If you haven't visited this fairly new High End Mexican restaurant then you need to run not walk.... dLeña blew us away... the food, atmosphere, and service was nothing short of amazing. Sitting on K st. corner... this restaurant has a "Tulum" Mexico vibe with the lighting fixtures and seating it is seriously the cutest restaurant. Now the food is what we came for and we left speechless. We started with drinks (of course), we had the Mercado and the Casa (with mango/mezcal). Both were soooo good. We favorited the Mercado, however both were amazing. On second round we ordered a Casual Encounter- which was an entire experience with a smoke filled chamber upon presentation! It also tasted very good, it was like a Manhattan but better. We started with the guacamole, well flavored, just enough of everything... peppers, onions, salt, etc. the portion was also enough for two. We also ordered the short rib tacos. The short rib was soft, and toppings did not overpower the flavor of the meat. These were good and we would order again. For Entrees we ordered the Wagyu Steak, and wow. It melts in your mouth! Although it comes with tortilla enjoy without to truly experience how well this meat taste! Amazing! Now we also ordered the Zarandeado (Branzino with marinade). Also amazing, well flavored and cooked to perfection. The grilled avocado which accompanied this entree was soo good. We later realized it can be ordered as a side so I highly consider that. Lastly, we also ordered a side of broccolini and wow! Soo good! They were somewhat charred but tasted amazing. We were celebrating a birthday and we enjoyed the Crepes dessert and whoa.... The drizzled warm caramel, literally to die for. Do not skip this! Save room! We enjoyed the food here so much we are already planning a trip to return. Major shoutout to Josh (the GM) and Liz who kept checking on us, they really made our night special. Josh went above and beyond to accommodate us. The service was unmatched. We can't wait to return! read more

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Couple friends were visiting for the weekend and dLeña has been on my list for a while now. So why not check it out of course for my friends as well. I made two reservations because booking this restaurant is super hard to do during the weekend. The ambiance is so pretty and actually reminds me of restaurants in Tulum. I started off with the oysters and IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! The sauce was spicy and a perfect addition. It was slightly cooked and did I say delicious?? Whew! I also ordered two drinks one was a Southside mule and the other was Piña Mezcalita. Our waiter was amazing and made sure we were super comfortable. The reservation was late but she made a plan to get our food and drinks in before the kitchen and bar closed. I also ordered shrimp tacos and everything was amazing!! Clearly everything was made with love because they did not miss anything!! Everyone at the table was pleased and happy! I didn't get to see the speakeasy downstairs by the bathrooms, but I plan to come back again to check it out! Super cute spot and I highly recommend !!! read more

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TLDR: The pictures speak for themselves. Great service, beautiful setup, and incredible food. No matter what you get, you WILL leave happy. A top-tier experience in DC. After much wait, my friend and I went to dLeña for Sunday night dinner. The lights are dim, creating a more intimate setting (aka perfect for date night, special occasions, or just a friends night!). We both had the casa margaritas -- mango and strawberry -- which were both delightfully fresh. We ordered the corn empanadas, which is a MUST when you come. The manchego cheese marries extremely well with the corn, forming a perfect harmony in the empanada. Honestly, you can't go wrong with the entrees here (and we're excited to come back and try more). We got the short rib tacos and ribeye to share. Simply put, they are to DIE for. The seasoning was balanced, the accompanying sauces all delicious, and the meat melt-in-your-mouth good. The ribeye came on a hot plate, which cooked as you ate. The portions are reasonable and don't make you come out feeling bloated (always a plus!). We finished off with the crème brûlée and elote corn cake, both which were great finishers to a delicious meal. Throughout the entire night, the service was nice, reliable, and most importantly, courteous with any requests we had. I have a tree nut allergy, and as someone who's been to their fair share of restaurants, dLeña should serve a masterclass on accommodating food allergies. Thank you to our server Tim/Timmy for making us feel right at home. Overall, I couldn't rave about the restaurant more. Chef Sandoval and the entire staff at dLeña knocked it out of the park with this lineup, and anyone who's ready for an unforgettable food experience in DC needs to make a reservation ASAP! read more

