very limited main course menu. Food was good but expensive. Poor value for money. Go elsewhere for better value. Also we were seated outside very cold very little heating. Experience was very poor read more

This review is well over due. My boyfriend and I visited DC in July to celebrate our 3 years. We had a beautiful dinner here. The ambiance of the restaurant is so charming! Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable. She helped us select 3 small plates and then shared the mix grilled meats. Everything was absolutely mouth watering. This place definitely deserves 5 stars! read more

Everything about Irongate is visually beautiful - the tucked back entrance, high ceiling carriage-way, vine covered patio and then the wonderfully intimate and cozy main dining room tucked in the back. Lots of dimmed lights and candles, and a working fireplace -- we loved the atmosphere. We were also very impressed with the menu - creative offerings and presentation. We each did the 4 items tasting menu -- and I did the additional wine pairing. The antipasto course was our favorite, a wonderful sampling of small tastes (focaccia, assorted cheeses and veggies, risotto balls). We enjoyed our main plates as well as desserts and the sommelier did an excellent job explaining the perfect pairings. Really no complaints about the food or drink - delicious and impressive, with little extra surprises, like the Greek donuts before dessert and the small cookies at the very end. The wait staff was mostly attentive, but some service was disappointing. When our plates were brought out, the waiter was gone before I could ask a question about it. And no one ever asked us if we were enjoying our meal. The hostess was very helpful, but overall we were not impressed with the main meal service, it just did not match the amazing food and atmosphere. However, Irongate is still a place we would recommend, and we would go back again to try out the garden/carriageway menu and sample some of their unique and interesting cocktails. read more

This place is special. Visiting DC for the night I'm so happy I made reservations for this restaurant. It was nothing short of amazing. The bar area is reminiscent of NYC hot spots and the patio was beautiful, romantic, and cozy. We chose the four course tasting menu which meant we were seated in the rear dining room. Having never experienced a tasting menu before, we weren't quite sure what to expect and were a little afraid that portions would be too small. Well I was wrong. Portions were adequate enough to fill me before the meal was even completed. This was truly a once in a lifetime meal that I'm so elated we were able to enjoy. I urge anyone who might want to visit this place to really take your time savoring every bite as I believe that is what the owner has in mind when he creates his specialties. Unlike other establishments, we were specifically told that there was no rush. It's not a marathon. It's a journey through some of the most exciting flavors you'll ever experience. read more

Atmosphere is decent, however $48.00 for a plate of bones and shells (their seafood dinner option) is rediculus.

Food as always was great. But I don't know if was because I was a single or a single woman, but service was disappointing and I was basically ignored for most of the evening. I didn't sit at the bar as I usually do when I travel -- but since it was such a lovely evening, I waited for a seat on the patio. I admit I did not have a reservation -- bit at 9 pm on a Monday night fresh off the flight from New Orleans, I was assured that the wait would not be long. A miscommunication apparently. And when I asked for a piece of bread and butter with one of my small plates, I got focaccia with melted cheese --one of the small plate selections. When I asked about the bread -- I was told they don't have bread "hanging around" and that they have to bake a fresh loaf!!! Well tell me that front end please -- and I would certainly reconsider my request. The server was clearly not thrilled with me and her distain and lack of attention was so apparent the table next to me apologized for her behavior. Bottom line -- it seems like there's a real need to teach folks some communications 101. read more

Proximity to Dupont Circle usually implies premium prices and this restaurant does not disappoint in that respect. However..... I found that while the individual lower price dishes that by far populate the menu were of adequate or reasonable quality, the paucity of main courses left us with little choice. The Iron Gate Mixed Grill was dreadful. The Lobster was very good. The small plate dishes were good but not outstanding. $150 for two people left me feeling that I could have done a lot better. (This is following a stunning meal in Wellfleet, Ma at Ceraldi's, last week where they know how to do things right. read more

