How to describe Chef Sandoval's newest DC restaurant - dLeña? If you follow their website's description - "The concept celebrates 'leña,' or firewood, and the nuanced flavors smoke can impart on both its wood-fired food, and smokey mezcal and tequila-centric menus." However, that description doesn't do justice to the experience of actually being there. Upon walking in you're immediately struck by the layout and décor. A massive semi-circle bar dominates the first room, with tons of earth colors and understated decorations. We happened to be lucky enough to land the Chef's Table upon our visit - which afforded us a direct view of the wood-fire-centric kitchen. This sights, smells, and sounds was feast enough for the senses. I kicked off the evening with a Negroni Norte - essentially a Negroni with El Silencio Espadin mezcal in place of the gin and the sweeter, more citric Aperol in place of the Campari. It was perfectly balanced with small hints of smoke from the mezcal. Once the food arrived, I pretty much gave up taking pictures, mostly because the food was so perfectly prepared we didn't have time to think of taking photos before we tucked right in. The service was impeccable, the food amazing, the cocktails striking and well-balanced. I cannot recommend dLeña enough for those looking for modern takes on traditional Oaxacan food. read more

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Definitely the best Mexican restaurant I've been to with wood-grilled specialties. Absolutely every dish we ordered was striking with flavor, uniqueness, and textures. Thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp tacos with the amazing wood-grilled sauce. The lamb dish was the best lamb dish I've had. So rich in flavor and was perfectly cooked. All the dishes were so well presented and came out timely as well. The place also gave a free churro birthday surprise which was really sweet! read more

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Love this place! Such a gem for great drinks and appetizers for happy hour. It's only available at the bar so I definitely recommend coming early to grab a seat. I don't recommend for a large group, any gathering more than four would be really difficult unless you don't mind splitting into small conversations. The best drink is definitely the Mercado, but it's spicy so I always get my tried and true mango margarita. For eats - you really can't go wrong. The fries are delish and I definitely recommend the barbaco taco! There is also a beautiful intimate lounge and bar downstairs with different food and drinks so definitely check that out! Perfect for date night. read more

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

Stopped by on a Sunday to grab a Margarita. Had the Mercado Margarita 3 actually with the Waygu Empanadas and the A5 Hot Stone. Everything was delicious as usual. read more

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(Post Covid restriction experience on a Friday evening 6p during summer/ waiter was Tomahawk Tommy. Lol) This a beautifully decorated restaurant with a Neo-Hispanic cuisine that's sure to tickle the taste buds. I've only been once so far, but it immediately jumped to the Tomahawk Steak which is the Most expensive item on the menu. At $125 it's a large ribeye that's meant for two people (no i didn't eat it alone). Drinks are excellent.... and standard price for a DC location. Their Smokey old fashioned was excellent ... Bar is shoulder to shoulder crowded, so if you want space, that isn't the place to sit. The tables weren't too close together, but they did have outdoor seating for people wanting the fresh air flow. Basement lounge was pretty chic but has extremely limited seating, and is seat-yourself area. Basement drink menu is different than upstairs and not as impressive. Service not as good either. As the evening wore on, it got a bit more crowded, but not too insane ... again, the bar was much too crowded for my liking. Didn't see a formal dress code; but it seemed Dress is semi-casual, so you'd be wise to wear something nice... dress up some jeans... shorts in evening would be out of place ... definitely no athletic wear. read more

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The decor is beautiful ! The staff is friendly . I ordered the guacamole as an appetizer and the branzino fish plate for an entree . All was delicious ! I highly recommend for a date or a nice dinner with a beautiful ambiance ! read more

I can only say one thing about this restaurant!!! OMG, I went there for a corporate-sponsored event and everything I tried was phenomenal. TMI, but it, but everything was a taste bud organism!!!! The bartender, AJ, gave great service and he'd the drinks out in a matter of seconds not minutes like most places. Next time I am in DC I will come and eat here again. read more

Best brunch I've ever been to, we have nothing like this in jersey. The mimosas were so good. I got the May May mimosa. I don't even like churros and I tried these and wow. All the food was great. Definitely a 10/10. The service was excellent. I'm Mexican so I love to see how everyone does their dishes differently. read more

