Great service, good steaks. We had a family celebration at the Monocle tonight, and we had a great time. The service was terrific! We had a wonderful server, personable, friendly, attentive. The food was good. I had a Caesar salad and a tasty New York strip steak cooked medium rare. Others had calamari that was good, but not crispy hot, and a tasty crab imperial with avocado, and a decent seafood bisque. The salmon entrée was very nice with excellent broccolini, the crabcakes were good. For dessert, we had lemon, curd pie, crème brûlée, chocolate, Panna Catta - all were very nice desserts. We had a good time. read more

An excellent Capitol Hill people-watching location. Service is good; food is mediocre.

What a disappointment. We heard that this was a classic old school, inside the Beltway DC establishment, not to be missed. It's a place that supposedly has served Capital Hill big wigs for many years, it's right next door to the Capital Building so we thought it would be a lot of fun to dine there after working on the Hill. We walked in without a reservation and were met by a jovial maitre d' and it seemed like a good time was going to be had by all. While we were waiting to speak to him we realized the place was empty and the decor seemed off. It's as if they took an old place with lots of character and scrubbed it all clean off. Must have been redecorated a few years ago by someone with a bland corporate palette and it felt very uninviting. Well, we thought "let's have a drink at the bar and see if we want to stay". The Maitre d' escorted us into the bar area which was again, mostly empty and quiet, no music playing, just a dead silence. You'd think the bartender would be happy to have a few new customers but no, he didn't say anything to us when we sat down, just looked at us, threw two napkins on the bar and stared at us with an unsmiling expression on his face....as if he was doing us a favor by being there. No offer of a menu for drinks or dinner, no offer of a glass of water...just a cold stare. We ordered two drinks and he turned around without saying a word, made the drinks, set them down in front of us and turned away to talk to a regular sitting at the end of the bar. It was the coldest atmosphere I've experienced in a bar in a long long time. He was rude...no other way to put it. We finished our overpriced drinks and left and I doubt we will ever return. read more

It has been A long time since,I have payed A visit to this charming Restaurant, on Capital Hill, it was and will always be A Lovley Spot to share A meal with A loved one, I have always thought of this restaurant as A Washington Secret, the first time I took friends that were from Virginia and Silver Spring, they were like how could we not know about this place it so charming and the food as always been top notch , and there was A manager there at one time , as I type the rest of this Please excuse me if I have A senior moment, this gentleman was so very polite and gracious beyond one's imagination no matter when I went into this establishment he made you feel as if your honored guest, and I am so ashamed, because he left that type of impression on you and the people you might have had with you he would do the same thing for them or anyone else that came over the threshold of the Restaurant , with so many wonderful places disappear from Washington DC, it's nice to see this old Friend each time I happen to be on Capital Hill, I pray your there for at least another fifty years or more. read more

Popped into the bar for a well-deserved glass of Pinot after meeting a Senator across the street. The glamorous room sets the tone of power, government and where are the cameras? Bartender understood our awestruck demeanor. The place was filled to the brim when we left at 7 PM. Easy access to Amtrak just a stone's throw down the road. read more

Visited this location, the other night wall in the area on business. I arrived at approximately 7:30 PM and there was ample Street parking right in front of the restaurant I entered via the pub side and was quickly greeted by the manager or possibly owner to see if I was meeting someone. I told him no and asked if I could sit at the bar for dinner and he quickly showed me to a barstool. Service was prompted and friendly, and the bartender seem to know most of the rest of the patrons as it appeared to be a regulars hang out. I had the sirloin from the bar menu and ordered the gratin potatoes instead of the french fries The steak was very tender and the potatoes were outstanding. For dessert I had a cup of coffee and the lemon curd pie, which is very tasty. Overall, I enjoyed my visit. It would likely return. The main dining room appeared to be full of DC types and at least one member of Congress Prices were reasonable in the bar area the main restaurant menu was more expensive, but still not outrageous read more

