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    Bresca

    4.2 (591 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American, French
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Bresca Photos

    BRESCA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Bresca

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    Dry aged steak
    Reginald A.

    Yet another incredible experience! This is by far my favorite DC restaurant, serving the perfect combination of approachable and expertly refined dishes. I have been here many times, for à la carte and tasting menus, drinks and desserts. Bresca is everything you want in a restaurant -- a cozy nook on 14th, playing old school music, while serving course-after-course of the highest quality food. The team is extremely warm and welcoming, attentive and knowledgeable. I can't wait for my next visit!

    Petit Fours
    Ailun H.

    tl;dr -- 3/5 for the food, but 4/5 for the experience. While the Winter 2026 Restaurant Week 5-courses for $95 menu was okay, the service and surprise extras elevated our experience. We received quite a few complimentary small bites and sips that the value and quantity exceeded our expectations. My friend and I trekked through heaps and piles of snow to get to Bresca because we still wanted to eat and feast. Upon arrival, our server greeted us and served us a small cup of their warm apple cider -- tart and rich with a deep warmth from the apples. My friend enjoyed it so much that he decided to get an alcoholic version of the same drink with whiskey. -- COURSE 1 -- This course came with a few small bite snacks, and the following was the order of consumption the staff recommended. OYSTER & PEAR Raw oyster topped with a delicate champagne foam (and other ingredients), definitely very thoughtfully curated. However, I didn't really enjoy the flavors of the champagne foam, but enjoyed the plump and juicy oyster. BLUE CLAW CRAB Really small crab claw that sat on the edge of a plate. Flavors were fresh and "crab-like", but I can't say this was our favorite. "CHEESE AND CRACKERS" Looks like a small cheesecake bite, but savory. Reminded us of the Ritz Crackers 'N Cheese Dip snacks I used to eat as a kid, but elevated and much less processed. We really liked these! "STEAK AND EGGS" Really delicious bites of steak tartare(?) in between delicate, flaky crackers. These were very enjoyable. -- COURSE 2 -- BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALAD Refreshing salad that was light with a delicious creamy sauce on the bottom that was seasoned nicely with dukkah. However, the butternut was not the softest, and we didn't really like cutting it up into pieces to eat it. CRUDO Very beautiful dish topped with different citrus fruits (lemon-kumquat, mandarin-kumquat mix), edible flowers, jelly(?), and the tuna. The broth was incredibly bright, citrusy, sweet, and slightly floral. Tuna was fresh and paired well with the citrus-floral notes. Very enjoyable, this was definitely a standout dish for us. -- COURSE 3 -- SMOKE IN CHIMNEYS TROUT We started with this because we thought it was the lighter of the two options. Surprisingly, pretty heavy because the trout (perfectly soft and fresh) sat on top of some spatzle mixed with a creamy, umami mushroom sauce. This combination was delightful, and definitely one of my favorites. SMOKED POTATO PIEROGI A rich, dense, and savory dish. The pierogi was topped with blanched spinach, gouda, cauliflower, and caramelized onions. It was a bit too salty, but bold flavors and the pierogi had the perfect doughy texture and thick cheesy filling. -- COURSE 4 -- LAMB SIRLOIN Sizable portion for our main dish, the lamb sirloin sat on top of a deep red sauce, with some onion puree which helped cut the gaminess of the lamb. Enjoyable, but my lamb was hard to cut through because of some leftover gristle. -- COURSE 5 -- CARAMEL APPLE 'LINZER' Shortbread cookie sandwiched with apple jam, dusted with powdered sugar, which sat on some eggnog. Really pretty presentation. I enjoyed the nutty and earthy notes of the gingerbread, but found the dessert a bit too sweet for my liking. MADELEINE SERVICE This came with four madeleines (topped with cinnamon and sugar) and what appears to be a stick of butter. It actually wasn't butter, but a delicate white chocolate exterior filled with sweet cream to enjoy the madeleines with. Surprisingly, this was not too sweet, and the delicate, light flavors had me downing two of these despite how full I was. The pacing of food was fantastic, and we didn't feel rushed to leave. We also got a couple petit fours (chocolate madeleine and orange gummy bear) that were lovely and a rich, decadent cup of hot chocolate (good, but a bit too sweet) as we paid our bill. We were incredibly stuffed from all the food we got -- glad that we got to experience Bresca during this RW.

    Pain au Lait
    Joshua K.

