My co-worker told me about The Dabney's current 145/person, 5-course prix-fixe menu, and I was immediately excited to visit for the first time. It didn't take much convincing to get one of my friends (whose favorite restaurant is The Dabney) to join me. Despite booking a month in advance, we only snagged the 8:15 slot for this past Friday evening. The restaurant felt warm and inviting right away. The cozy, cabin-like interior, festive holiday decor, and soft lighting set the mood perfectly. The open kitchen and live fire grill are a huge part of the experience, allowing us to watch everything happen in real-time. Even the bathroom stood out, thanks to an amazing lavender and eucalyptus candle. Each guest can choose one course from the SNACKS, STARTERS, and MID COURSE sections, plus one dish from FAMILY STYLE to share. DESSERT is one per person. To start, we enjoyed a toast with sorghum molasses butter. The butter was incredible -- lightly earthy and naturally sweet with oat and wheat notes. It had a caramelized fragrance reminiscent of a well-roasted coffee. The charred toast added a subtle smokiness to every bite. -- SNACKS -- DIVINE PINES OYSTERS Very fresh and refreshing. Finely diced pickled onions added sharpness and tang. A bit vinegar-forward for my taste, but clearly intentional and well executed. CRISPY ROSEDA FARMS BEEF CHEEKS Extremely crispy outside with a rich, creamy center. The horseradish-like mustard underneath added brightness and edge, balancing the richness perfectly. Without it, the dish would have been boring. -- STARTERS -- DABNEY GRITS & GRAIN SOURDOUGH TARTINE An elevated version of the perfect cafe toast. Great balance of flavors and textures: crunch from the toast, pickled onions, kohlrabi (reminded me of radish); freshness from mint; sweetness and depth from the nduja hot honey; and smooth ricotta to tie it all together. Familiar concept, but refined in a new and harmonious way. GRILLED FIRESIDE SWEET POTATOES A true tribute to sweet potatoes, with roasted, fried, and vinaigrette forms on the plate. Fire-roasted sweet potatoes delivered a smoky char, topped with hickory nut streusel that evoked candied nuts. Sweet potato chip was light and thoughtfully executed. Vinaigrette was naturally sweet and honeyed without tasting artificial. These elements together reminded me of an elevated sweet potato casserole. -- MID COURSE -- GRILLED CAPE MAY SCALLOP Perfectly cooked scallops (creamy and delicate) paired with an airy, foamy country gravy, unlike the thick and heavy texture you'd expect. Onion and parsnip flavors stood out, with just a hint of earthiness from truffle. PASTRAMI SPICED BEEF BELLY Looks familiar but delivers something entirely different. The first bite of beef belly delivered intense fire-driven warmth and heat, and it was incredibly crispy and rich. The mushroom had a powerful smoky bite that really wowed me. The potato puree was light and creamy -- more ordinary than the others, but essential to the whole plate. The rich, vibrant red sauce that looked like cranberry sauce was actually beet bordelaise. It was topped with everything bagel spice to add crunch, toastiness, and surprise. The pickled onions cut through the fat and balanced the dish. Truly an elevated take on beef and potatoes. -- MAIN COURSE -- ROSEDA FARMS SKIRT STEAK Perfectly grilled and easy to chew, finished with high-quality flaky sea salt that elevated the meat. Chimichurri brightened everything with its mixture of fresh herbs and olive oil. Not reinvented, but executed extremely well. The glazed fireside farms carrots were (possibly) blanched before grilled, coated in an orange-based sauce and topped with wisps of ginger for sharpness. The ginger balanced the carrots' natural sweetness beautifully. The potato puree was classic and well done. It was smooth and buttery -- not elevated, but very satisfying and how I'd imagine the perfect mashed potatoes to be. -- DESSERT -- APPLE CIDER FOOL Light and refreshing. Crisp apple flavors with warm spices, paired with crunchy meringue and shattering pear granita. A great palate cleanser and a fun dessert. Definitely one of my favorites throughout the night. BAKED VIRGINIA Well executed and peanut-forward, but too dense, too sweet, and overly indulgent -- almost intrusive at this point in the meal. I'm glad we ate the Apple Cider Fool first; otherwise, it would've been hard to enjoy its delicate flavors after a very decadent dessert. -- TEA -- FIRESIDE FIG - 6 Smooth, warming, and perfect with dessert. A cozy way to end the night. Overall, it was a phenomenal prix-fixe menu, and we left full and very happy. The Dabney takes the homey foods you know and love and reimagines them in a way that feels elevated and truly fine-dining worthy. The pacing was a bit slower than I expected, but I didn't mind since I was happy to yap with my friend between courses. We placed our order around 8:30 PM and didn't leave the restaurant until about 11:15 PM. read more

