Best French Toast EVER! Excellent service. Wonderful outdoor dining. Look forward to returning for another meal. read more

The Occidental - Best French Toast EVER! Amazing brunch. Excellent service. Wonderful outdoor dining. - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had a very disappointing experience at Occidental this past Saturday on St. Patrick's Day. When we arrived, the restaurant was relatively empty, and given how nice it was outside, I asked the host if we could sit outdoors. The host, a male staff member, told us they were not seating anyone outside, which felt strange considering the weather and how not busy the restaurant was. After we were seated, the manager, Vane, came over and asked if there was a problem. I told him there wasn't, but his demeanor felt confrontational and demeaning. The interaction felt less like genuine hospitality and more like a surprise confrontation. For a restaurant at this price point, guests should feel welcomed and respected from the moment they walk in. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. Because of how the situation was handled, I won't be returning anytime soon. read more

The Occidental is just across the street from the Whitehouse and walking into it feels like you just entered a West Wing episode. The setting is and grand and elegant yet festive. The staff is on their game. The wine list does a great job representing California as well as old world with great by the glass options including some nice Coravin pours. The crab cake was as good as I hoped. Some great classic options like pheasant were available but I went with the surf and turf and the steak and lobster were both great. The beef stroganoff was a hit. We ended the meal with a bananas foster prepared table side complete with a great origin story for the classic dessert. The tagline of The Occidental was "where statesmen dine" and you definitely get that feeling. read more

The Occidental - Great NA beverage options - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What a wonderful experience! We made reservations for two and were taken back to our table right away. Our wait staff was outstanding! Friendly, knowledgeable and on top of the service. The food was outstanding! We both had filet mignon and it melted in your mouth. Highly recommend! read more

The BEST MEAL I'VE EVER HAD. 5+ star service. The ambiance is straight out of a movie, every detail carefully curated. Oyster Beurre Blanc and Pink Champagne Cake are standouts. Worth every penny. Motto is "where Statesmen dine"; and there you'll feel like you're one of DC's elites. I cannot recommend more. read more

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Review since the ownership change to the starr group - the space is beautiful, service is friendly and knowledgeable (although longwinded for me - they tend to over explain and talk a lot). Overall, food was good. Smaller plates were better than the larger proteins. Dishes feel marked up a bit, assume for the location, portions are pretty small all around. the biscuits are very soft and delicious. the tuna tartare had a great dill sauce, but was a smal portion. the pigs in a blanket were done well, but thought more puff pastry would make them even better. for mains, the server made a big deal about the pork chop and the dover sole - both I wouldn't order again. The chop was cooked well and juicy, but was underseasoned and a lot of the cut was pure fat that we left on the plate. served with a forgettable potato and gremolata. the dover sole was a very small portion for $82. it ate dry, and the meuniere sauce was barely there - mostly just a few capers on top and some browned butter. could've used a lot more butter and some acid to brighten things up and cover up the cook on the fish. for sides - the mac and cheese was great, creamed spinach and steak fries ok, large hash brown awesome (although wanted a bit more crème fraîche inside). The salads were average (tried both the wedge and the caesar), wouldn't order those again. desserts were solid, baked alaska was great and the coconut cake was tasty. While service was friendly, we had some timing mishaps and some other issues. At one point they sent too many dishes at once and we didn't have enough room on the table. I also had to flag down our server after we had finished our entrees, as the salads we ordered and an additional side were missing. These were never entered into the system so there was a large gap after we finished entrees to get these and wrap up with dessert. read more

ambiance (outside dining) food and service. A must place to go have a drink, lunch or Dinner

First time visit to this iconic restaurant and i was so impressed with the food and service i would give it 6 stars if i could. We loved the decor and were given a quick history of the artwork as the waiter introduced himself. Food was excellent in both quality and presentation. If you are near the White House I would highly recommend. read more

I have never given a more confident 5 star review than this on. The food, service, and ambiance are all top notch. The service from beginning to end was absolutely phenomenal. The ordering, timing of food, time and care of our server are unmatched; I wish I could remember his name. I haven't had a dinner this elegant and wonderful top to bottom in about 20 years. The buttermilk biscuits are unmatched in every aspect. The most delicious biscuits ever. Highly recommend. I can't wait to come here again on our next visit to DC. My husband and I had a great time. read more

Service and food were great. Ambiance in the bar area was a little loud for dinner but overall good.

