D.C is jam-packed with a variety new restaurants to try; there's always something for everyone! Dauphine's is no exception, having opened its doors only a couple weeks ago. "Dauphine's is inspired by the playful spirit and iconic cuisine of New Orleans." To start, we had the Beef Tartare ($16) -- smoked oyster aioli, pickled celery, salt & vinegar potato chips, the Oysters Dauphine ($21) -- chargrilled oysters, spinach, horseradish, pecorino, and the Bread Service ($10) (not pictured) -- buttermilk biscuits, baguette, sweet potato brioche, served with salted, cultured Poirier's cane butter. For dinner, we had the Seafood Gumbo ($15) -- crab, oyster, shrimp, potato salad, and the Peacemaker Po Boy ($19) -- Leidenheimer bread, beef debris, fried oysters, dressed, potato chips. For dessert, we ordered the Beignets ($9) (not pictured) -- powdered sugar. Some of the cocktails we had included the Sazerac ($13) and the Farm-Fresh Ramos Gin Fizz ($30). We both agreed that the tartare was a great way to start. We especially appreciated the pickled celery, which helped to balance out the dish against the aioli and the beef. The serving mechanism, the potato chips, was also very fun. Though we did enjoy the oysters and the nostalgic creamed-spinach flavor that it had, we thought that it could have benefited from more salt (perhaps more pecorino) or more horseradish, to add more flavor. The same can be said about the gumbo, which, for all intents and purposes, was a delicious soup, but slightly lacked the level of salt and heat that we were expecting. The po boy was the real winner of the night: delicious beef and fried oysters, chewy bread, and enough sauce and other toppings (including the moisture from the beef) such that the sandwich was not too dry. The beignets, were, as expected, well...beignets: deliciously soft and sweet. However, we both agreed that the dough may have been slightly undercooked in the middle and that the asking price was a little steep for three beignets ($9). The service was, overall, very good. We did find ourselves waiting an unusually long time between the oysters and the bread service, though we felt that this did little to detract from the overall experience. With its beautiful dining room and fun New Orleans-inspired cocktails, Dauphine's is a good choice for a nice night out or special occasion. Despite minor deductions in some categories, we thought that Dauphine's earned a solid four stars. read more

See all

Was really thrilled with our dinner here, it was like we were transported back to NOLA. Prices are on the higher end, but the service was exceptional. The dishes I really enjoyed were the Fried Hog's Head Cheese, the Beef Tartare, and the Steak & Potatoes. Wonderful place for a nice evening out, very instagramable, and great curb to your Hurricane craving. read more

Came to Dauphines for my birthday dinner, and I could not have picked a better restaurant. The restaurant's decor is beautiful. We were seated at the chef's table which was very spacious. I had the blackened blue fish with grits, and it was one of the best meals I've had. Perfectly seasoned. The beignets are also out of this world. Highly recommend! read more

Dauphine’s - Blackened blue fish - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

I recently had dinner at Dauphine's. The ambiance and overall aesthetic of the restaurant is charming. The staff are very nice and personable, and the level of service is superb. The food, however, is hit or miss. I am from the South originally, so looking at the menu, I was really excited to see some deeply traditional foods that aren't as well known here. We ordered the frozen cocktails available, and those were delicious. We started off with oysters from the raw bar. They were fresh and flavorful, and I loved that they included the fried saltines which were very yummy. Next we ordered the bread service, gumbo, and fried hogs head cheese. The bread basket was to die for, and coupled with the hogs head cheese, it was the best thing we ate all night besides the oysters. The gumbo did not taste like gumbo but the roux was dark and flavorful, and the potato salad gave it a nice balance. We then ordered the pommes souffle, tile fish, the cochon, and bbq shrimp. The tile fish was small and the tiny mound of grits it came with were watery and unseasoned. The cochon was tender but lacked flavor besides the small smear of whole grain mustard on top. The beans that came with it were smoky, which I enjoyed, but again, there was little to no seasoning. The bbq shrimp were just ok. The pommes souffle came highly recommend, but they were more soggy than I anticipated. We sent them back to get crispier ones, but even those were a let down. For dessert we ordered the ice cream/sorbet, the bread pudding, and the beignets. The bread pudding was not good. The texture and the fact that it's not served warm was off-putting. The beignets were not light and airy like they should be, and although I enjoyed the novelty of sprinkling the powdered sugar over them, it's only a teaspoon worth of it. Disappointing. We did get mini glasses of milk punch with it, which were delicious. The ice cream/sorbet was the best. Very rich and creamy. Overall I would give Dauphine's 3/5. If I came back, it would only be for happy hour and the atmosphere. I would stick to the raw bar, the bread service, and cocktails. All of the food was quality and there is a high level of attention to detail when it comes to the dishes but unfortunately the flavor/seasoning/spice isn't there for most of the food, and honestly that's what you look for in Southern/Creole cooking. read more