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First experience was flawless save for the sugar toads - seemed like trying to force an ingredient by making a sticky fried wing adjacent dish that ended up being one note and not amazing to eat. Otherwise the tasting menu was a delight. Second experience we did a la carte - the catfish sliders are a delight. Breakfast radish was really nice, cool crunch and refreshing. The stuffed chicken wing was delicious, tons of flavor packed into a couple bites. Half chicken was cooked to perfection with an amazing goat cheese sauce. Would definitely get again. Sunburst trout was another big winner. Service was off this second time around, unfortunately. Delays in getting food, the main served without the raddichio until a few minutes later, then a few minutes after that the hushpuppies? Not expected at this level of dining. NA drinks available, nothing was really a standout but they were overall enjoyable. Nice ambiance, very lively but you can hear across the table. read more

My husband and I booked an 8:45pm reservation on a Friday and arrived right on time. The place was hopping and our table wasn't ready yet, so we got some drinks and waited by the bar. The hostess kept us updated, but it took a solid 25 minutes until we were seated. I'm 8 months pregnant and we drove from Baltimore - we were starving! The least they could've done was bring us some bread or the first course while we were at the bar, or comped us our first drinks or something. In fact, by the time we got our first course it was almost an hour after we arrived. We've never had such a late start at a Michelin restaurant, even in Europe! I told them ahead of time about being pregnant, but unfortunately I could only order 2 out of the 5 snacks (and both options I don't particularly like) so that was disappointing. The rest of the meal was good, but not a lot of wow moments. Some highlights - the catfish sliders (not on the tasting menu) and the family style steak with mashed potatoes and carrots. Some lows - I didn't think their butter was that great (it was very thick) and the scallop dish was engulfed in foam - why wouldn't you make the scallop and truffles the star and put the foam underneath?! Odd choice. Also the cornbread without the butter was not good - wayyy too savory and dry. We were pretty disappointed in the overall experience.. until dessert. Most Michelin restaurants try to make their desserts too fancy and they fall flat/forgettable, but we both ordered the baked Virginia and WOW. It was PERFECT. Homemade toasted meringue, peanut flavored ice cream with small toasted peanuts mixed in, over a gluten free chocolate cake. It was one of the best desserts we've both had! I'd go back just for that!! I liked the concept of everything coming from the Chesapeake area and being cooked by the big wood oven in front of us, but we weren't wowed. Plus, $145/person for 5 courses (and no amuse bouches or bites included) was expensive for what you get compared to other Michelin meals in DC. read more

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Food 4.0/5.0 Service 4.5/5.0 Value 3.0/5.0 Decor 4.5/5.0 Overall 4.0/5.0 Very good food, though there were definitely ups and downs. The service was good but not absolutely crisp and clean. The venue is really nice, with a wide open kitchen worth glancing at. Would definitely come back. read more

I didn't even know what I was walking into as I was a guest of a business meal and really enjoyed not only the food, but also the diversity of the items on the menu. At first, I was concerned it was so busy and we were going to be a bit rushed to make decisions, but the service team was very focused on her happiness and concerned that we would underestimate the portion size or the mix of foods we should try so encourage us on certain items which helped a lot. It's truly a creative menu and seems to change on a regular basis. We tried many items as a group of four and we also had one of their Wagyu stakes. It was excellent. This is a special place for a special event or if you're just like looking for a date night, grab a spot at the bar and try one of the items in a glass of wine. Enjoy. I love watching the kitchen Work so open and everyone so focused on aiming for perfection. Ashley was very friendly. read more

