Sea scallops (succulent) and the Weekend at the Beach cocktail were wonderful as was the grilled shrimps appetizer. Bread basket contained warm baguette with a side of garlic butter and Boursin cheese, delicious. The asparagus next to the sea scallops was full of fiber. Hard. No longer tender. Probably too old. A pleasant (small) restaurant on the 13th floor of the National Press Club building (inside the Club; the front desk will open the gate for you as you step out of the elevator) with friendly and efficient service. Very attentive. A few guests seem to be regulars, as the host and waiters knew them and were chatting with them a bit. Menu was small but they had a long wine list and several cocktails. The bathroom was small (2 stalls only) but clean and pleasant. Overall it felt upscale. It's interesting they had automated faucets that dispensed soap, water, and then ... even hot air to dry your hands! See the photos. It's an all-in-one unit. Pretty fancy. You'd dry your hand right at the sink. We came at 6 pm on a quiet Tuesday evening. We overheard the other table, they were here because -- like us -- they were going to National Theatre next door for a show afterwards. Convenient location. We counted a total of four tables dining including us, between 6 and 7:15 pm when we left. The atmosphere was civilized, relaxed. Heavy wood paneling. Quite a "gentleman's club" vibe as all the other tables were older couples. read more

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I've been a Press Club member for many years and have always loved The Fourth Estate restaurant, a crown jewel hidden in DC. I brought guests here even when the restaurant's patronization was significantly reduced for reasons I never figured out why. The restaurant has always been good and I've not had any complaints, nor have my guests. However, tonight's visit was very disappointing from the start. The four of us were give a square table off to the side and near the kitchen area. The table was crowded, smaller than we'd like for comfort and our knees and feet hit or rested against the aluminum structure that held the table up. I thought we had wooden legs? Guess those tables have been replaced? When I saw the round 4-person table in the center being vacated, I asked for our party to be moved to it. I could tell the manager was not happy with the move. I told him I would like to think that members would get a little better treatment than non-members. He simply said most people enjoyed the view from the table we were at. I said the view stunk, it's a view of the interior of the building, I was having dinner with and preferred to view them. Once we relocated, Eberto, our waiter asked for our order. We ordered our appetizers and he asked for our entree orders. We told him we can only eat one thing at a time, so only order one course at a time. He wasn't happy but accepted it. As we were eating the appetizers, the manager came and asked for us to order the entrees. I expressed my dislike of being rushed when eating and he said the kitchen was closing soon. (I don't understand why the kitchen closes at 8:30 pm on a Saturday night, but later on weeknights. Doesn't make much sense to me in DC). When the entrees were delivered we noted the very easily seen lack of consistency between the very same entrees two of us and six guests of ours had the night before. The steak was thinner and lacked the blue cheese crumbles listed on the menu and we had the night before. The crab cakes were much bigger tonight than last night. Consistency is important especially when I'm bringing guests and bragging to them how great the restaurant is. As we were eating the entre our check was given to us. I asked why we couldn't get desert. Elberto then took our desert order. In contrast, last night everything, except the small crab cakes, was great as always. As a side note - Our executive chef (Susan) is fantastic and has created interesting menus for years. The current menu includes roasted rabbit and the soup if "the day," last night and tonight was lamb and goat soup (really?). Those items may be selling well, but I know none of us last night or tonight (a total of 11 people) even considered ordering either item, even though we wanted soup. I see this as a lost revenue potential for the restaurant. Maybe more traditional soup and less exotic meats are best? Bottom line - although very stressful and disappointing tonight, but mostly good last night, I highly recommend this place. Hopefully there will be more consistency in the future. read more

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Fourth Estate Restaurant on the 13th floor of the National Press Building at 529 14th St NW, Washington DC is an exceptional, elegant evening of fine dining and peaceful bliss. Surrounding by several clubs, hotels, and the hustle and bustle of White House East (Theatre District), this restaurant, it's menu offerings, and solitude is just extraordinary. We had a dinner here Saturday night and all were impressed and pleased with the main courses, desserts, and wine selection. The Manager on Duty this particular night, a Chilean if I'm not mistaken, was just outstanding.  He was so friendly, helpful with any questions we had about the area or menu, and was just so pleasant and friendly. If you find yourself having the opportunity to book a table at Fourth Estate, go for it, and spoil yourself! read more

