Food was good. Nothing to brag about to be honest. Don't go here on a summer night unless you want to sweat like crazy. We sat outside and there are no fans or anything outside. Overall ok experience. don't recommend read more

We had a great New Year's Eve dinner for 4 in the dining room at Iron Gate. Everything was wonderful: the manager was very accommodating in advance, the ambiance is particularly unique and perfect for a winter night, the server and chef went out of their way to accommodate a garlic allergy, and each and every dish was delicious. Highly recommend for a special occasion or otherwise. read more

FAIL, I had high hopes, for Iron Gate and I been wanting to go here for years. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The appetizers were delicious, the flavors were unique and well prepared. That's where the good part ends. I not sure if my experience was because of a four person table who arrived after my party and seemed to know the chef or something else. The place was about 1/2 full, so it did not seem to have been because of the patrons demands. It seemed to take a longer then normal time to get our entrees and when they arrived they were almost room temperature both my steak and my dinning partner's fish seemed like the plates were sitting in the kitchen in a holding bin before it was delivered. Did the waiter forget?? My partner tolerated his meal, I sent mine back. 4 minutes later and most likely, a microwaved steak return, not much better. Having a steak knife should be part of the process when the steak is served, or prepped prior to the meat arriving. Not at the Iron Gate. Getting the wait staff's attention was a challenge as well. It was a Monday at 7:30, not the busiest part of the week. Not only did I have to ask for a steak knife, ask to refill the water glasses, there was no check in by wait staff, nor follow up on the experience. Leaving my credit card on the table to get the check went unnoticed. Meanwhile that table next to ours seemed to have food delivered BY THE CHEF, plus two waiter attending to every detail of these four diners. One of those waiters were supposed to be attending our table. The service and food of their four top seem to be well prepared and delivered in the highest of quality and in the quickest amount of time possibly, even the staff explaining the food that was being served to these special guests. I noticed the chef observed this table from his small kitchen window very pleased with the enjoyment of these four guests. We did not have that personal touch and felt like we were in steerage section of this Iron Gate vessel. read more

Simple amazing......like for real! The staff is phenomenal, the food is no joke, and the drink menu is second to none. We came last minute in shorts since we stayed across the street and there was no issue (other fancy places would have turned us around). We come from Texas which is the land of humbleness- from a Texan, I will say, this place is the absolutely best we found during our week trip here. Yeeehawww, thanks guys! read more

Food and atmosphere outdoor were superb. What is beyond galling was the 22% utterly bogus service charge (that did NOT include the gratuity for our server) that was just dropped on us when the bill came. Given this is a fairly expensive restaurant, the surcharge on top of the bill, then taxed BEFORE calculating the tip was a monster unwelcome increase in the cost of our dinner. When I asked the manager on site, he said it was required because they had a PPP loan--which is just flat out not true. We have supported DC restaurants throughout the pandemic and have never encountered a percentage-of surcharge , never mind one approaching that magnitude. If they had a per person charge to help , we would happily have paid it. But masks etc (which is what he explained they were for) are fixed fee so should not float depending on how costly is the dinner. Absolutely we should have been told about this before we ate so we could decide whether to proceed or not. None of us will return to Iron Gate--we felt blindsided and taken of and lied to (as to the surcharge being dicated the PPP loan.) read more

Iron Gate is the perfect spot for brunch or a cocktail on a nice day. The restaurant's cozy ambiance makes you feel at home and the food makes you feel even better. The sesame crusted feta was the star of our entire meal: creamy yet crispy, sweet yet sour--it was the perfect appetizer! The lemon ricotta pancakes and the yeasty donuts were great, as well. Definitely returning to try more from the menu! read more

With so many great restaurants in DC, do not go here! Go to the Dabney!!!!! I can sum this up by one word... WOW! On the recommendation of a DC chef we arrived at 9:30 hoping to enjoy a wonderful meal. The hostess greeted us with a lovely smile and we indicated that we could enjoy their offerings at the bar. From there the service and attitude of all FOUR staff members was so cold and unwelcoming that halfway through our $27 drinks we left! Perhaps the food is wonderful and perhaps the cocktail list is amazing but when delivered with a negative entitled attitude... when you slap the list on the bar, walk away, ask do you know what you want, proceed to look at us and check your watch (btw your hours of operation state you are open for anther 75 minuets) when we asked for the check the response was "fine" and when WE said thank you snottily replied "your welcome". The atmosphere is great and undoubtedly someone is working very hard in the kitchen but customers deserve to be treated better and I have had better service at the dry cleaners. read more

