This was one of the best dining experiences. I went here to try out their Chef's Choice and was impressed. The food was so good and it was so much. I think my favorite moment was the table side tiramisu. Just amazing staff and server who were very friendly. I love the quietness of the restaurant and it was cozy. read more

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Nina May is a cute New American restaurant thar serves its own take on classic ingredients. We ordered a prix fixe menu. Service was quite slow, unfortunately. Some highlights were the parker house rolls (unbelievably soft), the fish (paired well with the Brussels sprouts), and the mushroom&pea ravioli (fragrant). There were a few misses. I was not a fan of the carrot cake, the fried pork chop, and the oyster lettuce cups felt tacky. read more

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First, we did not have any reservations but the hostess was quick to accommodate us. Thank you! Next, staff were very friendly. Everyone greeted us with a smile and offered help as needed. Great hospitality The ambiance is simply unmatched! I felt like I was dining in a beautiful garden home, tucked away from the bustling DC streets. It was peaceful, scenic, and pleasant for date night. I loved the decor! For drinks we ordered: The Terence Espresso Martini- named after a regular at the restaurant, this espresso martini has a fun twist which includes chocolate and cane syrup. It was not sweet at all and oh so delightful to try. From Oaxaca with Love- my boyfriend loved this! He said that the balance between smokiness and spiciness made this a drink worth ordering over and over again. Strawberry lemonade- refreshing and not sweet at all. The only bitterness to this drink is that you are charged $8 extra for the strawberries because this is apparently regular house lemonade which was infused. A little costly sending this single drink over $20-not expected. We had to try the Chef's Choice because very few places offer such a steal at this price. The joy to the deal is that you get to choose how many courses you can enjoy by simply keeping the orders going. We tapped out early because the servings were very generous and some of the dishes swept away our appetite and tummy space lol First: Roasted Oyster (not on menu)- this was a new dish and a creative way to indulge in this aphrodisiac. The oysters were charred to perfection and the accompanying butter lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, turnips, kimchi, and jalapeño made for a fun wrap. The flavors all complemented each other well-I hope this stays on the menu! Chicory Caesar Salad- what a divine salad! Mouthwatering and fresh. There were some crunchy and savory moments while trying it as the Parmesan cheese was evenly distributed throughout the dish. Parker house roll- this roll can go up against any other rolls and win in softness and taste! The spring green garlic butter added another layer to the taste, making this one of the best rolls I've ever had. Second: Ricotta Cavatelli + Little Neck Clams- SO divine. Just when you thought that you met a few favs, here comes this delicious dish. The cook on the Ricotta Cavatelli was perfecto! And the clams, gosh the clams were so so sooooo good. The sauce seeping throughout the dish was dangerously delicious, not too salty. Roasted asparagus- another added favorite and the best asparagus I've had. The cook on this dish was perfection!!!! It wasn't soggy as some asparagus could be but these rather large asparagus had just the right crunch in each bite and the accompanying aioli sauce was scrumptious! Lemon + Thyme Roasted Pennsylvania Chicken- Sadly this was a miss for us and part of that was because we weren't too fond of the taste. There wasn't much flavor profile to carry the chicken but we did enjoy those delicious white kidney beans which were added. Third: A moment of silence please as both of these dishes were award winning!!!!! Served at the same time, we made it a little meal inside the meal and could not stop talking about both dishes. "Autumn Olive Farms" BBQ Pork Chop- the cook on this pork chops could only be mastered by an extraordinary chef! It was divine! Perfectly cooked and bursting with juicy flavors! Gosh this was some incredible pork chops. Cauliflower Risotto- another star! Dangerously good! Just the right cook on the risotto and the cheesiness you could appreciate! The grilled cauliflower was an added touch, making this dish memorable! We concluded our Chef's Choice with "Moon Valley Farm" Carrot Cake. This wasn't too sweet and was a subtle way to end an amazing dining experience. Parking is a bit tough as majority of the surrounding area is residential so it was hard to find parking. Nonetheless, please don't let that stop you from experiencing the beauty of this restaurant and the amazing food that they offer! read more