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The service was very good. The restaurant is clean and neat and a bit formal looking though the staff is friendly and the dress code casual. A complimentary basket of hearty bread with salmon spread was brought out first. We began with the juicy and flavorful lamb meatballs with ginger pieces, so succulent. I can't wait to repeat that dish as well as my artic char with tasty spinach and yellow rice with peas. My hub liked his crab cakes and also looks forward to a return visit. read more

The Fourth Estate - Outside this building where the restaurant is hidden. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yelpers, here's one of the best kept secrets in Washington DC - NPC has a fantastic restaurant that opens to the public! The Fourth Estate has just about the venue around - service, atmosphere, reasonably priced menu, adequate selections of delicious dishes. My favorite lunch dish is the Calamari Salad - not only it's delicious, it looks like it made with care and there's plenty of it. If you're in town for a visit, instead of going to one of the establishments close by, why don't you bring your VIP over for lunch? It costs about the same and it doubles as a memorable experience. Once you've arrived on the 13th floor, there's no waiting, and if there's a line, you and your guests can walk around the hallway to see what other dignitaries had visited this place. Enjoy!!! read more

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My friend had always wanted to try this restaurant, so when she came across a promotion, she couldn't pass it up. We didn't make a reservation so we decided to go before they became busy. We were the first dinner customers that evening. To start I ordered a mojito, and was a bit disappointed. It was extremely sweet and I couldn't taste anything else. For appetizer, we ordered the lamb meatballs. Another disappointment. There was very little seasoning and flavor. The raw vegetables used to garnish the dish tasted better. Since I hate wasting food, I was sure to finish it, and the sauce/dip that came with it helped. For entree I ordered the pan-seared sea scallops. Now that was delicious. With the way the evening started, I was pleasantly pleased that it was done right. My friend ordered the Angus beef strip steak, and she liked it too. So, the chef redeemed himself. The waiter was very nice and pleasant to talk to. He was able to answer every question we had. The restaurant is located on the 13th floor of the national press building. It is a mid-upscale restaurant with an old decor flare. read more

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My friend is literally addicted to the Fourth Estate's scallops: She ate here three times during Restaurant Week! Being vegetarian, I didn't try them, but hers did look tasty. The Fourth Estate menu, on its face, was not veggie friendly. But I asked the nice staff if they could accommodate me. They asked if I liked cheese (Yes!), then they spoke with the chef, who kindly prepared: - a fresh salad made of avocado, tomatoes, hearts of palm, green leafy sprouts, and mango. - a smooth cold peach-ginger ale soup (yeah that sounds unique, doesn't it? I liked its fizzy sweetness) - a pleasantly cheesy vegetarian risotto with red and yellow bell peppers, onions, zucchini, tomatoes... - the highlight: a damn fine cheese plate. It had an Irish cheese (made with Guinness!), a sharp Spanish goat cheese, an Italian sheep cheese with black peppercorns, a British "Harlack" cheese made with horseradish, and a pungent blue cheese whose origins I forget. The plate was served with small berries, almonds, and some honey. On the whole, four large tasty courses made a good Restaurant Week deal. It was also fun to browse the wall photos of NPC events (George Clooney, etc.).The only reasons I don't rate the Fourth Estate higher are that I didn't see any windows (on the 13th floor, you'd expect some sort of view, no?), and the non-Restaurant Week prices are just a little too high for my taste (but if you're a National Press Club member, you'd get a discount). read more

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Definitely one of the best kept secrets in DC! And you don't have to be a member of the press to dine here? I'm sold!! Was lucky to have had lunch here with several colleagues and an employee of the National Press Club. I had the Seared Scallops, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Sautéed Spinach and Red Lentils Rice. The flavor of everything on the plate was exactly how I love it to be. The scallops were just the right temperature, the sauce had so much flavor(!) and the spinach and lentil rice were perfect side dishes. I'm not a fan of plain spinach but when mixed with the creamy sauce, it was so good! For dessert i shared a bit of heaven. A sweet biscuit with whipped cream? and pieces of fruit - so good! I don't like chocolate (I know I'm one of few women who don't) so to have a dessert dish that did not have any chocolate was a nice change. The added treat: Executive Chef Susan Delbert came out to our table to talk with us and she was incredibly nice. The bathrooms were a bit of a hike but I don't mind especially because they were clean. Overall, I can't wait to go back! read more

