I came here with my girlfriend to watch the Mexico World Cup game. The place is a small but…read morewelcoming space. The customer service was really great. The hostess and waiter were very friendly and attentive. Our glass of water was never empty. We ordered some chips and Guac while we waited for our bean and cheese pupusas and taco salad. The chips and guac were good. Nothing amazing. The taco salad was fresh with amazing veggies. The grilled steak was good. However it was missing beans. It was ok, but not my favorite. The pupusas however were 5 stars. There were so good. I highly recommend them to anyone. Their curtido was also so delicious. We loved them so much we went back another day to order some more. The next time we are in the DC area we plan to stop here again.

Came here with a large group and we sat outside. Half had a pitcher of margaritas while most of us…read morejust had pupusas. I also shared the yuca which was incredible and fried perfectly. Pupusas were amazing and so cheap. Service was a little slow, but very friendly and accommodating for a large group. They were able to split the check and pay by QR code which was incredibly convenient! I live by their other location but this is a great spot if you're in the area!

Freezing, I walked along 11th street on a Tuesday evening searching for Benito's Place. An old…read morefriend had suggested it but..I couldn't find it. I walked a little back and forth, but.. no. Across the street, I saw another Mexican restaurant on the corner, but it looked closed, or even shut down. Maps told me it should be there. Looking across the street my eyes were drawn to the second floor, and a series of neon lights for a tarot card reader and psychic. Taking this as a sign, I crossed. That's when I found Benito's and realized that it's neon sign was out. Walk too fast and you might miss it. A narrow door aside a bay window lit from inside. It's a small place with a warm, cozy feeling. Benito's is very much a neighborhood Central American restaurant, but FYI: no alcohol. Started with guac and chips, usual fare, delicious but nothing that singled it out. I ordered the Pollo a la Plancha and it was rather good. The chicken was grilled through but not tough, it still had moisture and you could cut it. Rice, greens, etc. and the small 2oz solo of black beans, all standard fare. The corn tortillas were interesting, not your usual thin tortillas, so it took my mind a moment to consider what I was holding. It had the thickness of a pancake, maybe a sope base, and reminded me of thick, handmade tortillas when you don't have the press. Curiously, the tortillas were not the same that my friend got with his Mole Poblano, which were thin. Granted, it was a cold Tuesday evening, but in two hours only two other individuals came in to eat. Seems like they do brisk take away business. I expect on a warmer night with higher foot traffic this place fills up quickly. The service was great, did not want for anything. We were served with two containers of sauce, green and orange. Ostensibly green chili, and habanero, I did not learn specifically however. When I dine in DC I can't help but confront the blunt question: Was it worth it? Yeah, it's good food, good people, and a good place. You'll feel comfortable there and leave full. But the price of dining out is too damn high, and this meal is on the higher side of what, ten years ago, would have been $15. I fear that prices will continue to be pushed higher and places like Benito's might disappear, so get over there because the food excellent, the people are nice, and it's just a warm space to hang out for an hour or so talking to an old friend.

I stopped by Benitos Place because it was the first place I saw after leaving a local bar. This…read moresmall restaurant has a homestyle, family-owned vibe. Speaking of homestyle vibe, I will say that the waitress working during my visit provided excellent service. She was very friendly and provided a few recommendations to get me oriented. For my dining pleasure, I went with a cheese pupusa and the seafood soup. First, I'll say that you will receive a generous portion of soup with various bits of seafood (clams, mussels, shrimp, and bits of fish). The soup was about $23, which I thought was fair for the area. Unfortunately, I found the soup to be a bit bland. However, that was not a big deal because the restaurant has several delicious varieties of hot sauces. To be honest, I did not have an issue with the blandness of the soup. However, I was a bit disappointed that the mussels had a bit of very old/fishy taste. After having one mussel, I decided it wouldn't be worth it to have the rest. Interestingly, the other seafood bites in the soup were fine. Although the service was great, which is the main reason this review is 3-stars instead of 2-stars, I do not think I'll visit in the near future.

Great neighborhood shop. Stumbled here because of inkind. Although I was shocked by the price that…read moreI paid for my plate, I was pleasantly surprised by how good tasting everything was. The plantains were the standout side for me. Also the employees were helpful with telling me what I should order. I would definitely come back!

Saw this on a YouTube vlog. Plentiful food & good prices. Not the most dazzling place inside, but…read moreit gets the job done. Was disappointed that they didn't have oxtails when we went. But overall it was a good experience.