The location, including the patio, is nice. However, they tried to seat us three outside on the patio while it was literally freezing (were they kidding?). That little heater did not make up for the freezing wind, so we said no and were seated inside near the front door which wasn't ideal with all the people coming and going. Food was OK, with some dishes just too salty. We had two ladies serving us. One was really nice, the other one wasn't. All in all, not a very thrilling experience and also a bit overpriced. read more

The wine was brilliant and it was my first dining experience in the USA where the plates were sized perfectly! Food was exciting. Every dish had a little interesting twist. My pasta for example was very well balanced and the sauce had the perfect middle ground between liquid and creamy. I'd recommend the Iron Gate to everybody, Foodie or Celebrator alike. Too pricy though for just everyday. Oh and the bar and the whole place just looks great! read more

Been here several times and finally felt compelled to write about it. Great place would recommend for a date or even night out with friends!

I can't speak for the food at Iron Gate. The setting is pretty awesome. I went for Valentine's Day drinks with friends (two drinks) and the server overcharged my card. I called and gave my information/told them I had authorized x and been charged y and still have not heard back. It's hard to trust a place where you clearly were taken advantage of. read more

The only reason this is four and not five stars is because the service had some hiccups. My husband and I enjoyed a romantic dinner for two in the tasting room. It was a nice pre-spring night so not too cold. There were some brave souls dining al fresco, but we sat in the beautiful remodeled stable with a toasty fire blazing. The setting was perfect, with a nice sound track (though it did repeat) and low lighting (had to use the candle to read the menu). I commend the perfectly comfortable chairs too! You choose from the four course, six course or chefs tasting options. I went with four while my husband went with six. Greek and Southern Italian dishes and wines (we went with the wine pairings as well). Just so much fun to try different tastes. The beet, walnut and yogurt salad was delish and I don't like beets! The baked rockfish with polenta, olives and squid was total comfort food. Veal sweetbreads, lobster raviolo and pork belly -- yum! It's pricey, but worth the indulgence. As for the service, our waitress was very charismatic and knew her stuff. It's just that she disappeared from time to time -- starting with our welcome and then a big gap before we had to track her down to get our menus. The thing is, there are servers of varying degrees running to and fro, but on several occasions we had to flag down someone to help. That's something that should be addressed for a fine dining restaurant of this magnitude. I would take a chance for a bar seat or a table in the patio to try a less intense dining experience. It is a beautiful place with so much history and a uniqueness that sets itself apart in the DC dining scene. read more

You come to expect a lot from restaurants like this and Iron Gate exceeds on every level. The tasting menu was a thrill for the mouth every course. Wine pairing was perfect and from a lot of out of the ordinary regions. Special thanks to T J and Chef Tony for their personal touch that made the evening one my wife and I will not forget. read more

Extremely impressed! We sat down and were immediately greeted by the manager who offered is complimentary champagne for our anniversary and concluded with complimentary cookies and spices. At the price I really have to justify the prices tag, but Iron Gate needs no justification. The dishes were delicious and service was tight. read more

Dined here on Super Bowl Sunday, hoping to skip the crowds to try a first-rate dining experience. We were not disappointed. Atmosphere was classy. Three of us did the four-course meal with pairings. Everything was excellent. Recommend the tortellini, the bison, and the risotto especially. Cheese plates and chocolate cake for dessert (paired with their port, yasssss). Service was attentive, but not intrusive. read more

Great spot for a happy hour and bites, sitting outside on a warm evening or a more formal dining inside . Food is unique and great presentation. Service is excellent with low turnover.Great ambiance for over 30 crowd with sophisticated tastes. read more