The Fourth Estate - Seared scallops - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Fourth Estate is not going to win any awards for culinary excellence. After perusing a lackluster menu, my wife and I thought it best to go with a couple of bacon-wrapped filets, which came with some uninspired potatoes and some fresh--and enjoyable--spinach. The gravy was likely out of a can. We gave Baked Alaska a try for dessert and were amused by the rendition here. It was a weak facsimile of the real thing and--as I said--amusing. Service was cool and gruffly correct rather than warm and welcoming. They did keep my water glass filled and that was good since the water and afore-mentioned spinach were the best things on the menu. We were there on a half-price voucher, which made the tab a lot easier to swallow. I would not want to pay even a dollar more! read more

OK, so here's a review of Fourth Estate by a current/former journalist who is also an avid restaurant goer. My wife purchased a TravelZoo special. One of the attractions likely of going to this restaurant is that it is located right in the NPC in DC. Lots of historic photos on the wall, very interesting to look at either before or after dinner. Judging from the reviews here, one has to observe that this place is still struggling. The dinner menu is extremely limited. TravelZoo special gets you a full bottle of NPC-branded (Rutherford Wines of CA) wine, which is very nice. You get ONE starter -- not so great. And no dessert -- again, not great. Dinner rolls were not warmed, clearly left over from hours before. My wife enjoyed her crabcakes. I got the veal -- huge and fairly tasty with potatoes and beans -- but it wasn't the best Porterhouse veal I had ever had, just OK. Service provided by 3 or 4 waiters. When we came in, there was no one at the front to greet us -- had to wait a little bit for the host to appear to seat us. There was a definite downturn in attentiveness at one point when we had to ask one of the other waiters to get our waiter back to order dessert, which we did. French press coffee was good, dessert was pretty good. But overall, nothing that I will remember forever based on taste of the food alone. I don't want to be overly critical because everyone did a passable job, but the food seemed to me to be just a couple of steps above what one would expect to get if one were attending. . . . wait for it -- some lunch event AT the NPC where a newsmaker was speaking. For me, that does not place The Fourth Estate among "must go to" restaurants in DC, certainly not worth a drive downtown in cold rainy weather. Hopefully, they can improve. read more

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

We went there for dinner last night. First lesson for this Texas girl back in DC after 20 years, a lot of the restaurants only take reservations through Open Table. Next, make sure you get the date right as the calendar defaults to the current date. Signage is a little challenging to get to the actual restaurant, but once you get there it is quiet and perfect for conversation. Drinks were good, service was timely and the food was very good. I had the duck breast which was perfect; another guest had the salmon; one other had the Angus steak while the last had the mushroom ravioli. Everyone was complimentary of their meals. Good portions, very reasonably priced. Now tips to the owners: 1. Invest in some enhancements: get real menus. 2. Keep your website menu current. My mouth was watering for shrimp and grits advertised on the website but no longer offered. Better to say on a website what you know you can offer rather than set your guests up for disappointment at the beginning of the meal. read more

So, I went last night with two friends and we enjoyed restaurant week selections: Fried Oysters on Frisée Salad (very good) with Bacon Lardons Mango Moroccan Salad with Grapes, Blueberries and Walnuts on Lemon dressed Greens. Dinner: Vegetarian Butternut Squash and Roasted Mushroom Wellington in Puff Pastry. Alaska King Crab Legs,Braised Lamb Shank. Dessert: Baked Alaska with Angel Cake, Flaming Meringue and coconut snowballs. I loved my meal. The lamb shank was huge. My friends thought their meals were great. We ate every crumb. The executive chef came to our table and made some jokes but seemed very interested in us coming back, a nice touch. Cons: Wait staff, table settings and decor were all very dated -- 1970s. If they gave it a fresh look and maybe cleaned the menu up just a little this place could be something. I would go again. The portions and flaming dessert alone is worth it. read more

