I had Fourth of July brunch here yesterday. It was spectacular!! Maria was our server and she was so helpful and attentive and friendly and professional and hard-working!!! The food was fantastic too! But Maria made all the difference!! I cannot wait to come back! read more

Atmosphere and service were awesome all around! The hostess squeezed us in without a reservation, and the outdoor section was lovely! Now, the reason for the 3 stars...was the food. It was extremely average and lacked the flavor I was expecting. Because we did the bottomless brunch, we got to sample a huge chunk of the menu...and unfortunately I wasn't impressed. The premade cocktails that come with bottomless...meh. Now I will say, the food I had at the bar (before I opted for the bottomless) was tasty. That mimosa was good and not flat and the guacamole was bomb. After surveying my friends, they agreed as well. Would I come back if invited, yes. Would I do the bottomless...probably not. read more

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dLeña was on both of our lists, and we were down to splurge on a nice meal. We had high hopes for the food here after hearing so many great things. While the service was good, we were not impressed or wowed with what we ordered. The little hibiscus drink sampler was very nice in the beginning, though! QUESO FUNDIDO - 21 We got ours topped with cecina (beef) since our server recommended that. The cheese had a nice pull, but it hardened really quickly which made it hard to spread on our corn tortillas. The corn tortilla were really stale, like they were left out forgotten for an hour. The cheese was good, topped with lots of caramelized onions, but nothing worth writing home about. The salsas on the side were a nice touch. MARYLAND CRAB GUACAMOLE - 23 The Maryland crab was plentiful and the guac was so flavorful with lots of spices and toppings including Old Bay mayo, chili salsa, and more. The cripsy tlayuda on the side was meant to be used to enjoy the guac with, but it was also really stale and hard to eat/chew. We ended up eating the guac with our other foods. I honestly would have just eaten the guac on its own, but it's a bit too salty. CORN EMPANADAS - 17 This comes with three of the most perfect shaped and golden brown empanadas. We both don't like cilantro and we wish we knew there were cilantro in them. Besides that, the corn empanadas were definitely unique and the pastry was perfectly crispy. The corn was sweet and the filling was juicy and flavorful. We liked these a lot except the cilantro in it. WAGYU STEAK A LA PIEDRA - 60 This was probably our favorite, but given the price point, it better be! It comes in a sizzling cast iron plate on top of a block of wood. The steak is best enjoyed medium and it was on top of some fajita pepper stir fry for extra flavor. The steak was very tender and juicy. It was enjoyable on its own, but this also comes with some corn tortillas on the side (these were actually soft and good) along with guac, sour cream and salsa. We enjoyed this, but it's also $60 for six pieces of steak, so... CREME BRULEE CALABAZA - 14 This creme brulee option seemed to be seasonal. It was topped with some fruit (blackberry, blueberries, etc.) and a mini churro. A server brought it out to us and poured some alcohol on top of it before torching it to caramelize the alcohol. However, the lighter was not working, so the alcohol sat on top of our creme brulee for a few minutes before he came back with another lighter. He only torched it for 5-10 seconds before walking away and we could still see the layer of alcohol on top of our creme brulee. Overall, not good. The creme brulee was fine, but it was ruined by the strong alcohol taste that was still left on top. If done properly, I think this would have been quite good. Overall, not a great experience and I don't think it's worth dropping that much money on food that did not wow us. Given the hype of this restaurant, we left pretty disappointed. read more

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Service: The service from our waiter was great. She explained the menu and gave us recommendations. Prompt service, food came out quick. What I didn't appreciate was the service at the front desk. The man who greeted us had an attitude when we came late for our reservation. Even after I apologized as the show we were coming from ran late and we had to wait longer than expected for our Uber. Food: The food was not what i expected. There was not much flavor and didn't taste "authentic". I think social media overhyped it. The standout was the bone marrow and tuna Chicharron and Maryland crab guacamole. The ceviche was bland. The short ribs tacos were dry. The grilled oysters were decent. I also ordered a cocktail called Guave Me Please and it was all juice. $19 for a watered down juice? That's just ridiculous. Ambiance: Cool interior and bar area. There is a speak easy downstairs but I didn't get the chance to experience it. My party of 2 people spent over $200 before tips and I don't think it was worth it. Will not be coming back. read more