    My wife and I recently went to Bresca for a weekend dinner to celebrate a special occasion and were disappointed with this Michelin-star restaurant-it did not live up to the caliber of the designation. My wife and I were seated at our reservation time; we received uneven service the rest of the evening. It took almost an hour from the time we sat down until we got our salad; while this was a kitchen issue, our server could have let us know about the delay. However, Bresca did do a great job accommodating some dietary restrictions, and our server explained each dish well. I also appreciate the complementary non-alcoholic tea "shot" before the meal and the chocolate madeleines that came with our check at the end of the meal. The ambiance and setup of Bresca could be significantly improved; Bresca aims for an upscale French bistro vibe. However, this is significantly undercut by the restaurant playing American pop music and the exposed pipes on the ceiling. Additionally, Bresca was extremely loud and it was hard to have a conversation at times. Bresca's tables are also very close together; it was hard for servers to move between the tables and at times servers were right up against our table when taking other table orders. My wife and I were able to get the restaurant week special of three courses for $65, and were able to substitute in a vegetarian main-definitely a great deal. Our meal started with the snack plate. I really liked the crab leg with the smoky sauce-extremely fresh crab. The cheese and crackers was an interesting, elevated take on the snack classic and the cheese was tasty; the crust and the jelly were OK but not great. We each got the butternut squash salad for the appetizer course, which was the best dish of the evening. The butternut squash went perfectly with the creamy cheese, the apple provided nice crunch along with some chips on top, the maple provided some sweetness, and the presentation was great. This salad would have been outstanding if the butternut squash were warm and Bresca had left off the salt-at times it overwhelmed the other flavors. My wife and I shared the smoked potato pierogies and the Shenandoah lamb for our main dishes. The smoked potato pierogies were delicious; I wish there had been more of them. Three pierogies is small for a main dish, even at a restaurant like Bresca. The Shenandoah lamb left much to be desired. I thought when we first got the lamb that we had gotten a piece of meatloaf with gravy-it looked very unappetizing with the brown-on-brown. The lamb was tough, hard to cut even with a steak knife, and needed more flavor. The beet, horseradish, and onions did not add enough flavor to the lamb to complement or elevate the dish. We got the pain au lait to accompany our mains and the bread was warm and delicious, with the chives complementing the bread well. The butter was flavorful, smooth, and creamy-perfect with the bread. The caramel apple linzer for dessert had good gingerbread notes, but otherwise was unremarkable. I would recommend other French or Michelin star restaurants in DC if you are looking for a high-end restaurant for a special occasion.

    Pierogi
    Molly H.

    What an amazing experience! I love when restaurants prepare little cards to say congrats, happy anniversary, etc. It really gives that personal touch when we arrive. My husband did the chef's tasting menu and I did the four course menu which was great that they offered that! 4 courses was perfect for me and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything. Also, for being Michelin and in DC the prices were very reasonable! We started with 3 seafood-forward bites which were all delicious. Then I had the butternut squash salad, pierogi, lamb and the madeleines for dessert. Wow everything was SO GOOD. I enjoyed every bite.. I wouldn't change anything. My husband did too.. the only one he didn't love was the tuna tartare with beets 3 ways but that's more of a personal preference with beets. The only slight hiccup is I got the bees knees drink nonalcoholic due to being 8 months pregnant and they accidentally brought me an alcoholic one. Luckily I only had a sip before I realized. They were very apologetic and brought me a new one, but then surprisingly comped all of our drinks at the end of the night which was more than generous (though a pretty big mistake). Despite that, we had an amazing meal, amazing service and an amazing time. Highly recommend!

    The atmosphere is cozy, it's not a fancy place but so chill with super friendly service The food here is unexpected amazing I will for sure to come back when next time I visit this city! This meal is one of the hi-light in our 2026 Washington DC trip

    Perry B.

    Great aesthetic with delicious food. While the restaurant was full the service provided made us feel like we were the only table in the restaurant. The prefix menus takes you on a flavor filled journey. One of my favorite bites was the duck. Check it out. It's the perfect place for a birthday or date night.

    Strawberries & Cream
    Heidi M.

    I wasn't sure what to expect, but we had an amazing dinner at Bresca! The range of dining options was impressive, and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate our party's various tastes and dietary restrictions. The food was outstanding, the staff and service were top-notch, and the atmosphere was both stylish and comfortably laid-back. I also loved the "secret" library room set aside for you to wait for your ride.

    Nameeta M.