Birthday dinner for Tom. I used the Travelzoo coupon 2 for $39 dinner. On Friday, April 26, 2019. When I booked our RSVP, I mentioned to Fransciso it's Tom's birthday. He gave us a tiny happy meal tiramisu dessert with a birthday candle. The wonderful African-American on duty waiter gave us a "Happy Birthday" song for Tom which surprised Tom. However, I noticed they charged us for that dessert even though it was his birthday. My point here is. If the restaurant wants more business from the public, they should be more generous with not billing us for that "Happy Meal" dessert for $8 when the dessert menu said it was $6.75. They should "comp" it. Also, the restaurant wants patrons to be business casual but the manager- Fransciso on duty dress terribly as the evening manager. He wore jeans and no tie or business suit. Don't forget about first impressions makes a huge impression on others. One more note, the other staff waiter Latino on duty had a serious facial expression when he delivered our food. It would be better if he at least smile to his patrons as the customer's determine how well they were served during their experienced. Do not order the Chicken appetizer as it was terrible. Definitely, the crab cakes are worth it as they are lump crab cakes. read more

Came here for a Wednesday night dinner. The restaurant was not busy, but understandable given the time and day of the week. We ordered chicken skewer and smoked salmon for appetizer, honestly nothing too impressive. For entrée, we ordered the Scallop dish and crab cake. The scallops were huge and very well cooked. Crab cake was tasty as well. The favorite part of my meal was dessert. I had the chocolate espresso tart(?) Not sure if it was a tart or not, but it was one of the best chocolate desserts I have ever had. Incredibly rich, just the right texture and sweetness. (It maybe a little too sweet for some) I almost just want to come back here for dessert! read more

Lunch here in August 2018 proved to be very memorable. The chef was an elegant and warm person who visited our table to say hello and thank us. The service was attentive. The food was very good. I ordered the Vegan Acorn Squash dish - it was good. The place was quiet and sparsely populated allowing for easy conversation I liked the luxurious old world feel of the restaurant. I will return! Two thumbs up. read more

This restaurant maybe a little difficult to find but well worth your effort. Very welcoming and the food is spectacular. You can tell by our pictures that this is a must see. We will definitely be back.. read more

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

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Came here with my husband to celebrate the fast sale of our condo and had a really nice time. Early evening, mid-week so it wasn't crowded at all. Our server was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. We were pretty hungry so we played it pretty safe. Caesar salads to start but we did split the vegetarian zucchini quesadilla; I wasn't blown away but it was fair. I modified my tasty crab cake entree and opted for the asparagus instead of the pineapple slaw (allergy). I'm glad they were open to substitutions. The blueberry cobbler a la mode was a delightful surprise, the cornbread crust was a yummy touch. I have background in news so The National Press Club is kind of hallowed for me, such a rich history. It took us forever to leave because I wanted to read every picture caption! read more

The Fourth Estate - Hallway of history! Soak up every picture and caption--legendary! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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After a long drive on the road, nothing like a great meal to close the day. While dining here I had veal porterhouse, cheesy herb potatoes, roasted carrots, and Apple pie dessert. The meal started out with bread that was warm & fresh and served with chive butter. The bread basket came with an array of different breads. The veal was tender and juicy. The veal was served with a delectable au jus. The veal was so tender I barely had to use a knife to get the meat off the bone. The potatoes were served with a cheesy sauce. The roasted carrots were tender and sweet. The dessert I tried was the Apple crisp. The dessert was ok but nothing that stood out. The crisp that was used was hard, the dessert was served warm (not hot) , and the dessert was tart instead of sweet. read more

Great service I really enjoyed my Dinner! They were very accommodating although I was a little late to my rsvp due to traffic. The food was made to perfection! Wine was great. The waiter was down to earth which made everything worth it. I love the location. Parking sucks a bit. If you want a fun night out in D.C. start off with dinner here! Food was so Good! read more

