DO NOT COME HERE FOR AFTERNOON TEA. The food was terrible we found bones in our salmon, it wasn't a traditional tea in any sort of sense. The sandwiches were on bagels sliders... I actually had to go to the bathroom to spit out my food. The clotted cream had a horrible aftertaste we all thought it was stale and sour. The tea was okay. The bacon on the sandwiches was just thick pieces of fat. The sweets on top all looked store bought. It was a pretty unsatisfactory experience. Definitely not worth $80. This must be why it is always availability for reservations and never booked. Spare your appetite and don't come here. read more

Cute place, but food offerings are not worth the price. Food was mediocre. I much prefer tea at the Regis for a similar price. The tea was delicious, though, and service was attentive. read more

Nice little French themed restaurant. Ambiance was nice and the staff was great! Menu could use a few more choices but the food was very good. read more

Such a lovely space. Came here for the Le Petit Prince afternoon tea with my four year old, it was a total hit. The service is always very professional and warm, much appreciated with little ones. I also enjoyed their gluten free tea goodies. The food is not outstanding, but it is very good and it's a wonderful way to celebrate the season. read more

Went for birthday afternoon tea. Service was Impeccable and food was delicious. Quiet, pristine and perfect for a lovely afternoon!

Opaline Bar and Brasserie on 15th Street in DC is a great place to go for all things delicious food and drinks. I have been happy with everything that they have available here and have been happy with all of my meals. The staff here is very friendly and accommodating. read more

Opaline Bar - Opaline Bar and Brasserie - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went for brunch today. It was just ok. Took forever to get a server even though the restaurant wasn't busy. The pastry basket was great but my frittata was raw. They re-cooked it but it was just ok. I want to like this place so will give it another go but so far not impressed read more

We're new to DC, so figuring out where to eat is like a part time job. Do people get assistants in DC just for that? May be part of a hotel, ratings looks good and we weren't disappointed. Omelet could be softer like a French omelet but the ingredients are top notch. Decor is very nice and the service is top notch. read more

Opaline is the perfect hotel bar located right in the heart of downtown, steps away from the White House. Given it's location, I feared it would be stuffy, but was pleased to find it to be a low-key yet pleasantly refined French bistro and bar, and an absolutely perfect spot for an evening cocktail or two. After finding two spots at the end of their gorgeous Parisian bar, we ordered what drew us to this spot in the first place- Le Japonais Revisité, a whiskey, sake, and cherry punch served in celebration of DC's cherry blossom season, all served in an elegant swan glass. While this drink might read as silly or kitschy or over-the-top at any other spot, here it was gorgeous, refined, and delightful all at the same time. We followed that up with a gorgeous and fizzy gin and tonic for her and pleasantly bracing and chilled vesper for me, making for an absolutely perfect and quintessentially DC cocktail date for two. read more

Food was okay but not great. They have a really fun syringe cocktail menu that I would recommend for a fun Instagram!

Overpriced. Service atrocious, food mediocre at best. Never would come back. Sat outside on wet chairs. 1 hr. 45 minutes for food

Stop by the bar for a cocktail made special by mixologist Marlos. He asks what you like and will serve up unique, smooth drinks. Love when the bartender/mixologist is knowledgeable and good at their craft. read more

See all

Probably one of my favorite places to eat in Washington, DC! It is connected to the Sofitel Hotel which has amazing Decor! Perfect for: outing with friends, brunch, quick bar cocktail, date night & so much more! Pricing: A+ (very reasonable compared to the area) $15 -$20 you can have a really good meal) Food: A+ (excellent!) Staff: A+ Cocktails: A+ read more

See all

The restaurant is beautiful inside and I'm so glad I got to try it during restaurant week. It is located in the Sofitel and used to be a bar I believe. The booths are very cozy and private and they remind me of the seating at Café Riggs bar area. The lobster bisque was honestly some of the best lobster bisque I've ever had! I would highly recommend this. I tried the risotto which was great and creamy and just really tasty. It was definitely filling and I could not finish it all. For dessert I got to try the crème brûlée which was pretty good and the lemon meringue tart was really yummy as well! I would definitely recommend this place and it would be great to come back here when it is more crowded. read more