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Went for lunch during restaurant week and again about two weeks ago. Food was amazing both times. Ordered the ceviche for an appetizer, the salmon for main course and tried both the churros and the salted caramel gelato. Ceviche was really fresh and citrusy with a little kick from the jalapeños. Salmon was cooked perfect and had lots of flavor especially the corn it was plated with. Churros were cooked to perfection and the sauce was just the right amount of sweetness. The salted caramel gelato was good but was not a fan of the crumble that was at the bottom. Taste kind like a shortbread cookie but didn't have much flavor or really add to the dish. Service was good both times and love the aesthetic of the restaurant. Would love to try the speakeasy downstairs. read more

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Fun restaurant with outdoor patio dining and lively scene. Some really flavorful guacamole and short rib empanadas highlighted the apps. Also had guacamole with crab, but the crab felt and tasted more like chicken, it was still delicious, but maybe not worth the extra cost for us. All the drinks were good, everyone enjoyed them. Even flights of tequila. The chicken dish I had reminded me of the best Chicken Tandoori you ever had. Yeah I know that's Indian and this is a Mexican restaurant, but that's what it reminded me of. Very flavorful, very boldly seasoned and marinated. The main difference is that chicken tandoori is so dry wherever you get it. But here the chicken is moist. It didn't come with any carb like rice or tortillas, but maybe they want you to leave space in your stomach for more drinks haha... which isn't a bad thought! Our server was really sweet, didn't get her name. Was a fun way to spend an evening for our group of 8. read more

dLeña - Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came for Happy Hour with my girls on Friday! The place opens at 5 p.m. and by 5:10 p.m. the bar was mostly full. The food is okay and not what we expected. All of us were Hispanic so perhaps our taste buds are used to more authentic cuisine. Actually my girl told the server specifically that the food was just "eh". The bartenders check ID's which is great but not when you forget your ID. They are so strict and we definitely look older than 21. It's cute too cause the bartenders looked younger than us. Whoa! Give these old ladies a break kiddo! I ordered Sauvignon blanc and then saw another beverage down the bar. I tried to order that drink too at approximately 5:20 p.m. and was told that I couldn't have two beverages. I thought that was the oddest thing ever. Who can't have two beverages and why? (Slowly looked around for the alcohol police? None were present.) I wanted the second drink so I asked him to take the wine back. Odd rule, as I would have gladly paid for both of those drinks had he just obliged to my ask. The Happy Hour Menu is limited. The crab guacamole was not what we expected. The crab was flavored with barbecue sauce, it was fair but nothing we would come back for. Maryland crab with old bay would have been great as is, the barbecue threw it off for me and the girls. The barbacoa tacos were okay, they came out warm not hot so that was part of the reason they were just okay. I think the service, strictness of the ID's and also the one drink rule ruined the whole experience for us. Happy hour is supposed to be happy and well the bartender was so serious it just wasn't the vibe we wanted. Unsure I would return but glad I knocked this off my list! read more