I like this new location for Chicatana. It's just down the road from my place and I enjoy the…read moreoutdoor patio with the colorful paintings in the background. I had dinner here recently and I enjoyed the casual nature of the spot. I've gone to their previous location, which had a fire, and I like this current location much better even if it doesn't seem as popular as before. The food remains the same. Good, but not the best mexican. Though, I was spoiled living in california previously. The tacos and dips are the winner here. The quesadillas are heavy with the thick corn meal outer coating. It's just not to my taste. Overall, it's a great spot though. If it's nice weather, this is a go-to to sit on the deck. On my visit, they didnt have a liquor license but they now have it!

Spicy passionfriut margs! Delicious…read more Plantain w/ brisket: Excellent starter! The whole thing was amazing and the brisket was phenomenal. Tacos - Overall quite generous portions of filler. Rajas: This was my wife's favorite by far. Al Pastor: Far and away my favorite taco. Carne Asada: Tasted great and was what we wanted. Suadero/Carnitas/Pollo: These were fine. They lacked the intense flavors of the other tacos and while none were bad, I wouldn't get them again. Shrimp: My wife did not really like this one. Passionfruit Flan: Very subtle and not too sweet. The price was great and it was larger then expected. We enjoyed this. We enioyed our dinner on the upper outside patio and the service was great. The guy who delivers the food is so cheerful and our server gave great recommendations.

We came by for a quick drink but eventually realized they actually have music on Saturday nights so…read morewe stayed! They had a DJ tonight. Google hours are incorrect - they do not close at 11pm! Really great pisco drinks - I've tried a few variations which have been great but really need to actually try the original pisco sour. I'll be back for sure to try their food!

I had high hopes for El Secreto De Rosita given the unique concept of blending Palestinian and…read morePeruvian cuisine, but the experience fell well short of expectations. The food was average at best and significantly overpriced for the quality. We paid $30 each for ají de gallina and arroz con pollo--both dishes lacked depth and were nowhere near worth that price point. The ceviche ($27) was bland and underwhelming, missing the brightness and flavor you expect from a staple like this. Even the chicha morada felt like a stretch at an extra $10. The issues weren't limited to Peruvian dishes. The kafta sandwich was dry and completely lacking flavor, and a simple salad my wife ordered came with poorly seasoned dressing. Overall, the kitchen seemed to miss the mark on both sides of the fusion concept. To make matters worse, two classic Peruvian dishes--anticuchos and jalea mixta--were unavailable. The explanation given was that they had run out after Saturday night service, which is hard to justify when we visited at 1:30 PM on a Sunday. The restaurant was nearly empty at that time, which in hindsight should have been a warning sign. All in, we spent $225 for a family of four including tip, which is more than double what the experience was worth. I would rate this place 2 out of 5 stars and would not return.

1 Star is too much -- Very disappointing experience…read more We were really excited to try this restaurant because we were hoping for an authentic Argentinian dining experience. Unfortunately, it was nothing like what we expected, and the food was extremely disappointing. Then I found out the owner is Bolivian not even Argentinian. The chimichurri was red and had a very different taste than what we expected. The green hot sauce was basically like eating raw jalapeño--extremely overpowering. The mashed potatoes were watery and very salty, and the broccoli was literally sitting in so much water that almost half of the bowl was full of it. The rice tasted like microwave rice, and the French fries were just ordinary fries. The biggest disappointment was the meat. It was extremely fatty, chewy, and had almost no flavor. The chicken was overcooked and tasted like leftovers that had been reheated. For an Argentinian restaurant, the quality and preparation of the meat should be one of the highlights, but unfortunately, it was the complete opposite. Honestly, we could barely eat our food and ended up leaving most of it. What made the experience even worse was that, despite barely being able to eat the food, we were still charged half of the meal. The total bill was over $85, and that included $5 for a small cup of what tasted like microwave rice. Just in case the food looks half-empty in the pictures, we did put some of the food onto our plates to try it. Unfortunately, we couldn't eat it, so that's why some of the containers look partially empty. As someone who was genuinely looking forward to trying Argentinian food, this experience was incredibly disappointing. In my opinion, this restaurant does not represent the quality or flavors that people expect from Argentinian cuisine. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant, and I would not return.

