All the hype about this place is truly warranted. I really enjoyed my dining experience here. From the moment we walked in the door 10 minutes before our 9:30pm reservation, we were seated promptly in a dimly light, quaint room that seriously looked like it was someone's living room at some point in time. The restaurant had a very warm and cozy feel and I noticed that there was no music playing, only the indistinguishable sounds of conversations from the 11 tables in the small dining space. Our waitress was extremely congenial and friendly--though I didn't understand half the words coming out of her mouth since they were all italian names for special grapes/foods, I still appreciated her attempt on educating us about our food. The menu was handwritten and included (in plain language): 1) an assortment of small appetizers: about 5 small delicious dishes to share 2) first entree: choice of lentil soup, mussels, or cheese ravioli 3) second entree: choice of snapper, pork chop, or quail 4) cheese platter: i'm not a cheese connoisseur, but one of these cheeses definitely tasted like crap 5) dessert: the custard is amazing! The five-course meal was $75/person and everything was absolutely delicious (minus the cheese platter). I also got the $45/person wine pairing and this included 5 generous glasses of italian wine. For a small restaurant, I am truly amazed at how well they maintain and control their food quality. Not only that, but the waitstaffs' coordination and attention to detail was superb (we asked our waitress for more butter for the bread and another waiter immediately turned around and brought it to us within 5 seconds!). This is hands down, one of the best dining experiences that I've had! read more

This quaint, homey restaurant was a true pleasure. It was, I'll admit, somewhat difficult to find. In the midst of showy signs and fancy awnings, Obelisk has merely a paper copy of the menu outside and a small, unassuming piece of paper on the door. I'm sure people walk passed it all the time without a moments notice. I met a friend from college for dinner here last night. The food was incredible. It just kept arriving! At the end, after dessert, when the last 3 morsels of food arrived, we both moaned at the thought of eating more. Alas, I cannot speak to any of those last little bits, as there was just too much deliciousness already in my belly. The antipasti started on a revolving door of waitstaff. The octopus salad with olives and crusty bread was just amazing. And the fritata and the cheese and the anchovies (ok, I didn't really love the anchovies, but that was the only thing). The sweet potato ravioli was just heaven. In a brown butter and sage sauce, it melted my whole body into sweet heaven. Though the winds were howling outside, this mouthful of warmth was sweet and creamy and had the aromatics of the sage. Oh, it was just delicious. For the secondi, I got the culotte. Be warned, it was pretty rare, but had this sweet drizzle and the most amazing vegetables on the side. The salad, an Italian chicory we were told, was so light and sweet and simply delicious. Then came 3 cheeses and last, a chestnut pudding. Mmmmm with a glass of port, it was just wonderful. The service was great, the company was great, the atmosphere was cozy and felt like you were at a friend's house for dinner. read more

Okay, I've never written a Yelp review before, but after going to this place, I felt like I need to start. Wow. Just wow. I wish I had something clever to write about it, but as soon as you stroll up and see that "the menu" is the only thing you can order for that night, you know it's going to be good. Started with the antipasti, all of which was excellent: soft, creamy cheese flown in from Italy, tuna crudo, salt cod frittata, and something else great that I can't remember. Next was pasta, I had the goat raviolli-type things which came in a broth and was more like a soup. This was the only part of the meal I didn't think was otherworldly. I tasted my mother's gnocchi in creamy cheese sauce with chives, which was possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. Light and fluffy with some great textured beads of flavor just exploding in your mouth. Outstanding. Went with the roasted quail for my entree which was just a tad gamey (in a good way) and perfectly seasoned. I didn't really like messing with all the little bones, but that was my own fault. Mom's lamb chops were great. For dessert, had the hazelnut chocolate cake which was just the right amount of sweet. Top it all off with some closing sweets and a very solid bottle of wine for $40 and at $200 for 2 people before tip, an excellent bargain for arguably the best restaurant in the city. Highly recommend, and be ready for some surprises on the menu every time you go! read more

This place was absolutely fantastic!!! My girlfriend took me here for my birthday and we both loved it. For starters, make a reservation. There are only 10 or so tables and the place filled up by 7:30. Also, map it out before you go here. The front is very unassuming and the sign is very small (I must have walked past the place million times and not even known it was there). Once inside, the we were seated immediately and the waitstaff was excellent. They were very knowledgeable and prompt without being overbearing or intrusive. The atmosphere was exactly what I like in a restaurant. It was intamate and quiet enough to hear myself think and have a conversation, but not so quiet I felt like I would have to whisper. The food was absolutely amazing. There are several courses and in the end, was a ton of food. The order of courses flowed nicely. Overall, things were fresh, light, and very tasty, but I also remember being stuffed at the end, so I was very happy to be full, but not weighted down by heavy dishes. We ended up getting the rabbit for two which was stuffed with prosciutto, cheese, and rabbit organ meats. Everything blended superbly in the dish. The menu is changed daily and I can't wait for another special occasion to go back and try new things there. When it came to the bill, I was being taken out for my birthday, so I didn't see the final tab. I remember the pre-fixe meal being $70 per person which I would gladly pay any day. So as long as the markup on the coffee and drinks was reasonable, I would say the restaurant is worth every penny you pay. The only thing that made the experience less than perfect was the guy at the table next to us was tweeting about the place during his meal. He would aim his iphone in our direction and take pictures of his food The flash was bothersome, but I guess that's not Obelisk's fault, just a problem of living in the digital age. read more