Had the death wish cocktail which was enjoyable. Flavor and spice was extremely enjoyable however, not worth the $26 price tag. My wife enjoyed Tempranillo wine. Shrimp cocktail decent size but not super impressive. Service a little slow for my liking. Sat on the patio which was nice enjoyed the people watching read more

Nalaka gave us a 3/5 star service. He didn't check on us for 16 mins after dropping off our appetizers and then our desserts took about 13 mins (and they weren't busy at all) but we thankfully didn't have to complain because he recognized how long we had waited and comped both desserts. Overall the food was mid. Truffle fries were a little soggy. We only ate here while we waited for our reservations at The Vue. Try at your own risk read more

Both dinner and breakfast were wonderful! We also hit the bar one night - lovely service, entertaining staff! read more

Delicious food, beautiful drinks, exception service! My girlfriends and I went for dinner and was able to sit outside with no problems. (We had a reservation but not for outside). They do allow dogs outside, and the waiter was kind enough to bring ice water out for our pup. I personally don't drink, but the rest of my party did and every one said their drinks were really good! The food was phenomenal! We order the foie gras appetizer, tuna tartare appetizer, bouillabaisse, ratatouille, and french fries. Everything was delish. They even gave us a complimentary slice of chocolate cake with a candle for my friend's birthday. What a nice touch. I think the prices are a little high, but it's right in the heart of downtown, so it's comparable to everything else around it. The food and service is what makes it worthwhile to come back. Also the plates are so cute! read more

Opaline Bar - Bouillabaisse - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Everything was expensive and food was low quality and small portions. It's not a restaurant , it's a bar with couches and funky seating and tables. Unsatisfying. read more

We thought based on the hotel this restaurant is in--and the price tag--we would have had a much better experience. Not the case. My husband and I popped in here for breakfast on our way out the door before our flight home. It was bad enough here that we decided to squeeze something else in so that this wasn't the last impression we had of our trip. Food was fine, although they messed up more than one item. My husband asked for sausage and they brought him bacon. I asked for a chocolate croissant but they brought me plain. Our waiter disappeared until we were finished with our meal, so we never got replacements for our food. My mimosa was good...but not $16 good. My husband's bloody mary was literally the worst he has ever had. "It's just vodka and tomato juice!" He pushed it aside and didn't touch it. The lady at the next table ordered a bloody mary the same time as us, and she agreed that it was terrible. The waiter ended up comping both of us for the drinks. It's a shame there are so many great places to eat in DC and we ended up here. read more

I give it 3 stars for its ambiance and friendly server. The food, however, is not remarkable. It is not bad, but it also is not especially good. The menu is very limited -- you can see it online. The food had very little taste. It was as if the chefs have never been to France, have little idea on how the dishes are supposed to taste, and are trying to avoid offending anyone. The result is bland food. It is a shame that the food is not better, because the restaurant itself has a good ambiance, is well-located, and has a large patio that is great for people watching. If Opaline's quality were 20% better and its prices 20% lower, it would be very popular. There is a reason that the nearby restaurants (Joe's, Old Ebbitt Grill, Cheesecake Factory, etc.) are very busy and Opaline is not. Opaline has the potential to be a great bistro, it just needs the courage to become one. read more

The rolls should be on the raw bar menu as they came out under cooked. Took 30 minute to get our appetizers and a bug was in one of our waters. The mimosas we ordered all tasted different as the alcohol proportions were inconsistent. Overall the service of this place needs massive improvement. The price tag does not match what you receive. read more

The service at the bar is worth your time. The decor is very clean and modern with tasteful nods to American history. Moshtaq and his bartender team were fantastic. They were all the perfect amount of attentive, very professional, knowledgeable, and efficient. Perfect recommendations. We will be back and highly recommend. read more

Delicious. But pricey. Burger was $18 but it was cooked perfectly, medium. French onion soup $9 was delish too. Service excellent. Nice, relaxed atmosphere. Sunday's it's only the bar menu but it's plenty to choose from. I would recommend if ur in DC. They have outdoor dining but it was raining so we couldn't sit outside. I don't mind paying for service and food that meets or exceeds my expectations so... read more

