Still sitting at the table, great service, great food, see notes on pictures for critiques. We ate all vegetarian. Got wine, finished with four moscatos and some Jelly's with a candle. read more

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Definitely worth it! Went there for the pre-fixed vegan brunch and every dish was worth it. All the food was fresh and flavorful and great portion size. You can even ask for seconds! The staff were so friendly and attentive. Will be coming back! read more

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I ate brunch here this past Sunday and it was delicious! The brunch was buffet style which was different than what I had anticipated but it was really good. Everything was vegan and I was impressed. The apple filled pancakes was a hit. The muffin breakfast sandwich with its cashew cheese and warm english muffin. I also had their cranberry toast with a pear spread. I also like that the buffet provided salads along with the food so that it wasn't so heavy on the body. I also highly recommend the rosemary apple cider, it was so good! In addition to the good food, the atmosphere was welcoming. Everything was clean and tidy from the table presentation to the bathroom. I definitely will be coming back to this place read more

I absolutely love the food here, even when it's to go. I am sure it's hard for a chef-driven gourmet restaurant to switch to all pickup orders, but Equinox has done an amazing job reaching out and offering special dinners for delivery and to go as well. I actually didn't try their vegan brunch until after the lockdown, so at least something good has come out of not being able to go out. Sure it wasn't a lot of food, but it was Amazing in quality and flavor. The just egg scramble was top notch, like something I'd have in an exclusive French bistro. Hubby and I loved sharing the little cakes and cinnamon roll (which I could have eaten five of honestly, it was that good). When you want to treat yourself, this is it folks. Love love read more

Equinox on 19th - Vegan brunch tasting menu to go - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Underwhelming service. I had my birthday here last month. My husband organized the event months prior and the restaurant's point of contact (manager?) was helpful leading up to the event. When we arrived, we were greeted by the nice manager who helped in organizing. She lead us to our table. That was the first and last time we saw her. We had the private balcony since we were a party of 20. Table was set up with the special birthday menu printed for each seat. That was the only the service worth mentioning. After the food was served, NEITHER of the two servers nor the manager came to ask how the food was. This was bizarre as most servers would at least ask especially for a birthday party. Not this time. We had to ask few more bread while waiting since they only served few slices for our large party. Their underwhelming service is disappointing for this upscale restaurant. We've been going here for years for their regular dinner and brunch and their service has always been excellent until for this special occasion. Food was excellent though as expected. I hope they would improve their service including retraining their servers especially the manager on duty. read more

Went to this restaurant on a Saturday night to celebrate a special event (20 year anniversary) with our good friends. Was hoping for an amazing evening, but left feeling it was just "ok". For $464 (before tip) for 4 people, I was expecting to be blown away by both the food and service. Let's start with the service. We were served by someone who advised us that he's been at the restaurant for 16 years, which was obvious by his lack of attention to detail. We felt rushed during the dinner even though we were there for a 6PM reservation and left by 8PM. The restaurant was not full and there was nobody waiting when we were departing the restaurant. A little more attention to the customers would make a huge difference. We ordered two appetizers before our main course. The truffled risotto fritters were absolutely delicious. We were advised by our waiter for avoid the gougeres because they were "arid", so we ordered the schwarma spiced heirloom baby carrots. Needless to say, the best part of the carrot dish was the golden beets. The focus of that dish should have been the golden beets highlighted with some carrots! Onto the food. We were told that the special was "egg yolk fettuccine with Chanterelle mushrooms, brussel sprout leaves and black truffles". When the order arrived, it was clear that they mushrooms were not Chanterelle and the brussel sprouts were non-existent. They had actually substituted carrots for brussel sprouts, for which the waiter apologized. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but for a $55 entree you would expect to get Chanterelle mushrooms and brussel sprout leaves. They were however very generous with the black truffles (see photo). Upon the conclusion of our entree we ordered 4 different desserts. We were not aware that the black forest cake was vegan. Of all the desserts we enjoyed, the black forest cake was absolutely the worst and nobody at the table enjoyed it. Please do yourself a favor and avoid this dessert. Order the "fig newton" which is also "plant based" and was one of our top rated desserts. Not to take away from the overall experience, there were some good moments of the night. The "complimentary" starter of guacamole on a potato chip was delicious. The bread with tapenade was outstanding. We also ordered a bottle of Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon which was very good. Although the bottle retails for $39 and we paid $100, we aren't complaining about paying a premium for wine. Overall, the meal and service was mediocre. For a $500 meal we were expecting a bit more from both the quality of the food and the service provided by the wait staff. Glad we went, but we certainly won't be returning. read more

