Had a dinner meeting and was appalled when the staff treated some Uniformed Police Officers who came in for dinner as unwanted guests. All they wanted was to eat dinner after a hard days work and the monocle staff can't accommodate them. Considering the Capitol Police is Headquartered next to them you would think they would be great-full for the free security it provides. I will never give them my business again! FYI this restaurant was the least busy and from past history of Dining there they never are busy or full to capacity. read more

After 20 years in DC, I've finally figured out this isn't a private club (don't judge--you know you thought it was one, too!), and I'm so happy I did. The food and drink are wonderful. It's the service, though, that makes this place special. They're friendly, courteous, and attentive, but not the kind of attentive that's annoying. I couldn't be happier with a venue! We'll definitely be return customers! read more

Now listen carefully. This place isn't for everybody. But if you love politics, good food old school Washington life style, and John Boehner piercing blue eyes, then this is the place. Please do not be turned off by my mentioning the House Speaker, he just happened to come in every time I was there. I personally love both the food, the owners and the overall , somewhat surreal atmosphere. The crab cakes are to die for ! Might be worth giving it a try. read more

Really nice group dinner. Food was great and staff was accommodating of a group of 12. Will definitely go back again!

Seriously disappointed. Try to use restaurant week as an opportunity to check out new restaurants so trekked over to the Hill for dinner this week. Reviews were good so we looked forward to a good meal. Upon entry it was pretty empty, no big deal. The people in front of us were in jean shorts and casual but figured tourists hit it up so guess that's why. The menu looked good so we ordered apps, entrees and they told us we'd get told the desserts after we ate. Honestly the waiter seemed annoyed he had to serve us despite it being empty. The apps were good. Loved the calamari - one of the best. The salad was decent. Nothing to complain about. Unfort it went downhill from there. My salmon had a very strong flavor to it. Not sure if it was the onions they added that overpowered it but I just wasn't feeling it the filet mignon had an up charge which didn't online but nonetheless we ordered it medium rare. It came pretty much rare but not wanting to make a fuss we didn't say anything since the waiter already seemed annoyed. The steak itself had a weird aftertaste which I can only assume was from the wine sauce but honestly never had a red wine sauce with that weird of a taste. Dessert we were told were four items - well three really but they repeated one 2x. When I asked about a dessert from the online menu he was annoyed and told me whatever I got would be good. Hmm okay. Went w the key lime pie - or lemon curd pie as they call it. It was pretty bad. I never leave dessert but I ate maybe half. It tasted watered down and not like key lime or graham cracker. Very disappointed. The other dessert choc cake was nearly as disappointing. We both left with a bad taste in our mouths and not just from the food. No wonder Feds don't like to do much work - they prob feel sick from eating at places like this! Okay maybe that was harsh but could be some truth to it! read more

This place is really great!! I had the strip steak and it was an inch thick and one of the best steaks I've had!! The service was outstanding!! This is a must try!!! Thanks a lot for the great experience, your friends in Oklahoma!! read more

As a first-timer in D.C., Monocle was an exciting and fascinating peek into political D.C. The staff is experienced and friendly, the drinks are incredibly, um, "robust" and the food... they have food? I munched on some fried appetizers but the people watching and the drinks were prioritized. The place seemed to be crawling with Lobbyists, Congressmen/women, staffers... and you get the feeling that many of Washington's deals are actually made here. If you can't get into the White House then make a stop off at Monocle your condolence prize. read more

Just ate at The Monocle last week for DC Restaurant Week. We figured we'd take advantage of the $34.15 per person 3-course meal to eat a lot of great, usually expensive food...we were not disappointed! The place definitely has an older air to it and is decorated with congressmen's signed pictures and quotes about America, government, etc. We started with some awesome, fluffy bread. So good. We had the grilled shrimp over pesto beans (fairly good, nothing to write home about) and calamari with red-pepper aioli (classic, very good) for appetizers. For our entrees I had the Crab Conrad (lump blue crabmeat stuffed in a Portobello mushroom, pancetta, wilted spinach, chive sauce) and my husband had the Filet Mignon (in a red wine sauce) - we were very pleased with our tasty dishes, and we both agreed when heating up the leftovers for lunch (there was plenty) that they were just as good the second time around. Dessert - we both had to have the creme brulee - also an excellent classic that was delicious! Service was good; our waiter was pretty funny and easy-going. Volume level could get a little loud - the acoustics seemed to allow me to hear a guy's conversation from across the room, but maybe he was just loud in general. Definitely recommend checking this place out, although on a regular week it would be fairly pricey. read more

The place to be seen and see people. Food was excellent and we did see members of congress who were more than happy to have their pictures taken with us. Fun place. read more