Opaline Bar - French Onion Soup - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

The ambiance is bougie and quiet. No one really goes here so if you are looking to be in "the scene" this is not the place to be. This is a place for an intimate gathering where you can enjoy company without having an awkward moment of silence. The food is decent, presentation is great. The french fries was probably one of the best I've had in DC ironically enough. Also this review is based off of restaurant week where the portions are smaller and the choices are limited. The steak will taste like a normal steak. The ravioli was pretty good and flavorful! Highly recommend that dish. read more

Stayed at the Sofitel which ROCKED, but was slightly disappointed in the execution at Opaline. Their food was very, very good (for me, not the wife). Had the breakfast nearly every morning and had dinner there one night as well. With every order (in person dinner or over the phone/eat in room) something was wrong. Coffee was missing, utensils were missing, one order of food was completely missing, and wrong food was brought out at dinner. Not trying to be a snob, but if the little things were attended to this would receive 5 stars from me. My wife? Not so much. She ordered the hand-cut pasta for dinner and she said it was just plain awful. I didn't taste it, but she has no reason to lie. The portion was also for that of a little kid, and to charge over $30??? C'mon man! Gotta tighten the game up a little guys, but pretty good overall. read more

My daughter and I came for dinner during a long weekend trip to DC. We were pleasantly surprised! Great outside seating. The salmon and steak dish we ordered were delicious! Our waiter made me a custom cocktail because they did not have what I was looking for in their drink menu. We will absolutely visit again one day. read more

First off. I've never had the food here but it looked amazing while I was here getting cocktails. We stopped in here for my birthday for some pre dinner drinks. And they were just superb. They have a great list to chose from and the bartenders are on their A game. They wait staff is soo friendly and took wonderful care of us. read more

Opaline Bar - Brasseries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Brunch at Opaline is fantastic. The croque madame was c'est si bon! Sofitel's restaurant doesn't disappoint with great recommendations for food, drinks and DC exploration. read more

Visit date: May 25, 2018 My boyfriend and I made reservations here for our anniversary on the recommendation of an acquaintance. We didn't seem to need one, though, as the place was almost empty when we arrived. Atmosphere: Everything was overlit and quite loud, despite the lack of crowd. It made or special dinner difficult, as we couldn't hold a comfortable conversation. Seated the next table over was another couple, one in sweatpants, which made me feel very overdressed. Service: The service was okay, but not phenomenal. Our server stopped by maybe four times throughout the meal, including taking our drink order and food orders. Food: I had high hopes for the food, but didn't find anything special about my meal. I had the Salmon, which was only marginally better than I cook at home. My SO had the duck breast. The best part of his dish was the pearl onions. Drinks: I ordered the seasonal G&T and while it looked pretty, the taste was kind of bland. The tonic comes from a small bottle of fever tree, which they brought the remainder of. Not sure if I was supposed to water my drink down more with it or...? I honestly don't even remember what the other drink was. We didn't stay for desert, but went out to a more favored bar for a nightcap. When we finally got the check, a small card machine was brought to our table, and we had to run the card ourselves. It malfunctioned and took quite some time for someone to figure it out. Hopefully they get their act together and live up to the upscale vibe they seem to want to have. read more

This week we decided to try this place since it is restaurant week in DC and the restaurant was offering a 3 course dinner for $ 35, I have to admit that the restaurant surprised me, the food was very tasty and the atmosphere was very cozy. If you are looking for a place in DC for a romantic dinner this place is very suitable. read more