The first thing I would like to mention is that the price was $85 (not $75) for the food course, and it was stated that wine paring is $55 when I dined there on May 18, 2013. I do not know if it was "weekend rate" or special price. Unlike most of the reviews shown here, I would say the food was very, very average-good. There are many restaurants out there serving such average-good taste in much lower price. So if the course was around $60, I would have given 4 stars but $85 is definitely over-priced. The amount of food was decent - 4-5 kinds of appetizers (cheese, seafood, meat) giving you a few bites per dish along with bread, primi, secondi, cheese, and dessert, made me fairly full. The appetizer dishes were good, the primi dish was clearly under seasoned (almost no taste; maybe good to eat when you are sick), the secondi dish was in contrast over salted (especially the strong saltiness stood out after the primi), the cheese dish (3 kinds/pieces) was probably I liked most, and the dessert was also good. But again, everything was average and if you expect something superb and delightful on its price tag, you would be disappointed just like me. I would never come back to this place and I would not recommend anyone to try. The last thing, they did not take American Express and they were reluctant to split the bill by two credit cards. read more

By far the best Italian I have had in this city, and it's REAL italian and goes beyond just pasta! I loved it! Every little dish was a surprise, and even before your courses start you get several amuse bouches, so even though it's pricey you do feel like you're getting your money's worth. I had the best ravioli of my life here. read more

After the raving reviews about this place, I thought I was going to have a food experience like none other. That did not happen. That being said, this was a very very solid meal. Highlights: first three courses. They had a fresh cheese drizzled in olive oil with a little salt and fresh pepper. Spectacular and a great way to show off a great cheese. Most of the dishes in the first course were great. The pasta course was delicious too, as the was cheese course. Lowlights: the last two courses. Perhaps it was a mistake on our part, but my dining companion and I opted for the steak for two. It was nothing special, and the sides, a tiny bit of broccolini and onion rings were unimpressive. I only include dessert in this list b'cos by the time dessert came round, I was so full, I don't remember what dessert was like. I just ate it, but clearly, it was not enough to make an imprint. I would like to give Obelisk another chance, and maybe pick another entree to see if that made the difference. But overall, it was good, maybe sometimes great, but never completely out of this world. And it was too much food. read more

Having had many wonderful dinners here when he lived in the area, my brother insisted we have our family holiday meal here (13 December 2014). To begin, the waitstaff dropped off food without providing the lovely, detailed descriptions they were offering other tables. I would hope that the fact that we were a table of five Asians and one white boy (I love you, Hubs!) was not the reason. Once I managed to flag down someone, the staff obliged. The modern Italian and Spanish inspired appetizers were by far the best part of the meal. The pappardelle in rabbit sugo was inedibly salty. Unfortunately, three of us had ordered this primo. Only my mother expressed her disappointment. The hostess warmly offered her a substitution. The butternut squash cappellacci (called "tortellini" on the menu) were gorgeous. But never mind these missteps; four of us had squab coming! Mine was the closest of all to rosé. The other three were verifiably raw. Not rare, but nicely seared on the outside and perfectly raw on the inside. Again, the hostess was incredibly warm in refiring all three, from scratch. My sister-in-law devoured my brother's delicious pompano in the meantime. For dessert, only the pink grapefruit granita was worth ordering: a refreshing balance of tart and sweet. The Meyer lemon and almond "tart" (there was something off with the menu writing this night) turned out to be not the tangy frangipane delight we were expecting but a chokingly dry almond flour cake with nary a hint of lemon. The chocolate rice pudding was regrettably chalky. The published 18% gratuity for our party of six was in fact 20%, since the restaurant charged gratuity after tax. We're a family of foodies. And as New Yorkers, we're spoiled for great dining, from awesome cheap eats to some of the best fine dining in the world. We'll keep hoping for more when we're down in D.C. to visit family. Rasika and Zaytinya have yet to disappoint. We won't be back, Obelisk, despite the valiant efforts of the hostess to smooth over the serious missteps of the kitchen. My brother, who footed the bill, was sorely apologetic, though the fraught meal was not his fault. We had a great time together regardless! read more

