Roderick and I walked into Dish because I needed an interlude snack three hours before dinner. Actually that's a lie. We knew that the girls were going to take ETERNITIES powdering themselves and what have ya; so I figured we might as well have a drink (or two) and try the Hotel's kitchen and bar. What a dish. Elegant; super elegant. Adding to the fact that this charming hotel is right in the thick of a quiet residential neighborhood, the sense of peace that oozed from 5:00pm Washington D.C was eerie; is this the capital of the United States? Yes it is. And it was labor day, and all the suits were probably off to their respective treehouses in Deer Island, Maine, Palm Beach, or Hades. However, I like it this way; peaceful, pensive, relaxing. I ordered a Tuna Tartar Salad (of course I ordered Tuna Tartar), and Bloody Mary. The waiter was extremely polite and helpful. Extremely. I was surprised at this show of manners and professionalism, not because I haven't seen it before, but because I could clearly see that this kid WANTED to be polite, helpful, nice. I was corroborated in my assertion when I was brought another Bloody Mary, but on the house!! Yeah, I know. The greatest things in life right? Life can be sweet (or deliciously bitter in the case of that fantastic Bloody Mary) sometimes. I promised myself to come back next morning for continental breakfast, which I did; and enjoyed their coffee and croissants with different marmalade selections and butter. Bottom line? If staying at the hotel on your business trip to DC, definitely come down and pay Dish a visit. Who knows? Life might be bitter (or sweet) 4 you too. read more

Maybe I am a bit crabby as I write this- so I apologize. I see variety as the spice of life. You really will not find much of that here sorry to say. Dish has an EXTREMELY limited menu. If you are not in the mood for pasta (1 dish), sliders, or their steak- then you are almost out of luck. On the plus side- it is a cute little restaurant located close to the Kennedy center, right in foggy bottom in the lobby of the River Inn. Room service is quick and helpful. I just wish they had more items. read more

SALTY! No, not the attitude, but the food. This place has a lot of charm. The owner loves to walk around and chat it up with everyone which is slightly endearing though it also seems to slow down service at times. BUT, for a $150+ meal for 4, I was SORELY unimpressed by the food. Most the of the items were generic "new american" and all of the items were borderline inedible because of the salt! I expect that kind of overpowering sodium from Chipotle, but not from a classy restaurant. This really ruined the dishes for me. For the record, we tried the salmon, scallops, crab cakes, tagliatelle, and calamari. Unfortunately, I cannot in good conscience recommend this to my friends. read more

Good drinks, a pretty space, hushed noise level, high-tone prices, decent food, and slooooooowwww service. **Insider tip: happy hour, from 8-10pm weeknights, features half price drinks. Even top shelf stuff! I visited Dish in January 2010 and had made a reservation. Took 5 minutes for anyone to approach us to say hello. We opted instead just to sit and eat at the bar (pretty high-table near the bar is perfect for dinner, too). We had to get up and physically go to the bar to assertively order our drinks (and only two people were at the bar). We had to ask several times to get menus. The friendly, harried server said that they were short-staffed, but still, the service was unacceptably slow. Still, I would return because the salmon was indeed good, as was my friend's butternut squash dish. The martinis were great as well, although they didn't have Grey Goose (only pear-flavored GG). read more

Before coming here, my friend and I didn't realize that Dish + Drinks was in a hotel (the River Inn)--walking in, we were a little bit skeptical, as it often seems that hotel restaurants are overpriced and don't serve up really great food. The ambiance of the place is nice and in line with the standard low-light, muted, sleek design effect that seems to be omnipresent at hotels. Nice, but nothing super striking. The waitress seemed to want to push drinks on us, but in her defense, it was a Saturday night, and it was probably odd that we weren't drinking. But onto the important stuff: food! We only ordered entrees, but were pleasantly surprised by how tasty it was! I ordered the mussels as an entree, and loved the broth. Seasoned well, and surprisingly filling. When I asked the waitress if she could size the appetizer portion up to an entree, she assured me that it wasn't necessary; she was right, and it was a very generous portion. Love it when waiters and waitresses are honest with you. One or two of the mussels were sandy, but not to the point where I would complain. My friend ordered the scallops with risotto and also commented that she was very satisfied. All in all, a surprisingly flavorful and well-executed meal. What makes it better? My mussels were only $10. read more