Great food and even greater service. We were there for our anniversary and we were treated royally. Wonderful location on Capitol Hill and a very charming interior. We come from a great restaurant town, San Francisco, so we do know something about fine restaurants - now, The Chronicle is one of our favorites. read more

I love coming here for the old school DC steakhouse vibe. It's the kind of place you can picture congressmen and lobbyists yucking it up. The food is quite good if you can accept that the prices are a bit high. Service has always been great in my experience. read more

Enjoyed a quiet, classic dining experience. Very attentive, knowledgeable waiter. Menu was not huge but found this refreshing. Tired of hipster menus. We shared the special salad of the evening: heirloom tomatoes and burratta. Excellent! One had steak. One had chicken. One had lamb. All were very happy with their entrees. Sadly no room for dessert. Love the setting. Sits like an oasis amongst the sprawling granite government buildings & Union Station. Like stepping back in time. read more

This place gets four stars not for the food, which can sometimes be lackluster.... Its not bad, just not awesome. I do recommend the calamari with red pepper aioli as an appetizer and the tenderloin of steak salad with blue cheese for an entrée at lunch. But the Monocle is in an ideal location for lunch or dinner after a round of Hill lobbying visits or testifying before a Congressional Committee. If you are from out of town and are conducting business in the Capitol...go! read more

this is where to go to have a great lobbyists' dinner and we have eaten here twice and had a great salad, steak and martini followed by coffee and dessert. The waiters are really friendly and helpful and professional and when we complained that the "fresh" fruit dessert was a bit "leathery" (probably frozen and thawed at some point) he immediately took it off the bill, even though we'd eaten it all! That kind of service will bring me back to a restaurant because at these prices you expect excellent food. The atmosphere is marvelous as the restaurant is in two old houses and you just know the area used to be filled with little houses like this but nowadays it's surrounded by parking lots (!) used by Hill staff and Members of Congress. Back in the day you knew they came to town via train to Union Station, nearby, but these days they are in SUVs etc sucking up that Arab oil and putting us all at risk. Oh well. Back to the restaurant atmosphere--there were darned holes in the linen tablecloth, which is something I appreciate as a frugalista, and we found parking (free) outside very easily. All in all, a great dinner date! read more

The Monocle - Outside the Monocle restaurant on a Friday night - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love the Monocle. Great Manhattans and a nice steak. Wonderful service. They also have excellent crab cakes.

to be clear: I ate here in 2002, but was looking the Monocle up here to see if it was still in business and luckily it is! I was visiting by myself in May 2002 as a tourist and just happened up this lovely piece of the history when I needed a stop for lunch after the Library of Congress, and before the Holocaust Museum. I had the Blue Cheese/Steak salad and a glass of wine...and then a few more glasses because I met the most interesting gentlemen who bought me a round and it was so enjoyable to chat. I almost missed my Museum apt and had to run across town to get there. Needless to say I will return on my next DC visit, which is long overdue! read more

After walking in 18 thousand degree heat, we found The Monocle. Good food and great service from Amin really went a long way into making us human again. I would easily recommend this restaurant. read more

If your review is about the food, you've missed the point. The Monocle is about connections. It's located close to the Senate office buildings and is a hub for law makers, professional staff members, lobbyists, and policy makers who are looking for a quick bite to eat, an after work drink, or are killing time for a vote to be called. The place is an institution, the staff remembers who goes there frequently, and the walls are seeped in DC history. Is there better food on the Hill? Sure, but there sure as heck won't be better company or better stories anywhere outside of a security check point. read more

A place for politicals to see and be seen -- the maitre d has been around forever and has some great stories. Good food, friendly service, great drinks. read more

Historic spot on Capitol Hill with a great traditional atmosphere and a lot of class. Excellent long islands, soups, and sandwich lunch options. Excellent service as well. Highly recommended for lunch - and I plan to head back and try the dinner entrees. read more

Went with a very large group (50+ people) Service was excellent... Crab cakes in red pepper roumalade was very good. Nice historic spot near the Supreme Court and Capital. read more

Decent food. The price is definitely based on the location, much more of a place to see and be seen. Frequented by Senators, Senate Staff, lobbyists, etc. read more

The Monocle is another must visit establishment for any Washington DC trip for me. Here at The Monocle, the atmosphere is something I enjoy. As mentioned in another review, it is reminiscent of the 1960s. And really, when did a restaurant such as this since really have class like back in the 60s? I would accept slightly sub standard food just for the atmosphere. But fortunately, this is not anything to consider when dining here. My calamari appetizer was very good, cooked perfectly and with an excellent taste. My steak for the main course was likewise. The creme brulee dessert was good; however, could have been slightly more carmelized on top. Dinner at The Monocle is not an inexpensive event. But it is one that I would be willing to sacrifice for, just for the experience. read more