Do not entrust this restaurant with your special occasion. We made a reservation weeks in advance informing them that it was for our anniversary. When we arrived we were told they weren't sure if they had a table for us because they were "slammed" all day. Frankly, the hostess acted as though we had inconvenienced the restaurant with our reservation. A manager then came to tell us that they had a table next to the bar for us. Lovely. We voiced our displeasure and the manager's response was merely, "I hope you'll give us another try some other time." Absolutely no effort to try to rectify the situation. Thankfully, Mirabelle sat us without a reservation and gave us a fantastic meal repeatedly congratulating us on our 18th anniversary. If you have a special occasion, go to Mirabelle where they will greatly appreciate the fact that you have chosen their restaurant to celebrate your day. Your special occasion is likely to be completely lost on those at Iron Gate. read more

My first time writing a review...ever. This place is so special....food, people, atmosphere...the whole package. It was my birthday brunch and as soon as we sat down our server gave me a birthday card signed by all the staff. So sweet. It was chilly on the patio and our server was super flexible about our seating, making sure we felt as cozy as possible. ALL the food was delicious and special. We had the deviled eggs, sesame crusted feta, arancini, fried eggs, biscuit, and pancakes. Probably ordered too much, but it was so good. Bloody mary's were excellent too. And to top it off, they sent me home with a beautiful birthday dessert. Thanks for making a special occasion truly special! read more

We had a really disappointing experience with this restaurant. My husband made a reservation about a month ahead, and let them know it was for our anniversary. When we arrived, the hostess informed us that they had been "slammed" earlier due to a wedding reception and didn't have our table. She was not apologetic. Then the manager came over and said he did have our table but it was a tiny table right next to the bar, not in the main dining room. Again, not particularly sorry and not at all accommodating. This seems to be a poorly run restaurant that this was able to happen. We opted not to stay and we won't return. I would not recommend booking this place for any kind of special occasion. read more

In town for one night and I couldn't have gotten luckier! Iron Gate is a hidden neighborhood jewel in DC. Across from the Kimpton Topaz, they took me in and were quite busy until they closed. Amazing dishes... the Black Pepper Pappardelle was incredible and perfectly cooked. The stuffed meatballs had a vibrant slightly spicy taste with rich roasted bell peppers. Staff was awesome! Atmosphere is warm and cozy. One of the best restaurants in the country. I will be back! read more

Came here for a nightcap and a small plate, which was perfect because it's pretty expensive to come for dinner here. Beautiful atmosphere. Would love to come back read more

A friend and I arrived at the restaurant at 5:15 p.m. for an early 5:30 p.m. dinner reservation for four. The hostess was on duty at the door. She was on the phone. Seven minutes later, she was still on the phone, not once looking up or acknowledging us in any way. When she finally did complete her call, she told us that we could not be seated until 5:30 and suggested that we wait at the bar. We did. When 5:30 arrived and we asked to be seated (all of our party had arrived), the bartender said that our table was not ready and encouraged us to be patient in what we all perceived as an extremely patronizing tone. One of the party had suggested coming here. The others had not been to Iron Gate since its reopening. Fortunately a horrible beginning of the evening was saved by Sean, our server, delicious food and a lovely setting outside by a fire. If we had been greeted in a reasonable time and had a hospitable server at the bar, this three star rating would have been a five. We all felt that Sean had saved the evening and our dining experience. Gatekeepers are so important. I hope Iron Gate gets the right ones. read more

While the atmosphere is beautiful the menu itself is overpriced and extremely limited. We went here as a birthday dinner for my best friend. Immediately she loved the scenery. We were seated on the patio so above us were these beautiful vines of leaves and lights. So we fell in love with the restaurant. But when we got our menu we were both confused. In all honesty, it looked like a menu for appetizers. We asked our waiter for help since it was our first time and he explained how everything was meant to be shared. So we ordered about 4 different dishes. When the food came out it was ridiculously small. Appetizers would be bigger than what we were given and my best friend and I were starving. We decided to try it anyway and I'm not going to lie the food was good but just too small for me to enjoy. It was like I was starving and was only served a cracker that cost 15 dollars. We literally paid 15 dollars for a tentacle and 14 dollars for a small sausage. I loved the atmosphere but I was left hungry and disappointed. On top of that our waiter was MIA the entire time and when it came time to pay the bill, he dropped it off and took too long to come back. Luckily I had cash so I paid with that instead and we left. Will not be returning. read more

