We've now visited Maison twice and have been beyond satisfied both times! In fact, so much so, that…read moreI'm planning to take my sister-in-law here for her birthday. From the vibes: moody wallpaper, a divine bathroom sink with wax-coated wine bottles serving as candle holders, to the service: Thomas was great!, to the cocktails and extensive wine list, everything was resplendent. There hasn't been a single dish we didn't enjoy, but I'm admittedly writing this after visit #2, so I'm focusing on that more as it's fresher in my mind. Both visits we tried the miso caesar salad, the heirloom tomato salad, the filet mignon carpaccio, the hiramasa crudo, and the stuffed chicken. They were just too good to skip on our second visit! My husband swears dessert is why he wanted to go back -- the choux bun dessert is TO DIE FOR! The menu had changed ever so slightly on our second visit, so we tried a few dishes that weren't present before: the tarama and the sea bass. The sea bass was my favorite bite of the night! Served over a bed of porridge and golden rice that is so sumptuously savory, the tender fish topped with katafi was just exquisite.

The main drawback of this place is the price. We really did enjoy everything we ate but it's small…read moreportions and pricy so it really depends on how much you're willing to spend. Definitely a nice occasion place. Drinks (4/5): nothing bad but nothing blew us away and we tried like 4 out of 6 drinks or something like that Bread (5/5): okay for something so simple, it's the best crusty bread and butter I've gotten from a restaurant, not to be like anyone can blow you away with super pillowy rolls but this was the kind of bread you get for free but the pinnacle of tastiness Carpaccio (5/5): I really enjoyed this and was afraid it was be heavy in some way but perfectly savory with it being light Eggplant (4/5) felt like too much sauce for the small amount of eggplant but tasty nonetheless Brioche stuffed chicken (4/5): everything was great but it's small Service (5/5): our server was great and didn't push food on us or rush us

We rolled into Retro right under the wire, Just shy of…read moreclose, and our hunger was dire, But the plates kept on coming, Had the whole table humming, And the kitchen, God bless it, still fired. The prosciutto came first, sliced so fresh and so thin, Salty silk ribbons that melt as they go in, Each bite a delight, Barely lasted a minute in sight, And I'd order it twice just to start again. Then eggplant and burrata came out side by side, Creamy cheese spilling over with nowhere to hide, The eggplant so tender, Pure creamy surrender, I scraped that plate clean, and I'm not one bit shy. But the pasta, my friends, was the star of the night, Every twirl of the fork was a perfect bite, Rich, cozy, and filling, Worth the late-hour thrilling, Five stars from me, and that's only right. Go early or late, just make sure you go. Retrobottega delivers.

Retrobottega just happened to be a hop, skip, and a jump from our hotel…read more A friend recommended it, and as soon as we sat down I understood why-everyone is so friendly and accommodating. A gentleman who worked there offered to take a photo of us, after watching us struggle with a selfie, the staff quickly grabbed an extra chair when we had a 5th guest, and our waitress was attentive, knowledgeable and sweet. While waiting for the rest of our party I tried two drinks. I can recommend both- retro passion and bourbon ginger beer concoction. We followed that with arancini and fried artichoke. Yes and yes. For the main meals, they generously let us slip large portions. I tried the short rib parpadelle, and although a tad under seasoned, everything was prepared properly and my pasta was perfectly al dente. Out of the 5 who visited 3 did not care for their meal, but I think we could all agree that the drinks, apps, and portions were on point. *So, we ended up grabbing dinner here two days after our initial visit- I can't say I recommend the octopus, and the beef carpaccio was "take it or leave it", but the gnocchi was pillowy perfection...just know that this is a heavy dish!