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The dining experience here was amazing. Did the prix fixe and enjoyed every dish that came out. Some of the highlights were the fire roasted ramps (it's a type of spring onion), anson mills ferro verde, pita + yogurt, charred spring greens, autumn olive farms pork belly. These were some of the highlights but in general it was great enjoying the current plate while anticipating the next set of plates to come throughout the night. We came for a 5:30pm reservation and finished our last course around 8pm so make sure you plan accordingly. Also met the owner who was super accommodating along with the staff who were super attentive throughout the evening. Highly recommend this for the food and the overall experience. read more

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This review is for The Dabney Cellar. Pros: - Cozy spot, loved the decor - Our server was very nice and kept on top of everything even though he was covering the entire place - The tuna tartare and baked oysters were both incredibly delicious - Happy hour from 6-7pm had some good deals including $10 off oysters Cons: - It's a cozy spot and there aren't a lot of tables that aren't for two. We were seated at a table for two and a group of four women came next to us to "sit" at a barrel and stools for two and they crowded the space. Our server came over to serve them and didn't seem bothered that they were trying to make a table for two for four people. It kind of ruined the vibe. - The food is delicious but.....very small portions and pricey. I don't think I could do an actual meal here without spending way too much money. We ended up going up the street to get a bowl of pasts because we were hungry. - They ran out of Sauvignon Blanc RIGHT after my friend ordered it. They gave her the last of the bottle which was definitely not a full glass but I think charged us for a full glass. This would be a great date night spot and I would like to come back in the future to try some other items. read more

Really amazing dining experience! The service was outstanding. The hosts were friendly. They sat us at the bar for a drink before our table was ready. The waiter was extremely attentive. All the chefs welcome you as you walk by their open-kitchen stations. The food was delicious. The pre fixe tasting menu is $145 per person and includes 5 courses. Our highlights were the smoked mahi mahi dip, the cabbage, the fried porgy and both desserts! The cabbage was so flavorful. They used the herbs very nicely to highlight the vegetables. Everything was super fresh. We were impressed! We had a lovely time and highly recommend the Dabney. read more

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Overall I was really excited to visit the dabney! It's been on my list for awhile. While the food was creative and good I was a bit underwhelmed compared to the price. We did the tasting menu which included some seasonal small bites, a shared entree, and dessert. The small bites were our favorite of the night while the entree we got (porgy dish) lacked a bit of salt and acid to I bring everything together. We spent around $500 for two of us so my expectations were high. Next time I'd probably order a la crate from the bar as those dishes looked better and the price point was better. read more

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Really enjoyed this dinner and was the highlight of restaurants whilst in DC. Loved all the dishes and the variety of what was on offer. The cocktail list was fun and the service matched that. The beef main was the favourite. Would definitely revisit if in DC again. read more

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I appreciated how intentional everything felt here. The oysters were delicious, but they have mostly small plates, so order multiple. Our server clearly knew the menu and gave thoughtful recommendations. The room was beautiful and calm, which helped make the meal feel focused and unhurried. I'll definitely come back again. read more

We checked out the Dabney Cellar last night and it was such a lovely visit! The cellar is filled with soft yellow light that makes it quite cozy. We sat at the bar and Sergei and Thomas took such great care of us that it felt like a visit to a dear friend's house. Sergei was so knowledgable with unique and delicious wines. read more

The open kitchen setting is an amazing design concept. Dishes were all locally sourced and overall very good. A low country meets the metropolitan area is how best to describe the offerings. Service staff was delightful and obviously proud of their establishment. Chef was on hand due to a video production that was happening in and around the kitchen. Would definitely go back. read more

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I can see why this place has a Michelin Star. Food taste is excellent. As is presentation. Portions are very small, so order multiple small plates. Inside is very cozy. Hard to find front entrance. Service was excellent! read more

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The Dabney did restaurant week! Even more important, The Dabney is back to an à la carte menu! I have had amazing experiences at this Michelin starred celebration restaurant many times, but lost interest when they switched to a set menu that frankly didn't suit my tastes. BUT THEY'RE BACK. Let's be clear, even with a restaurant week menu for two our bill was over $250. That's because you can't go there and not at least have the catfish sliders and the cornbread. Still AMAZING bites. The restaurant menu highlighted the à la carte menu. Cauliflower soup with lobster, trout, beef, and an absolutely amazing chocolate chess pie that was elevated to baked Alaska status with peanut butter ice cream and merengue. There are three restaurants that are perfection on my book - Rasika, Obelisk, and The Dabney. I can't wait to go back to The Dabney for the full menu. Oh...it's a gorgeous restaurant too. read more