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Great food, drinks, and service! Highly recommend for brunch on the weekend. Hosted a corporate event here in the outside patio with AC and it was amazing. The AC could've been a cooler temperature but it was better than nothing. Food wise, my favorite course was the french toast. One word: delicious! read more

I went to Nina May for a pre fixed birthday brunch. I try to eat mostly GF and they were really accommodating! The Caesar salad was excellent and I got the smash burger with a lettuce wrap. I also really enjoyed the seasonal mimosas which were made with fresh strawberry juice. read more

Nina May - Smashburger (gf) - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very unsure how this place has such great reviews. I can only think out of towners? Each dish was bland and needed salt. Appealing to the eye but underwhelming to the taste. I love a good tasting menu but I'm having a very difficult time on how each dish was a miss - besides the pear tart. Moot review for the salad and Parker house rolls, pretty hard to mess those up but 3 stars for those three items. Unfortunately won't be back and can't recommend. read more

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Finally tried this gem. Loved everything from the ambience to the attentive and pleasant waitstaff to the beautifully plated and delicious food. Standouts: Roasted carrots Cauliflower risotto French toast My mom had the rockfish, which was cooked perfectly. It came with carrot-ginger purée (yum), charred broccoli (a tad too crunch on the stalks for her liking), and pickled onions. We both had seasonal drinks. Hers: strawberry mimosa Mine: strawberry margarita Now I want to return for dinner! read more

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This is really a hidden gem! The pre fixe menu is a great deal because they will continue to bring out food until you are ready for dessert without an additional charge. The vibes and service was great. They continued to replace plates & cutlery every course. The chicken was the most flavorful dish! In general the spice level is low for the other plates. read more

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I've heard tales of the wonders of @ninamay_dc but was not prepared for how perfect these appetizers would be! These herb-scented Parker house rolls with onion butter were fresh out the oven and hands down the best bite of the night but I also cannot go back without having these spaghetti squash and cheese croquettes with basil pesto on top For mains I had their crispy brussels sprouts with caramelized onions in a carrot and brown butter sauce and tried a bite of my friend's creamy ravioli read more

Nina May - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We had the chefs pick menu for the table. They brought us four cpurses each with a delicious collection of small plate with plenty on each for 4 people. We had everything from curried carrots to caesar salad to oysters, clams, trout and a whole bunch of dishes. Every dish was delicately prepared with a unique blend of spices but somehow they all paired beautifully! The four courses were followed by a delicious dessert course with dense carrot cake that was delicious! Adding this restaurant to our gotta go list for DC! read more

I've always wanted to come here, so I was delighted when my friend hosted his birthday brunch at Nina May! There were 14 people, so we had a private section of the second floor partitioned off with a curtain. The staff was very attentive and professional. Everything was well-timed. The star of the meal was the dessert -- the blueberry lemon tart laid on a bed of homemade caramel that was the stuff of dreams and its moist filling paired perfectly with the crunchy crust. The french toast is very filling -- nearly everyone got it as their second course and couldn't finish it or the dessert due to its richness and size. I loved the baking bread at the beginning, but our butter had some spice in it that hit the back of my throat intensely. The hash browns and lox were a good soft/crispy contrast, but the dessert will live in my heart forever. read more

Nina May - Breaking bread! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Fun prix fixe chef's menu at a great price. Lots of food and filled up. Main course was lamb shank tender and tasty. Carrot cake was a good finisher. Service was good and dishes were well explained. Ambience was modern, nice and great date nite ambience. read more

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First time there tonight. Service was slow, the workers were fine, The clams were very dry and no flavor. The chicken was good, the Oysters didn't seem right. Asparagus was good, the carrot cake was good. No free refills on Coke so it was $9 for 2 glasses that were half ice. Carrot cake was good. I might be back but other options in DC to try read more

