Food and vibes are just magnificent. Hands down the best Peruvian restaurant in the DC area, by…read morefar. Honestly it doesn't matter what you get, everything is just so freaking succulent. The ceviche is really good, can never go wrong with ceviche, especially if you're going tapas style. The ají de gallina, lomo saltado and lamb are so freaking good, the meat is tender, the sauces are perfection, and when you mix the rice to with the sauce it's absolutely delicious. Heard about this place a while, finally tried it out a couple times now, already can't wait to go back!

First off, I'd never even heard of this place and was shocked to see it at a 4.9 with like 30k…read moreGoogle reviews. 4.6 on Yelp is pretty wild too, we had to check it out. Interior is nice, they could do without the 70 inch flatscreen screensaver in the back of the restaurant - otherwise liked the layout and decor. Service was a bit spotty, but very friendly. Bussing was top tier. We ordered about 6 items and were told "things will come out as they are ready". Great, I dig that type of service and we're in no hurry. We got our drinks about 5 minutes after we ordered them... and then 5 of the 6 dishes came out less than a minute after that. Not a good look. The final dish came out 2 minutes later, our table was completely out of room, they had to take our share plates. Definitely put a damper on a nice dinner, and the speed at which everything came out was... oddly quick for such a diverse order. Anyway, tostones were the best. Lomo saltado roll just tasted like a sweet Americanized sushi roll - didn't get any steak flavor really. Causas were okay. Ceviche was solid, no complaints. They had a take on bang bang shrimp, shrimp were cooked very well but way too much spicy mayo for our taste. Arroz con pollo was delightful, and a plentiful serving. Where there's smoke metal margarita was delicious. Pisco sours were absolute fire. Glad we tried it, but probably a one and done.

Must try!!! Amazing ambiance combining Palestinian and Peruvian food all in one…read more As a Peruvian the ceviche blows it out of the park! Before today I had yet to try a great ceviche in a restaurant that isn't in the actual homeland of Peru. Chicha morada pisco is also fantastic. Amazing service to top it all off. Glad I made this pit stop on my last day in DC

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

Amazonia was an absolute standout. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the atmosphere,…read more we sat outside and couldn't have been happier with the beautiful aesthetics, vibrant design, and overall energy of the space. The outdoor setting created the perfect backdrop for a memorable evening. The food was exceptional. We started with the Scallops a la Parmesana -- Peruvian scallops with aji amarillo anticucheria sauce and parmesan cheese. The combination of flavors was unique, balanced, and beautifully executed. The ceviche was incredible -- fresh, bright, and exactly what I was looking for. I loved the lemon-forward flavor, which gave it the perfect freshness and acidity. The Crab Fusili was another standout. It was a creative and delicious dish, with amazing flavor and a perfect balance that made every bite memorable. For the main course, the lomo saltado truly delivered. The steak was cooked perfectly -- tender, flavorful, and full of the bold Peruvian flavors that make this dish such a classic. A special thank you to our waiter, Tagist, who made the entire experience even better. She took the time to explain each dish in detail, helped guide us through the menu, and made us feel confident that we were choosing the right dishes. She was absolutely right -- every recommendation was fantastic. Between the incredible cuisine, beautiful outdoor setting, and outstanding service, Amazonia offers the type of dining experience that makes you want to return. If you're looking for elevated Peruvian cuisine in Washington, DC, this restaurant deserves a spot on your list. Highly recommend -- a true DC dining gem!

This is definitely a unique spot! It's tucked away in an alley that I did not suspect for a fine…read morerestaurant. However, once you enter the restaurant it's a different wonderful world. This is definitely a must try. Also a must try is the Amazonia punch. It was simply a delicious cocktail. It's a bit fruity and sweet If you get the Corazon de Res, you'll like it if you had a heart dish before. If not, it'll be different.

The food was amazing, we did The tasting menu and it did not disappoint! Some really unique flavors…read moreand things that don't normally go together that worked perfectly! Skye our server was incredible, went above and beyond to make our experience great! We also learned about Peruvian cuisine and Pisco! Love the decor, felt very cozy! The only weird thing that happened, we added on the all you could drink wine to go along with our tasting menu. There were three reds and three whites to choose from. Things were going along great and then a manager in a suit asked if we needed anything and we asked for the next White on the list. He brought it to us then told us this was the last one in our tasting. We mentioned that the menu says all you can drink. The portions they poured were tasting size portions each time, and our plan was to try each of them. We pointed out what the menu said, he said let me check. He brought Luis over who agreed that's what the menu said. Ultimately, we had a good time, but that made us feel weird that we had to even point that out when it was very clear on the menu. I've included the photo of the menu in case upper management would like to make sure if it is not all you can drink to change the wording. And if it is to make sure Mgmt. doesn't make guests feel uncomfortable for asking for more.