Ate lunch there yesterday with a friend. We both thought the remodel made the restaurant much brighter and the bar area seating much more comfortable. We shared the steak tartare and the boudin Blanc. The steak tartare was delicious with crusty bread and appropriate accompanists to top the tartare and bread and the boudin was so tender it melt in your mouth (I had to try not to drool - my friend would have been devastated). My friend had the Ravioli and spinach and ricotta and found the flavors wonderful and the ravioli cooked to perfection (for a moment I thought he might drool). Tuna Nicoise is my go to for lunch. I haven't found any better than Kinkaids, which has been closed for several years. Well, Dagnabit, I've found it. Plenty of tuna as rare as I like it and the salad dressing was subtle but amazing. And, it's a large portion and I loved how they cooked the hard boiled eggs (with the yoke barely cooked). I can't wait to go back and take my husband. BTW we sat at the bar and the bartenders were most helpful in our ordering and told us when they thought we were ordering too much and they were right on. They were not just helpful but very friendly and accommodating. LOVE, LOVE Opaline. read more

I've stayed at the Sofitel a few times over the years and have always enjoyed the Opaline restaurant. The atmosphere and drinks are highly sophisticated. Their staff remains genuine and treats everyone like royalty. The duck confit and old fashion are my favorites. Great place for a happy hour or quiet dinner. read more

If this review were based solely on the food, 5 stars would be a no brainer. I went for brunch last weekend with my mother, who was visiting from across the country, and this was her last day in DC. Food was spectacular and drinks, while a bit pricey, I admit were worth every penny. We were greeted and seated by Alicia, the sweet and attentive hostess. She even came and checked on us part way through our meal, and made a point of ensuring my mom was comfortable and we were being well taken care of. We were served by Peter, who was both attentive and a delight to talk to, while providing about as flawless of an experience as we could have asked for. That all being said, the entire meal, we were continually disturbed by one of the staff members yelling and screaming at the rest of the staff. About half way through the meal I asked the bartender who in the world was yelling like that (I thought at first it was an irate customer and was going to ask to be seated outside). As it turns out, it was the MANAGER, Pauline. Throughout the entire meal, we were abruptly interrupted by this girl berating everyone in her path, using abhorrently unprofessional language, and not caring one bit that the entire establishment was having meals ruined by these disturbing outbursts. I have nothing but positive things to say about the food and the service we received; but unfortunately, we left earlier than planned once Pauline seemed to direct all attention to the girl at the front, Alicia, and any hope of a peaceful meal was long gone. I hope this place gets it together as far as the management issues go because I will NOT be going back to witness another mental breakdown like that. Regardless of the fact that she sounded French, Pauline is by far the most offensively unprofessional "manager" I've ever witnessed in ANY dining establishment. But, best of luck to the rest of the staff here as they were fantastic, and the food totally exceeded expectations. read more

Just to let you know how much I like this place, I am writing this review about a year after I stayed at the Sofitel and dined in Opaline. Yes, I said it, dined. It was not simply an intake of calories to steel me for the next round of meetings on the business trip I was on, it was dining. After a long day of both travel and business, I didn't want to just grab something and go to bed. I wanted, needed, to unwind. Not feeling like walking around DC at night exploring food options, I decided to try Opaline in the Sofitel where I was staying. First, it was quiet. I have to emphasize that phrase - it was a quiet place. Sure, there were conversations all around me, but they never were at a disturbing level. Everybody who entered seemed to catch the same vibe - this is a place to slow down, relax, and enjoy yourself. As it was the Sofitel, I decided to go all out in terms of the French cuisine - French onion soup (a transformative experience), duck with cherries, some absolutely fantastic bread with probably the best butter I have ever tasted and some coffee. Some really good, mellow, enjoyable coffee. If you've ever gone to a restaurant and had such a good meal that you don't look at or care about the bill, Opaline is it. So, so good. read more

The food was good. Tasty lobster bisque, average Niçoise salad. Wines by the glass were pricey - about 75% more than you'd expect from names like Folie à Deux. Lunch was $90 for two people with a single glass of wine each. But our waiter, Tarique, well, he was the star of the show. Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable. He made the entire meal! read more

