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    Iron Gate

    4.0 (823 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Iron Gate Takeout or Delivery

    Iron Gate New American Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    IRON GATE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Iron Gate

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    Cuddlefish pasta
    Caroline R.

    This is an old time favorite, but after our visit this past week, it feels like it lost its magic! Have always been a fan of the focaccia, but I think they changed the recipe-it was not as good as it normally is. The beet salad was actually the stand out dish, could eat that every day. We also ordered the cuddlefish pasta and mushroom manitaropita--both delicious but overall felt like it lost its magic touch after being blown away in the past. Epecially disappointed in the focaccia

    Imported Straciatella
    Annie F.

    Iron Gate is a beautiful restaurant tucked near Dupont Circle. The space is split between a dining room, an enclosed carriageway bar, and my favorite area, the wisteria-covered outdoor patio. It's the perfect setting for a special night out, especially when the weather is nice. The menu is modern American cuisine. I loved the tomato and watermelon salad to start, followed by the flank steak, which was perfectly cooked. The grilled scampi was also delicious, full of flavor and beautifully prepared. Iron Gate blends history, charm, and excellent food, making it a standout in Dupont. I can't wait to come back!

    App course
    Christine J.

    Hadn't been to iron gate in years but decided to check out their restaurant week brunch. It was fantastic. The French toast was amazing as an entree. The desserts were delicious and really filling. The first course was also great the table had gotten one of each option. I liked the yogurt the best.

    Ciao Napoleon ($19, left) and Tselepos, Blanc de Gris ($15)
    Calder S.

    Iron Gate was good but not great. They have room to improve some of the dishes, the service, and the dessert options. The restaurant is certainly one of the most beautiful in DC. It's constructed from an old carriage house, an outdoor area, and an enclosed alleyway. The interior spaces have rustic charm with dark wood and brick; the exterior space is a lovely, cozy patio with tree coverage. I visited for a special occasion dinner at 6 PM on a Thursday. The place was pretty empty but filled in by the time we left around 7:30 PM. Iron Gate offers a set menu ($95/person food + $75/person wine) or a la carte. The set menu includes all of the meze courses plus one from the pasta, entree, and dessert courses. This isn't one per person, but one per two people. The menu doesn't make this clear, but if you have more than two people you get to order two items from each course (we overheard this told to another table). We weren't interested in all of the meze options and wanted to get more than one entree, so we ordered a la carte. We also didn't think the set menu would be a good deal. You can get one pasta, entree, and dessert for about $95 by themselves, so the other $95 is just for the meze? Even if they make the dishes a little larger to accommodate two people, I'm skeptical. It seems like a better deal for the restaurant than the guest. Anyway, we got the Romanesco "Wedge" ($16), Squash Salad ($18), Hen "Diavolo" ($38), and "Chermoula" Swordfish ($37). The salads were good but I would have liked them to be a little more tender/softer. The romanesco, for example, said it was "charred" on the menu and it was mostly raw when I would have preferred it more roasted. The hen was a full chicken roasted with dry rub and served with a side of green beans, bacon, and onions. The chicken was nicely cooked and very tasty, although I wouldn't call it diavolo -- it was spiced but not spicy, and to me, diavolo suggests it will come with some spicy red sauce a la pasta diavolo. The swordfish was our favorite dish -- very tender and served with a delicious hash. We took about half the entrees home for leftovers. We had some cocktails and wine ($15-$19). I liked the Ciao Napoleon cocktail a lot. We skipped desserts. We weren't impressed by the two options: budino (pudding, $16) and "cheesecake" ($18). Those are very high prices for very basic desserts. Since there were only two options and both were basic, I suspect Iron Gate does not have a pastry chef, which it really should for a fine dining restaurant. Our service was very friendly and helpful at the beginning of the meal but then largely absent later on when the dining room got more crowded. We felt forgotten. We intended to get another drink, but by the time someone brought the drink menu again and then someone came back to take our order, it was too late in the meal so we skipped it. Our server gave us a few gratis items: a small hummus dip, a small spelt bread, and small glasses of lemoncello at the end. He did not acknowledge our special occasion; these seemed to be standard free items they throw in and we saw a few other tables get them. We had a nice two-top in front of the unlit fireplace, which was a nice spot, but also a bit cold and drafty.

    Vibes
    Clara S.