When I read how difficult weekend reservations were to obtain, I imagined a nightmare a la French Laundry (obsessively pushing redial on my cellphone and reloading Open Table at the same time). So when I called a month in advance to make a Saturday evening reservation, I was surprised to have my call answered within 2 rings, and I was able to request any time I wanted. It was painless, but I'm still glad I called a month ahead. It's really true - this place is small (seats about 30 people) and hard to find (the day's menu posted at the foot of some stairs leading up to a door was the only indicator that this restaurant was nearby). Its location is strange (it sits atop Tangy Sweet and is next door to a pizza place), but don't be fooled into thinking it's not a a high-quality establishment. We arrived 10-15 minutes early and were seated promptly. Right away, we noticed that most of the diners were older than us by at least a couple of decades. It has happened to us at other fine dining restaurants, though, so it's not something new to us. I say if you're in your 20s and have the money to spend on fine meals, then you're the bomb. Don't let older folks silently judge you with their eyes when you sit down at the table next to them because they're just jealous that you're young and have dough. Haha! Anyway... Dinner began with toasted almonds, bread, bread sticks and butter. We had a Limoncello cocktail, tasted like lemon juice and champagne, and a Bourbon martini, smelled really good but wasn't as good going down. The toasted almonds were awesomely tasty but also awesomely salty. In fact, I'm attempting to recreate (a less salty version of) them in my own kitchen, but I digress. The appetizers for the evening consisted of a mozzarella-like cheese with roasted bell peppers, smoked salmon belly with greens and pine nuts, soft shell crabs, and a fava bean puree bruschetta. We each received our own plate of the cheese, while the other items were brought out "family style". The smoked salmon had a nice smoked flavor but it was ridiculously salty. The soft-shell crabs were flavorful and crispy, and the fava bean number was hands down my favorite item of the night. It would have been nice if we were told that we were supposed to use the plate containing the cheese as our main plate and add the other appetizers to that plate as we received them, but we figured it out eventually. First course was an eggplant ravioli with walnuts and butter sauce and a bigoli (whole wheat pasta) with pancetta. The ravioli was really good, but I thought the walnuts seemed out of place on the plate. The bigoli was super. I mean, it had pancetta (aka Italian unsmoked bacon) so that's a dead giveaway that it's going to be good. Our second courses were the black bass with capers and olive relish and the culotte (Kobe beef). The bass was fall-apart-to-die-for. It was cooked perfectly. The Kobe beef was decadent beyond words, but I guess when you're paying premium for a piece of meat, it better be extraordinary. Next came the cheese course, which consisted of goat cheese, some sort of Spanish cheese, and a smoked cheese. I am an equal opportunity cheese consumer, and it's hard to find a cheese I don't like, yet Obelisk managed to find it and serve it to me on this particular night. Out of all the cheeses, why goat cheese!? :P I tasted it and was repulsed. I can't stand the gamey taste of goat cheese, but I ate the other cheeses just fine. It was the only thing I didn't finish during my meal. We had dessert with the Cratis dessert wine (I love sweet, but it was too sweet). Dessert was chocolate cake with mint sauce and a yogurt panna cotta. I loved my chocolate cake. It was dense and truffle-like. The panna cotta was creamy and like a grown-up pudding. The meal ended with a "last bite" offering (as if we still needed to eat more at this point) of shortbread cookies, lemon jelly cubes, and cocoa almonds. At $75 per meal (not including alcohol), Obelisk was well worth the price. The service was great and the food was near-perfect. read more

I can see why this place has been around for 20 years. An enchanting 5-course Italian tasting menu that is great for special occasions. The menu changes every day based on seasonal & local food availability. Restaurant is intimate & seats about 15-20 people. Feels like you're at a friend's dinner party! It's a little hard to find & be careful on the steps on the way in & out. As a woman said on her way out: "these steps aren't made for old people who have been drinking." But the food & the experience was all-around amazing! read more

My beautiful girlfriend, G- took me here for my birthday. I enjoy high-end dining, but get a little put off by small prix-fee menus. From start to finish, Obelisk outperformed my expectations. We started with a martini at home and then foraged up Massachusetts Avenue. We sat right next to the bar. The first course to come out is the antipasti which consisted of thinly sliced octopus, duck/ pork meatballs, burrata cheese, arugula salad with radishes, eggplant crostini, and the most amazing breadsticks I have ever had. We asked for a second serving. I started with Chianti & G- got prosecco to start. I was a bit overwhelmed by all the food flying at me so fast & furious before I had even ordered my primi or secondi courses. G- is a pescatarian. As I said, I fear the limited-prixe fixe menus with limited ingredients. Each course had a choice of three entrees, which because G- doesn't eat meat had predetermined choices. I started with sweet potato ravioli in a duck ragout which was excellent. G had tagliatelle with clams and tomatoes. She said the 'clams are so cute' and taste good too, 'I never thought I would be a fan.' The second course was my favorite. I got cullote with rapini and cippolini. Cullotes are not some kind of skort for women to wear. It is a Wagyu style beef that is like American style kobe. G- ordered the best swordfish I had ever tasted it was perfectly grilled with a mixture of olives, capers, lemons, and olive oil- that was a lot like tapenade, but perfection. The cheese course after the primi & secondi was a nice touch. I had graduated to my third Chianti at this point. There were three cheeses: a goat cheese from Campagnia, and a cow cheese and sheep/goat/cow blend from Piedmont. Is it me or is Piedmont the Napa Valley of Italy? Then came dessert, I had a chocolate almond torte, which was suprisingly not too sweet. G- had a delicious yogurt panna cotta with strawberries and figs. I ended the night with a delicious sambuca, which came out with the last course of "mini" sweets (three small dessert bites). I think Obelisk is definitely top-five/ seven in DC. My faves so far is Komi #1, then Obelisk, Tosca, CityZen, Bibiana, & Rasika is some order. A don't miss experience that is specially suited for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, or graduations. read more

