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    Retrobottega

    4.4 (337 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    RETROBOTTEGA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Reviews With Photos

    Rigatoni Bolognese
    Alan B.

    We were in town for the Cherry Blossoms and came up to Adams Morgan to get dinner. We weren't sure what we wanted and stumbled upon Retrobottega. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was great. They have a nice whiskey selection, I had Redemption Rye, my wife had a Basil Gin & Tonic (very nice). She had the rigatoni bolognese, and I had two items off the all-day happy hour: Lamp Skewers and Arancini, all of which were delicious. The decor is cool, and it feels like the kind of place we'd frequent if we lived in DC.

    Cavatelli
    Zhen C.

    History of Present Indulgence 32 yo M presents with spouse and friend for pre-comedy show dinner at Italian establishment on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. No reservation and sat comfortably at the bar. Physical Examination Food - This place was absolutely delicious. We started with Arancini and Prosciutto e Polenta. The arancini was fried perfectly - crispy outside, warm risotto inside, and sitting in this savory-sweet tomato sauce that I could've honestly just eaten with a spoon (and basically did using the focaccia they give with your meal - which itself was delicious too). The arancini also has ground beef in the center, which adds to the flavor and depth of what is usually just fried risotto. The polenta fries with paprika aioli were fantastic too. My only complaint is that I wish there were more of the fries because there were only 3 to go along with the large plate of sliced prosciutto. The prosciutto itself was fine. Just standard quality prosciutto. For mains, we went family-style and shared three entrees: the pork ossobuco from the secondi menu, the tagliarini with shredded duck, and the cavatelli with rabbit and fava beans. The ossobuco was cooked well, though I wish the braise flavor went deeper into the pork. The truffle mushroom risotto underneath was incredible. Rich, creamy, and the fresh lemon and parsley gremolata on top cut through all that richness perfectly. The tagliarini was delicious, but my wife and I agreed that the duck flavor was a little lost in the rich marinara sauce. It didn't feel like I was eating duck, to be honest. You could've told me that was shredded short rib, and I might've believed you. The cavatelli was probably my favorite dish - those shell-shaped pasta pieces with rabbit and fava beans in a white wine sauce that had this unique flavor I haven't tasted anywhere else. There's a mild gaminess from the rabbit, but it was very subtle. Each time I had a fava bean, it was a fun change of pace in texture and taste as I was spooning this plate down my throat. It was so so good. Portions were generous too, which made the prices feel totally worth it. We left full and satisfied. My wife had a lambrusco spritz that was deliciously refreshing, and we shared some good wine throughout the meal. No complaints. Service - The bartender was really kind and attentive. Even though we weren't at a table, we didn't feel like we were getting second-tier service or anything. They checked on us regularly, made good recommendations, and kept everything moving smoothly. I also love a service that offers more table bread without needing to be asked. And their table bread was this fragrant focaccia, so I could've eaten all of whatever they brought. Ambiance - haven't been to a ton of Italian restaurants in DC, but I loved the vibe here. Intimate, cozy, dim lighting. The wine selection was great too - enough variety to be interesting without being one of those overwhelming 50-page wine lists. I think this would be a perfect date night spot. Assessment A high-quality Italian restaurant with creative takes on traditional dishes, generous portions, and an intimate atmosphere. A strong contender for the Adams Morgan dining scene, where restaurants are lined up right next to each other, and making a choice can be a bit difficult. Plan - Add to recommended restaurant list for DC visitors - Consider for future date nights or a solo wine and appetizer moment - Return to try more pasta dishes or enjoy a happy hour

    Penicillina and Retro Passion
    Ben M.