    Ok-- this might make the top 5 best meals I've had in DC! First of all, the restaurant was beautiful. We sat in the outdoor patio and wowowoow the vibes were immaculate! Service was good but veryyyyyy slow-- our dinner lasted 4 hours!! We were a big group so we ordered the family table with dishes to share. It was A LOT of food-- we ended up boxing up leftovers to go because we were so stuffed! They also give you a lot of complementary "gifts", which means even more food!! Cocktail: - Grey skies: 10000/10 (omg this cocktail!!! Reminds of my fav cocktail from Silver Lyan. It's slightly citrusy, creamy, and aromatic) Appetizers: - Baby beet: 100000/10 (one of my fav bites of the day! The beet was super fresh and I adored the beet sauce on the bottom of the dish! Also the crunchy feta cheese was chefs kiss.) - Oak roasted dates: 100000/10 (another of my fav bites of the day! Hot dates filled to the brim with cheese... what not to like?) - Foccacia: 100/10 (cheesy, hot, and soooo good!! Literally had to have 2+ slices each.) - Grilled Chesapeake oysters: 100/10 (idk it just tasted very fresh and very special-- loveddd it! Perfect way to start off the meal.) - Wood roasted asparagus: 8/10 (yummy sauce but asparagus was a bit tough to chew on) Pasta: - Braised local rabbit gemelli: 100/10 (we were all a bit nervous to try rabbit, but this was fantastic. Pasta was cooked to perfection and the noodles held the sauce flavor very well.) - Fresh ricotta fagotini: 9/10 (solid but not groundbreaking) Mains: - Chicken breast: 9/10 (chicken was cooked well and seasoned well. Loved the sweet potato it comes with.) Dessert: - Chocolate budino: 10000/10 (as a dark chocolate lover, this was heavenly!!!! Not too sweet, slightly bitter, and veryyyyy thick in consistency.) - Buttermilk pana cotta: 10/10 (buttery and yummy)

    Jillian B.

    My partner and I chose Iron Gate to celebrate a special occasion while in town and had a lovely time. We went with the tasting menu, which was inclusive of so many delicious bites. We loved starting off with a bunch of small plates! Our favorite dish though was the bacon wrapped monkfish. The fish was cooked perfectly and we appreciated the uniqueness of the dish. Service was helpful and friendly!

    Ana H.

    This is an absolute gem. Walking into it it is a slim indoor dining area with a bar and then some outdoor seats near the entrance. I was a little taken aback because I had high expectations but then they walk you into the actual dining areas and it is a lovely surprise. The restaurant is beautiful! Every area we passed looked like the most romantic setting. Our table was the farthest away indoors and was very quiet and romantic. I did not get many pictures of the inside of the restaurant due to the complete awe. For dinner we did the four course menu and this includes all meze, an option for the next three courses. This was an anniversary dinner as we came to DC for our anniversary. This place was definitely a big highlight. All the food was pretty adventurous for us - but it was very delicious ! They also included some things on the house which was very kind - we had at least two items not on the menu. The hummus dip not included in that count was given to every table at the start before you order as well. Overall it was an amazing experience and I would most definitely love to go back. Note - we did spend at least 2 hours here but it is SO worth it. As you can see I didn't photograph as much as I liked due to the upmost enjoyment of my experience here.

    Courtyard
    Ally R.

    One of the best dining experiences. Our server Joe was absolutely phenomenal! He really made the experience even better! the food was delicious - we opted for à la carte instead of the family table. The portion sizes are perfect and the unique food menu was great. Do not skip on dessert! - their version of the cheesecake is too good to miss! Also you can't beat the ambiance of that courtyard ! The fire pits and blankets make it super cute and cozy during the colder nights. We will definitely be back and recommending this place to others

    Two Olive Oil Fried Eggs
    Christina N.

    Cute hidden brunch place! There's outside seating underneath some sort of canopy and it's perfect for when it starts to warm up outside. Everyone working was nice, and attentive, and our server checked on us sparingly (a plus for me). I started with a Cappelletti spritz, which was sweet and refreshing. For my main, I got the olive oil-fried eggs, and this was such a balanced brunch. The eggs aren't traditionally fried (not crispy, no brown lacing), but the sauce on top of them was delicious. Everything was bright and citrusy, the potatoes were crispy, and the salad just rounded it out well.

    Amanda F.

    I was invited to a luncheon here and it was a good experience overall. We had a fixed menu so I can't say I was totally impressed with the options as a pescatarian but what I did have was really good, like the feta cheese and beet salad, yum!! The service felt a little overwhelmed working around a table of 12 women and kept dropping things around us, but I felt for them as the situation was a bit stressful. We happen to have gone on one of the hottest days this week in DC, so inside wasn't the coolest temperatures but it was better than eating outside!

    Two Olive Oil Fried Eggs
    Cynthia C.

