Lots to enjoy here…read more Food is excellent and for tapas style the portion sizes lean in the large direction. Prices are very reasonable for DC and the quality. Loved the kefta lamb skewer. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. The piquillo tahini and sumac onions added more flavor punch. The hummus was exceptional. Strong tasty chickpea and garlic flavors balanced by lemon and dill. The pickled turnips presented in a flower shape was a nice touch. Service was excellent. Reservations via Open Table.

Gypsy Kitchen was another great stop. It's Spanish tapas-style, and everything we ordered was so…read moreflavorful. We shared the tabbouleh, beef kabob, octopus, and croquettes, and everything was on point. Special mention to the chocolate raspberry espresso martini because it was amazing -- I genuinely wish I could've had ten of them. We finished with the olive oil cake for dessert, which was also delicious. Our waitress was awesome too. Such a fun meal overall.

I have been here roughly a billion times since my last review. They aren't perfect but pretty…read moreclose to it in terms of consistency. A couple of feedback issues from a regular: the tostadas are too hard and please bring back the short rib for the dinner entree, which was easily the best tasting item and value of any restaurant anywhere. This place is amazing. Recommend: birria, Guac (don't add the herbs), carne asada, house margaritas with tequila, enchiladas with tres moles, and the pan frances for brunch. Thank me later. Service is always great, but please provide more napkins at the start.

Great Vegan Options (4.25/5)…read more Cielo Rojo is in an awkward location, sandwiched between a firehouse and a car shop. However, their food drives many customers to their doors. My family and I were looking for a new and different Mexican place with lots of vegan options and Google search showed me Cielo Rojo. I was happy to see a dedicated vegan menu and some excellent reviews so we gave it a try. Overall we were pleased with the unique menu but thought the flavors could have been elevated. Food (1.75/2) - most of the picks we had were great but some were lacking.... Flavor. The pan y macha butter was pleasantly a great start to the evening. Though the bread could have been a little softer, the macha butter wasn't overwhelming. The queso fondito could be skipped, there wasn't anything special and in fact I wouldn't order it next time. The guacamole was fresh and herby, however, there just wasn't enough of it in one order. I wouldn't recommend ordering two even for just two people. The street corn was a hit between my kids and my wife. They loved the sweet, tangy, and spicy corn that melted in their mouths. And the tacos were great as well. However, I felt the Gorditas under delivered for sure. I was expecting a flavor punch but received more of a chewy patty on a bland sauce. But if life could be thrown on it by additional fresh herbs and flavors. Drinks (1/1) - we only tried one cocktail and ordered a Mexican cola for our dinner but what we received was good enough to show they know their drinks. My drink wasn't under spiked or unbalanced, it went smoothly. The hibiscus flavor along with the spirit was showing boldly through the syrups. I wouldn't recommend ordering love to try another cocktail next time. Service (0.75/1) - I wish I could say the service was exceptional but there were times we were waiting too long for a service member to show up. They were friendly and polite but definitely could have had more touch points with us throughout the night. We sorta felt abandoned at times. Again, nothing much to complain but something to improve upon. Decor (0.75/1) - overall, it's a welcoming spot with art pieces of their heritage. However, there were lots of dusty sellables that probably should be removed from the dining floor. It didn't mix well with a great restaurant. Not sure if they really need to sell a rack of clothing right next to where we were sitting to be honest. In the end, the food was decent, unique, and welcoming to vegetarians so we would comeback again and give other items on their menu a try. Hopefully, flavor profile can be more prominent next time.

What an awesome experience and vibe Thip Khao is. I like…read morethat it's not (underline) too fancy, so you can dress for the occasion or come straight off the street (mostly) and you will be in appropriate attire. The food was absolutely phenomenal and the service was on point. I've lived in the capital area for around 20 years but we moved away a few years back and I greatly miss the international cuisine I had access to here in the city. This one gets added to that list! Will plan to visit again next time we are in the area or passing through!

Was really looking forward to this place. We didn't make reservations for a Monday because I saw…read moreearlier in the day that pretty much every time slot was open - but that was a mistake because it completely filled up by the time we were done at a museum at around 4pm. We ended up waiting over an hour but that's not their fault and this isn't reflected in my rating. In the order they came out: 1. Crispy catfish (Pad Phet Paa) - extremely disappointing. It wasn't crispy at all and the flavor was lacking. Also, there was supposed to be eggplant but we barely saw any. 2. Red coconut curry - too sweet for my liking and it wasn't spicy at all which was also a disappointment. 3. Kee Mao - this honestly was the best part of the meal but I honestly expect this dish to be solid at every restaurants. Overall, as someone from out of state, I wouldn't try this place again given this experience.

