Unlike many cities, DC is sadly lacking a truly upscale vegan restaurant. Luckily, there are a few restaurants that can fill the void with vegan options. One of them is Equinox, which has a $65 vegan tasting menu ($110 with wine parings, which we declined). My boyfriend and I recently went for an early birthday dinner. Shortly after we'd ordered our drinks, one of the servers tried to give us a fish amuse. We had to explain that we didn't want it because neither of us eats fish. The regular server replaced it with an amuse made of beets in a lemon vinaigrette. I'm normally not a fan of beets, but these were pretty good. Our first course was a baby eggplant "bruschetta"--instead of bread, it was vegetables arranged on a small eggplant. It was very tasty and fresh. Our second course was a small bowl of gazpacho with fresh vegetables dotted throughout. Our server brought us a bowl of vegetables and poured the gazpacho in. It was light and refreshing and would be perfect on a hot summer day. Our third course, a Vidalia onion stuffed with tomato orzo, was easily my favorite. I'm a big fan of tomatoes and onions, and this combined them to perfection. Our fourth course was spinach fusilli with vegetables. I enjoyed it, although it wasn't my favorite. Our fifth and last course, dessert, was a chocolate donut with raspberry sorbet and a berry compote. Two of my favorite things for dessert are chocolate and fruit, and this combined them to perfection.I'm amazed that more upscale and higher-end restaurants don't do more vegan desserts.It's very easy to make delicious baked goods without milk or eggs, and it would open up options to so many people. If I have one issue, it seemed that the menu was lacking a serious protein option. This is the sort of place I would go for a special occasion dinner--a birthday or anniversary and hope to see interesting options for the vegan tasting. read more

Maybe the restaurant week menu was not representative of the normal menu, but I thought the gazpacho and the bucatini were good but not great. The berries for dessert were excellent. I added a second appetizer and had the artichokes a la Romana. They were very good, but could have been fried a bit crispier. The wine pairings were satisfactory. Service was very good, but two waiters and the hostess should not have a debate about which servers have which tables within earshot of patrons. read more

Came here for brunch. Very nice minimalistic ambiance. The bean soup to start was delicious. The rigatoni pasta, orzo salad, and cauliflower rice curry also stood out. The other dishes and desserts were alright. read more

If you are a vegan or a vegetarian this is an awesome place to eat. I am neither, but they had some great meat choices too. The only negative for me was the serving sizes. I ordered the NY strip expecting to get the whole steak but only got three slices. It was probably only 3 oz of meat. For the cost of the meal I thought that was ridiculous. The taste and quality however were excellent. Just be aware and you will have a great experience. read more

It was legit for a dinner after work. The food was alright. 4 star Beef rib. Some appetizers are not for me, such as a plate of salty watermelon. I don't get it at all. The service is pretty good. read more

Absolutely loved our date night here! They have such a delicious, thoughtful and fresh menu with a great overall ambience. Our waiter, Gustavo, was SO nice and knowledgeable on the menu. We got the four course restaurant week menu with wine pairings and it was impeccable. Highly recommend. read more

