Always impressed by the staff here. I appreciate how much attention they pay to dietary restrictions. I was the only vegan in my party. Our waiter made sure to make vegan recommendations for me and even brought 1 vegan option when he brought the amuse bouche. They really cater to customers specific dietary needs as opposed to lots of places that view it as an annoyance. Also the food itself is amazing! Everytime I go back the menus a little different and I get to try something new. Yet to find something I don't like. read more

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The ambience was nice and the service was great. We ordered drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. The wine was nice, the bread and butter were delicious, the gruyere salted pastries were yummy, the mac and cheese was good, but the entrees were not good. I ordered the sesame encrusted salmon. It smelled fishy and tasted so bland. I did not finish it. My husband ordered off the vegan menu and had an eggplant rigatoni. It was very bitter! We both did not like it. For dessert we split the mint chocolate chip ice cream. The chocolate had some heat to it, and I feel that the balance of heat was a bit too much that it took away from the flavor of the ice cream. This is an expensive restaurant, I've eaten at other expensive restaurants where the food was delicious, but this falls flat. read more

Restaurant Week Dinner Review: It was excellent and we would dine here all of the time if we could afford it! Best service and food that we've had in the city. He Had: Grilled Louisiana White Shrimp for Appetizer, 142 deg Angus Short Rib for the Entree, and the Lemon Coconut Torte for Dessert. She Had: Artichoke and Red Lentil Bisque for Appetizer, 142 deg Angus Short Rib for the Entree and the Lemon Coconut Torte for Dessert They Had: The fried Oysters as an added appetizer and paid a $25 corkage fee for a pinot noir brought in. Appetizers: They were superb. The Shrimp was flavorful and delicate. The fried oysters had the perfect consistency and flavor. The bisque was smooth with hints of a smokey flavor. Entree: We got the same entree and were both pleased and delighted with our selection. The short rib was cooked so well that you didn't even need the knife they placed on the table. It was tender and perfectly paired with the delicious oyster mushrooms and Braised Celery and Arugula Gremolata. This is the kind of short rib that I wish that I could prepare. The chef is a magician! Dessert: Again, we selected the same dessert and it was very pleasing. The lemon coconut torte was delicate and smooth. It was a perfect finish and was not overpowering after the savory feast of short ribs. Atmosphere: Upscale and calm. It was easy to relax and enjoy the meal. This is a wonderful execution of fine dining. Service: Our waiter was very attentive and exact as well as being personable. She did an excellent job and kept our meal flowing effortlessly. The meal was delicious but without her service it would not have been nearly as enjoyable. I commend Chef Gray on hiring great staff! We will definitely be back again! Did I mention that we loved it?? (Its a shame that we went to Rasika a few days later because Equinox put it to shame.) read more

Visited for lunch recently, this restaurant shines on all counts. Service was terrific. Two of us arrived ahead of our friend. While seated at the bar to wait, ice water with lemon was set in front of us without us asking. Seated in the lovely glass atrium surrounded by very important people -- couldn't tell you who they are -- I'm a Canadian in DC, but they looked very important. Waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, efficient and funny, Bread basket on table included little choux pastry cheese puffs. Could have eaten a basket of those on my own. Red pepper soup was good but my friend's breaded oysters were the standout appetizer. Crunchy and creamy all at the same time. My roast chicken with mascarpone grits was delightful. Garnished with locally sourced red corn popcorn. I don't usually order something quite this heavy for lunch but this was satisfying without being overwhelming. Mascarpone grits are my new favourite food. Chicken was tender and beautifully seasoned. read more

I went here for the first time last week. What a gem! There is cute outside patio, but we sat inside. The service was great and the plant-based vegan dishes were so good! My dad loved his eggplant falafel but my favorite was the potato ravioli. The BEST ravioli I've ever had (not just vegan)! It had a magical "cream"y sauce. It was hard to share :) The plant-based salad was pretty plain so I would not get it again. My mom eats meat so she loved her crab! read more

Equinox has clean and simple new America cuisine, featuring lots of local ingredients. It also boasts superb service and an open and inviting dining room. A really great DC restaurant. I will admit that I have only been here for power lunches, so my feeling may be different if I were here for dinner (or if I were the one picking up the tab). Still, there can be no argument that the food is delicious. I am especially partial to the side of macaroni and cheese (not quite as good as Vidalia's but still plenty scrumptious) and the steak salad. But really, I've never had a disappointing meal here and it is my go-to place if I need to set up an important lunch. read more

