Wow wow wow! Some of the best food I've ever had, and probably the best in DC. I have tried a few other Michelin star spots in DC, but The Dabney has all of them beat in my opinion. The standouts and absolute must get items include the sweet potato roll catfish sliders, the skirt steak, the baked Virginia dessert, and honestly all of the snacks. The service is very nice and knowledgeable. The restaurant is dimly lit and gives more of a homey vibe as opposed to modern high end. It's really great for a date night and special occasion! read more

See all

My friends and I came here for a late reservation for restaurant week and it did not disappoint. We all got restaurant week items. I got the catfish sldiera, steak, summer veggies and the baked Virginian. We also got bread for the table. Everything was fantastic. In terms of ambiance, it was great. We were seated at a huge table. The service was great and the server provided great suggestions. I would definitely come back here again. read more

See all

The Dabney is a really cool little hole-in-the-wall spot... and by "hole in the wall," I mean there is essentially a hole in a wall that leads to a restaurant. If you're not paying attention, you could walk right past it and spend the rest of your evening completely unaware that people inside are cooking ridiculous food over a giant bonfire. Because that's basically what happens here. There's a big ol' fire roaring in the middle of the kitchen all night, and The Dabney has apparently decided that modern civilization peaked too early and we should all go back to cooking things over flames. Based on this meal... they're correct. I had access to the prix fixe menu but decided I'd rather bounce around the small plates. Joke's on me. After the first few came out and I realized how good everything was, I proceeded to order approximately 50 of them and accidentally created my own prix fixe menu. There were a lot of winners. The sweet potato roll was fantastic. Fried zucchini... excellent. Cucumber salad... delicious. Skirt steak... absolutely crushed it. But the bluefin tuna tartare was the undisputed champion of the night. It came sitting on a compressed slice of watermelon in aguachile with shiso, which sounds like someone selected three random culinary buzzwords out of a hat. Instead, it produced one of the best bites I've had in a long time. Sweet, spicy, savory, delicate... the kind of bite that disappears in five seconds and then moves into your brain permanently without paying rent. Then dessert arrived. The Baked Virginia is basically what happens when a Baked Alaska gets tired of being ordinary and decides to evolve into its final form. Imagine a peanut butter cup achieving enlightenment and then getting covered in meringue. That's about as accurately as I can describe it. The Dabney is small. The entrance is easy to miss. The kitchen appears to be powered by an actual bonfire. And the food is phenomenal. Please never stop making food, Dabney. I'll find the hole in the wall again. read more

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

See all

*This review is for the Dabney Cellar We came here for a date night and ordered a cocktail, glass of wine and the small seafood platter. The cocktail was very good. The server we had was really amazing and went out of his way to make sure we were good, even bringing wine samples for us to try. The part that took away from the whole date, is the employee who was prepping the seafood platters and shucking the oysters was not displaying proper hygiene. We repeatedly noticed she was biting on her nails and putting her fingers all in her mouth. When you work in the restaurant industry and are preparing other people's food, there are much higher standards that you should have. read more

See all

This was such a wonderful experience from start to finish. I went with a group of ladies for Restaurant week dinner, and it did not disappoint. To start, they had a nice wine pairing option, but you could just do individual glasses that they recommend as well. I like this since there was one drink. I really wasn't interested in having so I was able to just have the remaining two. We started with the optional sweet potato roll. This roll was melt in your mouth delicious. It was both crispy and hot and really hit the spot. I opted for the corn soup, and that was, if possible, better than the sweet potato roll. I wanted to bathe in the soup. It was so delicious. Every drop was eaten from my bowl, and looking around the table, everybody had eaten the last drop out of their bowl as well. It was just so delicious. I opted for the shrimp and grits with fish, and this was just mouthwatering delicious. The sauces were so on point it really paired so well with the actual fish, which was a very beautiful piece of fish. Regarding the service, our server Kelsey was phenomenal. We definitely changed our mind about some things, and she was very go with the flow. I also noticed little touches like when someone would go to the bathroom and leave their napkin on the table. She would come by and just fold it in a very cute abbreviated fold. She was very consistent and checked in on our tables frequently, often just walking by make sure that we are enjoying our food or glasses were full, etc. She was just fabulous. I do want to take a special note to talk about the dessert, the baked Virginia. I've never experienced a meringue that was on the softer side and it was so delicious. It paired so well with the peanut butter ice cream and addition to the marble pie below. Everybody was consumed, and I heard someone at the table say that they wish they could finish it, but they were just too full. Our experience here was amazing, the food really does live up to the hype, the service was just exceptionally phenomenal from everyone. I will definitely be a return visitor! read more