I had a beautiful afternoon at The Occidental. I was staying near the capital and I kept walking past and admiring the beautiful patio. I stopped in for lunch and Julian was my waiter. He was very kind and made great recommendations. The service was prompt and top tier. I entered the restaurant and it was stunning. I enjoyed the oysters which were very flavorful. I had the burger which was cooked to perfection. The next time I return to DC The Occidental will definitely be on my list of places to visit. read more

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I went here this evening, and it was the best meal I have eaten in a long time. I had the crab cake appetizer, a medium rare ribeye steak for the entree, and the baked Alaska for dessert. The crab cake appetizer was almost entirely crabmeat, and expertly prepared. It was served with a sauce that I don't know the name of, but found quite tasty. The steak was an absolutely perfect medium rare, and it was the best steak I have ever eaten in DC. It was well-marbled, and the fat melted in my mouth. The char/sear on the outside of the steak was also expertly done. The baked Alaska was just as knock-your-socks-off amazing as the steak, and I was kind of surprised that at a restaurant like this it was only 18 dollars. I sat at the bar when I ate here, and both the bartenders and waitstaff who served me were friendly and attentive. The drinks were well-prepared, and (surprisingly) strong. This was a great experience, and I look forward to taking people here for special occasions in the future. read more

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Great food, drinks, and phenomenal service. I do recommend, as we would certainly go there again.

Absolutely amazing service by Jeffrey. We sat outside for drinks and appetizers. A great location and beautiful outdoor space. Had a delicious cosmo and oysters. read more

The Occidental - Oysters and aperol spritz. - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had been waiting for this place to open for months and was so excited to snag a dinner reservation for its second night open! Our reservation was on the later side which always give me some concern that we'll be rushed though our dinner. That was certainly not the case! It was a bit of a fun maze to get to our table on the second floor. From the outset what really stood out to me was the ambience! Soft lighting, nostalgic and intricate design and sounds of the crooners from a bygone era. We both really enjoyed the food. I'd say the highlights for me were the oysters beurre blanc , the honey buttermilk biscuits and the filet mignon. But hands down the greatest part of the evening was the impeccable service. I don't think I've had better service elsewhere in DC. I'm looking forward to coming back and checking out the bar. read more

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They don't even answer their phone - I don't know why a restaurant it's so popular wouldn't have someone in the host/check-in area that answers their phone. Literally tried to call over three dozen times and got their obnoxious stupid "Someone will be with you in a Jiffy" response and then it goes back to a dialtone. read more

Pretty great food it was a friends recommendation who is local. Definitely worth a try but a bit pricey. Probably good for a date night.

We waited for a table outside, and when we were seated, it was directly in the sun. My husband immediately started sweating, and a Fair complected went to the major D and he moved us to a table in the shade. The food was good setting was beautiful. read more

Adam at the upstairs whiskey bar was amazing. He guided me through a fantastic meal, and he was extremely attentive to everyone at the bar. The food was delicious, and so was the wine. The feel of the upstairs bar was chic and classy. Oh, also, the hostess gave me a great lay of the restaurant when I got there, and helped me decide what to do having never been there before. read more

I'm looking back at the receipt from The Occidental and just chuckling regarding the variety of wonderful food we had that day - everything from breakfast items like French toast, eggs Benedict, and chocolate croissants to lunch items like seafood, a turkey club sandwich, a Reuben, and crab cakes, do a variety of drinks like mimosas, latte, cappuccino and soft drinks...Then chiffon cake and champagne cake - I can't imagine wanting anything more! All of it was delivered with care from our server Timothy and a team of service professionals. The location is within just a few hundred yards of the White House. I thought parking would be a significant challenge, but there are a number of free spaces out in front of the restaurant, along with plenty of paid parking in the surrounding areas. This is one of those restaurants where it's great for business meals as well as dates, celebrations and just about any type of audience you can imagine. Pricing is certainly higher end, but not obnoxiously so. Our visit was for a celebration, so we didn't mind the pricing at just under $100 per person. For the budget conscious you can likely get away with a price of less than half of that. Overall, this is a great spot to visit! read more

Indexable service and wonderful ambiance. Great sitting outside on the terrace on a sunny day. How America used to be!

