Welcome to Marcus in Washington, DC. The space is beautiful, and the service is warm and friendly. The scallops were truly amazing and the standout of the meal. However, the Mel's Crab Rice and the grilled fish fell short of expectations. They were just okay; nothing particularly special, and quite pricey for what they were. I couldn't even taste the crab meat. Overall, the dishes weren't impressive. Would we go back? Unfortunately, no. read more

See all

This restaurant was not as expected at all. The ambiance was okay. It looked like a nice place and the atmosphere showed promise, but the service was lacking. The only true service came from the host or manager. He went out of his way to try and compensate, but the waiter was absent. The place was not packed to warrant such service. I ordered the rib eye steak for my kids to share and I ordered the crab rice for my wife and I. The steak consisted of two linear slices of steak with mostly fat notes. The steak was covered with a sweet sauce, which was okay. The crab rice was a big conglomeration of sauces. It was not good. I would not recommend ordering it. The manager attempted to bring out a crispy sweet potato side, which was also just okay. We left hungry and unsatisfied. We did not eat the food after. The manager really tried to help, but the food was lacking. I only gave this restaurant a 2, because of the effort of the manager. read more

Marcus DC is a newer restaurant by Chef Marcus Samuelsson, combining Ethiopian, Swedish, and DC flavors. We came here for an early dinner, and our group ordered: +the blue corn bread, served with yassa butter +the Swediopian +the spring salad +Mel's Crab Rice +the NY strip - +the scallops +the roast chicken Don't sleep on their desserts and drinks, such as the Addis Sol and their cakes. Service was friendly and welcoming! The ambiance is bright and colorful, with comfortable booths and leather seats. Great place for group get-togethers and ordering to share. +shareables +friendly service read more

I know some folks have a stigma about Hotel restaurants. I don't. When I knew Marcus Samuelsson was opening a restaurant here, I didn't care where it's at, I am there. Marcus DC is located at the very chic Morrow Hotel. Upon arrival we were greeted by the hostess who was very welcoming. I dined on a Tuesday at 8pm. It wasn't packed but it wasn't empty. Brenden, our server, 5 stars. Very personable and down to earth. He was able to answer all my questions about the selections to ensure I chose what I wanted. We ordered the Blue cornbread and the Black Sea Bass. The Yassa butter was the star for me. Delicious. The Black Sea Bass- the swiss shard, mint, crab curry, lime, fresh garlic= party in your mouth. The fish was just a touch salty for me, however paired with all the other ingredients I was able to balance the saltiness out. The sweet potatoes were out of this world. I had some leftover Yassa butter that I put on the perfectly crispy yet soft sweet potatoes. It was so good. All those flavors together. I was dancing in my seat. I am super excited about the rooftop bar and the speakeasy coming. You can start and end your day at Morrow hotel thanks to Chef Rachel, Chef Rachel, and the team. read more

Marcus DC - Black Sea Bass with Crab Curry and sweet potatoes - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Nicely decorated, open kitchen restaurant. Another Marcus Samuelson gem. Seared scallops were perfect! read more

See all

The restaurant was pretty loud I'm not sure if it's because it was an open space and the kitchen was open for us to see but it was noisy. Our server was great super knowledgeable and helpful. The food was like a party in my mouth I had to call the chef out just to tell him how amazing everything was. Super appreciative for coming out and giving us a background story to the dishes it made the food taste that much better. read more

See all

Beautiful, attentive, delicious, intentional, surprising. The list of words to attribute to our experience at Marcus can go on and on, but I'll just leave you with some photos and ask you to make a reservation ASAP. Marcus has graced us in NOMA with his magic. read more

Marcus DC - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This establishment is aesthetically pleasing. Nestled right on the bottom floor of the Morrow hotel it leaves nothing to be desired with its look. Service: We went on a double date here. I've had this one on my list since it opened and thought it would be great for us. The service was mid. James was pretty lackluster. I really value great service and the energy wasn't stellar on that particular evening. We ordered: 1. Blue Cornbread (10/10) - this was a party in our mouth. Paired with the butter it was the perfect balance of sweet and savory. 2. Crispy Sweet Potato (10/10) - loved the angle they took with crisping this sweet potato to perfection. Along with the creme fraiche is a combination that you'll want more of. 3. Mel's Crab Rice (7.5/10) - I know the people are going up for this dish so I had to try. I guess it's a preference thing but I don't like a crunch rice. It almost made me feel it was overcooked but that could've been the preparation style. Either way the texture of some of those crunch bites wasn't appealing. The flavors of the dish were intentional. The early summer mushroom, hot sauce pickled okra, uni bernaise blended well together creating a party in my mouth. 4. Chuck B's Roast Chicken (9/10) - the chicken was cooked well the and flavors were potent. The carrot dukkah salad, with local lettuces was legit just lettuce on the plate. It didn't really add anything to the dish. 5. Seared Scallops (10/10) - Seared perfectly! Great flavor! 6. Flourless Chocolate Cake (10/10) - Moist, decadent, and complimented well by the mango, plantain ice cream. read more

See all

had a solid meal at Marcus recently, nice space, very open so it can be a bit loud. service was mostly good, friendly with good recommendations. all the dishes we tried were tasty, there werent major standouts but everything had good flavor and I thought it was a good value. the tempura squash and crab rice were the favorites - rice is a huge portion and maybe even better the next day read more

Mr. Samuelson strikes again!!! I've done NYC, ATL and now his DC spot and forever a fan!!!