Food was fabulous. Everything we selected was tasty. We ordered too much and didn't make it to dessert. This was our second visit and we loved it. The small plate eating was deceptive, we were very satisfied after 3 dishes. The fourth one was also delightful. But we were too full to really enjoy. read more

A bit pricey for the quality of food in my opinion but the ambiance makes up for that! Gorgeous patio in both spring/summer and colder months (equipped with fire pits and blankets). Overall, delicious food and cocktails and excellent wait staff. read more

We were 4 people for brunch on Sunday - ordered 3 plates to share and one main plate each. The service was barely average. Everything we ordered was sub-par - nothing was wrong with it except it did not taste good. Two stars for the beautiful space they are located in. read more

This is one of the best dinner experiences I've had in the last few years. The staff was friendly, prompt, and well educated on menu items. The food was amazing and cooked to perfection. I recommend the family table! If we are back in the area, we will be dining here again. read more

Had my birthday dinner at Iron Gate last evening and it was incredible. The combination of flavors and fresh ingredients were perfection. Highly recommend the dates and squash blossom appetizers and stuffed red snapper main course. All the deserts were great. Highly recommend. read more

Four stars for the following reasons - the food was pretty good though I did think the salsa verde overpowered the steak. The wine pairings really weren't that good nor did they match too well. I thought the service was superb and the servers were knowledgeable (minus the wine pairings) - our table was well taken care of. read more

The restaurant setting is very nice. However, when we first sat down our host told us there is a 1 hour and 15 minute time limit. We were like OK seems short, but that should be enough time. Our server comes by never gives us his name or appears interested at all in conversing with us. It took 30 minutes for our food to come. When it finally did we had 20 minutes left on our time to order anything else. Our server would keep passing right by us and never asked how our food was, never asked if we needed anything else. We would actively look around like we needed something and our table was right next to the kitchen, so it should have occurred to him to check in with us. but he didn't. A very nice gentleman saw that we were looking around and asked what we needed and he brought it. Our server never returned to our table except at the end to clear our table and bring our check (we kept thanking him, and he had no response). When we do get the check we see a 22% automatic gratuity (I think for COVID). In any other setting it would be fine, but our server did not come over more than once. So the fact that they put an automatic 22% for next to no service was annoying. I asked to speak to a manager and she did accommodate us . But my intention wasn't too get free stuff, it was to say that time of service is absolutely unacceptable for a place that is so highly regarded. Overall, the service alone would probably make me never go back. read more

Great ambiance accompanied by great food. Highlights for me were the roasted carrots (such a surprise - perfectly roasted, seasoned and served with yogurt sauce) and the roasted dates with ricotta. And the WOW dish was the caramelized gnocchi!! Perfect pillows of gnocchi with a pork sausage. Delicious! read more

I went to Iron Gate for the first time this past weekend for a family member's birthday, and we had a wonderful experience. We sat in the outdoor dining area and the ambiance is wonderfully intimate - I kept forgetting I was in the middle of DC! The staff was professional and accommodating, and each dish was out of this world delicious. They even curated a dessert for my mom's birthday with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate. Will definitely be returning! read more