Pretty disappointing. And not that great of Peruvian-Chinese-Japanese fusion restaurant…read more Need to pay more attention to the reviews that say the following: small servings (siu mai were half the size than regular anywhere else), ceviche also super small serving - good flavor but not much and not served with anything to eat it with (like chips), Tam tam noodles were overcooked and mushy, brussel sprouts were delicious (!), lomo saltado was meh (undercooked pieces of onion, nice chunks of beef but kind of chewy, super salty sauce but was good soaked up by the fries). Kind of fun decor - expected more from this Jose Andres restaurant because we really enjoyed the sister restaurant, Oyamel nearby (try that place instead!)

We stumbled on this place looking for a simple place to grab a meal. This has to be the best…read morechicken I have had in years. They are fast and the food is amazing. Then we found the bar in the back. Again, interesting whisky choices, you won't find those hard to find big names, but you will find a hand pick selection of some unique whisky's. The bar tender (sorry I wish I remember your name) took her time talking about so many of them and she offering me a recommendation. Great experience and chat. Don't pass this spot by!

I have to give Chicken + Whiskey credit. It takes a special kind of arrogance to serve food that…read morelooks like this while also lecturing customers through a mandatory "fair labor fee." Let's start with the obvious. If labor matters so much, build it into the price. Every other business manages to pay employees without turning the receipt into a public relations campaign. Instead, Chicken + Whiskey wants customers to admire them for charging extra after the fact. As for the food, the chicken looked less "wood fired" and more "insurance claim." One piece was so aggressively charred it appeared to have entered the atmosphere and returned. The sides were forgettable, the presentation was indistinguishable from a middle school cafeteria tray, and absolutely nothing on the table justified the premium pricing. The entire experience feels engineered by a marketing team. Keep the menu prices looking lower than reality. Add surprise fees later. Call them something noble. Hope nobody notices. We noticed. The funniest part is that the restaurant seems convinced the labor fee demonstrates transparency. Real transparency would be putting the actual price on the menu. What they're doing is the restaurant equivalent of an airline advertising a cheap ticket and then charging separately for the wings. For a place so concerned with fairness, they seem remarkably comfortable being unfair about pricing. I left feeling like I'd paid admission to watch a TED Talk about compensation practices while eating chicken that looked like it had been recovered from a structure fire. The food wasn't good enough to justify the price. The price wasn't honest enough to justify the policy. The policy wasn't clever enough to justify the attitude. One star. Raise your prices. Pay your staff. Stop expecting applause for it.

I had a fantastic experience at Mola last night! The restaurant is small, just 2 tables you can…read morebook online and 10-12 bar seats. Their drink menu infuses Panamanian-Caribbean flare to popular drinks like margaritas, mojitos, old fashions, etc. The woman working came over to tell us about the menu and I could tell this was her restaurant because of her deep passion for the dishes and their flavors. The menu is intentionally small and as a vegetarian, I was extremely pleased with the spice vegan and cheese empanada combo I shared with a friend. We also got the cucumber salad and hojaldra bread, all fantastic. I am excited to return and wish the woman (did not catch her name) MUCH success.

I had a work event at Code Red but left super hungry. Pulled out my trusty Yelp app to see what was…read morein the area. I got lucky in that Mola was right next door and featured one of my absolute favorites...empanadas! Chill vibe and everyone is greeted and welcomed in by the team. Table seating is limited and, since I was flying solo, took a seat at the long counter. Food lives up to the ratings. Chicken curry empanada was flavorful, moist, with some of the best dough I've ever had. They were out of the popular oxtail, so I opted for the Ropa Nuevo platter which didn't disappoint. There are many good choices in the Adams Morgan area, even just on 18th Steeet, but Mola deserves a spot at the top of your list!

We sat at the bar and it was the best decision. We were so well taken care of! Dlena is one of…read morethose places that makes dinner feel special. It's a great place to go with friends, date night or solo. It's very intimate, dark and cozy. We came for the steak which was amazing but the star of the show for me was the branzino. I loved the sauces on the fish -the red side was my favorite. I was also super shocked at how good the carrots were! They were sweet and savory perfection. The crab guacamole was also delicious. Everything was so good! Can't wait for my next visit.

