The resturant was bustling the second we walked in! We were escorted to the garden conservatory where there were heat lamps and blankets on each chair. It was the perfect tempature to enjoy the night. What I admired about this dinner is we were not given our menu when we sat down. Each course was going to be a surprise and that is everything I wanted for the meal. Every course was timed perfectly, and all the staff was attentive. The standout dishes for me was the coconut crusted prawn which was a mix of texture, the sweet and sour sauce was perfect for the prawn. The cheese course was decadent and finishing with a light sorbet rounded it all out. I don't have a photo but another standout cocktail was the banana bread old fashioned. If you're looking for a unique menu and comforting ambience this is the spot for you. read more

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Little Pearl is one of the rare Michelin-starred restaurants that is both baby-friendly and dog-friendly! My husband made a reservation for us over the July 4th weekend, and we were seated outside under covered seating. Despite the summer heat, the only overheated guest was our dog, and the staff went above and beyond--bringing him his own bowl of water and making us feel completely welcome. The tasting menu was beautifully executed and utterly delightful. The evening flew by, and we only wished there were more than seven courses--every dish was delicious. And the cocktail program? Absolutely exceptional. The Half Baked Alaska and Old Fashioned Banana Bread cocktails rank among the best I've ever had; I would happily drink either one right now. We cannot wait to return to Little Pearl on our next visit to DC. read more

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I took myself out for my birthday and sat at the bar. I really enjoyed the bar staff who took excellent care of me by starting me off with some birthday bubbles. Everything on the menu was really fantastic and I loved all the wine pairings. They were able to expertly offer non red meat options on their prix fixe menu. I think my favorite was corn and crab chawamushi. The take home cherry muffin and jam was an excellent start to the next day and a way to keep the experience going. Even if you do the wine pairings, I would suggest trying a cocktail or two as they are really great, and since I ubered.... I'll just say try the baked Alaska cocktail, it's like drinkable dessert. Since this was such a great experience, I hope to try the other restaurants in the pearl portfolio next time I am in the DC area. read more

Dinner at Little Pearl was spectacular from start to finish--one of those nights where the food is memorable, but the hospitality is what really separates it from the competition. From the moment we walked in, the team made us feel genuinely taken care of, warm, confident, and effortlessly in control in the best way. Service throughout was next-level: attentive without hovering, perfectly paced, and incredibly knowledgeable about both the menu and the wine. Every handoff felt seamless, and the staff clearly takes pride in the experience they're delivering. The food was creative and beautifully executed--each course felt intentional, with textures and flavors that kept surprising us. Dessert was a standout (the little candle moment was a great touch), and the beverage pairings were spot-on. We enjoyed everything from a beautifully chosen Pinot Noir to a Kopke 10-year tawny that was perfect with the final bites. If you want a special night out where the cooking is excellent and the service is truly "how is this even real" good, Little Pearl is it. We'll be back. read more