Equinox on 19th - Egg yolk fettuccine - was told this came with brussel sprout leaves, but it was delivered with carrots. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My sister actually picked this restaurant-- she has Chef Gray's cookbook and loves it. We went for lunch, opting to blow off a day of work to check it out (and hopefully avoid some of DC's traffic). We didn't anticipate that the garage next door would be full (probably since everyone was at work), but we were able to find street parking without a problem. We were greeted by two young women, who took our coats and seated us. The gentleman who waited on us was friendly and pleasant, and he wasn't at all pushy when we wanted to space things out a bit more than the regular lunch crowd probably does. It is worth noting that they offer lunchtime cocktails that are alcohol free (but can be made with spirits), which I thought was a nice touch if you're looking for something a little more than soda or water. We started with the Gruyere Gourgères, which were light, eggy, and absolutely delicious. They were crisp on the outside, but soft and cheesy on the inside. There were 6 to the order, plenty to share for our party of four. They also had a special of chicken liver mousse, topped with a cranberry gelée, served with a house-made mustard, pickled vegetables (cauliflower and gherkins) and toast points. It was divine. The cranberry was a great contrast to the mousse, and the mustard pulled it together. For lunch, we ordered Michael Berman's Favorite Vegetable Arrangement, Kale Caesar Salad with New Frontier Bison Hanger Steak, Hand Pulled Mozzarella with Heirloom Radish Salad, and the Grilled Mushroom Salad with Crispy Rainbow Trout. Everyone really enjoyed their lunch. The vegetable arrangement included four little portions of some really great dishes-- endives with beets, spinach with crispy heirloom potatoes, ratatouille, and sweet potato confit. The grilled mushroom salad had two pieces of rainbow trout on the bottom, topped with a slightly warm salad with sautéed mushrooms, orange supremes, golden raisins, spinach, onions, and walnuts. I am not sure of the dressing, to be honest, but it was perfectly dressed with some sort of vinaigrette. The kale caesar salad was topped with shredded hard boiled egg, watermelon radishes, onion, and bison medallions, which were perfectly cooked. The mozzarella salad was also wonderful, with plenty of mozzarella, onions (which weren't strong!) and radishes. Since we were playing hooky, we also decided to sample some desserts. We sampled the cookie selection, which included an apricot linzer, chocolate fudge, white chocolate peppermint bark, and a soft gingersnap. The cookies were a great way to end the meal on a sweet note. We also tried the "Hot Chocolate," which is spicy chocolate panna cotta, candied hazelnuts, fresh whipped cream, and cinnamon marshmallows. It was also outstanding. Overally, this was a great meal, complimented by great service and a great atmosphere. We will definitely be back! read more

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Came here for restaurant week and was disappointed. Food: I got the egg yolk pasta, which was pretty good, the pork tenderloin, and dark chocolate caramel tart. The pork was very undercooked, which should never be the case, and when I asked them about it, they brought out another one which tasted much worse in comparison-- it was less creamy and more buttery, and had less amount. This restaurant seems to be inconsistent and not very good, and I would rather eat somewhere else for that price. The dark chocolate caramel tart was too sweet and heavy for my taste but chocolate and caramel lovers would enjoy it. If you get the opportunity, get the beef short rib! It was definitely the best thing we tried. Service: Our waiter was kind, but was forgetful (he forgot to bring out our bread) and it was difficult to call him over because he never came around or looked in our direction. Probably would not come back as there are many other options in the area for a similar price. read more

