DLena restaurant was so perfect. My wife took me here last night to celebrate my birthday. They staff was great and our waitress Mary was phenomenal. She helped us navigate the menu and explained how the food would be served and she made great recommendations. The restaurant is very charming and find out there is a speak easy downstairs. It was perfect lighting and the atmosphere was full of fun. I highly recommend this restaurant read more

It gets better every time!! I've been twice before but this time was special. We decided on the Chef's Table to celebrate our anniversary. The food was amazing and Chef Comacho talked to us as if we were old family. The ambiance was awesome and It is clear the staff is invested in providing great service. Can't remember the server's name but she was awesome too. It was well worth the price and we will definitely be back. I can not say enough how special they made us feel. read more

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

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The food was amazing. I got the crab guac, empanadas, and branzino. My friend and I ate here together and were very please with the service, ambiance, and of course our food! We will be back. Sadly, I only got a picture of the guac which came with lots of crab in it :D read more

dLeña - Maryland Crab Guacamole** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you haven't been to their happy hour, I highly recommend you to check it out. I got mango margarita, mushroom tostada and barbacoa taco from their happy hour menu. The drink was good but the food was absolutely amazing! Can't wait to come back to try the regular menu. read more

The ambiance was really nice. It's the perfect place for a date, birthday celebration, or any special gathering. I was there with a large group for a birthday celebration. The food was amazing and I got to try many of their selections. One person had dietary restrictions and I was amazed with the waiter making sure that person food came out perfect. The drinks were really good as well. The service was amazing but I will say we felt rushed towards the end. They were getting ready to close and prepare for dinner, which I kind understand. I would still go back and recommend this restaurant to anyone. One last thing they have all user bathroom with a changing station. The bathroom was really clean too! So dads you can change the baby diaper while mom eats lol There were to parking lots near by which made it easy. One lot charge $10 cash only ( he was rude) and the Other charged $25 (super friendly). You can guess where I parked lol read more

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This place is truly the best Brunch in DC. Bottomless small plates and drinks. Dairy friendly and Gluten friendly as well. Jeff was our expert server. He made us feel welcome and helped us with his knowledge of the menu and the area! Will definitely be back! read more

Such a great afternoon. Jeff was an amazing server. His suggestions were spot on. He made the experience and girls lunch great!

Nanci is the best bartender there! She was so welcoming and helpful! Bre was also very helpful and welcoming. A very great server. Ask for them the next time you come! read more

Such a great spot with a very cool vibe. Food and victuals are delicious!! Just get there early bc they fill up fast! read more

Service was pretty good they came out super fast. The margaritas are good as well. Great service and ambiance. read more

My family dined here and truly enjoyed the entire experience. The food was fantastic and the service was friendly and attentive. We ordered the queso fundido, tomahawk with the zanahorias rostizadas and broccolini, and the short rib tacos. For dessert, we enjoyed the carajillo crème brûlée and mil hojas de panqueque argentino. Our favorites were the queso, short rib tacos, and crème brûlée. The queso was absolutely delicious and different than your traditional queso. The short rib tacos have a spicy kick to them and are packed with flavor. The crème brûlée was rich and a great way to top off the meal. The tomahawk and crème brûlée both come with tableside fire service which makes for an awesome dining experience. Highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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When we walked in we were surprised of how small the restaurant was(Explains why you have to book 2-3 weeks in advance for a reservation). Although it was small, it was a nicely dim lit atmosphere with beautiful decor. Really sets the mood for date nights. They have a very strict ID policy if ordering (BRING YOUR ID) , I had left mine in the car and the manager was nice enough to offer the first round on the house if I went back to the car. Which I did but I declined the kind gesture. They were extremely busy, our waiter (Rebecca) was still phenomenal despite how busy it was. For starters we got traditional guacamole dip with the empanadas de wagyu. The guac was made perfectly W/ pico de gallo, and the empanadas de wagyu were incredible, we were given an option for a 4th when we placed the order but we stuck with 3 which I regretted instantly when I took my first bite into one for an entree I got the Wagyu steak a la piedra medium rare my wife got the 14oz 30 day aged ribeye medium (no pic) . The Wagyu steak came on a cast iron. With a bed of grilled onions and peppers with three different sauces and tortillas. I made tacos ‍ My wife and I were extremely impressed of not only the quality but how superb the taste of the food was. This place burned a hole in my wallet but also in my heart Best believe we'll be back to throw money at this place!!!! read more