    Retrobottega is currently my favorite restaurant in DC. My wife and I went there for our anniversary dinner and were blown away by the entire experience. We're not big cocktail drinkers, but we really enjoyed the Penicillina and Retro Passion. Unlike most arancini appetizers, Retrobottega's version is packed with flavor--you can clearly taste the beef and cheese filling. My wife had the bucatini, and I had the pappardelle with beef short rib. We each took leftovers home for a couple more meals. I couldn't believe how perfectly the short rib was cooked--it was fork-tender. The pasta was delicious, and the sauces complemented both dishes beautifully. We finished with the tiramisu.

    Miguel A.

    Great little Italian spot in Adam's Morgan! The food was great! I ordered the fried seafood appetizer of shrimp, calamari and fish that came with a marinara and a garlic aoli. Delicious and fried to perfection! And I ordered the carbonara! Super good! Portion sizes were good and shareable. They even offered to split the pasta into 2 separate dishes for easy sharing. Good wine selection! Very cozy place! Can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

    Maria L.

    Great spot with yummy food and drinks! My friend and I sat at the bar for Happy Hour where we had wonderful service! My friend and I had the cocktail of the day which was gin-based and sooo refreshing! We split the fried artichokes which comes with a delicious sauce. I had the ravioli which was also tasty! Would definitely come back!

    Carciofi
    Ashley M.

    Tasty appetizers and wonderful entrees. This was a great place to get a few different plates and share with a group! The artichokes were unreal- who knew that the vegetable could be made to be so good!

    daydreaming of when im coming back here. I forget what the app is that I got (pictured) - but it was one of the most yummy thing's ive ever had in my entire life. holy crap. the pasta was great, the service was great, location and vibe is PEAK. mushroom pasta was good but ill try something different the next time -- but again THIS APP!!!!! WAS SO SO SO GOOD.

    Charred Octopus, Carpaccio Di Manzo
    Matt H.

    Phenomenal! I absolutely loved Retrobottega. Everything we had was top-notch and we genuinely loved each dish. The octopus was perfectly cooked, the burrata perfectly tasty and the carpaccio was amazing. Service was impeccable with very friendly wait staff and host staff. Ambience was great as well as it was the perfect blend of lively but intimate enough to have conversation at the table. I totally understand why this place is rated so well I would recommend it to anyone looking for good Italian, not only in Adams Morgan, but in DC in general. Next time I'm in the area I will definitely be making a stop at Retrobottega.

    Whiskey sour
    Taylor L.

    Came here to dine alone, the ambiance was great! I always walk by and have been wanting to try for awhile. I think I would enjoy it more with a friend, since they have a lot of shared plates and focaccia for the table! Would love to come back for their happy hour and a cocktail. I had a whiskey sour which was delicious. I ordered the short rib pappardelle, it was cooked and seasoned wonderfully. I finished my meal with an espresso, which had a gorgeous crema, I was very impressed and might stop by just for a cup.

    Carciofi
    Anh N.

    Little casual Italian spot in Admo! Very cute and cozy. They've got a $10 all-day cicchetti menu at the bar. Food and drinks are reasonably priced with cocktails around $14-16 and wine by the glass $11-16). Highlights were the fried artichokes, calamari, basil fusilli, and tiramisu-- so good! Service was also very friendly. I would definitely go back!

    Fettuccine
    Karla V.

    I love it here! It's a bit pricy for pasta, but if you try it, you'll understand why! The restaurant is always busy and the service is great. I've had the bucatini, lasagna and fettuccine. A little about each dish: Bucatini: If you like carbonara, this ones for you! It's delicious. also, the pasta is thick and chewy. Lasagna: can't go wrong here. Lots of meat and huge portion. Fettuccini: My #1 fav here! It has shredded duck meat. Also, something about the tomato sauce is just so fresh. Bonus if you sub the pasta for bucatini. Bucatini pasta has a hole in the center. It's thicker than a fettuccine.

    Pasta & Secondi Menu 8.20.2024
    Rachel H.