Met up with a group of friends that were staying at the River Inn last week for a few drinks at Dish. A bit hidden in the neighborhood, I had never heard of the hotel nor Dish itself. A bit typical as far as hotel bars go, $8 beers and a silly bartender. the bartender had a bit of a personality but refused to split the tab for the 15 of us or so that were congregating at the bar together. Food looked good as well, but I will leave that for next time. read more

During a 3 night stay at The River Inn, we 'dished' & had drinks at this lovely restaurant 2 of those evenings. The atmosphere is lovely/quaint, but the 5 star rating goes to Keith and Carlos who are warm, welcoming, make you feel like family and at the top of their game. Thank you for making my son and I feel comfortable and engaging us in very interesting conversation. Hope to return soon. read more

Hubby took me here before we went to a play at the Kennedy Center. We took the metro there and walked to the restaurant (easy to find). Now I was a little skeptical about this place, kind of off the beaten path, but let me tell you I was impressed. Before going we had looked at the menu and I had decided that I was going to get the pre-theater dinner, which included for me a salad (mixed greens, orange slices, pine nuts and goat cheese ~ now hubby got this one too) that was very good, I got the Flat Iron steak (cooked perfectly and was very good) with fingerling potatoes; hubby got the pork chop (which was not on the pre-theater menu) with corn polenta and green beans he said it was delicious and I got the gala apple beignet with cinnamon ice cream for dessert. Now this restaurant is in The River Inn and is a small establishment, but don't let the size deter you from trying this restaurant out. Service was very good even though they were very busy and they were very friendly. Will definitely go to this restaurant again before going to a play. Just be sure to make reservations when you purchase your tickets! read more

This is not a steakhouse, but the $22 hanger steak was out of this world. It was perfectly charred on the outside and spot-on medium rare on the inside. In fact, it was such a beautiful steak that I asked the manager if they mistakenly served me the more expensive strip steak, but no, I got what I ordered, and was thoroughly impressed. My friend had a seared ahi tuna special and loved it. My only complaint was that my ceasar salad was not chopped but was served as big pieces of romaine and seemed room temperature; I'm not a huge caesar salad fan to begin with, and I probably would order something else next time. However, my friend loved his beet salad. Service was pretty friendly with a few missteps. When we said we didn't want the wine list, we were never asked for a drink order and they automatically brought water. Like I said, everyone was friendly, but the manager/bartender/waiter at times definitely has a "quirky" sense of humor. It's just a few blocks away from the Kennedy Center so I'll definitely be back next time I go to a show. read more

I just went again and I love this place even more. The service was fantastic. Tim, our waiter, did a great job. My companion declared him cute as soon as he left the table. Don't get too excited Tim - she just got back from Afghanistan. The Sommelier - Maitre De was informed and, yes, convivial. The food was delicious. Simple salad, I had lamb, as I often do. It was perfectly cooked. the down side is that after the wine and after dinner drinks, I'm hard pressed to bring the details of the meal into sharp relief. Moving on to my previous review...... read more

A group of us went to Dish for dinner before heading to the Kennedy Center for a show. The server that we had was very nice and pretty on top of his game with respect to specials, types of liquor, and the items on the menu. I had the butternut squash soup and loved it. That was probably the best part of my meal. I would say (as most of the group I was with said as well) that the food was Ok. had the lamb which wasn't really that great and I wish I had gone with the steak instead. We also had fried green tomatoes as a table and again it was nothing spectacular. There was really nothing that would make me go back which is unfortunate because it has a good deal of potential being so close to the Kennedy Center, this dinner just missed the mark read more

We had the best experience Saturday before heading to a show at the Kennedy Center. Our server (also the manager) kindly offered an off the menu bottle of wine, which was delightful. The food was remarkable, in particular the pork tenderloin and the risotto. The Great food, delicious wine and spectacular service made our dinner delightful. We look forward to going back! read more