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My friend and I celebrated her birthday last night at Little Pearl where we enjoyed the summer tasting menu and tried seven courses for $128/person. The service was efficient and effective, and the food was brought out at perfect cadences throughout the evening. ANGEL EGGS The angel eggs looked like boiled eggs, but the texture did not have its usual smooth, slightly rubbery appearance, but it was sugary like Peeps marshmallow. It was light, airy, reminiscent of meringue or pavlova. The flavors were garlicky and "chive-y", maybe with a hint of horseradish, giving a subtle heat. BEEF TART(ARE) The crispy shell was thin but firm, and it added a delightful crunch, which enhanced the creamy texture of beef tartare, and the bold and smoky roe on top. There was a bit of sweetness that balanced the savory flavors, almost like a fruit tart. KANPACHI CRUDO The bowl contained a few pieces of fresh and delicate pieces of kanpachi, paired with some sungold tomatoes and sungold tomato water. This was fresh and delicate -- bright, citrusy, and sweet. The acidity from the tomatoes balanced the subtle flavors of the kanpachi well. This course tasted like a sunny, summer afternoon with the perfect 75F weather and a slight breeze. SUMMER EGG CUSTARD This was a layered dish with delicate egg custard, corn kernels, and topped with crab. The corn was sweet and crunchy, and the egg was incredibly smooth and silky, similar to Japanese chawanmushi. The crab added a gentle smokiness that enhanced the lighter flavors of egg custard. This was also a very "summer" dish, like a late August day with a hint of warmth with fall approaching. PORK AND CLAMS This was the main course of the night, but not entree-sized. The roast pork was topped with small cubes of caramelized turnips. Our server drizzled coconut curry sauce (which also had cubes of turnips, but not caramelized) on top of the pork. Each bite was creamy and indulgent. The turnips were naturally sweet and earthy with a bit of funk that complemented the rich, slightly fatty pork that melted in my mouth. It paired beautifully with the creamy coconut flavor. The minced clam patty was on the bottom, which I enjoyed last. It was flavorful, seasoned generously and looked like a falafel. NOT QUITE DESSERT This was a sweet and savory "pre-dessert", featuring a juicy and sweet raspberry sorbet that had small bits of a "mystery" savory jelly. I isolated the jelly in my mouth and found that it was pretty funky, but very interesting. My friend and I made guesses throughout. Was it soy sauce? Balsamic vinegar? Oyster sauce? We both thought it had a sea-umami flavor. After finishing, we asked one of the servers and she told us it was black garlic and seaweed, which explained the funk. I enjoyed it and am curious how the chefs came up with this combination, haha. MAILLARD'S PAVLOVA Lastly, we enjoyed the actual dessert, which was a medjool(?) date ice cream topped with cold brew(!!) merengue with hazelnut crumble on the side. It was incredibly decadent with all three elements together. I really liked the cold brew merengue. It had a delicious coffee flavor, and the thin, but crispy texture broke easily and melted in my mouth. The hazelnut crumble was on point. My friend said this might be one of the best desserts she's had. To wrap up the evening, the server gave my friend a bite-sized chestnut cake to celebrate her birthday and both of us a small gift (given to every guest), which included a copy of the tasting menu, a cherry muffin, and cherry jam! So thoughtful. Overall, phenomenal tasting menu where I thoroughly enjoyed all the courses, and each one left me wanting more. The flavors were on the lighter side, and not too heavy, but there were some funky elements throughout that was unique without being offensive. My only qualm is that I was still a bit hungry after the meal and could go through the whole tasting menu again. I would definitely return in the future and try a different tasting menu. This season was delicious and very much "summer" -- light, delicate, and fun, with bright, citrusy bursts of flavors. read more

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I had a very disappointing meal at Little Pearl. The meal started off strong. I loved the bites--we got the famous deviled eggs and a scallop dish. After that, we got a fried shrimp followed by a squash katsu style. I didn't really appreciate having two fried items in a row. I got monkfish, which I thought was overcooked in parts. The dessert courses were a sorbet followed by an ice cream. I would have hoped they would have switched up dessert more. Service was extremely disappointing. They forgot to bring the substitution for my main despite my dietary restrictions being listed on resy, being confirmed via text the day of, and then being confirmed again at the start of the meal. They also forgot to bring out the birthday cake for the birthday guest prior to bringing out the check. I had to ask them if they were planning to serve it. The drink selection was also disappointing, and the server didn't suggest logical pairings. read more

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Please put this place on your list for special occasions! Food and service is top notch (don't forget to order the caviar course!) and ambiance is very romantic and pretty. Kind of felt like being at an event or wedding dinner inside garden/green house. Came here on a Saturday night as a group for a birthday dinner and we all left full and content. Service is friendly with good explanations of each of the courses. We got the caviar course (which was my favorite!) in addition to the prixe fixe menu which consisted of the angel eggs (so airy! Feels like you're eating a cloud), fried cheese, summer fruit, coconut crusted prawn (generous portion size), pork with cornbread and collards (tasted great but a tad salty for me. Loved the cornbread), 75 day donut (amazing! My 2nd favorite item), and dark chocolate mousse (coconut made it very refreshing). They brought out a little chess cake with a candle as a birthday treat! They also give you an oatmeal cookie with a glass of oat milk to take home which was a great breakfast for me the next day (or a midnight snack if you prefer). Drinks tasted great. The vegan menu consisted mostly of vegetables which is fine but a bit disappointing imo since it didn't seem to match in quality/creativity with the omnivore menu. I would have expected more mix ins of some type of plant based protein, mushrooms, etc. which is why I'm rating this a 4/5. The menu is seasonal so perhaps worth reassessing at a different season with a vegan friend- but I still highly recommend you give this place a try for a special occasion! read more

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We came to Little Pearl to celebrate an early Valentine's Day and we had a wonderful time. The setting is casual but upscale at the same time. The service was excellent and the food was wonderful. We enjoyed every dish of the seven course fix priced menu. We didn't get the wine pairing, but the table next to us did, and the pours were substantial (plan on taking an uber home). The textures and tastes of each dish were well thought out and complementary. This was one of the better Michelin 1 Star restaurants we have dined at and for this level of dining the price was quite reasonable. read more