I was taking my friend out to eat for her birthday here. This is my second time in this restaurant and service was great as per usual. The food was delicious and I highly recommend empanadas and tuna tartare. The ambience is romantic and intimate. The food was delicious and I plan on coming back to try more of the menu items. read more

dLeña - Tuna Tartare Guacamole** Empanadas de Wagyu** - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I think the food was pretty good, but I'm not sure that for the price I'd go running back. Their steaks are the best part of the meal, as are the cocktails which fly off the bar all night (we were sitting right next to the bar). Great ambiance and place to go for an occasion! read more

Had an amazing time with the girls for brunch! Per usual we were late to our reservation. Took a few videos of the food we had & in my brunch fashion airdropped them to everyone in the restaurant. The fine dining experience was worth the wait. Shoutout to our waiter Eduardo for being on top of the meals adhering to my dietary restrictions & keeping the May May mimosas coming. Thank you Josh for constantly checking in on our table & giving us background of the establishment. The entire staff was amazing & just a joy. read more

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

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Loved loved loved the food, vibes, service. No complaints. So glad we found this hidden gem while visiting the DC area. Will definitely go back next time in DC read more

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Five stars on everything, hands down! I love the concept of everything being prepared wood-fired, because the food was immaculate. I had the piña mezcalita to drink and it was good. The crab cake tostada and camarónes a la diabla were both phenom. I tried my friends' delicious short rib and pollo (chicken) al carbon, and that short rib al carbon was out of this world! Loved the atmosphere. Interior of the restaurant is very grown and sexy, including the bar downstairs. Service was impeccable, I wish I remember the name of our server, but he was super attentive, patient when we asked a bunch of questions, and provided overall great service. Definitely will return so my husband can also experience this amazing spot. read more

We almost decided against coming here because there weren't any open reservations online, but decided to stop by around 9pm and see if we could grab a walk-in spot - luckily we were able to be seated within 15 minutes of arrival! All the staff were super nice and accommodating and we got a great corner seat inside (outdoor seating looked nice too). Having lurked outside reading the menu for the 15 min wait we already had our order down so put it in immediately with our waitress as soon as we were sat. The food took a while to come, but they were pretty packed for a Monday night. However, everything was delicious once it came - all the ingredients tasted very fresh, and the flavors paired together really nicely. I really liked one of the chips provided with the guac and ceviche, which I think was a type of pita chip, and the tuna in the tacos was perfectly smoked. Presentation for everything looked great, too - the margaritas come in a giant glass, but I will say that there is so much ice that it's almost hard to drink. Overall was really impressed with the space and menu. It's a great addition to the neighborhood. I didn't realize until after I visited that it's a Richard Sandoval restaurant, which is surprising because I know some of his DC restaurants have closed over the years, but looks like he's made a great comeback! read more

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

Where do I begin? The atmosphere: Dark, hip, low music (which I love, who wants to have to shout on a date?) candle lit tables, attentive and friendly hostesses. The place was packed and I just couldn't wait to begin! We sit down and are quickly given two small hibiscus agua frescas to "cleanse our palettes." Ok. I think I love it here. The drinks: Original, exotic, fresh ingredients, stunning presentation and strong! No weak pours were had. The food: It was my birthday, so judge me if you want to but I wanted to try several items, and try we did! The pulpo tacos...don't be scared of octopus. You will not find any rubbery octopus here. These tacos were bursting with flavor, I swear, each bite tasted different. I'm salivating writing this. They came with a sauce, but real talk, I didn't even use it because it was already so damn flavorful. Next, the wagyu empanadas....Lawdhammercy! I really ain't want to share these, but I'm not an AH, even on my birthday. These came out piping hot and the moment you cut into them, the tender beef and creamy cheese just oozed out. Get them. The short ribs. These made me want to cry. I really don't know why they gave me a steak knife because they pulled apart with a fork and melted in my mouth. I don't know how they make these so tender but if they ever take these off the menu, I'm filing a complaint. The churros. Ok, so I seen them on here Yelp and I knew they at least once had them - but when I looked at the menu they were nowhere to be found. I almost went full Karen, but I learned they still offered them, they just weren't on the menu. Crisis averted. They were fried to perfection, they weren't chewy or oily (I'm a churro snob) and they had just the right amount of sugar and cinnamon. Best believe I'll be back for more. The best part: Our server. Troy. Honestly, he made our meal a whole damn EXPERIENCE. He was so funny, witty, knowledgeable on the menu, the drinks and the history of the restaurant...I could have talked to him all night. When I come back, I will 100% ask to be seated in his section. We loved Troy. If you're considering this restaurant, stop. Just go. Now. read more