In short...Expensive but worth it…read more We were a party of four and we shared every plate. Here is a rundown of what we had: Humo cocktail - smokey and sweet. I liked it a lot. Don't be thrown off by the egg white. Try it. Bread - hot, flaky, delicious. Get it. Hamachi - citrusy, fresh, tasty Steak Tartare - It was just OK for me. Super savory but could have skipped it. Plums - this was one of the table favorites. Creative dish. The plums weren't too sweet and paired well with the other ingredients. Pickled eggplant - nice contrast to the other items. My wife's favorite. Leek Tart - cheesy and savory. Not as blown away as other reviewers but very good. Chorizo Dumplings - my son's favorite. But you're paying over $9/dumpling. Not sure it's worth it. Rice Pudding - weird name for essentially what is four jumbo shrimp over paella style rice. Very tasty but can be skipped if you're trying to keep the bill down. Massini - it was good but not a must get. Chocolate cake - the four us literrally ate this in like 20 seconds. It was amazing. Skip the other desserts and get two orders of this. If it were possible, I would give this restaurant 4.5 stars instead of 5 because it is expensive. We avoided the priciest items on the menu and still spent $110/person including tax and tip. But if you can afford it, go for it.

Leek tart - very cheese forward (so much so that I could barely taste leek), with nice greens and a…read morecute carrot addition, Pickled eggplant - soft and delicious eggplant (the sauce made me think of ajvar (red pepper spread)), Bread - these small rolls had good potential, but were strangely tough and almost dry on the outside, but the butter was yummy, "Shepherd Pie" - that is how it was described anyway; it was very filling, did not have peas and was kind of dry inside, Cod - this was some of the best fish I've had in awhile. Soft, flaky, not overcooked and the sauce had a bit of a spiciness surrounding the small fried plaintain cubes; served with shredded beets, Massini - light but big portion of creamy deliciousness (would compare to crème brûlée), Sweet potato - I forget what exactly this was called, it was their seasonal special; poached sweet potato with delicious ginger ice cream and strands of chocolate (get it if available!), Sifón cocktail with vermouth was delicious (although could use fewer ice cubes), Service was professional and I liked how, out the window, you could see people playing tennis on the courts across the street.

Reveler's Hour may be a little dark on the inside with all the dark wood and…read morelow lighting but the service and the food bring a light to your meal. Firstly, I really have to commend the staff.  They were so attentive and thoughtful.  Our server, for example, brought an extra little light to our table when she saw we were struggling to read the menu in the low light. They were great about checking with us, keeping the water glasses filled and anticipating other needs such as a bag when we wanted to take some of our meal home.  Everyone was very kind and this added so much to our meal.  We enjoyed our progressive meal which reflecting the chef's heritage from both Italy and Brazil.  Our starting mocktails of the ploughman's surprise and the fermented peach soda were good.  The peach soda had a great amount of fizz but could have used a little more peach.  Maybe the nectar just sunk to the bottom and by the time we drank that far, the ice had diluted it.  We preferred the ploughman's surprise, which, coming with no ice (yah!) stayed flavorful to the very end.  Our app of grilled peaches and burrata was tasty but we actually preferred it eaten as its separate components rather than together where the burrata seemed to overpower the other flavors.  Special shout out to the sourdough crisp on top.  Super crunchy and delicious!  The bread was also a stand out in the panzanella.  This dish had a great kick from the jalapeno and was fresh and refreshing.  For our third dish - the bread also was really good.  This time it was garlic knots which everyone looked forward to the moment that garlic aroma arrived at our table.  The summer lasagna came with a very light and slightly sweet tomato sauce which only made us wish we had even more bread!  The main entrée was the picanha steak.  It was very well cooked and though not as hot temperature wise as we would have liked, it was really good even just warmed.  The oven roasted potatoes were just right and the chimichurri sauce was very good (anther longing for more bread - can you see a theme?...)  Dessert was a soft and custardy on the inside corn cake with  mascarpone and espresso dulce de leche.  Although I couldn't taste much of the coffee flavor, the dish was another example of Reveler's Hour comfort food wheelhouse.  The food and the service at Reveler's Hour are definitely worth coming back for.  Next time, we might try to sit towards the front where there is more light from the windows.  There is a small outdoor public lot a block away.