    Seriously one of the best value and tastiest meals I've had in DC so far. I had the duck Taglierini and my guest had the Pappardelle Stewed Short Rib. His meat was fall-off-the-bone and smelled delicious. Mine was similarly tasty and the serving sizes were more than generous. The total cost for these dishes after 20% tip was $70.20. Service was quick. We were seated without a reservation (Tuesday night around 6) quickly. The restaurant was fairly empty. It was just 10-12 minutes from our order to its delivery. Moderate noise from the street and other diners, but still quiet enough to have a private conversation. I would take a business meeting here again.

    Top (short rib) bottom rigatoni
    Oz V.

    Food was amazing and you get great portions for the price. The bread they give you with olive oil is to die for. Service was great even though the place is small. Can't wait to return and try more dishes.

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    The focaccia and ravioli were good, but they weren't great. The fried artichoke starter was really good. Probably won't go back.

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    1 year ago

    One of my fav italian spots in DC! The ravioli is so good and the service was awesome! the owner came out to say hi and was very sweet

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    10 months ago

    Excellent Italian food with traditional home style flavors. The staff and location are excellent.

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    Page 2 of 9

    Retrobottega Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Retrobottega

    How warm is the seating at the patio during winter? Is it heated? Is it bearable?

    Are customers allowed to bring their own wine? What is the uncorking fee?

    Hello Kristen, thanks for reaching out. There is a cork fee of 15$ per standard size bottle (75cl)… Read more

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    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Assortment of Small Plates & Cocktails

    Gypsy Kitchen DC

    4.3(1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Rooftop seating

    We came to Gypsy Kitchen for our anniversary, and it was the perfect spot! The service was speedy…read moreand kind, and the decor/ambiance was beautiful. We ordered a bottle of the Cava, and four small plates, which was plenty of food. The mussels, labneh and Patatas bravas were all very generous portions. Labneh: 5/5, delicious, served with plenty of pita Patatas bravas: 5/5, with great flavor and crispy roasted potatoes Mussels: 4/5, generous portion size, and the sauce was very good but I wished the sauce was more white wine-based Tuna crudo: 5/5, not a ton of food but the flavor was absolutely delicious, very citrusy and fresh Labneh cheesecake: 4/5, served with a sauce that was a bit like cough syrup but otherwise absolutely delicious

    We paid $130 with tip for croquettes, lamb skewers, tuna crudo, hummus, and two 50 Shades of Purple…read more(drinks with butterfly pea gin). We sat outside on the patio and it was a gorgeous day. The decor is perfect and I love that they've added plants to cover the staircase. Drinks were delicious and the food came out quickly. Our water glasses were rarely empty. Service was kind. Food wise if I were to stack rank I would say the hummus is the best of what we ordered. The pita bread is thick and garlicky and oily and massive. The croquettes would be at the bottom of my list simply because they're dissimilar from any I've had before and a little bit underwhelming. The tuna was fresh but it's a small dish and not much to write home about. The lamb skewers have a subtle kick to them and they're pretty substantial. I'll definitely be back to try more! Highly recommend on a warm summer day as you're covered by the canopy above, if you're looking for a rooftop vibe.

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    Gypsy Kitchen DC
    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

    Hummus, Lebnah, & Flatbread

    Gypsy Kitchen DC - Rooftop Patio

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    Rooftop Patio

    Barcelona Wine Bar - Paella Mariscos

    Barcelona Wine Bar

    4.2(2.4k reviews)
    0.8 miLogan Circle
    $$

    Pablo was the best server ever! He was very informative, helpful, and accommodating to the parties…read moreallergies. To the point where he circled what food could be eaten/be modified/to avoid. He was awesome all around, please give this man a big fat raise. The place was super loud but if you II sit away from the bar (ex. Inside/outside) you can still have a great time. Went on a Thursday with a 9:45 reservation and did not get seated until 10. Do with that what you wish. Regardless the hostess was very nice! Food was amazing and very quick service with both drinks and tapas. Next time I go I will be trying some more tapas because everything u had was amazing. Perfect place for a social scene, I would not say first date vibes only cause it's blaring loud. But blaring loud with chatter because the place host the best vibes and environment. Will be back. MAKE A RESERVATION