We had 8pm reservations on a Saturday and were sat in the wine room. This is a beautiful restaurant, and I'm guessing it's not unusual to have a 2+ hour meal for 2 people who order appetizers and dessert. Be patient, and enjoy. Denise was our server, and she was knowledgeable, friendly, and regaled us with interesting stories. I skipped the main and ordered several appetizers. First, I shared the fresh mozzarella with country bread. Tasty, fresh, creamy. I'm spoiled though, by Da Campo's freshly made mozzarella so nothing else compares. Second, I had the rainbow beet salad with pomegranate seeds and ricotta beignets. I could've had another bowl of the light and dark beets because they were so good, and I liked the sweet/tart taste of the pom seeds. The ricotta beignets reminded me of the deep fried biscuits at Chinese buffets- they were okay, but I didn't taste much of the ricotta. Next, I had charred octopus with a little chorizo and potato salad. These dishes were small but plated attractively, perfect for sampling. Finally, I had a truffled gnocchi appetizer. It was flavorful but without the melt-in-your-mouth soft texture, nor do I think it was intended to be. I still had room for dessert, and none looked that exciting on the menu. However, the way our enthusiastic server described the dark chocolate tart was too good to pass up. It did not disappoint- it was a thin sliver of dark chocolate on a chocolate graham cracker crust that was slightly salty. That was a nice contrast to the sweet chocolate. It came with chartreuse ice cream, which I've never had. Apparently it's a mix of herbs and made for a light and unique ice cream. Thank you for a relaxing and pleasant dining experience! read more

I had a 4-course meal: Cavatelli Salmon salad Crab cakes "Coffee & donuts" dessert The bf had a 6-course meal: Corn chowder Cavatelli Lamb Pork rack 3-cheese sampler Trio of sorbets The maitre d' brought out an amuse bouche of creamed mushroom and basil on a round toast and a shot of carrot soup. Both were amazing. The "chips" and bean puree were really good too. Our meal hadn't started and we were already happy. The bf and I loved the cavatelli and corn chowder. My salmon salad was mediocre, but I was really disappointed in the crab cake. My bf was happy with his lamb and pork rack. The cheese sampler was ok. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're really a cheese fan. My dessert of coffee and donuts was pretty good. I enjoyed the coffee pot de creme, but the doughnuts were very dry. The bf's sorbet trio was refreshing, though, and they were great for cleansing the palate after a rich meal. Though there were some disappointments, we would dine there again. read more

So I'm not sure if the 5 Stars is a bit overrated considering i've never had a meal at this place. I went to Equinox for this Hard Cider happy hour they hosted in the Fall. I went once and fell in love, the Cider was great and the free food was a plus. The venison chili was to die for and I still find my self craving it from time to time. It did get really crowded so I was happy we were there early. Anyways I met up with a good friend there who has also recommended me to jump on yelp! I'm sure the fall happy hour is over, not sure if they do another one but highly recommend it. read more

I arrived at Equinox on a Sunday, not long after returning from Thanksgiving travel. Since my wife's birthday is always around that holiday I've discovered that going out to dinner in DC at the time provides a very quiet and relaxed environment. The hostess sat us in a corner overlooking the empty Connecticut street that I normally associate with manic DC workers breezing away on their cellphones, or the typical gawking tourist crowds that convene near the White House. None of that was apparent just a nice cool black hum that seemed to linger in the air. The entire street seemed to be presented to us on a silver platter. Once we sat down, the staff was more than aware of my wife's special occasion. We were brought a nice scallop presented within a great glass serving dish, along with a seafood/lobster bisque. A great start along with some simple bubbly to tickle our palate as the evening was to begin (compliments of the chef). Once we figured out our course selections we were highly excited. Todd Gray and company did not disappoint. My Nicoise tuna seared just right, a perfect light starter to get going as the oils wafted around me. My wife remarked about her mushroom salad, "How can they do this? I need to learn how to make mushrooms taste like this, all I know how to do is boil or fry them!" I chuckled to myself, eying the nicely shaved cheese that was on top. I asked what it was and she said it was some very well aged Parmesan (perhaps), to which I eyed ravenously and she poked back, "you aren't getting any of it by the way.." Next to come was the pasta. My wife after speaking with the waiter during my absence was remarking how she was excited to try white truffles for the first time. Since Equinox makes their items with seasonal and local ingredients, my wife was reminded that during the time of her birthday is when white truffles are in season. As I returned to wait on this dish for her, I couldn't help noticing how my napkin was replaced and folded on my table nicely. Our dish arrived with a nice little covering, that was removed in front of my nose. Unfortunately the plate was to go to my wife but we figured it out (problem was I didn't want to give it back). As much as she enjoyed the flavor of the truffled Gnocchi brought to her, it was the pasta within the dish she was most impressed by. I had to settle for my nicely seared scallops which were much like the amuse bouche that was presented to us earlier, only sitting on a somewhat wet noodle/arugula based bed that was a bit lifeless minus one odd leaf that came out a little bitter. Seemed like it need work, but with the sweet scallops I could forget about the near ramen like consistency and flavor of the noodle below. Our main courses moved to the halibut, and I chose pork. Pork that was jewely glistening in a correct cooked savory setting, lying in it's simple fingers that I had to stop myself from eating too quickly. I glanced over at the halibut with its perfect white center seemingly cooked to perfection, only forgetting that I was not about to let another peppercorn go to waste on my plate. Everything was running like clock work, we were highly excited to move to cheese for our last course, I being not much of a desert fan, and my wife being an incredible cheese connoisseur. In doing so we ended up getting each of the different plates for ourselves providing a nice tasting ground for my wife's discriminating cheese palate. Along with our cheese came 3 delicate bowls to go along with. The first filled with pickled beets, which I will add is not something to my liking but I did try them and they were done well. They were easily passed on to my wife with no objections whatsoever. The second bowl was filled with pecans roasted and dusted perfectly with what seemed a hint of just the perfect amount of cinnamon, followed by a preserve that we couldn't put our name on but soon found out was a delectable Huckleberry. With my port in hand, our night was complete, then our host brought out a small dessert plate for us, containing a delectable almond cookie, a melting raspberry jelly, and a chocolate truffle of sorts, and a perfect little silver bowed container containing chocolate truffles as a gift for her to take home. "You're not getting what is in this box either!" my wife said back to me grinning from ear to ear. With the Sancerre that was drained, this was easily one of the best meals I ever had. Are there places that could do just as well, probably but this was the meal that needs to be beat, and I plan to someday! read more