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I had some of the tastiest tacos in all of DC at Dlena. We got the prawn tacos and beef tacos, as well as some guacamole for the table. We drank prickly pear margaritas and strawberry margaritas. So good and can't wait to come back. read more

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Dlena is such a vibe! This is more of a grown and sexy casual restaurant and one of my go-to brunch or dinner spots with folks visiting from out of town. Usually packed, so please make a reservation and arrive far in advance of your reservation, as it's extremely hard to find parking. I prefer dinner over brunch as some of the brunch options seem a bit thrown together with fewer fully cohesive options. For dinner, we usually go crazy for the empanadas de wagyu, lamb shank, and tuna tartare guacamole in that specific "best taste" order, with the cocktails always being a hit no matter which ones you choose. read more

DC you have done it again! Omg the lounge downstairs is beautiful ! We came here with another couple on a baecation weekend and we couldn't get reservations for the restaurant. So the girl at the front said when we got there to tell her we want to go to lounge, so we did and I am so happy that there were no reservations available because the lounge was waaaayyyy better ! They had a small band downstairs - 3 people and they played the Spanish guitar and it was great. Just the right kind of music for the vibe. We probably ordered the whole menu ! Haha the chips and guacamole were amazing ! The empanadas, the truffle fries - I highly recommend all of them. For the drinks, we ordered the La Luna (delicious) Passionfruit Fizz, Mezcal Painkiller, and spiked flower. All of our drinks were delicious, but La Luna was my favorite ! Overall, this place is great. The lounge doesn't have a full on menu, but they do have small bar bites and the drinks and they are delicious. You can't beat the music and vibe of this place. read more

dLeña - Chips and Avocado at the speak easy - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

From the moment we walked in , the male & female hostesses were so friendly & sincere; it made me feel like I picked the right restaurant to celebrate our 29h wedding anniversary. Our server Marybeth was very knowledgeable about the menu, and the crab guacamole was delicious! We had the short rib for dinner & it was tender & yummy. read more

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

TL;DR, dLeña is delicious. I booked a reservation for dLeña to celebrate Eid Ul Fitr and let me tell you... the entire experience was absolutely wonderful. From the moment we arrived to when we left, the staff was considerate, kind, and communicative. My small party and I wanted to dine outdoors and they quickly cleaned and set up a table for us. We started off with the queso fundido and the guacamole de bonito. The kitchen was out of grilled beef for our fundido, so we substituted the meat with mushrooms. My friends enjoyed the fundido more than I did, but that guacamole de bonito??? SO. GOOD. The tuna tartare was fresh and went really well with the chili de árbol salsa-macha and jicama salad. In my opinion, if the tortilla chips were just charred tostadas all around, it would be the perfect dish. Hell, I'd just just keep ordering it... For our main dish, we ordered short rib tacos and the enchilada special. I highly recommend the enchilada--especially if you like seafood. That creamy guajillo sauce was delicious. At some point, there was a mix-up in orders so the chef sent out mushroom tacos on the house. It honestly caught us by surprise since we didn't mind the mix-up at all, but hey 10/10 on the hospitality. Plus, those mushroom tacos were fantastic. We ended the evening with every dessert on the menu and hand's down, that Pastel de Elote... oof. Amazing. I might just come back just for that. I devoured it in minutes. Anyways, I know this is a really long review, but hey if you made it this far... go check out dLeña. You will not regret it! I look forward to coming back with more friends soon. read more

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What a afternoon I just had I called in since Friday to ask about the happy hour special for Monday Presidents' Day " that they had on website" I was told the bar was free to come first come first served as soon I arrived THE MANAGER CINDY was extremely rude. There were two seats available at the bar didn't even offer it to me and I arrived at 2:30 and they were actually false advertising the happy hour special for Presidents' Day because they didn't serve me So much for wasting my time this Resturant needs better management read more

dLeña - Unfortunately we didn't capture the face of the manager but here we have her extremely bad MANAGEMENT - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is place is Mexican fine dining with fancy decor. I loved every part of it. I went when the restaurant first opened therefore the lounge downstairs wasnt open just yet. But now it should be since it's August The corn empanadas are a must as well as the queso fundido. They are big on presentation for their drinks! The manager came to our table and introduced himself which was so nice of him. I would love to go back for happy hour or brunch or even their downstairs lounge read more