    This place was such an unexpected but lovely surprise! I randomly stopped in with a friend for a late brunch whilst in Dupont. The patio is stunning. It feels cozy and I bet it'll be breathtaking once the wisteria blooms. The staff is lovely and attentive without being overbearing. I started off with the cappelletti spritz, and just as the menu described, it truly is like an aperol spritz but better. It was the perfect drink to start off spritz season. For my main, I got two olive oil fried eggs. It was simple yet fabulous. The salsa verde added a beautiful brightness to the dish, the salad was fresh, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. Honestly, one of the best brunch meals I've had in a while. It was simple, light, but filling. I can't wait to go back once the wisteria is in bloom!

    Daily foccacia
    Matt R.

    The second venture of the chef from Vermillion in old town. IMO it's better than what Vermillion used to be in terms of quality, service, and creativity. The cocktails, wine pairings, and platings were well thought out. Pacing of the meal was perfect as well, not easily done with this many courses. It's a very well decorated and cool spot sort of hidden behind the iron gates at the entrance. Small bar and a few tables in the front narrow section, with outdoor covered seating in the back patio area, and indoor seating past the patio. No it's not cheap, but things that take effort and time to produce obviously demand a premium price. Worth a splurge for a night out.

    Sara L.

    We stopped by for a quick drink on Saturday night before meeting up with friends nearby. As soon as I walked in the door, I was immediately struck by the beautiful interior. It's such an unexpectedly cozy place for DC. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the staff working the bar. The service and employees get a score of 20/10. They were warm and friendly, even after working a wedding earlier in the day. The wine and cocktails I'd had earlier that night were bothering my stomach while there (thanks, sensitive stomach and age!). They gave me some ginger beer and checked in with me. Since it was our first time there, the kitchen gave us some fresh hummus and veggies. It was delicious and I wish my stomach would've allowed me to have more of it! Based on our experience, I'd very much like to return sometime for more than a drink.

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    The ambiance is great especially at their patio - lighting and fire works next to the table at night. Foods and service is excellent always.

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    Love iron gate, food is fantastic and ambience is fantastic. Sit outside if you can! Seasonal menu!

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    Amazing experience - food and ambience are incredible! Our waiter was also excellent and super attentive during our meal!

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    Page 3 of 21

    Iron Gate Reviews in Other Languages

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    Zaytinya

    Zaytinya

    4.2(6.3k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

    Placed a large order via Uber Eats since restaurant will not accept takeout orders directly…read more Restaurant does not allow any specifications when ordering through Uber Eats - for example, one person wanted one ingredient held from her salad. Uber Eats lacked description for Zaytinya's food items (such as the ounces of the drinks) and some items (such as the horta salata) were not as pictured. There were no extra napkins in our bag. The Coke came in bottles but we didn't receive any bottle openers. To top it off, we had three food items missing. I called the restaurant again to let them know about the missing food - they were unapologetic and didn't know what the proper protocol was to fix the situation. The service was subpar and the servings were small. Won't be back. The next day we had food delivered from another local restaurant where both the food and service were outstanding, unlike at Zaytinya. UPDATE: After writing the Yelp review, a general manager at Zaytinya emailed me the following: "..."The restaurant normally offers takeout, but the location was actually closed that day for a private event. However, since the order had come through, we tried to honor it. The mujadara and 2 orders of rice were missing because we hadn't prepped those items, as they were not offered for the buyout..." The restaurant knew on Friday what I was ordering for Tuesday. They had plenty of time to reach out to me and tell me they would be closed and wouldn't be able to fulfill the order. Instead, they knowingly sent out an order without all of the food for our group and charged as if we received everything. This shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful.

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    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Assortment of Small Plates & Cocktails

    Gypsy Kitchen DC

    4.3(1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Rooftop seating

    We came to Gypsy Kitchen for our anniversary, and it was the perfect spot! The service was speedy…read moreand kind, and the decor/ambiance was beautiful. We ordered a bottle of the Cava, and four small plates, which was plenty of food. The mussels, labneh and Patatas bravas were all very generous portions. Labneh: 5/5, delicious, served with plenty of pita Patatas bravas: 5/5, with great flavor and crispy roasted potatoes Mussels: 4/5, generous portion size, and the sauce was very good but I wished the sauce was more white wine-based Tuna crudo: 5/5, not a ton of food but the flavor was absolutely delicious, very citrusy and fresh Labneh cheesecake: 4/5, served with a sauce that was a bit like cough syrup but otherwise absolutely delicious