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The Fourth Estate is a hidden DC treasure for those who can appreciate it. Tucked away on the 13th floor, it is the restaurant of the historic and prestigious National Press Club and is open to the public. Here's why we loved it: 1) Food was fabulous and far more reasonably priced than we expected. The husband ordered the scallops ($26) and I ordered the crab cakes ($33). His four sea scallops were huge and prepared perfectly--sweet and tender but not chewy. My two crab cakes were nearly all crab with little filler. The crab cakes were normal size and about the same size as two scallops put together. The husband also ordered the tomato-based seafood chowder and said it was tasty, fresh and delicious. We ended the meal with a chocolate espresso dessert that was divine. My husband, a huge wine drinker, ordered a bottle of the house (National Press Club) Cabernet ($30) and was quite pleased with it. The chef came out to the dining room to personally thank each table for dining with them, which I thought was a nice touch. 2) Service: not one bad thing to say about it. Our server knew exactly what to do. He kept a keen eye on us, approached when we wanted him to, hung back when we didn't. Various people cleared dishes as we completed each course, filled our water glasses and were distinctly unobtrusive. 3) Historical Atmosphere: The National Press Club itself is steeped in history and the decor of the 13th floor reflects that. No, you won't find modern string lights hanging from the ceiling or sleek booths. Instead, think Mad Men office with "celebrity" (ie, politicians, newsmakers) photographs hanging on the walls (like Sardis or Carnegie Deli in New York City.) It's like dining in a museum. 4) Great date place! How awkward is a first date generally? Here, you can walk around the 13th floor together, admiring the images, telling each other stories about the people in the photos. If you love history or nostalgia, it's a fun place for both. 5) Judging from other Yelp reviews, there are deals to be had. So you can enjoy a really fabulous meal for a very low price (in fact, an unheard of price for DC!) A couple of things that kept it from 5 stars: A little background music (soft jazz or Frank Sinatra to capitalize on the history?) would be nice to break up the silence and distract from other diners' conversations. Padded chairs. Spread diners out a bit. It seemed like each new party was seated in a row, next to the one who arrived just prior. One side of the room was filled, the other, practically empty. When able, leave some space between seating. Lower the lights. It was awfully bright in there, but, admittedly, this is a personal preference. If you are looking for flash or an energized atmosphere, don't come. But if you want great food at a fair price in a refined, classy environment, check it out! read more

Not worth the price. Had lunch here today and ordered the She Crab Soup and the Lobster Grilled Cheese. There were maybe five other occupied tables in the place. The food was just okay, but both my soup and sandwich were lukewarm. How can a grilled cheese sandwich be lukewarm? It's literally grilled! I was out with associates or else I would have asked the waiter to pop both dishes in the microwave for a minute. The fries were the best part of the meal. read more

Food was delicious! We ordered the salmon salad & crab cake entrees. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the salad was HUGE. I asked for light dressing and it had the slight taste of dressing, just the way I like it. The crab cakes were 99% crab and the slaw was tangy enough to keep your palette alive. We do signed with mango and raspberry sorbet. Sorbet was fruity with intense flavor. For drinks: house Manhattan and tang & tonic. We highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be dining in again. Service: 4 stars Noise: very low Location: interesting and worth experiencing in DC read more