A GEM. Truly, truly, truly amazing. I work on the Hill, so I've passed The Monocle every day for the past year hoping to eventually go there. I finally got the chance, and it was everything I thought it would be. In the heart of Washington (to differentiate from "DC"), the walls of the vintage restaurant are covered with photos of dignitaries. It's dimly lit, with a bar area on the left side from the entrance, and clean restrooms and guest spaces upstairs. It's not unlike a 5-star restaurant you'd see on TV, with guests wearing anything from shorts to three-piece suits. With a 6:30pm reservation, the maitre'd took me to my table, where I devoured complimentary bread and butter for the first time in my life. Jonathan was my server. I sipped my Whispering Angel rosé and water until my juicy medium New York sirloin and lemon olive oil broccolini came out. This was all in a flash. Confusing the menu with the likes of Ruth's Chris, I inadvertently got an extra helping of broccolini when my Atlantic salmon filet came out (topped with leek and fennel sauce, and two cherry tomatoes). By this point, I'm drowning and trying not to look like a pig. Undeterred, closed out with their chocolate panna cotta--almost like a chocolate pudding or mousse covered with whipped cream and sliced almonds. Taking the remainder of my salmon and broccolini to go, everything came up to $116. And it was worth every penny. I've found my spot for date night. Shoutout to Jonathan for the amazing service. read more

If you're looking for a classic DC restaurant, with senators and dignitaries at adjacent tables, The Monocle is the place to be. The hostess and weight staff treated my guest and me like we were dignitaries. Our waiter knew the menu and all the specials and was very attentive. I had the healthy ribeye and my guest had the Atlantic salmon. We were both extremely satisfied with our meals. read more

Great dinner spot with a lot of old DC culture/history. All the food was great. We had scallops, salmon and Caesar salad (off menu, but they kindly made it for me). Moderately priced menu including a good beer/wine/cocktail selection. read more

You don't come here for the food, per se, but for the Capitol Hill energy that emanates from the patrons, the servers, even the walls themselves. It's cozy, but buzzy, and eating here feels like being a part of history - the building itself is owned by the Federal Government! Try the fried calamari - it was the best thing we ate. The steak and sides are serviceable, but the gratis creme brulee was delicious, and made our night special. read more

Really rude people work here. As an intern I took my dad here and regretted this decision within 1 minute of walking in. I was so embarrassed as the host was extremely rude to my dad and I since I guess we were not senators or lobbyists, just normal Americans. Once we sat down I decided we would only get a drink and leave, finding dinner elsewhere as the bartender and host were total jerks. read more

The bread was great! And that was about it. The service was slow and he never asked for drinks once the rest of our party arrived. There were only three appetizer options on the lunch menu and two were seafood which someone in our party was allergic to. For DC, the pricing wasn't bad actually. There were many options in the 20-30 range. The food was fine. Many dishes did not come with vegetables just a potato and a meat. Also someone in our party got the salmon and it came out cold. Some members enjoyed the salad though. I don't think I'll be returning. Also it's very loud in there. read more

The restaurant is definitely an "old guard" spot. The only people of color besides me were the staff. But that's typical in the area. The hangar steak I ordered medium well was well done. The mashed potatoes were lukewarm. The broccoli was perfect. And the focaccia is divine. We enjoyed the ambiance and I took a gorgeous photo of myself under the skylight. Everyone else enjoyed the food and I ate octopus for the first time un-fried. We'll be back as it's tradition and I may ask that my food is warm. read more

We had a great meal here. Nick the Maurer d' Was great. We didn't have a reservation but got us a great table. He shared some good stores as he has worked there for 50+ years. Pictures of the high powered Washington types are all over the walls. Drinks and food were excellent. The service was first class. read more

One of my favorite places in the District. Great food, great service and extraordinary people watching.