My meal here was great. They have such attention to detail and the choices are well crafted. On the whole I think I am more excited to eat somewhere innovative, like Roses Luxury. Oblesque is just simply wonderfully made fresh high quality food - but you don't feel a specialness or excited meant eating there. The menu is in courses for a set price and I think the volume was too much actually - we were full by the first two courses. The cheese is to die for. Bread cheese and olive oil and olives were the most memorable part of the meal. Everything was good though. I would just note that our service was extremely slow. They were trying to read us I guess and thought since we were on a date and took a while to order that we wanted the while thing to last three hours. They were mistaken. I also wasn't seated until my date was present so I missed sitting in the window seat. The decor and booths in the place are old and frayed, so looking out the window would have been better. read more

Went here last night for my wife's birthday. Quick tips: call early in advance for a reservation, but its worth a shot just a few days in advance. The restaurant doesn't have a big sign or anything, but just look for the Tasty Delight and its just upstairs. Handwritten menu was unique and fun. Food was fantastic, fun, unique and plentiful. The place has an interesting atmosphere that I wasn't huge on... But it didn't detract enough for me to downgrade the rating. ( play some music or something) The servers were all nice. They seemed to all pitch in on all the tables which was fine. Would recommend to anyone looking for a special dinner out. read more

I came to Obelisk for dinner with two friends last week and had a great experience. I have been wanting to dine here for 15+ years and finally made it happen. We thoroughly enjoyed the 5 course menu handwritten each day by the staff. The restaurant is situated in a row home in Dupont Circle - it is simply appointed, but the food is really the focus at this place. The service was great - they didn't rush us and were very friendly. So, let's talk about the food. We enjoyed the antipasti to start and the croquettes were the shining star among our group. We didn't indulge too much in this course as we knew we needed to pace ourselves. I tried the duck raviolini for my next course and ate every last bite of it - so delicious! Next up was the culotte with spinach and onions that was dressed with an amazing balsamic (ridiculously good and certainly crave worthy!). The cheese course came out next and all of the cheese was great, but I couldn't get enough of the taleggio - so tasty! To finish off the meal, I enjoyed the pineapple essence with banana ice cream dessert...light and the perfect end to a culinary delight of a meal! If you haven't been, Obelisk is worth the visit - you will NOT be disappointed! read more

Probably won't return. This meal was not worth the $265 we paid (two full menus, two glasses of wine, tax, and tip). I understand paying for a good meal, but I expect more if I'm dishing out this kind of money. Individually, the courses were fine, but not super impressive. Taken in total, they were underwhelming. I can't quite pin point why. Maybe I was looking for a little more creativity? Maybe I chose their less flavorful options? The cooking was simple and clean but, nothing was really flavorful. The service was fine. Everyone was nice, but something felt off. All our questions were answered, but all the interactions felt curt and somewhat clipped. I was also annoyed to find that two of the three secondi options consisted of red meat, even though I'd informed them that I didn't eat red meat. I didn't expect them to change their menu, but at that price point, it would have been courteous to reach out and suggest another night to dine if that was the case. read more

From what I understand, the menu changes daily... I can't speak to what others had... but I have to think anyone who didn't have a great meal here more than likely doesn't know what they are talking about or has the pallet of a 5 year old. This place is small and quaint... you can actually hear your thoughts. It is a cozy, romantic spot for two but don't know how large groups would fare in this space. It honestly feels like you are eating in someone's living room, which we loved. The menu is hand written. The Antipasti Misti was fantastic. They brought out several small plates, all which were very good. For the Primi, I had Tagliatelle with Rabbit and Olives. You could tell the pasta was fresh and the rabbit was so tasty and succulent. I could have just had that as my main course and been happy. My wife got the Watercress Ravioli with Anchovy butter which was good but a bit too fishy for my taste. For Secondi, we shared the suckling pig for two with a side of rapini and potatoes. It was great! I think I enjoyed the Primi more, but was delicious none the less. Cheese plate was great and dessert was good. Bread basket was awesome, too! I don't have any complaints about the food and we had a great bottle of wine at a fair price to accompany. I enjoyed very much and may be back some day... DC food scene has so much to offer so it is hard for me to go somewhere twice. read more