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We made a 5:00 PM reservation for a party of 8 for my friend's birthday. It was clearly marked as a birthday when we booked it. This was not a walk in. We planned it. We chose 5:00 specifically because of Ramadan so we could break our fast at 6 PM. The timing was intentional. Before we even ordered, Henry told the birthday girl that we had to be out by 7 because there was an event after us. So you accept a birthday reservation for 8 people at 5:00 and expect the entire celebration to be wrapped up in two hours. Why would you assume a birthday dinner for 8 people would be done in two hours. Celebrations usually require more time, not less. If anything, you allocate more time for a birthday table. If there was a strict time limit, that should have been communicated when the reservation was made. You use OpenTable. You require a card to secure the reservation. You send confirmation texts and reminders. OpenTable allows restaurants to message guests directly. So you can text to confirm and hold a card, but you cannot text to communicate a hard out time. That makes no sense. The manager never came over. No apology. No explanation. Nothing. At 6:36 PM, which I have timestamped photos of, we were told we could not order any more dessert because of the time restriction. That is twenty four minutes before 7. We were being cut off from ordering with almost half an hour left. They dropped eight spoons on the table when they brought the small birthday dessert, which clearly signals ordering more. When we tried to order churros, Henry said no because of the time restriction. When we asked to take them to go, we were told no because the ice cream would melt. I have worked in food service for four years and have never refused to sell a dessert because ice cream might melt. That felt like an excuse. We then tried to order crème brûlée to go and were told no because of the proportioned container it comes in. That makes sense from a packaging standpoint, but it was still unfortunate. At that point it felt like everything was being shut down instead of accommodated. Henry's service was not terrible, but it was very mid. He made a couple recommendations and that was about it. Nothing particularly attentive. Nothing warm. Nothing that balanced out the rushed feeling. It felt transactional. While we were packing up, Henry and the busser stood there watching us. It was uncomfortable and obvious we were being pushed out. A 20 percent gratuity was automatically added. I understand automatic gratuity for large parties and I usually support it. But with very mid service and how poorly this entire situation was handled, it did not feel earned. The food was okay. The regular and crab guacamole were the best items. The short rib tacos were good but overpriced for the portion. The salad, branzino, and prawns were good. The chicken was mediocre. The short rib entrée had good flavor but was very fatty and turned congealed once it cooled. Bottom line, if you accept a birthday reservation for 8 people, you allocate proper time for that table. If you cannot, communicate it upfront. Do not wait until guests are seated. Do not start cutting them off at 6:36. This was avoidable and it needs to be fixed. read more

dLeña - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fantastic experience from start to finish, featuring delicious food, excellent service, and welcoming ambiance. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared, making this a place I cannot wait to revisit again very soon. read more

Brunch at dLeña did not disappoint. The vibe was chic and energetic, with a beautiful interior that made the whole experience feel elevated. We started with the guacamole and chips--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly portioned. I had the brisket benedict and it was insanely good--rich, smoky, and balanced with just the right heat. Drinks were on point too--the smoky Bloody Mary was a standout. Service was friendly and efficient. It's definitely on the pricier side for brunch, but the quality and ambiance make it worth the splurge. read more

A visit to dLeña's is always a must when I'm in DC. The queso fundido is amazing, and I tried the short rib al carbon for the first time. It was flavorful, juicy and tender. The service was exceptional. read more

dLeña - Short Rib al Carbón - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love this place. The staff, the food, and ambiance is just great. My spouse and I have been at the this restaurant several times and each time has been a little different. I am a fan of their kale salad and from spring to summer it changed a little bit, but each time is delicious. Their queso fundido with mushrooms is just too good. Love it. We are especially grateful for their management including Mr. Justice who always makes us feel welcome. We will keep coming! read more

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So I came here twice and one time is was late night and one time right at five. The first time I came for a birthday dinner and it was cute! I had oysters I just didn't like the stuff that came on it so next time I'd get workout. I wasn't too hungry so I ate my steak the next day and it was good! I went back a second time- and this time got the mushroom tacos and they were soooo yummy! 10/10 would recommend! Also I got a mocktail. But yes try them tacos! My friend also got the chicken and she loved it! They also have a dessert of amazing churros for the celebration person and they were really good! I would recommend! Service is good and servers are attentive and nice. read more