    We paid $130 with tip for croquettes, lamb skewers, tuna crudo, hummus, and two 50 Shades of Purple…read more(drinks with butterfly pea gin). We sat outside on the patio and it was a gorgeous day. The decor is perfect and I love that they've added plants to cover the staircase. Drinks were delicious and the food came out quickly. Our water glasses were rarely empty. Service was kind. Food wise if I were to stack rank I would say the hummus is the best of what we ordered. The pita bread is thick and garlicky and oily and massive. The croquettes would be at the bottom of my list simply because they're dissimilar from any I've had before and a little bit underwhelming. The tuna was fresh but it's a small dish and not much to write home about. The lamb skewers have a subtle kick to them and they're pretty substantial. I'll definitely be back to try more! Highly recommend on a warm summer day as you're covered by the canopy above, if you're looking for a rooftop vibe.

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    Agora DC - Cauliflower**

    Agora DC

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    0.3 miDupont Circle
    $$$

    Was able to do a walk-in on a recent Thursday evening…read more I had been many times before, but it had been a while, so it was great to dine at Agora again. Everyone in my group loved the assortment of small plates that we had. We considered getting the lamb chops, but it only comes with 2, and there were three of us, so we opted against it. The dishes we got instead (an assortment of vegetables, meat, and seafood) were all delicious, and we would all be happy to get them again.

    Went there twice to taste different kinds of Turkish dishes. One time for dinner and the other for…read morelunch. Overall the food was good. The serving size of the dishes I ordered were medium to small. The service was far less satisfactory than food. I tried the following dishes: 1. Complimentary pita: ~40g per piece. Not salty and paired well with the other dishes. Definitely get some! 2. Lahmacun: The lamb+beef mixture was tasty. It came with 4 pieces. 3. Branzino: ~6oz. The fish was grilled to perfection; juciy tender, and the skin was nicely charred. It was served with freh parsley and seasoned grilled tomato (salt+oregano I think). 4. Imam Bayildi: Half of an eggplant topped with sauteed onions and tomatoes. While itself was pretty normal, it went so well with the Ottoman rice. 5. Ottoman Rice: The true highlight of all the dishes I tried! It was basically Basimati rice cooked with dried apricots, raisins, almonds & pine nuts mix, and seasoned with black currant. Overall it was warm, earthy and lightly smoky. The apricot slices added some delightful sweetness and juiciness to the dish. Should pair well with Labneh, chicken and seafood. But to be honest, I can simply eat this stuff along for a whole meal! 6. Tabbouleh: They went against the traditional recipe by substituting the bulgur with quinoa and added some pomegranate arils. I liked the special texture of quinoa. The sweetness of pomegrante arils also enriched the flavors. However, I had to constantly spit the seeds when enjoying the salad. 7. Kofte: Adana style ground beef patties. Just like what I make at home haha! I ordered it as an add-on to my salad at lunchtime. It came with only 2 pieces which weighed no more than 3oz in total... Despite the delicious food, service was disappointing. The first time, the dinner, was Okay. While my food came out slowly, at least my server was aware of it and asked me how I liked the dishes. The second time, the lunch, was horrible. Even before I was seated, my server made me feel that he was reluctant to serve me, and emphasized that I had to order asap. "Luckily", I had already decided what to order. After I got my dishes, no one in the restaurant asked me if the food was Okay. And at the check, my bill was thrown onto my table. In comparison, the two ladies dining next to me came even after I started eating, but were greeted warmly and were given lots of time to decide what to order; not to mention that the staff gave them lots of suggestions, asked about their dining experience, and even chatted with them about sightseeing in DC, etc. Such discrimitory treatment is really unacceptable.

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    Maydan - Roasted carrots