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Between the amazing customer pics, reviews & the weeks wait for a brunch rsvp, there was a lot of hype. Sadly it didn't come close to living up to it. Bad decision to have an all black sign out front as it's camouflage. Patrons looking around confused not knowing if they have the right address. Hence why they have to put a printed white sign on the door. The hostess was a sweet heart who greeted with a smile and seated us quickly upon arrival. Our table was sandwiched between to bigger tables that were so close together I felt extremely claustrophobic to the point I wanted to leave. Guests were having trouble getting in and out due to the tables being too close, while rubbing their bodies inches from my food, I could hear every single word of their conversation. Being allergic to artificial fragrances I started getting a runny nose and chest tightness being surrounded by women wearing tons of perfume. Our server Ryan greeted us while explaining the menu. He was ordering for us which I personally did not like (maybe that's the way they do it here). We tried almost everything on the menu. There wasn't a single item my friend and I thought was worth the trip. The tuna ceviche was a massive let down. It should be called "mango ceviche" as that's all you taste is mango due to there being only a few tiny pieces of tuna. There was no balance of ingredient's, just sweet, no acidity or crunch. The salsa was tasty but extremely cold & comes in a tiny condiment dish where have a hard time getting a chip in there to scoop it up. There was such a small amount between 2 people a couple scoops & it's gone. These 2 dishes were kids size being served to two grown men. The tacos were decent expect for the carnitas was way too sweet. The picked onions tasted as if there was sugar in the brine. Would have been better if they left the sugar out to give balance & acidity, rather than overpowering sweetness. The meat was lost in this one like the tuna. The tortillas were very well made. As for the tacos there was such a little amount of meat in each one like all the dishes with protein. The salmon was the biggest let down, bland & boring. The egg & potato was one of the better dishes. But again, not much balance of ingredients, too salty, all I tasted was potato. The street corn was way too acidic & salty. The enchiladas had such a small amount of filling all I tasted was tortilla & sauce. The sauce itself was tasty but lacked salt. Chicken & waffle was boring. Towards the end we had to tell the server to cancel orders he said were coming as we didn't order or want certain things. The kicker, every single time our server Ryan came from the moment we sat down, he kept touching my shoulder. I started to get uncomfortable & told him he needs to keep his hands to himself. Never in my life have I had a server constantly touch me like that. Nor can I understand how one could feel that's appropriate. Between the tables being way to close, my allergies kicking in as a result, the lack luster food, server self ordering, and the touching, this was an extremely unpleasant dining experience. Going by the food alone, I was not the least bit impressed. Nor do I feel it's worth the $37 for brunch. It's not a good feeling when you leave a restaurant unsatisfied for the money spent. At most $28 is all it's worth being the portions are so tiny you end up filling up on carbs with such little protein. I can get better food at my local taqueria for a fraction of the cost. read more

The five stars here are really more like a 4.2, but I'm rounding up as the service was good and the general manager did a walk around to greet the patrons and that wins me over every time! So the review is purely for the overall experience. Dleña is a classy, swanky place great for dinner. The food wasn't the best I've ever had. Everything was either a hit or miss, but I probably should have ordered some other items. I went with the Guacamole de Bonito. This was an exceptional starter. Loved the fish they added. Who doesn't love tuna and avocado together. This appetizer definitely gets a 5/5. I can see why the corn empanadas are such a big hit. Absolutely delectable! The cheese and corn went so well together in the flaky empanada crust. 5/5 Next we had the Habanero Pepita Salsa. They should probably just take this off the menu. Of the six people at our table, all of us thought It was gross. We followed this by the Aguachile de wagyu. This was a lovely presentation, came in a Smokey glass in which the lid is lifted to reveal a wagyu sashimi style situation. Not bad, but not great or worth $26. Bland flavors, maybe could have used some citrus or something. The wagyu did not speak for itself where It normally does in dishes. 3/5 For our specials we ordered the ribeye, the chicken, and Zarandeado Branzino. The specials were great. Ribeye and chicken were rich and juicy and the branzino was so flavorful and cooked to perfection. These dishes all get a 5/5. For a side we got the baked potato (papa al horno) . This was a miss, I envisioned a buttery comforting baked potato and this was a near flavorless deconstructed potato salad. I've never met a potato I didn't like..except this one. So again, overall lots of positives! But maybe avoid the menu items I talked about. Also, wanted to give a shout-out to our server Lisette for catering to my friends request for drinks that were not on the menu. Awesome! read more