This place was great! The food was yummy! I had the Scallop and Risotto to satisfy a scallop and risotto craving I had through the week. It definitely hit the spot. I loved my meal. My boyfriend had the porkchops. I had a bite of his porkchop-- I thought it was a little dry but that's the risk you run with pork I feel, the surrounding flavors were good though. The service was impeccable. The host/waiter, Tim, was such a doll and made sure we were well taken care of. We actually came here on a random Wednesday for our 6 month anniversary dinner so we were looking for something low key, but pleasant-- this was definitely it. Bad service would have ruined it. The actual space is pretty tiny, it's very cozy. It almost seems like it won't be intimate because it's right by the side of the hotel lobby, but once you get in and sit down the cozy ambiance takes over. I would definitely go here again. read more

The food is really really great--but expensive. Expect to pay $25 minimum per person just for the entree, and then add drinks, appetizers, desserts... Still, I cannot deny that this was among the best food I've had so far in DC. I had the Ahi Tuna (rare) on greens with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, potatoes, feta cheese, etc. All the flavors were blended together so well that I was enjoying the supporting greens as much as the tuna! The tuna was a bit less rare than I expected, but still had a nice pink center and seemed to be good quality. Everyone else also enjoyed their meals: the scallops, the lamp rack, and the pork. Whoever is in charge of the sauces & the supporting sides is particularly outstanding. The servers were good and overall pretty attentive, but as our party was sitting at the largest table in the corner, we sometimes had trouble getting ahold of them. Our food carrier also seemed a bit...confused. She twice tried to deliver food to the wrong person, and she initially ignored our request for a box (my grandmother likes to box part of her food up before she actually starts mixing it together). Overall? Definitely a winner if you're willing to pay for it. The minor complaints about the service can't possibly detract from the solid food. read more

I had a great time at the bar with Keith. Older bartender who knows his stuff and has a great sense of sarcastic humor. I was in on a slow Monday so I don't know how the busy time is. It did seem like a place for people who tend to hit up a lot of restaurants and aren't around for hype. They have a pretty decent wine list. And they had a new rocking old vine Zin that I was happy to be the guinea pig for it. The tuna tartar was different than other times I've had it. It was a bit of a Latin-Asian fusion dish with ahi tuna and avocado. The accompanying home made chips where awesome too. I had a flatiron and it hit the spot, but unfortunately had no room for dessert. It had a nice light reduction sauce to go with it that added but didn't hide the flavor of the meat. It's the most I've enjoyed my food in a while. I would definitely go there again and take others! read more

This restaurant was clean and neat, with a nice atmosphere. The staff were very friendly. I got the pasta with chicken. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, the positives ended there. The dish was almost completely flavorless. Honestly, the microwaveable "Cafe Steamer" pasta dishes have more flavor. They also did not have salt to add to the dish, which would have helped greatly. I would have loved to give this place more stars for their friendly staff and atmosphere. Unfortunately, the lack of flavor on this particular dish can't warrant another star. read more

Stayed at the River Inn. Dined at Dish. Food was very good and the service by all was very friendly and excellent. We went a show at the Kennedy Center and then returned to dish for desert. They kindly stayed open so my wife and i could have desert and a nightcap. Thanks Keith and the team. See you soon. read more

Great little spot to go before a show at the Kennedy Center! We went for the pre theater menu which is $35 a person for a limited selection of one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. Great deal for the amount of food you get! This place is located in a hotel lobby and is extremely small so there is nothing special decor-wise. We found it odd that for a place called Dish+Drinks that there was only a wine list and no drink menu! We asked our helpful and friendly waiter about available drinks and beer. The food was pretty good. I had a Caesar salad (I asked for no anchovies and it came with anchovies) that was pretty tasty, the salmon which was delicious, and the chocolate cake for dessert. My bf had the mixed green salad, the steak and frites (which he said was average, but not great) and apple fritters for dessert. Both desserts were amazing, however, they tried to serve them to us before our entree! It all worked out, and we got our desserts at the end of the meal (as is customary:) Would definitely return! Hopefully next time the kitchen is a little more organized! read more