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The Little Pearl offers a unique 7-course tasting menu. We were lucky to get seated in the "conservatory" which feels like a pretty, dimly lit greenhouse. The service was very attentive throughout the dinner. Some of the food was surprising. For example, the deviled eggs ("Angel Eggs") were actually savory meringues. We had never had anything like that before. Additionally, the melted cheese course (Aged White Cheddar Fondue) was both savory and a subtly sweet dessert at the same time. The pork and clams course was one of the best! The meat was perfectly cooked, and the clams were delicious. The one course I did not enjoy was the funnel cake. The funnel cake was not crispy or hot enough. I feel like they tried to be very unique with this one, but it did not hit the mark. Everything else was really great, though! I would definitely come back. read more

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Great food with wholesome roots Sure is friendly and knowledgeable Good cocktails Their chess pie is a favorite read more

As a Michelin Star restaurant, I knew that I was set to have an extravagant and bespoke experience dinning here. Round after round and course after course were a hands down a complex aromatic exploration of culinary ingredient-play!! From the Angel Eggs (interesting play on devilled eggs), Coconut Crusted Australian Prawn, Crispy Potatoes and Seafood Remoulade, Black Olive Financier and Aged White Cheddar Fondue plus much more... EVERYTHING was delicious. My close friend took me to Little Pearl to celebrate my birthday - and I could not have had a better time. There were many birthdays being celebrated that evening - which I believe is a testament to just how special their curated and elevated dining experience is!! Ethan was our server for the evening, and we really could not had asked for a better experience - all thanks to him and their rest of the team at Little Pearl. read more

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This review is specifically about the service. The food was good...until I had an allergic reaction. When I made the reservation, I had put that I had an allergy to cashews and pistachios. The server asked after we had been seated if there were any allergies to which I repeated my allergies. He reassured me that nothing on the menu contained any nuts. After the meal had ended and I left, I was starting to feel sick. I called the restaurant immediately to which the hostess responded that one of the dishes contained cashews but that my dish didn't have any. She then proceeded to say that I must've taken a bite from my friend's plate and that's why I felt sick. It's a set menu...why on earth would I try a bite from my friend's plate? Anyways, I hung up and had to deal with my medical issue. Never heard back from the restaurant either. Will never return and definitely don't recommend to anyone who has any food allergies. read more

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I revisited Little Pearl again in September for my boyfriend's birthday and my sentiments still stay the same. I can honestly name Little Pearl as one of my favorite restaurants in DC. From the ambience to the amazing service. The menu was different and just as enjoyable as my first time. The staples including the Angel Eggs and the oatmeal cookies with oat milk as a to go treat were also lovely to have again. I absolutely see why Little Pearl continues to maintain its Michelin star. I look forward to going back again! read more

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We were able to get a reservation for a late dinner on Saturday. Near barracks row, we didn't have too much trouble finding parking (definitely make sure you read the street signs). We were sat pretty quickly in the beautiful enclosed patio. It was a little cold as i was right by one of the doors but overall not too bad. It was intimate and quiet. I opted for the wine tasting (Mother of Pearl) for $150. They have two kinds of wine pairings, one for $85 (less known wine) vs iconic classics for the $150. My husband had two cocktails, the Pork & Lychee in a glass and the Milk & Cereal. The Pork & Lychee was definitely interesting but I more preferred the Milk & Cereal and loved the glass it came in. I really enjoyed the meal as a whole and didn't run into anything I didn't like. I asked for the Caviar addition as well. My and my husband were full by the end of it and flavor profile as well as coat value, I would say this is one my higher rated Michelin restaurants that I have been to. Would definitely recommend! read more

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We wanted a nice but lower key place to celebrate our wedding anniversary; someplace that felt a little luxurious but not too fussy and Little Pearl seemed to fit the bill. Reservations were easy to make online for the conservatory. The decor is sleek and beautiful but not too stiff because you are surrounded by garden views outside and potted plants inside. There were six to seven small plates, each gorgeous to look at and delicious, all plated with great care in different kinds of bowls that artfully complemented the food being served. Admittedly, my husband said he was still hungry after our meal but that was not unexpected. The staff are all very friendly and it's a small space so you will likely hear repeat presentations of the plates, but to me it was a reminder of professionalism and good execution. Our table and menus sported happy anniversary messages, we were genuinely greeted by every staff member we passed, and the take-home bags with cookies and oat milk were a fun touch. read more

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This review's been long overdue, but the aesthetic was so memorable! Although we didn't make a reservation, we managed to snag seats at the tall communal table in the conservatory. Floor-to-ceiling windows poured in bright natural light. Fun, contemporary plating added a nice visual treat - I especially loved seeing the pastel flowers as garnish! My favorite course was the pomme paillasson, aka fancy tater tots - They're crispy and tastier with the spicy cod hollandaise than the caviar. The only course that confused me was the pear sorbet with overpowering blue cheese crumbles.  Thanks to attentive staff, my cup was never less than half full. They just paced the meal a bit too slowly. LP is a nice option for casual, upscale dining. Highly recommend making a request to sit in the glass-enclosed conservatory! read more