dLeña - Aguachile de Wagyu* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Good food and so friendly my friends my family been there 3-4 times and Josh you the best we love you

My daughter and I always have a nice time on our weekend outings. We stopped by Dlena for brunch and this establishment was packed. We decided to get the bottomless food and it was very luke warm. Very frustrating to drive 40 minutes away from home to receive luke warm average food. Also we were rushed so bad that we didn't get a chance to take a pic of our food. This place will be a one and done but we enjoyed each other company read more

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

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I've been to all three nights of dLena's preview week so I could try as many of their non-meat dishes as possible. Many restaurants have a few vegetarian / pescatarian options, but dLena had soooo many that would wow veggies and meat lovers. My favorites so far - corn empanadas with manchego (I even ordered some to-go), mushroom ceviche, grilled whole branzino with a grilled avocado/corn side, asparagus with egg, kale salad with a bunch of stuff. Tried all three deserts and the corn cake with hibiscus sauce (I think?) was a surprising favorite. Best two drinks by far - Mercado margarita and smoked old fashion. I didn't get to experience the outdoor patio (too cold this week) or the downstairs tequila lounge (not open yet), but definitely look forward to both. I'll be back soon and often! read more

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dLeña was I'd give this spot an 11/10 and would definitely recommend you give them a try!!! The decor, service, drinks, food-- top tier. My partner in munch and I enjoyed the following: "Mercado" - serrano-infused blanco tequila, passion fruit, agave, lime, hibiscus-rosemary foam "Piña Mezcalita" - el silencio espadin, ancho reyes, agave, lime, pineapple, sal de gusano "Corn Empanadas" - yellow sweet corn, ají amarillo, manchego cheese, chimichurri "Pork Belly" - chipotle glaze, red pipian sauce, greens, varieties of pickled vegetable "14oz 30 Day Dry Aged Boneless Ribeye" - herb garlic butter, chimichurri, charred lemon, shishito "Enchiladas" - shrimp, maryland blue crab, creamy guajillo sauce, crema fresca, fresh salad read more

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We have been looking forward to this place opening for two years. dLena was so worth the wait. Patio dining tonight was very enjoyable. The staff is attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. Food was varied from not at all traditional tuna tacos to ask about their "Magic Trick" . . . Aguachile de Wagyu. Desserts are generally not my thing but we ordered two for the table: a crape which turned out to be "tower of crapes" with Carmel ice cream and Corn Cake. They seriously need to come up with a different name ~ it was so much more than "Corn Cake" fabulously yummy. Corn Cake is a must order even if you don't "generally" get desserts:) Gosh!!! How long do we have to wait for the underground lounge?!? Live Spanish guitarist ~ I can't wait! This place is beautiful ~ they doubled the build out price & it is so worth the investment. read more

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Came here tonight for the preview night. Their grand opening is May 10th. Had such an amazing time. First off I do have to say that the design and the atmosphere of the restaurant was one of the best I have seen around DC. Just love the decorations and the aesthetics. The service was phenomenal, everyone was very friendly and professional. The food was A-MAZING. I didn't have much of my main meal because I stuffed my face with with appetizers. The dessert O-M-G we got the Crepes and I probably could have had 5 more of those lol They also have a underground lounge that's ready to bust open. Beautifully decorated. I honestly haven't seen something like this in D.C. This will be my new hangout place read more