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One word: Wow! Just kidding, I'll be using much more than one word to sing my praises. I first want to give a warm thank you to the staff, so incredibly friendly and attentive. And, you get a nice little non-alcoholic welcome drink to start! Moving on to the nourishment! The horchata had an amazing depth I have never experienced in horchata before. We ordered Queso Fundido for the table... not a word was spoken one it was set down. No one could talk through how vigorously we demolished it. There were three of us and I can absolutely say that we were just about full just from the Queso Fundido by the time our actual orders came out. I actually only ate one of my very delicious tacos, and am looking forward to snacking on the leftovers soon. Will be back and have already recommended to a friend! read more

dLeña - Birria de Hongos** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here for dinner, bottomless brunch, and drinks in the bar below - highly recommend all 3 settings. Food and drinks are great, ambiance is excellent, and service is decent. It's always a busy spot so make sure you plan ahead. My fav items from brunch: churros, fish tacos, cesar salad, street corn, nachos. Make sure you pace yourself as there are endless dishes you should try to see what you like. Don't eat the same thing twice unless you tried everything and really like it to order again! It's a great deal and value for how much you get. Go with friends or a date - you won't be disappointed. read more

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dLeña is amazing--great food, awesome service, and such a nice vibe. I've been here a few times for dinner and brunch, and it's always been a win. The drinks are good, and their all-you-can-eat brunch is such a fun way to try different dishes since everything comes tapas-style. Definitely one of my favorite places in DC! read more

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I had high expectations for dLeña after reading all the Yelp reviews and hearing that they've been written up in the Michelin guide and other prominent publications. The inside is absolutely stunning with a gorgeous wooden bar and elegant dining room. Some of the staff weren't super knowledgeable about the gluten free options on the menu. In fact, almost everything on the menu was marked as containing gluten (even the guacamole) because of the way they make their tortilla chips. If cross contamination is an issue for you, this probably isn't the best spot for you. Even the tacos all contained gluten either in the marination sauces or due to things like breading on the shrimp. Mexican food is usually a naturally gluten free friendly cuisine so I was really surprised by this. I ended up getting the shrimp tacos without the breading. I did appreciate that they were able to accomodate my request for this. However, the ultimate result was lackluster. Each taco was TINY. I mean, the tiniest tacos I've ever seen. So tiny that only one shrimp could fit in each tortilla. For $18, it felt like a real rip off. The standouts were the ceviche which has a lovely citrusy flavor and was super aromatic. The carrots were pretty yummy as well and the guac was OK too. Ultimately, I was a bit disappointed though and I probably wouldn't return. I think for a lot of gluten free people, Mexican is known as a "safe" cuisine for us given all the corn based carbs but dLeña wouldn't be somewhere I'd recommend for someone with similar concerns as mine. read more

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Dishes ordered: - Wagyu empanadas - Chicken main dish (sorry I don't remember the name) - Dry aged rib eye - Hibiscus juice The wagyu empanadas were amazing as usual, and the chicken main dish was good, but the dry aged rib eye was a mess. We ordered it medium well at first but the steak was served completely well done instead. We ended up sending it back and asking for it to be medium instead and served on hot stone (it was served on hot stone the first time). Once we received the steak again, we cut into the middle and it looked fine; however, that was the ONLY part that looked fine. Any other part that we sliced looked RAW. This was such a disappointment because I am a big fan of dLeña. I wanted to send the steak back a second time and just order something else (it was my boyfriend's dish) but he was just fed up and stomached the steak anyway. He just wanted to hurry up and leave. read more

dLeña - 14oz 30 Days Dry Aged Rib Eye* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I have no complaints about dLena bottomless brunch whatsover. I actually dream about it and can't wait to come back again. We didn't opt for bottomless drinks as well because in my opinion you don't need it since the food is such a highlight already. It's one of my favorite brunches in DC or anywhere. read more

dLeña is my absolute favorite brunch restaurant. The food is beyond spectacular and always amazes me. Also the hospitality you receive when coming here is just .. outstanding. Truly. I always recommend dLeña for anyone looking for delicious food and drinks. Ambiance 20/10 read more

dLeña - Dleña Crispy Chicken Waffles** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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dLena is a beautiful venue located in the heart of Mt. Vernon. One of Chef Sandoval's ventures, this particular restaurant serves fire grilled Oaxacan dishes, specializing in mezcal and tequila. My most recent visit was for a very special celebration surrounded with friends, the team here executed first class and superb service. Starters and mains were outstanding. Be sure to check out the lounge downstairs. First level wrap around bar is alluring, the ambiance and drinks are elevated here. Reservations are highly recommended especially weekends are booked weeks in advance. There is no valet service at this time, a parking lot is located across the site otherwise street parking in the surrounding vicinity. read more