Flawless Vibe, Evolving Menu It's giving mid honestly. First of all, something is up with the google listing because it took me a minute to realize that this is actually located inside The Morrow Hotel. But once you find, she's cute. You're met with modern art, warm lighting, and a polished, upscale vibe that perfectly fits the NoMa scene. The menu definitely upstages the decor but its overall very nice. It opens at 5:00 p.m, perfect for an early dinner. I did stick around long enough for the date night crowd and it's very nice for that too. I sampled a bit of everything to see where the kitchen is hitting. From the starters: The dry-aged steak tartare was beautifully presented, served with lavash crisps and onion marmalade. Texturally excellent, though I found myself wishing for just a bit more seasoning punch to make it memorable. To drink: The coffee-infused lemonade for my non-alcoholic crowd. Lowkey, it's just really good lemonade with two coffee beans floating around in it but kudos for creativity. The main: The Faroe-poached salmon was good. It was perfectly cooked, balanced, with a caviar butter sauce that elevated without overwhelming. The dessert: The flourless chocolate cake with plantain ice cream was easily the highlight of the night. I would've liked for there to have been more ice cream instead of just the swirl to make the plate look pretty but it was good. Service was warm, attentive, and clearly eager to make a strong impression, though you can feel a team still getting fully into rhythm, completely fair for a new restaurant. The hospitality was genuine, and that counts. They had some lighting issues while we were there but it seems like it'll be great once they find their groove. Bottom line: Marcus DC delivers on vibe immediately and has the makings of a destination spot once the kitchen fully settles into its groove. The salmon and dessert shine already; I'll definitely be back to see how the rest of the menu evolves. This has the potential to be a good spot in a chill neighborhood. It just needs time. read more

Marcus DC - Poached salmon - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Marcus Daaaaaarling! If you get the reference you know this review bout to give it up! The food: my wife and I shared the whole red snapper and it was delicious! The Swiss chard under the fish was puuurrrrfecto. I can't even describe the sweet potatoes OMG tore them up, skin and all. Service was amazing, our server Dionna was very attentive and even cut the fish for us. The ambiance is chill, relaxing, and warm. We enjoyed the place and the meal. Whenever I return to DC, I'll definitely be back here! Chef Marcus read more

I'm generally skeptical about these kind of celebrity chef / National chains, but Marcus DC is absolutely worth visiting. The space inside is very modern and elegant. I won't stop thinking about the coconut cake dessert, crispy sweet potato, and definitely the crab rice (must get). The blue cornbread and heirloom tomato salad were also spectacular. I'd skip the carrots and cauliflower next time, they have some work needed to get to the level of everything else. read more

See all

I was excited to check out this new addition to the Hilton and NoMa neighborhood. Get that cornbread! The 36-Day Dry-Aged Steak also stood out and the Crispy Sweet Potatoes are amazing! read more

WOW !! Our server (wish I remembered her name- AMAZING young lady from Serbia) was a GEM! She got into the weeds with what could be made dairy free gluten free and there is A LOT of options !! We ordered the pea shoot salad / the signature salmon crudo / the side of peas / the whole fish - which also came with the blistered sweet potatoes. The flavors / the freshness / the service / OMG THE MUSIC (I plan on calling and asking if it's a playlist or what.... amazing !!!) just sooo impressive. I feel badly saying this- but celebrity chefs tend to lose their shine the more restaurants they open (i.e. Gordon Ramsey Hell's Kitchen at the wharf = so disappointing and underwhelming), but this spot is popping !! Seeing pastry chef Rachel and head chef Anthony wave at us from the kitchen also made the space feel very intimate and welcoming. The cantaloupe sorbet transported me to Rome, and even the cocktails were tweaked to be more to my taste. We'll be back ! read more

See all

The atmosphere is beautiful. The servers was welcoming, not just with smiles but with attentiveness to every detail. They are knowledgeable of the menu items and any accommodation you might need. The lamb was so juicy and tender. The chicken (bird) had a great sauce. The desserts were sweet and delicious, especially the Sage ice cream. Dianna was a wonderful resource as this was our first time eating here. read more