Nina May - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been wanting to try this spot for a while, and I'm so glad I finally came for happy hour with my sisters! We had such a great time -- and our server, Richard, was amazing. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and super accommodating. Honestly, all of the staff were great! The restaurant is right on the corner, and from the outside I thought it was just the bottom floor with outdoor seating. To my surprise, they also have an upstairs dining area and a closed-in patio (which unfortunately wasn't open -- otherwise we definitely would've sat there!). Inside and out, the place is beautiful, so I recommend dressing up a little and snapping some photos. Now, the food! We started with their rolls, which come with radish butter, oil, and crispy onions -- omg, to die for! I also had the fritters (don't remember the exact name), and they were just as delicious. For our entrées, my sisters both ordered burgers -- one with a bun and one lettuce-wrapped -- and they loved them. I had a pasta dish (again, can't recall the full name ), but it was packed with flavor. We also enjoyed some drinks -- I had a mocktail, and it was so refreshing. I can't wait to come back and try even more from their menu! read more

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Would 100% come back - went for brunch Got the vegetable tempera, croquette, and agnolotti and they were all delicious. Tempura was a great selection of vegetables and tasted light despite being fried. Sichuan peppers in agnolotti was an interesting add - loved it! Service was great as well read more

Nina May - Vegetable tempura, croquette - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is now my go to spot for celebrations. I love the seasonal menu, the amazing cocktails, the ambiance, and the excellent service. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about food and drinks. They have great cocktails and great mocktails. They always have really tasty vegetarian options. The flavors are fresh and creative. read more

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We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at this restaurant. Everything was perfect. The restaurant had a prefix menu that day. Wait staff were wonderful and it was such a cozy vibe. As I'm pregnant, they were very accommodating to make sure the food was safe. Highly recommend for any future outings. read more

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Managed to snag a booking relatively easily for a weekend brunch timing as usually it's packed but it's the Thanksgiving weekend and a lot of folks are out of town. I got the oysters while my friends got the hash brown, butternut squash pasta and French toast each, and I got to try a bite of each dish, which tastes amazing. We sat at the seasonal outdoor room which has a lot of natural light, heaters, and has a charming cute autumn vibe to it. read more

Nina May - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Mediocre at best. What are y'all eating here that this place is rated so highly? We went for brunch and two of us ordered the "chefs choice" three course brunch. It was not good at all. The first course Spanish tortilla was basically an unseasoned flavorless potato pie with a hand full of arugula on the side. The second course was a stale papusa with a slice of cured salmon. The final course was a ham and cheese crepe with a flour paste bechamel sauce. It had a huge amount of wilted spinach, a tiny amount of ham cubes and no cheese that I could find. It tasted like a roll of wet grass. The space is also a mess with sticky rusted stair rails. Lordy, this was an expensive awful meal. Never again! read more

The ambiance was one of the best parts of the restaurant. The portions are very small, not much bang for your buck. Cocktails were good and so were the De-Glae Lanchego Cheese Croquettes. The Char Grilled Lamb Loin was a tad undercooked, but the garnish added some nice flavor. It took us 10 minutes for our server to come take our drink orders, they were busy, but not packed. Probably a 3.5 out of 5 stars. read more

So we ended up going to a different location we found this restaurant on the way to our car. The food was good. I mean the portions were decent size. It was a brunch menu also had the basil cucumber mocktail spritzer, which is also good as well my friend had mimosa. He said the food was good. Everything was good. I was actually surprised. I will probably go again . Waiter was attentive as well. read more

Nina May - In the photo we had Caesar salad, peanut butter French toast, crepes, cheese omelette. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend and I enjoyed a late brunch at Nina May this past Saturday. We decided to go for the CHEF'S CHOICE (39 per person, but we were only charged 35!) to explore multiple dishes without having to choose any ourselves. The heated outdoor seating was nice, and we got to look out to see a quaint and more residential neighborhood. ROASTED BABY CARROTS + CRISPY HASHBROWNS The carrots were just carrots. The brown butter crumble and apple butter combination was unique, but the flavors together didn't wow us. This was just alright and a pretty forgettable dish. CORNMEAL BLINI WITH SMOKED SALMON These were absolutely delicious, and I'm glad we got two each. The cornmeal blini was soft but held up the toppings well. The smoked salmon, cream cheese, trout roe, and some pickled shallots made a savory, umami, and lightly sweet combination that I wanted more of. It's a simple classic, but executed well. DILL + CHEDDAR BISCUIT WITH FRIED EGG The cheddar biscuit was tasty but a bit dry. There's plenty of bacon here for you bacon fans. The egg was a bit overcooked. Overall, this was fine, nothing bad but nothing phenomenal. BUCKWHEAT CREPES WITH DUCK CONFIT The duck confit was very heavy and not the most pleasant way to end a brunch. It was flavorful and fatty, but not my preference after three dishes. We also didn't love the buckwheat crepes; the wheat-y texture didn't complement the fatty duck well. The food was just OK, but it was pretty creative at least. We felt like our server didn't check up on us too often. Our water cups were empty for awhile before we could flag them down to ask for more water. Overall, I'm thinking their dinner is what they're known for, so if I come back, it would be for dinner. read more