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Everything here, amazing. Be sure to make reservations well in advanced! Service was amazing Food was delicious!! They did this fascinating experience at your table when you order the tomahawk. If you are interested, there's a story behind the dishes Desserts on point Space was huge, they looked like they had a chef tables which I didn't know existed so were def coming back for that experience! Also heard they have a different tomahawk for brunch. So it sounds like we're going to have to come back for that as well! read more

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Went for a date night after seeing the location pop up on tiktok as a nice date night spot. We arrived earlier than our reservation and were able to be quickly seated. With great weather we got to enjoy outdoor seating. The servers were great but did inform us the bathrooms were out of order that day so we would have to be redirected to another bars restroom which was an elevator ride away. They did seem to have people who appeared to be working on it so hopefully resolved soon. We ordered the wagyu empanadas, pulpo al pastor tacos and lamb shank birria style. Everything was plated beautifully. Unfortunately we were a bit underwhelmed with the flavor profile of the menu items. We felt like the empanadas were very cheesy yet didn't pack much flavor from the meat or cheese. We did enjoy the chimichurri sauce. The octopus tacos we did enjoy the grilled pineapple and salsa. The lamb was super tender but not a menu item that necessarily wowed us but definitely our favorite out of the three items tried. I think both of us were just hoping for more Latin spice depth in each item as a Latina and my husband being of Carribean and Asian decent. Otherwise the ambiance is really nice especially for dates, it's also great that they have days with live music. Tips for the establishment would be to definitely lean into authentic spice flavors to honor Latin cuisine, that would be so appreciated for foodies like myself who enjoy Latin heat and depth. read more

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Finally got to try Dleña for an early dinner on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. This place has been on my list for quite some time. We sat outside and ordered some fun drinks - we also loved the complimentary welcome "shot" but you can't go wrong with a classic margarita! Duh! Service was nothing to write home about. Our waitress was nice but did not offer recommendations or check in. The vibe of the outdoor area was beautiful enough to allow me to forget about this small hiccup. We started with the Maryland crab guacamole, which was fresh and tasty. The portion was not massive, it was perfect for 2-3 people, but the flavor was just right. I loved my octopus tacos with pineapple, and the short rib tacos just fell right apart in your mouth! The shrimp tacos were breaded and delish, but I didn't notice they came with jicama tortillas (my fault, it's listed in the menu!). I still thoroughly enjoyed these, but if you don't like that wrapping, be sure to substitute! I also loved that the tacos came with black salt to garnish - this added a delicious and unique flourish! I would absolutely love to come back and sit inside and try more - the frozen drinks, the ceviche, and the queso fundito. I will absolutely be back. read more

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My brother, husband and I went here on Wednesday, 1/10/24 (we had reservations). The restaurant was crowded, so I am glad we had reservations, we were immediately sat at a high top table when we arrived, I would have preferred one of the outside tables as our area was kinda tight. Our waitress greeted us promptly and we ordered some drinks (and shots), in addition to wagyu empanadas, pork belly and Maryland crab guacamole to start. The wagyu empanadas and pork belly were perfection, so flavorful, perfect texture and a must order. You can pass on the Maryland crab guac, there was nothing special about it and not worth the price. The drinks were also good and packed the right punch! For out entrees we got shrimp tacos and the ribeye (my brother), short ribs (my hubby) and enchiladas (me). My brother did not like the jicama tortilla for his tacos, but thought the insides were well flavored and good, he did not like his steak and felt it was flavorless. My husband liked his short rib and said it had a perfect cook and my enchiladas were delicious and hearty. Our waitress was attentive and personable. All in all, I would definitely go back and recommend you check this spot out. read more