    Maydan

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$$

    I came here for my 30th birthday celebration and all I can say is WOW- what a way to ring in a new…read moredecade. I left feeling full, grateful, and with a new love for middle eastern cuisine. The service was impeccable- the waitress and sommelier were both extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Nadia, our waitress, offered suggestions about what dishes would pair well together for the tawle experience and shared her favorites. The sommelier went over the extensive wine list and helped us pick a nice red that paired well with our chosen dishes- it was called Yacoubian Hobbs from Armenia. The ambiance was comfortable and welcoming- you could dress up or down, pretty much anything goes! The walls are lined with colorful patterns and draped tapestries to create a high end living room vibe. Now for the fun part- THE FOOD! The first dishes brought out were the mouneh (pickled veggies), the honey soaked dates, and the three spreads (we selected the hummus with lamb on top for an additional $15, havuc, and beet borani). I'll add that they continuously bring out fresh, warm pita throughout the whole meal. The lamb hummus was savory and well-balanced, but very rich. The havuc had a beautiful lightness from the carrots and I loved the textural element of the crispy onions on top. The beet borani also added a welcomed freshness throughout the meal and was vibrant, light, and had wonderful yogurt flavors. The underrated dish were the pickled veggies because INSANE. I used these in bites during the entire meal and they all had a unique flavor as if they were each pickled in a special way- my favorites were the white radish and scallions. The honey dates were a sweet palette cleanser and cut through the savory elements of the meal. We continued on with the next round consisting of the field lettuce salad, the three condiments (we chose the toum, chermoula, and harissa), halloumi, omani shrimp, and chickpeas. The field lettuce salad had a zesty vinaigrette and I appreciated the acidity addition of the sliced oranges and the crunchy, salted pistachios. The toum was a garlicky aioli that I felt was best paired with the chickpeas- although all the dips were delicious with all the dishes and the pita. The harissa was a lighter version than I am used to, spicy, and paired well with the veggies and ribeye. The chermoula was my favorite and paired best with the ribeye- it reminded me of a flavorful and herbaceous chimichurri. The halloumi had a sweet honey and was grilled perfectly, paired with nice crunchy nuts. The chickpeas had a lovely consistency and were well seasoned- I think it was sumac, but whatever it was, I couldn't get enough. The shrimp were ONE OF MY FAVORITE dishes from the whole meal. They were juicy, seasoned perfectly, charred, and just chefs kiss. I enjoyed them with the chermoula and squeeze of lime. The main dishes and veggies came during our final (besides dessert) round. We ordered the sayadieh as part of the table experience and also added a ribeye to the order. We had ordered the charred carrots, but they accidentally brought us the wildflower honey zucchini instead, so we were lucky enough to be able to try both. The branzino (sayadieh) absolutely blew my mind. It was citrusy, spicy, seasoned with bright spices, and incredibly moist. I would honestly skip the ribeye- it was cooked to a nice medium rare and had a nice flavor, but I don't think it compared to the rest of the meal. The charred carrots were spicy, cooked soft- also one of the standouts. The zucchini was served beautifully and I enjoyed the sauce, but could also skip next time. We ended the meal with the bitter orange sorbet and the chocolate mousse. The sorbet was a nice palette cleanser as it had zest in the mix and was very light after the heavy meal. The chocolate mousse was very rich and had a new balance of chocolate and peanut flavors. They brought over complimentary glasses of champagne to celebrate my birthday as well :) I cannot wait to come back to try more of the menu and I am so happy to have had a diverse taste of the Middle East. I'll also add that we had a HUGE bag of leftovers that lasted several meals and they packaged it up like true professionals. A food lover completely satisfied and eager to get back :)

    A popular spot near Adams Morgan. The restaurant features Middle Eastern grilled food. In fact,…read morethere were several fire grills in the center of the first floor of the restaurant (it has two floors), and you can see the staff constantly grilling the meats, fish, vegetables and pita. This, together with the dark vibe, made me feel as if I were eating with ppl. from B.C. in a cave. Very interesting. I like that. For food, I got the Carrot Havuc, Omani Shrimp and Halloumi. But first I was served with some freshly made whole wheat pita. They were soft, chewy and earthy. The Carrot Havuc was basically a carrot+garlic puree. Very silky, refreshingly sweet, and a bit sour. The sourness may come from the garlic and lemon. Paired well with the pita and meats. The Omani shrimp came with 5 pieces, each shrimp was ~1oz so it was not very filling. The shrimp were meaty, fresh, juicy, though I wish it could be less salty, even if I already asked for less salt. The shrimp was said to be marinated with dried lime and tamarind but I could only taste the flavor of dried lime. The Halloumi cheese was brushed wild flower honey and topped with Egyptian dukkah, then baked until the outside was golden brown. It was salty and sweet, and the (tons of) sesame seeds added some fragrance to it. However, the peanut was too roughly chopped so that they fell off from the cheese when I slice it, and thus difficult to eat with the cheese. Service was not worth the 20% mandatory tip. For example, when I asked about the sourness of the Carrot Havuc, he did not know why and said he would "taste it and let me know where the sourness came from". Unfortunately, he did not tell me until I asked again when doing the check (I doubt if he tasted it in the first place). Neither did he ask me about the other dishes. Overall, the dishes were great but not impressive, and was mostly heavily flavored. The service could be improved.

    Photos
    Maydan - Wood oven front and center

    Wood oven front and center

    Maydan - Shrimp

    Shrimp

    Maydan - Spiced chocolate mousse

    See all

    Spiced chocolate mousse

    Iron Gate - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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