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We decided to have our anniversary dinner here. Upon entering the ambiance was really juice and welcoming. Our waiter was great, very attentive and answered our questions very well. We started off with the tuna tarte guacamole and the queso. Both we absolutely delicious. For drinks I had the strawberry margarita and my husband tried the tequila flight. Both were enjoyed. Lastly for entrees, I choose the short ribs and he choose the branzino fish. My short ribs were practically melt in your mouth, so good and flavorful. He loved his fish and had no leftovers. This place was a great places to treat yourself, and should definitely be checked out. read more

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I arrived for a birthday party party of 12, however due to a friend being a plus one we were now a party of 13. The night started off wrong when the gentlemen that I later learned was the downstairs bar manager was refusing to provide an extra chair due to us being one person over our reservation. After having one person standing for 7 minutes our party began to get upset; requiring our waiter to step in. Our waiter was amazing, I wish I remembered his name and do not want to offend but he was a latino younger guy that also said he is a bartender. I understand that this place has amazing reviews and I am not sure if those are due to the atmosphere, which is both smoky, meets sexy, meets still high energy however I was unimpressed by the cuisine and often found myself desiring more. May I add that sometimes less is more. For example I ordered the short rib tacos which had a peanut puree whos taste did not compliment the short rib, also very meager portion. My favorite dish was the waguy app where you had to literally cook the meat on a hot stone. I would have liked some type of instructions for use on this as I was unaware that by using my friends lemon on the stone prior to cooking would eliminate the meat sticking. I ordered a spicy margarita with plum that was filled with ice and held a very sour after taste, I was imagining refreshing and slightly tart. Although everyone at the table most of which have been here before razed about their food however only ordered one drink and we are sippers and love to wine and dine. Also, as we were moving on to our next place for the night I mentioned that I was hungry and all 13 of our party agreed. This speaks volumes to me. I have realized that sometimes in this area people see the quality of food, the atmosphere and fanciness indicated by price points and immediately brag about a restaurant even if the taste and execution does not match. I did give stars for the downstairs bar which had a live jazz band playing. This is a nice date night spot and or night cap after having dinner upstairs. I heard the brunch is much better than dinner. read more

A truly outstanding experience for dinner. We had the guacamole (superb), wagu beef appetizer, and the Tomahawk steak for two, which they hand flame at tableside, Service was excellent. It is rare to have a meal where every single course, as well as the service and ambience could not be improved, but this was it. I will be bringing my whole family back. read more

dLeña - Hot Stone Wagyu* ** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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5/5 Food was impeccable and was so rich with flavor. Service was great and the waitress was so helpful in describing what each entree was and giving it a flavor profile. Environment inside the restaurant was very nice and subtle as well as comforting. 5/5 perfect restaurant for a small gathering or for a lovely date. read more

dLeña - Wagyu Steak a la Piedra* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Everything about this place was a vibe - ambience, food, drinks, music. We got the branzino (chefs kiss), kale salad (super fresh), corn empanadas (very tasty), and guacamole (two types of chips)! All the food was on point. Service was amazing. The next time I'm back in DC... this is a destination!!! read more

This is the perfect date night spot! I came here one evening and sat at the lower level where the jazz band played and it was such a vibe. We sat by the band to get the full effect of the music and the musicians did an amazing job! We ordered Traditional Guacamole, Empanadas de Wagyu, and Cheesecake for dessert to share. The empanadas were chefs kiss with the beef and cheese filling. One order comes with 3 empanadas but definitely shareable. The desert had a blueberry compote and the middle part was super fluffy. I tried the Southern Mule for my cocktail because the pineapple-rosemary shrub intrigued me. The ambiance was intimate and lovely. The customer service was great as well! I will definitely be back for dinner to try it in the upper level! read more

I came here for a solo dinner and the staff was super welcoming and kind. I ordered the empanadas and the ceviche amarillo, and tried the tamarindo margarita and absolutely loved everything. I also spent time at the downstairs bar and enjoyed some jazz music...it was a great solo night out and I'm already waiting to return! read more

