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    Circle Bistro

    3.3 (102 reviews)
    PriceyNew American
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Circle Bistro Photos

    CIRCLE BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    molten chocolate cake
    Mei E.

    Went here recently for a friend's birthday party. The bar area easily accommodated a large number of guests, most of whom were able to sit together at a long raised table with barstools. Drinks were generously poured and the bartender was this fantastic older British woman who made sure the birthday boy was well taken care of. Not having had dinner, we ordered a cheeseburger, croque madame and some dips and bread. Cheeseburger was solid, cooked well and the fries were decent. Croque madame came out looking a bit blackened but whatever. About 5 minutes later, a barback came rushing out with an egg and a small container of hollandaise. Perplexed, my dining companion was instructed by the barback to put the egg on top of the sandwich, and then the guy slowly poured hollandaise over the whole thing. Who knew it was do-it-yourself dinner? This place honestly would have had a fourth star if it hadn't been so disgustingly HOT inside. It's a 60 degree evening in Washington and they have the gas powered faux fireplace in full force. It wouldn't have killed them to turn on the air a bit, as I'm sure it would've been warm inside with all the people milling about anyway. Anyhow, it's a pleasant, sleek looking hotel lobby which is good for a slightly older (mid-30s) crowd who are there more for the conversation than the binge drinking (although the latter was well-attended to as well.)

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    17 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    17 years ago

    Service is slow, food is below grade, and the tables are empty. Circle Bistro is in a downward spiral.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Circle Bistro

    Review Highlights - Circle Bistro

    “others in my party had the trout and fluke- both of which they very much enjoyed.”

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Really cool vibe accompanied by high energy staff that works well together. I came here with steak…read morein mind but ended up opting for the fish... not a great idea... way to salty and appreciate the willingness to refire...was kinda basic. Extensive wine list may bring me back but not 100% convinced. Perhaps slow down, stop overdressing the food (salt and salad dressing were a tad excessive) and strive for quality along with speed and we may have a winner

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    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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    The Hamilton - District Wings

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    The Pembroke - Broccolini, so good that even vegetable averse will love.

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    0.6 mi•Dupont Circle

    I recently had brunch at The Pembroke, located inside the Dupont Circle Hotel, and it was such a…read morelovely experience. Beautiful atmosphere, wonderful staff, and delicious food -- definitely a spot worth putting on your brunch list. My date made the reservation for us, which turned out to be a very good idea because the restaurant was hopping! Definitely recommend making one ahead of time. We were both in the mood for a cocktail, but decided to explore the mocktail drink menu. He initially considered going with another coffee since it was still early, but ultimately went with an espresso martini. I tried the French 86, and both were great choices. The espresso martini was smooth and well made, while the French 86 was beautifully fruit-forward. And I have to give my date credit -- a man who isn't afraid to try my fruity cocktail! For food, we decided to share the avocado toast to start and added an egg, asking for it to be cooked a little more rather than very runny. We were glad we did because the toast was loaded with greens! It was definitely a little messy to eat, but in the fun, "this is actually delicious" kind of way. Nothing embarrassing... thankfully. He ordered the chicken and waffles, which he completely demolished. The sweet-and-savory combination was a big hit. I went with the French omelette, and it was delicious -- rich, flavorful, and surprisingly filling. I could only manage about half of it along with the salad! Overall, a wonderful brunch experience. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service was attentive, and there were so many tempting dishes coming out of the kitchen that we kept noticing things we wanted to try. I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu.

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    The Pembroke - The Pembroke: they have a coffee shop too!

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    Off The Record

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    4.1(457 reviews)
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    Off The Record - Making of Smoking Mirrors cocktail

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    Off The Record - Onion rings. Huge and delicious

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    Circle Bistro - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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