I'm a lucky guy that has nice friends. In this particular example I was the beneficiary of a work-gift to Kelly for a meal at Equinox - an upscale American restaurant serving downtown DC's working professionals (i.e. not a place most 20 somethings hang out). The restaurant is relatively small but there is a side/private room that can add a bunch of seats if not booked. The décor is elegant and clean, and the menu reflects this desire with expensive pastas (~$30 each), "meat and game", seafood choices and sides. There is also an extensive wine list to pair perfectly with your duck, yellow fin tuna or saffron papparadelle angus beef Bolognese. Since we were in a celebratory mood (free food does that) we ordered a healthy amount: truffle risotto fritters, salmon, beef strip loin, fried green tomatoes and truffled macaroni and cheese. They also serve a small amuse bouche of tuna pate that was actually quite interesting. We were also expecting the risotto fritters as an appetizer but something went wrong and they brought us the mac and cheese instead. We didn't really to eat that first but it was strange and our server noticed shortly after it came out as a mistake. No harm no foul. It's deliciously rich and after we finished the entire side, realized we might not have as much room for the rest of the meal as intended. I'm not that upset though since it might have been the best thing I tasted all night. The main courses of salmon and beef with sides of fried green tomatoes and fritters (and not mac) were all fine with my favorite likely the bbq salmon and interesting (forgot) sides. The fried tomatoes disappointed as the fried crisp fell off too easily without much else to write home about. The risotto fritters were very rich and creamy (as one would expect) and not likely the best "side" to eat near the end of the meal. It also didn't have the same appeal as I would expect from a dish with so much potential (who doesn't like risotto, and add some fried ball aspect to boot?). I remember liking the beef but I ate it later and don't remember anything particularly wonderful or horrible. I guess that's good. Because of the previously mentioned goof of appetizer, they brought us a nice after dinner treat of shaved ice watermelon with two glasses of bubbles. Not too bad and a nice token recognition of a goof in service, and otherwise there were no issues. Equinox is an expensive restaurant that feels like most of that money goes toward décor and appearance and not the quality of the food (i.e. not great value). I find it hard to believe $30 pasta is worth it, and over $30 entrees means you're in a category competing with the very best. We had a nice time but the food was fine, not great or amazing. There's plenty of business traffic in the area to keep the doors open I imagine but it's not somewhere I'd recommend to spend serious amounts of hard earned money. read more

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I came for restaurant week, but I would recommend the restaurant overall for anyone who is looking to have something healthy and local while also spending a little more. The food is delicious and the portions are just right. The restaurant has multiple dining rooms, one of which was in a sunroom-type area where we were able to watch the snow fall while enjoying a business meal. They have a fantastic wine selection - we tried a light, crisp white wine from California. read more

Fabulous vegan brunch in a wonderful atmosphere with outstanding service! The options included savory and sweet and all were delicious. The highlights were the pancakes, the artichoke and fennel salad and the flatbread. The bread bar with various dips was intriguing. From olive tapenade to fig jam on all different flavors of breads - all were yummy. My favorite was the dessert station with blueberry and raspberry crumb cakes that were incredible. They also had the best vegan cannolis I have ever had! The coffee was so smooth and strong and made the meal perfect. This place lived up to the hype. We will be back next time we are in town. read more

Equinox on 19th - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came here for the restaurant week $35 three course dinner. Almost everything was delicious. I had the as appetizer and did not quite like it, it was like salty tomato soup that got cold, shrimp was good though. For main entree we had the pork chop, steak and teriyaki salmon. All were very delicious, especially the steak which was so soft and juicy that just melt in your mouth. Recommend. For dessert we tried the vegan chocolate cake which was perfect. Peach tart also good. read more

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We were so excited to find a place that served vegan brunch while visiting DC . Upon entering , we were greeted warmly by the owners . The food was delicious and plentiful . The tofu scramble served by Chef Todd Gray was my favorite . The price was a bit more then we'd normally spend for brunch but was worth the experience. The two negatives from my experience - the room we sat in that was enclosed in windows and had a slight smell of mold. I think it's coming from the carpet? My allergies acted up a little . The second was that the lead waiter,an older gentleman , portly in size (I think he was Hispanic ) was very rude when I went to try to serve my own coffee from the serving station. He looked at me ,sighed loudly , and said "That's what we do .That's what we're here for " and rolled his eyes . I was offended . When we find our selves back in DC we'd love to return . read more

Equinox on 19th - Sweet spot - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wonderful service--bad food Service was great--as always, as well as complimentary nutty bread with olives. But when it came to main entree, it was sooo disappointing ! It should be not easy to spoil an octopus but somehow they managed it- It was tasteless, over fried and even hard to cut. Moreover, it was served in a deep bowl which made it even worse. Veggies were very unhealthy--way too greasy. Unfortunately, it was my business lunch with a colleague, otherwise I'd return it. Left this restaurant hungry. Would not recommend it to anyone who cares about healthy lifestyle and prefers good tasty food. read more