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Came here with a friend about a year ago for the 5-course prix fixe menu, $70. Wish this place had a website with their menu so I could remember what I had! I remember not being that impressed with the food. My main course was the quail, which was really not that good. Meat wasn't tender enough and it was kind of bland. The dessert, a rose sorbet, was interesting; I liked it. However, I'm looking at the Yelp rating distribution for this place and see that an overwhelming majority of people give it 5 stars. Yelp rarely lies, so I am thinking about going back again to give it a second shot. I'll be sure to update my review when I do. read more

I went there for my birthday last year and I can tell you that it does live up to the hype. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived so we were treated to a glass of prosecco while we waited (5 minutes). All the courses were tasty and well thought out. The smoked duck was perfectly done with a crisp skin and moist (not oily) meat. My pasta course was the lowest point of the evening but that's only to say it wasn't quite as amazing as the rest, but still very very good. If you want a great date spot then I highly recommend taking them here. It's hard to go wrong. read more

This place has easily made it to my list of top 5 places to eat in DC. The food was delicious- simple, but not boring. The menu is pre-fixe, but you still have options so you're not totally locked into only one thing. Though, I would trust the Chef here to serve me whatever he/she liked. Also, keep in mind, that even with the pre-fixe menu, everyone gets a nice little sampling of surprise treats before you even start the meal, so you're definitely not left with out a lot of different food to try. My particular favorite (of our little treats) was the goat meatballs.... mmmm goodness. I also appreciated that the menus themselves are actually hand written and change on a regular basis. You can really tell that the Chef and staff put a lot of attention into creating their menus and incorporate local and seasonal ingredients. As for ambiance, it's awesome. It feels like you're eating dinner at your best friend's dining room table, except that the food is out of this world. A very enthusiastic 5 stars! read more

You know that scene in Defending Your Life where Rip Torn notes that, to little-brained Albert Brooks, his food probably tastes a little like horse s***? Well, that's what parts of my dining experience here reminded me of. Service was great, and some parts of the meal were really quite good. But I'm not a big fan of the kind of place that says, "you will eat what I give you and like it." I'm sure some elitist snob out there would say it's all my fault that I didn't absolutely love everything that was put in front of me, because my pallate is not sophisticated enough. Whatever you say Rip, but it was my $300+ that got dropped on this meal, so shouldn't I expect to at least enjoy the food? My advice? If you have money to burn, like to experiment, and don't mind the occasional blob of pig fat presented to you as if it were love on a plate, you'll be in heaven. But if you're not into blowing a wad of cash on hit or miss weirdness, steer clear. read more

Totally amazing......I have been coming here for 25 years and it is Perfect.....what dining should be......food is top quality and service is impeccable. Relaxed and delicious. I have eaten all over the world....even at the #1 rated restaurant El Bulli.....and this can stand shoulder to shoulder with them! Do yourself a favor.....call for a reservation well in advance. Come to enjoy real FOOD that is stellar..... And save a seat for me! read more

Probably one of the best meals I've ever had. My wife and I will definitely be back to celebrate a special occasion. read more

Obelisk - Handwritten menu. Very cool. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Obelisk is the most amazing, authentic Italian restaurant I've been to in DC. I'd also venture to say that it's one of the best deals in DC (five outstanding courses for $70). The first course of homemade burrata cheese is fantastic -- luscious, a little barnyard-y and flavorful. My pasta course was to die for and the veal my fiance and I shared was so tender -- simple perfection. A Cheese course and dessert rounded out the evening -- and our bellies -- perfectly. We opted for the paired wines with each course, which I would definitely recommend, especially since it helps you learn more about Italian wines. The only thing I would skip are the cocktails. They were unremarkable and expensive. All in all: a knockout, intimate Italian experience! I can't wait to return. read more

Celebrated an anniversary dinner at Obelisk. Given the rave reviews, we were expecting a spectacular meal, but got a very good meal. I don't want to repeat what everyone else said about prix fixe menu choices and the wine pairing option. It's evident that the food was prepared with a lot of thought and care. It's a large meal, so remember to pace yourself! The wine pairing is worth it If you're not a light weight. The waitstaff was knowledgeable about the food, attentive, and completely unpretentious. We ate for 3 hours and didn't feel rushed at all. The one drawback was that the meal didn't seem balanced. Many of the items were drizzled with or soaked in (high quality) olive oil and not much was served to help the digestion process. The meals that I've had in Italy generally have a vegetable course to balance out the other dishes. This was not on the menu. We both left feeling like the meal was too heavy. This was disappointing because the food was exquisite, but the ensemble didn't come together well. I'd still recommend Obelisk for a special occasion. The food, waitstaff, and atmosphere is wonderful, though ask for a lemon in your water if you don't want to feel like a whale in the hours afterwards. read more