Incredible place! I loved the food, customer service, and the atmosphere. It's a great location and…read moreambience. My group enjoyed the pan-fried grandma's dumplings, korean friend 'chicken', and scallion pancakes, among other great items. Desserts are also a highlight here, we loved the caramelized apple sweet buns. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu!

Alison Amazing food service and ambiance with plenty of…read moreoptions for any diet. The restaurant is really cute too with plenty of plants. We got grandma's noodles, janchi bento, broccoli and fried chicken bento and pistachio cake. The janchi bento and cake were my favorite but everything was great. I also love the QR code ordering concept. I'll come back with my husband!

Here's how I see it:…read more MITA delivered a dining experience that felt thoughtful from the first course to the final spoonful. As someone who does not typically gravitate toward vegetarian/vegan menus, the meal felt especially fresh and quietly innovative--proof that vegetable-forward cuisine, when handled with this level of intent, can be just as compelling, layered, and satisfying as any traditional tasting menu. Opting for the Camino Corto menu proved to be a well-judged choice. Paired with the supplemental arepas, it offered a generous and satisfying progression without ever feeling heavy. The arepas--served with guasacaca, cashew sour cream, and chontaduro butter--were an excellent addition, setting a warm, flavorful tone and easily standing as a highlight on their own. From there, the menu unfolded with precision and clarity. The picaron with persimmon, lúcuma, and huacatay was playful yet composed. The arracacha with fava beans, plantain, and mushroom dashi brought depth and umami-driven warmth, while the watermelon ceviche with white soy, cilantro, and quinoa delivered brightness and balance. The malanga course offered satisfyingly to-the-perfect point chewy texture, and the arroz con gandules--pigeon peas, sofrito, and sea beans--managed to feel both comforting and refined, a balance not easily achieved. Dessert, a modern bienmesabe with coconut sponge, coconut praline, and pineapple sorbet, closed the meal with elegance and lift. What stood out most was how seamlessly the kitchen elevated vegetables beyond expectation--never as substitutes, but as the main event. Each dish felt intentional, expressive, and complete. Service mirrored the cuisine in its composure and warmth: attentive without intrusion, polished without stiffness. There is a quiet confidence throughout MITA that allows guests to settle in and fully engage with the experience. This is the kind of restaurant that shifts perspective--where even a dedicated omnivore leaves not missing anything, but instead discovering something new. Respect to the chefs and the entire team for a meal that was both elegant and deeply satisfying.

Great Tasting Menu, but overpriced! (4.25/5)…read more Food - (2/2). I want to emphasize that though I'm giving 2/2 for the food, not everything was hitting out of the ball park. Also, for the price, it definitely left me hanging across the board. The full tasting menu started well with the smoke to bring you into the little villages of Latin America. The mini corn topped with a fragrant spread of tiny popcorn throws some inception corn flavor that blends well with the seasoning. The accompanying roll is perfect contrast to add some spice to the starter. The finish to the first course was an interesting fermented drink that just made sure the pallet was neutralized before the drinks and next courses. The next course (Arepas) was the highlight of the day for both my wife and I. The trio of sauces were unique. One was savory, another spicy, and one that was sweet. It came with 5 little tiny "breads" though they seemed to be for little kids than adults. Luckily, the sauces were so good, you could eat them all by themselves. These were definitely the highlight for us however, we couldn't even fill our stomachs with it even if we got 20 of these breads. Another unique dish (Ceviche Nikkei) we had and liked was the fusion between Asian flavors and Latina flavors. Pickled veggies on top of soy flavored watermelon soup base created a mixture that actually works well. The Tamal and Gnocchi were great as well. Overall, I enjoyed the unique flavors and the journey the chef takes us to across different Latin cuisines that vegans don't generally get to experience. That said, the desert ice cream seemed like an afterthought. There was more of sour flavor than sweetness in the shaved ice. Non-alcoholic drinks pairing (0.25/1) When we picked paired drinks with our meal I was looking forward to some variety of wines and cocktails or even beer. However, I was a bit underwhelmed with wine selections and that too with the quantity again. Very little variety and quantity in the drinks section. To me the value didn't match with the cost. Service (1/1) As a renowned Michelin star restaurant, you expect the service to be amazing. Though it didn't go above and beyond, the service was as you would expect from them. Decor (0.75/1) The dining room itself was cozy, close to the chef where you can watch them do their magic, and also close to the bar where you could order some great cocktails. The place was subtle and not too loud, the mood and lighting was perfect for a date. Overall, I liked the food, the service, and the place. However, for this much of a cost, I didn't come out filling satisfied and truly had to get 2-3 slices from Andy's right next door. It was a good experience overall though.

