This restaurant has a cute vibe. Food was good. The have a lounge downstairs with live music. It was crowded the day we came due to HU homecoming. Waitress never asked us if we wanted anything to drink besides water. read more

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This place was wonderful. I sat at the bar and had two appetizers, tapas style (the hot stone Wagyu and Rheumatolgy port belly). Both were excellent The wine list was nice, but the variety of tequila was even more impressive. The bartenders were responsive and very helpful. It's located just a few blocks from the convention center. I would come back with friends in order to be able to share more food. read more

Amazing food, drinks and ambience! Would absolutely come here next time that I'm in town, definitely a must-try in DC! read more

dLeña - Short ribs....the most tender that I have ever tried in my 47 years on this planet. Amazing presentation and flavor! - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dlena is a amazing! If you consider yourself a foodie it's a must visit! The steak was probably the best I've had in two years. The right amount of fat, salt and meat. Melted in my mouth! Creme brûlée's was not that good to me. Or maybe I'm just not a creme brûlée person. The cheese appetizer was delish! Cute date spot, or you can go and meet a bae. 10/10 I recommend. Even the decor is spot on! read more

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Ever since my homie recommended this spot, I knew it was on my radar to go. I decided to surprise babe with a random brunch date since we were going to the travel and adventure show at the convention center. We were greeted upon entrance, it is something to note given the challenges the hospitality industry is currently facing. Even though they offer a brunch menu that reads amazingly well, I knew what I was there for-the tomahawk steak! We ended up ordering a few appetizers prior to the steak's arrival- tuna ceviche which was a bit on the tart side (maybe too much lime?) but the tuna was very fresh. We also got the pepito salsa which was super enjoyable and again, fresh and flavorful. Now the tomahawk steak? I dont even know how to describe it. I mean come on MANNNNN - bone marrow butter? Whew! It was a pleasure to watch the final prepping of the steak and it was so aromatic! The steak was superb as were the potato hash and mais cazuela. The literal only downside was the drinks we ordered were very very weak, even after mentioning it to our waiter. I knew there wasn't much he could do about it but figured we would mention it to him anyway. I've already made plans to return to try the bottomless brunch next month! Definitely high on my brunch recs! read more

Going to be completely honest, I was excited to take my girlfriend here for her first visit to DC. I'm unsure if this was a one off experience but we were both very disappointed. - food came out cold - service was a bit slow not to nitpick - the guacamole was probably the only highlight - was told no photos (evening time) another woman took several with no repercussions - crèmebrule was subpar - on top of everything the total for the night was about $400 for the experience of about $120-$150 read more

Beautiful restaurant with exceptional food! Celebrated my dad's birthday here and had a wonderful time! Our waiter was very sweet and attentive and offer great recommendations! The food was nicely plated and the cocktails were delicious! Definitely recommend for any occasion! read more

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Every time I come here, it's a great experience! The food is excellent, the service is great, the setup of the restaurant/decor is beautiful. I don't remember ever going and feeling like I couldn't hear the person I was with. I unfortunately having been for brunch, but I heard it's amazing!! Definitely recommend for a date night or girls night! read more

(4.5 stars) Whether it's the elevated albeit pricey Mexican food upstairs or the swanky bar downstairs with its own little bites and fanciful cocktails, this place has quickly become one of my new favorites. I would definitely take out-of-towners here to impress them with the dc food scene or come here for a celebratory meal. The highlights were surely the boneless ribeye where the chimichurri sauce didn't overpower but really just brightened each bite of the perfectly medium-rare cut, the prawn tacos which had my favorite single bite, somehow both hot and cold with great mouthfeel, the guacamole which thankfully didn't disappoint, and the ceviche which I would practically drink if it was acceptable. The only disappointing bite was the side potato, which I assumed would be like patatas bravas but was really just a baked potato with too much cream. read more

dLeña - 14oz 30 Day Dry Aged Boneless Ribeye* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

decided to visit my friends for my birthday weekend and we decided to try dLena. let me just start off by saying , just waking in, you know the vibes are there ! the restaurant is beautiful. the drink i ordered was delicious (sorry i can't remember the name), and it was so pretty . we started off with the ceviche and waygu empanadas. let me tell you , they got something with these . and im not even a beef eater, but those .... i'd eat them again and again . the ceviche , i wasn't a fan, but that's also not really my thing . for the main course, i ordered the half chicken ... it was perfect . nice and tender . chef's kiss. our server , ehhh .... she was okay. a little extra, but i wouldn't let her ruin the overall experience there . since we were celebrating two birthdays , they bought us out churros to share . i don't think they're an official menu item, but they should be. i would most definitely return here, especially to check out the little speakeasy they have in the basement . read more