    My experience here was so unfortunate it's funny. D.C has some excellent restaurants so it's…read moreshocking this wine bar can stay competitive in this environment. First, a friend made a reservation at least a week in advance for a table of three. We all got there on time, if not a few minutes early. The hostess then told us there was not a table ready for us, and worse, was unable to give us a time estimate on when a table would open up because "we do not time our tables." So what is the point of making a reservation? Hilariously he said we can wait for a table outside instead, but they Won't be turning on the heaters. Happy to know they want us cold and hungry. We ended up waiting by the bar area, which was uncomfortably packed, for a drink while a table opened up. The bartender there was nice and respectful! Eventually, after waiting for some time we got a table inside. It was quite loud in the main room. There were three separate birthday parties. We were glad to start ordering. We ordered the oyster mushrooms, patatas bravas, chicken thighs, seafood paella, and the pork belly. The pork belly had to be comped because they forgot about it until I reminded them over an hour into the dinner. To note, all of the food was lukewarm/cold with the exception of the pork belly because they forgot about it and it was prepared late. Even the paella, which is served on a cast iron, so it has the optics of being piping hot, was actually just warm. The rice felt a little hard. The mushrooms had too much breading in each bite. I enjoyed the green sauce in the chicken. A runner asked if we wanted complimentary bread with our green sauce, which we responded positively towards. But soon after another runner picked up the plate with the sauce and swooped it away. Then the first runner came back with the bread right after, noticeably confused by the lack of sauce. It felt comedic. I enjoyed the wine and the pork belly most. Truly unforgettable service.

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    Barcelona Wine Bar - Dining

    Dining

    Barcelona Wine Bar - Gambas al ajillo

    Gambas al ajillo

    Barcelona Wine Bar - Indoor dining area

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    Indoor dining area

    Boqueria Penn Quarter

    Boqueria Penn Quarter

    4.2(611 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$
    Private events
    Outdoor seating

    The food was so good! We tried the Patatas Bravas, Croquetas de Setas, Gambas Al Ajillo, and…read moreBoquerones con Naranja; everything was flavorful and well prepared. Each dish had something special, and we honestly enjoyed all flavors. It was very busy and a bit loud to make conversation, but the server was really nice and attentive despite how packed it was. Overall, such a great experience and I'll definitely be back!

    A very swanky place. Me and a date were walking around Galleryplace for a place to sit and when we…read morewalked in and we knew immediately to ask for a table. The dark warm mood lighting, the corrugated wall, the intimate seating, and of course the small share plates makes for the sexy experience tapas is suppose to be! It is typical of Spanish flavors, heavily relying on high-end cured meats and cheeses, and classics such as croquetas. There is something very special that goes into tapas because its suppose to satisfy you based on good taste over quantity. Large shrimp in a generous skillet of olive oil and slow cooked garlic slices and a iberico mac and cheese are some examples of how they elevate classics we are familiar with. We really liked that they learned into garlic and spice. We found dried Aji Caballero in our meal, great attention to source country. They have a very robust and generous drinks menu. Loved watching others not dining alone and embracing that share quality of the menu design. Perhaps it is not the best tapas I had, I would have liked to see a balance with lighter citrus flavors but maybe that was an ordering issue. At some point, since the menu heavily leans towards rich and decadent, its better to plan around that. Our waitress was amazing, she explained the questions we had on the ingredients and was on it with the refills.