All I can say is what an AMAZING experience. My girlfriend picked me up from the Jingle All the Way 15K on Sunday and asked if I would like to go to brunch and of course I said yes! We went to Equinox yesterday and from the time we walked into the door until the moment we left we throughly enjoyed every moment. The host was pleasant, the wait staff was great, the customers we spoke with were pleasant and to top it off Chef Todd was exceptional! He took time to greet us and chat with us, totally a first for me and definitely won me over. Typically I do not like buffets BUT everything I ate from the buffet was splendid. This was by far best brunch experience I've ever had and I'll be dining here a lot. I purchased the Nox Box which contains some amazing recipes that I can't wait to try. Todd and Staff you all ROCK!!! Job well done! Bev. read more

We were in town for a convention and some business partners chose this place. I liked their menu offering and their use of locally grown foods. The service was great. We sat in an enclosed area next to the window which was nice because we felt secluded and were able to see the rain pouring down outside. The wines we ordered were all very good. I didn't have that much but everyone who drank more than me really enjoyed the wine. I started the meal with the summer salad greens which was plentiful and very flavorful. My friend got the tomato bisque served with a mini grilled cheese sandwich and that was also very divine. Everyone was very happy with their first course. I then moved onto the jumbo lump crab cake with 3 tomato salad. They aren't kidding when they say "jumbo" either! The cake was at least an inch or more thick and about 2.5 inches wide. I started to get full just looking at it but I knew I had to eat it. I couldn't finish it all and if I lived there, I would have taken it home for sure. The flavors of the crab cake and the different varieties of tomatoes really complimented each other. My other friend got the pasta which could have fed 2 and they were all equally pleased with their main courses as well. The highlight of my meal though was the baked truffled mac and cheese side. If I wasn't full, I would have just ordered this and eaten it all, without sharing. The black truffle really made this dish and the way they made it so each bite was bursting with cheese, crumbs, and truffle flavor was excellent. This is why they get a 5 star rating. I wished I had gotten the coffee and doughnuts, that looked very good or the cheesecake. I had overheard the waiter saying the carrot cake was awesome so like half the table ordered that. I didn't think it was the best carrot cake I've ever had though and wished I had tried something new instead. Oh well, there is always next time, hopefully. We passed around the goat milk gelato that came with the poached pear and that was a treat. I wouldn't have it daily but for them to come up with it and execute on it was pretty cool. Fortunately since we weren't paying, I didn't see the bill but I assume we paid a pretty penny for our meal. We all left full, happy, and very satisfied. If you are ever in the area, go try it out for yourself. read more

First rate dining experience. Service was excellent. Very attentive with minimal chit chat, specials described short and to the point. Decor OK. We were glad to sit in the interior - the atrium seems a little too casual for a restaurant at this price level. But you go for the food. We started with a salad and seared sea scallops. The scallops were perfectly done. The salad was fine, but not one I'd pay #14 for again. Our entrees were monk fish and arctic char - both exquisite. The fish was perfect and blended so well with its accompaniments. Only off note is that the metal partitions in the men's room are rusting - it was like a junior HS boy's room. Small detail, but at this level they need to do better. read more