Best Mexican Restaurant in all the DMV!!! The hostess greeted me and she was welcoming and friendly. I sat at the bar waiting for my friend and started with the prickly pear- delicious. As soon as my friend arrived the hostess stopped by and asked if we were ready to be seated --yes, the hostess was very attentive. I loved it! We sat and viewed the menu and our waitress greeted us quickly and give us a nice overview of the menu...we took her suggestions and started with the guacamole and prawn tacos--delicious! We ordered the tomahawk, potatoes, and broccoli. The awesomeness was the tomahawk where the steak is flamed and finished at table side and just smelling the garlic butter and herbs was enchanting-- deliciousness and amazement all in one. We finished with the sorbet and it was a nice sweetness after a savory meal! Don't miss this spot, it's hard to get reservations, so plan ahead! read more

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So good!!!! Only had an appetizer - the Queso. It was absolutely delicious. The bar is really unique. The whole place has a really cool vibe to it. The service was really good. There is definitely a sense that they work as a team. read more

Food was incredible. My husband and I loved the mushroom tacos. They had a nice selection of Mocktails. The wagyu hot stone was a bit of a disappointment. Service was fair. The space was trendy and well decorated. They had a lively downstairs bar area with life music. read more

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I highly recommend making reservations. I made a reservation for a Friday night and my party was seated on time. Love that! The ambience is romantic with dim lighting and tea light candles on the tables. In October, the restaurant is decorated for Día de Los Muertos. The food: The fundido and the corn empanadas are a MUST if you love cheese. The drinks: My boyfriend got the mezcal flight and I got the blood orange habanero marg. The cocktail was good, but overall the alcohol pours were light all around. We will be back for their brunch! read more

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First off I made this reservation far in advance! I was super excited to dine here based on the menu, the vibes of the interior and the food ofcourse. When we came in we checked in with the hostess and they asked if we wanted to sit inside or outside. We said outside and then there was an awkward scramble of where to put us. Then after a bit they asked if we wanted to sit in their downstairs lounge area. We were not escorted they just said go around the corner and down the stairs. The bar/lounge was cute but wasn't the experience I hoped for. I wanted to sit in the dining area and see the restaurant. So already upset about that. They assured us we can order the full menu from upstairs. Already I felt like we weren't good enough somehow to sit in the dining area? The bartenders were nice and took out orders. We ordered two drinks, truffle fries and guac to start off with. Food was pretty good! I didn't like my drink so I sent it back and the bartender made me one that I liked. It got busier in the night since I guess they try and send a lot of people to eat down in the lounge/dungeon area (I noticed many young couples or groups of young people that wouldn't mind sitting there). I asked a straw for my new drink 3 times to three different people but they were too busy with the other tables (again not their fault that front of house keeps sending more people for them to manage). Finally I got my straw and was able to stir up my drink. After forever the entrees came out...I got the short ribs which was really good, my friends rib eye came out sizzling and she enjoyed it too. Was it the price we paid? Prob not but it was good. After that it took atleast another 45 mins to get the bill. I saw another couple escorted to the lounge area but said no and they sat upstairs with the "better guests" but were also sitting in the back. This is such a shame since the food is pretty good but there is a alot of organization with the people downstairs. Not sure if I will be returning. Too expensive and service was not it. read more

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

Everyone must try the Roja Lounge downstairs when they visit dLeña - in my opinion it's the best part! They have a similar food menu to upstairs but totally different cocktails that are all absolutely delicious. I'm so grateful to Alex for waking me through the menu and making great recommendations. Thank you for making my time so memorable! By far the best bartending service I have ever experienced. Give that man a raise! read more

dLeña - Spicy tamarind paloma drink - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped at dLena on Thursday night just before 9 pm without a reservation. Fortunately, we were seated within a few minutes and ordered the queso fundido and hongos a la Lena. Both were served with or on small tortillas. The tacos were especially delicious. Had mushrooms with black bean purée, roasted corn and salsa. The restaurant was packed, and I would strongly encourage reservations especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Don't expect a quiet dinner. It is very loud. You should probably order a drink inasmuch as the servers do not monitor the tables very much. I suspect they do not have time. Additionally, meals are a bit pricey! read more