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Had a wonderful dinner at Little Pearl for my birthday! We were warmly greeted by the staff And taken to our table which had my name on it, so cute! If you have a food intolerance or allergy, this restaurant is super accommodating and don't make you feel like you're missing any part of the menu. Course 1 - Angel Eggs and Jimmy Red Cornbread & Foie Gras. The texture of the angel eggs threw me off as it reminded me of styrofoam but was actually a light meringue. I preferred a normal egg but I guess it's what they are known for. I much preferred the cornbread and foie gras- tasty little bite full of flavor. Course 2 - Coconut crusted Australian prawn. Great presentation and flavor although I found the shrimp to be cold Course 3 - Crispy potatoes & seaweed remoulade with poached kusshi oyster - creative concept on a salad, fresh and light, impeccable and unique flavors, one of my favs Course 4 - 48 hr short rib paired with beans and oxtail tamale. My favorite course- the prime rib was tender and soo good. The oxtail tamale was an unexpected favorite. Course 5 - Black Olive financier & aged white cheddar fondue- This was probably my least favorite of the courses, too creamy and rich Course 6 - Poached pears, Sauternes & bay leaf funnel cake - didn't love it, didn't hate it- unique concept on a carnival funnel cake and A not-too-sweet way to end the meal. 10/10 would come back again for a special occasion. There were some wow's and some things I didn't care for but overall service and experience was something I'd come back for. read more

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Little Pearl is a very intimate and unique dinning experience. Everything on the tasting menu was relishes and full of surprises. I found myself eating things I have never ate before and enjoying them. I also ended up enjoying things that I told myself I hated lol. Our server for the night was very knowledgeable and personable. He had a very upbeat attitude and was a pleasure to be around. If you have an opportunity to go, by all means please go and bring a date or a group of friends. Angel Eggs - 10/10 Jimmy Red Cornbread & Foie Gras - 7/10 Crispy Potatoes & seaweed Remoulade - 10/10 Carolina Gold Rice - 9/10 48 Hour Short Rib - 10/10 Black Olive Financier & Aged White Cheddar Fondue -6/10 Poached Pears, Sauternes & Bay Leaf Funnel Cake -10/10 read more

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A follow-up review a few months after my first visit (experiencing the new fall menu). Wow - what a meal. Little Pearl really nailed this menu - every dish was unique and well thought out, with some fun playful flavors and textures. The charred cabbage tasted nothing like cabbage - the texture was divine. The crispy potatoes were delicious and played so well with the black caviar supplement. Of course, the Angel eggs were delightful (as they always are). A personal unexpected favorite was the black olive financier and aged white cheddar fondue, the warm fondue was soooo good. The service was attentive and our waiter was super friendly! We sat in the Conservatory room, which is easily my favorite part of the restaurant. Highly recommend a visit to Little Pearl to check out their current menu - it's really special! read more

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Every year my sister and I hit up a Michelin in DC since we are both no longer local. This year I'm so glad we went with Little Pearl in DC :) this did not disappoint (until dessert). servers here were attentive and awesome, very kind and continued to ask us how we were doing and if we enjoyed everything without being overbaring. the area we sat in was gorgeous indoor patio with lots of natural light and plants! angel eggs- an interesting take on deviled eggs - the egg white itself was a soft texture and not "smily" like an egg which i LOVED - it melted into your mouth scallion pancake: this chip like texture on the bottom and the shrimp tempura mixing on the top was so delicious - such a unique and better take on a scallion pancake potato and seaweed salad: a very savory and delicious salad - best ate digging into the bottom and eating it all together essentially cabbage: probably my favorite dish of the night. this really tasted like chicken with the way the cabbage was cooked and the sauce i seriously enjoyed this and want to come back just for this - the most unique and delicious take on cabbage ive ever had scallops: such a delicious savory protein heavy dish full of delicious scallops and dipped in the best sauce. enjoyed this very much as a scallops lover. cheese dessert: this was a zucchini bread and berry sauce plate that was interesting - im not the biggest cheese lover but i can appreciate that the cheese was high quality and went well with the berry sauce and bread. the perfect mixture of sweet and savory. pina colada coquito: i did not enjoy this dish at all - it was very ginger heavy and did not at all taste like a pina colada. take home: the restaurant was so nice gave us the most delicious milk and cookies to take home i enjoyed this treat so much as soon as i got home. overall would recommend and come back but would just pass on the dessert. read more

