit outside, and my goodness, it was beautiful. I loved that the tables had fires going as well as the string lights overhead (I'm sure it's beautiful at night). The service was outstanding--John took care of us and gave us battery operated seat warmers (ingenious invention) since it was a little cold outside. We enjoyed every dish, and the mimosas here have generous pours! - Jill's Hot Cross Buns (5/5) Jill is definitely a very talented pastry chef! The bread had a great texture and the candied orange was delicious. - Two Olive Oil Fried Eggs (5/5) My favorite dish (minus the salad which was too salty in my opinion). The pesto with the eggs was phenomenal, and the crispy potatoes were perfect. - Caramelized Ricotta Gnocchi (5/5) I really enjoyed this dish as well, and I thought the portion size was really good. - Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (4/5) This dish was a little too sweet for me, but the whipped butter was delicious and the pancakes were so fluffy. A couple other details I appreciated were how large the paper towels in the bathroom were (great quality) and that John gave us a personalized thank you note for dining with them! I would DEFINITELY return! read more

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What can I say? Iron Gate is just amazing. The outdoor patio is so beautiful. There were fire pits at each table, and at 11 AM on a Sunday, it was a good level of crowded. I was really nervous to sit outside in 37 degree rainy weather, but the patio was super warm. We went for Restaurant Week, and I still am gobsmacked at how good of a deal this was. For $25/person, the 3 courses really pay for themselves. Here's what we got: - IRON GATE LOUKOUMADES: 4/5, flavored really nicely but after a couple, they are a bit too sweet - IMPORTED GREEK YOGURT: 5/5, at first this looked too simple, but it was perfect! When you got a bite of everything, it was creamy and refreshing! - MAPLE ROASTED SQUASH PANINO: 4/5, the bread was SO fresh and flavorful with the perfect crunch, and the pesto was so bright! Huge portion - OAK GRILLED BIFTEKI: 5/5, the meat was cooked perfectly, and the salad added the perfect touch of freshness - BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE BUDINO: 5/5, OMG. It seems like "just pudding" but it was a chocolate lover's dream!! Such a great mix of textures and flavors - OLIVE OIL TORTA: 5/5, perfectly moist and not too sweet I can't wait to come back to Iron Gate. An amazing place to spend a special occasion or "just a Sunday" read more

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Continues to be a solidly delicious option when in the Dupont area- we begged for a seat on a sat night at around 9:15pm after a show at the improv, they delivered and had us seated on their cute patio by 9:30! Patio is lovely albeit needs a tad bit of love (lanterns missing candles, some tables candles were out, my napkin and table were a bit dirty)- but I don't begrudge it for the quality of service and food and cocktails ! I once again mentioned we just wanted a la carte meals and the check as I had been dragging my dinner date around all day- and our server seemed to expedite our order as it came out fast and was delicious ! Bison entree and Cornish hen entree- two signature cocktails - and the chocolate boudin- DELISH !!! Old faithful!! read more