See all

Marcus DC was a delight. Interesting, delicious food in a pretty, airy setting, coupled with good, friendly service. The sommelier was especially helpful and guided us to excellent pairings -- after offering generous tastes of 2 wines when we couldn't decide. I keep gluten-free, and the menu was well-marked, w/lots of options. Two of us shared one of the big dishes -- Mel's rice! -- and two veg. sides, both of which were exceptionally tasty (with extras to take home). Chef Samuelsson was there & greeted guests in the dining room -- this is not an absentee franchise. Highly recommend. read more

We came in on a Tuesday evening, it was restaurant week but we stuck to the original menu! Brendan our server was fantastic!! All of his recommendations exceeded our expectations! The oysters were delicious! The tortellini was to die for! Everything was a 10/10. Please check them out great for date night or a birthday celebration! read more

Marcus DC - OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Great service and great food. Sweet potatoes, cornbread and crab rice were so good! Drinks were amazing too. Love the ambiance very relaxed and cool vibe. read more

Marcus DC - Scallops, sweet potatoes, carrots, tuna tare tare - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

This was one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to. It was beautifully decorated. The staff was amazing. And the food was like nothing I've ever had before. Incredibly tasty, very good and I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

See all

My husband and I were very impressed with all the complex flavors of all the dishes we tried. The restaurant is cute with a great vibe. It's a must try. I will definitely be back. read more

See all

I wanted to try somewhere unique and new for my 30th birthday and this place did not disappoint. The restaurant was absolutely gorgeous and the service was phenomenal! Our server, James was so funny and knowledgeable of the menu. Great place for people who love new dining experience's, date nights, or even a business meal. read more

Marcus DC - Blue Cornbread & scallops - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Crazy good food. So flavorable. Even the salad was exceptional. Highly recommend. You can valet at the hotel.

I have been a fan of Marcus for years and love his Red Rooster restaurant in Harlem so I was very excited to try this place! The vibe was class but not pretentious, waiters were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and really take time to make sure you have an enriching experience. We got the crab rice with was just the most impressive balance of so many different flavors, the steak tartar which was very unique with an Ethiopian twist, and the blue cornbread which was amazing as well-- I regret that we didn't have the chance to try a dessert. I highly recommend this place as well as Marcus's book Yes Chef! read more

See all

Thank you Marcus Samuelsson for an extraordinary dining experience. Also for your kindness in letting us take photos with you. You are everything one can dream of visiting your restaurant. The biggest surprise you were there. Top service and food. Lillian ( the Dane) read more

Marcus DC - Irene - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Walked in and thought, okay, nice space and lighting with plenty of staff buzzing around. But here's the thing: everyone was moving like they were busy and yet, absolutely nothing was happening. We ordered. Some of the food showed up. Some didn't. Classic. At the end of the night, I flagged a manager, and they were nice enough to offer us a round of free drinks to make up for it. Sweet, right? Except, the drinks never came. What did we receive, a half-hearted "sorry" at the door on the way out. Not even a "we hope to see you again"which honestly is fair, because you probably won't. Marcus DC, has the ingredients to be great, but it seemed like someone forgot the recipe. Update: The team at Marcus DC reached out and apologized again and invited us back for a 5-star experience. read more

What an amazing meal. We got to the restaurant early (a lovely space) and had a drink at the bar. Bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the food and made some wonderful recs. Notably the Parmesan gnnochi which was the best thing I ate among a wonderful array of tastes. I loved the corn bread as well and the crab rice was superb. Wish I had saved room for dessert. read more

Came for Restaurant Week and really enjoyed the meal. The standouts were the parmesan gnocchi starter and the crispy pork belly with prawn which was easily my favorite dish of the night and something I'll be thinking about for a while. The beet salad was tasty with everything mixed together (I expected a bit more beet, but it was still good). The adobo cauliflower was also solid. The sweet potato side was super crispy and added a nice balance to the meal. Drinks were good - no complaints. The tapioca pudding was a pleasant surprise I'm not usually a tapioca pudding person, but I really enjoyed it. Service was fast, attentive, and personable. read more

I was incredibly dissatisfied with Marcus DC The food was underwhelming Also I requested to have my desert as an appetizer but my request was ignored and disregarded ..Also my dinner companion did not like their salad ,I suppose the manager (a gentleman dressed in all black) informed us that all salads aren't the same which we found to be condescending as we've been to many fine dining restaurants and understand a "salad " isn't always a salad overall would not recommend !!! Our server Dianna was excellent tho! read more

