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The Pembroke

4.1 (430 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM

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THE PEMBROKE ATMOSPHERE

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Moderate noise
Trendy
Intimate
Romantic

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Carbonara
Chris C.

Nice dinner with coworkers at the Pembroke. Started with a nice martini and some appetizers, the bread is amazing, and the octopus is pretty good too! Had the carbonara. How do you not order that when it is on the menu?

Andrew A.

The Pembroke was a great find while staying at a hotel in the area. I ordered the vodka pasta and an IPA, and both were excellent. The atmosphere and overall aesthetic were great, but the service really stood out -- everyone was friendly and attentive. I'd definitely recommend checking out The Pembroke if you're staying in or visiting the Dupont Circle area. It's a great spot for a meal and definitely somewhere I'd go back to.

Steak & eggs
Natasha M.

We had breakfast here after our stay - service was very attentive - thank you Jose! The steak was cooked perfectly and everything was seasoned nicely. I forgot how greasy Brie gets when melted - but other than that the French omelet had great flavor with onion and mushroom added. They had a nice patio with DuPont circle views that we will try on our next visit.

Kait D.

We made reservations for brunch here during a visit to DC. This was one of the best breakfasts I've ever had at a restaurant. It was an incredibly well balanced plate, with eggs, potatoes, and a healthy portion of greens as well. It was definitely a meal that got you ready for the rest of your day. We were so impressed! The wait staff was very friendly and helpful and the establishment itself was very cute!

Menu for brunch
Alondra G.

Penbrook delivered a genuinely impressive breakfast experience, starting with amazing service and consistently great food. The standout of the morning was the breakfast side potatoes--crispy, seasoned perfectly, and easily something I'd come back for. The breadbasket came with three pastries, which felt a bit smaller than expected, but the almond croissant more than made up for it. On the heartier side, the chicken and waffles were extremely filling thanks to the dense waffles, so definitely a dish to tackle with an appetite. One of the biggest surprises was the brunch salad with salmon, which ended up being one of the best salads I've had in a long time--fresh, balanced, and satisfying. The breakfast sandwich was another highlight: so good that it's now the new standard I'll compare all other breakfast sandwiches to. The smoked salmon bagel was also a fun experience, served deconstructed so you can build each bite exactly how you like it. Not everything was a hit--the French toast wasn't my favorite--but the overall meal was strong enough that it barely detracted from the experience. Brunch offers a few additions beyond the regular breakfast menu, but overall it's very similar to their standard breakfast, just with a couple of extra options. It tends to get full on the weekends to make a reservation. Bottom line: Penbrook is a beautiful hotel restaurant that punches above its weight--excellent service, memorable dishes, and several items worth returning for.

Octopus
Sonya H.

Fantastic New American / European restaurant in a gorgeous space. I visited the Pembroke as part of a work team dinner during Restaurant Week, and we were thoroughly impressed by the quality of the food, super friendly service, and great ambiance. The space is gorgeous; I love all the plants, and the light brown, light blue, and white color combination for their furniture makes the space look classy and modern. The light brown leather couches are comfortable, and I love the way they circle around the tables to create a natural, cozy booth. Our food was just as beautiful as the space. The Restaurant Week menu comes with an appetizer, main, and dessert. Given how indecisive I can be (and how expansive the normal menu is), I was grateful to have my choices narrowed down a bit. I started off my meal with the octopus. The octopus was remarkably tender and not overly chewy, and had a delightful char that gave it a slightly smoky flavor. They double downed on the smokiness with their burnt chili oil, which, alongside the lemon and salsa verde, gave the dish a wonderfully balanced smoky, savory, and slightly acidic flavor. The crushed potatoes had a lovely crispy shell on the outside and served as a great base for the tender octopus. The main course was probably the easiest choice of the evening -- I'm absolutely obsessed with branzino, so the second I saw it on the Restaurant Week menu, I knew that was what I had to get. The fish is beautifully broiled, with a nice, crispy skin and super tender, flaky flesh. It's topped with a few pieces of roasted garlic and a wedge of lemon. The fresh lemon juice, as well as the lovely side salad, offered a great pop of freshness to bring the whole dish together. And finally, for our dessert, I chose the chocolate torta. This wonderful dessert is remarkably rich and decadent, with a strong dark chocolate flavor. It's topped with a lovely marsala date sauce and scoop of sheep's yogurt ice cream, but still doesn't feel overly sweet. The sheep's yogurt in the ice cream offers a bit of tanginess, and I loved the addition of the candied walnuts for a bit of crunch.

Menu
Te-Mika W.

A weekend brunch - yes please! A friend who recently relocated from here came back for a visit and gathered four of us for a leisurely brunch at this place. None of us had ever been here. I like new places. Dupont Circle was easy parking this time of morning - around 10. I love trying chicken and waffles at different spots and when I saw it on the menu I had to get it, even if I wasn't ravenous. The menu is a little pricey (most in DC are), but the chicken & waffles was also one of the better values (IMO). The cornmeal waffle (which I've had it only found at a few other places) was definitely on point! My fellow patrons had never had a cornmeal waffle and were skeptical, so I let them try and - they approved. The chicken was fried well, even if it could've used a bit more flavor. The latte was as good as I expected it to be. The decor in this place is gorgeous, very elevated, and the weather was perfect that day for an indoor or outdoor seating. Service was pretty good too, and the place was pretty filled, but never felt crowded. I'd recommend.