Our party of 3 was going to be seated in the first floor dining area, but I requested the upstairs main dining room and after speaking to a manager they accommodated us. The upstairs dining room is the place to be. Service is great, restaurant design is lovely. Appetizers were underwhelming. Shrimp cocktail mediocre at best...they could take a lesson from Old Ebbitt Grill on shrimp. The $56 crabmeat starter while tasty, was a tiny portion....seriously...where's the crab? Ribeye, pork chop, salmon were all very good. Although steak came out super rare when med rare was the order. Home fries side was excellent. They neglected to bring anything out for dessert (apparently they do a cupcake) for my birthday, which our server acknowledged when introducing himself. That was poor form on the restaurant's part read more

Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful brunch. Would recommend making a reservation prior to your visit.

We weren't sure what to expect for date night, but we dressed up a little and indulged. What an awesome surprise of a meal! Your standard American grill fare, with more attention to detail. The ambiance and staff were highly above average for Washington. The stuffed avocado was a real surprise and great. We had the Dover sole and filet mignon both of which were executed perfectly. There was a misunderstanding with the wine order but the staff was incredibly elegant about it. Highly recommend for a special dinner (date, friends or adults only family) read more

Went recently to the newly re-opened renovated Occidental. It was fantastic. Tony U was our server and he was sublime. Always there when we needed anything but in no way overbearing. Kept our table clean, water/drink glasses full and so knowledgeable about wine and the menu. The Occidental menu is much more interesting than a typical steakhouse. In particular I recommend the crab stuffed avocado. Our steak was perfectly cooked and so tender. Newly remodeled interior is lux. Location is peak DC. I highly recommend this for a nice dinner with friends or colleagues. read more

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Great service! We had a larger group and went for brunch. Menu has something for everyone, including picky little ones.

The service was excellent. The ambiance was luxurious. The food was delicious. This place is a must! I will be back!

Very good filet mignon and steak tartare if you're into classic flavor profiles. Unsurprisingly, not the best value meal, as you can find similar quality elsewhere in DC, but the ambiance is rather special. read more

The Occidental - Filet mignon au poivre; Steak tartare - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came for a holiday brunch. The eggs Benedict were cold. Our service was scattered and slow. The rooms were nice though.

This is a great DC experience, for locals and tourists alike. I had the pleasure of dining on the patio during one of the most gorgeous spring evenings. I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of great non-alcoholic items on the menu, including four wines which is almost unheard of. The food is delicious, but the menu lacks some serious information when it comes to explaining what is in their dishes. I was surprised to find out that the dish I ordered that was described as containing peanut sauce also contained chopped cashews. Fortunately I noticed this before taking a bite of what looked like peanuts. The staff was able to correct this, but I was left in shock that there were significant ingredients in dishes not even listed on the menu (not to mention an item listed in the title of the menu item wasn't even in the dish!). As a severe allergy sufferer this made me hesitant to want to go back and prevents me from leaving anything higher than a 3 star review. The service, while it started off strong, went downhill as well with us ultimately having to flag somebody to pay our check and head out. I know this is a new restaurant and likely still working out some of the improvements, but I sure hope somebody isn't seriously impacted in the process. read more

Dined there last night...arguably one of if not the finest meals we have had in DC. They really did an outstanding job on the remodel of the restaurant. Service was very good but the food was exceptional. I only hesitate to post a review because I don't want competition in trying to get a reservation as we will be returning shortly. If your looking for an old school very good steak dinner experience, this is the place. read more

Top shelf... speak easy vibe... great ambience and character. Service was excellent. Food and drinks were fabulous. Highly recommend!