Reveler's Hour is dark, cozy, and intimate, the kind of restaurant that's great for date night or…read moredinner with friends. The front bar has a nice mix of high tops and booths if you're stopping in for drinks, while the dining room in the back is filled with smaller tables. The food absolutely lives up to the atmosphere. Absolutely start with the garlic knot. You can tell the pasta is homemade. The pappardelle is my favorite but you can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes! Between the warm ambiance, thoughtful service, and incredible food, Reveler's Hour is a great spot in Adams Morgan.

Going to Barcelona Wine Bar has been the most fantastic exhilarating nights I have enjoyed in my…read morepast 52 years of life. My husband Dave and I go almost every month and the food and drinks are fantastic! I will say this restaurant draws a very young audience, but nonetheless we are always down to boogie. My favorites have been the goats whipped cheese, flank steak, patatas bravas, and the empanadas! And the drinks to absolutely die for! I always start Dave and I off with a pitcher of sangria, red of course, but he's not too keen on the fruity drinks so he always gets a beer. Overall experience is a 10000/10 am definitely going back next month. Xoxo Kathy!

I've been coming to this location for well over a decade and have made so many amazing memories and…read morefriendships here, which makes this experience especially disappointing. I was deeply saddened by the treatment my group and I received. We were kept outside while others were allowed to enter, and the way the staff treated us felt incredibly disrespectful. I have never felt so unwelcome at a restaurant I've supported for so many years. I used to work on 14th Street and hosted many of my social gatherings at this establishment. This place has been part of so many memories over the years, which is why it's upsetting to see how differently I was treated this time. This was also the second time in two weeks that I've had a terrible interaction with security while visiting from the West Coast. On both weekends, I was met with unnecessarily unpleasant treatment. To make matters worse, the female manager doubled down on the claim that a reservation was required to access the bar, despite this never having been an issue during my many years of visiting. I understand that policies and procedures can change, but there is no excuse for making longtime customers feel unwelcome or treating people differently at the door. After more than a decade of patronage, I expected a much higher level of hospitality and respect. Unfortunately, this experience has significantly changed how I feel about returning.

Tryst kept me afloat. The lovely service I have always received, whether at the bar, a table, or a…read moresofa, has been consistent though a decade of visits, as has the engagement of this charming bijou of a cafe with the surrounding neighborhood. Although probably first established while Friends was still on the air, Tryst has kept up with the comings and goings of Adams Morgan, reiterating itself with changes in the local culture and the arts, which are often on display. The building itself has a narrative to it, but it's the centrality of this respite from 'everywhere else' that makes Tryst stand out, lets it occupy memories of comfort and hospitality in my mind, keeps pulling at me to visit time and again. If it wasn't for Tryst, I doubt professional and personal lows would have turned out so rosy, in the end, for me.

Very nice. Lots of seating. Very community oriented. Reminds me of a cafe you'd see on a sitcom…read more They do open mics and other events as well. They serve alcohol and coffee. A perfect combination

Love the ambiance of this place with the decor, live vinyl dj, and a pool table upstairs. They have…read morea pretty standard cocktail menu but a whole lot of wines to choose from. I enjoyed my drink and it was the perfect bar for catching up with a friend. I'll definitely think about trying the food next time however, like the drinks, it's very expensive for "bar food" and an automatic 20% fee is added to every check regardless of your party size. The music gets louder later into the night and the crowd seems to be more in the mood to dance so just keep that in mind when deciding on what time to go! Overall if you're in the area Le mont royal is worth stopping by.