I had a great experience and highly recommend it. I am from Nola and spent more than 1/2 of my life there. Whenever someone recommends a Nola inspired restaurant, I typically run away (not many deliver). This time, I ran to the restaurant on opening day and was accommodated. Sheara, my server, did a great job of describing the flavor profiles of each dish. I started off with a hurricane and the mirliton and pig ear salad without the ears. I would have never ordered a hurricane, but I was convinced that it was far from the original, sugary, concoction. While it wasn't bad, there were some similarities. I wouldn't order again. The salad was huge and tasty. For my entree, I had the rockfish with haricot verts and rice. The fish didn't disappoint. The filet was the perfect size, however, I wish the portion of rice and green beans were a teeny bit larger. For my second drink, I had the state street punch. It was definitely refreshing, but could have been a little lighter on the pineapple syrup. I'd order it again and would request less. I decided to pass on dessert and have bbq shrimp (I should have looked at the desert menu). If I could dock 1/2 a star, here's where I do it. The flavor was great, but they were peel and eat and I wasn't feeling that. They took the heads off, but I need 0 shell and I need them to be deveined. I can deal with a tail. They offer hot towel service, but who wants to get sauce, seasoning and shrimp poop under their nails???? I do NOT eat undeveined shrimp, nor do I want to dress up, go to dinner and for a moment feel like I'm at a seafood boil. On top of that, the shells were hard to get off. Maybe they were a tad bit overcooked? If I could recommend a change, this would definitely be it. read more

I am a big fan of this place for several reasons. First, the decor and overall ambiance is classy and gorgeous. I sat in the mezzanine and felt like I had a private dining experience. Our server was helpful and attentive, made great recommendations and provided excellent service. If you go, you MUST do the bread service, beef tartare and grilled oyster! delicious! Beignets for dessert and don't skip the add on frozen milk punch (I know how it sounds) it's really special. read more

Dauphine’s - Grilled Sea Scallops Amandine & Blackened Tilefish Creole - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Beautiful restaurant with amazing food and drinks, as well as amazing service! Will be back soon!

This is a pleasant restaurant that is similar in nature to others in the general area of 16th and K Streets NW. The room is quite attractive and wait staff are quite pleasant. I went there because they have lots of oysters that they serve during summer months. I ordered a dozen oysters and gumbo soup. The order form listed the oysters by name and mentioned the size and salinity for each type. As it turned out, the oysters were scrawny. They were tiny, non-descript in taste, and they all looked alike. I also ordered Gumbo soup. That was also mediocre in taste and not particularly attractive. I was impressed by the modest price of the meal for the four of us. If the food had been better, I would have been quite excited by the place. It's possible that I ate there when they were having a bad day. But, I'm not likely to test that any time soon. read more

Loved our dinner experience at Dauphines! Located downtown on 15th street the space is absolutely enormous and so perfectly decorated as to make you feel transported to New Orleans! We started with a dozen raw oysters which were some of the tastiest I've had lately. We also ordered the bread service which included sweet potato brioche (just an idea this would make an amazing French toast!), baguette and little fluffy biscuits served with salty butter and pepper jelly. I had the oyster spaghetti for my main dish - bucatini dusted with bread crumbs and served with the most decadent sauce and more plump oysters while the BF had the BBQ shrimp. We can't wait to go back to try some more dishes. The outside patios looked amazing for a warmest evening too! read more

See all

Love the New Orleans vibe in here with the jazz performance during brunch! We were celebrating my mom's birthday and she really loved the energy at the restaurant. The ambiance was everything and I found myself looking around the entire time taking it all in - from the live plants covering every corner or the restaurant, to the raw bar near our table, to the jazz players in front of the restaurant. The food was also very tasty, especially the bread basket and my crab benne and the fresh squeezed OJ. Some of our food did come out cold though and we did have to ask for one of our food orders a few times before we received it. Beyond that, everything was terrific. read more

See all

Great space, great location, good drinks, a-ok food, $$$$$$ prices.... I am such a big fan of Chef Kyle Bailey and despite the lack of New Orleans-esque dining in town, Dauphine's was a disappointment. I'd come back for a corporate event or for a quick drink only. Best thing we ate that night was the Beef Tartare, esp the homemade vinegar potato chips. Maybe I should have ordered 3 of that and call it dinner. Spouse got the BBQ shrimp and said it was okay. And it was way too expensive for just an ah-okay meal. read more

