Came here with a large group and we sat outside. Half had a pitcher of margaritas while most of us…read morejust had pupusas. I also shared the yuca which was incredible and fried perfectly. Pupusas were amazing and so cheap. Service was a little slow, but very friendly and accommodating for a large group. They were able to split the check and pay by QR code which was incredibly convenient! I live by their other location but this is a great spot if you're in the area!

Food was good, place was clean, people were nice. Horchata was excellent…read more Solid choice and decent pricing.

We came here for dinner and made a reservation ahead of time to make sure we had a table, though it…read morelooked like they also offer walk-in bar seating. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and the staff was friendly and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The food was delicious, especially the dessert! We were visiting a friend who recommended this spot, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The atmosphere was lively and energetic, but even with a full house, it was still easy to have a conversation at the table. Overall, a great dining experience and a place we'd happily return to.

This place is a solid 3.5 stars but doesn't hit a 4 because the main dishes were underwhelming…read more We came here on a Monday night and it was pretty busy. They have good drink options which was nice for a group which all had different tastes. We started with appetizers, including the chicken empanadas, the tuna tacos, and ceviche sampler. The chicken empanadas were good, if not particularly memorable. But had a nice crunch on the shell and the inside had a nice savory flavor and not dry. The tuna tacos, which didn't have the most appetizing color, was also tasty. The tuna was tender and balanced well with the crispy shell. The ceviche sampler was also delicious, each one having a different flavor profile. I liked the tigre de leche the best in terms of the acidity and brightness. I just wish the ceviche had some kind of vessel to eat it with. One of the ceviche had plantain chips which was nice but I wanted more. Without it, the texture is just one note. For the main dishes, we got the lomo saltado and the aji de gallina which are two, iconic Peruvian dishes. Both were just meh. The aji was the better of the two. The sauce was flavored well with the creaminess of the sauce not overwhelming the garlic and tumeric flavors. But the rice was SUPER dry, almost crunchy. The lomo saltado was even worse. The beef was overly cooked, some pieces were very sinewy and chewy. It was also overly salty and the veggie to meat ratio heavily favored the veggies and made the dish feel cheap. Overall, it was fine but given the options for Peruvian in DC, not sure this deserves 4 stars+.

Came last night before a comedy show at the Capital One Arena and OMG...10/10 hands down I have no…read morenotes. We went in right as they opened, on a Friday at 5 pm, and there was already a line! The reservations were full, but we were offered a seat either at the bar or outside. Luckily it was a beautiful day so we took a seat outside. They started us off with a sweet hibiscus flavored juice as a palate cleanser which was super refreshing. The left side of the menu had appetizers and shareables, while the right side had entrees. We ordered the short rib tacos, pork belly, wagyu empanadas, and seafood enchiladas. Everything had a beautiful bright orange sauce on it and made it look like it would be spicy but it wasn't! I think it's their signature guajillo sauce and it was VERY good, super creamy. Seafood enchiladas: This was my fav. Might have been because it was extremely hungry and it was my first bite. Definitely best when eaten warm, as the cheese is gooiest and the seafood inside is hot. I wasn't sure how the salad was going to be but it added a perfect refreshing and acidity to balance out the creamy sauce. Wagyu empanadas: Much gooey-er and cheesier than expected, but also a hit! Came with a decent amount of beef inside. Comes with the orange sauce and a chimichurri, which I think was a good idea because given how cheesy and creamy the filling already was, the chimichurri was a nice balance as well. Pork belly: Melts as soon as you cut into it. The Asian in me low key wanted a giant bowl of rice with this so that I could soak up all the sauce and veggies. Pretty fatty so if you're not a fan of that you might not like this. Short rib tacos: These were loaded, not with meat but with tons of crunchy topping (maybe fried carrots?) Could have done with slightly less crunch but overall still good. The orange sauce on the bottom had a peanuty flavor which I thought added a unique kick. Also, we were surprised at how quickly the food came out. We were in and out in under an hour. Our server Rebecca was also extremely nice. Will def be back if in the area. Highly recommend all around!