Thank you Richard S. ! I appreciate you reaching Out! That is a Class Act! I wish you & All Restaurants Continued Success & Good Health during this Difficult time! read more

My wife and I did the Chef's table 8 course selection. I don't typically write reviews simply because if the food/service is great, I'm sure everyone else has already shared that sentiment lol. But let me tell you, I've had great meals at great restaurants, and this one was just ... awesome. Period. The complexities of the dishes paired with the impeccable service and energy of the venue... top notch. We WILL be back to sample the "regular" menu. Oh, and the speakeasy style lounge downstairs is pretty slick. Very comfortable and sexy. read more

What a gorgeous space! This place reminded me of the many trendy restaurants in Tulum and while the service was good and food and drinks were good, in a town of great Mexican food to a full sensory experience, dLena was just okay and overpriced. Our party of 3 was seated outside fairly quickly without a reservation on a Wednesday night. Our corner in the patio had chairs piling up, which was not a pretty scene, especially when you are trying hard to brand yourself as a trendy destination. We started with 3 cocktails and an order of guacamole, which were all good with nothing to write home about. For food, we ordered: - short ribs tacos: good but small - pork belly appetizers: pretty and tasty but very small - camarón tacos: i have had better shrimp tacos (fried) at District tacos - ceviche Amarillo: it was flavorful but very short on actual fish For 3 drinks, 2 apps, 1 ceviche, and 6 small tacos, our bill was $160 pre-tax, which was stiff, given that I'm now at home looking for snacks. The vibe was fun and trendy but I needed a bit more from this place to standout! read more

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Definitely recommend! Had a party of about 15 and everything was great, from the service to drinks to the food! Will be coming back read more

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

D'Lena is one of those places that you want to come for a special occasion and come in to find that you would've been welcome here on an ordinary night too. They were absolutely sweet from the start! They HANDWROTE a card for my boyfriend and me on our anniversary which was a great touch . Now for the food -- I think the Zarandeado was excellent. Every bite was filled with smoky flavor and a good hearty bite. The boneless ribeye, however, was a different story. The flavors were excellent but the idea of bringing it on a sizzling plate was better in theory than in execution. The oil kept on splattering and burned us a couple times (lightly) so it wasn't exactly the best dish to be served SO hot. The idea was great though. The cocktails were fine as well. I would just tone down the heat on the ribeye and perhaps let us know that it should be removed after a minute or two not to overcook. read more

The service was great. Kewin was our sever. He was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The queso fundido was okay. I was hoping for the beef cecina to have more flavor. The corn empanadas, enchiladas and wagyu steak a la piedra were amazing. We had the prickly pear, mercado and casa margaritas and they were great. I wasn't a fan of the southside mule at all! read more

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Of the several Richard Sandoval restaurants in D.C. (El Centro with multiple outposts, Toro Toro) and around the world that I have been to, this is the only one that has at least half way impressed me... and from the start! The interior is lovely. Definitely a good fit for the trendily decorated restaurants in the Mt. Vernon Triangle area like RPM Italian, Karma Indian, and Kinship. It's beautiful and a great backdrop for photos. The food is a bit on the pricier side but the portions are large enough to warrant it. We shared four dishes without fighting over any of them. I am a guacamole traditionalist, but the guacamole bonito makes toppings worth it by combining one favorite (guac) with another favorite (tartare). The empanadas were okay but not a like or love - a bit flavorless to me. Short rib tacos are either a stunner or a huge disappointment most places. I am excitedly noting the short rib tacos here are AMAZING and crave worthy. The short rib was soooo buttery that they melted in my mouth and they are full of flavor. For dessert, we had the Mil Hojas de Panqueque Argentino, a sort of crepe cake with coffee ice cream and caramel sauce. I loved the ice cream, but the crepe cake left something to be desired with the flavor. Better get in here sooner rather than later. Some of the drinks are substantial but I imagine the glassware will be swapped out for practical purposes - they were hard to sip from without a straw - and portion/profit control. Nonetheless, I loved the passionfruit casa margarita and my date had good things to say about the pina mezcalita! read more