Well, it took us a half year, but we finally returned. Keith and Tim are still there, and Keith's still mixing up an excellent BCS. We were with a friend, and he and my best girl both had the scallops, and I had the steak & frites. We were all very happy with our food, very yummy! You can't go wrong at D+D, and Keith & Tim are great guys. Keith said that he doesn't read the Yelp reviews, so Tim, pass the kudos along, again! See you guys again soon; less than six months this time, I promise! read more

Best place to have lunch/dinner in Foggy Bottom. Very nice staff, cozy atmosphere and delicious food! Try crab cake sandwich, it's amazing! ;) read more

Hmmm... Just as I'm about to leave a review I see the comments from Sean P, there @ the same time as my party, & must correct his tendancy to exaggerate. Yes, unfortunately a roach made it into the restaurant that nt (2", not 4) and managed its way up my mother's arm. Sure, she shreiked, but we're adults & knew immediately this was far from the norm. With a full house (not empty) the staff handled this w consummate grace & professionalism. Didn't miss a step w us - or any other table! We'd come twice that day from our hotel down the street because it far exceeded our hotel offerings, so much so that next DC visit we're booking @ River Inn. So, food: inventive, tasty, fresh and just plain yummy. From trout to NY strip, house salads to fried green tomato & squash soup, amazing apple fritter to moan inducing poached pear - this place rocks & is worth every penny. The wines (we had 4 varieties by the glass) were great & well paired. And the wait staff can make or break a nt like ours. They were stellar. We asked after them for a future request - Tim & Yancy are a seamless team. Need anything? They've already thought of it. And I don't think I'll create trouble for them by sharing that, given the critter visit, when our bill arrived there was no charge for our wine. We never even hinted that we expected any compensation or discount; they intuitively knew how to appropriately say thank you to customers. Simple as that. And - for their generosity & professionalism - both the hotel & restaurant have won some grateful, faithful clients, plus referrals. David Mack Henderson read more

Had a lovely dinner here in the past and once again this week. Was worried about the food preparation after reading recent reviews, but all turned out great. All the dishes came out seasoned just right, and we didn't find anything was over-salted. If anything, the steak and frites were a little under seasoned. Salads were fresh and yummy, the halibut special was a great choice. Cooked perfectly, moist and flavorful. Came with a nice sweet curry sauce, rice and bok choy. This entree was perfection. Crab cakes were really delicious as well (though i would prefer bigger size and a bit less stuffing). One of our party ordered well-done steak and frites and loved it. I thought the flat iron cut was noticeably tougher compared to others i've tried elsewhere. Had creme brûlée and beignets (comes with really delicious ice-cream) for dessert. Good, but the portions are much smaller then I remember. Particularly creme brûlée was filled to less then a half of very shallow ramekin. In fact, probably the skimpiest portion I've ever seen. That said, the flavor was there. Service was amazing and the cocktails truly impressive. The ambiance is ok, it can get a little loud. All and all, I would come back to Dish + Drinks as it provides a wonderful (albeit decidedly overpriced) experience. read more

Boyfriend and I live around the corner from here, and we often think back and mention how good the food, service, and ambiance was. Service: Keith was personable and knowledgeable about the menu, and chose a great bottle of wine for us. Food: Lamb chops. I am not a fan of lamb, as I do not possess the palette for its gaminess. I had a piece and the flavor was delicate and so buttery! The dish included a side of diced sweet potatoes with, some type of salty/savory protein (total guess). It was so good! A really great dish. I will say for $30, the portion was quite small, so my boyfriend ended up ordering an additional entree. Second entree he ordered was risotto. Keith told us he'd put in an order for the asparagus and mushroom risotto over the fall harvest risotto, and it was a winner. So, so delicious. I ordered the pork chop. It was a nice size and cooked well; maybe a touch over done for being "medium." The baked apple glaze with the pork was really nice. I didn't care much for the green beans or the mashed sweet potato sprinkled with almond slivers that accompanied the dish. Ambiance: Varied. A small and cozy space, dim and warm. There were diners dressed to see a show and diners in jeans and a hoodie. i.e. me. read more