See all

I was really looking forward to trying The Dabney. My niece, a real foodie, had recommended it, so I was excited to finally give it a try. We started with a cocktail at Death & Co. next door, which deserves a review of its own for the ambiance, service, and seriously stiff drinks! We arrived a little early for our 8 PM reservation and were told to have a drink at the bar until our table was ready. It turned out to be a very leisurely drink--we waited almost half an hour. Once we were finally seated, though, things improved considerably. We had a delightful waiter named Robert who did a great job guiding us through the nightly menu. After the requisite deviled eggs, we tried the special potato roll with catfish, a terrific salad, and then moved on to the main course. That's where the trouble began. There were two "family-style" options, and we chose the Cape May fluke à la Grenobloise with croutons, brown butter, and lemon. It came with spring pea and herb farrotto (similar to risotto) and grilled asparagus. Unfortunately, the fish was extremely dry and almost completely lacking in flavor. When Robert came back to check on us, he noticed that we had barely touched it. We explained the problem, and to The Dabney's credit, they immediately took the $89 dish off the bill--which was absolutely the right thing to do. The disappointing fish aside, everything else we had was delicious, and the service was excellent. So despite the rocky start and an $89 entrée that missed the mark, it won't keep me from coming back. I'm still glad I finally got to try The Dabney. read more

See all

The dabney was good but not the best Michelin I've had. We showed up early to our reservation so we opted for bar seating instead. We sat next to a regular who said we needed to get the fried catfish sandwich. This along with bread and butter, came our first and it was incredible. It's always on the menu so highly recommend. We got the lobster potato bite which was just okay and small - it tasted exactly what it sounds like. Next we got the cucumber salad as recommended by the bartender. Again this was good but nothing super special, I wish there was more roe. The star was the plate of vegetables - fresh and unique and super tasty. We got the sausage for our main which was also delicious, one of my bites did have an inedible small bone. The cornbread was disappointing. It just tasted burnt and the side without the butter was so dry and flavorless. The butter did a lot of the work. read more

See all

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: May 2026 One of the consistently strong performers in the DC dining scene is The Dabney from chef Jeremiah Langhorne. My wife Jun and I have always had a satisfying meal at the restaurant that showcases Mid-Atlantic cuisine with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients, particularly on the vegetable side. In recent years, the restaurant has somewhat downsized its menu into a five-course format (at $145 per person) from a longer (and +$200) one, and even allows a la carte options, perhaps catering to the diners in the DC area who are looking for a good dinner option without shelling out. We visited the restaurant last month for the first time since the menu format change. One thing I noticed from the new menu for the spring season was how much more the vegetables were a focus of each dish. Was that change due to surging food costs in recent years or more of a seasonal factor with many vegetables available in the spring? In any event, we didn't mind knowing the restaurant's prowess with vegetables. The fireside farms fava beans was a fun snack where can extract each bean and dip onto either aioli sauce or lime salt. Blue fin tuna with sweet pepper and orange on top of crispy potato was also a very nice bite, as was the grits & grain sourdough tartine with whipped ricotta and brown butter honey. The kohlrabi salad worked well with yogurt and cucumber, gai lan (think Chinese broccoli) was expertly charred to give an alluring smoky flavor, and the signature hearth roasted vegetables with farro verde felt quite spot on for spring dining, too. For the main dish, instead of the fluke and half chicken on the menu, we were offered wagyu ribeye from Black Hawk Farms in Kentucky. Jun was really curious to try the steak so we opted for the 22 oz one. I didn't realize at that point but this ribeye might have been the most expensive steak we've had (I should've caught on the menu card next to the ribeye that it was $11 / oz meaning the piece that we chose was in the mid-$200 range!). The restaurant said they would deduct $40 from the tasting menu for the ribeye but the sticker shock at the end of the meal felt real. That said, the wagyu ribeye was one of the best steak dishes I've had at a restaurant in recent years, with more or less perfect texture of the beef that was melting in my mouth. We both wondered how much of the same ribeye would've been worth in the retail market. The sides of cauliflower and potato worked very well with the steak, too. We also did very well with the desserts. The buttermilk biscuit strawberry shortcake with strawberries felt appropriate for the spring, and the Baked Virginia with peanut ice cream and chocolate chess pie was a decadent dish that I hope that the restaurant continues to keep in its menu in the long run. Getting a reservation at The Dabney is perhaps not as challenging as other leading restaurants in DC, but the dining room got fully packed over time so I would still recommend booking in advance for prime-time seatings. The dining room has stayed more or less the same in terms of décor and ambiance since the restaurant moved to the current location, with a giant hearth featuring prominently at the center of the kitchen. Jun has always wondered if the dining space configuration could've changed a bit to give at least some diners closer access to the kitchen for more interactions with the staff. The wine and cocktail list at The Dabney has always been more than solid, although I felt that wine pairing options available for complementing the tasting menu were a little overpriced. At The Dabney, Jun and I know what to expect from the restaurant. As long as we are in DC, we will continue to visit the restaurant every once in a while for solid, well-executed cooking. read more