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Food was okay, I'm not sure if it was worth the price. Presentation was nice too but the main reason I wouldn't go back there is because even after alerting the staff multiple times on my nut allergy, they still served food with nuts in it. They didn't alert me of this, although thankfully I noticed before eating it. It wasn't my entree (I believe it was an appetizer) so I didn't complain too much, it was also my parents' treat for my birthday. It was pretty loud and hard to hear my family talk. Overall an overpriced and underwhelming experience, there are better places in DC. read more

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Beautiful fine dining in Blagden Alley. Attention to detail really matters. Service was friendly and knowledgeable, but unobtrusive. We had a seat close to the open kitchen, and fire; it gets warm! Drinks were excellent- had the martini cocktail and the bourbon with wine floater (very smooth), as well as a non alcoholic cocktail (spagliato twist). We had the tasting menu and everything was very good, but particularly the cheese (dessert), oysters, squash, and crab soup ($10 upcharge but meaty and worth it). read more

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Friends and I visited Dabney and tried the tasting menu--you get to pick one item from each section, so we shared plates to try more dishes. The fish and lamb were superb. Service was top-notch; our servers were attentive and took the time to explain each dish. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with an open kitchen where you can watch the Chef and team hard at work preparing the food. read more

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Would've gotten a 4 star review for the great food, but we were extremely disappointed in the slow service. We came here for our anniversary dinner and what we expected to be a 2.5-3 hr meal was almost 4 hours long. I've never been had such slow pacing and in the end, I had to ask the server that we needed to hurry home and they rushed to get us our check. I did enjoy the food--their bite-sized appetizers were great and I loved the paw paw cheesecake at the end. However, our experience became soured due to the long service. read more

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If you're looking for a restaurant that combines the best of local, seasonal ingredients with expertly crafted drinks and a warm, inviting atmosphere, the Dabneyis a must-visit. From the moment you walk through the door, it's clear that this isn't just another dining experience--it's a celebration of fresh, sustainable ingredients sourced directly from local farms, paired with creative cocktails that elevate the entire meal. We sat at the bar and was wow'ed by each protein. The lamb was great and the surf/turf combo on the specials was also to die for. More than anything, the drinks were innovative -- who thinks to put perilla leaves on a drink?! All in all, Dabney continues to be the definition of a mid-Atlantic one star Michelin star restaurant. read more

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A fantastic experience from the service to the food one of the best restaurants in DC. We got the 3 course menu at the bar. It is the bar menu that is pre-selected of the bar menu. There is bar menu which has ala carte available for people who line up but not reservations. There was an 8 course which is the tasting menu in the dining room. It is beautiful inside and feels like you are dining in a special place. The first course we shared the kale and charred karma farm vegetables. The kale was perfectly cooked and well balanced with oranges and sauce. It was equally had nice salty flavor balanced with the acidity if the oranges and sauce. The mixed vegetables was great it cabbage mixed with a vegetable medley with a fondue that was super rich and creamy tasted of goat cheese but not 100% sure. Was completely delicious. For the second course we both got the scallops. We both love scallops and get whenever it's on the menu. We were both in agreement was the best we've had in DC. Perfectly seared but still tender on the inside and delicious. The salad that accompanied it was perfectly paired with the fish that was rich and soft. Paired with some greens for freshness and acidity of the vinaigrette paired perfectly. It comes with pre selected sides of carrots and grits. Both were delicious and perfectly cooked. For the third course we both received the preserved fish chocolate cake. Sounds weird but it is delicious. The cake is perfectly balanced with sweet and salty. It also has a great pepper note at the end that leaves you with a spicy note that caps everything off. We also were surprised with another desert to share a pumpernickel tart off the tasting menu. It was completely delicious. It has great dark chocolate salty flavor topped with rich cream on top. Was such a great surprise and one of our favorites. Im happy to say this one of our new favorite places in town can't wait to come back. read more