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Good Evening, I had a reservation for today (Sunday) at 9 p.m. It was my third visit and since the first two experiences I had there were spectacular, I was excited to take my friend there so he could see first hand what the hype was about. Unfortunately, this night wasn't like the previous dining experiences I had. When we walked into the restaurant and approached the host stand, there were two gentlemen there talking. After standing there for a couple of seconds, they stopped talking and just looked at us - like we were interrupting their conversation. There was no hello or any type of greeting. They finally asked us if we had a reservation. I said "yes" and gave them my name. The entire exchange was extremely weird and borderline uncomfortable because it seemed that both men were upset that I interrupted their conversation. Their demeanor was very annoyed and dismissive. Both my friend and I felt that negative energy from them and it was extremely off-putting. We were eventually seated at our table, but that was not the first impression neither my friend or myself sought. Interactions like that can be a deal breaker and can cause patrons to stop coming to your establishment since those interactions are a major part of the restaurant experience. I'm hoping that was just a fluke and they remedy that in the future. This is the reason the restaurant lost 2 stars for me. Besides that, the food was great, the atmosphere was nice, and the service was spot on. I enjoyed my Mexican Old-Fashioned as well. I strongly advise arriving 10-15 minutes early to find street parking (if you don't want to park in a lot) since the area is pretty crowded. RH read more

this upscale restaurant will not disappoint. The food was amazing and the service is great. Also, pace yourself. Order your appetizers first and then order your entree because they don't allow much time in between to bring out your entree. read more

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Forest, the bartender, came across as quite rude and dismissive during my visit. I believe additional training on customer service and communication would greatly improve interactions with paying customers. read more

Brunch was the best ... sat at the bar and the bartender Brendan was so nice his customer's service was outstanding one of the best brunches I've been to definitely recommend I'll will comeback read more

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My husband and I had the amazing luck of getting an opening here on New Years Eve and WOW! This is by far one of the best restaurants we have tried in DC. They had a specific menu that night, and every single dish we tried we absolutely loved. Every dish was so flavorful and was so unique. I never imagined corn empanadas could be so full of flavor, the crawfish chowder was not even fishy it was just perfect! Every dish was amazing but the wagyu guacamole, corn empanadas, the chowder, steak and the tarta de elote were to die for! The money we spent this night was way worth it & I look forward to coming back and eating here, definitely a favorite! read more

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Great spot for empanadas and tacos. It's a little on the high end but so worth it. Great interior decorating and location. I am a fan of dLena! read more

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

I was very excited to try this spot after seeing pictures of how beautiful it looked. I made Saturday reservations for a party of 4 and was a bit disappointed that we weren't able to have a booth. We were told that we should have requested that once the reservation was made but I had no idea I had to ask well in advance for that. We noticed a few parties at booths had left and no new parties had taken those tables so it was a bit upsetting, however the good food and great service made up for it. We sat at a high table that wasn't able to really accommodate all of the food and drinks we had. The drinks were very pretty and delicious. The food was amazing. For apps, we had Corn Empanadas, Guacamole De Bonito, Queso Fundido. We liked everything but loved the Corn Empanadas especially. Our favorite dish was the Wagyu steak that came with fajitas. It was so flavorful and the presentation was amazing. It came on a sizzling plate, so it was very hot for a while. The Tomahawk, Short Rib Tacos, and Enchiladas were also pretty good. The drinks were very pretty and delicious. Not really strong so I did have to ask for a double shot. The service was also excellent. Kevin and James were great. I hope to go back and have either one of them as my server. The ambiance is perfect. So many places to take beautiful pictures. I can't wait to go back. read more