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I had the tortilla soup and the short rib tacos. The soup was very good but the tacos were possibly the best I have ever eaten (and I eat a lot of tacos). The service was excellent. If I lived in Washington DC, I would be a regular at this restaurant. If you like Mexican food, you gotta try this restaurant!! read more

I've only been here for happy hour but omg - the deal is unreal and so are the food & drinks! Still thinking about that hibiscus rosemary foam! Got a few margaritas, truffle fries, and tacos, and everything was incredible. We sat at the bar which is nice and spacious, perfect for going on your own or with a small group of 2-3. And the presentation? No filter needed! read more

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

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This place ultimately wins in the decor & atmosphere category!! Wow! I love feeling like I'm in Mexico in the middle of DC! I'm looking forward to when the bar downstairs and in the middle of the restaurant open - perfect for date night! The food is just as good as the atmosphere, so you can't really complain! Not too expensive and a great variety for Mexican cuisine. You can't start a dinner without guac, but I also recommend trying the burrata salad (you'll be surprised at how flavorful this is for a simple salad). The enchiladas and ceviche are also great options, but I'm also looking forward to trying other things on the menu! Can't wait to be back! Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

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Loved the food and the drinks!! Service and ambience was really good. If you are looking for a high-end Mexican chic food place, look no further! read more

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

I was excited to try the newest restaurant in town! An elegant menu, friendly wait staff, and elevated decor drew me in. Unfortunately, the restaurant fell short of my expectations. Outdoor seating is first-come, first-serve. The check-in process is a bit confusing and without signage, the hostess is hard to find (as their front desk is hidden behind a winding hallway). We asked for two seats outside, then waited patiently and stood awkwardly. We got to our seat, which was close to the garden (and later, a playground for gnats). Mind you, nothing is worse than eating a $125 tomahawk while flies slowly swarm your dinner. I almost lost my appetite! We were greeted with a refreshing shot of hibiscus agua Fresca (which was delicious), then we started with two drinks - a piña (pineapple) mezcalita and a casa margarita with mango. There was almost no taste of mango in the drink, however. The pineapple mezcalita came with a strange smokiness that distracted me from the taste. But the casa margitaria was delicious, and served with a lime (and salt on the glass, of course). Next, we ordered the corn empanadas. I was particularly excited about the empanadas since they were vegetarian and sure enough, they were also the most delicious item on the menu. The dish is served with three empanadas on a slate of wood with cilantro and sauce. They were delicious! I couldn't get enough. I was excited about the tomahawk and my partner ordered the enchilada Diablo (which comes with corn tortilla). The flavor was underwhelming. The tomahawk was cooked inconsistently, with some parts pink and others well-done. There was a lot of fat on the meat as well, making everything a bit too chewy. Two sides are complimentary, so I ordered the broccolini and the carrots. The broccolini tasted bland, while the carrots were drenched in butter and sauce. The butter and sauce masked the plainness of the vegetables. Again, the taste was underwhelming. I made sure to order dessert, as I was excited about the crème brûlée (and sure enough, I had good reason to be). The crème brûlée was torched in front of us and served with strawberries and mint. The taste was incredible.... it was hard to share. The mango sorbet was equally satisfying, and provided a much needed relief. Although our food was a bit disappointing, our server was incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the restaurant, often providing his recommendation, and the wait staff was careful and considerate when serving our food. The manager Josh Gray was friendly and made sure everyone was enjoying their dining experience. We received post cards with our bill too. While I cannot rate this restaurant as perfect, I am confident that if you made a reservation and ordered the following menu items: corn empanadas, crème brûlée, and/or sorbet, you would return home happy. I am excited to see what is to come! read more