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One of the best meals I've had in DC...Went there the other night w/ my BFF for her bday. She had a very generous gift certificate. This place is super special. It's kind of hidden - tucked up into a little park that's part of Hill Center. You enter and are immediately greeted by a cheerful hostess. We were seated immediately (ahead of our reservation), but sadly, a private party was taking up the entire conservatory - the one room with windows! Our room was small w/ no windows - the only 'not great' part of the meal. But - who cares! The food was the star of the show -- well, that, and the impeccable service. This 7 course, $118 meal was totally worth every penny. The courses aren't huge - but you're more than full when you leave. The creativity that goes into every course - the presentation, the delectable treats - oh la la! ! My friend is a pescatarian, & they readily accommodated her (she had that in the rez & our server double confirmed it before we started our culinary journey). First course - the "angel eggs " an incredible, melt-in-your-mouth experience w/ meringue molded like the whites of the egg topped with a divine eggy mixture. Wow. Next up: fried shiitake croquettes w/ a scrumptious cheesy sauce. 3rd course: local farm's "summer fruit" - tiny fresh tomatoes, slivered peaches, nuts, a fig purée, & more --- good grief, it was like sunshine-summer-joy in your mouth. 4th course: coconut crusted Australian prawn - the absolute meatiest, largest shrimp I've ever had, billed as a play on the head chef's childhood snack (!! I just had PBJ!!). 5th (main) course: perfectly cooked halibut over roasted veggies - all covered w/ some kind of decadent creamy sauce. This dish came w/ the most perfect, tiny corn muffins & I think fried zucchini (I cant remember). 6th: oh-so-rich "75-Day Donut" - did I say rich??? A savory donut oozing w/ melty manchego...this one a play on the sous chef's childhood snack (who ARE these people?!$?). Last-but-not-least: to-die-for dark chocolate mousse w/ "a whole lotta coconut." WOW. This tiny bowl was crammed w/ so much flavor - some kind of cookie thing at the bottom under all that mousse - the server telling us to dig all the way down to get a full sense of the entire dish. PUHLEASE....so good. That's it. Magical night. Cannot wait to return. read more

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Have been dying to try their other restaurant Pineapples and Pearls, and accidently ended up here on a random last min reservation near me. Was pleasantly surprised with everything. Very nice, unexpected pairings. I love when individual wine/drink flavors don't nessecarily excite you, but the combination really blows your mind. This place knows what they are doing with food and drink. Savor it and you will have a blast. Looking forward even more to trying their other restaurant. read more

Little Pearl - Very cool interpretation of pork belly, cornbread and collard greens yummm. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ambiance: 8/10. It's cute but you don't have to dress up per se. Service: 10/10. Jordan was our server and he was absolutely amazing. Really helped give us a great experience Food: Angel eggs: 10/10. Jimmy Red cornbread & fole gras 6/10. Crispy potatoes & seaweed remoulade 10/10. Carolina Gold Rice 7/10. 48 hour short rib 9/10. OXTAIL TAMALE: 12/10! Black & olive financier & aged white cheddar fondue 8/10 (don't overdue it with the cheese). Poached pear, Sauternes, and bay leaf funnel cake (no picture because I forgot) 13/10!! Absolutely delicious! Drink: Tequila with lychee cream (I had the mezcal removed) - 10/10. I actually got 2. Can't lie, I am still a little hungry but I also only ate breakfast to prepare for this experience. Maybe eat lunch lol. I would highly recommend. read more

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After dining at Rose's Luxury many times throughout the last few years, my husband and I were so excited to finally try the Little Pearl. We stopped by this evening and had a good experience. The food was honestly very tasty. A few of my favorite things were the angeled eggs, the amuse bouche which had cornbread, cranberry, and a seared foie gras, and the oyster and potato dish (which was a fun take on fish and chips.) The menu is fun and creative as expected and the servers all did a great job explaining the menu as we progressed throughout the meal. Despite the food being pretty good, there were a few places that the meal could've been improved. My main takeaways: - the Angeled eggs are as fantastic as everyone says they are - the meal was paced wayyy too slowly. It took about 2.5 hours for the 5 courses. We did get here 15 minutes early for our reservation and I think that may have messed up the serving time? But 2.5 hours is still way longer than any French meal I've even had - the portions needed to be slightly bigger or there needed to be one more dish. My husband and I both left hungry (and I am a relatively tiny human!) Overall, I love almost any menu that comes out of any of Aaron Silverman's restaurants, but the portions here and the slow service make me hesitate to return immediately. read more