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, Equinox! This is one of the most perfect restaurants I have ever been to; truly world-class. The food is consistently excellent, the service pitch-perfect, and the ambiance pleasant (although admittedly a bit staid). My most recent meal there included: Mushroom soup: delicious, with the flavor of the mushrooms perfectly balanced by bits of salted pork. Salmon: a very tasty piece of fish, perfectly cooked, and served with brussel sprouts that absolutely re-defined this vegetable for me! So tender and sweet! Macaroni and cheese: cheese + pasta + black truffle oil? What's not to love? Trio of sorbets: actually not outstanding, but certainly still good. I cannot recommend Equinox highly enough; their food is locally sourced and much of it is organic, which results both in unusual dishes and extremely flavorful items. Eat here if at all possible! read more

Hm. Just got back from trying Equinox for the first time. I was so hopeful--the menu looked beautiful, and all these great reviews boded well. Alas, "meh, I've experienced better" pretty much captures it in a nutshell. Basic, decent service, but nothing special. Food was way off in my opinion. Appetizers--I had tomato-red pepper gazpacho with crab. It was good, but the crab was flavorless and added nothing but some chew. The base itself was very good, very nicely balanced. Hubs had risotto fritters, one step up from tater tots, but man they were tasty. These were the highlights. Mains--I had the Scottish BBQ salmon, which my server said was in a light sauce, and the menu said was supposed to be over "Roasted Sweet Corn, Backyard Basil, Pommes Gaufrette." Fail, fail and fail. The light sauce was akin to KC master, and I would bet my life that the corn, which was NOT roasted, came out of the freezer or even a can (hello, height of summer, can I get some fresh corn please?). I cannot get past this corn thing. The basil was non-existent, unless you count the schmear of green goop on my plate. And the pommes gaufrette? Potato chips, quite literally. The balance was there, the flavor profile technically correct, but nothing seemed fresh or well treated. And the salmon? Well, it was obviously once a beautiful piece of fish, but it was cooked well past medium and lacked the succulency I expect. The hubs had the pork tenderloin with cherry sauce over kale. Good, but again, the pork was overcooked. We both agreed that we regularly make better pork tenderloin at home. I guess I just feel like when you're working with such beautiful foods, it's almost a sin not to treat them properly. It was not bad, mind you, but I expect a ton more when I'm paying $30 for an entree. We shared a dessert, the chocolate custard with coffee soil, mint and chartreuse ice cream. The "custard" was more like jello pudding, but points for the coffee soil, mint and ice cream--those were very good. Would have been to-die-for if the pudding had a deeper chocolate flavor and better texture. Aside from a few major errors on the food, nothing was patently wrong here. It was a perfectly pleasant, if generic meal. My strong suspicion is that maybe Equinox doesn't bring their A-game on Mondays, after busy weekends. But who knows. I also think they need to refine their menu descriptors. For a similar, better executed and slightly less pricey menu, I'd go to Eventide in Arlington. read more

Came for the first time for vegan brunch this morning and was not disappointed. I'd heard many great things from colleagues and after two years of living here am very satisfied with the experience. Food: plant-based brunch was great overall. Lots of diversity in flavor and offerings from gazpacho to jambalaya to pad Thai and delicious breads and spreads. Cooling, grainy salads and lentil/dhal warming fondue with sourdough bread... rhubarb jam stuffed walnut toast. The granola (dried cherry and pistachio) with almond milk was incredible. Tip: let it sit for about 10 minutes at your table to have milk turn sweet and nutty. Request: vegan/nut CHEESE plate, please. Also, maybe some fresh garlicky greens, coconut butter or cream cheese for the delicious selection of breads to layer with jams, and a plant-based sausage/protein? What they offered was perfect and the chef even walked through each dish with me. What a delight. Dessert table and offerings were just as diverse. Among the favorites: moist brownies, strawberry shortcake, macaroons. The choco/hazelnut bundt cake had a great presentation but an odd aftertaste-almost salty on the bottom. The cinnamon buns were dry and not warm :( Would've loved a mousse or pudding option (choco/avo)... or even rose cardamom coconut ice cream... I noticed the dessert bar being freshened up and restocked frequently. The buffet was hot/cool as appropriate and abundant. Okay. I'm salivating and want to go back stat! Ambiance: we sat at the bar to watch the men's Wimbledon final so missed the dining room... people seemed happy and vibes were relaxed. Service: incredible. I called the day before and the chef answered. Asked to sit at the bar to watch the match. Super accommodating and the game was on and seats open when we arrived for our 10:30 res. I noticed him greeting/saying thank you to all guests and checking in with folks about their food. Not pushy or intrusive, but genuine and just kind. The bartender was wonderful, too. We wound up staying for the whole championship match-about 2.5 hours after our res., too full to keep eating, lol, but didn't feel pushed out or rushed. Chef and a few staff popped in to watch match with us & just good juju all around. We'll be back just as soon as we are able :) Love to patronize places that offer plant-based options with such amazing service :) Thank you!! read more