Loved the new look, great service and the best prime rib I have ever had. Don't let the $100 freak you out, it's worth every penny. Also, the grapefruit appetizer is definitely worth the try. read more

Every time I come here (3 times) I have become physically sick. The food is extremely rich and overly salty, there must be something in the food that causes an awful feeling because this never happens anywhere else for me. The servers always try to pitch the most expensive menu items and it is awkward. read more

exquisite. amazing cocktails and amazing takes on french cuisine. outstanding service. one of the best meals i've ever had. read more

The Occidental - wedge salad and crab stuffed avocado - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Four of us went to dine at the Occidental last evening. We arrived 45 minutes early for a 615 pm reservation with the intention of checking out the bar. The hostess at the front took our name and gave us direction to the bar area and told us that they would come find us to take us to our table when it was time. The interior of the restaurant and bar are wonderfully decorated in dark wood paneling and we loved the jazz music playing in the background. In the bar we met Jason and he assisted us in making great cocktail choices and we ordered some buttermilk biscuits with honey butter, which were delicious. I asked for a filthy vodka martini and Jason brought just that with a small bit of olive brine on the side in case I wanted to make it dirtier; it was a classy touch. A hostess arrived and took us to our table upstairs, we had plenty of room at our table. Our server, Dennis, and busser, Dorian, arrived promptly and got us moving in the right direction. The sommelier, Crystal, came over and assisted the ladies in making a choice for a Sauvignon Blanc and got my buddy and I situated with a wonderful bottle of red. We had a conversation on a Cabernet Sauvignon and we wanted to try a French wine, Crystal spoke with us about our tastes and we landed with a bottle of French Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley which was so impeccable that we had another. Oliver, the manager, was back and forth checking in with us and his team worked as just that...together. We had a dozen raw oysters, lobster bisque, and caesar salads for appetizers all wonderfully prepared and delicious. For the main course we had (2) Filet Mignons, Dover Sole Meuniere, and Prime Rib all cooked and presented perfectly. Sides were the giant hash brown, steak fries, and creamed spinach all delicious. For dessert we had the coconut chiffon cake and pink champagne cake. Coffee with a side a Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream finished the night off nicely. Great experience, all four of us would highly recommend dining with these wonderful folks. read more

The Occidental - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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First we were seated by an open door used for serving outdoor tables which was too cold for comfort. We were moved to a table to the side of the front door where we rarely got any service. In fact 4 different people served us and we had to ask for help several times. The food was cold. What a disaster! It's an elegant setting but just not good. read more

Oh my! That is my feelings for The Occidental in the best way!!!! The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous! Love the decor and the vibe! Now the food...absolutely sublime! Do not sleep on the buttermilk biscuits! It's a must! I had no idea biscuits could melt in your mouth! I am still thinking about them! Seriously they're crack! The dinner was just as scrumptious! The sea bass was succulent. My husband got the salmon which was cooked perfectly! The execution of every dish was perfection! Now the service, first class!!! was sitting in one of those booths with a long lounge sofa to accommodate more tables. The table next to me had an extra person join their 4 person table. This occurred before our apps were ordered. One of the managers came to my table offering to place my husband at another table so we could be more comfortable. Talk about attentive! I was really impressed by the level of attention and the extra mile the manager and our server offered in order to give us a pleasant experience! Just everything about The Occidental is top notch! I will be back! read more

Came here for 40th wedding anniversary. Could not have been more happier with the service and food. Our waiter and all the staff were awesome. Pricey, but well worth it. read more

Highly recommend! Our server, Kevin, provided the absolute highest level of hospitality, going out of his way to request the chef make me a special vegan dish. They made a vegan mushroom pasta that was a 10/10 and they are thinking of adding it to the menu! The drinks were so refreshing and balanced, there was clearly a lot of care put into the menu. The lighting and ambiance was just beautiful and we all had such a great time. Kevin regularly checked on us and made sure we had everything we needed. Will definitely be back! read more

The Occidental - Vegan mushroom pasta - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia