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Clandestino

4.5 (19 reviews)
Updated 3 months ago

Clandestino Photos

CLANDESTINO ATMOSPHERE

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Matador
Brittney S.

I think I would have given 4 stars, but the service I received from Charlie was excellent, so I'm going with 5 stars! The main restaurant was pretty loud when I walked in. I asked a server where the restroom was, and she was not pleasant at all when she pointed in the direction of the restrooms. She seemed annoyed with me. I was worried that interaction was going to set the tone for my experience, but as soon as I walked into Clandestino, everything was different. I was greeted immediately by Charlie, and the place was calm, dimly lit, and had some really chill Jazz music playing. For cocktails, I ordered the Matador, which was just ok. I went with El Diablo next, and that was much better. There are lots of tequila and mezcal options, and a few gin, bourbon, and whiskey options as well. I also got the guacamole, which was ok. It didn't seem super fresh, but it wasn't bad. The grilled wings were really good. They were seasoned and cooked really well. Food and drinks were good, but overall, the service is what made the experience great!

Jen K.

I was so excited to try this place. And I really did want to love it. Unfortunately I couldn't give it a rave review for multiple reasons. The positive of it is the place is in Belevdere Square area. Super easy to get to and parking even on a Saturday night was no problem. It's a cool idea in a local restaurant, a secret door to a back room that opens up into a speakeasy cocktail bar. Although they do serve food from the restaurant as well. When we entered there was a woman musician up front who was great. The bar is at the back of the room. The unfortunate part was the bar itself was very small and crowded. Difficult to get one of the 2 bartenders to get you a drink. They were nice but not overly helpful or friendly. We ordered 4 drinks, one was absolutely horrible (tall white drink in photos not sure on the name) We did get 2 margaritas, both came out looking different in appearance (one was white and the other yellow) and tasted so-so, very sour, not in a good way. The 4th drink a whiskey and coke, seemed to be satisfactory for the person drinking it. I was really disappointed because the place is a fun spot, loved the decor. Liked that it's easy to get to and parking is no fuss. But not sure if I'm willing to give it another try since it's well...a cocktail bar and the cocktails did not make me want to ever taste another one there.

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Olakunle O.

I enjoyed this hidden gem. I don't know if I'm doing a disservice talking about it or if I should let word of mouth work its magic. But here I am on Yelp saying that this is a dope speakeasy with reasonably priced cocktails (the priciest one was $12 at the time of this writing). The bartender was outstanding and the ambiance superb. Check it out!

LaToya E.

What a cute bar!! I had never been to zen west so I can't speak to that per say but this place seems like an upgrade! We walked right in and were greeted by Judd who was welcoming and excited. Sat down and ordered drinks. I had a strawberry gin and tonic that by that alone I'll be back for. I did dock one star because we couldn't order any off menu drinks which feels weird for a bar but otherwise it's a good find!

Looking towards the bar area
Gretchen B.

Fun new bar/speakeasy located in the Zen West restaurant. Very nice and comfortable atmosphere. Great cocktails, mood lighting, and fresh plants. Food can be ordered from Zen and brought into Clandestino. Both sides have the same owner.

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Photo of Javier M.
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4 months ago

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1 month ago

The Clandestino Speak Easy at Zen West is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 12pm. It's also available for events and private parties.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

What a hidden gem. Literally. Walk through a secret door and you're whisked away to a cool tequila bar with a wonderful vibe.

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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Midlina - Chop (Restaurant week)

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4.1(54 reviews)
5.7 miCanton

Good but just okay for the price. Food is hit or miss. Came…read morewith a group of 12 for a birthday. A few of us came early and got drinks at the speakeasy upstairs which I definitely recommend! It had a great drink menu and cool vibe. For actual dinner, the restaurant itself had an eclectic menu and swanky decor. The service was spotty. I had to ask for water refills 2x. Also for a group of 12, it took about 7 mins for everyone to be served food. Yes, this is a large party, so you must have several servers come bring the food when you're charging these prices. It should've been a seamless experience but we had several friends waiting on their food while others were halfway through. The food quality itself was hit or miss. The pork belly app was delicious! Crispy and tender. But the octopus was overly chewy and weird. We had 2 dishes with it and both were cooked like that, it wasn't good. The lobster poutine was delicious and went quick. Paella was okay - the shellfish was overcooked and seemingly dried up. Drinks were good and staff was friendly. Overall, there are a lot of kinks to work out. I'd like to come back but at the price point, I wish our experience was better and wish the food was more consistently good.

This is my new favorite place. From the drinks, to the food, to the service, we had so much fun…read morehere oh my goodness. It's so wonderful to come across genuine people who are funny and kind in this world. Our server and the owner were so fun and so funny and so nice. It truly felt like visiting a friends restaurant. The vibes are homey, almost feels like a library but not quite, very cozy very comfy. Food: Tomato Mozarella, this was my two fav things in one. Tomato and burrata/mozarella, and prosciutto and melon. Delicious. 10/10. Prawns: so good, so flavorful, and I typically am not a shrimp/prawn girl. Skirt Steak: this was such a juicy and moist (sorry) steak. I don't like chimmichurri (cannot spell that omg) but it was good! The fries were also a winner. Moroccan Hen: this felt like a cookout bbq to be honest but in the best way. It's super flavorful, very smoky, and SO juicy. Drinks: watermelon marg, orange espresso cocktail, and I cannot remember the blue drinks name but all delicious. I fear this is my fav espresso martini to date. Dessserts: the Poe's nest and the Ruby & Emerald. Delicious. No notes.