One of the most amazing restaurants in the city. We came here to celebrate a birthday and their tasting menu was the best! It's not going to be cheap but for special occasions is a really good choice. I love this place. read more

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

Some dining experiences unfold with such superb, careful artistry--like poetry--that common prose seems inadequate to praise the performance. Chef Todd Gray shows off local flavors with creative precision at Equinox--the restaurant only uses ingredients from within 100 miles, and a celebration of seasonal, fresh food is definitely the focus of every dish. I'd scrutinized the restaurant week menu before going, and noticed Chef Gray's small tweaks to the prix fixe. The amount of creativity used even for a two-week set menu impressed me, as it demonstrated his attention to local markets and willingness to experiment. People at our table couldn't stop sharing our courses with each other. Dinner began with a complimentary amuse-bouche of fried green tomato slivers on fanciful bamboo toothpicks. The creamy cucumber soup with mint, homemade croutons, and scallions had the freshest smoked salmon I've ever tasted--at least sashimi-grade. The other starter of grilled maple-balsamic shrimp on a bed of mascarpone grits, leek shavings, and toasted pinoli was easily the best dish of the night. I was amazed by the kitchen's skilled restraint--I would eat almost anything marinated in that tangy-sweet sauce, but the thin layer of glaze served only to showcase the beautiful grilled shrimp, and didn't mask the creamy grits or the subtle flavor of fresh leeks. The warm, lingering fragrance of the pine nuts drew out the pleasure of each bite for several seconds. I had venison medallions with both fingerling and mashed potatoes, sauteed spinach, and a wine reduction. The venison was very nice, but the fingerling potatoes--roasted in golden-brown coins and lightly salted-- were sublime in the red wine sauce. The barbequed salmon with sweet corn salsa and basil was also delicious with a southern flair. Chef Gray again demonstrated his wisdom in letting the fresh ingredients speak for themselves instead of stealing the show with his (excellent) barbeque marinade. Desserts were beautiful. We had a sumptuous strawberry shortcake with homemade vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries, a really well-balanced chocolate peanut butter crunch bar with bourbon anglaise and roasted banana ice cream that amazingly, didn't overwhelm...and my favorite, fresh summer berries with almond florentine and amaretto zabaglione. The zabaglione was a light and airy mousse flavored with amaretto and a small sprig of mint. The trio of fresh berries, amaretto cream, and minty flavors danced on the palate with wonderful rapport. The service was perfect--our waiter took the time to explain any questions we have about the menu, and let us know that the salmon and venison were both humanely caught and prepared. We finished the night with another complimentary plate of homemade treats from the kitchen: mini chocolate chip cookies, creamy peanut butter truffles, and my favorite--tangy sugarcoated raspberry pastilles. By then, I was ready to compose several sonnets (or maybe limericks) in Chef Gray's honor, probably because of the bottle of wine we'd had, but I'll save myself the ignominy and leave the inventiveness to the true artists--one of whose work you will surely encounter at Equinox. read more

Equinox on 19th - Venison with fingerling potatoes. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We had the vegan prix fixe menu a few years ago as the birthday dinner and it was the most regrettable high priced meal I've ever had. We were charged 30 dollars for the soda water alone. Soda water people, soda water. Even though I wasn't vegan, I was not allowed to order a different menu from my SO so I beared with it. Despite us both ordering the vegan menu, we were given a free, very not vegan "bite" at the beginning of our meal. Faux pas! (I enjoyed it though!) The highlight of the meal was the chocolate cake dessert because everything else was embarrassingly bland and bad. The fried garbanzo beans was just like a canned garbanzo that was sitting out on a counter overnight. The pasta, forgettable. I'm not even saying this as an omnivore, my vegan SO was not impressed. Despite being one of the few high end restaurants catering to vegans, they didn't even have a vegan birthday option so the server offered chocolate covered espresso beans which is a nice gesture, but we I can go to Trader Joe's for that. I'm sure the omnivore menu is fantastic but this experience makes me not ever want to go back. read more