I've heard great things about dLeña so I decided to have my birthday brunch here. The decor was…read morebeautiful and there was plenty of space inside. They offered a bottomless food and mimosas option so that is what we ordered. Their brunch is a bit different from other bottomless brunches because they bring out everything on the menu to you instead of you picking. Everything I tried was good but there were some items I favored much more over others. I would likely visit again to try their dinner menu. The atmosphere was nice, the service was great, and the food was good. I also got a birthday treat.

First... man the chairs were UNCOMFY. Theres two types of stools and the padded one feels slightly…read moreslanted forward and small. But anyways Paella was delicious, the flavor profile was super fun. We got the short rib and seafood, and we all preferred seafood as the short rib was a bit heavy. The fish in it was crispy and so good, especially with the green sauce- nice herby and refreshing contrast. The figs were interesting and fun. But not that filling... I did not like the patatas... sauce was good but the potato itself had none of its own seasoning and was tough. Yes crispy but not pillowy inside. The octopus was delicious and super tender. Would come back for seafood paella and charcuterie.

Excellent food, great atmosphere, fantastic service! I wish I had photos of the food, but I was…read morehere with a big group and we descended on the plates like a pack of animals. It was so good. General consensus: the Hugo should just be ordered by the pitcher -huge hit. The Spring Gin & Tonic was excellent. The Iberico Washed Old Fashioned was okay. The Patatas Bravas were a HUGE hit. It's a day later and I can't stop thinking about the sauce. The Escalivada was also a crowd favorite. The Gambas Al Ajillo was universally loved. The sauce the shrimp are swimming in was amazing with pieces of garlic and peppers swimming in oil. Sop it up with the bread that comes too. I heard great comments on the octopus. I also really enjoyed the BOQUERONES CON NARANJA because I'd never seen anything like it. Really yummy if you like a salty briny bite. Our server was amazing and incredibly patient with our large group. Fantastic restaurant!

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

The food was just OK and the service was TERRIBLE. We were mostly ignored. The wait was extremely…read moreslow, entirely too long for the small amount of food we ordered in a basically empty restaurant. The restaurant really needs some cleaning and general maintenance/upkeep. I had high hopes but I was so disappointed by this restaurant

Lauriol Plaza is just how I remembered it to be...the food was tasty…read more Was definitely excited about the valet parking lot which is literally connected to the restaurant. When it comes to hanging out in DC, the parking situation will make you reconsider your plans hahahaha! For me anyway... One of my girlfriends suggested this place & made reservations but I don't think you really need them here. We arrived on time and was greeted by the hostess and opted to sit outside since the upstairs was closed. The lime and mango combination swirl was delicious...we ordered a pitcher and it was plenty for us 3 gals. The seafood quesadillas was seasoned very well. Full of flavor...I enjoyed these with a garden salad minus the feta cheese and corn. My salad was fresh and the house dressing was perfectly distributed throughout my salad. My girl friends enjoyed their meals as well. One ordered the same as me minus the salad and added rice and beans and the other ordered the salmon with the stuffed crab...can't remember what it was called on the menu but it also was served with broccoli and she added a side of Spanish rice and beans. The maduros were also delicious! Sitting outside was cool but the birds flying all around was kind of annoying lol next time we'll just sit inside lol. I don't think you can go wrong coming here...tasty well seasoned Tex Mex cuisine... Our server needed to be reminded of a few things...maybe it was just an off day for him... Anyhoo- you can't go wrong if you decide to come here. GNO, date night, birthday celebration...I'm sure it'll be a great time. Happy Yelping!

I remember a few months ago, my makeup artist recommended I check out Lauriol Plaza and that they…read morehave really good food. When she first said the name, I actually thought it was a some short of shopping plaza and never would have associated it as a Mexican restaurant. I'm not sure it's history, but seems like a staple in the neighborhood as every time I drive by since that conversation with her, I notice how packed and busy it is. I recommended to my friends who were in town that we check it out and we were able to get seated outside relatively quickly for a Saturday evening. Our table started with their drinks. Half of us got the pina colada and the other half had the margarita swirl. I'd say the pina coloda was pretty good; not too strong and the ones who ordered the margarita seemed to enjoy it. We all had eaten before arriving, so we didn't order too much. They also served complimentary tortilla chips with salsa so that was pretty good and gave us something to nibble on. I ended up getting the shrimp tacos and their tortilla soup. The shrimp tacos were good, but the tortilla soup was the highlight for me. It was very flavorful, and full of vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and corn. It also had shredded chicken and cheese in it, and was so delicious. I would definitely order it again. Our server was also very friendly and regularly checked in on us. The reason for one star off is just due to the cleanliness of the cups and plates on our table. I noticed food residue still on it, and although I personally didn't use the cup or plate, I didn't care to see it on the table.