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

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The queso fondito greatly exceeded my expectations as someone who does not usually go for cheese. I'd eat a little every day if I could. Service was excellent as well and supremely attentive to dietary restrictions. read more

In general, dLeña offers great food and a great atmosphere. There is a lounge area downstairs with couches and a bar. The upstairs area also has a bar and dining. The best dLeña offers in my opinion is BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH. It is well worth the price and you can do bottomless food without bottomless drinks if you prefer. The dinner/bar experience is also great but can get pricey with drinks. The Mexican Old Fashioned is smokey, as is the Casual Encounter, which comes in comes in a smokey box to your table! They do try to make things more eloquent through presentation (pouring the soup at the table, drink coming out of box, pouring old fashioned from Smokey container in front of you). I HIGHLY recommend Mil Hojas de Panqueque! It's an incredible texture of stacked crepes and warm caramel sauce...absolutely delicious! read more

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Go downstairs. It's hidden and wonderful ambiance. Live music too. Good cocktails and excellent food

Excellent brunch. My boyfriend and I waited almost a month to get a reservation but it was worth the wait. We did the bottomless brunch food and drink and it was a great choice. We got to try all the options on the menu, and then re order the ones we liked. Our repeats were the beef taco and the shrimp enchilada. Another standout was the fruit cup. The honey sauce was delicious. I cannot wait to go back and see what dinner is like. read more

I was able to visit dLeña for the first time during restaurant week in January and it was SO so good. Definitely a must try.

10/10 , from the service , to the wine and food. AMAZING. Very upscale restaurant. I could go there every weekend if I could. The wagyu empanadas melted in my mouth. The enchiladas were delicious and not too heavy along with the short rib tacos. We also ordered the pork belly appetizer and that was A1 since day 1 read more

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dLena has a great vibe to it with a modern Mexican flare and the location is beautiful decorated with a top floor and lower level lounge. Perfect for a quick catch up with friends or a date night. The staff is very attentive and helpful with explaining the menu. I had the short rib tacos and crab cake tostadas they were both good. The taco servings are pretty small and I think it's worth it to pair it with another item. I also had the guacamole and even though I'm not a big guac fan I thought it was really good. read more

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I'm giving DLena a 5/5 rating with no hesitation.I waited a while before I wrote this review because I wanted to be sure I got the same level of customer service during all my visits. Now that I've experienced DLenas private dining area during their opening, brunch, and their dinner menu. I can officially place this spot in my top 5 Mexican Restaurants in DC. DLena I absolutely loved their bottomless brunch! This spot puts a modern twist on traditional Mexican dishes and serves every item "family" style which is perfect for a group of girlfriends or a cute date with bae. There's no possible way I could choose a favorite dish because every single menu item was truly mind-blowing. The colors, the flavor, and the overall presentation were so on point! In addition to the amazing food, the service was top-notch. (Our server's name was Jenny, and I felt like she was a part of our crew, love that for us.) Oh yea, the mimosas and margaritas were made to perfection. Their dinner menu is slightly more upscale. They offer tender short ribs, duck, and even a very hefty tomahawk that I still am dying to get back to try. I went during their Dias Los Muertos event, so some items photographed are not on their traditional menu. However, their pumpkin cheesecake and their autumn inspired themed drinks were a pleasant switch up from the brunch cocktail menu that I'd experienced before. As you scroll through the photos you can see how elegantly each meal is prepared, but I am truly writing this review to express how polite DLenas service staff is. All three times I've been I have been approached my their manager and asked how my experience is going (love,that). I've had brand new servers and servers who've been around since their opening, and each one has been so accommodating and delightful. I really could go on all day about how awesome DLena is but instead I'll just encourage you all to go! I hope this review is helpful foodies:) Full Ingredient Details Here: -Birria Beef Tacos: peanut guajillo sauce, radish, red onion, cilantro, green tomatillo salsa -Shrimp Enchiladas: creamy guajillo sauce, yellow corn, heirloom cherry tomato, cotija cheese -Zarandeado Salmon: napa cabbage, chipotle slaw, charred lemon -Enfrijoladas: scrambled eggs, cotija cheese, black bean sauce, pico de gallo, crema -Cazuela: smoked egg, charred tomato salsa, potato hash panela cheese . . read more

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Customer service was great. I was provided with a text confirming my table was ready so I appreciate that. Upon arrival hosts were very welcoming, and our server was great. She provided great recommendations and was very attentive. Food came out quickly and they explained how to pair the types of salsas' for the queso fundido. I had the short rib tacos and my friend has the half chicken with an avocado on the side. Everything was great and I'll definitely be back! read more