The Fourth Estate - Salmon salad - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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And Goldilocks said "This chair is too hard." To understand what is going on here, you need to go back to 1787. At that time Edmund Burke was arguing before the British parliament for the need of a free press to hold the three estates of government accountable. Those being The Lords Spiritual, The Lords Temporal, and The Commons. This according to a Wikepedia account about The Fourth Estate. So our basic freedoms in this country are in part secured by an unfettered free press. As you walk past The National Press Club, down a hallowed corridor lined with pictures of legendary giants from a free press, to this restaurant, you can't help but be swept up by this pillar of democracy. And it is a good time to reflect on what keeps America great, and how fragile freedom can be. But with a restaurant steeped in tradition, comes a downside. Maybe chairs in the 18th century were utilitarian, but today it is possible to make them with some contouring, and perhaps a little padding. On to the meal. My wife had a salad that featured mixed greens, butternut squash, spiced pecans, feta, and cranberries. This was a delightful dish, not too heavily dressed, with bitter radicchio playing off some milder lettuce leafs, sweet crunchy spicy pecans, and the tart cranberries. I had a tomato based soup that contained crab, fish, shrimp, and vegies. The soup tasted like crab soup, but the seafood elements were skimpy. My wife ordered the crab cakes. They were 2 to a serving, and reasonably large. A white sauce was drizzled over them, adding some moisture, but the sauce lacked flavor. The crab meat was shredded, lacking the jumbo lumps that I prefer. The binding was slightly more than ideal, so that the crab flavor was slightly muted. A side of slaw that could have more acid, and a side of rice pilaf that was neutral tasting, completed the dish. I ordered grilled lamb chops medium rare, and got them medium well. As a result, they were dry, but they were still tender, so clearly the meat was high quality. They had roasted cauliflower and a side of jicama slaw that were both well executed. We ordered a bottle of house cabernet that came with a Fourth Estate label, but in fact was really nice. The service was was to be commended. The staff was gracious, informative, and attentive. One last aside. Park your car at the 1325 G street garage to get complementary parking. Bon Appetite! read more

Ultimately, it is the skill level of this kitchen that made each dish deliver the proper flavors with a level of refinement that kept the diner impressed and feeling properly bestowed upon throughout each course. Judging by the dishes we savored that night, I am definitely tempted to return to this restaurant for their regular fare which I can assume will live up to my expectation. Read rest of review at Wongeats blog website. read more

Restaurant Week at Fourth Estate, the restaurant atop the National Press Club has been very rewarding. I began feeling very nervious as I entered the restaurant because atmosphere feels very ritzy. Crazy random things started running through my mind: Does the knife goes on the right and the fork on the left? Or, is it knife of on the left and the fork on right? Which fork do you use to eat the salad? Which wine goes with lamb? Am I even dressed appropriately? Do I look poor? However after being seated by our expremely nice hostess, my nerves began to ease. Good thing, too because there is a lot to enjoy here? There are lots of cool pictures of all the people who visited the press club, such as Bill Gates. The servers are extremely friendly. Most importantly, the food was A-MAZ-ing. The style of cooking is New American (what? Old america was good enough???). The restuarant week menu showcased the best of food genre. The Mango Moroccan Salad with Grapes, Blueberries and Walnuts on Lemon dressed Greens was really good. Sweet and tangy. The salad in the Fried Oysters on Frisée Salad with Bacon Lardons was really savory. Lamb shank was well cooked. The vegetables and potatoes tased really good with cider reduction sauce that drizzled it. The real tasty entree was the Rum, Chile and Pineapple Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans. Sweet, savory, delightful! After such great entree, the desserts were kind of a let down. The Baked Alaska with Angel Cake and Flaming Meringue was not that impressive. Specifically the meringue tasted burnt, but the cake and filling inside was frozen. The Peach Crème Fraiche with Mango and Fresh Berries was subtle ... too subtle Over all, everything was great, I'd love to go back read more

I bought a $49 dinner for 2 deal on Travel Zoo otherwise I would not have known about this place. I had the Shrimp Risotto, my husband had the steak and my son had the pork chop. They all were very delicious. Service was great too. One of the servers was teaching my son how to fold napkin in various shapes. They also validate for parking. Go to the PMI garage on G Street between 13th and 14th St. read more

Service and atmosphere = 3 stars Food = 4 stars Overall = 3.5 stars We went for brunch on a Saturday, which I think is a new thing there. I used a groupon so we essentially got everything for half off, which was great since it was pretty expensive (especially since we each had a drink). It was literally empty, which felt a little awkward. Our waiter was pretty formal but not so attentive and a bit forgetful, which was partly annoying because there were about two other people total in the restaurant. That said, it's a cool space with a lot of history (though the view of the inner courtyard is nothing to write home about). The food was really fantastic and the brunch cocktails (mimosa for me, bloody mary for my friend) were generous and delicious. I don't know if I would go back but I definitely enjoyed my visit! read more