First time I've been to this restaurant was a couple weeks ago and it was my first vegan brunch buffet which I was told they have every Sunday. I thought that was really cool as I have some family members that are vegan and they chose this place for a birthday. They restaurant was very accommodating for our size party and we arrived way early and they told us we could sit at the bar if we wanted untill the rest of the party came. The staff were all really very friendly and had smiles on their faces. Their mimosa option for the table came with champagne and your choice of juice to mix with it (OJ, pomegranate). At one point I had ordered pomegranate juice for my mimosa and the server misunderstood and brought it in a regular drinking glass and not the glass that you would normally use for your champagne. When he brought the incorrect item I clarified what I meant and it wasn't an issue he brought the correct item and I wasn't charged for anything else. The only recommendation I would give is possible having two sets of food trays for the popular items like the 'just eggs' and the Asian noodles. These were almost always gone every time we had gone up for more. Otherwise great experience! read more

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

Recomiendo este lugar la comida está muy bien El lugar es agradable buena atención de parte del personal read more

I think this is still the only vegan brunch in the city and it is downright delectable. I've been coming here about once a year for at least 4 or 5 years now. They have a variety of stations and all of them are well done; the tofu scramble, pancakes, pastries, soup, etc etc. If you are like me, make sure you wear pants with a little give. :) The chef usually comes out and offers a special sample of something he whipped up that day - always makes ya feel special. Dinner dishes I've had have always been excellent as well. I only wish this place weren't so expensive so I could come here more often! read more

As often as we can, my boyfriend and I hit Equinox for their delicious vegan brunch. Living a vegan lifestyle can be challenging when it comes to brunching so this spot is perfect. I don't even like telling people about it! The food is served buffet style, but "classy" buffet style: cute serving trays, all the food is hot, and the little labels are adorable! We were there last Sunday and that spread was one of the best we've had! The tofu scramble is soooo good! One of my favorite reoccurring items is the tempura cauliflower . As if things couldn't get better, they even offer vegan dessert! Customer service is spectacular and Chef Todd has a tendency to drop off little samples at your table which is always nice. Love complimentary food! On our list of vegan spots that we frequent, Equinox (on Sunday) is at the top of the list! read more

Equinox on 19th - Tempura cauliflower, tofu scramble, toast with mango chutney, coconut squash soup, beet salad, and mango tea! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

servings size was good and the beet fusili pasta and desserts were ok and tasty. There was very less beets and mostly pasta though. The chocolate dessert with sorbet had too much chocolate , like 90 percent and sorbet was less. one of us was given no sorbet at all ! Person who was attending to us as waiter insisted all people at the table had to choose either the three course or five course, not practical if in a group where one was a good eater and other preferred a lighter meal. This was never mentioned at time of booking. So we opted without arguing for a smaller course. Restaurent had not mentioned panna cotta as a vegan dish in printed menu and he luckily pointed out this after we ordered it so we changed order to another dessert that was made with diary based cream. But the guy brought the panna cotta and argued we ordered it which i had to firmly point out was wrong . If service was improved will consider to give them 4 star. read more

Unimpressed! I visited during DC Summer Restaurant week 2019 and was underwhelmed. I had the maple chili glazed rappahannock Japanese egg plant, bbq Norwegian salmon filet and lemon coconut cake. The eggplant reminded me of takeout... think pad Thai with egg plant on top. The salmon was something a guy would make in a college dorm. It was grilled salmon with bbq sauce on it. The lemon coconut cake was basically a lemon pound cake. I love trying new restaurants during restaurant week but I can't say I'll be going back to Equinox. Perhaps the regular menu is better but I'm not interested in finding Out. They do offer a wide variety of plant based meals. Street and garage parking available, cash and cards accepted, classier atmosphere but children are welcome, I would suggest business casual attire and they can fit larger groups. read more

Had a wonderful meal here the first day my partner and I arrived to DC for the 4th of July Holiday. I ordered the halibut and a few other appetizers, all were exquisite. As we were leaving the chef came out to our table to personally ask how our meal was and I was able to tell him how satisfied we were. The next day, they reached out to me on Instagram and followed up on the experience. WOW. Talk about going the extra mile. Top to bottom a top notch establishment, and definitely a return destination when we are back in town. Cheers guys read more