I came to La Estancia for a family birthday celebration, and must say, they did an excellent job…read moreaccommodating a party of 17, including six children. The service was excellent and accommodating. I was impressed because I know large groups can be difficult to wait on, so was very pleased with the service and how quick they were to get our orders in and us served. We ordered a variety of appetizers, such as the the empanadas, calamari, and garlic shrimp. My favorite items were the empanadas and calamari, which were extra tasty with the accompanying sauces. We also ordered a variety of grilled meats, including the two large Parrillada meat platters and picanha . The accompanying sides we tried were the fries, cheese rice, fried yucca, and plantains. I really liked the plantains, but the cheese rice was not was I expected. It was more like grits than cheesy rice. The meats were cooked to how we requested it, and of course tastes especially good with the sauces. My favorite cuts were the strip steak, beef rib, and picanha. I didn't really care for the sweet breads, but that is a personal preference. Value wise, the Parrillada platters could easily feed 4 - 5 people, so we had plenty of leftovers. I would definitely recommend checking out La Estancia if you enjoy grilled meats!

The food was amazing, and it arrived super fast! Natalie really deserves 10 stars for her attention…read moreto detail and making sure my wife and I were extremely satisfied. It was a great experience and definitely worth the time.

Food 10/10 Atmosphere 8/10…read moreService 9/10 A bit crowded on a Saturday 2pm restaurant week and the tables are a bit too close, but had an amazing time here with the BEST ceviche in town.

Best restaurant ever!!! Food was great but the service was even better!!!! They really care about…read moretheir guess!!

I was in Washington, D.C., a few days before a work event and spent the day exploring the city…read more After miles of walking, I stopped into Cuba Libre, and it turned out to be the perfect place to recharge. I ordered the El Cuban sandwich, and it was outstanding. It came with black bean soup, a salad and tropical chips. I'm not usually a fan of beans, but the black bean soup completely changed my mind--it was rich, flavorful and one of the highlights of the meal. The drinks were also excellent, the service was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience was exactly what I needed after a long day on my feet. If you're looking for great Cuban food in D.C., Cuba Libre is absolutely worth a visit.

Awesome food and great service. I had the trout which was cooked to perfection. I had the…read moreold-fashioned drink. It wasn't a typical old-fashioned with bourbon. I think it might have had Scotch and another alcohol in it, but it was delicious. The service was great and it was a very nice ambience.

I'm sure food and ambiance is awesome here. But staff competence is poor based on a simple request…read morethat went badly awry. Again I must preface by saying I didn't dine here or experience the place. I was invited to a dinner here that I couldn't attend, and as a birthday surprise I wanted to send that table a bottle of champagne. I intended to order a Dom Perignon (for which they charge ~$400 per bottle). But the staff was on amateur hour -- instead of taking my order, they altered the reservation, then alerted the birthday person who made the reservation (ruining any potential for a nice surprise gift), and said they would have to cancel the original reservation because the number of people changed. Birthday person had to call them and me to smooth it all over. Then, another person called me to get my email address to send me a PDF to fill out (which I had to then send them on WhatsApp) for my order - a comically silly added bureaucratic/administrative load. Just take the credit card over the phone on the first call/request, like 99% of businesses around the world. This place takes 3-4 steps just to order something... This person had absolutely zero idea that I made the request as a surprise, so it suggests there is pretty poor coordination and communication amongst staff. I'm sure people come here regularly and have great meals and great times. But at their prices, wine/champagne mark-ups, and promise of an 'elevated' experience -- staff need to get their act together.

The Royal is one of my local go-tos! I've been able to walk in successfully on weeknights but…read morerecommend reservations for weekends. Most recently went as a party of 4 and got the crab beignets, beef arepa, masa gnocci, and parillada for two. Crab beignets were our favorite - perfectly crispy and great flavor. Masa gnocci was a little overcooked this time but still yummy. Beef arepa is a classic dish to get at the royal; two people can easily share one arepa. Parillada was a hearty entree and probably best for 2-3 people. This amount of food altogether was just nice. We probably could have ordered one more thing to be extra full. I don't typically get Latin American food but love all the flavors at this restaurant. Next time will try their breakfast menu!

Yummy. This is my favorite burger in dc. It is toooooooo good. & the fries are fire too. Seasoned…read moreso nicely. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It had a beautiful chew with the classic burger toppings with an amazing pairing of their slaw with a garlicy aioli. The bun was very pillowy and soft with a nice crust. They also never lack on their specialty lattes. I got their carrot cake latte and it was just so fabulous. Extremely smooth espresso and perfectly steamed milk. Syrups made in house of course and you can tell. Just a perfect latte. I usually am an iced latte person but I recommend getting their lattes hot. Hits different.