DC has a lack of Cajun Creole restaurants but this certainly fills a void. From the ambiance and vibe to the food, drinks, and service Dauphine's is a 5 STAR joint and I'm excited to see them thrive here in DC. My friend and I came for happy hour and we're very impressed. The happy hour bar seating is first come first serve. We had drinks, appetizers, and eventually got entrees because everything was so good. I was very impressed with my appetizers, especially the deviled eggs and the black eyed peas falafel. I also really enjoyed my gumbo. While I was expecting it to have at least some rice, it was nice to see the scoop of potato salad. It actually compliments the gumbo perfectly. I've only seen that done at another Cajun restaurant in Chicago. The drinks were good and strong. This is the perfect place that would thrive for brunch! I can't wait to return here. read more

See all

Amazing food, great cocktails and FANTASTIC AMBIENCE! also all the servers, bartenders and stay v friendly! Great place for happy hours and dinner! read more

4.5/5 Stars. The ambiance, decor, and service is unmatched, an overall great dining experience. They have a good cocktail and wine list. Overall, I don't have much experience with their type of cuisine/style, so deciding on both a cocktail and entree was difficult. Besides that, the food tasted great and exceeded all my expectations, and the baked alaska for dessert was so fun and delicious. I'd love to go back here soon! Great spot, would love to try more New Orleans style meals. read more

While the interior of the restaurant is amazing, you can tell management is trying to wring out all the value by charging exorbitant prices, especially on drinks. With how expensive Dauphine's is, you'd be better served just to fly down to NOLA and get the real deal. read more

Fun and charming New Orleans themed bar and restaurant. Their happy hour drinks were feasibly priced including some unique and tasty options. Check them out, you won't be disappointed! read more

Had a date night with an old friend a bit ago and now that I've seen the Bib Gourmand announcement, let me tell you, it shows!! The atmosphere and ambience and service at Dauphine's is unmatched. The decorations make you feel like you're in New Orleans. Our server walked us through the whole menu and recommended his favorite dishes like he had tried and tested everything. All his recs were spot on too! You're definitely going to have to splurge here, but it's so worth it. Must orders: pommes soufflé (the SAUCE!!!), the bread service, the Hurricane (of course), and the beignets. Any entree in between these is worthy! I had the gumbo z'herbes and just adored that potato salad. Take your best friend, mom, lover, or yourself here for a decadent evening! read more

See all

I had an early dinner at Dauphine's during the week and tried a few small bites: rice balls, the Oysters Dauphine, and the Gumbo. Everything was so tasty. I'm not big on Oysters but the Oysters Dauphine were so flavorful, that might very be my favorite now. The rice balls were also very yummy, the sausage inside and the crunch of the rice ball delivered a delicious treat. The Gumbo was also good. You can taste the greens in the flavor. The Gumbo was poured over potato salad but hear me out...I had to have some in each spoonful to taste all the flavors and textures of the dish. I had two cocktails a typical French 75 (NOT the reserve version for two that's very pricey) and I think a New Orleans buck- different, but bold orange flavored and pretty tasty. Of course I had the beignets for dessert and they delivered with a taste similar to Cafe du Monde in N.O. All in all, a great experience. It was like a flavor tour that brought me back to my trips to Nola. Service was excellent. My server was Pierre, he was attentive and helpful with recommendations. The entire staff was great. My water glass was never empty and my plates were cleared away shortly after I finished dishes. I was also greeted and checked on by what I assume to be managers. I can't wait to go back. Again: Oysters Dauphine read more

See all

Went to Dauphine's for a business dinner. The decor is amazing!! There is NO style music playing in the background. Not to loud. Seems like a go to place to go for HH. We ordered drinks and appetizers before ordering dinner. We ordered few of drinks from the HH menu. They were good and reasonable priced for HH. We ordered the deviled eggs, crab claws, spinach dip w/crabmeat, and sausage tray there were tasty. We also tried the charbroiled oysters which weren't good nothing like you get in NO. I definitely don't recommend ordering those. I did not order dinner, so I cannot comment on that. Plus there were not a big variety of choices. The server was very knowledgeable of the menu. Food arrived in a timely manner. read more

Decent food, great atmosphere, poor value. Recommend more for the cocktail bar than the cuisine. read more

Dauphine’s - Bar, and portion of the interior dining space - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here twice now and tried a few things off their menu and I have to say I was not impressed. It's a cute spot to meet for hh/drinks, but would recommend going to some of the other restaurants nearby for dinner. The small snacks I would recommend are the two pommes/potato sides and then the steak was okay too (though presentation was lacking giving how sophisticated the restaurant presents itself). Staff, service, and the som were all great. read more