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The decor is cute and the set up makes it a good meet up spot. Service was excellent as well. We came for brunch... and well, we opted for the shareable plates and main course. The "chefs choice" for $39 wasn't appealing to me but to each their own. Classic cheese omelet- was good, loved the side of arugula. Spaghetti squash cheese croquettes-tasty French toast- filling, felt more like a dessert Overall, the food was prepared well but nothing on the menu to entice me to return. read more

Nina May - Cheese omelet & spaghetti squash croquettes - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Had the fixed brunch menu which was a pretty good value for the amount of food. It came with four courses Salmon blini- pretty good and lots of salmon Hashbrowns with roasted carrots- my favorite, had lots of good flavors with the apple butter and crispy brown butter topping Biscuits- pretty basic biscuits with egg, nothing special Duck confit crepes- these were really good though I wish there was a little more of the sauce drizzled over The staff was also really nice and quickly switched us to a table in the patio since my bf had a broken ankle and climbing up the stairs would've been hard read more

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So happy I finally tried this spot!!! The service was great, drinks were great and it was very cute on the upper level. We tried the chefs choice which changes seasonally. Standouts were the chicken, the trout and the agnolotti. Every dish was inventive and fresh. The free birthday cannoli for my friend was also delicious! I would come back when they change their menu and try new dishes. read more

Pretty disappointing--we paid for chef's table, and I would not recommend it. Ala carte is clearly priced to encourage that selection (think $19 side of asparagus--review could stop there tbh). Bottom line: the amount of food we received was simply not worth the price. For $65/pp, we received a first course of oysters and salad (with rolls), then a second of clams and asparagus. So, over the first 1.5 hours, we received... two rounds of appetizers? Our companions received their entrees (ordered ala carte), and we asked where were our mains? For round three, they brought a quarter of a chicken (the "main"??), for two people. This is now over two hours. Of course, they claim dishes keep flowing, but that was definitely not our experience and painfully so. To top it off, the food was mediocre. Nice to look at, but no flavor. And tiny portions as others have noted. And slow to materialize. I am tired just writing this. Ultimately, I left both hungry and tired. Also, there is a bathroom right in dining area on second floor. So, I sat there watching people go in and out of bathroom (with toilet visible). Gross. Why does this place have such high ratings? Sometimes WaPo just needs a place to elevate, but this fell way short for us. Sigh. read more

Fantastic food, good drinks, great service and nice atmosphere. I hosted a birthday party here and everything went off perfectly. We also had dinner just me and my husband and it was delicious then too. read more

Nina May is my favorite restaurant in DC. I always get the pre-fixe which is the best deal in DC. The food is local and delicious every season, the wait staff amazing, the ambience cozy and yet elevated. The drinks are perfect. read more

Exceptionally fresh and flavorful New American cuisine! Ambiance & Service: Cozy interior with a rustic-modern vibe. Our server was friendly and attentive! Food: - Blistered Shishito Peppers: Perfectly spicy and smoky, with candied olives adding a balanced tart/sweet touch. - Butternut Squash + Taleggio Agnolotti: A standout dish! Sweet squash, crunchy and savory pumpkin seeds, and incredible flavor. Must-order! TL;DR: Cozy spot with attentive service. Must-try the Butternut Squash Agnolotti! read more