I unreservedly recommend Iron Gate, especially if you are celebrating a special occasion. We were congratulated and started off with some excellent Greek Sparkling Rosé. Most of the appetisers were good, all the mains were excellent, as were the dessert. The overall experience of dining here was truly a marvellous one. The staff ensured a romantic ambience, and were accommodating and friendly. We genuinely had a good time, especially being able to chat with them about the prevalence of Greek wine there, and parts of the menu. The level of service and detail to a customer's satisfaction here, it's right up there with the likes of Komi. read more

Just went to our 8 year anniversary dinner here after reading a review on the Washingtonian's website. The waitress was awesome and sweet and brought us a yummy dessert for free! The cocktails were delicious - I had the nickolai -- and the tapas were fairly good too- although without the sauce the short rib fritters are very bland. The main family style course was very subpar. We got the frutti di mare and it was mostly overcooked and the fish steak had a ton of bones in it. I kinda wish we had sent it back or told the waitress, but we were having fun and enjoying the ambiance too much. Overall I'd say the atmosphere is great, but the food is not worth the price. Many other much tastier places to pick from for these prices. read more

It was my first time back since it was renovated, and was disappointed. The ravioli dish in the brunch menu contains only five pieces, which were not enough even for a petite woman. Also, the taste was mediocre. Regarding its donuts, they were tiny and cute, but too sweet. read more

I cannot begin to say how FANTASTIC our experience was at The Iron Gate. First, the drink menu was extensive but covered all of our parties particular tastes. Second, the meal was perfect. We had the squid ink pasta, the eggplant, and the swordfish. We had worried at first that it was not going to be enough food when we chose the 4 course instead of the 6 but we were very very full by the end of our meal. Finally, our waiter Daniel is what made our night so special. Not only did he answer all of our questions as we had not eaten there before, but he had thoughtful (and amazing/unique) suggestions for the wine pairings. The whole meal felt very special and it was fun for all of us. We agreed that The Iron Gate has been our favorite food/wine/drink experience we think of all time. I should also mention that the ambiance was very warm and inviting and romantic. all in all it was again, fantastic. And if you are lucky Daniel will be there! read more

Iron gate was okay. I got the crispy catfish and crispy potatoes-- I have no complaints on either. I was simply expecting more from both dishes. I can't for lunch with coworkers on a Friday; we called ahead to make a reservation but we were told there was no availability and we'd have to sit at the bar. This was fine with us, except when we arrived the restaurant was totally empty. All in all it's a decent restaurant and has a nice feel to it. read more

Iron Gate is easily my favorite restaurant in D.C. I was blown away by my first experience at the Iron Gate in 2016, so much so that I decided to propose to my fiancé in the fine dining area last week. I cannot speak more highly of my experience. I worked with Blake, one of the managers, to set up the proposal. Blake was exceptional on all fronts, from the initial phone call to delivering the ring to the table on a dessert plate. Our waiter and Som (Oliver) was equally as wonderful. The food was amazing and the night was absolutely perfect in all respects. I couldn't speak more highly of this restaurant, we will be customers for life. Thanks again to Oliver and Blake, you guys are amazing!!! read more

I hesitate to give the Iron Gate in DC even one star. The first sign of this miserable evening to come was the posture and demeanor of all we came in contact with on April 8, 2019. The maitre'd, bartender and especially our waitperson revealed that they would rather be anywhere else than on the job at the Iron Gate. Our waitperson was indisposed, high or drunk...seamed confused and could not finish a sentence or explain any of the dishes or answer our questions. The menu was unreadable...postcard sized and a font so small...you needed a magnifying glass. We ordered several dishes...not exactly explained...that were horrifying. The radish appetizer was not as expected. The radish was not small and red but a huge chunk of raw daikon which was inedible. The Kohlrabi Tzatziki was completely flavorless as were the raw carrots for dipping. No bread or cracker suggestions...we had to beg for some bread to dip into the barrata dish and the tzatziki. Ordered the focaccia without cheese and olives and got cheese & olives. The Burrata was spoiled milk...and not one dish had the ingredients on it as described by the on-line menu. We asked for a white wine and the waitress brought red. We ordered the ricotta gnocchi and not one of us could chew and swallow a single gnocchi as they were "rubber". What a waste of our time, money and patience...we could not get out of there fast enough. DON'T GO...you will be horrified!!! read more