Amazing service, filet mignon cooked to perfection, and the potatoes are to die for. Visiting from out of town would recommend coming here for dinner 150% worth the price. read more

10/21/23 Went there for dinner my last night in DC. The food was delicious and the service was excellent! Such a classy and quaint little place. I absolutely loved it! read more

Very pleasant,relaxing place to have very lovely dinner and nice conversation! The owner is a very caring and accommodating person who personally appreciates and take lovely care of his guests. He even arranged a Uber to take us back to our hotel on his account. How often would that happen in our modern world. We have visited the restaurant several times over the several years we have been coming to DC for my advocacy efforts. The food is always super and presented professionally by a well trained wait staff. And the wait staff seems to really care about the clientele. Look forward, God willing, to able to visit there again! Ed Marvin read more

We were in town for a week and had dinner here. I have to say I have never experienced service as I did at the monocle. The staff was incredible from the moment I walked in to the time I walked out. I felt like I was at home sitting at the bar having some drinks and eating dinner, they really make you feel welcome. The food was fantastic. I had a full course meal and it was all great from start to finish. I will definitely be stopping by again on my next visit to DC. Thank you guys for the incredible experience read more

Overall, an excellent place for lunch and dinner. The waiters are totally professional. The wine pouring is generous. My crab cake was superb. The only negative was their creme brulee. It was pretty good, but filled the dish maybe about a quarter inch. Plus the creme seemed perhaps a little curdled. I didn't complain, as I was treating a friend. So, again, a fantastic place in general. I will go here again, no question. read more

I've been to The Monocle three times so far this past year and every time it just keeps getting better. As someone who eats out a great deal, I can honestly say that the service here is definitely a cut above everywhere else. You can tell that everyone loves their jobs and they could not be more professional. The food here is absolutely amazing! The bread they bring out for the table is so fresh and tasty. It really doesn't matter what you order as it's sure to be amazing. The restaurant itself is always kept impeccably clean. Our orders are always brought out to us quickly and correctly. I took my parents here this last time and we had a wonderful time getting to know our waiter and learning more about him and his family. Keep up the great work! I can't wait to come back again! read more

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The crab cakes are what you go for, and a perk is that the DC minded folks can see someone important if they go at lunch or dinner or a weekday read more

I recently hosted a work dinner at The Monocle. They were extremely professional and accommodating. If you are looking around for a restaurant that provides top notch customer service and delicious food, look no further! Huge shout out to John, Nick, Marinos and Amin!! We will be back with another dinner reservation when we are back in town! read more

The most amazingly good food!! It's a must visit. We were visiting from out of town and chose this place on a whim. We made a last minute decision to sit at the bar and we were thrilled that we did. We were fortunate to be served by the owners Jon and Vasiliki. What a kind, humble couple. The vodka martini was the best I've had in a long time. My husband had the filet. It was cooked perfectly with an amazing sauce and onion straws. I had the Brazino and holy cow was it ever good. I want to return to DC just to come back here. . read more

Rich in history and the food lives up to the hype (& cost). The Ribeye was excellent and service was top notch! If you're near the Monocle and are hungry or thirsty, GO! read more

Great staff, very friendly. The food is very tasty, very good. and the very fancy and the ambiance is excellent, very good.

Absolutely loved this place. It is a splurge but totally worth every penny. Our waiter was extremely pleasant and friendly and was very attentive during our dining experience. The ambiance was beautiful-- from the dining room to the elegant bathrooms. Their seafood dishes were mouth watering and desserts were rich and tasty. I can see why many politicians love eating at this place. read more

The service was amazing, it's a historic restaurant and a DC favorite (so we're told). We weren't as impressed with the food. It was decent but have had better for the price. read more

I have a college reunion group that gets together every year in a different city. This year we gathered in Washington, DC. It is always difficult to find a place that can accommodate a group of our size. We had 22 guys this year. I contacted The Monocle and they were great about getting out group in. We were given a private room in their upstairs area. The owner greeted us at the door and made sure we were escorted up to our room. Our servers, Amin and Marinos, were absolutely phenomenal. We received private club service in a public restaurant setting. The food was very good. I cannot say enough good things about this place. If you have a large group in town for a reunion or a meeting, I highly recommend The Monocle. Contact them ahead of time to make sure you have the same great experience that our group did. read more

Truly a classic DC dinner place where deals get made over drinks and steaks. Had a great NY strip! Get the scallop potatoes as a side. Staff is incredibly friendly!! read more

This place should have more stars. The service and ambiance are great and the NY Sirloin they serve is as good as you'll find in DC. I will be back as often as possible! read more

This place is so classic, old school steakhouse feel. Food was delicious and waitstaff impeccable.