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Summary: This place is DOPE! The food was absolutely awesome, the ambiance is like a French Bistro and the service was really good. I even met the Chef. Let's get into it Okay first off you're going to want to order the braised short ribs with the greens and garlic mashed potato's. The reason you're going to want to do that is because it's what the chef and entire staff chose as their meal when they work. It's legit qualifies as DOPE SOUTHERN FOOD. Lilllie Pearl, located about one block from a couple of hotels and next to a great little open air parking lot makes the location prime for stopping by; it's listed as southern food on google and Yelp. What you get is an open concept French bistro style with servers who welcome you and tell you about how amazing the food is from the start of the conversation. I always say that food needs more flavor so my palette leans towards food that has flavor built in. That is all to say that I'm a picky foodie because I believe multiple elements of food should work together to create an experience. This does just that. This black owned restaurant dives deep into the immersion of flavor thats essential to its experience. I would recommend this place for a first date as an impressive location but also good enough for a conversation and a great meal. Plus taking a date that to this location will make seem like you are knowledgeable in the Richmond VA food scene. Our server Caroline was really informative and is a self proclaimed foodie which brought a creditably to her advice on what to order. At her recommendation We ordered the carrot appetizer with goat cheese. I ordered the braised short ribs and my wife ordered the crispy salmon. It was so delicious. I also saw the pork chops and that our neighbors ordered. The presentation was mouth watering. Sidenote: I woke up this morning wishing I had left overs. I don't usually order dessert- if you don't you'll miss out on a mouth watering dream of the Peach Cobbler bread pudding. It's so very worth it. Caroline, our server, recommended that I order a whiskey to compliment the braised short ribs so I did and was glad I had the Smokey whiskey flavor to compliment the Braised Short ribs. I saw a lot of drinks served in mason jars. This added to the southern charm. Bottom Line- Details- people!! They pay attention to details. I give this spot 5 stars and a high five for a great meal. read more

I have been to Little Pearl twice now and have to say overall it's a great mean. One part that I'm really disappointed about is the meal used to be an EXPERIENCE. I'm talking welcome apps and drinks at the bar and then moving to your seat for dinner. It was so fun! This last time we were sent to our seats immediately which is fine but just makes little pearl more like every other restaurant in town. The food was all delicious but unexpectedly my favorite thing was the spring onion butter roll which legitimately just melted in my mouth. It was SO GOOD. Another thing I loved was the detail of the cookie and milk given to as parting gift. It just a really nice touch. At the end of the day it was a great dinner but I'm still disappointed it isn't the experience it used to be. Definitely worth a visit though! read more

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Such a great spot. We came here to celebrate our engagement and this place just blew us away. Setting up a reservation online was very easy. My fiancé included a note that we were celebrating our engagement and everyone at the restaurant we encountered congratulated us. It was such a kind act that made us feel very special. The ambience is really cool. The restaurant is in this quiet area of Capitol Hill and they have a beautiful indoor and outdoor area. The food was beyond our expectations. One of the best meals I have ever had. We knew going in that this restaurant was great, but every course was so delicious. Our waiter delivered all the food with a wonderful explanation of what was in it. This place really values service and making sure the customer knows exactly what they're eating and how much intention went into the food. The special dessert with a candle in it that they offered for our engagement was a really kind gesture. They also offered us a glass of champagne in the beginning to celebrate, which was also extremely generous. To top it off, at the end they provide a gift bag with milk and cookie and the menu so you can revisit this meal. We will likely come back each year to celebrate the day we got engaged because this restaurant made it such a special time. Thank you so much! read more

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We had a lovely celebration at Little Pearl! Every dish was so thoughtfully crafted and delicious. Their starter dish "the deviled eggs" is definitely a staple to their menu. Not only were the dishes all great but the ambiance in the greenhouse was so charming and pretty. Can't wait to come back one day! read more

Little Pearl - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here for my birthday and enjoyed the dinner. The timing between the courses was a bit long surprisingly for the small dishes they were serving. Two of the dishes that had cheese was too strong and they need to tone that down. They'll be changing the menu every so often. read more

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A lovely fine dining experience at a Michelin Star restaurant in Washington DC. Food: Fantastic 7-course meal We had the following - Angel eggs, fresh pineapple guava, jumbo lump crab & Jimmy red grits, beef & brassicas, Bourgogne triple cream cheesecake, orange-sicle Instead of the beef tartare we had a soft rich carrot broth/soup *chef was more than glad to offer and substitutes of any dishes that you're allergic to or simply do not prefer Ambience: Layout is kind of unusual but decor is OK nothing too memorable nor unique Service: Exquisite like its food read more