Got there a half an hour late. The place is a quite spacious small restaurant with fairly comfy setting. We sat down and quickly ordered our meal. The breads were great. Appetizers tasted great with multiple small dishes that were very Italian and better than your home made variety. The pasta dish was okay as the noodle was fairly hard. However the clam flavoring was excellent. I ordered the squab, which required some surgical anatomy skills. All I can say was I got the meat out and it was delicious. However, I think my counterpart enjoyed the veal even more. The dessert was excellent. The staff were busy, quick and helpful. The food here is nice and one of the best in DC that I have tasted. Four and half to five stars. We shall return soon! read more

My husband and I went here awhile back for our anniversary dinner, and while I we certainly enjoyed it, we didn't quite get all the hype. Some of the food was absolutely fabulous, particularly the burrata and the cheese course. I order burrata whenever I see it, and I can definitely say that this was some of the best I've had. Most of the antipasti was really good as well, with the exception of the octapus, which was on the chewy side. The pasta was also well above average, but nothing extraordinary, as I've been to quite a few places in DC that have really amazing pasta. But there's definitely ranked up there. The place where they really fell flat though, and hence the 3 star review, was the entrees. We had the porkchop and the fish, and both were fairly standard. Both were cooked well, but rather bland, and just didn't wow in the way I'd expect food from a restaurant rated this high. Also, the wine pairings didn't seem to complement the dishes all that well, and were really small for the price. There were lots of bottles that cost about the same as two wine pairings, so I think I'd recommend picking a bottle you like and just going with that. Overall, I thought most of the food was good, and you get a lot for the price. I think it was definitely worth checking out, but I don't think I'll be rushing back. read more

Everything was wonderful. This would be my number #1 restaurant in all of DC. I am a vegetarian and the customized my meal perfectly for me. The atmosphere is a little dated, but it is the best food, and experience, that I've had in DC. The staff are amazing, the food spectacular, and I just loved the whole thing. The only downfall? I was full, uncomfortably stuffed almost halfway through. I couldn't enjoy the last few courses because I was so incredibly full. read more

If only there were an option for 3.5 stars. Went here the other day with my parents. Nice atmosphere, nice waiters, nice food. Not great, but nice. They do a five course thing for $75. Mixed antipasti, appetizers, main courses, cheese, desert. The antipasti were all strong. Great citrusy eggplant salad, baked sardines with lemon, little puff-pastry and anchovy thing, fantastic burrata, OK rabbit terrine. All of it was very nice, though just about the same quality (which is to say pretty high) as at Two Amys, at several times the price. The appetizers were a little more mixed. My dad got a shrimp broth that was light and subtle. Tasty, but would have been better with, say, delicate shrimp ravioli instead of the two jumbo shrimp that were dropped on top. Just didn't seem to fit the subtlety. My mom got gnocchi with lamb ragu. I thought that the gnocchi were good but the ragu wasn't ragu. More like a ratatouille or something, with very little lamb flavor or texture, and a bit sweet for the gnocchi. My mom liked it, though. I got sweet potato ravioli in a really nice orange-scented sauce. Very good. I thought the best of the three. Main courses. Dad got duck that tasted a bit unpleasantly gamey (and I like game--can't put my finger on exactly what it was about the meat I thought wasn't so great), served with a terrifically uninspired balsamic sauce and boring spinach with raisins and pinenuts. OK, but definitely nothing special. My mom got sea bass that was really nicely cooked. Again, nothing special, but nice. My "Culottes" of beef (what's the French word for britches doing describing a meat cut in an Italian restaurant?) were pretty mediocre. Can't for the life of me remember what they were served with. I feel like that's a sign. Lovely cheeses in a cheese course that skimped on the possibility of interesting pairings. Boring deserts with good ice cream attached. Don't know how much the wine cost (parents treated and picked the bottle), but that brings the tag up to $225 for a meal for three that was certainly pleasant, but just as certainly unimpressive. I wouldn't shoo you away, but it doesn't seem to me like the best of deals, nor at all, as some claim, the one of the best restaurants in the area. read more

While the food was good and the service excellent I am not sure I can rate this restaurant 5 stars mainly because I have had better food for much less money. Obelisk is a hidden restaurant in Dupont Circle that has been in operation for 25 years. It has a great following - an older clientele - because the food is solid. but $300 for a dinner for two is a bit much. Main dishes were ox tail and black bass. Both good. read more

(Three and a half stars) Like everyone who has reviewed this restaurant on Yelp, I was excited for weeks to eat at Obelisk. I decided to take my lady friend (LF) there for her birthday as she had been talking about this place for years. The reservation process was a little awkward... when I called a few weeks in advance, they told me to call them back a few days before to confirm - ummm, shouldn't you be calling me back to confirm? I also let them know that it was my LF's b-day, now I know I'm not going to Cheesecake Factory or Friendly's and expecting a free dessert but I wanted the wait staff to acknowledge it by wishing her a happy birthday or even write Happy B-day on her menu, something that a lot of places have done for me - I guess this was too big a request because they asked me what I expected them to do - rude. Now, getting past all that, I was still excited for the food. The place was tiny and intimate and the wait staff was extremely friendly, attentive and professional. But the food... well it fell just short of my expectations. The bread was bland, my octopus app smelled too fishy even for me and a lot of the dishes lacked flavor. The dishes that were on, were excellent - lobster mushrooms, lamb and a few others I can't remember. The wine list was also excellent. Overall, for a fancy tasting menu meal, the price was spot on and the food was good, not great. But, it's not even the best Italian in the city (Tosca). read more