I have been eating at the monocle for at least 29 years. Always a treat. Great food, lively dining room, fantastic politician spotting. One of my favorites. read more

My husband and I had a lovely dinner here tonight. We had early reservations and ended up being the first diners. The atmosphere is quaint with a European vibe. There are pics of mostly politicians who have eaten there over the decades since it is right on The Hill. We were greeted and seated immediately. Everyone was friendly and attentive. We started with cocktails along with a homemade rosemary rustic bread - I'm typically not a carb person, but I ate this bread. We then ordered the shell soup - delicious! Our entrees were sea bass for my husband and salmon for me. My salmon was a very generous portion and cooked perfectly with broccolini that could have been cooked a bit more for me. The sea bass was also great, very tender and full of flavor. Scalloped potatoes with the bass were very good. We finished with the chocolate panna cotta which neither of us had before and it was delicious! Overall, it was a terrific dinner. Our server Marinos and the rest of the staff were terrific and very professional (Marinos and the other primary servers have been there for at least couple of decades+. Definitely returning when we visit DC again. read more

Wow. Was walking back from meetings and admired the beautiful architecture of the building. Then I noticed that it was a restaurant and bar. "How can a building so beautiful not have great food and ambiance?", I asked myself. I was not disappointed. The food and service were AMAZING! The staff were friendly and Covid safe. Fantastic GF options and menu. So, please, run don't walk to grab a meal or drinks at The Monocle. And if you go because of this review, you're welcome!! read more

All the ambience and style of old DC - but everyone who comes is feels genuinely welcome. Excellent bar with unusual "Ginger Manhattan" infused bourbon on site. Steals to die for. Beautiful view of Union Station. Same family running it for 60 years. Must try! read more

Our family wanted a place close to the Capitol and found that many of the Union Station eateries did not survive the pandemic. So, we looked on Yelp. The Monocle was pricey, but it was a lot of fun, we got to pretend we were very worldly as my daughter was asked to testify in front of a Senate subcommittee. The staff was very attentive, remembered our drink orders and snippets of our conversation. The food was fantastic -- and I'm difficult to please. My daughter and I ordered the crab cakes. The crab cakes were full of crab, with a nice crust. The veggies were perfectly cooked. My husband and son got the fish of the day, and loved it. The son's fiancée ordered the pork chop and enjoyed it. Everything was served hot and fresh -- no waiting under heat lamps. We appreciated the selection, as the fiancée is gluten intolerant. We arrived early, as my daughter had a flight to catch, and they served us promptly. The restaurant was rather empty when we arrived, which was great because it was the first time I've eaten inside a restaurant since March 2020, so I was a bit nervous. The only downside is that the restrooms are up a flight of stairs, and the dining room down a few steps, making the restaurant not accessible. read more

'If you can't feel things that you can't see or hear, you don't belong here' 'Congress is a collection of men and women grappling with extraordinary problems' 'If you want a friend in Washington - get a dog' These are just a few writings on the ceilings and overall kind of sums of the place in a weird way. My story is I've been wanting to try this place out since moving here and I never took the time do so. Since my initial plans through, I decided to take it upon myself to find an experience for the evening - and this is what I settled with. I walked in and mentioned I wanted to be seated in the dining room. Since I was dining solo, the maître d's looked at each other then looked at me where one spoke up saying I could sit at the bar. I then asked again if anything was available in the dining room. One turned around to go look then came back to escort me to my seat. The dining room was half full with plenty of 2 and 4 tops open for seating. I guess they were waiting for someone with more importance? This didn't make a very good first impression on me and I did not like how I felt in that moment. After being seated, several servers went by. I sat patiently as I waited to be approached thumbing through my phone. A gentleman who I had not seen previously approached me and introduced himself. He appeared to be a manager if not the manager. I didn't bother asking. He was very pleasant and attentive. During our exchange, he offered me advice on his preferred dish - the crabcake. He provided insight on the other entrees, but I opted for his recommendation. I was pleased with my choice. Fast forward some time later he offers me some potatoes au gratin on the house. I am not sure why this entertained him to offer this, but I gladly accepted his generosity. With this dish, the crabcake that was falling apart due to it delicious decadence, and sauteed carrots - my meal was delightful. In addition to my meal, I also had a glass of white wine. My bill came to $43 and some change. The crab cake is $30 and my glass of wine was $9 before taxes. The overall experience was okay. I enjoyed my meal for what it was and the service. My initial welcoming was not what I had expected considering this is a place where all the big dogs of Capitol Hill roam. I saw some major politicos while dining last night, but I didn't feel the one bit out of place being surrounded by them. At the end of the day, they've got to eat too! Will I return? I don't know. This is definitely old classic DC. It is traditional with no frills about it which is what I expected and that is totally fine. This establishment has been in place since 1960, and regardless if DC goes antiestablishment once Trump (God FORBID) takes office or if the city gets burned to the ground - I am pretty sure at the end of the day my review will not matter in the least bit because they will probably still be here long past my time here serving the same cuisine to the same crowd it is meant to cater. read more