History of Present Indulgence: We came for dinner in a group…read moreof 8 to celebrate our friend's birthday before heading out for a cabin weekend in West Virginia. I was very excited about the French-Canadian, always-changing menu. Physical Exam: Taste - The Prime Rib Sando was a preemo sandwich of balanced cheese and meat between two slices of toasty sourdough. The Cheeseburger Americain was a standard 3.5 out of 5 American cheeseburger that beats the average suburban chain restaurant burger with its double patty and sesame bun, but isn't gonna knock your socks off like a steakhouse burger. The poutine kept my socks on too (I was particularly excited about the poutine and ended up a tad underwhelmed). The biggest disappointment was the mozzarella sticks, which...... I'll just get to in the service part. Cocktails were mid. All interesting concepts, but most missed the mark. the Polar Express was a little too sweet, I forgot what the name of the riff on an old fashioned or Manhattan I had but that was okay, and the Fleur de Citron tasted like when you ask for a Sprite and they ask, "Is Sierra Mist (now Starry) okay?" and you reply, "yeah that's fine," but then what you get is actually a flat 7-Up. Ambiance - This place runs on vibes like America runs on Dunkin'. Live DJ, neon lights, feels like a place you wanna eat a little, dance a little, drink a little. Fun place. Tanked by the service. Skip to the Assessment/Plan if you don't want to read this novella retelling of our evening. Service - Relatively early for the dinner service, we were the largest and one of only a few tables in the restaurant. I counted 3 other tables seated (small parties of less than 4 each) and a few patrons at the bar. It took about 20 minutes before we first got our menus and the guy who handed them to us didn't say a word just dropped them off. Then it took another 20 minutes before he came back to get our drink orders, and 1) seemed like he was having a bad day, which... fine, but 2) was rolling his eyes when some of us were a little between some options and wanted a recommendation, which... alright my guy let's chill. We weren't talking loud, we weren't drinking before and being obnoxious, we just wanted to ask about what some of the drinks were like on a very cool menu of cocktails we haven't tried anywhere else. Upon returning with our drinks, he accidentally spilled a not insignificant amount on my friend sitting across from me, and while we reacted and started handing him extra napkins, he just glanced at him, finished giving out the drinks, and walked away. No "oops", "my bad", "oh let me get you some paper towels", nothing. So at this point, we're all staring at each other like "Did we do something? Do we smell?" Whatever, friend's birthday, we've been talking about this cabin weekend for several years and it's finally happening, let's just vibe. Now another 20 minutes went by and we were getting antsy because we wanted to order our food but it looked like there wasn't a lot of staff, and we didn't want to upset anyone by hurrying them. Another man came over who we thought was going to take our orders. Nope. He starts picking up our menus so I say, "Oh, hey we haven't ordered yet." To which he replies, "OK, but I need the menus." Alright cool, yeah, that makes sense if he needed them for other tables and can leave us with a few to share. Nope. He just took them and placed them back at the host stand. Awkward stares across the table again. Whatever, we had enough, I guess. Tick tock, tick tock. A third guy came over, and when he smiled and asked, "Hi are you all ready to order?" I was like "Oh finally a human being!" Food took another 20-ish minutes while we nursed our drinks and really had no interest in ordering another round (not that anyone asked us). We ate. We chatted. We had an okay time. We were super ready to get out of there. Oh right, the mozz sticks. Le Mont'zarella sticks. They had one order left of four sticks for $18. We were one of the first diners. You can imagine after all the above, that's just a major facepalm emoji. Assessment/Plan: Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for Le Mont Royal to improve their service, now and at the hour of ASAP, because the place has so much potential, and maybe it was just an off night, or the staff just finished arguing with each other in the back so they took it out on us, but dearly beloved Lord it was like we offended nine generations of their ancestry from the moment we walked in. With "a 22% service charge has been added for your convenience," I thought we were getting Punk'd. The always-changing French-Canadian menu is a cool and unique concept, but it's a lot of bark with very little bite. It didn't make the disappointing service worth it. "This life hasn't turned out quite the way I want it to be." -Rockstar, Nickelback