Was pleasantly surprised by dlena, the food was better than expected. The experience overall though was just ok. Stopped in on a weekday hoping to grab a spot, had to wait about 30 minutes for something to open at the bar and the dining room (at about half capacity) was reservation only. Very dark inside. They don't keep track of the bar or take names, so it's first come first serve and you have to stand awkwardly by the host stand until something opens up. They do have space in the lounge downstairs and offer the full menu as well as an abbreviated menu, but it would've been a little awkward to eat an entire meal down there as most of the seating/tables isn't really set up for that. Service was ok upstairs, nonexistent downstairs. The bartenders were a touch overbearing and interrupted conversations, but friendly. We didn't constantly receive water refills, and our entire order was fired at once so at one point we had 4 or 5 full dishes for 2 people which rushed us a bit as we didn't want to take up too much space at the bar (and unfortunately some dishes got cold before we got to them). Cocktails were ok - tamarind margarita was better than the cocktail that is spicy and one-note. For food - favorites were the queso fundido (although it's a large/heavy portion so make sure to share it), the aguachile, the wagyu empanadas. The ceviche was decent, the pork belly had great flavor and is fatty, the salad helps cut through a bit (don't let this one sit). The octopus pastor tacos were good, the octopus was very tender, the tortillas were ok but broke easily. the downstairs lounge is dark and vibey, go to the bar if you want any service otherwise you'll be waiting. the live band is a nice touch but is pretty loud depending on where you're sitting. the drink menu is a little different and the two we tried were ok read more

You MUST eat here! Celebrated my birthday and this place felt like a gift. My server Carmen T. Was amazing. Someone celebrated this great server. read more

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Excellent ambience, dark, warm and romantic setting. I went with a friend but this would also be a nice date night spot. We had 2 nice servers who were very knowledgeable and friendly. The clearing service was decent but not top notch, they let our waters go empty twice. They were busy on Saturday dinner and enforced their time limit of 1 and 30 minutes for a party of 2. I ordered the maryland crab guacamole and wagyu empanadas based on other positive reviews on Yelp and our server's recommendations. We also ordered the bone marrow and tuna chicharon dish because it looked delicious when the table next to ours ordered it. The Maryland crab guacamole was my favorite dish. Our server told us that the crab was cooked over the fire and you could definitely taste the smokey flavor. The avocado chunks were delicious and the guac was bright and acidic. I would skip the wagyu empanadas. It tasted kind of British since the wagyu came in a truffle sauce that tasted more like a gravy. The empanada shell was thick too almost like a pastry. The bone marrow tuna chicharron was the biggest dish and fun build your own taco style. I think this dish was a great value since it's not often that you see bone marrow on the menu and it also came with tuna, pickled veggies, peppers, tortillas, guac, tomatoes, and salsa. It was flavorful and unique, just got a little too unctuous for my taste at the end. Would definitely recommend trying it. The tuna was cooked medium rare and breaded then fried like a corn dog almost. My friend ordered the Mexican coffee which came with a delicious cold cream and the alcohol was strong. We also received a hibiscus sample which I found very tasty. read more

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The food here is great but the parking is tricky. With patience you'll find something on a weekend night because the food is worth it. I've been here both on weekday and weekend and the service was great both times. The food option is good and pricey but of great taste and quality. The environment is nice, not loud music unless you go downstairs where there's a bar and live jazz band playing I think. Never had a drink or eaten down there but it's cool if you're in area and want to try their drinks and food with music. The food we ordered was delicious and they were different plates so we never really felt the food was taking long as they came out in waves. Service was excellent the first time I went which was a weekday and the second time which was a Saturday was good too except sometimes our waitress would go missing and it was hard to order another plate since she was busy. Overall, the food is great and worth it for me to visit again. read more

Everything was absolutely delicious!!! The ambiance is nice too. Really great for date nights or friends gathering. But the servers seemed to really rush us to go so they could turn the table for the next one. There were at least 3-4 servers came to buss our table and our main server asked us to rush as they have a 8:30p that's the only reason I didn't give it a 5 star. read more

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Wow I'm surprised I am now just writing a review for Dleña! Absolutely one of my favorite spots in DC. I've been here several times between brunch, dinner and happy hour and all hits, no misses. The drinks, tacos, empanadas, crab guacamole, omg so many items are always so amazingly delicious. The ambiance is beautiful! It's sexy it gives very romantic. It's a perfect spot for a date night, night out with the girls or solo date. The speakeasy downstairs is also such a vibe. When it comes to Dleña I can always expect amazing food and awesome service. read more

incredible dining experience. can't recommend it enough! The highlight of my meal was the Aguachile Campechano, a vibrant dish that perfectly balanced freshness and heat. The ocean shrimp were succulent, with just the right amount of citrusy tang and spice, making every bite an explosion of flavor. I also tried the Carnitas Pork Shank, and it was absolutely divine. The pork was perfectly tender, falling off the bone with ease, and the rich, smoky flavors were complemented beautifully by the accompanying sides. The atmosphere at dLeña added to the experience--warm, welcoming, and with impeccable service. Every detail, from the presentation of the food to the attentiveness of the staff, made the evening memorable. If you're looking for a place that delivers on both flavor and ambiance, dLeña is a must-visit! read more

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Swanky place with beautiful and delicious fare! I went during the week nearing the end of lunch hours and basically had the whole place to myself. Service was good but the waitress was leaning against the counter laughing with co-workers for awhile when I was done and ready for my check - one star was deducted for her attentiveness. I got the Birria Barbacoa ($17) which consists of 3 tacos with braised beef, chile de àrbol peanut sauce, salsa verde cruda, & pico de gallo. Was perfect for lunch for one or could order more items and share. 10/10 Mercado Margarita ($14) - serrano-infused blanco tequila (spicy), passion fruit, agave, lime, & a nice hibiscus-rosemary foam. 9/10 I will definitely try to come back when in the area. read more

dLeña - Birria Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Confession: I've been to this place a few times before but only for drinks upstairs. This review is for their downstairs area which was simply immaculate in setting! Drinks: our party started off with shots of casamigos tequila and of course that was refreshing! But I continued the remainder of the evening with a crisp glass of red wine, never a miss! Appetizers: we previously had dinner at an event so the purpose of the visit was for drinks and appetizers. I had the Birria de Hongos which contained grilled cheese, braised guajillo, mushroom, bean purée, cilantro, and pickled shallot (menu description) priced at $18 for 3. These are vegetarian friendly and might I say that they were SO delicious! How delicious might you ask? Well, the meat eater in me didn't miss meat at all when devouring them lol. The mushrooms were sautéed to perfection and the flavors blended together so well. Placed on soft taco, the toppings did not seep through as it was held perfectly in place. Major points for that. Not pictured: corn empanadas and shrimp tacos, both of which I had. The corn tacos were a little too sweet for me and needed to be balanced off with a tad bit of heat but the empanada dough was delicious. The shrimp tacos were perfectly seasoned and juicy! Good to the last bite. Would I return? ABSOLUTELY! I actually love this place for date night or time with friends. I would definitely order the tacos again and might order a different flavor empanada. read more

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It was a pleasant experience again! This time, we went on Valentine's Day (which I had to get a reservation for weeks in advance) and they had a specific Valentine's Day menu that was a 5 course menu, which was $150 per person, with some enhancement options including a tomahawk (additional $140) and a whole lobster (also $140). They also had option of wine pairing for $95 per guest. Each course had 2-4 options you could choose from, my partner and I tried our best to each order different things so we can try a lot. The highlight of the night was the tuna tartar guac, filets a La Lena and the chocolate fondant. Dleña always has a very romantic and calm vibes so it was a great environment for Valentine's Day celebration, service is great as always. read more

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dLeña used to be a fantastic restaurant, but like most places that start out great, TikTok ruined it. I've been to dLeña more times than I can count, as it used to be my favorite brunch spot when it first opened. The service was great, it wasn't overly crowded, the food was flavorful and served warm, and the drinks were tasty and not overly sweet. It is nothing like it used to be. First off, the servers are rude. They're forgetful, take a long time to come around, and get an attitude if you ask for more. Secondly, I really hate that you can't just order what you want now. They just send everything to you. This is very wasteful and annoying because usually my party can't eat everything on the menu and food ends up coming out and just sitting on the table, meanwhile I have to sit there and wait until what I can and want to eat finally gets sent out whenever the server feels like putting it in. I actually waited one hour one time because the server refused to put in an order for me. The servers also take a long time to come by with mimosas, the last time I was here I only got to have 3 because the server wouldn't come by to refill and then seemed annoyed when I asked for a refill. Meanwhile, I saw other servers promptly walking by to refill their tables' drinks. Speaking of the drinks, they're pretty bad now. They are super sweet and mostly juice. They used to be well-balanced at first with a good mix of juice and champagne. The margaritas are also awful now. They are batch made and cloyingly sweet. Once you get to the end of the batch, it is even worse because that is where all the mix settles. I understand that it's too crowded to make the margaritas to-order now, like they used to, but there is no reason to make them so sweet. They taste like straight simple syrup. The food is okay, depending on what you get. The tacos are always pretty good, as is the cazuela. The issue is that the food is usually cold when it comes out of the kitchen, and the portion sizes are hit-or-miss. I should've known that this would happen once I saw the restaurant pop up all over Tik Tok and IG. However, I'm still hoping that they go back to what used to make them good. read more

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First time visit for my best friend's birthday dinner (party of 6). The restaurant is great for date nights or special occasions they have low/mood lighting but at some point blinds were raised some caught natural light. They have a lot of staff who walk the dining area to clear plates, drinks, and bring out food. And I will say the food came out so fast which was much appreciated. Our actual server seemed to disappear a lot but I did realize it was a Saturday night and it was very busy. But we did bring a cake and it was brought out by one of the many staff but we didn't get a knife or plates and someone else in our party asked another server who took the cake back and our server brought us the plated cake afterward. I was able to sample a lot of food because we all ordered different things and honestly I was so so pleased. The crab guacamole was top tier and the way it's as plated made it perfect to get bites of each component. The wagyu empanadas were delicious (try them with the chimichurri) and could be eaten on their own as an entree. The pork belly may have been my favorite appetizer; someone else at the table ordered it and I tried a bite and would recommend it 10 times over. It actually prompted me to order the papa al horno (good but wouldn't order again) but it was a different pork belly. I went with the camaron tacos and they were delicious but I thought they'd be bigger but they were flavorful. Loved my cocktail and the presentation of everything was *chefs kiss*. read more

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10/10 no notes. Some of the best food I've ever had. Go to the express lunch for an amazing deal read more

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If you are looking for an exceptional Mexican restaurant in DC, DLeňa is it! The restaurant is dark intimate with a great vibe. We started out with the Corn Empanadas and that alone is something worth coming here for. Creamy, fresh corn in perfectly fried dough. For our mains we had the Octopus Tacos which were full of flavor and the fall-off-the-bone Lamb Shank. Dessert was the special Honey Cheesecake and a crepe-like cake that was heavenly. This menu doesn't look like it has one bad item on it and I wish we could have tried it all. We will definitely return here on future trips to DC. read more

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I came here for a quick lunch when I was working in the office, and I was really impressed with the interior and the quality of the food. Their lunch menu is pretty similar to their dinner menu, and a lot of the food options are more sit-down (ie: tableside creme brulee) so I was glad to be in the restaurant for my first time. I went right when they opened for lunch so I was the only one in the restaurant at first, and service was still quick and the food was ready quickly as well. I got a glass of Cava and I had the vegetarian tacos. I could tell the tortillas were made fresh and the filling was perfectly seasoned. The portions were just right and I absolutely devoured my dish. The ambiance of the restaurant was also impressive. While it looks small from the outside, this restaurant is surprisingly big while still having an intimate feel so it would be great for parties and for date night read more

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