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The bottom line: Style Over Substance. Walking in, it is clear that a lot of thought went into the design of this restaurant. Dark, rustic wood beams reminiscent of a Mexican cantina are complimented by a central, large, semicircle bar with an art deco vibe, and an semi-open kitchen. And, on this pleasant spring day, windows and doors were open to let in the breeze and light. The place was made to feel special. Unfortunately, the service and food we're not on par with the space. Upon walking in, we were met by a hostess who oozed disinterest. I asked for a table on the patio, and despite nearly a dozen empty tables I was informed that there would be an hour wait (I noted that some of the tables were still empty as we left a few hours later). But, being vaxxed, I opted not to question it and to take a table in the beautiful dining room. I was rewarded by a dark banquet table with a delightful view of both the bar and restaurant bussing stations. Not a great start. On the positive side, I really liked that they offered either a paper menu or a QR code on a business card to access the menu - classy! Service basically followed the CVS model. We were able to get our server only if we waved her down, which wasn't easy because she was rarely nearby. At one point, after a prolonged absence, I was completely convinced that she was also serving diners at Busboys and Poets, three doors down. Plates were cleared only if we set them aside (and even then, only some of them). No recommendations were offered. Drinks, which unsurprisingly came out after our appetizers, were good but nothing special. I had the Piña Mezcalita, which didn't seem to have in pineapple at all. A second one, later in the meal, was completely different in color and did taste nicely of pineapple and mezcal. For appetizers, we had a very pedestrian guacamole that could have used more citrus and heat, the ceviche which also could have used more citrus and heat and tasted decidedly fishy, and "grilled oysters", which I urge you to AVOID AT ALL COST! Now, I love oysters and I love grilled oysters, which are normally smoky, hot and and charred. These, on the other hand, appeared to have been just set under a heat lamp for a few minutes and were oddly lukewarm (eww). They were poorly shucked and gritty. Plus, the "smoked bacon relish" tasted exactly like Smuckers concord grape jelly. So, now picture this all together, lukewarm gritty oysters covered in grape jelly - ICK! Fortunately, our main courses were much better. I had the grilled chicken, which was moist, covered in a nice smoky sauce and a sliced onion and pepper salad over grilled broccolini. Normally, I'd push raw onions aside, but these were really good and added a lot of heat to the dish. My only complaint is the menu advertised a "grilled half chicken" but the dish consisted of an airplane breast, or more like a quarter of the bird. My partner had the enchiladas, where were also very nice. Both entrees were on the small side so were were glad to have also ordered a potato, which was basically a baked potato with a pleasant, creamy sauce and a small amount of bacon (lacking the advertised chives). We skipped dessert. We were pretty excited to see the restaurant open in our neighborhood and at the price point, we expected great service and amazing food. Based on our experience, it's unlikely we'll return. read more

This place is 10/10 ten times over! Highly recommend! A touch pricey but worth it! Perfect for a food lover, date night or just fun dinning experience. Presentation is really great here, each plate is well thought out, drinks are delicious and I love the cozy atmosphere! If I had to choose tacos over the waygu but can't go wrong with either! The tacos gave me crunch, spice, depth and a touch of sweetness and sour from the lime and pickled veggie. Again 10/10 would recommend! #chefsKiss read more

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Went for Cinco de Mayo on a whim, you need reservations at best if not bar and tequila bar downstairs is open. Food and presentation is awesome You won't be disappointed read more

Best brunch!!! Food and drinks were delicious and Merly is an amazing server! Attentive and friendly! Will definitely be back! read more

BEST Fine Dining Mexican Restaurant to do it in the DC Area. Romantic Dinner, book it. First Date, book it. Birthday, book it. Anniversary, definitely book it. The food and drinks are delicious, the ambiance is amazing, the staff are professional. The Setting: low lit, candles, even live music some nights in the lounge. Give this establishment your money lol. I do not recommend going for happy hour unless you're there as soon as they open their doors. The bar is always packed for happy hour and since they are becoming more and more popular, I even recommend booking your dinner a week in advance on Opentable. There's a drink (I forget the name) that even comes with a glass door and smoking presentation. Will upload once I get a good still picture from the video I took. Lol I was too excited trying to quickly record, I was caught off guard but it was SO nice. read more