I have to say - I'm very disappointed with my dining experience at Iron Gate. I was there last night and it was one of the worst dining experiences I've had in D.C. (and I've been around the dining block). Our waitress was horrible, nay, atrocious. I'm sure she's a decent human being, but apparently had some personal vendetta against our table for the evening. Throughout the meal, we had to ask for water 4 separate times. Our appetizer, the "seasonal bites" took 45 minutes to arrive (2 of them were served cold and the prosciutto tasted like turkey deli meat with some cranberries on top). Our waitress didn't come over to check on us once during that time, but seemed to be happily flitting around at other tables in our vicinity. After we ordered another appetizer and a bottle of wine, the wine took another 20 minutes to arrive. By the time our entrees arrived - half of the bottle of wine was finished, partially because there was no water to drink, and partially because everything was moving at snails pace. I ordered the sausage, which came with two small pieces of focaccia toast and accompaniments. I wanted a few more slices of bread, and after being unable to catch the waitresses eye for 30 minutes, my unusually shy boyfriend had to raise his hand and say "excuse me" quite loudly to get her attention. Then, when the bread came, it was served as the focaccia appetizer, which I was notified came at an additional cost. So, not only had my sausages gone cold, but I was being charged for extra bread AND did not receive what I ordered. My bf ordered pasta which he said was tasty, but who knows. To top it all off, it was my boyfriend's birthday! The only redeeming aspect of the meal was when they brought him a special birthday dessert - oh wait, that didn't happen!! Nothing about this meal was redeeming. Save your money and go somewhere with better food and MUCH better service! read more

2 stars only for the romantic Patio setting and the delicious Focaccia. Everything else was bad and as if they try to trick you! The portions are so tiny and they charge you a ridiculous amount for this tiny portions which is not even enough for a 5 year old kid! The Roasted eggplants was sooo tiny that I really wanted to ask them where did you even manage to find such tiny tiny eggplants?They charge customers for 14$ for the smallest piece of eggplant ever!! They even pour you less than 100ml wine when you order a glass of wine! Fried olives were sooo bad that none of us touched it after the first bite! My companion hates his Harrisa Steak Tartar and he said it's the worst and the weirdest Tartar he ever had! The beets in beet salad was not cooked properly and they were still pretty raw in the middle! You would pay about 100-120$ for 4 or 5 really tiny dishes and 2 glasses of wine and you will leave the place hungry and angry! Such a waste of money! Nope! Never again! read more

I'm in town for work so looking for a good place where I can grab dinner solo. I got here around 7:45 but the bar was full (probably around 12 seats) so I was seated at an inside table near the door. (They offered the outside heated patio also, but I wanted to stay inside.) The food was really great - I had a mushroom risotto and the charred octopus. Honestly, the octopus was the best I can ever remember having. The service was fine, but not great though. My server was just too aloof and didn't really seem interested in engaging with my questions about the food and drink, kind of like he had better things to do than wait on a single chick. (But I spent sixty bucks on my bill plus tip when all was said and done.) I would think about going back but the service would make me think twice. read more

Our waiter was excellent! The vibe in the back room was super cozy and great for a date night sitting by the fire. My friend and I could not have loved it more! The food was DELICIOUS! We split the deviled eggs (amazing), the daily focaccia bread (insane), mushroom risotto (delicious flavor but maybe too soupy-creamy), the chicory salad (wonderful), and the squid ink pasta (to die for). All around wonderful experience. Will definitely come back! read more

I was going to give 3 stars but the more I thought about my experience here, the more pissed I got. First had to wait in the very charming bar area with no place to stand, not a big deal but we were getting hungry/ I noticed that a lot of people were eating at the bar. Maybe they were wise to the Iron Gate already? Know this, it is NOT a place to eat if you're hungry. The atmosphere is lovely, cozy and intimate with great lighting. You can actually see the menu but it is still a pretty dark place. That's about the best I can say about the restaurant. We chose the 4 course tasting menu.The server immediately recommended the $105 bottle of wine- I really hate when servers do that. When they say tasting menu, they mean it. A morsel and not much more. Added to that insult is the fact that you only choose two of the courses or you can choose a 6 tastes. You might wise to do that if you're hungry however you will be probably be in the $150 per person range and I can confidently say, it is not worth it. The carrot ginger soup might as well come in shot glass, cuz that's about all you get. The lobster ravioli, a touch too al dente, and your get one. Seriously I kept wondering if people around me were just intoxicated by the atmosphere or maybe they were just in denial that they were paying so much for so little. read more