I've been to Bar a Vin a few times now and have enjoyed my experience each time. Be warned, it…read morefills up quickly! I've never had a problem getting a seat, but there was definitely close to standing room only at one point when we decided to dine for dinner instead of just getting drinks. Ok - wine list. Great French-focused wine list. Pinot Blanc by the glass? Yes, please! Not something you often see on a menu, even a at a wine bar. They definitely had a few off the beaten path varietals listed, and this is just the wines by the glass, which is always appreciated. Had been to Bar a Vin a few times in the past to have drinks, but decided to dine there back in August. The food was excellent. My husband really enjoyed his salmon rillettes, and I loved my tomato salad. They do feature the 'standard' French dishes you expect to see on a menu, but you can tell they switch it up with more seasonal items such as the tomato salad. Makes me want to go back in the fall and winter to see what they are featuring then. Speaking of which - it would be a great place to go in the winter because of the beautiful fireplaces. I could see it being really cozy. And what's better than a glass of wine by the fire? I look forward to returning.

This is the coziest place to be in the winter! The vibes in here are perfect, and they serve the…read moreentire Chez Billy Sud menu, so you really can't go wrong. I had the steak frites, which was cooked to my preferred temperature (a rarity for steak frites) and the fries were perfectly crispy. All of the wines we had were delicious, and I can't wait to come back and try the burger!

Dear reader, Maxwell…read morePark is exactly the sort of charming little wine bar that makes an ordinary evening feel rather more sophisticated than it had any right to be. The wine list is enormous, with plenty of options whether you know exactly what you like or prefer to experiment a bit. During our visit, they were running a back-to-school theme with clever head-to-head comparisons of similar wines. You could order half glasses of each and taste them side by side, which made the whole experience feel fun, approachable, and slightly educational without becoming terribly serious about it. There is a good amount of seating inside, plus a lovely patio with fire pits that makes lingering especially tempting. The food menu is equally flexible, ranging from simple chips for snacking to a full burger for dinner, with more indulgent options like caviar and Champagne if the evening calls for a little grandeur. Everyone was incredibly nice, and we had such a relaxed, enjoyable time. A wonderful spot for wine, conversation, and a proper little hangout.

This place has been here forever, and I have walked by it so many times. A friend finally invited…read moreme out and it was such a blast! Every wine I tried was something totally new. They were on the tail end of their winter menu, and the sparkling wine that my friend was super excited about was phased out. But I just told the staff what kind of wine I was in the mood for and they chose something wonderful for me. I took pictures of the bottles, I'll track those down and post them later. I'm glad I managed to find red and white wines that I enjoyed. I also noticed that they had a crunchwrap on their menu and I had to try it. It was smaller than I thought, but the flavors going on?? Spectacular. There will also these dumplings... SWEET POTATO DUMPLINGS! And they had sage and candied walnuts. Ultimately they tasted more like a dessert, but I was obsessed with those and loved how unique they were. I'd return here, there's just too much good stuff to try! Can get pricey if you want to try a lot of wines, though.

Amelie had been on my radar for some time and I finally stopped by on a recent Monday around 7:15…read morePM. The place was busy, but not packed, and I got a table without a reservation. I tried the Beef Tartare ($19) which came with a quail egg and sunchoke chips on top, a small side salad, and a large bread basket. The tartare was good and the bread was great. For an entree, the Trout à la Grenobloise ($33) was great. It came with mashed potatoes, green beans, almonds, and caper-lemon-brown butter sauce. It was a really nicely cooked piece of fish. The restaurant was larger and the decor more modern than I expected. I also didn't realize it was part of a small chain, with locations in NYC and SF. Service was a little slow at first, but then fine. Overall, a nice, classic French meal.

They were very accommodating and friendly even before we sat down. We had an error with our…read morereservation, and they helped us out, and we only waited about 15 minutes before a table that worked freed up. We were a little squished but couldn't complain. The restaurant itself is decently large with very nice decor. It is definitely on the nicer and intimate side of things but can be decently noisy. Our waitress was very nice and helped give some quick recommendations on their wine list. The food and wine were pretty good, all very enjoyable. - The escargot was delicious - The French onion soup had a healthy amount of melted cheese on top, just a touch salty, but I still enjoyed it greatly. Great wine selection that you cannot go wrong with. Was shocked to see it in DC as I frequent the one in SF. It did not disappoint.