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    Boqueria Penn Quarter
    Boqueria Penn Quarter - Shishito Margarita

    Shishito Margarita

    Boqueria Penn Quarter

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    AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Asparagus with quail egg

    AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill

    4.5(2.4k reviews)
    3.7 miCapitol Hill
    $$$

    Our company division recently hosted a team offsite in the DMV area, and to encourage us to meet…read morenew colleagues, we were placed into small groups of 10-12 people where a local colleague selected a restaurant for the group. I chose Ambar for my group, and I'm very pleased with our selection. Food Most of our group had dietary restrictions. Several of us were gluten free, and one person was both nut and seafood free. Ambar did an excellent job curating a menu that worked for everyone without making anyone feel like an afterthought. We opted for the Chef's Table experience, which included a spread tasting with veggie sticks and a variety of dishes that were clearly labeled and thoughtfully prepared: * Bean hummus - GF / DF / NF * Ajvar - GF / DF / NF * Balkan salad - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without feta cheese) * Baby carrots - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without tofu sauce) * Roasted peppers - GF / DF / NF * Cauliflower - GF / DF / NF * Baked beans - GF / DF / NF * Roasted lamb - GF / DF / NF * Stuffed pork belly "Sarma" - GF / DF / NF * Brussels sprouts - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without yogurt and bacon) * Seafood platter Everything was flavorful, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented. The meal was so delicious that I didn't even manage to get photos of everything, which rarely happens for me. Just know we dined very well and left completely satisfied. Service The staff was wonderful from start to finish. From the event team member who served as our account manager, to the chef, to the servers and wait staff, everyone was attentive and accommodating. They handled our dietary needs with care and professionalism and made sure our group felt taken care of throughout the evening. Pricing We paid a set fee that we were able to negotiate, and the final rate wasn't too bad for a group experience like this. Just keep in mind that there is an admin fee, a 20% gratuity, and taxes added on top, so be sure to factor that into your planning if you're booking a group event. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend Ambar for group dining, especially if you have guests with dietary restrictions. They made coordination easy, delivered great food, and created a memorable dining experience for our team.

    We had an enjoyable experience. The all-you-can-eat small plate style is great for sharing with…read morefriends or family and trying a lot of different dishes. The food was overall tasty, especially the dips -- we all really enjoyed the beet dip, and I liked the fresh citrus balance in some of the spreads. The medium rare steak was also cooked well. Some other dishes like the shrimp and grits, sliders, and mac & cheese were more underwhelming and a little lacking in flavor. But overall a solid spot for to come with a group and a good way to try a variety of Balkan-inspired dishes.

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    AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Third floor bar

    Third floor bar

    AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Meat pie

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    Rakia Tasting

    Bazaar Meat by José Andrés

    Bazaar Meat by José Andrés

    3.6(11 reviews)
    2.0 miFederal Triangle
    $$$$

    One of my favorite places when I feel like I have the budget to spend. I came here on a weeknight…read moreand it was very quiet, which made for a relaxed experience. I started with Ben Frank's Milk Punch and it was really good. I couldn't taste much alcohol, but I think that's intentional compared to versions I've had at other places. The onion soup was interesting. I seemed to misread the "cappuccino" element. It definitely tasted like onion soup, but it wasn't very hot. The presentation also threw me off -- drinking it made my mind expect a dessert rather than a savory dish. The Cotton Candy Foie Gras was exactly why I came. It's a fun appetizer and I loved the balance between the cotton candy, foie gras, and corn nuts. You're supposed to shove it all into your mouth and eat it in one bite, which adds to the experience. The Tortilla de Patatas "New Way" was also delicious. I liked the contrast between the crispness and the creaminess of the sauce. It also came out super hot, which is how I prefer it. I didn't get to order more since it was meant to be drinks and apps, but based on what I tried, I wouldn't be surprised if the other items were just as delicious. Service was ok, they checked in with me but not enough for refill. Ambiance was luxurious which was a nice experience.