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

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Finally made it here and the food was amazing. The food exceeded my expectations. I gave a 4/5 because of customer service. When we arrived the hostess didn't greet us. Our server was okay but she seemed annoyed by us not rushing into ordering our entrees. There was also a guy who may have been the general manager lighting candles at tables near us then came to our table. He also didn't greet us or say anything. Talk about awkward.. Customer service aside we enjoyed ourselves. read more

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Great spot. Food was amazing and had a different flare to each dish. Drinks were Soso. Great ambience with soft music playing. The smoky taste and aroma added to each dish including the drinks. Recommendation: We went for happy hour 5:00PM-7:00PM. When we arrived at 5:10PM the bar was packed. The hostess stated there is always a line prior to opening. To be on the safe side we always make a reservation which in this case was in our favor. There is a bar downstairs that the hostess was directing ppl to if they didn't have a reservation. By the time we left it was packed! Can't wait to go back in the summer. read more

I agree with reviews critiquing the "attitude". My cousin and I decided to welcome in the 2024 New Year at dLena. Various magazines and newspapers as well as the restaurant's own website advertised "no reservations" for the sublevel lounge that evening. When we arrived at the lounge, all seated areas had "reservation" signs. Eventually we were able to grab seats at the bar. We were ignored to order drinks (not an over reaction as we were reportedly told "one minute" while others arriving after us were asked for their order in a timely manner). We caught the bartender speaking to the manager and gesturing towards our direction. Then right after, we told that even the bar area was reserved seating and that we'd have to move despite others walking up with no reservation and grabbing seats next to us. I can't comment on the menu or quality of food as we decided to leave and find a better place for NYE. I can only attribute this to our casual dress..? Most were in evening/party gear, but my cousin and I were dressed casually. Definitely presentable and equally deserving of good service. I guess we didn't fit the "vibe". As a lifelong Washingtonian I've seen MANY a restaurant come and go. A lot want to make a mark through image or curating atmosphere and that's fine. But the ones who stay and prosper in this city know how give consistent and outstanding treatment to all customers. read more

We are both long-time fans of Richard sandoval's restaurants and talent. Was thrilled to stop by for drinks. We went to the bottom level & even though we were the oldest people there, we didn't care! Live music lots of energy and a notable cocktail list. Stunning space. Great service & oh those cocktails. An El Silencio cocktail (La Luna) & Passionfruit Fizz and my personal favorite (which packed some heat & was do well balanced) Spiked Flower. What a treat. Menu looks incredible too. Main level - every seat filled. Next time- the rooftop!! read more

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I came with a friend without reservations on a Friday night. Bold. I know. We were able to find a spot in the underground lounge. There was live music playing so the noise level was pretty high. That aside, the ceviche was slightly confusing on how watery it is. Still delicious. The short rib and prawns were great too. We thought service would be slow because of our location and how busy they were but our server was very attentive. read more

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turned away way 2:40 for lunch just wanted to order a ceviche website says 3:00. server told me they do last call at 2:45. looked at the time and it was 2:42 read more

Possibly the best bottomless brunch I've had in dc. Every single entree was amazing (salmon so good my friend stopped being a vegetarian when she saw it), and they weren't light on the drinks either. 10/10 would go back read more

Perfect for a date night. Mood lighting and ambience on lock. Everything we ate was delicious from the blue grab guacamole, queso fundido, camarones a la diabla to the lamb shank-not one miss! So delicious. read more

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Very nice restaurant. For drinks I had the tamarind margarita. Wagyu empanadas are great, and so was the guacamole and salad. Finished with the cheesecake which was good. Quick and friendly service, good music and overall good time read more

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My partner and I went here for our anniversary, it was pretty last minute so there weren't tables available but we sat at the bar. The service was wonderful, food was delicious and drinks were too! It is a little pricey but after eating its totally worth it! We're definitely planning on visiting again when we're in DC! read more

Loved our experience at dlena! We came here for a birthday brunch a few weeks ago and everyone left happy and VERY full. For brunch, we chose the AYCE/AYCD options in order to try all of the brunch offerings. I'm docking off a star purely because of the first drink we had tried - a standard Bloody Mary which unfortunately, was terrible (perhaps something off in the mix...? It was flavorless yet salty all at the same time). We sent ours back after just a few sips and happily ended up with passion fruit mimosas instead. Now on to the food - obsessed with their salmon that was perfectly cooked and seasoned, along with the grilled street corn (cheesy goodness...you have to get this!). Surprisingly, their seasonal fruit cocktail was one of the highlights of the meal, to a point where we actually asked for another round! That passion fruit again made all the difference. I definitely would plan on coming back for dinner! read more