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I wanted to share our amazing night at chef's table this past Saturday. From entering the restaurant we were warmly greeted , Josh the manager was friendly and made us feel like family. The food was incredible! Our chef Carlos was meticulous about each dish and kitchen staff responded to him with respect and efficiency. This restaurant went above all my expectations. They provided more than a meal its was an experience and treasured memory. Bravo dLeña read more

Arrived at about 2:20. The hostess/ server named Adrian I believe, completely disregarded us and continued answering calls. Then he stops to tell us he doesn't know if he can seat us. I said..."I called 10 minutes ago and whoever answered said we don't need reservations." He goes "oh I don't know if we can serve you." No apology, no acknowledgement, no explanation, just pure disrespect. He clearly did not want to serve us, and I have an inkling it is because we are Latinos... The restaurant was damn near empty, and there was really no reason to turn us away but he tried to anyway. Another lady was nice enough to host us after she saw us awkwardly waiting for this gentleman to do his job. She asked him if he wanted to serve us he said no, so she did. He ended up serving us our drinks anyway because he found out today that he's a server! Nice reality check for him. To add insult to injury, we sat down and the plates already on the table were dirty. The food was scrumptious...and the drinks were exquisite. I am not a liar, or a hater. The food is excellent if you can look past the awful customer service. I don't understand the concept of a Latin restaurant treating its customers in such an abhorrent manner. I was excited to try quality Latin food but the service really ruined what could have been a wonderful experience. If you are Latinx don't bother because you will not be welcomed here. You are not their target demographic if you catch my drift. Unfortunate. read more

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sat at the bar and was taken care of by Brendan! He made the best cocktails and gave me a great recommendation for something different based on what I usually like! the food came out FAST and of course it was delicious. I'm never disappointed by a visit here. I appreciate the great service and will certainly be back! read more

Very exclusive high end Mexican Wood Burning BBQ specialty restaurant with amazing assortment of steak, chicken and fish dishes and fabulous array of excellent appetizers. They have absolutely beautiful dining room and can accommodate parties of over ten people easily. The waitress was absolutely impeccable and impressive. She handled seven of us with one child with absolute ease and our three bottle of wine and champagne with twelve different glasses and uncorking and served perfectly without a hitch. She gave us a huge graduation cake for my daughter and spoke very nicely for her graduation celebration. The ambience was quiet and rich. I loved a huge pork bone shank that absolutely fell off of the bone with impeccable taste. The fish was perfectly grilled from fire and all of the yummy appetizers were right amount with perfect spices. The additional Habanero Mango sauce was just spicy enough. I loved all of their cocktails too. It's got to be one of the best Mexican jewel of restaurants in Washington DC. Try you must but pack your dollars. read more

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Food was delicious! Atmosphere was amazing! Our server Troy T. Was awesome!!!!! Definitely recommended read more

dLeña - Wagyu Beef Tiradito* - Mexican Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been to a lot of restaurant in DC that we're just decent. This was not one of them.i came in around 1:30 on Saturday afternoon (brunch seating ends at 2) and the team was very helpful in getting me seated. I came into this restaurant thirsty and hungry and left watered and wined down. The food was excellent, the mimosas decently loaded with champagne. Royal, my bartender, was also very attentive to me the entire time. I enjoyed my experience here and will definitely come back for a birthday brunch. This was my first time here, but if every experience is like this, they'll definitely be near the top of my list as post COVID restaurants in the district. I just need to experience their happy hour. In a post COVID world in combination with the high costs of a business in the district, it's hard doing business, but I'm happy places like this continue to exceed my expectations of DC Decent. read more

Good spot. Happy hour is great - only downside is its bar only. Cheaper than average prices for DC. Good service and good small plates.