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An outstanding restaurant that is worthy of its Michelin Star. I recently went with a friend on a weeknight to celebrate a special event and we received outstanding service from being seated at our reservation time to each receiving a bag at the end with a cookie and a copy of the tasting menu we received. I especially want to acknowledge that Little Pearl made an error about a dining restriction my friend had; however, they immediately made up for it and let us keep the wrong dish. The ambiance is very millennial; Little Pearl is located inside of an old, refurbished carriage house. Little Pearl is extremely small, only seating about 20-30 total people. All tables had white tablecloths and candles, and our table had our names on it for our reservation. The food was overall outstanding, and the presentation was appropriate Michelin-caliber. As mentioned above, Little Pearl does a tasting menu. Although Little Pearl serves small portions, they serve enough that I felt full afterwards. On the night we came, we had seven courses and some other things, listed below: Angel Eggs: Phenomenal concept executed perfectly. These angel eggs are a take on deviled eggs, except the "egg white" is a meringue. The meringue was light, airy, and delicious, while the filling was rich and creamy. Scallion Pancake of Joy: A creative, fun, and tasty dish, although I wish it had been a little bigger. Fluke and Summer Fruit: A delicious salad; I loved the taste of summer through the peaches and tomatoes and the greens provided extra freshness. While I liked the fluke, I could barely find the pieces and the flavor did not come through in the dish. Super Charred Cabbage: By far the best dish of the evening. The chef did an outstanding job elevating cabbage into something spectacular. The cabbage was perfectly charred; the aged Parmesan was some of the best parmesan (and cheese) I have ever eaten, and the champagne sauce brought everything together. Dry Aged Duck a l'Orange: The duck confit/pate on the bread was the best part of the dish-a good amount of salt without being overly salty. The duck was fine; I thought the orange sauce was too sweet. Scallops: The scallops were perfectly cooked and the vegetables complemented the scallops well. I also enjoyed the sauce. Tete de Moine & Zucchini Bread: The cheese presentation in the shape of a flower was outstanding and the cheese was delicious, with great umami and the right level of salt. However, there was way too much huckleberry jam and it was too sweet; the cheese would have been better served with a small amount of honey or fig jam. Additionally, the zucchini bread didn't add anything to dish and barely factored in the dish presentation. Pina Colada Coquito: While I am not a big pineapple fan, other than the presentation I found the dessert disappointing. Coconut Sorbet: An OK sorbet, but could have had more flavor. Chess Pie: The best of the three desserts we tried, small, mighty, and delicious. I highly recommend Little Pearl for your next extremely special occasion! read more

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We came here for our anniversary dinner and it was a wonderful experience. The staff are welcoming and very attentive. The ambiance is modern with beautiful plants all over. The sun room area was a beautiful place to sit. The restaurant was accommodating of dietary restrictions. I am vegetarian and my partner is a carnivore but doesn't eat pork. The servers and chef delivered a fantastic meal. I did the wine pairing and my partner tried the cocktails. We loved everything! Whenever I do a tasting menu, the tiny plate sizes make me nervous that I will be hungry. I was stuffed! They sent us home with cookies and oat milk along with our menus. I will definitely be back! It was a great dining experience. read more

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We had a wonderful anniversary celebration here on a recent visit to DC. While I don't have our full menu with tweaks, I want to first off say how accommodating they were with the menus, including a pescatarian offering for me and making a substitution for their famous Angel Egg that allergies prevented my husband from eating; they also asked whether there were items that we weren't allergic to but just didn't care for, and they offered alternatives for those, too. Service overall was lovely, and the only downside to the experience is the unevenness in pacing the courses that others have also mentioned. The food itself was fantastic. My Angel Egg, a cornbread bite, and the black olive financier stood out as highlights for me. The only dish I was "meh" on was the funnel cake dessert which was good, just not great. The absolute highlight of the night was the wine pairing. I've done many wine pairings, even some at other Michelin restaurants, and I have never had one as good as the one I had here. I was nearly giddy every time I took a sip with a course because the food and wine complemented each other so perfectly. Overall, Little Pearl is lovely, and I'd happily return again. read more

The first few small bites were wonderful but as the dishes progressed, they had less and less of a wow factor. The steak and sauce were too salty, the refried beans did not taste like refried beans, and the dessert was messy to eat because the plate was so small. Our server was nice but she kept spilling whenever she refilled our drinks. read more

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Such an amazing place. I had a great time sitting at the bar and interacting with the staff. Great staff, fun atmosphere and delicious food. The charred cabbage is one of the best dishes I've eaten in the city. Definitely deserves to be in the same family of Rose's Luxury and worthy of all the praise. read more