This was probably the best lunch I've ever had. The patio covered in vines and flowers made the most beautiful setting to enjoy wine and a few small plates to share. 100% am coming back to Iron Gate! read more

Fantastic is every way. The food is healthy, light, tasty, and original. The ambiance could not be more warm and elegant, both inside and outside. The wine menu is phenomenal. The bar is beautiful and a great place to sit for the whole night or pre-dinner. They didn't have our table ready by the time of our reservation so we had to wait about half an hour. We ordered drinks at the bar. They comped us for a few items given the wait. It was very kind of them, as we were enjoying the experience at the bar, and reflects their concern about customer experience. Overall, fantastic experience and would return many times over. read more

I'm not quite sure why this place has gotten the reviews it has. The food is no better than average and needs to be better to justify the prices. We ate in the Tasting room room and it is a great atmosphere. We started with cocktails and I will say we were quite pleased by them--given how we felt after drinking them, we can only say that, contrary to many other places, there was actual alcohol in them...and they had distinctive taste. From that point on, though, there was nothing that actually stood out. There was nothing bad...but is that the test of a worthwhile high end restaurant? We don't think so. Tom Sietsema seems to be a fan of this chef... based on tonight, why? read more

My husband and I went for a late dinner on a Thursday night and the restaurant was packed but service and food were both excellent. The menu consists of mostly small plates and a few entrees meant for sharing. We ordered four small plates, and they accidentally brought the wrong dish once (which they gave us on the house), so we ended up with five. It was plenty of food and we left full. All were very good, aside from the broccoli bruschetta, which was far too salty. However, this was the dish that was accidentally served and given to us on the house, so no complaints there -- one more thing to try! The bruschetta with squash and the charred octopus were excellent, while the brussels sprouts salad and the scallop orzo were both OK. The prices are reasonable (about $70 for 4 dishes and 2 beers) and the dining room is cozy with intimate seatings and a fireplace. read more

My rating is based on food/service in the carriageway/patio - so, perhaps the tasting menu options/service indoors are much better. I've actually never left a Yelp review before, but felt so compelled because I had such a disappointing experience at Iron Gate last night. I spent over a month planning where to take my boyfriend for his birthday, and thought Iron Gate would provide a nice change of scenery with a diverse menu. We were seated right away, and our waitress was very nice, but we were quickly neglected for a large party, despite the fact that I had made it known we were celebrating a birthday. We ordered a glass of fine wine for each of us - and the pour was the smallest glass I've ever had. But, whatever, that happens. The food, however, was actually pretty awful, and I'm really not picky at all when it comes to food. We ordered two small plates - the rigatoni with duck and the garlic ciabatta. The rigatoni and duck were tough to chew, and SO salty - only to be outdone in the salt category by the ciabatta with salsa verde. Add to that, our ciabatta showed up a solid 15 minutes after the rigatoni (clearly someone had forgotten our order) and our waitress never apologized. When it finally arrived, I instantly decided we were moving to another restaurant - which we did as soon as we could get the check... Small plates/tapas are fantastic, but the portion size for the ciabatta was an absolute joke, especially given that the restaurant stresses "sharing." Iron Gate has a huge wine selection (and I hear the cocktails are great, although I never got to try one), and the patio is beautiful - I'll give them that. But, I left feeling so horrible for the disappointing experience that I never plan to come back. read more

Nice atmosphere, par service, par/subpar food. Quite overpriced, but if you're looking for glitz and not for taste, proceed to book your seat. read more

This is such a cute place. Food was really good! Back patio is pretty and romantic. Great place for a date!