Nina May - Butternut Squash Agnolotti - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I made a brunch reservation the day before on open table. When I first arrived I was unsure. They sat me downstairs (I was the only diner down there) and it sounded like all the fun was upstairs. Being by myself, I was missing some ambiance/noise. But, that quickly changed as more diners arrived. Soon it was bustling all around. The service was impeccable. Slightly formal in tone, similar to fine dining, which I appreciate. But the real highlight of Nina May is the food quality. Flawless. I had the cacio e pepe cauliflower risotto, some bacon, toast, and a cup of coffee. You can absolutely taste the freshness and quality of the ingredients. The risotto was absolutely amazing. Maybe the best risotto I've ever had. It was unbelievable. I don't care about cauliflower normally. But this could not have been better. Had the flavor of Romano (not sure if that's what it was though). These taste bomb breadcrumb crispy things. Peppery but not too peppery. This dish alone is worth the visit. If you like cacio e pepe or even Alfredo, and like black pepper, you will love this dish. Creamy, cheesy, indulgent, perfect. The bacon was fresh high quality meat. Cooked perfectly crispy without burning. Fresh sourdough toast with amazing fresh jam. They brought out butter and it looked like they just made it. Everything was just flawless. I cannot think of a criticism. read more

Nina May - Cacio e pepe risotto - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was beyond great. You truly will enjoy every bite. I really enjoyed the rockfish. Definitely take time to order. You'll want more after each bite. Service was so quick. Plus, each person is so personable. You'll enjoy the customer service. The atmosphere is beyond adorable. Perfect place for any occasion. read more

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My friend and I had a great time at Nina May for dinner. I was looking for a restaurant that is away from the downtown but had a variety of menu. Our waitress was very friendly. Food came out on time. I ordered beet cocktail to complement more greasy food item and my friend got Smokey the Pear. Both tasted great. They have other cocktail options. They turned down the music volume so that I can talk with my friend, really appreciated that. For food, we ordered the Roasted Oysters Ssam, it contained kimchi which gave a nice acidity to oysters; really enjoyed it. We got the Butternut squash + Taleggio Agnolotti which was creamy. Lastly we got the Szechuan Pepper Crusted Striploin which had a nice kick with the pepper. Overall the food was not too salty but flavorful. I would like to come back for their brunch as well. read more

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Came for the restaurant week special. I thought it was cool that it was family style so we could try a little of everything. I did think it was a little expensive but they advertise it as a farm to table restaurant. I thought the cacio pasta was too peppery it was overwhelming and I kept sneezing it became hard to eat. It also had the numbing spice which didnt help. I thought it was an odd dish. The chicken was super tender and I thought the cod was super cooked great. Not much to say about the carrot cake - thought it was what you would expect. Not sure if I would crave to go again but good experience and way to try out a new place read more

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Visited Nina May for brunch and it was excellent. We got a couple cocktails (the beet is one is fun and unique) along with the sampler brunch menu. Everything we ate was tasty and came well-paced. Service was super friendly and accommodating. Somewhat coastal atmosphere which was pleasant. read more

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Service was great, our waiter was friendly. Decor was comfortable but chic. Blue ocean theme feels like a seaside restaurant almost. Food and drinks were amazing! Really the standout of the experience. Both filling and flavorful. We split 3 plates between two people and were stuffed. Our favorite was definitely the French toast. But the omelette and chicken were also memorable. I think it was a bit pricey but it's DC and seems like a farm to table restaurant so I get it. Spent about $120 for two drinks, and 3 plates during Brunch. Would definitely comeback as the menu rotates each season. Honorable mention to the watermelon margarita and espresso martini! read more

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Best. Brunch. Place. In. DC. Finally a great brunch place after being disappointed again and again in DC. First off, vibes are immaculate--- super pretty and airy so def bring your camera to take cute pictures! Service was really good too-- everyone was super friendly! The French toast just MELTS in your mouth. This is possibly the best French toast I've ever had so far. The trout was fantastic and the cocktails were amazing too. I am definitely going back to try their dinner menu, but also will be back for those oh so delicious French toast!! read more