dLeña - Wild mushroom tacos - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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dLena means fire which means everything is cooked in the fire oven. Even with the restaurant being fairly empty at lunch, the food took a long time. I asked the waiter what was vegetarian and he recommended the Corn Empanadas and Hongos a la Leña / mushroom tacos. For some reason the Corn Empanadas don't have a vegetarian symbol next to them on the menu? It was delicious. The tacos are served very pretty on wooden planks over a triangle piece of newspaper. It made me wonder how well can they clean those wood planks between customers? The tacos were small but filling. However they tasted like they came off the grill which isn't something this vegetarian likes. The Pastel de Elote / corn cake tasted like baby food, it was similar to flan, do not recommend. Once a month this restaurant has Magnolia pump out their sewage with the loudest, deafening pump!!! And runs for half an hour. No other restaurant on the block does this. The neighborhood was also never a consideration in their construction hours during the pandemic. This block is full of restaurants, several new, and all the others blended in seamlessly. read more

DLeña hit the spot for brunch! It was my first time there for brunch and it definitely left an impression. I did the bottomless brunch which consisted of bottomless food and bottomless drinks. This included mimosas, bloody Mary's and others. I sat at the bar and our server did a great job taking care of us. There was a 2hr time limit but it went by quickly because we were having so much fun. The price was $60 a person but I thought it was money well spent. read more

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I came here for a birthday brunch with 2 friends in September. Loved the decor and ambiance, and I can imagine that it's even better at night. We were seated a high-top, which didn't provide a lot of surface area. Not normally a big deal, but we opted for the bottomless brunch option and the table became crowded quickly. Our server was friendly, and informed us that you receive every item on the brunch menu with bottomless - I actually love this idea as it takes the stress out of ordering. If you like a particular item, you can order more. We enjoyed most of the dishes, though service could have been better timed as things started to pile up. The parfait was a surprise winner, and we also enjoyed the street corn, ceviche, and scrambled egg/black bean enchiladas. The price isn't bad at $37/pp for bottomless food only ($60 for food and drinks, so definitely go with this if you plan on having at least 2 drinks). A nearby table ordered the Tomahawk steak, which was flambéed tableside and looked incredible. I'm tempted to return just for that! read more

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Whether it's HH, dinner brunch or the bar downstairs dLena is the spot. The service and ambiance is too tier. The cocktails are so tasty and the food wooo having you wanting more, the entire menu was well crafted. I highly recommend the corn empanadas and the short ribs. read more

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

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Amazing experience. I order the prickly pear margarita, corn empanadas & pork belly app, and the seafood enchiladas. Once you are seated you are given a hibiscus tea shot to help cleanse your palate. The menu was explained very well and the waitress provided many recommendations. Everything I tried was delicious. The ambiance was perfect. Super chill. There is even a lounge downstairs. This place is a must try! read more

Lovely place with great ambiance. From the time you walk in till you leave the experience is great! I went for dinner and loved every bit of it. The food portions were size able and filling. The food presentation was also amazing. The tomahawk steak is made perfectly and moist! They make a presentation out of it which is amazing. The charred half chicken was flavorful and served with broccolini. The drinks were also tasty and great presentation. The servers come around to make sure everyone is good and continuously serve the table. They were very accommodating to our group. Dessert was really good! Everyone enjoyed their meals. There are a few parking lots in the area as street parking is nearly impossible. Parking lots range from $10 -$20 so it's affordable and safe. Read the street signs to make sure you are parking at the right place. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

All I can say is WOW -- this was one of the best dining experiences of my life. Every single thing about this place was excellent, from food (mind blowing) to ambiance and service. We came on Monday evening and were able to get a reservation for four people by calling a couple hours ahead of time. We ordered the guacamole, shrimp tacos, enchiladas, half chicken, and pork shank, with crème brûlée for dessert. We all got different margaritas, all of which were delicious. The shrimp tacos were definitely the star of the show, exploding with flavor that is perfectly balanced with the freshness of the jicama "tortilla". Despite how ridiculously good those were, everything else held its own in comparison, full of flavor and expertly cooked. The only bad thing about this experience was the knowledge that I won't be able to come back once a week, since I'm not local. Couldn't recommend this more! read more