I enjoyed everything about equinox, the service, the ambience and the delicious food! Many vegetarian options which is great Truffle risotto balls - delicious 5/5 Eggplants chips 5/5 The dipping sauces were creative and paired well Potatoes 2.5/5 Mac and cheese - I don't like it in general so I don't review Agnolotti 5/5 Fresh Truffle pasta 5/5 Caramel chocolate tart 2/5, didn't seem fresh and minimal chocolate read more

We had a delicious dinner at Equinox for my husbands birthday. He's vegan and it was nice to be able to have vegan fine dining. We both enjoyed the plant based tasting menu. The service was excellent and our waiter was kind and funny. Can't wait to come back and try the brunch. read more

Three and half star. I had very good memory about food and drink from my first visit at Equinox a couple of years ago. After renovation, I finally made my 2nd visit. Newly renovated atrium was nice. Maybe I had too high expectation.. I wasn't fully satisfied with the meal I had today. I took out-of-towners for dinner and none of them was impressed by the flavor of dishes (we all were impressed by the presentation of all the dishes) - Complimentary bread was OK but not freshly baked or flavorful. - Soft shell crab and BBQ'd shrimp w/ grits were recommended by the server so I ordered them. Both had great presentation. Too pretty to eat.. but then.. soft shell crab was pretty salty and other components in the dish didn't get blended well with soft shell crab. Same for shrimp. BBQ'd shrimp didn't go well with grits. In addition, Grits was bland.. It wasn't buttery or creamy like one I had at other places... - Veal porterhouse was substantial but not enough sauce. Potato tots were good. - Truffled Macaroni n' cheese was good but again, it wasn't bubbly hot. I didn't get much flavor of truffle either. Overall, I felt like something could have been better in most dishes. I like that the chef promotes local and sustainable ingredients, but I wished that the flavors of ingredients were blended better. Maybe I return if I want to eat something pretty.. but not when I want something really tasty. PS: I skipped desserts. After disappointed by all dishes, I wasn't sure if I would be happy with it .. read more

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Just now getting to reviewing my restaurants over the last couple of weeks during the phases 1 2 and 3 of opening after the quarantine in DC. I would say this restaurant was the smoothest and most comfortable out of all of the restaurants I've been to In The City. The food was amazing. The service was immaculate. Whoever the manager was made us feel comfortable and welcome. As a black man dining at a restaurant with black lives matter protesters literally one block over oh, I approve this restaurant. We were treated equal with no biases. Unfortunately that is a compliment. No offense. Thank you for your hospitality Equinox. I will be back. read more

This review is only for the brunch. The food was very well put together and delicious. The chef always has this tofu scramble station where you can choose your veggies and toppings, including the homemade vegan cheese. The all-you-can-eat buffet always showcases a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits and one or two "stars", which in my last visit was a cauliflower dish glazed in maple syrup, but it wasn't that sweet. The dessert area was so good! I had two of the blueberry french toast, which integrated a hearty, very tasty bread and warm maple syrup. The red velvet cupcakes and the lemon bars were very tasty too. read more

Equinox on 19th - My brunch plate - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Visited for dinner recently, with my daughter while in DC. Service: Outstanding. Waiters are real pros, even my 10 years old daughter was impressed. Food: Excellent presentation, good selection, high quality. We had: Bred and butter - My daughter loved it, and asked for another round Equinox Charcuterie Plate - Nice presentation, 4/5 on food quality Gnocchi of Wild Nettles with Spring Garlic - Very good Duo of Pride of the Plains Beef Raviolo and Striploin - Excellent food, excellent presentation - 5/5 Highly recommended Vine - I had two glasses of Masciarelli Montepulciano d'Abbruzzo 2007 and it was excellent. Location: Very close to the White House (few blocks away) if you want a nice dinning experience while you are around tourist attractions in the DC, this is place to go to. read more

Equinox on 19th - Duo of Pride of the Plains Beef Raviolo and Striploin - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They tried to charge us $55 for an extremely oily bowl of mediocre paste that was listed as $25 on the menu -- just because it had truffles shaved on top. It's arrogant to charge this much for food with clearly so little effort put into it. read more