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I took my fiancée here to celebrate our engagement. Overall, we had a really great experience. We opted for the 6 course tasting menu which was $185pp. I feel like it would be better priced at $150pp. The cheapest wine by the glass was $16. The cheapest white wine by the bottle was about $100-110 and red was about $130. We opted for by the glass. The food was delicious, creative and fun! They were accommodating of my fiancée's pork allergy. I listed on our resy that we were celebrating our engagement. The only person to acknowledge this or do something for us was the "wine woman". I assume she is a sommelier. She gave us a splash of a sparking rose to toast only after I told her why we were there. We really enjoyed the open kitchen and hearth. We sat right in front and could feel the heat from it. The vibe was very comfortable and inviting. We didn't have a single bad bite. That said, compared to other Michelins we've been to in DC we agreed this was middle of the road for us in terms of our favorites. For what we got I feel like it's slightly overpriced. I personally felt that the main course could have been a bit larger. The dessert was BOMB!! read more

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I came to DC over the summer for some sightseeing and some general celebration of my birthday. I ranked all of the restaurants in town using an algorithm/decision-making-tree that I came up with. And The Dabney popped up as one of the premier must-go places. So I made my reservations and showed up on time and got seated in the very beautiful main dining area. We had the perfect view of the open kitchen right next us, so we got to watch the well-oiled machine the entire time. So many tables going through course after course, a guy with a dry erase board keeping track of all the moving pieces, all the meats seemingly being cooked with only wood and fire. Really great stuff. And the service? Come on. We had multiple people that waited on us, each being their own cog in the machine of the service presentation. We never wanted for anything. And the conversation was very pleasant and seemed authentic. Right down to the very end of the night to when one of the hosts checked on us to see how we were getting back in the pouring rain. So anyway, I can't talk about all of the courses served in the well orchestrated show that we went through, but I will give some thoughts and notes. I love how this place, and many other places, are highlighting and celebrating local ingredients. Where our food comes from is very cool to know, and I'm glad that they are supporting local, small businesses rather than buying a pack of 1,000 frozen oysters from another country. The second snack of the night really hit that point with lamb from the Shenandoah area stuffed into a mint leaf that came from Kentucky. Very nice. I also liked how the courses got progressively bigger in size, from the snacks to the actual courses, to the main event. Fried squash blossom. Enough said. There's no vessel more fun to eat something from. One of the courses had us take a fried corn tortilla and smash it to make our own tortilla chips to eat the rest of the dish with. That was fun! And of course, the main event. From a local farm, we got Autumn Olive Farm Pork served in a few different ways. It was all laid out to us at once and then we got free range of the feast. The Sorghum Butter they gave us for that Cornbread was insane out of this world delicious. And the Scrapple they put that Caviar on top of? Wow. It was all just so fun and delicious. We finished off with three dessert courses, all good. I feel like I've said a lot, but also a lot of nothing. The bottom line is that the place is very good. They select high quality, local ingredients, and present them in a beautiful, delicious way. The only thing is that a place like this needs to send you home with some post-dinner munchies. That's all that was missing. Not sure if I'll ever be back, but will certainly recommend this place to everyone I know who heads to DC. read more

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It's safe to say I've experienced my top dining experience of the year already. The tasting menu at the Dabney was absolutely phenomenal. The service was extremely thoughtful - the team went above and beyond to ensure that our experience was memorable. The mid Atlantic cuisine is unlike anything else I've experienced. The chef is wildly intentional when creating the menu - many of the same ingredients are incorporated throughout the meal. The ambiance is serene & comforting - you won't mind that you've been in the Dabney for 3 hours - you won't want to leave! Do yourself a favor and trust the chef! Leave the postcard on your menu, sit back and relax - you're about to have the dining experience of a lifetime. read more

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This was my favorite restaurant this visit to DC. Made reservations through Tock after reading reviews of chef Jeremiah Langhorne. I walked on over for my reservation given it was a beautiful evening, but I did have a little trouble finding the door since this is located on Blagden Alley (that's what I get for cutting through the alley from the backside). Upon entry, was immediately greeted and seated. Our table was cozy and felt private. Cocktail: Nomini Grove. McClintock Gardner's gin, Toigo orchards cherries, Yzaguirre rosé vermouth, egg white, lemon. Perfect start for the evening. The menu: Snack: Metompkin Bay Oyster-Toigo orchard Persian cucumber 1st Course: Autumn Olive Farm Boudin Pork Sausage-potato salad, dill, B&B pickles 2nd Course: Grilled Autumn Olive Farm Pork-Radicchio, bacon, st. Malachi reserve, peach. Delicious! Spring Vegetables: Grill corn on the cob w/Lobster butter, Garners Shishitos, Cucumber salad Dessert: Charred Corncob Icebox Cake-blueberry sauce, Hanson mills cornbread crumble, pecan, marigold. Delicious! No wonder The Washingtonian rates this their #1 pick. This was polished mid-Atlantic food with a hint of classic tastes of the south. And I loved it. Finally, service was top notch. Very attentive. read more