    I'm posting this review almost a month after coming here, but I'm still thinking about the food we had here! We came here for restaurant week as a girl's night and we had such a great time sitting at the bar. The service was extremely attentive and friendly, they really added to the experience. I got the salad as my first course, and I don't eat red meat so they were able to swap the entree out for a corn ravioli with foam which was delicious. The dessert was fresh and just right, and the wine pairing worked very well. What I loved the most were the snacks and the additional items we got throughout the meal. We got the additional snacks (like the peanut butter foie gras) which were really fun and innovative. They also gave us an additional dessert with yuzu gummy bears and fresh sorbet which made the deal even better. I'd happily pay full price to dine here again, would absolutely recommend!

    Ben D.

    Amazing restaurant that can't be missed. I went during restaurant week. They have a great tasting menu for the price. We opted for the regular tasting menu. We started Snacks melon - yogurt cornbread - popcorn butter Was rich and delicious nice balance with the freshness of the melon and the better along with the cornbread. Heirloom Tomato plum - teta - granola Was a fantastic salid fresh tasting and sweet with a nice added flavor of richness from the feta. The diver scallop was perfectly cooked and rich with the sauce. It was tender and moist perfectly paired with the sauce. Brioche Chicken was nicely cooked with well balanced flavor between the aju and the savory flavors of the breast The short rib was the best thing on menu perfectly cooked and well seasoned with an amazing sauce. The dessert was the only let down it was interesting looking but was just an ok dish taste wise. I didn't enjoy the texture with the yogurt. Service was top notch and extremely friendly. The restaurant is beautiful inside and has a great modern look. Must try for anyone especially during restaurant week.

    Wagyu and lamb dish
    Tiffany C.

    Came here for DC restaurant week in Aug 2025 and had the best experience. We did all the starters, had the wine pairing , ordered the wagyu upgrade. I enjoyed every bit of food and flavor profile I had heard such great things about the restaurant and coming for restaurant week made it worth it. All the meals and snacks were so delicious

    Peroigi
    Sarah A.

    I went again and thoroughly loved my experience! We went for Valentine's Day and enjoyed our dishes and the experience :) I think the prices are soooo worth it for the experience. The crab is always spectacular. The combo of flavors is always great. The food is always top tier. They do substitutions too- I don't eat pork so they did a few for my dishes. However I don't recommend asking for them just because you don't like a dishes content. The food is an experience so I'm glad I got the beets and tuna even though I didn't love it (personal preference- my boyfriend loved it). This is a great restaurant with knowledgeable servers. I love this place.

    quail
    Iris P.

    we dined a la carte on mothers day. what a stunning presentation of dishes! one of my favorite meals in dc, from the attentive service, to the pacing, to the flavor profiles (mixing sweet and savory). we loved the crab tagliolini the most

    Complimentary kombucha
    Faith N.

    The service here was quick and great! All the waiters were on top of everything, taking care of water, utensils, and whatever else you needed. However, I thought the food was just ok and wasn't anything special. I came for restaurant week so I was able to try their 3 course menu. Their butternut squash salad was very good and loved the sweeting maple pairings. The lamb shoulder was ok. I've had better at other requests with more flavor. The horseradish sauce on the side tasted too sweet with no hints of horseradish, which was very disappointing. The madeleine service was given for dessert as a nut free alternative. The "butter" was white chocolate coating filled with crepe and a chocolate ganache. This was very light and not too sweet which I liked. Overall, I would not come back considering the price how expensive it was for okay food.

    Pork loin

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    3 years ago

    An amazing evening with great food, impeccable services, and good ambiance. Would highly recommend!

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    2 years ago

    Flawless food and service. Very friendly & welcoming. Overall great experience, I look forward to dining there again.

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    Everything was amazing-food, service, setting-it was a pre fix menu-great for a special occasion!!

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    Page 8 of 15

    Bresca Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bresca

    There is a 22% service fee added on the final bill, does this mean we do not need to tip?

    You don't need to tip, the surcharge is instead of a tip. In fact, when I tried to leave a few extra bucks, the bartender told me that the tip was included in the service charge. You only add a few bucks if the service was extraordinary, as it was… 

    Do they take discover?

    Hi Angelica, We do accept all major card company.