Equinox on 19th - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is great! Service was excellent and the food was top notch. They have Inclusive menu options for all dietary restrictions which is one of the reasons we went here. A perfect place to get together if you're looking for somewhere serene and upscale. Definitely glad to celebrate my birthday here and will be back. The leek soup, artichokes and federal fritters were SO good. The chef deserves many props. read more

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After wanting to go here for so long, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. First off - my friends and I sat outside so I understand that this may put a little more pressure on the restaurant. That being said, they weren't busy and we were the only ones sitting outside. The service left a lot to be desired. Food wise--I had the tasting menu; the scallops were cooked perfectly, but the shrimp was completely overdone. For my main course I asked for medium rare and I got medium which to me ruined the dish. Would I go back? After reading all of hte great reviews I want to go back, but I'm not going to rush to go back. read more

I visited Equinox with an old friend for commuter hour, and we were both thoroughly pleased. We started with the Montgravet Côtes de Gascogne, a light but unexpectedly tannic French wine. Johnny, the kind older bartender who is obviously very experienced, made us feel right at home. My friend ordered the Truffled Risotto Fritters with Parmesan Reggiano and Herb Creme Fraiche, which sported EXCELLENT parmigiano, not the kind that tastes like it's been sitting around in wax paper for a while. The light crime inside the fritters was a great complement to the textured outside. I chose the Crispy Duck Spring Rolls with Shredded Red Cabbage, Carrots and Sweet Peppers, and certainly was not disappointed. Although I'm vegetarian on most days, I can never pass up a good duck dish. The spring rolls had a complex but not overly bold flavor accented by the vegetables and perfected by the crispy-but-not-hard shell itself. If those weren't good enough, the semi-sweet dipping sauce that accompanied them sealed the deal. I can't wait to return to Equinox for dinner! read more

The vegan brunch. This exists!! The chef has been there in person both times I was there, and happy to answer questions and chat with diners. The staff also served amuse-bouches to all the diners both times I was there, great little sneaks of what may show up on the menu down the road. The concept of personalized tofu scramble was what got us there, but I think the fried cauliflower and some other items got us going back. We took an omnivore friend with us once, and he was more than satisfied. Beverages: The bloody mary was way too spicy for me, but we have really enjoyed some of their other brunch-time cocktails. Equinox gets a bonus for not being too pretentious. We felt quite at home with casual clothes so we could hit the museums afterwards. The service is still good, though I have been confused with who our waiter is supposed to be, making something simple like coffee refills a bit of a chore. read more

I really enjoyed the vegan brunch. It's a great place to have brunch because you wander around the White House right after you finish. It was a great mix of foods and a nice atmosphere. I'd definitely recommend it! read more

I went for the vegan brunch. There were many options, but for the price of $35 per person, I was expecting heartier options. I know there are many types of vegan foods out there, but my boyfriend and I reflected after leaving that the food was mostly baked or fried veggies, some raw fruits, and a few grain items. There was an eggplant sesame "stir fry" option and a tofu scramble that was pretty good, but I was looking for vegan takes on breakfast foods like sausage, pancakes, french toast, potatoes, etc. I know I was paying for the ambiance and the service, but the food was just ok to me. Also, the people manning the food stations were not very pleasant and did not seem like they wanted to be there. I asked the man manning the tofu scramble station about some options and he just gave me a blank stare and a one word answer. Well, ok... Our waiter, Roman, was lovely. He was the highlight of the entire experience. I probably won't be returning. Almost $100 for a semi-filling brunch and bad service... meh... read more

Dinner was excellent and very relaxing. The duck was cooked perfectly and paired of course with fresh fig. read more

Equinox on 19th - Delectable - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Definitely a DC power lunch spot but I had to go to try their vegan options. I had the truffle cannellini soup. It was amazing. Then I had the spinach bucatini pasta with vegan meatballs. Delicious! Excellent wine list, service is wonderful. Be prepared to spend some money but so worth it! read more