This rating is for the brunch and the brunch only... I have to be completely honest about this for…read moreanyone planning on going for brunch. The service was ok, we had to tell our server we weren't seeing him enough, there's a 2 hour limit and we weren't getting a chance to order more drinks. After that he kept the drinks coming. WARNING! You DO NOT get to choose what items you want from the ayce brunch menu, they bring every single dish out and they do it at a pace that you barely get a chance to enjoy anything. Every dish is loaded with fillers and barely any meat. Every dish has a similar flavor of chilli, lime and cilantro. I say this with the upmost respect to this restaurant, the only good thing about the brunch were the churros and they don't give you that until you're ready to leave. The chicken and waffles were almost good but the sauce on the chicken with the waffle just ruins it. The steak and eggs were ok and you only get a 1oz piece of steak. Birria tacos were just ok and the fish taco was ok. Everything else was not worth it. A lot of items went to waste. If we could've chose exactly what we wanted, it might have been better. This would also add to why the service did not start off well because our server gave us our first drink and left. After that, every item from the brunch menu were just getting dropped off by food runners. It became overwhelming. We didn't even have room on the table for all of that. Then we also had to ask for new plates because we did not want to mix the flavors of every dish. The drinks were also not good, I had margaritas for my drink of choice and they are so sour and filled with cheap tequila... respectfully for 70$ a person you're better off ordering à la carte. The restaurant is beautiful though, great for pictures and the food is colorful as well but the flavors are just not that good and you're ultimately paying for a bunch of food that you don't really even want nor enjoy. I really hope they adjust this because I heard it was 10x better in the past.

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

I thought this place was good for large groups. The lighting was really dim and the music was loud…read more We had an individual that was gluten free and vegetarian in our group so they were limited on options but the rest of the group was able to share a variety of food. Huge fan of the ceviche. The bathroom is beautiful for make sure to visit.

Had a great time and dinner! Chicatana is unassuming and unpretentious, staffed with attentive…read moreservers who do an amazing job (water was always filled and empty plates removed quite efficiently). The decor is simple, no table clothes or frills but it does live up to 'fine cuisine' with excellent food and presentation (another subtle touch is if you leave the table, you return to a nicely folded napkin). We got nearly everything on the menu including all the desserts and Mexican hot chocolate (yum, lightly spicy and piping hot!) . As others have said their guacamole is excellent...do check the charges though bc they added salsa and chips to the tab which we did not order (they removed). Also, the first order of guac came with big bowl of chips, but none with the second order of guac- not a problem though because you do not go hungry. Portions are quite generous. We even tried the ants which was a fun novelty

This was the valentine's day 2026 stop. I had no idea it was in the area it was, but alas, we made…read morethe trek from lowly ballston anyway. After parking in the Giant parking garage (decent price), we walked the few blocks to the restaurant. We spotted it with the poster sign hanging up on the outer walls. Inside you head up the stairs and you're greeted by the host stand. We checked in and got our table, right at the window (hellya). There was a rose and a candle on the table (vday vibes) and we also received a vday specials menu. We landed on queso fundido to start and a cocktail each: prickly pear marg for her, a viva mexico for me. After fundido'ing it up, we ordered our entrees. We're simple folks it was a 2 carne asada tacos, 1 al pastor taco, 1 pescado taco, and 1 chicken quesadilla. Unfortunately we weren't bold enough to try the insectos. Food was great, drinks were great, service was great. You can pay your tab via Toast for no additional fee which was convenient. There are two, single use bathrooms in there too. Overall, solid spot.

Cuba Libre's food and drink reputation speak for themselves - Excellente!! What I'd like to point…read moreout is how they are amazingly maintaining the 'art' of customer service. Their management and staff handled an initial issue with our large party reservation, extremely well using the lost 'art' of customer service. In an age where tech and social media have caused us to have an 'anytime access to all' mindset, customer service has faded to the background. Cuba Libre however, has mastered providing customer service gently, with grace and humility. If only there were more establishments willing to work diligently to establish a relationship with their patrons that's worth preserving.