French Toast
Maryrose B.

Very consistent in food quality and service. Had brunch with friends today and we went to Pembroke. Located in DuPont Circle area. Brunch menu is reasonable and delicious. Ambiance is nice, plenty of seating but you have to reserve specially as it gets later in the day. Wait staff are attentive. Highly recommend this place for brunch.

Drinks
Tara A.

Was craving pasta and this more than satisfied the craving. Everything was SO GOOD! I got a passion fruit martini that I really liked. My sister didn't love her Hugo spritz. The mezcal margarita was also good. We started with the grilled octopus. It was cooked to perfection and the chimichuri sauce was so nice with it. Then we shared the vodka pasta and the lamb bolognese. Wow both of these were incredible. We also got truffle fries. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Yum! We didn't have room for dessert but I'm sure those would have been just as delicious. Service was also great! Will definitely be back!

Robert M.

Lovely spot at DuPont Circle. Went for early weekday breakfast while at conference (cool they were open at 7:00 a.m.) Had the French omelette and was frankly underwhelmed. It was good, not great, and I kind of wanted great. Coffee also not earth shaking, and was not even offered a refill. Would probably give a second chance - vibe was very blonde Jane Fonda circa late 60s. Cool.

Children's menu: chicken strips and fries
Ingrid L.

This bright, modern restaurant had a great ambiance, and the staff was friendly without being overbearing, which I appreciated. The dishes we ordered were delicious and nicely presented. The portions felt just right to me, though I could see how some might find them a bit on the smaller side. My only note would be to ask for the salad dressing on the side-the Caesar salad was a bit over-dressed.

The Pembroke: menu is outside the door for your perusing
Eric W.

Reservation is required. You can't find any swat without it. Food is okay. Not that great, but not bad at all. 4 stars. Drinks are strong! Service is 5 star for sure! Decor and interior is nice. Bathroom is shared with the bar. All in all, a solid choice if you're in embassy row/DuPont circle area.

cappuccino
Trail B.

Had brunch on a sunday morning with friends Ambience - 4 stars - very bright and vibrant atmosphere. We were seated at a corner both and had great views of dupont street scene Food - 3 stars - decent selection for a brunch. Had the pastry basket for the table which was as expected. I had the acai bowl, others had lemon ricotta pancake ( very sweet) , eggs benedict and breakfast sandwiches - we were all surprised at the portion size - larger than we expected - but I would say average in taste as nothing stood out to us. I also had a cappuccino which was also decent. service -5 star. excellent service and attention from the staff ! its a good spot for brunch and I would go here again.

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The Pembroke Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Pembroke

Is the atmosphere kid friendly?

Yes!

Do they have heated outdoor seating?

What's the dress code?

Casual business not shorts

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Sixty Vines
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Quill

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There Are Hotels. And Then There Is The Jefferson…read more Some places hold history the way marble holds cold, the way a well-appointed room holds silence after a long day of noise. Washington, D.C. is full of those places. Monuments. Halls of power. Streets that hum with the weight of decisions that shaped the world. But The Jefferson sits in a different category entirely. It does not shout its significance. It assumes it. Quietly. Perfectly. The way only a truly great institution can. For a millennial woman who grew up watching The West Wing and Scandal; who came of age believing that proximity to power was a personality trait, walking into The Jefferson feels like arriving somewhere you already knew existed but had not yet been permitted to enter. The lobby does not try to impress you. It simply receives you. Dark wood, dramatic marble,, soft light, the kind of quiet that costs something. I came for an afternoon. I left with a story. It started with a glass of wine and a question. The wine was easy. The question was better. I turned to Mike, the bartender, the kind of professional who carries himself with the quiet competence of someone who has never once doubted a pour, and I asked him directly: how confident are you in making the perfect martini? Sky high, he said. He was not wrong. Gin. A wash of vermouth. Nothing more. Stirred, because some things are not up for negotiation, and James Bond has a lot to answer for. The glass arrived impossibly cold, impossibly clear, with a lemon twist curled inside like a small, elegant secret. The first sip was the kind that makes you set the glass down slowly, look at nothing in particular, and simply exhale. That was the drink. That was the moment. That was The Jefferson saying: you are exactly where you should be. What followed was a burger. But calling it a burger is like calling the Library of Congress a place with books. They heard me. Gluten free toast in place of a bun, no hesitation, no substitution tax levied in the form of a lesser experience. The patty was serious. The cheese was melted with intention. And then, the Dijon. Two small jars of Clovis, the kind of condiment that makes you wonder why you ever settled for anything else. Thick. Complex. The culinary equivalent of a strong opinion delivered with grace. This is what D.C. does to you when you let it. When you stop moving long enough to sit at a bar that has probably hosted quiet conversations that changed things, and you order something beautiful, and you let the afternoon arrive. This city is not just for politicians and lobbyists and people with lanyards. It belongs, equally, to the ones who show up knowing what they want and how to ask for it. Stirred. Not shaken. Mike understood that before I finished the sentence. And The Jefferson understood it long before I walked through the door.

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Quill - Bar!

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Quill - Thanks Andrew!!

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The Pembroke - newamerican - Updated November 2026

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