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Food was mostly adequate though overpriced - server was friendly but slow and unresponsive to feedback. There was an exceedingly long gap between the first course and the entrees without acknowledgement or apology. The entrees were disappointing - most notably, the duo of shrimp and scallops - both shrimp had turned such that their heads were black and the flesh mealy, unfresh. We pointed this out to the server, but he brushed it off and did nothing to replace the shrimp or deduct it from the check. Disappointed by lack of fresh, quality ingredients and even more so by lack of effort to ameliorate situation. The duck entree had very chewy, thick, unrendered skin - disappointing but more about kitchen's skill in execution vs. something readily addressable like ingredients and service. read more

Came here for our anniversary dinner and it was fantastic! I'm a vegetarian that eats mostly plant based and my husband loves meat. This was a great place for both of us. There's at least one (usually more) plant based option for every course, which is unusual for a fine dining restaurant where there's usually one vegetarian option. The spinach bucatini was fantastic and I highly recommend. The mushroom gnocchi was really great as well. They really know how to cook a veggie here - for example, the carrots. Cooked enough to bring out the flavor, but with just a slight give/crunch so they aren't mushy. Perfect. The service was great, they noticed we were under an AC vent and offered to move us before we even asked. We split a starter and our desert and they split up the dishes for us. It was just a really nice experience all around. Finally - the dessert. We got the chocolate cherry brownie and I can't recommend it highly enough. There was a rum caramel sauce and coconut sorbet in addition to the brownie and cherries - it all came together beautifully. Can't wait to go back and try the vegan brunch! read more

This meal was amazing!! Every bite was full of flavor and so healthy! I ate a lot and didn't walk away feeling sick. The food is so fresh and flavorful! Highly recommend it! read more

Equinox on 19th - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Used to love this restaurant and love going on special occasions. Recently went to celebrate a special wedding anniversary and was sorely disappointed by the food and ambience. Decor felt very tired & dated, but food was by far the worst part of the experience. Some dishes were edible (fried artichokes, truffle Mac and cheese) though had no flavor and definitely not worth the cost. Several entrees were frankly inedible (tofu, salmon). Giving 2 stars because the service was good and the staff were very nice. read more

Service is good. And a little bit expensive. I was not too hungry so I didn't finish everything. read more

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The night was New Year's Eve, and I was nervous and excited at the same time. My girlfriend Emily and I had a reservation at Equinox. This was a special night for us because it was the night that I proposed. Ellen had set everything up to make our evening special. Their hospitality and support were breathtaking.  I can't say enough how much it means to me that Ellen was willing to go the extra mile to help me out. She and her staff are some of the most wonderful people you can spend an evening with. They made us feel like family. We are forever grateful to Equinox. Thank you, Ellen! We love you. If you haven't been yet, go, go, go! The only thing better than the food is the people. What an evening, what an experience, what a joy. read more

Equinox on 19th - She said YES! @Equinox - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had a bunch of places lined up for DC to continue my stellar three day run back in May. The menu looked so enticing online and the reviews so rave that I decided to give it a shot. I am sorry but was not blown away. I sampled the full 7 course (meat) tasting menu. Many of the same ingredients used throughout like squash, Bok Choy and peanuts. Some dishes were bland and I would have reached for the salt if I didn't think it insulting to the chef. The best was the white truffles on top of a few dishes. Favorite dish was the scallop which was cooked to perfection. I was dismayed they ran out of the tilefish and served salmon instead. Looked like oatmeal and sesame topping, made for a bit of a dry dish of not for the polenta underneath (a ton of polenta). The wine parings were on the weak and low end side, but I must say the price was a match and I didn't expect extravagant booze... Dessert sounded like fun in crisped apple but that disappointed as well. Service was excellent, the entire crew was knowledgable and friendly. Sorry everyone! read more