The best meal I've ever had, hands down. This tiny little restaurant is a foodie's delight with a warm, inviting, unpretentious ambiance. The menu changes every night, and the only decision you need to make is what to order to drink. We simply told our waitress "no beef" and the chorus of delights began. Our meal began with a fresh burrata, an almost liquid like gooey mozzarella-ish cheese that I dream about sometimes. It was a salty, creamy sensation with an ice cream like texture. From fresh made pastas to chopped cucumber salad seasoned with chive blossoms, course after course delighted and amazed us one by one. By the end of the dinner I was so overwhelmed with satisfaction I was professing my undying love for the establishment to our server. Don't think about it for another moment, if you have not yet been, drop everything and call them up to make a reservation. You will have little chance of getting a table by just walking up, there are probably no more than 10 tables in the entire place and it's always packed! read more

Don't believe the hype. Obelisk for me is a restaurant resting on its laurels. With all of the hype about this restaurant, I was thrilled when my husband took me there for our anniversary. I was expecting it to compare to the fabulous restaurants we enjoy in Paris or NY, but for us it was just average food. I found the service not to be personalized, but rather like a production cycle. I was expecting innovative food that would excite my palette, but I have had far better meals in restaurants around town that do not require reservations weeks in advance. I would not go back again, even if it was easier to get a reservation and was less expensive. Both the chicken and the fish were not memorable, neither were the desserts. Huge disappointment - luckily the company was great. read more

We went here for an anniversary and it turned out to be a great decision. Our expectations were exceeded. My date and I each ordered the Sea bass as the main course and were very happy with how it came out. It was a generous portion very nicely cooked, with toppings on the side. In my opinion the main course is really more of the "grand finale" of the meal and, when I go back, the items I will most look forward to will be the assortment of interesting appetizers that get served to you somewhat unexpectedly. On our particular night we were served (among other things) a pork dish, lobster croquettes, baby arugula and spinach salad and grilled octopus. Each dish was delicious. Not a single plate went back to the kitchen with much food left on it. read more

This place has so many good reviews in many websites, which made me to go there, but the food is totally not what i expected. I had 5 courses and there was not a single dish that i liked , including their dessert. The food needs seasoning. All i taste is olive oil and lemon in most of their dishes. All that olive oil almost started my bowl system going...come on man. Even the dessert is not sweet..i don't know what the deal is. May be this food is some sort of abstract or art but it is definitely not tasty. This is the first time i do not agree with most of the Yelpers who gave stupendous review for this place. read more

This place is excellent. The antipasti are wonderful, as are the paste. The desserts were a little off, but this is generally very fine food and the prices aren't too bad. Tops for Italian in the city, as far as I know. www.thegourmetpig.com read more

With it being my first time there, let me start off by saying that I was quite surprised at the decor and overall setup. They've replaced the sign for the restaurant with an actual Obelisk as of two months ago, so my wife and I were looking around for the restaurant at first. It didn't help that there are a couple of spots marked 2029 on the block. Then came the fact that, by being the first customers of the night (6 o'clock reservation), no one was there to greet us so we actually had to open the sliding door and let ourselves in. The first thing I thought when I saw the tiny room (I think I counted about 10-12 tables that mostly seat 2, with a couple seating 4) was that I had stumbled upon a hospital cafeteria. That's the impression the natural wood, inexpensive looking furniture gave me. In some ways, you want to feel that you're in an environment befitting the quality of the food, but Obelisk's vibe could also be interpreted as simple and unassuming. Fine by me, I came here for the food. $70 per person for antipasti, primi, secondi, cheese, and dessert. Great value in my book, when we're talking about what is supposed to be "haute cuisine". Most of the antipasti were good, not great. But the cow's milk cheese was sublime - creamy, soft, almost as dense as mozzarella, perfect with the assorted breads, which were also one of the highlights of the night. Definitely accepted the offer for more bread when it came up. I had spaghetti with shrimp and my wife had watercress ravioli for primi. Both were solid but not great. Neither were too heavy or rich, but maybe a touch oily. For the secondi, my wife had duck breast and I had lamb chops. I don't usually seek out and enjoy duck, so this duck didn't really change things for me. My wife, who enjoys duck much more than I do, felt that it was good, not great. Do we see a pattern developing here? I think so. My lamb was cooked perfectly and the meat itself was really delicious, but the garnishings (fava beans, crisp pancetta) didn't really enhance the meat for me. Well, the cheese was definitely delicious, and it was an opportunity to eat more of their delicious bread. Dessert was also delicious. Let's lump in the delicious prosecco and Super Tuscan I brought ($25 corkage) and I'd say the entire meal wasn't lost, but the overall experience was pretty uneven. I'm pretty sure I won't remember anything that I ate last night, other than the cow's milk cheese, but the prix fixe format and authentic feel of the Italian cuisine will likely be enough to bring me back to try another menu. $250 total included $20 in prosecco, $25 in corkage, tax, and ~$45 tip. The service was unobtrusive, efficient, and polite, so that was also a big plus in my book. read more