I attended this restaurant with a group of about 10 people. It had a nice atmosphere, and I think the waiters really tried to be helpful. Not once, but twice, I was hit by falling silverware. Not because of my friends, but from the well intentioned wait staff. Intentions only go so far. I'm accustomed to getting roasted fresh beets for a beet salad. Here, the beets clearly are diced from a can. Pretty disappointing. Because I was with a group, I ended up eating in this restaurant three times. None good - and hands down - the worst gin and tonic I've ever had. Clearly they hire mixologists with zero experience, and who will not take advice from the customer. Stay away! read more

Small, cozy place tucked inside the River Inn. There is a small bar and fireplace that makes the place warm & inviting. We sat at a small table by the window with a nice view of 25th Street. The menu isn't extensive with prices typical for DC. We started with the spring rolls which were very tasty. Our main dishes were the scallops and tuna tartare. The scallops dish was a little light on the portions with only 4 scallops, while the portions for the tuna dish were just right for my date. The manager or owner named Keith came around to check on us and engaged us in some polite small talk. He was seeking a partner for a fishing weekend in NJ and overheard me talking to my date about swordfish. Very nice guy. Our waitress was utterly efficient and polite as well. We had a very pleasant experience. Definitely recommend. read more

Great place with no wait on a Friday night. Right to the food. We picked mussels for an app which were the biggest mussels I ever had. Very fresh and tasty. Home made bread was fantastic. I got swordfish special which was very good, however I thought $34 was overpriced for the size of fish. Wife for flank steak and fries with bernaise sauce. Very very good. Dessert was what was to write home about tho-Apple benigets with praline ice cream. OMG. That was worth the $100 dinner price tag. Very good. read more

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My husband and I had such an incredible experience here that I had to share: we went to Dish ahead of the theater thinking we'd be rushed to make it. Our server Carlos told us to relax- we were fine- and poured us two glasses of wine to get us to relax. I then had the realization that we were not seeing a show at the nearby Kennedy center but the National Theater across town. We told Carlos and were figuring we'd never have time to eat .. he insisted we were fine- got our orders, brought us more wine and said he would ensure we got out in time. Our risotto and steak came out within 10 minutes. We made it with time to spare. Carlos made our night with how much care he took to ensure we still enjoyed a nice dinner despite my silly mistake. And the food was terrific even if we didn't have time for appetizers read more

Went here for a business lunch at the customers suggestion. He had the cobb salad, no complaints from him and it looked good. My associate had a Prix Fix lunch. Calamari, Seared Ahi, and Rice Pudding. the Calamari looked terribly greasy, he was happy with his tuna and the rice pudding was adequate. I had the Butternut Squash soup (delicious) and the trout it was great. I hear the hotel that its in, is a great place to stay. read more

I ate here twice while staying at the River Inn for business. The first was for dinner, and the service was definitely lacking. It took me about five minutes to be noticed and another five minutes to actually be seated. It wasn't very busy. People who came in after me left before me. I think I was ignored as a solo diner. Based on reviews, I had the fettuccine with sausage. It was a bit greasy, but pretty good overall. (3 stars) The second time I ate hear was for lunch. I was the only diner in the restaurant for the first 10 minutes. The service was MUCH better and the food was exceptional. I had a salad (the greens(?)) to start, it had goat cheese, fresh fruit and walnuts. I also had the chicken sandwich which has a ton of flavor. (5 stars) read more

The place is great! Fantastic service and wonderful food. The sunflower seed bread was warm and moist. I started with their French Onion soup ($7), which was terrific! Frank had a Beet Salad ($8), which left his plate very quickly. We also ordered the pan seared ahi tuna ($19) and the strip steak special ($26). The garlic buttered veggies were a pleasant surprise. And who knew olives with ahi tuna was such a delightful combination! For dessert, Frank had the Chocolate Truffle Cake ($8) and I had the Warm Brownie with Vanilla ice cream ($8) and (including whipped cream and a fanned out strawberry on top). We also had drinks. A Pinot Grigio for me ($9) and two Maker Maker's with coke for Frank ($18). I would have taken pictures of it all, but it looked and smelled so good, that each item that was sat in front of us immediately disappeared. I would whole heartedly recommended The Dish, in DC, as a perfect little spot for an intimate dinner for two. But get in there early, it fills up quickly. BTW, the staff was beyond great and we wish them much success in the future. read more

Okay place to go to for lunch. I ordered to lunch prix for $25. I was eating the starter and the waiter took forever to bring out my lunch portion nor check check on us. So I ended up packing my lunch and dessert to go and my dessert came with ice cream. That was my only downfall of not getting to enjoy the full prix. read more

Love Dish & Drinks! The staff are welcoming and the food good. Plus, the small size makes for an intimate dining space.