It was so cold in the back dining room they gave us blankets. Blankets? Really? How about some heat? Seems like a minimum requirement for a place of this level. The food was good but not amazing. They lean pretty heavily on the salt. Presentation was great, and the service was excellent. But, really, folks, take the space heaters out of the bathrooms and put them in the dining room. It makes for a much better dining experience. read more

Have returned for lunch several times and always enjoy the experience. The outdoor courtyard under old grape vines is delightful, the service is friendly, and the lunch menu changes frequently and is fresh and seasonal. On the latest visit, the greek coffee was quite bad, but otherwise everything was exquisite. read more

Large portions, excellent food, interesting combinations of flavor and good service! Had a great time here- this is now my favorite place to get brunch in the city. read more

4.5 food was tapas style and every plate we tried was point on- ambiance was lovely as well in the outdoor covered patio

Awful food and awful customer service. Servers and management are rude. the dinner was ridiculously expensive and the food was undercooked and quite frankly inedible. The management are rude and aggressive - would not recommend at all. An evening that i wholeheartedly regret read more

I know this restuarant garden patio is outside and I'm in the city but really all the rats running around makes me questions this place the food is over salted and the service is spotty. dont think I will be back as my girlfriend had a rat run over her feet. When the rat problem is fixed this place romantic but just keep in mind they have rats. read more

Don't bother. I've tried to make a reservation at least 4 times, left multiple voicemails, and they don't call back. Forget it.

I was taken here for my birthday! Let's just say the service was impeccable! I highly recommend sitting outside as well! Food and drinks were absolutely amazing! Order anything from this menu. You will not be disappointed!! read more

I was looking forward to having a honeymoon dinner in this place. Such a horrible mistake. We made a reservation a few weeks prior to the date. We called a few hours before the dinner and asked for the table outside, pointing out that it was our honeymoon, and we were promised the table. We went to the restaurant, and we were seated inside, not the outside. We asked for outside table again and were told to wait at the bar, the table would be ready in 15 minutes. We went to the bar and had to remind to the host of ourselves. We got the drinks. I got the wine, and wasn't really impressed. We were ready to leave in 40 minutes and then they remembered about us, table outside was ready. It was late to go anywhere else. We hoped that at least the food would be as good as reviews promised. We shared crostini, risotto and octopus. Food was over salted and over spiced. There was no enjoyment. Therefore we didn't order anything else. Horrible experience. One nice thing. Our waiter was okay. We left and went to another place for food. Overall: we are not picky, but c'mon way to ruin a honeymoon dinner, just an amazingly horrible experience. read more

My husband and I feel so validated reading others negative reviews containing poor service and rat encounters. We came here for our anniversary and had such high hopes. First off, service was terribly disorganized. Our server came over, gave us menus, filled our water and walked away. Never introduced us or welcomed us. When she came back to take our orders we asked for recommendations. Literally she said, "I'm not sure, I like everything." Cool. Our drinks and food came and we never saw her again. Other servers continued to fill our glasses, but it didn't seem like anyone was tending to our table for the entire 2 hours. We had to flag over other people to get more drinks, and eventually the bill. Food was fine, but nothing extraordinary. And yes, there are rats. I saw one run across the sofa during our meal, and a couple next to us kept hearing several on the branched roof above us. They complained and then moved tables. This is disgusting . I understand this is a city but a restaurant should not be functioning (and charging $20/small plate) in an environment like that. Will NOT return. read more

Loved everything about it. Wife and I had did the prix fixe menu. Firstly, let me just say it may be the most unique and romatic setting in the city. Secondly, let me say I'm very sick of prix fixe menues in general. Having said all that, the food was very good- solid dishes that did not try too hard. Service was stellar, all staff new all about each dish, wine, etc. Wine pairing was fantastic. I got to try some very different wines that you just dont find on most area cookie-cutter wine lists. Prices were very reasonable considering all of the above. I'll go back to try the bar/patio dishes for sure. Take you woman there for a great evening gents. She'll love it.. read more