I dined there on a Sunday evening and had an overall great experience and great food. They have just recently opened -- or more accurately re-opened under new ownership/chef. Here are some thoughts: Atmosphere: Cozy, warm, old world feel. The entrance to the restaurant is set back a bit from the street. Lanterns light the path to entrance. From the entrance you walk past the narrow bar area which had a few tables and substantial bar space-- looks like it would be a nice place to pop in for a drink on a quiet night (not sure what food options they serve at the bar). Currently just the "inside" area is open. The bar area opens up into the outdoor/patio area which is currently not open (per their website it sounds like that will be open in spring -- from the peek I had it looks like it will be nice place to have outdoor meal and not be seated right off the street/sidewalk like you are in many DC restaurants with outdoor space). You walk through that outdoor area to get to a separate entrance that takes you to the main dining room. Cozy and candlelit, lots of exposed brick, with fireplace at one end. Service: Very good. Servers were prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable -- checked on you just enough to not be hovering too much. The inside menu is currently a tasting menu - -you select 4 or 6 course. There is an optional beverage pairing with the tasting. They give you about a half pour of a paired wine with each course with a lot of education on each (region where grown, how the drink will play off the food etc). I was there with my boyfriend, and since we each ordered different dishes there were different pairings, so that took a bit of time between courses for the schpeel and pouring. We enjoyed this, but it was a Sunday night and we had all the time for a longer dinner experience. If you just ordered off their extensive wine list, rather than pairing, I think the dining experience would be overall quicker -- so I would bear that in mind for parties larger than 2 or if you have plans after dinner. We were there for nearly 2 1/2 hours. Food: Now for what you really care about. The tasting menu starts with a "taste" of an assortment of bites selected by the chef --for the most part these were a true amuse bouche, with the exception of some focaccia bread and the burrata. All were pretty tasty--there was a pickled pepper I didn't care for, but if you like hot peppers probably would enjoy. For the main tasting dishes I got a gnocchi with scallops that was spiced with saffron and ragu stuffed cannolini -- both were sizable for "small plates" and I enjoyed them but started to fill up. My boyfriend had the charred octopus, the veal sweetbreads, and the Lamb--the lamb plate was sizable and was served over a sausage and bean ragout. I tried everything of his but the octopus (just don't personally care for; he enjoyed it)and all were tasty, perfectly cooked and seasoned well. I am forgetting exactly what the dessert was called that I had, but it was hazelnut and caramel and was very tasty and great end to a overall great meal. My boyfriend had the maple semifreddo with poached pear -- the presentation was really beautiful and I tried the semifreddo (I don't like pears in general, but he really liked it). Overall, I recommend checking out Iron Gate for a nice dinner when you are in the mood for a real dining experience or for a special occasion. I think it may be difficult for a group larger than 4 people to tackle the tasting menu. Per the website, the "outside" menu will feature a la' carte items--- I am eager to return once the patio opens in Spring to check that out and will update this review. read more

Try and come here every time I'm in town. Every mouthful was spectacular. The service incredible and the ambiance great!

Had a wonderful dinner for restaurant week at Iron Gate. The patio was lovely and comfortable and service was excellent. Highly recommend burrata and steak. read more

Save your money and just go to the Tabard Inn. The Iron Gate is pathetic. I went there last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. Right from the onset, we were met with lackluster service. The waiter was inattentive, spilled part of my friend's $$$ drink on her and didn't even acknowledge it, took forever to bring my beer out to me and was MIA the whole night despite it being pretty dead last night. We each ordered appetizers that were ok-and very microscopic in size. We decided to share the mixed grill, which sounded amazing-a bunch of seafood on a platter. It was a small bowl of scallops, tuna and octopus which was not part of the the waiter's description -- he mentioned shrimp. When we finally got his attention, he apologized and brought 4 puny shrimp out to placate us. The mixed grill came with sides of pesto, tapenade and pickled vegetables. I was starving and didn't want shell out money for another expensive platter-which was $34 a person. So I asked for another bowl of pickled vegetables and of course I was charged for it. Also one would think that at a pricey establishment such as the Iron Gate, they would provide you with bread or something at the start of the meal. No, sadly they didn't get this memo. Also, it was so strange that we get a side of tapenade and no bread or crackers to eat it with. My friend asked for bread and 15 minutes later, a plate of the sorriest looking sourdough appeared before us. Oh and guess what we were charged for the bread. Never. ever. again. I would rather save my money and go to the Tabard Inn or save that money for several trips to McDonalds-at least with McDonalds you will not leave hungry. read more