I love this place!!! Have eaten here a few times and even have picked up grocery items they have in…read morestock. You really can't go wrong with the pork vermercelli which comes with a yummy salad mix. Tender pieces of seasoned slices of pork. I also tried an order of their fries which, seriously were the best of the best. Light and parsley seasoned with a texture that is divine. I live up the street and no excuse for me not coming in weekly. I've tried all of the pizza joints and other restaurants in town and this place is the freshest and healthiest of the lot. The new Mom owner is ever present and very hands on. They will be here for a longggggggg time!

I think it's notable that this place seems to have taken over a space which was occupied by Mark's…read moreKitchen; while the urban restaurant business roils, that restaurant was there for over thirty years, so it is certainly a tough act to follow. This place offers Vietnamese cuisine, with a menu that goes a bit beyond the standards and has some decent vegan options, which is essential given that this is a notoriously hippie neighborhood. I found many people talking about having or not having reservations, but I managed to get in early. They had a slight happy hour discount on rolls, and Vietnamese rolls are invariably great, for reasons that include taro root, but here the roll was really a platter with multiple vegetables; since they came out freshly fried, I actually did a bit of a lettuce wrap technique to be able to break apart and eat them. Ordering a tofu vermicelli bowl got me a good but not great rendition; the cucumbers are not to my taste and the sauce they had to drizzle over it, while fish-free, was a bit sweet and not to my taste either. The portion size wasn't huge for the price, but fortunately I wasn't starving. Having said that, they also had a small market section with imported goods and house sauces and pickled vegetables that looked nice, and the fresh herbal flavors I received certainly made a strong case for me to come back and try something different.

There has been a slow decline in quality of the food and service. They did remodel the place so…read moreit's prettier but there is still a bunch of gnats. They added a lot of plants which does help the gnat problem. But the food is good. Everytime I come I have to wait because I mainly get drummies. The cabbage was okay. It needed more seasoning but I can fix it at home.

I'm in the DC area for my birthday and I needed something with flavor and heart; Dodah's Kitchen…read moredelivered both. I went to the Mount Rainier location and ordered the drum plate with mac and cheese and collard greens; and I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be the best vegan soul food in the area. The drums were crispy with a one of one batter; I have never tasted anything like that before. Crunch on the outside, seasoned through, not greasy, just right. The mac and cheese redefined vegan; creamy, flavorful, and comforting without trying to imitate anything. It stood on its own. The collard greens took me straight back home; tender, seasoned properly, and full of soul. I also tried the ribs; and they were so good they honestly do not even need promotion. This is not good for vegan. This is just good. If you are in the DC area and craving real comfort food done plant based; Dodah's Kitchen needs to be on your list.

Hidden gem! Atxondo puts out quality small plates and entrees in a relaxed atmosphere. Personal…read morefavorites include the grilled scallions and the seared scallops.

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. .

Been here multiple times! All the previous times were to sit on the large outdoor streatetery they…read moreused to have. This time we sat inside and this was also lovely. Have only ever been for dinner but have heard great things about their brunch too. The menu for dinner has a lot to choose from so there is definitely something for everyone. When we asked the waiter what was the most popular dishes she named many dishes!

Definitely great place. I went here with some of my coworker and we had a lot of yummy food…read more The lumpia was very hot, crispy, and easy to eat. You can easily eat the entire plate. The spicy chicken adobo entree definitely was the standout, the skin's crispiness was very tough, but that was the best part honestly. So much flavor packed into a single chicken. The rice was well cooked, wished I could have had more. The veggies was cool and fresh. The service was great, they were attentive, doing check in a lot, and very efficient with their ordering. The space was spacious, a bit loud when it get packed but honestly I can still hear the people near me.

Beautiful ambience & relaxing atmosphere. Eden, the owner, was very welcoming & helpful. Omelet &…read moreFull' was delicious & flavorful with fresh veggies. The bread was warm, toasted and soft inside. Highly recommend checking this place out!

A hub for D.C.'s Eritrean community, Eden's Kitchen is run out of a house along Bladensburg Road NE…read moreby a mother and her son. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it's worth visiting. They will treat you like family. There's easy street parking nearby. Walk inside to Eritrean art on the walls and a small bar area and a side room with small tables. Outside is a medium-sized outdoor patio with tables, chairs, and umbrellas for shade. To feed two of us, we ordered the vegetarian combo with six items- Ades, Yellow Split Peas, Alicha, Collard Greens, Shiro, and Cabbage. Everything was prepared by the mom and well-seasoned. My favorites were the Shiro (puree of chickpeas in a sauce) and the Yellow Split Peas. The items came on teff injera with extra injera. Afterwards, the mother poured us traditional coffee, which was a perfect way to end the lunch. We left very full and our entire meal cost $15.59 before taxes and tip. That's a steal in D.C.