This is a lovely restaurant inside the River Inn. The food is great, and it's a good value. Our waiter Carlos was so incredibly welcoming and kind! The atmosphere is comfortable and intimate, and the staff members are so friendly and helpful with food and drink recommendations. read more

Bartender brightened the experience. Food, ok. It is very close to the Kennedy Center so that is why I gave it a try.

Had an unplanned lunch there because of location. A pleasant surprise. Good service and good food. The pumpkin soup was really nice, balanced flavor well highlighting the smoothness and subtle flavor of pumpkin. I am never a big fan of pumpkin soup but this one allows me to see the beauty of it! The salmon is also nicely cooked. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. Will visit again. read more

Thank you, Carlos, for another amazing evening at Dish + Drinks! The food was fabulous and the service the best. Carlos, the waiter, took time to offer tastings of three wines of the type I was seeking... what fun. He was attentive throughout the evening, always responding in a helpful and playful way to our requests. This place is my first choice for a celebration, this latest occasion was my birthday, and it was delightful. I will return again and again. Our party of four ordered the rosemary chicken, salmon, steak, and ahi tuna, and all were delicious. Great restaurant with a cozy atmosphere and the best waiter in the city! read more

This place is a nice relatively intimate restaurant with great food. I can say this rates amongst one of the nicest restaurant experiences I have had in DC. The wait staff and the bartender were great. The food was excellent. I will most definitely go back here:-)!! read more

We were looking forward to a Valentine's Dinner at DISH + Drinks. We had been there a few years before and were looking forward to a return performance. We were pleasantly greeted and seated. The hostess/waitress, Yancy, was very sweet, pleasant and accommodating. We WERE DISAPPOINTED that there was no Valentine's Special on the menu as there had been a few years before. But no problem; we put our dinner together with some wine followed with a split of their butternut squash soup prior to our entrees; the ensuing meal was excellent! During the meal, an employee, later identified as Keith, began to have a LOUD, unsavory personal conversation with the couple next to us. His conversation was quite inappropriate, and the couple was laughing uncontrollably at 120 dBA. We asked him to lower his voice and to pick less unsavory conversation. He lowered his voice, but did not get the hint. He continued to come over the the same couple who, by this time was getting drunker and drunker and louder and louder. Then Keith walked over to another table and started the bizarre conversation over again. We asked him to stop and he complied. However, the boisterously loud and drunken couple next to us started mocking us; we quickly asked to be seated at another table. (The woman in the drunken couple was not young, but apparently did not have the maturity to match her years; that's what excessive alcohol consumption does to people.) Yancy offered us complimentary dessert in an effort to comfort us and save the evening. We were grateful for her efforts. So, with an $100 Valentine's Dinner ruined, we would NEVER consider coming back. It is difficult to control the behavior of inconsiderate, drunk customers, but there were no eyes upon the inappropriate bartender. We are not heavy drinkers and probably will not be missed. Apparently good manners and consideration have disappeared and have been replaced by the "ME ME ME generation." It is unfortunate that a formerly wonderful, classy, small restaurant is now a sordid, upscale bar! read more

We enjoyed our dinner before going to the Kennedy Center. It turns out that the $35 pre-theater dinner wasn't what we wanted and there were many $20 entrees available. We made a reservation, good thing as it fills up. We valet parked for $10, worthwhile, right there, in front of the River Inn, where the restaurant is located. It was a short walk to the KC. Upon our return about 10:30 we had hoped for a drink, but they had just closed. Overall, it was a very good dinner. Service was good, but we had to flag down to refills and to get our check read more

Lovely boutique restaurant with a fabulous restaurateur (Carlo!). Attracts an interesting clientel and serves a variety of wonderful dishes including a Roasted Black Bean Quinoa Bowl (healthy, plant based). Wine suggestions super. read more