See all

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

See all

Had a stellar birthday dinner here (April prix fixe menu) with the best view of the open hearth. Service was 10/10 & we enjoyed every bite! Stand-outs for us were the fish dishes, pig ears, & the lamb. Each dish was perfectly balanced & the ingredients were extremely fresh & simple. My only complaint is the cornbread...it was extremely salty to the point where we couldn't even eat it. wonder if we may have gotten a 'bad' batch. Overall, was an amazing experience & we can't wait to come back. read more

See all

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

See all

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

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

Andrew is an AMAZING server and with food like this... oh my gosh! Great time celebrating a retirement with a dear friend and my daughter! If you are celebrating something very important and can afford it- this is your place! Wagu steak is the best I've ever had! read more

The Dabney - Steak/chicken special corn bread... and sides omg - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Fun chill vibe at this restaurant focused on mid Atlantic food. Service was friendly and helpful. Interesting cocktails and reasonably priced wines, although the list is not extensive. They used to be tasting menu only but have an Ala carte menu as well. Everything was tasty especially the pea dish. For a shared main the fluke which is kind of a humble fish was outstanding! read more

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Moving to DC 2.5 years ago, this has been my regular restaurant. Once a quarter, I visit. Not only is the food sensational (I always dine solo at bar and do a la carte), I return because of Damon. His memory is impeccable, and he's a delight to talk to - such an asset to this restaurant. Please commend Damon, as this is the big reason I frequent here. read more

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

See all

Beyond delicious. Dinner for one, no reservation, got there right at opening. Had the bar pretty much to myself for all of 10 min tops. The place gets packed but it's chill vibes and super friendly service. Being a first timer MJ gave me the best menu recommendations: lamb tostada, and sweet potato roll. I added a few oysters. I definitely see the appeal of the sweet potato roll but fish and soft bread don't do it for me. Now that lamb though..... and those oysters....both were CHEF'S KISS. I had but a brief encounter with The Dabney but I enjoyed every minute, every bite and it is totally worth it. read more

The Dabney - Chef's signature on the glass so classy - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

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

See all

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

Food was great! Drinks not so much, and we also were sat right next to the kitchen, so with the fire it became very hot at moments. For what you're paying, I wouldn't say it's worth it. Happy we went, but will not return read more