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Overall a pleasant experience. There was a hiccup early on in our visit but the manager, Aire (I hope I spelled that correctly) saved the day. He was very empathetic and made it a point that we had a good experience at Nina May. I really appreciated that and the attention to detail (i.e., food and drink restrictions). I ordered the Smoked Chimney Rainbow Trout Fillet and man was it delicious! The fish was super fresh and the fingerling potatoes were just right. The flavors were flavoring so much that I finished my meal with no hesitation. I also want to note that I did not feel miserable after eating. You could tell they used quality ingredients. For dessert, I ordered the carrot cake and it did not disappoint! My friend ordered the rockfish and she loved her meal. The restaurant is so cozy, and well decorated. I loved how spacious the area was and there was a variety of seating. I definitely want to visit this restaurant again for brunch. I have heard good things about their brunch and the look forward to checking it out for myself. read more

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I've been to Nina May before and it's such a great deal for a multicourse tasting menu. $65 a full tasting menu that rotates seasonally. Starting with the tomato salad is always solid, very fresh with hem tomatoes. We also had oysters, to each, with the flavor, fold dressing and pieces of vegetable to kind of act like a chip. The bread was really good with crispy onion on the butter, but it was also perfect to dip into the chicken and bean sauce. The chicken was perfectly cooked and had a tasty barbecue ish flavored sauce. The beans were also really good, and I prefer to just having chicken over rice. The pasta dish, cacio Pepe was so rich and also perfectly portioned between three people. At the end of the meal I wasn't stuffed but was sadisfied. Ending with the carrot cake with the goat cheese icing was a fun take on a classic. There weren't any raisins or walnuts, it was just carrot and cake with the savory cheese icing receded upstairs in there enclosed patio space which was nice and not too crowded but by the end of the night it got a little dark because they don't have any overhead lighting besides a string light. Our Waiter explained every dish And service slowed down toward the end of the night when it was getting more crowded, which was understandable. A great place to go on a date or to go out to a nice dinner! read more

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Nina May's brunch is still one of my top favorites in the city! They keep things fresh by changing up their menu with the seasons, so it's always worth checking what's new before you go. I visited for a friend's birthday weekend and everything was fantastic. Our table kicked things off with the seasonal margaritas and apple mimosas (a great twist). A few of us went with the burger, which was amazing, and we shared the French toast--super delicious--and a side of crispy hash browns and fries. The service was on point too; our waitress was attentive and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed. Two of my friends went for the chef's tasting menu and loved most of it, though the duck didn't quite hit the mark for them (but that's usually an acquired taste). Overall, a solid brunch spot that never disappoints! The heated patio was just right. Cozy and warm. read more

Nina May - French toast - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Fantastic food, although the service and ambiance needed to be improved enough that I deducted one star. I recently went here for an early weekend evening dinner with two friends and we were seated immediately at our reservation time. The ambiance is relatively plain albeit with a nice bar. However, Nina May was loud and my friends and I also seated under the speaker, which made things difficult to hear and have a conversation. Our service was slow, with dishes taking 20 minutes to arrive from beginning through each course. We had to ask our server a couple of times about our order status as we had not received any updates. Nina May is best enjoyed by sharing everything, and my friends and I shared the following dishes: Parker House Rolls: The rolls were warm and buttery, baked properly, and the butter had amazing flavor. White Kidney Bean Falafel: Delicious falafel-one of the five best falafels I have ever had in the DC area. The falafel were crunchy on the outside and rich and creamy on the inside. The white kidney beans were an excellent choice of base and the falafel had no excess grease (which is extremely rare). Leek and Cheese Croquettes: The croquettes were bursting with delicious cheese, complemented well by the leeks and the ranch. Mustard Glazed Rack of Lamb: The lamb chops were perfectly cooked medium rare and the chimichurri was a great pairing. Smoked Chimney Rainbow Trout Fillet: My favorite dish of the evening. The trout was perfectly cooked, the skin was crispy, the potatoes paired perfectly, and the cilantro chimichurri and the ndujan were deliciously spicy. Karma Broccoli and Cheddar Risotto: A rich and creamy risotto with ample parmesan, although the risotto could have used more flavor and crunch. Although Nina May is pricey (e.g., $16 for Parker House rolls with butter is exorbitant), even my least favorite dish (the risotto) was good and I would order everything we got again. read more

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