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Midlina - Upstairs seating

Upstairs seating

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Forno

Forno

4.7(29 reviews)
5.7 miHighlandtown

Finally got to try Forno and was not disappointed! I came here with 3 friends and we did not have a…read morereservation, but got lucky and we were able to be sat pretty quickly. The space itself is small but homey, which I liked. It's a little bit of a tight fit for everyone in there but it works. The service overall was great. The chef came over and greeted us, and even checked in later, and we had a great conversation with their somm. The food was fantastic! The pasta's and pizzas were both unique and delightful. We split a ceasar salad, meatballs, the greek pizza, a sausage pizza, and two speciality pastas- a cacio e pere (pear), and another one that I can't pronounce in italian but was a very thin lasagna like noodle with meats/spices inside. We also split one of their desserts, which i really liked. Shout out to the hazelnut gelato which was particularly delicious. I will absolutely return!

This was my first time at Forno and I can't wait to go back. It is in the old DiPasquale's marker…read morelocation. It's called a "speakeasy" but I walked in and you can see the restaurant. There was a curtain, but it was pulled back. The market stuff is still there and the outside of the building is pretty dark. I wish they had played up the speakeasy part more, but they made up for it in service, food, and drink. We were seated quickly. There were only a few tables left and we felt lucky to grab one. Our waiter came quickly and we immediately ordered the drink special, a butternut squash old fashioned. It was amazing and the bartender came out and told us how he made it. I volunteered to be taster for future creations. I don't know if he will take me up on it. We ordered the Plum and Burrata Salad, Fristo misto, and a Goat pizza. The salad was so good. I could have had it as a meal. It had a generous amount of plums, barrata and prosciutto. The pizza had a perfect hand tossed crust. The toppings were also great. I should have asked for some red pepper flakes but that was my fault. The Frito misto was not my favorite. The breading seemed fresh which is good. I liked the shrimp better than the calamari. We didn't get to try dessert because we were about to explode. I can't wait to go back and explore more on the menu.

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Forno - Meat balls and drinks. Cheers!

Meat balls and drinks. Cheers!

Forno - Fritto Misto

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CODE RED - Picanha Steak

CODE RED

4.6(207 reviews)
38.4 miAdams Morgan
$$

Sssh... keep this on the down low. We found the coolest speakeasy in town. This joint is jumpin'…read more.., live jazz on Wednesday eve. The vibe is electric, the cocktails delicious, the shared plates delectable, the service impeccable. Such a fun eve! Go find the secret door, whisper the secret password and kick up your held with prohibition era libations tinged with just the right amount of danger. Tasty!

The first time I came to Code Red was last summer, and I genuinely found myself counting down the…read moredays until I could return. Finally made it back - and it did not disappoint. This is such a perfect spot for either a date night or a fun night out with friends. The speakeasy vibe, the chic atmosphere, and the music (a smooth, chill house mix) all come together so effortlessly. Plus, being open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays is a huge bonus. Definitely make a reservation ahead of time - this place stays busy for a reason. From my previous visit, I remember having a ravioli dish, what I believe was a braised beef, and their sliders with duck fat fries - all of which were incredible and clearly memorable since I was thinking about them for months. The sliders paired with those fries were honestly a standout. This time around, we had to get the duck fat fries again, and they were just as phenomenal as I remembered. The cheesesteak oysters were easily a 10/10 - fresh, meaty, and honestly surprising coming from someone who used to not even like oysters. We also tried the grilled octopus, which was well-seasoned (as expected, slightly chewy), and the fried calamari, which was light, not heavy at all, and paired perfectly with the sauces. The tuna tartare was another standout - super fresh, soft, and practically melted in your mouth. For drinks, we went all in. The Dirty Diamond martini with blue cheese olives was great, though if you like your martinis extra filthy, I'd recommend specifying that. The Hemingway Special had a nice subtle sour kick, and the vanilla mint espresso martini was strong (you can definitely taste the alcohol) but still smooth and frothy. The Mary Pickford with Malibu was surprisingly delicious - almost like a mocktail. The Paloma was solid, and the Code Red cocktail gave me slight cosmopolitan vibes. But the real star was the dulce de leche espresso martini--absolutely unforgettable. What really ties everything together here is the service. The staff - from the hosts to the servers - are attentive, welcoming, and genuinely elevate the experience. Overall, Code Red is one of those places you keep coming back to. If you're looking for a stylish speakeasy atmosphere with great food, drinks, and energy, this is it.

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CODE RED - Dining area

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CODE RED - Wagyu Beef Sliders

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Clandestino - speakeasies - Updated May 2026

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