The Monocle - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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One of your classic establishments for congressmen, hill staff, and lobbyists. If you are looking to escape political talk, this is probably not the place for you. We came here for a quiet Friday happy hour (and it was pretty quiet, as staff contended that the crowd really comes in Monday-Thursday) and we were pleasantly greeted at the door. The bartender was very attentive, relaxed, and made some fantastic Manhattans. The restaurant and tables speak of DC institution and the upstairs has photos of famous attendees and quotes. If you are on the Hill, looking to be on the Hill, or want to build some government connections then you should plan a stop at the Monocle. read more

"If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog" Other cute and insightful sayings adorn some of the walls of this clubby restaurant sitting almost in the shadow of some of the most powerful governmental institutions in the United States. There is surely a genre of these kinds of resaurants and bars across the nation ... in state capitals and county seats everywhere. If you are not part of that world, and I am not, then it is a treat to get to visit such spots. This is reputedly a common dining and drinking stop for legislators, staffers, lobbyists, and a host of others involved in the business of governing the nation. The restaurant sits in an unpretentious brick building, perhaps Federal style, on D Street (see pics). Inside the atmosphere is comfortable and low key. One enters to a small foyer with a cloak room dead ahead. There is a small bar with perhaps 10 seats and four or five small tables for groups to sit and have a drink. Dining tables and booths of various sizes situated in cozy alcoves and open spaces occupy the remainder of the restaurant. The service was good ... courteous and matter of fact. There were no undercurrents of fawning and no haughty behavior either. For me, as an average customer, It had a very nice feel. The menu options seem reasonably standard for a restaurant of this sort ... steak, crab, and other mainline dishes. Entrees run from $20 to $30 plus, with appetizers and desserts in the $8 to $10 range. One attractive option, which many in my part chose, was the restaurant's fixed plate menu. For $35, diners have their choice of several appetizers (perhaps three), two or three entres (depending on the night), several dessert options, and coffee. This was an excellent choice and I opted for it. I chose the house salad -- a standard romaine lettuce salad, but nicely enhanced with avocados and heart of palms. For the main course, I went for crab cakes (two rather smallish ones) with an excellent red pepper sauch on the side. I rarely eat crab, or crab cakes, so I have little to compare them with as far a quality. They seemed fine, but the reader will need more of an expert in this realm to know if they are really good or not.. Dessert was super ... "creme brulee" ... or as I prefer to call it "Crema Catalana". Whatever you call it , it was excellent here. A large bowl with tasty carmelized sugar crusted on top and an creamy treat below. For me it was perhaps the best Crema Catalana (creme brulee) I have had outside of Spain ... and frankly it beats most of what I have eaten there. To drink .. tap water and house Merlot @ $7.50 a glass at the bar, a very fair price for the setting. I enjoyed this spot (20 Feb. 2009). The food was fine, the service was relaxed and comfortable, and the atmosphere is superb. And most likely it is the atmosphere of the place, visited by the well known, the powerful, the connected, and those who are less so and want to be all of the above, that draws us outsiders to come here for dinner or lunch. read more

The Monocle - Streetscape along D street at the Monocle ... looking east. - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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