Great curbside appeal. Hmmm, promising. Alas, a total let-down. Setting: good. Service: sloooow and sloppy. Food: mediocre. Price: steep. Overall value: poor. Too many other local options to bother with this place. read more

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

Only reason I gave 2 stars was for the service. Our waitress was good and they greet you at the door with a smile. As far as the food (kinda important) falls very short. My table had 2 striploins and Venison. All the meat dishes came out around room temperature which would be considered cold in my opinion. If it were served hot it may have been an ok dinner at best. For the price you pay, definitely save your money. I see people rave about the Mac and cheese... It's Mac and cheese! You can get a great Mac and cheese at a bar and save a bunch of money. At the end of the day it's not worth it. If you charging people that kind of money you need to nail it the first time. I wouldn't go back read more

With previous reviews being mixed, and with a chef known for inventiveness and fresh seasonal food, I decided to take a gamble that maybe the inconsistent reviews stemmed from worthy experiments gone wrong or just diners who themselves are risk-averse to new tastes and combinations. My gamble paid off. My dining companion and I devoured a 5 course dinner that was near perfect and capped with a scrumptious vanilla panne cotta with the best strawberry sorbet I've ever tasted-disappeared as it hit the tongue. We started the meal sharing a serving of truffle risotto fritters and the generous portions were welcomed. Although fried, these fritters were as light as clouds and the interior was perfectly creamy and delightful. The beet salad with pistachios and ricotta beignets, and the gooseberry salad with fennel and toasted pepitas were next and neither disappointed. Again, both were very light on the palate and all of the ingredients were undeniably fresh. My companion had the poached Sturgeon with braised artichokes and cauliflower brandade-it was an artful plate. I enjoyed the milk and honey chicken with stinging nettles and glazed eggplant. The chicken was cooked perfectly and all of the other elements, while surprising on their own, worked in utter harmony with each other on the plate. There's really no adequate word to describe how good the truffle macaroni and cheese is-just eat it and take a nap of contentment after; but not because you are stuffed. Even this dish, so full of richness, was not heavy whatsoever. How they keep their food so light yet so satisfying is a real sleight of hand. The only disappointment of the evening, and it was minor, was the asparagus with hazelnut pesto and drunken goat cheese. The pesto was not apparent and the goat cheese did not add much to what were overcooked spears, which otherwise were well seasoned. All in all a spectacular meal with impeccable service, service as good as the best restaurants in the US and abroad. Whoever said the wait staff here are rude and inattentive must have had one to many Johnny Cucumber Mojitos! read more

Went w/ a party of 4 for restaurant week. None of us had previously dined @ Equinox. Food was mediocre at best and we will not be back. My first course was shrimp toast which was good. However, the bock choy served over it was so extremely salty it was inedible. Second (main) course was crispy red fish which the waiter recommended. The skin was no near crispy enough. For dessert, another diner and I got the pear barlett which was suppose to come with coconut ice cream or sorbet. It was missing from both of our plates. In its place (we assume) was whipped cream. Overall less than decent and will not try again given the number of great restaurants in DC. read more

My father and I celebrated his 76th birthday here this evening. Simply put, AMAZING. He had the market tasting menu, while I had the plant based. Both were out of this world delicious. The service was spot on, wonderfully friendly and the perfectly attentive. We even got to meet the infamous Chef Todd himself! I can't wait to come back! read more

Equinox on 19th - Best seat in the house! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Pretty classic and simple (almost oversimplified) all American restaurant. It can never be too oversimplified, and that in itself makes a great restaurant any time of the year. The girls & I went here for restaurant week. I had low expectations, because restaurant week tends to have mediocre choices.. but wow, I was duly impressed. Appetizers - Corn chowder, with lobster & roe. YUM! Just the perfect consistency....not too thick or thin. Entree - BBQ Salmon (of course with corn). This was also good. The salmon wasn't cooked in anything special, but the overall taste was delicate and light... which I could have lived with. The portion was mighty fine as well. Dessert - Chocolate truffle cake with lavender ice cream, sweet & heavenly. Overall, very enjoyable and casual to say the least. Not exactly the best meal I've ever had, but still delicious to the very last bite. (or so I try) and presentation never fails. Service was a bit slow, especially for a late dinner that we had. (9:30pm and we were still there at 11pm...). read more

So. Damn. Good. My girlie and I came in for lunch thinking they did restaurant week pricing during lunch as well...we were wrong. But we stayed. I had the apple ginger non-alcoholic beverage and decided on the salmon with cauliflower and greens. The atmosphere is a bit blah during the day though I can imagine it being romantic at night but who the hell cares when the food is so damn good?!?! Cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. Worth the swipe of your precious plastic for a bite. read more