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So as I always say, I am always super happy to support businesses that provide vegan options, especially because DC is really lacking. The food was good, don't get me wrong, but it, along with everything else, just wasn't as good as it should be. I had the 4-course tasting menu - it was a nice surprise that you get to pick which menu items you want (although I also enjoy thoughtfully-prepared tasting menus). I had the leek and cardoon gratin which I thought had a strange bitter taste to it, like it was burnt; the vegan pasta option which was delicious but under-seasoned; the hearts of palm cake that had great texture but was overall sort of bland, and the vegan cheese plate which was definitely the best part of the meal, albeit pretty uninventive. The service also was lacking - I was brought the wrong order at the beginning of the meal, which is totally fine, but then he seemed really nervous the rest of the night, and another waiter seemed to be observing him and sort of being mean to him. For instance, when he brought over the cheese plate, he then went to another table, and the other waiter said "She wants to know about these cheeses." I didn't ask, and it felt awkward to be in the middle of whatever drama is going on there. The price tag an the ambience suggest that this is a special-occasion place - we went for my birthday. And it was fine, but should definitely be better. read more

A friend and I had Sunday vegan brunch at Equinox. While I appreciate vegan restaurants and those that offer vegan options, the food on this day was not fresh, it seemed as if the dishes were prepared way in advance, too far in advance. The bread was stale, the French toast was cold and stale and the desserts were stale. Also, the French toast was served concurrently with cauliflower curry -- was it to save time? (the restaurant closes early on Sundays) -- a terrible, completely incongruous combination. Instead of giving each of us our own salads, we were presented plates to share. The wait staff was not attentive enough. For example, the "to share" salads required the staff to give us plates, and they forgot. We had to ask. When we first arrived, my friend asked to see the list of courses but the restaurant does not have them printed. When we asked if they had a QR code, the answer was yes but the wait staff said they'd have to find it. They never did. We dined outside, toward the end of Sunday brunch hours. As other guests departed, the wait staff began putting away chairs and tables. They created a good deal of noise and made us feel pressure to leave (we were the last guests outside). The restaurant is conveniently located near Farragut West metro. There are indoor and outdoor dining options. Some of the dishes were good. The corn soup and Just Egg frittata were tasty (and the only dishes that were kept appropriately warm). The salad with peaches was yummy. The fig jam and olive tapenade were delicious, if only the bread had been fresh. While there were a few glimmers of goodness, I don't think I'll dine here again. For the money and because of poor service, the restaurant is not a particularly good value. I'd rather try something new. read more

The food was good, but I was expecting a little more given how much our meal cost. My boyfriend really enjoyed his lamb, so maybe the vegan options are the only ones that are a little disappointing. I had the beet steak frites, and I felt like the chef could have done more to make the beet flavorful. It was a little bland. I think the highlight of the meal was the vanilla bean ice cream, which was delicious. The cocktails and wine list was great as well. I do have to credit them with fantastic service. Our server was responsive and helpful, and they went out of their way to make my boyfriend's birthday special, including a candle on ice cream and a signed card from the chef. The dining room is cozy and modern, the service is wonderful, and the food is good...just not good enough for the price. read more

Came here for their vegan brunch buffet on Sunday. $35 per person for a variety of savory + sweet food options that did not disappoint. My boyfriend and I dined in their outdoor patio area (just be mindful of the occasion bee that may want to join you). They have a cute little tofu scramble station that you can add other veggies to and customize to your liking. The stuffed French toast and tempura cauliflower were also really good! Waitstaff was attentive and friendly. The chef even came out to say hello and gave us a complimentary dish! Overall great experience. read more

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The special Rosh Hashanah menu looked enticing so I picked up four of them yesterday. I was a bit skeptical about how falafel crusted swordfish might turn out as a takeout item but I followed owner/chef Todd Gray's advice to heat it for five minutes at 350° and not one minute more. It was divine. If you want to taste something that is awesome for autumn, get them to do another batch of pumpkin soup with Riesling poached apples. This celebrity chef is always at the top of his game. read more

First time at @equinoxdc was amazing. Couldn't of asked for a better meal to celebrate graduation with the family! Their plant based tasting menu had five unique selections. Our waiter, Roman was fantastic and I can't wait to come back to visit and try more of their dishes read more

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