This is a very intimate setting inside... what looks like someone's cottage home. I literally thought I walked into the house from UP. Rewind a few decades and you will appreciate the decor and ambiance here. There is no way I'd go to this place myself, but my dearest baby clam took me here on the first date, so of course I could not reject his loving offer. He made reservations ahead of time, and we arrived to a stone-cold silence. However, love was in the air :) Relatively quickly, we were served our first anti-pasta and the adventure began from there! The food came in small sizes, so we shared as much as we could. This is not a place to fill up your bellies. It's a place to fill up on Italian culture and essence. Sometimes you just need a bite full of something to be truly satisfied. And being completely full is not the goal here, but full in your heart and spirits. You will not be disappointed, and neither will your date. One tip of caution: Be careful of the cherries I must say, they are quite sour and easy to choke on...we saw a lady next to us choke for almost 2 minutes.. Your wallet will not be happy but your inner foodie and passionate spirit surely will. Up to your to decide what matters more. read more

Excellent place! Their menu looks simple but they bring you out far more food than you anticipate. Their "antipasti" consisted of fried chick peas, burrata (delicioius!!), home made mortadella (also delicious!), an octopus stew, a lamb tongue salad, and some other dishes. I must say that I felt full after antipasti alone. Then came the appetizer - we got the pasta with meatballs (all homemade) and lentil soup. Both very flavorful and also pretty filling. The entree was the quail - the veggies and accompaniments were better than the quail itself in my opinion, but everything was well made, not overcooked, and very tender. After the entree was a cheese plate consisting of 3 different cheese and a green tomato jam. Dessert was a pudding made with muscat wine and a delicious strawberry rhubarb tart. Cost was $75 per person. This is definitely a place I will come back to. Before coming here, I was skeptical because the photos on yelp didn't look that spectacular. Come here for the taste and freshness. You won't be disappointed. I will definitely be back. read more

Just ate at O last night and am hesitant to just give it 3 stars because so many people think it is fantastic. Am I just jaded? Are my tastebuds dead? Well, I don't think so. The atmosphere is nice and the service attentive. The food is thoughtful and well-presented. So where did it go wrong for me? Let me tell you... The Antipasto Misti was a variety of dishes - duck meat balls, fried cheese and greens balls, a salad of multi-colored beans was fun and good. The breads were very interesting and obviously home made. This was by far, my favorite part of the meal. There were four of us so we tried to order different things for a first course - speghetti with shrimp, gnocci with gorgonzola and greens stuffed ravioli. All good. None memorable. For second, we ordered fluke, squab and steak. Once again, all good, none great, and the lack of flavor really surprised me. Each dish seemed to be cooked carefully and presented beautifully. After the main dish, we were served 3 cheeses. None that I had heard of before. One was a manchego-type harder cheese and two soft goat cheeses. Why 2 goat cheeses? Why not something different. And, they all could have benefited by being served with hard bread or crackers. They were just a little too gooey. Finally, we ordered our dessert - we tried the cherry pie and the almond cake. Both tasted good but once again, nothing special. I was happy with the caramel ice cream that came with my cake - creamy and sweet without being gooey or cloying - however, my cake had little almond flavor to it - something I LIVE for. I was disappointed. While we had a good time, everything except the over-salted cheese starter, had less flavor than I anticipated. And, for a very expensive meal, I don't think we got what we were expecting. Unfortunately, we won't return. read more

I went to this tiny, intimate restaurant with friends this past Ssaturday. As they came in from overseas, and couldn't make a reservation, I was tasked with calling, a month to the day prior, to secure a reservation. I was then asked to call and confirm the day prior to the reservation. I though this odd, as I usually recieve a call from the restaurant. I called, confirmed and prepared to visit. I arrived first and was surprised at how unassuming this place is. Small, nicely decorated but not at all pretentious. It's a limited-ever changing menu focusing on seasonal availability. The food is superb, the service top notch and the staff friendly and inviting. The small plates brought at the beginning of the meal, prior to the appetizers were amazing. The wine list is interesting, but does lack some variety, although the bottle of valpolicella we had was extremely good. The entrees are well prepared and the deserts were better than I've had in some very fine restaurants. The homemade apricot tart with ginger ice cream was like Christmas in your mouth. I'd definitely return and hope to do so soon. read more