I was soooo eager to try Marcus DC following the close of Marcus's restaurant at the MGM and as a longtime fan via food network. I snagged a late night reservation at 9:30 on Saturday and was excited for dinner. We were seated at a rather large table to my delight, as we wanted to order a spread, and I had saved my appetite. We ordered the cornbread, scallops, crab rice, and dry aged steak. We asked for everything to come out at the same time and were assured that wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, everything came out piece by piece. The steak arrived first, followed by the scallops which were both cold. The rice arrived last and was deliciously hot, but it had an u godly amount of sodium. To our dismay, it was inedible. Sometimes the kitchen has an off night, but service can really turn things around -- unfortunately the service actually made things worse. We attempted to get the managers attention earlier in the meal but his disposition was off putting. When he came over the first words out of his mouth were "did we have any questions" not, how can I help you, or is everything okay. It was strange so we dismissed him but had to call him back once everything arrived. He offered to remake the steak so it was hot but instead, had them reheat it, so the temperature went from medium, to well done. It was terrible. The waitress seemed new and afraid to step in and do her job. She kept looking at us from afar and looking at the kitchen but never came to us and reassured us about anything. I still tipped her generously for her time but the execution on all sides was regrettable and I left hungry. The manager kept inviting us to give them another chance but even that gesture was weird. He didn't have a card and when he saw us upstairs at the Sly for a nightcap, he didn't even offer to cover a round. Full transparency I expected to pay between $200 - 300 dollars for dinner that night, so it's not about getting stuff for free. It's more about genuine hospitality and I didn't get that anywhere in our dining experience. read more

Loved the crab rice, the Swediopian salmon, the blue cornbread, miso cauliflower, and the prawns. Dessert was the best course -- they got the pastry chef from Rooster & Owl and it absolutely echoes the Michelin quality of that place. read more

Marcus DC - Swedish fish - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Varied international dishes and flavors that all mix well. Excellent table service with knowledgeable waitstaff who offered dish combinations for those unsure of what to have. My family ordered: Scallops ( perfected cooked, plated and flavored) Salmon (pink inside perfectly sauced) Rock Fish (perfectly cooked) The best sweet potato dish on earth! Creamy pasta Blue Cornbread (great infused butter, moist; addictive) Dessert was flourless chocolate cake that was indulgent. Washed down with and excellent coffee infused lemonade. The only issue I had was my Old Fashion had cubes rather than 1 large cube so it got watered down a bit (poor me!) As a former Chef I have high standards for eating out and Chef Marcus delivers another gem!!! I'm a huge fan and travel to Red Rooster in NYC at least once a year. Glad you are in DC and we will be back for sure. read more

The food was wonderful- especially the crab rice and the blue cornbread with yassa butter. However the noise level was so high that it was difficult to carry on a conversation and service was very slow. read more

First class everything. I can't wait to go back for the whole fish. The coconut cake was the best dessert I ever had. Owner Marcus was as gracious as I expected and so was the Food and Beverage Manager, Sofia. A lovely space without being stuffy. read more

Terrific food. Terrific hospitality. Definitely get the crab rice dish! The blue cornbread was another great standout as well. Enjoyed everything we had! read more

Like the atmosphere. Our server was ok. He got better into the meal. Some of the food was delicious (e.g., the blue cornbread and a dessert the pastry chef gave us for our birthday). The steak was too salty. I will go back again to try some of the other dishes before I right it off. read more

The food, the vibe the atmosphere was amazing..I highly recommend..Thank you Chef Anthony for making us feel so special..

Excellent overall. Service was great as was all the food preparation. First time at one of Marcus Samuelsson's restaurants and very much enjoyed it. The dishes certainly met my expectations of many complex flavors going on in every dish. His use of different spices, combinations, and temperatures, yielded unique creations that were all harmonious and balanced without feeling like they were overly hot, or that one ingredient shined over the others. Very impressive. Only drawback is the acoustics, it is loud, and can be a challenge to have a normal volume conversation, but that is the room. Recommend and will come back. read more

Food was great and so was the service. Ambiance was ok. You must get the crab fried rice!!

Marcus DC was a spur of the moment decision on a Tuesday night when our 8PM reservation at another establishment turned into a 30 minute wait with no end in sight. We gave up and decided to change course and I am so glad we did. I almost did not order the whole fish because someone here said it was bland. Our server Irene recommended it and she couldn't have been any righter in her recommendation. The fish of the day was black bass and flavorful is not an adequate description. I was wowed! It's a shareable entree that could have easily been shared between four people. We had plenty left over to take home. The blue cornbread was delish. I really wanted to scoop the leftover compound butter right in my mouth but I didn't want to look like a savage and deeply regretted the decision when they cleared the plate. The cocktails were great. Did I say how great and well versed with the menu Irene was?!? The restaurant design aesthetic is gorg, especially the bar and bar chandeliers. The playlist was perfectly curated to match the vibe of the decor. It was just loud enough for me to make out what was playing. Marcus DC is now in my top 5.....I'm coming back with my homegirls to try the crab rice and coconut cake. read more