I sent the following email to the manager at Iron Gate and, a week later, have received no response. Other diners should know that the food on my weeknight visit was less than satisfactory. Tuesday evening (June 10), four of us had a disappointing dinner at the Iron Gate on the patio, a very attractive setting. The appetizers and desserts were very good but the entrees were not. Two of us chose the 4-course fixed tasting menu that featured Peking duck breast; the others ordered a la carte scallops and the grilled duck legs. Both of the Peking ducks were chewy and one portion had inedible skin that had not been removed. The scallops were very salty and the grilled duck received no compliments. My wife and I enjoyed an excellent tasting menu dinner inside last December so we encouraged a foodie couple to join us at Iron Gate last night. The disappointing quality of the entrees for the dinner price (with wine and tip almost $300) make us wonder what was wrong. Was last night an off night for the chef or just our unfortunate choices of menu items? I'm certain you can understand our reluctance to return to Iron Gate or to recommend it to others after last night's experience despite the setting and excellent, attentive service. read more

The experience is great but for the price the food should have been better. I prefer the bar and a la carte menu. Service of course is exceptional. This would be a four star for the a la carte/bar and patio experience and three for the coursed out meal. read more

We were first time diners at Iron Gate Garden & Carriageway, this past week, to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary. I hadn't remembered including the reason for our dinner in my Open Table reservation, having made the reservation so long ago, but our charming (and totally adorable) server greeted us with two complimentary glasses of sparkling wine. From beginning to end, it was a memorable experience: the food - which was inventive but still grounded in those mediterranean tastes we all crave - came well timed throughout; the wines and cocktails recommended perfectly suited our meal and were a great introduction to Greek wines for us; and the service was thoughtful but very unobtrusive. The gemelli with rabbit, the green tomato keftedes, and the Maine mussels with sausage, fennel, and saffron aioli on ciabatta were all real standouts. Next time, we look forward to trying a family style platter. As we peaked around, other diners' mixed grill plates and snapper platters looked amazing. In a word, perfect. We ended the meal with another complimentary surprise: a beautiful platter of cookies on the house. Sitting under the canopy of greenery, listening to the nice hum of diners, and enjoying a captivating meal -- a totally perfect anniversary dinner. Thank you, Iron Gate! read more

The Agriturismo menu (Monday and Tuesdays only in the garden) was delicious! $50 for 4 courses for 2 people with $25 bottles of house wines. When I made reservations and when the hostess called to confirm I noted that I was a vegetarian and was told a special non-meat main dish would be prepared. While this actually wasn't the case (as I was told so by the manager upon arrival), only the third course had meat so I didn't miss much (the broccoli in the first course is topped with lardo, but they thought ahead and didn't put that on ours). The only downside was that the garden was very warm and there weren't any fans and that I was told a vegetarian option would be available to replace that meat option but that wasn't true. Course 1: picked veggies, eggplant dip with flax seed crackers, squash focaccia and broccoli with hazelnuts Course 2: ricotta ravioli Course 3: pork with veggies and salsa verde, creamy bean salad and corn on the cob Course 4: vanilla butter cream ice cream with apricots, peaches and cherries read more

The Iron Gate is a must for anyone looking for an amazing meal in a spectacular outdoor venue, in a totally unpretentious and low-key atmosphere. This was without a doubt the best meal I had in DC this summer- the menu selection is expansive and is pretty reasonably priced for how beautiful the ambiance of the restaurant is. In the face of the artisan, farm-to-table food trends overtaking DC, the Iron Gate has its fair share of trendy but also offers solid, classic choices and a few surprise selections (homemade ricotta, smoked polenta and ragu, burrata) Sitting outside you feel like you're eating in a tucked away garden patio of some enchanted palace- the vines covering the outdoor eating area are covered in lights, and fans, blankets, or whatever you could desire are available to make the outdoor temperature suited to your individual needs. Seriously, very beautiful and romantic. The waiters and waitresses are all hugely attentive and low key- we were a little under dressed when we walked in and no one blinked an eye. read more

Delicious! My husband and I love going out to restaurants and came here for my 30th birthday! It was absolutely delicious! We had the chef's recommendations and we were blown away. Every single course was so good! We had different wine with every course! The staff were very professional and knowledgable of the menu. I highly recommend! I can't wait to go back to this restaurant! read more