Had the Cuban sandwich combo and it was great. Perfect size and crispy bread with all the toppings…read more It was served with black bean soup and a salad. I personally didn't think the black bean soup was anything special. If i could get the sandwich without the sides I would have. For others, ask for the sides to be replaced.

Delicious food and friendly people! The plates are HUGE, I couldn't finish a whole plate despite…read morehow tasty it was. Great hole in the wall joint in Columbia Heights. Get the yellow rice!

Saw this on a YouTube vlog. Plentiful food & good prices. Not the most dazzling place inside, but…read moreit gets the job done. Was disappointed that they didn't have oxtails when we went. But overall it was a good experience.

Came in recently on a Saturday with a friend. Had read the reviews before and was a little wary,…read morebut I was pleasantly surprised. We actually came in at a great time without realizing it, it was a happy hour, even on the weekend, that started at 9pm I think. Drinks were half off so that was amazing. We each got two margaritas which were great sizes. My only complaint here is that I wish they had more flavors for the on the rocks margaritas. They only have flavors for the frozen margaritas. I ordered the tacos Al carbon which comes with two tacos, but they are big tacos and are white hearty. I got the beef and it was very flavorful. The salsa was mild and didn't seem so authentic, but it was still good. We sat outside and typically I'm nervous about service quality outside, but here, the servers went above and beyond. It was a little chilly the night we went and even then, the staff was super attentive. I think this is a good fun place to go to locally and would be open to trying other menu items on my next visit!

When I first arrived to this restaurant I was surprised that they have on-site parking. It is $5…read moreper car but it does help with not having to fight for parking in Washington DC. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted immediately and sat fairly quick. My waiter was very attentive and did a great job with offering some recommendations. For starters they give you salsa and chips. He recommended trying the cheese which was very tasty. For my entree I had salmon stuffed with crab meat which was amazing. The sauce that they put over it was the star in my opinion. The salmon was cooked very well and was a good portion. I also tried their Margarita/ sangrita which I can tell is a popular drink. If you are into a fruity flavorful drink then this is the one for you. You can order it by the cup or by the pitcher. For dessert I had tres leches cake And it was to die for I'm glad to finally find a tres leches worth $10 a slice. Overall my experience was great. I really recommend coming if ever in Washington DC Salmon 8.5/10 Cheese 9/10 Cake 9/10 Margarita 10/10

I am a huge DC restaurant week fan as it truly provides an opportunity to experience different…read morecuisines in the area. I haven't heard of Seven Reasons before but now was as good a time as any to check them out. To start, our hostess Ayana - fantastic and she took great care of us the whole evening! A few standouts: Hamachi tiradito - bananas!!! So good we ordered it twice Bread - could miss it but the Brazilian bread was interesting Snapper ceviche - 8/10 Cauliflower peru peri - 9/10 -I didnt know where this dish was going and as a cauliflower lover, I had to try it. Perfectly fried and sauces were so good. Yellow curry rockfish - 9.5/10. I love that they arent afraid to actually use curry! The tenderloin was so tender too!! And the taro cake very interesting, in a good way. A true stand out was the guava cheesecake - absolutely incredible and nothing like you'd think it would be. I love it when restaurants are super creative with food and the play on flavors were top tier during this meail. We also ordered a bottle of the Chilean sauvignon blanc, which paired perfectly with the food and stood on its own with the tenderloin. Our meal was a pleasure and I look forward to returning to this restaurant.