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

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My sister really wanted to go to dLena but never made reservations. Face Palm! When we decided tp go for dinner, of course there was no available seating. However dLena has a VERY COOL feature. They have a downstairs "overflow" lounge. It is a first come first serve lounge for parties such as ours that did not have reservations. The upstairs is very swanky, beautiful booths or the ultimate dining experience. Downstairs in the lounge was very dimly lit, like a sexy library. Smaller tables lining the walls, live jazz like music playing by two musicians. tree like stump.tables and couches. We were seated in the middle couches, not a really comfortable way to eat since the tree stump "tables" were so low but who can complain when you didn't have a reservation. It took a while to get our orders and the bartender actually came over and took our orders when the server took too long. The food was pretty good. We had the corn fritter empandas, truffle fries, a chicken dish, oysters-DUH, and a steak dish. My only qualm was my steak dish...it severely needed seasoning. There were some julienne peppers and that saved my dish after asking for salt to help. Outside of that everything was beautiful. I felt like I was in one of those movies where you see a true lounge. The experience is definitely a must and if you do not have reservations, go at an idea time to get one of the tables. Or just go downstairs to enjoy the love music after eating upstairs. read more

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Such a pretty place! It was my first time yesterday for brunch and it was amazing. They make amazing mimosas, the tapas style brunch is quite tasty and our server McKenzie took such great care of our group which was celebrating a birthday! Thank you for your care and service McKenzie! You did a great job making sure we got to try the full menu and kept the drinks flowing and us happy! Hint the beef tacos are *CHEFS KISS*!!!!! read more

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

Went here for my birthday and I was not disappointed. Staff was very friendly and attentive! The food was very tasteful and presentation exceeded expectations. It's surprising that I was able to eat everything on the plate as some restaurants like this put other items on the plate that you wouldn't necessarily want to eat but it's edible. They had the best pork belly I've ever tasted! Chicken was flavored wonderfully. The desert I ordered came with a little surprise on it, given it was my birthday. The cake actually blew me away as it definitely tasted like an elote! From the ambiance to the food, everything here was outstanding. I can't wait to come back with my family and friends. read more

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Not birthday friendly at all, way to many rules and regulations. They charge $3 pp if you bring your own cake. You cant take pictures or video with flash which I can understand but the restaurant is way to dark to not be able to use flash. read more

Got the truffle fries, corn empanadas, and 14oz t bone steak. I would definitely recommend all BUT the truffle fries. Was unsure what to order to drink but the bartender mixed up something nice based on what flavors we wanted to experience. The steak was amazinggggggg, 10 out of 10 would recommend. The restaurant is usually booked so I would highly suggest booking in advance or getting their earlier and enjoying dinner in the cellar. read more

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

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There is no way that I or my friends will ever return to this place! The service is rushed, and they force you to wait until all guests have arrived. After a long day, all I wanted was to sit and have a drink. The bar was full, and I requested to be seated for a drink before my guests arrived. However, the general manager, Mike, refused to let me sit and have a drink, insisting that this is their house rule. Customer service is non-existent here. To top it off, the staff is rude and dismissive, making it clear that they don't care about their customers' experience. read more

Are you ready for a magical brunch experience? This is another masterpiece of a restaurant created by Richard Sandoval. Though it is a bit pricey, $50 for unlimited food and drink for two hours the food quality is superb. The service is excellent although a lot of the waitstaff do not speak English. It is clear that they are trying to make a first impression in the first few months of opening. I definitely will come back. I appreciate Restaurants that have smaller menus but do each item very very well and this is clearly a cut above the rest. read more

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Yes, yes, and more yes! I've been a couple times for lunch w/ colleagues where it was quiet and food was really good. But I went on a Thurs night recently... A VIBE! We first sat at the restaurant bar, then grabbed seats at lounge downstairs. Now more flexible to try drinks out, I had 3 off the menu: Ah. May. Zing! And the crab guacamole was sooo fresh + flavorful. The bustle of the restaurant was cool, but the lounge w/ the live band stole my heart! It's an amazing spot for date night or girl's night. Just go! read more

These enchiladas were probably the best I've ever had in my life. No contest and no exaggeration! While the braised pork was fantastic as well, the enchiladas might have been from another planet. Our server was so friendly, and made amazing recommendations. All of the drinks were also tasty and the dessert (churros) was fresh and the perfect thing to end the night. read more

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

We finally were able to get a reservation after a month of waiting and let me say it was WELL worth the wait. The ambiance, service, food and Halloween decorations were all so so amazing. Our server was so kind, helpful and attentive. Every bite we took we paused to say YUM it was so good lol. The drinks were tasty and the pumpkin bread was delicious!!! My only complaint is that we could t get in sooner! I can't wait to go back. read more

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