Great meal. The restaurant felt updated as did the menu. Service was excellent and the chef and co-owner, Todd Gray presents a solid menu and doesn't innovate for the sake of innovation. I started with the Pan Seared Cape Cod Diver Scallops -- perfect sear, wonderful crust. My entree was the Grilled Angus Beef Striploin with Glazed 24 Hour Beef Shortrib. I would go back just for the side which was a celery root mousseline. I was at a table with too many other people to discuss other dishes but nobody was disappointed in the least bit. Equinox has a buzz. Very good food. Occasional celebs. The night we were there, Secretary of the U.N. Susan Rice was there as well so there were secret service buzzing about. I think Tony Blair was next door at the Oval Room. Bottom line: great restaurant to take people who want to see where the playahs hang or if you're treating yourself to something special. read more

Having read that Equinox has a tad bit of attitude, I was worried when I was nearly half an hour late for my reservation (thank you, red line). Side note: had I known there was a flat-rate parking garage just for Equinox things may have been different. However, the staff was friendly and welcoming and just seemed happy that we showed up. I have a thing for restaurants that bring you everything in a little container. Bring me little silver pots with little silver spoons and little silver tongs all day. I love this. They started us off little seasoned breads and tiny biscuit-y things with creamy butter in a little silver pot. Then they brought the amuse bouche which was like a creamy cold buttery gazpacho in a shot glass with little corn nibblety things on the side. All yummy and great to 'take the edge off' my hunger. I had the monkfish medallions with summer shrimp ragu. It had shelled edamame, black beans and little charred tomatoes in the sauce which was nice and light. I felt like one of my medallions was seared better than the other and I still had a pretty healthy portion left over when I was full. I tried someone else's swordfish topped with corn and crabmeat which was decent, I guess. For dessert I had the plum cobbler which was actually just some plum puree, an egg-shaped blob of vanilla ice cream and some crusty crumbs thrown on top. The flavors were all good but I wouldn't describe it as a cobbler at all. Equinox was a little too pricey for me to rush back any time soon. Maybe if I was in the neighborhood visiting the Obamas I'd stop by to try the truffled mac n'cheese... But for now, there are other less stuffy places in DC I'm waiting to try. read more

I went here for a business lunch and found the restaurant to be tastefully decorated, and the food delicious. They try to incorporate the fresh foods from farmers markets in the area, and the quality is amazing. As a starter, I had the fried green tomatoes which was served with some sort of bacon and mayo sauce. I've never had fried green tomatoes before, but this was delicious. For my main course I had the salmon which was served with corn confit. The salmon was cooked to perfection - very tender and moist. It was cooked with a barbeque sauce which was not too sweet, but spiced to the right taste. However, I must say the portions that did not have barbeque sauce was rather bland. The corn was very fresh and sweet. The service was great and quite attentive. They were very quick, which is important for a business lunch. I would definitely go back. read more

Wow! I've never spend $360 on dinner for two and got so little and a meal so average. My girlfriend and I had the dinner and wine pairing. I must compliment the chef on the way the wines matched up with the wine. My girlfriend wanted a salad, and they brought one out that didn't consist of the ingredients depicted on the menu. So we sent it back. What came back was a salad with the ingredients (toppings etc.) but no dressing. Great, $20 for a simple dinner salad that still sucks. I am not the kind of person who hurries through a dinner, but this was terribly slow. It took 30 minutes to get the first course, and then another hour for the second course...by the time we got through, we had been there for almost four hours! I almost fell asleep between courses. Let me also highlight that the courses were like tiny appetizers, and even if you were a slow eater, savoring ever morsel, you would be done in 15 minutes, tops. Now, I could almost excuse the slow service, messed up salad order, and small bite food quantities, but the real kicker was the bland, mediocre food. The pork was over cooked, dried out and flavorless. The gnocchi was better, but not any better than you'd get at the average Italian restaurant. The desert was four donut holes--Wow! All that, and five glasses of wine between my girlfriend and I, for the great price of $360...what a rip-off! read more

Definitely deserving of all five stars. This is a review for the vegan brunch. As a non-vegan, I was initially a bit skeptical that this meal would prove satisfying, but wow was I wrong. As a top-level note, the chef, his wife and their kids were in the restaurant helping out. This contributed to a homelike feeling that made me appreciate what the restaurant was doing. As for the food, I was very satisfied. They had a salad with mission figs that temporarily transported me to a recent meal at chez panisse. I commented when leaving chez panisse that "this is what every restaurant should aspire to, but for some reason chooses not to." I think this compliment is fittingly bestowed on Equinox. While it isn't of the same caliber as chez panisse, directionally it is the closest of any restaurant I have been lately. While chez panisse can be regarded as a temple, this place may be the road to the temple or maybe even a first step or two. Fresh ingredients. Crisp clean flavors. Friendly service. No animal torture. Bravo! read more