Dinner in mid May, 2026. Across the back alley from the Lorax quote, you'll find The Dabney. Yes, it's in the alley, so don't look for it on the street. You may envision classic Mid Atlantic ingredients as something homely, but the crew here creates something special that changes with the seasons. It feels like you're eating WITH the land and sea, and the dining menu has a map showing everywhere they get their ingredients in the region. I LOVE that. Still, tap water only no bottled,but they do have glass bottled Coca Cola and ginger ale. 4/5 We sat right in front of the kitchen, right across from the open hearth. Be prepared for that heat, it's really a part of the experience. Also part of the experience: We had to ask for the à la carte dinner menu when we saw the bone marrow being plated in the kitchen. I wish we were given the à la carte menu along with our prix fixe menu because we would've never known to grab the yummy extras we ate. First up on the tasting menu was the bread with sorghum butter. Sorghum syrup tastes like richer honey, so it really worked well with the crisp, buttery bread. 5/5 Snack: We both had the tuna over crispy potato with slices of radish, citrus, and mint. All the flavors went well together, peppery and clean citrus, though the potato was a little greasy. 4.5/5 I was served my own bone marrow snack à la carte alongside my scallop crudo. The scallop was sweet, the rhubarb sour, and the dish was delicious! My husband had the pig ear salad, which he thoroughly enjoyed as a country boy himself. The bone marrow was fun to add, with a little spiced salt? I'm using that at home! 5/5 Next was the crab with asparagus and lemon balm for me. I took two bites, both had shell. Which SUCKS because it tasted AMAZING. 4/5 My husband had the black bass with morels from the À la carte menu and pork belly with strawberry and verde farro. This was a favorite of mine; my husband gave me his pork belly while he dined on the bass since I got scared of the crab. I NEED that pork belly to stay on menu permanently. Smoky, tender, the strawberry and the farro were seamless additions. 10/5 My husband said, "I've been asking for a good, crispy piece of fish for forever at a restaurant!" About his bass. And the morels?? Divine. That sauce was scraped UP. Pack it up, it's a winner baby. 10/5 We had the family style Elysian Farms lamb, which is the same farm Jönt got their lamb when it was on menu last year. This lamb porterhouse does NOT disappoint. We watched it get flame broiled in the hearth as we were eating. Served with more farro, naan, sauces. Not a single complaint. 5/5 Desserts: we had the pineapple fool and buttermilk pie. That pie is WORTH IT. I don't wanna hear anything about a diet, that flaky crust and creamy filling and perfect whipped cream with slumped strawberries made me miss my grandma's pie so bad. 15/5 A definite must try restaurant. read more

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Wow! What an incredible dinner last night. We live in Arlington, VA but hadn't had the chance to eat at The Dabney before last night. My husband and I like to go on dates where we go to one of the many wonderful museums in the area to see an exhibit and then go out to eat. We didn't have reservations so we arrived shortly before opening time at 5:30 pm. We sat at the bar area and our bartender, MJ, was fantastic. He was obviously busy with other patrons but took the time to give us history on the restaurant, food recommendations, etc. I'm glad we got there when we did as the restaurant quickly filled up! Very popular place to be on a Saturday night! The playlist was a mix of classic and newer rock and fun to listen to! The cocktails on the menu were fun and inventive and delicious - a lot of creativity went into creating the drinks and fresh herbs from the garden garnished the drinks. We ordered off the à la carte menu and it was perfect. We ordered the fried zucchini, tomato tartine, hush puppy Caesar salad, and the crabmeat with gazpacho which was out of this world. We also ordered the pole beans which were so tasty! 10/10 for food. We had the Virginian for dessert- chess pie with peanut ice cream and that was topped with a meringue. We had a delicious glass of Chablis with our meal and an after dinner drink of a new take on The Grasshopper- which tasted like an Andes Mint! We then took a look at The Cellar which is a bar and seafood bar. That had a fun vibe there too and enjoyed talking the bartenders - very knowledgeable! Highly recommend The Dabney and we will be back! Thanks for a wonderful and delicious evening! read more

Came here for my partners birthday and we had an amazing time. Service was 10/10. The food was amazing. The lobster starter was so good. The only thing that I wasn't a fan of was the chicken large plate. Wasn't a fan of the bbq sauce. Other than that it was an amazing experience. Ambiance was nice and romantic. 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

See all

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

This restaurant is a DC staple! The inside of the restaurant was wonderful, I wish there was more space for those who wanted the a la cart. I love the hearth cooking they do, they make very interesting dishes and the menu changes regularly. They have a fantastic wine list and cocktails are great! They are usually very kind with trying to accommodate you and your party if you reach out. A solid restaurant all around with local cuisine to the area: mid Atlantic (there are not a lot of restaurants that feature this regional cuisine) read more

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

See all

food was pretty good but the service was awful. completely shocked for a michelin restaurant. had to wait half an hour for our reservation, nothing was timed out. was supposed to be a dining experience, not just throw some above average food at you. the service tarnished michelin's ratings. read more

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

See all

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

See all

The food was superb! Probably the best deviled eggs I have ever tried. The crab cake as well, while I would be hesitant to call it Maryland style due to lack of old bay the end result is delicious blue crab and a hint of lemon that complimented the dish quite well. While the chicken dinner was good it was decidedly weak compared to the rest of the dinner (we did chefs menu). Now for everything else. I understand it's a hip place but the music is simply too loud. I could barely hear our waiter and she was right next to us. After that our annoyance came from those who sat beside us. They were rude and off putting to the waiter essentially harassing him with questions however they were then rewarded with free appetizers. Rather sour for the experience, as always those who are polite seem to get nothing in this city. read more

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all