dLeña was okay. I visited on a Saturday evening after waiting MONTHS for my reservation. I was super excited and had pretty high expectations, and although dLeña didn't completely disappoint -- it also did not meet all of my expectations. When we arrived, we were greeted and seated pretty quickly. The table we were seated at felt like it shouldn't have been there -- it was very randomly and uncomfortably placed. The table we were sat at was meant to seat a party of 4; luckily, there were only 3 of us because there was absolutely no way a fourth person would be able to sit comfortable. The back of the chair for the table next to us was pushed up against our fourth chair. And when I say it was pushed against our fourth chair, it was so much so that we couldn't even pull out the fourth chair if we wanted to. The restaurant is pretty dark inside, however, it is pretty. If you struggle to see - this may not be the place for you because I have pretty good vision and I still struggled to read the menu in the dark environment. Our waiter provided excellent service. I told him of my allergies and he made recommendations for things that would accommodate my allergies. Our waiter also recommended drinks -- which I must say were pretty good. The drinks weren't overly strong and they had a good taste to them. Turning to our food...best way to put it is: the food was mid. The food wasn't the worst meal I've had, but definitely was not the best either. The oysters were okay, but I didn't really like them (and I usually love all things oysters). The pork belly was a little dry, but other than that it had good flavor. I got the equivalent of steak fajitas -- and they were okay. They weren't nasty, but it's nothing something I would order again. Overall the quality of the food wasn't what I expected -- but I've attributed that to its continuous increase in popularity and trying to keep up with always packed, always busy, demand. read more

Dlena is amazing for brunch! When you make your reservation ask for Jeff! Jeff is an amazing server and will make sure you are well taken care off. P.S. love the churros read more

We finally got the opportunity to try Dlena. Reservations are highly recommended with walk-in seating available in the bar area (which are slim to none & the space is really tight/small). The lighting is set really low with a twinkle of candle light and the bustling of the kitchen staff in plain view. The Queso Fundido is what seemed to be a bar favorite, so we gave it a try and it was good, but you have to eat it quick or the cheese will start to get firm. The pork belly was succulent and richly flavorful. I put bacon jam on my corn empanadas along with the sauce that it came with and it was fantastic. The bartender offered us a free espresso martini & it blew me away. I really enjoyed the smoothness of it. Made to perfection. My husband had the octopus tacos which was recommended by our server as one of his favorites. I'm not a fan of octopus, so that delight I did not try. It was definitely a pleasure trying out this establishment. Until the next time. read more

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So this is one of my favorite happy hour spots, but just make sure you get there at 5 PM on the dot. There is usually a line out the door as soon as they open the drinks are pretty good. Actually a pretty great just make sure you hit that happy hour though. Service is great. Definitely check out their downstairs bar and the food menu is excellent. Definitely try for brunch and again make reservations. read more

This is my second visit to Dleña in about a year. Both times were fabulous and I sat at the bar. Service is excellent and quick. Bartenders are witty and helpful. Lighting is dim; would be perfect for a date night or girls night. I started with the carrots- delish. Then onto the grilled oysters. GET THEM. As a lover of raw and grilled oysters, these are soooo delicious. The chipotle sauce is just chef's kiss. Then I got the queso fundido. This was a bit underwhelming to me, made better by asking for a side of chips as it's typically served with small soft tacos and that just wasn't what I was in the mood for. To drink I had the La Sandia Alta- watermelon flavored but very light and refreshing. Guava Me Please?! was SO YUMMY. Perfection. And then one of their most popular drinks- Mercado. Not too spicy but so delicious as well. To finish I had Mil Hojas de Panqueque. This was my first time having a crepe cake so maybe this is how they are supposed to be but I wished the cake itself was sweeter. It was super light and fluffy though and I just made sure to get a good serving of the delicious caramel or incredible caramel ice cream with each bite and that suitably sweetened it. Anyways, highly recommend for a good time. I was a solo traveler and it was a blast! read more

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I found out about this restaurant from word of mouth and Tik Tok and I was not disappointed at all. I made a reservation for my birthday and I had an amazing experience here. I arrived 20 minutes early and was pleasantly greeted by the staff. They showed me the lounge downstairs in which I grabbed some wine and relaxed until my reservation time. It was a cool vibe, and dimly lit for the ambiance. When it was dinner time, my server was excellent. The staff made me feel very welcome. The food was delicious! The drinks were also very good. They even brought me a birthday churro plate with a candle. I will definitely be coming back. 10/10! read more

Outstanding brunch service! Our waiter thoughtfully paced the unlimited tapas, guiding us through each item on the menu, making it feel more like a tasting experience rather than the usual unlimited tapas where you order individually. The food was perfectly timed, plates were promptly cleared, we received fresh small plates multiple times, and the table was kept clean throughout. Our bottomless breakfast drinks were rarely empty. The atmosphere is super charming, and the food, especially the tacos, was excellent. read more