My partner and I stayed in the Sofitel hotel, which was lovely, and decided to go down here for dinner. We arrived fairly late, so this decision came about from our non-desire to go out looking for other spots. Reviews were decent, so we thought "what the hell, why not?". This review is only for the restaurant portion of the business and not the bar, as we didn't have a chance to check that out (although their drinks do look absolutely appetizing). Overall, the restaurant service was botched. They market themselves as a more pristine/ sophisticated place, but that was anything BUT what we experienced - mainly due to service. Food, plating and ambiance were all substantially better, but service is key. We came down into the restaurant at around 9:30 for dinner and were seated by a well-dressed gentleman who quickly set up the table with some candle light, and although the place was well lit, this was a rather nice touch. From his professional demeanor I assume he was either the host or the manager. The place was near empty and had only one other couple having dinner inside. It had just rained outside so all the exterior patrons had already evacuated. Only the bar was busy. Off to a good start we thought - but that ended there. Upon being seated, it took us some time to actually get the menu from a single waitress who proved to be beyond incompetent throughout the rest of the experience. First, she brought us the cocktail menu, after we (and the manager) explicitly told her we were there for dinner - it took an additional 10 min to flag her down for the correct menu. Then she took away the drink list (including the wine list) when she brought out the dinner menu - I mean common - how am I supposed to pick a wine for my dinner if I haven't yet picked the entree and then don't get to see my options? Moving along, we place our order for appetizers - escargot and oysters - both arrived before the dinner table was set and no water offered. She realized the error and handed us the dinner set over my shoulder (not placed) and then rushed over with the water. It felt like I was in some 24-hour road-side diner, which would be fine, if we paid for and expected that level of service - absolutely not acceptable at a place like this. Forks in hand, we realized that - alas! - she forgot the utensils for both the escargot and the oysters. I had to use a huge soup spoon to get any of the side vinaigrette and a large fork to work both offerings. Very awkward indeed.... At a French restaurant/ hotel, again that is unacceptable. Its like coming to Japanese restaurant and being offered spoons to eat your sushi. Irked, but not making a scene, we placed our entree orders. She could not explain any of the menu offerings or answer question we asked her. When I double checked whether my meal already comes with a side, she nodded so I did not bother ordering one - wrong. The meal comes, the plating is absolutely beautiful (chef clearly knows what s/he's doing), but killed by the fact that the dirty dished from the appetizers were not taken away - just left there in front of us to admire like a modern art exhibit - the water was not refilled, and she did not bother to even ask if I would like a refill for my wine. The same scenario repeated itself for our dessert. Honestly, she's not meant for a restaurant that's trying to be sophisticated. The only time she was expedient and knowledgeable is when bringing the check. Time to hire some new staff, maybe we'll come back then. read more

We went to this restaurant while staying at the hotel. The atmosphere was OK, very loud. The food was just OK nothing special, my expectations were higher though for such a 5 star hotel. The service was average l, again expecting a better service. Overall OK to visit while staying at the hotel but there are plenty of better restaurants there that you might want to consider. read more

Best pink champagne and key lime tart ever!! Amazing service and ambiance. I bit into that taste and it was so sour and mildly sweet with a crunch of the meringue and the natural sweetness of the fresh cut strawberry. One word: divine! Thank you for such a great experience and gorgeous time. read more

Wonderful evening!! Last night, with some family and friends, we went to the Sofitel bar, Opaline, and it was nothing short of fantastic!! Great food, great drinks and outstanding service! Upon entering the hotel we were in awe of the simple yet elegant and modern decor, that also made you feel very comfortable. A hard balance if you ask me... we were promptly seated and given a high chair and menu for our daughter. Lara, our lovely server, took her order 1st, which was great and definitely needed to keep her occupied. She was quite expressive throughout dinner, but team at the Sofitel made us feel very warmly welcomed! Our dinners were fantastic - I got the burger, my husband got the steak and the rest of the table had similar but also had the panzanella and lobster cobb salad, all delicious and well timed. And we also shared a few desserts - the apple tarts and lime tart with strawberries. Sooooo yummy! The drinks were also great - between all of us at the table we had at least 1 glass wine, beer and mixed drinks. The drink menu had great variety that included some yummy non-alcoholic options too! And it was a treat to meet their mixologist! He was lovely and even started clearing out table!! When I'm telling you the service was great, I mean it! We can't wait to go back and enjoy the food, drinks and atmosphere! Thank you all at the Opaline for a truly wonderful night! read more