Very sad. After a decent meal, the evening was ruined by a 4% surcharge on the bill. The server couldn't answer what the 4% was for, nor could a floor manager. The manager tried to explain that it wasn't part of the tip, wasn't for kitchen staff, it was for the bottom line. So I said, "So this is for profit?" No, he answered, it is for the bottom line (also known as profit)! I believe this should be considered fraud. The website menu shows prices, but this is not what you will pay. Why can't restaurants just be open and honest about prices? DC Council should address all these add on fees and mandate real pricing. As for Dauphines, we won't be back again. read more

The whole experience was perfect- the restaurant was VERY spacious, I did not feel too close to anyone and couldn't even hear others's conversations. The ambiance was lovely, the decor is well put together, and the staff were very polite. We sat at the covered outdoor patio and had a candlelight dinner. The cocktails were amazing as well as our meals, and our waiter was very friendly and also knowledgeable about every dish and every drink. There is no gluten free pasta but they do have a separate gluten free menu with a delicious selection. The Happy Hour is only at the covered outside bar, but we will definitely be headed back for both Happy Hour and dinner! Highly recommend! read more

Dauphine’s - Blackened Bluefish - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Went for the first time last night. I will be back! Started off with a hurricane, charbroiled oysters, and bread basket. Charbroiled oysters were delicious and so was the bread. We had to ask for more jam/butter. Also the baguette was the only thing we didn't care for. Nothing special about that. Next was the gumbo...DELICOUS. Flavorful and the added potato salad was surprisingly a nice touch. Never had it like that before. Main course was bbq shrimp. The shrimp are huge. The sauce was a little on the sweet side...would have preferred if it was more spicy. But still good. Now for dessert! The beignets were good but the highlight was the lemon ice box pie. So good! The restaurant is beautiful ...can't wait to go back. read more

Came here b/c I had a taste for gumbo. Ordered a drink and gumbo at the bar. It was decent, but not how I remember it from New Orleans, so that might be unfair. It also comes with a potato salad instead of rice. New to me but delicious. read more

Pleasant environment and excellent service; however, the appetizers and entrees were above average but NOT excellent as one would expect for a pricey meal. I visited the restaurant on a business trip and had Scallop Crudo and Dirty Rice & Duck Stuffed Quail. Do not come to this restaurant if you are hungry or have anything more than a child's appetite. The portion sizes are positively embarrassing. Trust me, I'm not exaggerating. I think the appetizer was one medium scallop cut in quarters. And although I anticipated that the quail serving itself would be small, what I didn't expect was the rice portion would be the equivalent of a couple spoon fulls. Seriously? They couldn't even fill at least some of the plate with a reasonable serving of rice...? Ironically, the meal is under the "Large Plates" category on the dinner menu. Now that's comical! When I pay good money for a meal I believe it's reasonable to expect to leave with a full stomach. Unfortunately, the friendliness of the manager and staff was not enough to convince me that this establishment is worth another try. I will not be back. read more

I can't help but think the folks who've left 1- or 2-star reviews must have gone to Dauphine's in its early stages, when all restaurants struggle to really find their footing on the menu, staff, and flow. My husband and I had an amazing experience tonight when we went to celebrate our anniversary. Many staff congratulated us, and they even put a candle in our desert and brought us free glasses of Prosecco to celebrate. We had the Old Hickory and State Street cocktails, both delicious. We shared the bread starter, smoked fish dip, and BBQ shrimp, all of them a total hit. For our main courses, we had the pork belly and chicken breast, and we were both very happy with the portions and the flavors. Based on recommendations here, we went with the lemon ice box dessert, which was like a lemon cheesecake with a crunchy corn starch crumble and raspberry sauce. Perfection. The restaurant is beautiful inside, with high ceilings, interesting decor, and New Orleans style music. The wait staff were incredibly attentive, refilling our water glasses, bringing new silverware and napkins, even a hot towel to clean up after the BBQ shrimp. It was a nice touch. Overall, great experience and would recommend for a special occasion or happy hour! read more

Ok so the food was pretty good, I had the hanger steak, and that was cooked to my liking, the drinks were strong and delicious. Now the appetizers were okay, I had the chargrilled oysters, now I didn't enjoy them that much only because I'm used to the ones from NOLA, then I had the spinach dip which was really good, only thing is it was kinda cold but our waiter was nice enough to take it off the bill, the service was amazing, we had the best waiter, he was so nice and patient, we did have a pretty big party of people, and the ambiance of the restaurant is impeccable! I would love to dine there again! read more