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I waited WAY TOO LONG to post my review of this place. It's been several years, but I still have the photos to prove it. I just have little recollection of what the dishes were called, and since the chef rotates the menu regularly, it's doubtful many of these items are still here. (See pictures below) What I do remember was that the entire experience left me feeling like it was all a dream. The food was fresh and I tasted flavors that were unique and unexpected. The jam/chutney with the crusty bread was outstanding. The service was kind and attentive. Desiree made recommendations and since I was on a business trip, I was able to splurge a little more than I would have on my own. The ambience was cozy and comfortable, and all the movement in the kitchen made it feel like a show. I would highly recommend. read more

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The Dabney has such a warm and inviting ambiance. The open floor concept with full view of the kitchen and the huge fire in the back gives it a family dining room type feel. They serve Mid Atlantic cuisine and they offer a full 8 course tasting menu and a bar bites menu as well. The staff is extremely friendly and the service is was really good. Great place for a nice date or birthday dinner. read more

The Dabney - Oysters are served on ice in a bowl with a lemon wedge and hot sauce, set on a wooden bar counter with bar tools in the background. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was ok. I've dined at numerous other Michelin star restaurants and I think I was just expecting a bit more. I could have just been extremely high read more

The Dabney - A wooden table set with oysters on a tray, bread with butter, and assorted small dishes, including sushi and sauces, in a restaurant setting. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pros: No matter what anyone says, Michelin Stars are well-earned. The food was bonkers delicious. The dining room was huge and open and warm and inviting and the kitchen was also wide open so we got to see them make every single course like a well oiled machine. Service was impeccable. Many different people for many different functions throughout our meal. One of the major themes that ran through the meal was quality, local sourcing and using those same ingredients in multiple different ways. That soft shell crab was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Cons: Literally not a single one. There was a even a nice covered patio for us to wait for our Lyft out of the pouring rain. Tips: These are small bite courses, so really take your time with them, chew slowly, talk, drink, and converse in between bite. It really was a lovely time. read more

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This is for the Dabney Cellar! My friend and I have missed the cellar so much - so happy it's back. We had an incredible waiter, Victor, who served us the best martinis. The oysters were fresh and delicious, the cheese and meat board was to die for, and the cheesy leek dip was next level! All of this over a cozy backdrop made for the perfect Friday evening in November! read more

The Dabney - Dabney Martini - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We've had a dozen or so evenings at the Dabney and love the setting, the food and the staff. It's the total package from a dining experience standpoint, and we keep going back. The bar team is our favorite, but everyone in the front is friendly and knowledgeable, ready to answer questions, and seem to enjoy their roles. I won't walk you through the menu because it changes frequently, but expect plays on traditional favorites (catfish sliders!) and the best drink program in DC, IMO. It's worth the price every time. No one here mails it in (perhaps because they love what they do or they know what your bill is going to look like at the end of the night). I feel like they do their best to deliver the experience you expect every visit. read more

Dabney Cellar was the cutest, intimate spot! There are only a few tables and a small bar which makes the space feel cozy. You can watch them put together the cheese and meat plates as they cut fresh cheese and slice meat behind the bar. Food and drinks were delicious! A little pricey but worth the vibes. read more

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This was possibly the best meal I have had in DC so far. We walked in and they happened to have a table that had just cancelled and seated us immediately. The service was great, everyone was very attentive and answered questions about the things they grow and how they cook it. It's an open kitchen so you can see the chefs and the fire they cook over which was really cool. They even said it was fine to go up and ask the chef some questions after the meal. The food was so so good we started with the lamb rillettes which were amazingggg. The other highlights for me were the fried sugar toads and the pork belly but everything was absolutely delicious, you really can't choose wrong. They even gave us an extra dessert on the house! Definitely would go back!! 100/10 read more