Exec summary: My wife and I had the chef's tasting dinner with wine pairing. Food was plentiful but mediocre (for the price), the wine pairing was out of this world. Ambiance very romantic, service knowledgeable. On balance, not worth the $500 (incl. tax and tip) we left there. Long version My wife and I are big foodies. We've been to many (most?) $$$$ restaurant in DC, lots of places throughout the North-East, top caliber restaurants in Europe (however our favorite is "Central" in Lima - #15 top restaurant in the world for 2014). Iron Gate was the latest destination in our "special dinners series". Beginning. We came on time but were asked to wait at the bar, which was full, and is just a very narrow and busy corridor. Not a good start. Waited for about 10 minutes before being escorted to our table in the tasting room. The ambiance here was very pleasant and romantic (just what we wanted). The waiter came promptly and walked us through the menu options. We decided to go with the "top of the line" chef tasting dinner ($110/person) with wine pairing (another $90). Food. The amuses-bouche took very long to arrive. There were a lot of them, but they were not very imaginative, and it soon became obvious that we'd have a lot of salt that evening. Lots of pickled stuff, including _pickled_ boiled egg, which was really just a boiled egg. The cauliflower with pine nuts was very good (but salty). This was followed by a risotto with truffles - it was ok, but nothing special. And salty. The portion was also too large (for a multi-course tasting menu). The rockfish that followed was tasty - flaked easily, juicy, and paired well with some very salty sides (one was a mushroom) and the caviar - in this case the saltines was only marginally excessive as the fish itself was not salty at all. This was followed by a large meat selection - lamb skewers, sausages, ribs and steak. This was all unimaginably salty and there was nothing to pare down this salt with (really wished we had some of that risotto at this point, albeit in a less salty version). We were really full at this point -- couldn't finish the meat point and decided to skip the cheese platter (packed it to go - it was excellent next day). The desert was a nice phyllo dough pastry. Overall - not very interesting esp. given the top ingredients, very salty, and served in a questionable order (lots of carbs - risotto - with nothing else, lots of meat with nothing else). About the salt - I may not be the biggest salt fan in the world, but my wife definitely is. And even for her this was excessively salted. Wine was the highlight of the experience. Very good champagne for the amuse-bouche, 1999 (!) Puligny-Montrachet for the risotto (I think it was 1er Cru, but can't vouch; in any event - the best chardonnay I ever had), 2003 Rioja with the rockfish (very light for a tempranillo - one of the best Rioja we had, and we had many), Amarone with the meats (heavy, spicy, but good pairing). There was something else for the cheeses (we skipped the cheeses, but sipped some of the wine) and a 20 year old Madeira for desert (excellent). Overall, the best wine pairing we had in DC (e.g., compared to Komi and Obelisk) -- worth the $90, if you ask me. Note that the wine pairing for the other menus (4- or 6- courses tasting menus) are dominated by Greek and Italian wines, so unlikely to match what I describe here. Service was solid. The waiter knowledgeable and attentive, but the initial delays (sitting at the table, getting the amuse bouche) were not helpful. While we definitely enjoyed the wine, the ambiance and the service (mostly), the food - the main ingredient of the experience - was so-so (esp. given the excellent ingredients and the hefty price), so three starts is about right. Unlikely to return. read more