100000% recommend checking this place out. The service, food, ambiance is all insane. They deserve the Michelin star they have. We ordered the Maryland crab guacamole which was quite literally the best guac I've ever eaten. I got the short rib tacos, and my husband got the Wagyu Steak A La Piedra. Everything was delicious!! I also recommend their Mercado margarita. It was both delicious, spicy, and beautiful! Finished off the meal with the espresso crème brulee and they even brought us the churros for my husbands birthday on the house. Can't wait to come back and try other things. read more

Wow...just wow. Words can hardly describe how incredible the food, ambiance, and service are at dLena! I came here for a little ~celebratory dinner~ with a pretty sizeable group (~12 people), and it absolutely did not disappoint. dLena offered all of the pomp and circumstance, all of the upbeat and classy energy, and all of the delicious food and beverages needed to fuel a celebration. From the gorgeous decorations, dim lighting, and cheerful music softly playing in the background, I felt like I was stepping into a secret club that only a few prestigious DC residents were clued into. Our server was incredibly kind, and she did an amazing job checking in on us, noticing our every need, and timing the courses perfectly. Since we were visiting as such a large group, we figured that we might as well sample as much of the menu as possible. We started off with a round of appetizers, ceviche, and tacos. The guacamole was fantastic, and the ceviche amarillo was delightfully refreshing and decorated beautifully with edible flowers. The queso fundido was super entertaining and absolutely worth the hype (and, if you or someone in your group is vegetarian, you can request to get the meat on the side). The crab cake tostada was unbelievably delicious, rich, and creamy, with the slightest kick from the pickled chili and chipotle mayo. The atun (tuna taco) was also incredible, with a nice earthiness and heat from the smoked chili crust that perfectly contrasted against the citrus cabbage. My favorite taco, though, had to be the camaron (shrimp). The breading on the prawn was beautifully crispy and the prawn itself was amazingly juicy and subtly sweet. Despite being breaded and fried, the shrimp felt incredibly light, and any hint of heaviness was taken away by the pickled onion and super fresh jicama tortilla. As far as mains go, we tried basically every single option on the menu. I was only able to sample the seafood items, but they were all fantastic -- the zarandeado (branzino) was amongst the most amazing things I've eaten in my life. The fish was juicy and tender, and carried a great char and smokiness from the grill. It paired brilliantly with the coleslaw and corn salsa, which did a great job cutting through the intense richness and savoriness of the fish. I also adored their camarones a la diabla -- the jumbo prawns certainly lived up to their name, and were delightfully springy, juicy, and sweet. It wasn't particularly spicy, but the smoked chili marinade and grilled spring onion brought a fantastic depth of flavor. I was also super excited to try out the coliflor a la lena, but wasn't able to since I'm allergic to peanuts (FYI to anyone allergic to peanuts that it's not listed as an allergen on their menu...so definitely ask your server). As far as sides go, you can never go wrong with grilled broccolini and their zanahorias rostizadas (roasted carrots) are fantastic. All in all, literally cannot recommend dLena enough. Whether you're looking for a place to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, accomplishment, etc., or just somewhere to have a nice, fancy dinner with people you love, highly recommend that you make a reservation ASAP. There are plenty of pescatarian and meat options available, and enough amazingly executed vegetarian options to keep anyone in your group happy -- whether it's the selection of tasty menu items, service, ambiance, or drinks, dLena absolutely won't disappoint!! read more

loved the place and food! thanks Ricardo! Lovely place and drinks are to die for! During happy hour seems a good vibe as well. read more

#DC #Mexican dessert was so good. I and my fiance really enjoyed here. Service was good too. read more

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Fantastic meal at dLeña! I loved both the grilled avocado and the shrimp and crab enchilada. Beautiful presentation too. read more

dLeña - Stuffed grilled avocados - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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