    Writing a review for Bazaar by Jose Andres is like writing "A Tale of Two Cities." It was the best…read moreof times, it was the worst of times. This restaurant has a dining room that is as beautiful and impressive as any in DC. The architecture of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (the Old Post Office Pavilion) is stunning. The crystal chandeliers shimmer, the furnishings are top notch, fancy even. The atmosphere could not be better. Likewise the food shines. Each dish outshone the one before. We started with the oxtail croquettes and they set the standard very high. The meat was luscious, luxurious even; the crust was perfectly crispy and crunchy. Then on to the she-crab soup. OMG it was to die for. The flavor was intense, like a crab bomb exploded in our mouths. We scraped the sides of the little bowls to get every drop. Our main dish was the beef tenderloin Rossini and this was easily among the best steaks I have ever had. Cutting the steak was easy because it was so tender. And the seared foie gras on top made it heavenly. So, to keep with my opening concept, the atmosphere of the dining room and the quality of the food were "the best of times." What was "the worst of times?" The service. It is hard to imagine food this good coming from a staff that is so unprofessional, uninspired, uninterested, unfocused. The staff - all of them - seemingly had no interest in providing top notch service. We waited to be approached. We waited for our drinks. We waited for our food; indeed, one of our courses never arrived. Never have I had such great food and such bad service all at the same time. Ronny was our waiter and, to be honest, he was not good. But everyone who we interacted with was bad so, I can only conclude, that this terrible service is what Jose Andres intended. And all of this at a meal that is VERY expensive. My spouse and I talked about the pricing. When you dine out, are you paying for the food only, or for the food and the service? The answer, of course, is that you are paying for both. So, while I do NOT mind paying a lot for a meal, I do want and expect that the food and the service will be somewhat equivalent to the price I have paid. At Bazaar Meat, that did not happen. Maybe the service lacked polish and professionalism because of the 20% tip that was automatically added onto the bill. They did not have to work hard for a tip since it was automatic. Sure, you could decrease the tip - it even said that at the bottom of the credit card slip. But would you ever do that? Not likely. So, that is my "A Tale of Two Cities" review of Bazaar Meat. Food and atmosphere, GREAT! Service, TERRIBLE! Do I recommend Bazaar Meat? No. Will I return? No.

    Photos
    Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
    Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
    Bazaar Meat by José Andrés

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    Zaytinya

    Zaytinya

    4.2(6.3k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$

    This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

    Placed a large order via Uber Eats since restaurant will not accept takeout orders directly…read more Restaurant does not allow any specifications when ordering through Uber Eats - for example, one person wanted one ingredient held from her salad. Uber Eats lacked description for Zaytinya's food items (such as the ounces of the drinks) and some items (such as the horta salata) were not as pictured. There were no extra napkins in our bag. The Coke came in bottles but we didn't receive any bottle openers. To top it off, we had three food items missing. I called the restaurant again to let them know about the missing food - they were unapologetic and didn't know what the proper protocol was to fix the situation. The service was subpar and the servings were small. Won't be back. The next day we had food delivered from another local restaurant where both the food and service were outstanding, unlike at Zaytinya. UPDATE: After writing the Yelp review, a general manager at Zaytinya emailed me the following: "..."The restaurant normally offers takeout, but the location was actually closed that day for a private event. However, since the order had come through, we tried to honor it. The mujadara and 2 orders of rice were missing because we hadn't prepped those items, as they were not offered for the buyout..." The restaurant knew on Friday what I was ordering for Tuesday. They had plenty of time to reach out to me and tell me they would be closed and wouldn't be able to fulfill the order. Instead, they knowingly sent out an order without all of the food for our group and charged as if we received everything. This shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful.