BEST.KEPT.SECRET.EVER!!! The 4th estate has just been remodeled to give it an open and more airy feel. The brunch is AMAZING and the prices are lesser than you pay elsewhere- but it's still downtown, so it's not cheap. Wednesday night lobster is brilliant, the lobster is seasoned with something barely detectable, but completely delicious and addictive- I can't rave enough. A fab place to take people you wish to impress. My 2nd favorite establishment in town. read more

I was here for a business lunch for 15 people. They were Portuguese journalists and were mightily impressed with the fact that they could dine in the National Press Club, in a private room with tuxedoed waiters. I thought the space was nice, too, although for a 13th floor location, they could have had the windows face outwards instead of into the NPC's courtyard. The service was excellent, very prompt and professional. But the food left something to be desired. As it was a private lunch, we had a set menu of a salad starter (mesclun greens, not bad, nothing great), choice of three entrees (salmon, chicken caesar, or filet mignon), and choice of two desserts (panna cotta and apple tart). I opted for the salmon, which was a standard cut and cooked fine, but came with a bizarre mango/pineapple/avocado salsa on the side. The salsa might have been fine as a light tapenade or garnish, but as a complete side that took up half the plate, it was too much and too tropical for the rich salmon. The apple dessert had a lovely presentation and was pretty good, but, like the starter, nothing to write home about. For what it was (a business lunch), it was a success, but don't come here expecting anything hip or revelatory. read more

A culinary and service roller coaster. I've just returned from a restaurant week trial of The Fourth Estate. Overall, the experience was good... and unique. The restaurant is situated in the top floor of the National Press Club building... yet commands a view only of the meager inside atrium of the building. The service was sporadic, though all of the staff were friendly and seemed genuinely interested in our enjoyment of the meal. We did not receive bread until asking for it twice. The appetizer of fried oysters was really good. The entree of king-crab legs was also quite good (and I liked the fact that they pre-split the shell for me). The dessert was well presented (complete with fire on the flaming Alaska) but fell short in the taste category as all of the fruit was still frozen solid and seemed to be canned. The wine selection was good and included one of my favorites (St. Supery from Napa) priced only a few dollars more than supermarket price! I don't think I'll go back but it was worth a trip once... if nothing more than to check out the cool pictures of various celebrities, politicians, and entertainers that have frequented the National Press Club. read more

I went here after purchasing a $49 dinner for two from TravelZoo. It was a little tricky to find the place, but thanks to tips from the other reviews, that wasn't too much of an issue. Just remember that there are two different elevators (they have signs directing you to the proper one). The hostess was great as well as the servers. While I was there, the crowd seemed to be older (~30+) and saw families, groups of friends, and couples. Appearance looked like fine dining, but pretty relaxed atmosphere. As far as food goes, I had: Winter Fruit Salad with Grapefruit, Pineapple and Kiwi over Spinach - Nothing special to me, to be honest I didn't eat the entire thing even though it was very light. Grilled NY Strip Steak - I had it cooked medium, it was tasty, but again, nothing special. I'm not much of a champagne drinker, so I can't really comment on that. Overall, the service was great, but the food was just okay. I wouldn't go here for the food, but if you're interested in seeing all the pictures and such (it is in the National Press Building) it might be worth a trip. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner! My husband order the cod and I ordered the vegetable Napoleon. We also both got the grilled Caesar salad to start. All of the food was unique and delicious. The service was excellent. read more

Perhaps 3 stars is too generous...? Went here for lunch with co-workers during restaurant week. Unlike some other places in the area, it wasn't too busy (certainly nowhere near capacity). I thought the food was not that great, quite frankly. Had an appetizer, main, and dessert. I asked for my steak medium rare; it was medium well. Service was fine, though perhaps a bit too leisurely for a mid-working day lunch (ok, service was kind of slow for a work day lunch... but we so rarely go out for lunch and we discussed work things). More than anything, I liked the location of this restaurant. Up in the press club; pictures and plaques everywhere. Aside from that, there's definitely better cuisine to be had in the area. Price was fine for what/where it was, but I have no idea what it would have cost if I had ordered off the regular menu... read more