This restaurant is beautiful and it has great service. Great cocktail menu. The food is tasty but a little on the expensive side for small portions. If you're in the mood for southern in a fancy spot, this is it. read more

Dauphine’s - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Excellent environment, great service, and reliable delicious food. Place is a standard Sunday brunch staple for us. The eggs Neptune and fried chicken sandwich are a high recommend. read more

I recently planned a wedding reception at Dauphine's and it was incredible. The food, atmosphere and service was impeccable. The bride and groom were well taken care of, Courtney and Natalie were so easy to work with, communicative and really worked to listen to the couple's needs. It was such a fun, unique and beautiful space for a reception and provided numerous spaces to meet guest needs. The food was delicious and the staff were always on top of everything. I cannot recommend Dauphine's enough and cannot wait to go back for a delicious meal or an event! read more

Amazing food and drinks and service. Not cheap but it shouldn't be. For a great night out give it a shot.

The food was amazing. They have a bread platter that every one should try. Absolutely everyone should try it. The ambience is immaculate. Technically 4 1/2 stars I had six meals and one of them was not great, hence the half off read more

Really nice addition. A taste of New Orleans without the trip. Beautiful decor. Great ambience. Good drinks. Sandwiches served with Zapps is a plus. Really liked their take on a collard green with fried oysters. Save some room for beignets and coffee. read more

I have high expectations for this restaurant, but I just didn't love it. I went for my husband's birthday on a Saturday night, and it was just OK. The highlights were that we were able to be seated exactly at our reservation time, we had no weight. Also, my husband did really love his drinks and his food. I just wasn't a fan of really anything that I had other than the bread and the oysters. we had the chargrilled oysters which were really really really good, but I did find myself having to pick pieces of grit and shell out of my mouth, which I didn't like. I really enjoyed the fact that they had hot cocktails, but they were just OK. I had the duck coffee and it was very very salty. My husband had the scallops Creole, which was really good though. The dessert selections were OK, we had the kettle corn moose I think which was interesting. I didn't love the layer of tahini at the bottom, but it was something interesting and new to try. for four cocktails, two entrées, one dessert, the bread, and the oysters, the bill was a little over $200 which is not bad. The decor was beautiful, the food was all right. I probably wouldn't go back.. read more

impeccable. the food was cooked perfectly. had so mjch flavor and paired well with their mock-tails so once I'm not a big alcohol person. their staff was so friendly and was on top of the service. if you're ever in the DC area stop in! you won't regret it. oh and get the bread service read more

See all

Extremely pleased with my experience at Dauphine's!!! I had Charcuterie, Oysters, and Scallops.. All of which were just incredible. The Sazerac and New Orleans Buck cocktails were delicious. But not only was everything I tried on the menu great, the ambiance and service was top notch. Very appropriate lighting and noise levels made it a very fun and relaxing environment. read more

Dauphine’s - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Over rated restaurant. Very slow service, immaculate website information. I wanted to reserve a table online, the website said it was fully booked. I left my hotel going to look for a different restaurant, passing by this one, it was open, and empty. I walked in and was seated right the way. The food was nothing extra ordinary, the duck confit was not crispy enough to respect the standards. The wine selection was very limited for wine by the glass for a French restaurant. read more

What is the issue with the staff at the hostess stand here? Quite unhelpful and unfriendly, which is nothing like the NOLA spirit I appreciated when I visited New Orleans. We arrived for happy hour at 5:30 and the inside bar was mostly full, since people were hovering over and saving 4 empty stools. Then, since it was intermittently raining, the outside bar was closed. Yet, they were still seating customers outside on the patio. So we asked to do dinner outside instead, and the hostess tells us ALL outside tables were reserved. There were literally 3 parties outside of more than 20 patio tables. Honestly, the entire restaurant was not even half full. We would have finished before the dinner crowd even got into full swing. When hostesses are this unaccommodating and inept, it's really best to leave and we happily went elsewhere. Times like this, I miss Acadiana. read more

For anyone who loves the food of NOLA and is skeptical of trying New Orleans style cuisine in DC, trust your instincts and by pass Dauphines. Their service is really great, hence the three stars, but the food lacked any depth in flavor. I ordered the bluefish, which was reminiscent of catfish and just not memorable. The had a nice bread plate, and that was the best thing of the night for me. I'm actually disappointed because I wanted to be optimistic about a New Orleans spot in DC, but Dauphines has helped to ensure I will only have New Orleans cuisine when I'm in New Orleans! read more