Consider this one a preview of a review. My girl took me there after learning of their reputation as makers of world-class macaroni and cheese. We arrived late on a Friday. The kitchen was supposed to have closed closed 20 minutes before we took our seats at the bar. After telling us that, the bartender darted into the kitchen and returned with menus. He said we could order anything we wanted and they'd be happy to prepare it for us...as long as it wasn't macaroni and cheese. They happened to have run out of it that night. We opted to sit for a drink and find some place else to eat. About halfway through our first drink, a host emerged from the kitchen with a plate of complimentary mushroom spring rolls--that were delicious--and a sincere apology that there was no more macaroni and cheese. That's some of the best service I've received. And, even if they run out of macaroni and cheese, I think we'll be back at that bar very soon. read more

My spouse and I came for our wedding anniversary, which fell during restaurant week. Service was outstanding! Our waiter included two complementary drinks and an anniversary card signed by owner Todd Gray. The food is delightful, delicately prepared, nicely presented and flavorful. Great options for vegans and omnivores. The porcini mushroom starter is a playful twist on pasta and the falafel salad is both refreshing with a hint of heat. The pork tenderloin and salmon are perfectly cooked and flavorful. Vegan desserts are amazing, especially the dark chocolate cheesecake. The salted caramel tart is also a hit! Highly recommended read more

I had lunch here and would rate the food very good and service better than average. I found that there was alittle to much cracked black pepper in my fish dish, however, the fish was fresh and the entree was well presented. I enjoyed their dessert, however, the should provide a smaller dessert spoon for desserts in small containers...They do it English style with a spoon big enough for soup! read more

I would like to preface this with the fact that the food was 5 stars! However an important component of a great restaurant is good service. We had Jeff as a server and will say if I had to go again I would ask for a different server. He was indifferent and arrogant and not engaging in the least. I was actually embarrassed as my wife wanted a second cocktail, but was never asked to see if she wanted another ........ She felt it was almost discrimination, but I don't know about that. Server left at least 2-3 cocktails at 14bucks a pop plus 2 desserts that I would have ordered for the table. I really made a big impact on the overall experience having a server who just didn't care for their guests. Hope mgt can fix this because the restaurant is way better than that! read more

My husband and I ate here before seeing a show at the Kennedy Center. It was a Tuesday night and I wanted to try something new. We ate at 6:30 and the place was DESERTED. It was a bit early for dinner but the restaurant and bar were literally empty it was a bit awkward. We were running a bit late for the show so we had to skip appetizers. I ordered the venison. The sauce was delicious, but the meat was a bit chewy. I know it was game, but it was still more than the usual. My hubby ordered the steak medallions wrapped in prosciutto (I think thats what it was). He liked it, but again, it was underwhelming. We ordered the cauliflower and the brussel sprouts...the menu described them as totally different but they pretty much tasted exactly the same. We didn't eat much of them. For dessert my husband had the deconstructed s'mores plate which he loved, and I ordered the vegan dessert...which to be honest I did not like at all. It was described as a chocolate cake but it tasted more like nuts with a hint of chocolate, with a very funky texture... not a fan. I am allergic to eggs, so seeing a vegan dessert was awesome, but I was disappointed. Our experience was nice, the meal was just underwhelming. I want to give it another try. read more

A little secret here is that their happy hour is pretty awesome. They call it the Commuter Hour. Reasonably priced drinks and snacks. Haven't had a dinner here but once I pay off more of my student debt I would love to contribute more to the restaurant industry and the economy as a whole. The bar is very small but it is nice to get a seat and chat with the barman. Also fun fact, Barack Obama took his wife Michelle here for a date once for her birthday. Isn't that sweet? Notice all the local food/organic/tons of veggies on the menu? That is not a coincidence. read more

Went there for an event of vegetarian cuisine. It was very nice and comfortable. The tastings were to demonstrate the value in creating dishes which were made from the scrapes of frequently used ingredients presented by several guest Chefs. read more

I went for lunch yesterday with a coworker and it was quite delicious. The entrance is unassuming, the side door of an office building. We were seated almost immediately and the hostess was very kind. We were waited upon very quickly, which is key for lunch time dining. The cornbread and popover was so good! I ordered the clear springs trout and truffle oil mac and cheese. My colleague had the chicken salad with brussels sprouts. The meal was superb. I will definitely come back for dinner. read more

Vegan food was excellent. The brunch option and selection is really good. Slightly pricey but no regrets. It is the much needed healthier break from the classic brunch options read more