Wow! Talk about a throw back to the old DC. Great service and great ambiance with a caveat - just imagine a nice formal place that your press club parents enjoyed. Nice white table cloths, pictures of famous Washingtonians, and very quiet. You won't find hipsters or tourists here. It is a hidden restaurant that you can still walk into without a reservation. A rare gem in DC! Food is above average - crab cakes were quite good. Lamb shank was gigantic. Soup of the day was Navy Bean Soup! You can't get more old DC than that. If you are tired of the fast lane in DC, I recommend a retreat to the Fourth Estate. read more

Came to D.C. And thought it would be cool to eat at the press club. The place was EMPTY. There were two other tables, both with a group of elderly guests. You could hear a pin drop. The food was fine, nothing special. The busboy must have come over 12 times to see if he could clear out plates while we were mid-chew. I can't imagine that they were short on plates as no one was there. There are plenty of other spots to check out while you are here. read more

We went for a reserved group dinner, so I can't comment on eating there as part of any other meal. Perhaps it was the fact that it was open bar, or that the occasion was a good one, but regardless I thought the food was fine. The hors d'oeuvres that the servers brought around were good, comparable or better than at most hotel banquets I've attended. The main dish included both fish and steak, and both were cooked just right: not spectacular, but not disappointing. The service during cocktails was great, but after the meal was so-so. The server poured coffee and then disappeared, without leaving the carafe or ever coming to pour any more. Oh well. read more

Oh, it's... fine. We went here at 8pm for Restaurant Week. The restaurant is pretty small - 20 tables maybe? - but only two other tables were occupied. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and it was awkward to hear your conversation echoing across the room. Maybe because it was August? In any case, it was very uncomfortable. Service was good - I'll give our waiter props for not hovering as so many do in exceptionally empty restaurants. We had the deconstructed Caesar salad (delicious, but hard to screw up) and a cherry tomato salad (just ok). The steak was very good, and my friend loved the salmon although the bite I had was unexceptional. The pastry shell for the coconut custard was dry and hard, and I wouldn't be surprised if the "angel food shortcake" came from Safeway. Overall, nothing was terrible... it just wasn't that exciting, either. (edited to fix a typo) read more

One of the best crabcakes I've ever had and I'm born and raised in Baltimore, MD! Really good good, creative food. Inside the Press Club - it's definitely a local historic treasure. Super friendly staff too! I wish it had windows with a view but I guess you can't have everything. read more

The Fourth Estate is a somewhat formal (think old formal) restaurant that is inside the Washington Press Club. Came here for a work lunch at 12:45 on a Friday (not in August). The place was totally and completely empty. There were 3 other folks in the room besides my party of three. Reservations were not needed. Service, however, was very personalized. When we mentioned we wanted to seat away from the speakers to talk, they turned the music down for us without our even having to ask. Service was not quick, but it was friendly enough. They don't really have a lunch menu so everything was from the dinner options. Prices ranged from $21-$35 for entrees. Soups and salads were $6-$9. The menu is kind of classing, and it's definitely not exciting. I had the arctic char which was surprisingly good. Nicely cooked and a huge serving size for lunch. The ambiance is masculine and stale in that old school DC politico kind of way. At least it's not a steak house though. Totally fine for what it is, and a decent place for a work meal if you are nearby. read more

I bought a dinner for 2 deal for this place at a great price. It was for 1 appetizer or dessert, two entrees and 1 bottle of wine. We don't drink, so they were gracious enough to let us have an 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts instead. The place is small and quiet, so you can enjoy your conversation; the size of the space also allows for the staff to be very attentive to your needs. We were very well taken care of while we were there. I can't say enough great things about the staff here...impeccable service! The coconut chicken skewer appetizer with mango sauce was nice and crispy on the outside, but quite tender inside. The wedge salad was awesome. Order the scallops for dinner; they were buttery and browned perfectly, and the lemon couscous was the ideal side. The crab cakes were made with huge chunks of lump crab meat and they melted in your mouth. the fried green tomatoes were delicious. The only complaint would be that there was a bit too much remoulade sauce on both entree; the proteins were seasoned so well that you didn't need all that sauce. We will happily come back here again, and will happily pay full price. read more

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

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