    View All 3 Questions

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    True to its name, Unconventional Diner is not your average brunch spot - it delivers on fun and…read moreunique dishes (available until 3:45pm). The Tikka dish with fried egg was tasty, but wish paneer or larger protein option was built-in (not an upcharge)! The creamy red Tikka curry sauce, caramelized onions, crispy brussel sprouts, and fried ere tasty and paired well, the dish felt incomplete and something was missing, maybe some paneer or naan? I paid $5 for a side of zesty naan topped with different spices and really wish it came with the dish just came with it. While I was tempted to order the falafel, I couldn't justify shelling out another $5 for another upcharge and spend $10 on them for a total of $26 for just an entree - when these 2 upcharges should have been included in the entree by default. Wish there were more fun vegetarian dishes on the menu. Might come back for drinks and to explore the menu!

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    Unconventional Diner - Space is large, bright, and contemporary.  Reservations recommended.

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    The Hamilton - District Wings

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    So happy I was finally able to check out the Hamilton!…read more Came here on a solo date and had a great experience. When I walked in, I was greeted by the wonderful staff. The time I came in was when they were getting ready for dinner so I promptly sat at the bar. The menu for the Hamilton is extensive and I was presently surprised at all the options I had. I loved that the sushi was half off and vowed to come back to try it. For this visit, I had the pork chop and the crab fried rice. For an appetizer, I had the crab soup. Everything was delicious and came out promptly. The flavoring of the food was amazing and I had leftovers to take home. I will definitely be back!

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    The Hamilton - The bar and partial dining area.

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    Ted's Bulletin 14th

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    4.0(2.4k reviews)
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    Large group friendly
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    5/5 dining experience. High top tables were great for seating 4. Both the server and the hostess…read morewere very nice. Recommend making a reservation because it gets busy! Chicken and waffles meal was really delicious! The farmer's scramble was really nice as well, and it had a ton of vegetables. Really loved the vegetarian options! Breakfast is available all day. Pop tart was so delicious that we got two more to go. Enjoyed the blueberry, peach, and cherry. These are rotated out seasonally! The strawberry milkshake was a nice portion and they even brought out the extra in another glass.

    We went think we would start off our pumpkin spice season at Ted's Bulletin but they sold out by…read morethe time we got there. Then we wanted something else with pumpkin spice and that was also sold out. So we did finally order. I ordered the braised short rib which was delicious. Now the ultimate reason for the rating is because they charged us an automatic 5% service fee and we weren't aware of that. We didn't see it posted or written on the menu and then they want us to pay tax and tip on top of that. It's too much. Which also makes me expect stellar service from the staff. No hiccups, no mistakes, no I'm sorry buts, just great service because I have to pay for it! It is not the responsibility of the customers to pay your staff's wages. So the no pumpkin spice anything from the menu and the service fee just blew me but my food was good so I had to give them that.

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    Ted's Bulletin 14th
    Ted's Bulletin 14th
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    Chloe - Spice Roasted Chicken

    Chloe

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    I went to CHLOE in DC and honestly, I've walked past this place so many times and had no idea there…read morewas a gym inside. I love that they have a whole fried fish because the presentation alone is spectacular. They also had a featured menu, I'm not sure if it changes weekly or monthly, and my date got the curry shrimp which was honestly a really good size portion. I was super tired that day so we were kind of in and out, but I'd definitely go back. The drinks were good too. Cute place and solid service - loved the bread as well

    Food 8/10 Atmosphere 9/10…read moreService 3/10 Came here for DC Summer Restaurant Week and unfortunately left pretty disappointed, especially for the price point. First off, there seemed to be only one waiter handling around 7-8 tables. Tables on both sides of us were visibly getting frustrated with how slow the service was. We came to enjoy ourselves and weren't in a rush, so we didn't mind waiting as much, but the service was noticeably slow. Interestingly, the actual dishes came out fairly quickly, but everything else--ordering, drinks, checking in, and getting things we needed--took a long time. For a restaurant at this price point, I was also expecting the overall experience and atmosphere to feel a little more elevated. It didn't really feel particularly upscale or special, and the bathrooms were noticeably dirty, which was surprising and definitely took away from the experience. Overall, the food was decent, but between the understaffed service, cleanliness, and atmosphere, I didn't feel the experience matched the price. Restaurant Week is usually a great opportunity to try a higher-end restaurant and want to come back, but unfortunately I don't think I'd return at the regular menu prices.

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    Chloe - Restaurant area

    Restaurant area

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    Hangar Steak

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    ChurchKey
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    The Smith - Chicken

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    3.9(1.8k reviews)
    1.3 miPenn Quarter
    $$

    We stopped in for Happy Hour. Or as they call it "Martini Happy Hour."…read moreWe enjoyed a dirty vodka martini and a dirty blue Martini - made with bleu cheese stuffed olives and a bleu cheese vermouth. Nicely priced at $12 each. Also served with the cocktails were a bottle of still and a bottle of sparkling water - very welcomed on our August 20,000 step sight-seeing tour. We ordered the $12 shrimp cocktail - 5 decent shrimp with two sauces. The $7 fries were insane! If we're in the area again on this trip, we'll definitely stop in again for Martini Happy Hour.