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We were excited for our evening at The Dabney and were fortunate to get a table just ahead of the busy dinner rush. Chef Jeremiah led a focused and relaxed kitchen team, and every dish that came out was a delight, beautifully served and full of flavor. The management and beverage teams were equally impressive: warm, knowledgeable, and attentive, they made the experience feel both seamless and special read more

Great find! Bartender was very attentive, explained the menu and sold me on the sweet potato roll. Enjoyed a NA wine and the roll, both of which were yummy. Side note, The bathroom was really cute -- also had lotion and used real towels to dry off, which I appreciate from sustainability and functionality. Staff were all very kind and attentive. read more

The Dabney - Sweet potato roll and NA pear wine - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What a treat for both the senses and the palette. Perfectly timed and choreographed service matched with creative and delicious bites, all thoughtfully presented. Standout dishes were scallop, mushroom, and tilefish (loved the ramps, sunchokes and dollop of tart lemon custard). The meal ended with 'ice cream cake.' Sounds plain but wow, this packed a lot of layered textures and flavors. (P.S. the reviews of the bathrooms are no joke. Not only was the scent amazing, the toilet paper roll was folded and no trash or used towels in sight.) read more

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I had high expectations for The Dabney, but unfortunately, the experience was far from enjoyable. Despite arriving on time, we waited over 40 minutes before any edible food was placed in front of us. Initially, the server blamed the delay on my request to substitute duck for pork as the main course, which makes no sense considering this had nothing to do with the five courses preceding the main dish. Later, the story changed, and the waiter claimed the delay was because they had just started a new menu this week and were still getting aligned. None of the dishes stood out, and the meal was so underwhelming that we didn't even bother taking pictures of the food. I'm a big fan of Jônt and would happily pay more for their exceptional experience. Even El Cielo, which I'm not the biggest fan of, feels more on point when compared to The Dabney. Honestly, I would have been better off across the street at Unconventional Diner. The Dabney has a lot of work to do on both service and quality to justify its reputation. read more

the cellar below is the cooooolest bar ever and the food and drinks are awesome. great fun music too. shoutout to sergei our favorite person ever and everyone definitely needs to hit up this little cellar at least once in their life. read more

The Dabney - Wine - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Dabney: A Star Fading Fast We returned to The Dabney for our two-year anniversary, hoping to relive the magic of last year's impeccable six-course tasting menu and near-flawless service. What we encountered instead was a restaurant that seems content to coast on past accolades and a Michelin star it no longer earns. Gone is the curated, thoughtfully sequenced tasting experience. In its place: a "choose your own adventure" five-course menu (sharing one main, no less) at an eye-watering $145 per person. For a restaurant of this supposed caliber, the à la carte-style tasting felt lazy, uninspired, and wholly unworthy of the price tag. The food, once vibrant and memorable, has dulled into mediocrity. Take, for example, a catfish starter that was a pale imitation of tuna salad slapped on stale, housemade barbecue chips--equal parts confusing and offensive to the palate. For the main course, a whole fish arrived with no assistance or finesse, forcing me to de-bone it myself, fingers deep in flesh like a caveman at a $500 dinner. The fish? Over-salted to the point of inedibility. The lone highlight of the meal was a piece of bread--yes, bread--paired with a brown butter honey sauce. That a bread course outshone the rest of the menu is as telling as it is tragic. Worse still, the service was a shadow of what we once experienced. Last year, the staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and proud of the food. This time, it was indifferent bordering on negligent. Our server neither described the dishes with care nor demonstrated any real understanding of the menu's intent. The absence of engagement or storytelling--once a hallmark of The Dabney experience--made it feel like we were ordering wings at a sports bar, not dining at a Michelin-starred establishment. Throughout the night, I found myself clearing plates just to make room. Not once were we checked on meaningfully. Not once did it feel like anyone cared we were there. The Dabney may have earned its star through sweat and vision, but it now wears it like a tired badge. The passion is gone. The food is dull. The service is hollow. And the price? Laughable. We will not be returning. You shouldn't bother going either. Let the legend of The Dabney remain a memory, not a disappointment. read more

The Dabney is a gem! The food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared, with a cozy vibe that feels like home. I especially loved the wood-fired dishes--each bite was unforgettable! Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie read more