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    Zaytinya
    Zaytinya
    Zaytinya - Spreads & Bread

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    Spreads & Bread

    Atxondo - Fingerling potatoes and Panfried Salmon

    Atxondo

    4.8(104 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Very homey style restaurant with friendly waiters! We made a reservation but I don't think you…read morewould need one. Hot toddy - waiter recommended, it's hot and has honey lemon taste like a tea but the alcohol is also a bit strong 2/5 Pineapple margarita - very very strong almost like straight alcohol lol 1/5 Red sangria - super well balanced and fruity! Very yummy 4/5 White sangria - a little bit sharper alcohol flavor and less well balanced but still good 3/5 Embutido Combo - Jamon Serrano, Salchichon de Vic, Chorizo Iberico - I'm not sure which is which so going by the picture left to right. A little spicy, overall good quality but I do think they put a bit too much oil which made it have an extra oil taste 2.5/5 Middle - like prosciutto this is the best one! Not dry at all in any area and not too salty 3.75/5 Right - least favorite but it is still good overall. Taste a little less yummy than the one on the right even though the one on the right is too oily 2/5 Queso Mahon - rich and cheesy. Not too sticky and very soft. I like the little fruit it comes with too 3/5 Seared scallop - usually squid in rice I feel like is just color but this one was super savory and delicious with a unique taste too that I'm thinking must be from the ink! It's made super well and the crispy sear on the scallop adds so much flavor but also the scallop was not overcooked at all, super bouncy and tender. 4.5/5 Spanish risotto - very moist and yummy! Even though it's just vegetables it's made well 3.75/5 Crispy pork belly - falls apart and very tender. Not dry at all! Unfortunately too salty though. Also very heavy. Meat too salty but veggies it came with like potato that soaks up the flavor was like inedible too salty 2/5 Seafood paella - I think it came out a bit faster than 40 minutes but I didn't keep track. Large serving size! Wish there was more seafood but lots of rice! Very moist and flavorful rice, seafood flavor comes through too! Wish they cooked it longer though since bottom is not crispy at all. Shrimp is overcooked unfortunately but individually seasoned. All the squids and octopus don't have much flavor but cooked well and not chewy at all. Mussels were good too but had some weird webbing on some pieces that made me not want to eat it and size is a bit small. Needs more seafood to balance the rice amount 4.25/5 Crimini mushroom - weird with the poached egg especially since there's a bunch of mushroom liquid below that I think would mix weirdly together. But ignoring that, the mushrooms themselves were very flavorful and actually taste really great with paella! 3.75/5 Basque cheesecake - very heavy and dense. Jam is not too sweet which is nice 1.5/5 Churros - very airy and light inside! The fried part is more than double the inside though so wish that was a little less thick so it can be a little less oily but still overall light. Came very warm and the dipping sauces were very liquidy. Chocolate is on the darker side which is a nice match 3/5

    I went to Atxondo hoping to taste the work of a Basque chef, and found out that the new chef is…read morefrom El Salvador, but has studied cookery in Spain. After having a full meal with cocktails, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee (about $70 per person), I concluded that Atxondo will be a definite future destination for Happy Hour and light bites, but that my full meal dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. The Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes) were outstanding, with their two tasty sauces and rich, crispy flavor and texture. The Hibiscus Margarita with its salt and tajín rim was good enough to warrant a second one... but the Sangria was lackluster due to the complete absence of cut-up fresh fruit in my glass. The "Crispy Duck Breast" is no longer served whole, but sliced on a bed of sauteed kale... and, sadly, seemed to be only a shadow of its former self. The Lamb Meatballs suffered from being mushy (a coarser grind would have made a world of difference in the texture) and lacked that meaty exuberance one treasures in any kind of meatball. My serving of Basque Cheesecake was almost comically tiny (at $9 per serving, perhaps not so funny after all). But my cup of Americano came out of the espresso machine strapping strong and piping hot, with a gorgeous head of natural crema from the oil of the coffee beans. So I will definitely return for a future Happy Hour to devour the outstanding Patatas Bravas and sip the good Margaritas, and to try the bargain Manchego Burger and other Happy Hour bites. For serious dining, Atxondo falls short of the mark... but for drinks and bar food, Atxondo turns out to be a real neighborhood gem. .

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    Atxondo
    Atxondo - Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes)

    Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes)

    Atxondo

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    Retrobottega - tapasmallplates - Updated May 2026

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