Me and my friend went to Dlena for lunch our first day visiting DC. It definitely lived up to the expectations, ive been there for dinner and it was delicious and I can day the same about lunch. The guacamole was fresh and the charred chips were delicious. We got the queso fundido with mushrooms and beef. It came sizzling and was amazing especially with the charred chips. The tacos were super vibrant a flavorful. The skirt steak came on a sizzling black stone and was delicious with the sauces it came with matched perfectly. The chicken was super juicy, i had to ask for some salsa for flavor but that was the only slight miss. Would 100% recommend. Our server was super nice and attentive and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful . read more

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The best upscale Mexican food we have ever had. The steak was AMAZING. Sitting downstairs in the bar lounge area is a hidden gem, the ambiance down their is very cool and chill. Service was great! read more

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

This will be one of my new favorite spots in DC. The wagyu empanadas were amazing (my favorite dish). And the crab guacamole was just as good! The service was great and I love the ambience of the place is very sexy! Great place for date night! read more

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

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I discovered this place while following an IG Foodie and my God I had to go. My friend and I decided to go for brunch and enjoyed almost all the tapas on the bottomless brunch menu. This food was AMAZING and the service was EXCEPTIONAL! Shout out to Troy, our server. He was great! The next time I come, I want to sit in Troy's section. read more

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Overall everything about this restaurant was amazing!!!!! Even the restrooms!!!! Beautiful restaurant, awesome drinks and amazing food with a very nice outdoor patio area. Yes you shall definitely give dlena a try if you haven't yet. read more

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

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I just went here for my birthday. The host and server knew it was my birthday and made me feel special (especially the birthday churros they brought at the end!). Love the décor inside and out (the outside cactus garden is really cool!). Don't forget to checkout the speak-easy-vibes bar downstairs with live music; such a cool find! The only reason I am not giving the restaurant five stars is because of the menu. I don't eat pork or beef, so I couldn't eat a lot of what was on the menu. And they only offered ONE chicken dish! No chicken empanadas or tacos, just the main entrée. If you are vegetarian (or vegan especially), I would have a hard time recommending this restaurant to you. I prefer the menus at Mi Vida and Mi Casa (both part of the Knead restaurant group); I think they have more options, and the portions are bigger. read more

Enjoyed the food and vibe of this restaurant in Washington DC. Had some delicious Mexican food. I had shrimp tacos. Traditionally I've had taco shells made of flour or corn this time the shell was made of jicama and rice. Wow . It was so different and tasty. We also had shredded beef tacos. The wagyu beef. Our sever Dennis hooked us up with a few mango tequila's. No complaints. Everything he recommended was on point. He even knew all about the varieties tequila. Downstairs we listened to jazz. Will definitely visit again. read more

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Brunch is amazing! Everything is yummy and Troy was such a fun waiter! My friends and I had a blast!

Came in on a busy night and the service was so so excellent. Even without a reservation, the staff was incredibly quick to find us a seat and treat us like we already had a slot! The ambiance / decor is a step above. The margs were 10/10, but only 3/5 for the actual meal because the mushroom tacos were a little off-tasting from the burnt pieces from the stone grill. I didn't finish my second taco, as it really wasn't edible due to being so charred. Will give the food another shot but all in all, the rest of the experience at dLeña was memorable! read more

The food and drinks were great! The waygu empanadas are the best! We should order 2 orders instead of one . The drinks were nicely made with the perfect balance of flavor. our server was Ricardo and he really took care of us. Fast, friendly and thoughtful. it was crowed but he never made us feel that we were getting in his way after we had finished our meal. Overall, good food with excellent service. read more

dLeña - Guava Me something was name of this drink. - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I really enjoyed this restaurant! My friend, and I went for bottomless, brunch and bottomless drinks, which costs $60 each. Once we were seated, our waiter, Troy, came and was so pleasant with so much energy! I really think he enhanced experience even more. My friend, and I decided to order everything off the menu, and Troy kept them coming! I really loved everything and can't pick just one! I'll definitely be back (and I hope Troy is there!). at one point the manager also came over to check on us to ensure we were having a good experience. Also, we were told that there is a speakeasy at this restaurant as well. I will definitely be trying that out in the near future. I highly recommend eating here! read more