    Dined in restaurant on a Saturday around 8pm. When I approached the hostess table, she asked "table…read morefor 2?" even though I was by myself. She was most likely on auto pilot and appeared embarrassed when she realized it. I politely smiled and said (confidently), table for 1. We solo diners need to be loud and proud! I digress... Before being seated I found the restroom. I found it odd that it was extremely dim. The main dining room was brighter than the restroom! I also saw the Photo Booth. Interesting addition. $5 for pictures. I was seated at a small round table with two chairs by the window. The restaurant was plenty busy, and I'm just glad I wasn't asked if I wanted to sit at the bar (I didn't). My server Noel brought two bottles of water: still and sparkling. I requested lemon slices, which he brought. And I proceeded to finish the entire bottle of sparkling by the end of the meal...guess I was thirsty! But I appreciated the option of both. I forgot to ask for a straw, but saw them in a container at the register right behind my table, so I got one myself. After ordering I noticed a nearby table had some bread so I asked Noel if they served complimentary bread. He said yes and apologized for not bringing it initially. Not that I needed it, but I don't eat bread with butter often and this was a night out to indulge a bit. There were two slices, nothing special. My food arrived within about 10-15 minutes and looked so scrumptious. I ordered the lamb and short rib meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The meatballs were pretty good, but what made them even better was the tzatziki sauce. I didn't realize the green rice was on one side of the plate until I was almost done. That tzatziki sauce was really all I needed to go with the meatballs. It was cool and creamy to go with the dry, meatiness of the meatballs. I honestly wish there had been more of it! I did not finish the rice, which didn't look super appetizing because of the intense green color. I will say though, I'm not a fan of spicy food but the tzatziki had a kick. I think perhaps due to chopped jalapeños. I tried to avoid them once I realized. The Brussels were delicious! Roasted to perfection, not too charred and not too mushy. I requested the green goddess sauce on the side because I'm not a huge sauce person, but once I tried it, I couldn't stop. Again, the combination of the creaminess of the sauce with the flakiness of the Brussels was a genius pairing. During the meal the beverage manager stopped by. I didn't have any drinks with the meal, but perhaps I will return to see what they have. Noel brought the bill at my request, then brought over the portable device so I could pay at the table. While that process is efficient, it's always awkward leaving a tip when the server is standing right there. Anyhow, overall it was a good experience and a delicious meal!

    Photos
    The Smith - 3/27/25 At the bar!

    3/27/25 At the bar!

    The Smith - Potato Chips

    Potato Chips

    The Smith - Restaurant space

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    Restaurant space

    The Capital Burger - Our namesake burger is served French onion-style with caramelized onions, Wisconsin Grand Cru gruyère and shallot aioli.

    The Capital Burger

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    This place is sooo good! Perfect ambiance, the vibe is kind of a modern pub without being dark and…read moredreary, big comfortable booths, plenty of space to not feel like you're part of someone else's conversation. Honestly we were so pleasantly surprised by how good the burgers are! I had the Capital Burger which had such incredible flavor and the burger itself is thick and juicy. Despite having just had a big dinner somewhere else, as I write this, my mouth is watering. My daughter had the wild mushrooms burger and she loved it -- the aioli had the perfect tang to go with the mushroom and Swiss, both burgers were cooked perfectly medium as requested. The old fashioned was just your typical old fashioned with a slice of candied bacon attached to the outside of the glass. We were hoping for something smokier and a little different but it was still a very good Old Fashioned. We shared the chocolate mousse and it was perfection. Yum! If I lived here this would be my new regular spot.

    I'll keep it simple here: the burger was legit. I really enjoyed it and I would definitely order…read morefrom here again. The fries were good too. Plus we had a good time dining outside while the weather was nice. They also made a solid strong old fashioned which i would come back for. Overall good burger, good fries and good drinks. What more can you ask for?

    Photos
    The Capital Burger - Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

    Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

    The Capital Burger - Blue Cheese and Truffle Burger topped with cabernet-braised red onions.

    Blue Cheese and Truffle Burger topped with cabernet-braised red onions.

    The Capital Burger - The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

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    The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

    Bresca - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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