We entered and waited a bit at the stand for some help. We did have reservations and were sat. The…read moreservice was good, our waiter did come around and check in on us. They also refilled our waters constantly! In terms of food: - we did partake in drinks: I had the passion over perfection and my gf had the pina colada. I will say her pina colada tasted more like pineapple juice than anything else. I enjoyed my drink though. - we were recommended by our waiter to get around 4-6 dishes depending on how hungry we were. We opted for 7R ceviche, cheese arepitas, Latin falafel, and seafood jalea. I will say everything tasted so freaking good (with the exception of the falafel because they were on the drier side) but those portion sizes i would expect a little more for pricing - I will also add a side note they were providing sampling of a pumpkin soup. Did j like it? No. Did i appreciate it the ability to say i tasted it and didn't have to pay for it? Yes - we also were greedy and went in for desserts: banana bomb and chocolate and Ron. The banana bomb SOOOOO good! The chocolate and ron was more on the forgettable side. Despite the portions, the food was so good I'd come back in a heartbeat. I would love to see the seasonal things they come up with!

Michelin Star me PLEASE!…read more I'm a foodie and when I told my friend I was one, he asked how many Michelin Star restaurants I'd been to. I chuckled, because honestly I'm not a foodie snob but perhaps I need to be. Pre Bday dinner before heading out of the country he chose El Cielo to celebrate me first! Located in Union Market, El Cielo hides in plain sight on the corner. Parking is always a win at Union Market hence why I am always there! Ambiance: dimly lit, reservations only, couples galore, and definitely an intimate atmosphere. Service: TOP NOTCH this is why you pay the big bucks! Nothing was amiss! My friend has experience with high‑end restaurants, Michelin star restaurants to be exact so his perspective added a helpful benchmark with what to order. He took the lead and ensured I tried all the top favorites! *They do offer an À la Carte Menu, or traditional Pre-Fixe menu* Let's get into it! Tree of Life - Yucca bread, Brown butter, Cilantro sauce - Such a cute presentation! Butter is amazing! Ensaladita Caliente - Grilled Romaine letuce, Parmigiano, Hearts of Palms, Kumquats - Soooooo Good! Yes to this dish! Catch of the day - SeaBass Buttermilk reduction, Green oil, Chontaduro - Perfectly cooked! Loved it! Yucca Gnocchi Pecorino cheese, Shitake mushrooms, Sweet plantain, Added Truffle - VERY YUMMY! Flan - Vanilla, Salted caramel - Fantastic! Mucholate - Rum Ice Cream - I mixed both this and the Flan! Loved it!

We came to El Cielo to celebrate my wife's birthday and chose the Journey tasting menu. It was a…read morememorable evening, though not without some reservations. El Cielo is located in the vibrant Union Market neighborhood, surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and clothing stores. The restaurant itself is elegant without being opulent, with comfortable chairs spaced generously apart. A large garage door next to the entrance looks like it opens to the outside in warmer weather -- a nice touch we didn't get to experience. El Cielo holds the distinction of being the first Colombian restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star. That alone makes it worth a visit for anyone who follows the culinary world. Our server Carla was excellent. She took her time explaining each dish carefully and patiently answered every question. The meal is a journey in every sense -- nine courses, each a small surprise. We began with cocktails. The Don't Give Papaya was fruit forward and satisfyingly alcohol forward. The passion fruit toddy that opened the tasting menu was not too sweet, with fresh fruit juice added to the spirit already in the glass. The truffle buñuelo was the first revelation -- a warm liquid center encased in a delicate corn vessel, eaten in one bite. The texture alone was remarkable. The caviarmañola followed, a delicate crispy croquette, beautifully presented with caviar and sauces. The Tree of Life, a pull-apart bread baked around mild melted cheese, was warm, satisfying and genuinely fun to eat. The tuna was exceptionally fresh and fatty, its sauce a perfect complement. The hiramasa, a kingfish new to me, was served with quinoa that added texture and visual beauty. The Hanami dessert closed the meal with just the right touch of sweetness. The birthday experience -- an edible white chocolate candle with a surprise filling -- was a delightful gesture. And the rose petal hand cream that ended the meal was an elegant final touch. Two caveats worth mentioning. The ambience leans pretentious -- El Cielo takes itself too seriously. And at $600 for two with service included, the price is steep even for a Michelin one-star. I've had equally memorable meals elsewhere for considerably less.