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I treated myself here for a solo birthday dinner. It was lovely all around. I have no complaints. The service was so kind, and they were so generous. I remember eating in the patio, and even though it was the dead of winter it didn't feel too cold or anything. The parties near me were also celebrating special occasions, and we all greeted each other toward the ends of our meals. I was just so happy and remember walking away so happy and satisfied. read more

Bangin', all of it, and I can't wait to go back. Service and coursing is impeccable. You walk into a house, and sit down in pretty basic chairs. Decor is low-key. I wasn't sure what to expect . . . And then my taste buds got blown up by the succession of epic courses that followed. They get a lot of their produce from a local farm, and the flavors are incredible. It reminded me of my fave California farm-to-table spots. The only dish I wasn't thrilled about was the duck. It was pretty rare and chewy. I'm sure it was incredible, but it just wasn't my jam. One of the waiters noticed, and they replaced it with a veggie dish (by request): the most epic crispy sunchokes I have ever had, dressed in a sweet and savory apple sauce. The cheese and olive bread also blew my mind. Looked like dessert, but the salty olives and creamy cheese were one of the best savory delights I have ever had. The toast and duck pate was also a treat. I just know they have special bread elves baking this magic up. Never had anything like it. Holy wow. The dessert was a funnel cake with baked pear, and some kind of sorcery of a sauce. So effen dreamy. They also sent us home with a midnight snack: a tiny bottle of oat milk and a giant cookie that tasted like coconut and vanilla dreams. These people are a dream. I can't wait to go back! read more

I hadn't been to Little Pearl in over 3 years. Thanks to my lovely Yelp review, I was able to see that. So, having gone back to Rose's Luxury a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I needed to go back to its sister, LP. I'm giving LP 3 stars because of the current menu. 3 stars means it's good, 4 means I'm a fan, right? That's why I couldn't give it a 4. Maybe 3.5, tops. I simply wouldn't highly recommend LP's tasting menu based on last night's dinner. It has nothing to do with the service. Service was fantastic and friendly. Very comfortable in a casual setting - the covered patio area. The menu just wasn't great to me. We had the famous Angel Eggs, again, which are delicious and different. Crunchy, slightly sweet meringue makes the egg white part, with the traditional filling. That was followed up by a mini blooming onion. Look, it's adorable and it was good but, ultimately, it was just a blooming onion. On to the rest: Steak tartare - this was good on the crunchy and chewy bread, complete with furikake butter. Potatoes and trout roe - this tasted like mashed potatoes and seemed like it should be a side. The roe wasn't as salty or easy to pop as, I think, was intended. The potatoes definitely needed salt. I appreciated the intent of the salt and vinegar chips which I'm sure were for crunch, but there were very few of them - and most of what existed were softened already. Beef and brassicas - this course was like a mini beef and broccoli and wonton take out meal. The beef was tender and tasty and the wonton was cute, in its own little steamer tray with sweet sauce. Triple cream cheesecake - the Bourgogne cheese was strong, which I appreciated. It was served with what was described as wet dates (in a ball), honey, and applesauce? My fave pairing was with the honey because it went so well with the savory cheesecake. Orange sickle - this was a nice end to the meal. The sesame ice cream in the center was my favorite part of it. Takeaway - chocolate chip cookies and milk. *I didn't eat them so I don't know if they were good. The younger bro ate them before I could try a bit. Haha Nothing really wowed but it was a good, enjoyable dinner. read more

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I've been to Little Pearl three times and each time has somehow been better than the next. The staff is so friendly and welcoming and you can tell how much thought the chefs and kitchen team put into preparation. Their angel eggs are something to dream about. If you have a food intolerance or allergy, Little Pearl is by far the most accommodating Michelin star you could eat at. They don't make you feel like you're missing any part of the menu. Our rule is to always do the wine pairing as it's so unique and the somm is great. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend Little Pearl to anyone. read more

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Little Pearl offers a 7-course menu, in which you can also opt for a wine pairing by the house's Master Sommelier. I highly recommend in requesting to dine in their glass-enclosed conservatory, but they also have a covered patio and bar. Our 7-course menu included: +Angel Eggs +Tempura Fried Squash Blossom - stuffed with merguez +Fluke & Summer Fruit - with yellow peaches, sungold tomatoes, and a tartare of summer fluke +Jumbo Lump Crab & Jimmy Red Grits - with a crab sabayon and rainbow chard +Dry-Aged Duck a L'Orange +Tete de Moine & Zucchini Bread - with honey, butter, and huckleberries +and, a Pina Colada Coquito - with jalapeno Service was warm and welcoming. The place itself is cute and hip! Don't forget to take a selfie against that banana wall! :D Making reservations is seamless, and the staff recognizes any special celebrations and events. They also have a venue for intimate to larger get-togethers as well. +7-course menu +friendly service read more