Glad I visited - very DC. Food was good and crowd seemed energetic. Folks definitely seemed to be looking around the room to see if there were bigshots at other tables. read more

We had a great experience! The food was outstanding! The rib-eye was cooked to perfection. For appetizers, I had lump crab and avocado and my partner had the shellfish bisque and both were excellent. Loved the asparagus and creamed spinach. We also enjoyed the fast service and ambiance. read more

Another wonderful meal with great service. The Crab Conrad had an incredible amount of crab. I would absolutely order this again. read more

The Monocle - Crab Conrad - delicious! - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you're looking for the type of dark, power-player filled restaurant you read about in books, this is the place for you. The ambiance is exactly what you'd expect, but the food is just so-so. The soup of the day was a watery corn and chicken chowder and the burger was slightly overcooked. Oh, they only have one beer on tap. read more

My first time at the Monocle. We had lunch. I had the Atlantic Salmon BLT, with my friend having the Peasant Style Greek Salad. I usually don't eat fish at restaurants (I do better myself), but took a chance on the their salmon. I will say I was VERY impressed! The salmon quality was fresh and it was cooked to perfection. Flaked easily and very moist. Seasoned just right with the outside having a nice crust. One of the best pieces of salmon I've had. My friend was equally happy with the salad. The atmosphere is old school DC. The wait staff are generally older gentlemen, very polite and super efficient. I will return. read more

I am a tough reviewer that is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4. The reason why is bc the service was a little poor the waiter hardly came around and when he did he was grumpy. He didn't know how the food was on the menu but the food was great. My sister and I had some pretty good filets. The soup was good as well. Overall it was a good dinner I would recommend it for a nice dinner read more

From the quotes on the crown molding to the familiar faces on the wall and at the next table you are reminded of the power and energy that is Capital Hill. The services is old-school polished and the cuisine is fit for a foodie like me. The bone-in filet mignon was perfectly prepared and cut like butter. Delicious! The sides and desserts were also very tasty and I left very pleased with everything about the evening. I look forward to returning again soon. read more

Really good food, excellent service. We were headed to Union station and needed a late lunch and they serve lunch until late (after 3p) so we had the place nearly to ourselves. The fish special was excellent and our server was friendly and funny. read more

The service was exemplary, the food was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was unique! We brought our family of six here and they were more than accommodating. The history in this building is absolutely incredible, it is a true gem. read more

Went for happy hour with three friends and split the calamari, fries, chicken fingers, and sliders. The food, especially the calamari, was tasty and the drinks were nice and strong. The reason for my three star review has to do with the ambiance of the place...it felt limp and tired. I totally respect the fact that they're channeling old DC, but this place has an old, musty feel that felt claustrophobic and stale. The place could do with a makeover-- keep the old DC feel but give it a fresh look that feels inviting. read more

Friendly, personal service in an intimate dining room with amazing food and a touch of congressional class. The steak was perfect and the chicken delicious; excellent pairings and the au gratin was as good as mom's at home. read more

Best liver and onions at a restaurant. Almost as good as my home cooked. Classy service from old school restaurant staff.

Very prompt, professional service. The meal I had was good; nothing too special. It's definitely a place you can go for a quick business lunch to make a nice impression. read more

Had a salad there that was so drenched in dressing that it was not edible. I complained, nobody did anything about it. Will not go back.

For lunch, when often senators dine, try the steak salad. It's great, tasty and filling. You won't go over the $25.00 limit so it is OK to invite a government worker. read more

Went with a group for dinner. I am a sucker for the old Washington charm that the building does have, but the kitchen was out to lunch. Half of the party was done eating by the time the fish made it to the table, I guess they had to catch it first. Dinner and desert was nothing special. The staff was very nice and apologetic about the kitchen, but the monocle was dropped somewhere on the floor. read more

Stopped in for a late, solo lunch while sightseeing one day and was very disappointed. Found it online and was really excited to visit due to its history, proximity the Capitol, unique clientele set, and what sounded like an excellent menu. I was immediately disappointed by the abrupt service I received, which was strange given I was one of only three tables being served on the bar side of the house and made worse when my waiter awkwardly apologized for being disrespectful while I was paying my tab. Had the food been exceptional, however, I would have written it off. But the salmon BLT was like a combination of a piece of fish from Applebee's with a McDonald's breakfast sandwich round of bacon. For $14. It's apparently a popular spot for Senators, but if you're a tourist I'd find another spot. read more