Equinox on 19th - This blew me away. Fantastic! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was definitely surprised stumbling across this restaurant after finding out that it had been open for over 10 years! Rarely do you see a mostly plant- based white tablecloth restaurant in the area. With this, I was happy to bring my plant-based LA friend here. There are so many options for all dietary restrictions, even when it comes to dessert. You can expect to pay a pretty penny for most dishes, but you definitely get enough to keep you full, unlike some of the other pricey spots. Per usual, I went with the salmon dish, and enjoyed the tenderness of the piece of fish, on top of the bed of lentils and carrots, with a slight squash sauce to top of off. The fish came prepared with skin on top, perfect for those that love a crispy salmon skin. If not, it easy came apart without any issues. With our reservation, we were seated right away on a prime time (7pm) on Sunday evening. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. The tables, bathrooms, and dining area were all well kept and clean! Definitely recommend this as your next plant-based stop. Can't wait to try the brunch next! read more

I planned my friends birthday with Equinox and Chelsea was so helpful with setting up a private room for us! Gustavo took amazing care of us and the wine pairing and chef's tasting was really great (if you're debating between plant based and market options, go plant based based! It's their specialty and they nailed it). Thank you for a great evening!!! read more

I came to Equinox for restaurant week and hope to go back sometime soon, specifically for the vegan brunch! I'm not vegan but have a close friend who is and we definitely want to try it - plus a lot of their items are vegan already and you don't even realize it. Made a reservation for 8:30, arrived a bit early and got a drink at the bar. The bartender was very nice, and Todd Gray (the head chef) even came out for a bit and chatted with a few people sitting at the bar. The service here was great and super friendly. For restaurant week, I got the glazed Japanese eggplant, duck, and toffee pudding. The eggplant came with a soba salad with a creamy peanut sauce; the peanut flavor was strong so if you don't like that don't get it but I love peanut noodles. The duck came with risotto and what I think was this squash sauce underneath. All together it tasted really, really good. The toffee pudding was VERY sweet but came out still hot and tasted amazing with the ice cream. My bf got the gumbo, hanger steak, and bundt cake. Everything was good - the gumbo was very delicious!! Overall, the dinner was delicious and the portion sizes were decent. We also got a cranberry(?) bread with an olive spread that was the perfect combo of salty and sweet. read more

Vegetarians, rejoice! If you've been looking for something upscale but veggie friendly, you've found your place. I stopped by Equinox for restaurant week and was able to sample some of their offerings at restaurant week prices. There were plenty of veggie friendly items for our group's vegetarian, but also some good meat based options as well. Our carnivores loved the steak, while our vegetarian loved the polenta starter and the cauliflower tempura (though the cauliflower definitely veers more on the sweet and heavily battered side.) I had the salmon, which was very good, but nothing I hadn't had before. The cookies and milk, although simple sounding, are a MUST to end your meal. Delicious I think for restaurant week this was a good deal. I don't know if I would have been so excited had I been paying full price. Everything was delicious, but I thought the RW was fair for what we got. I left more intrigued about their vegan brunch than anything, so I might have to come back for that to give it a try. read more

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

Fabulous haute American cuisine with each and every one of us represented by their haute and hearty cuisine. Impeccable service and great Bar/wine list. Pique appetites with vegan brunch, no waste dinners, and the magnificent first night Seder!!! What a way to bring in the new spring!!! read more

Read about the restaurant online so decided to check it out while visiting DC. We opted for the 4 course tasting menu. Our waiter, who seemed very nervous, did not explain that you could have opted for two courses from one group and then skip another group. Would have been nice to know. We heard another waiter explain this to a group after we ordered. We selected an appetizer, pasta, entree and dessert. The chef sent out a bruschetta to start which was very good. I did the quail as an appetizer, it was ok. The pasta course was by far our favorite. Highly recommend. For dessert I did the cookies and milk, amazing! The milk has maple syrup and almond milk. read more

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Ab-so-lute-ly de-light-ful. Everything about this meal was superb from the very moment I walked in the door to meet Katie F (since her original dinner date was a lame-o and flaked out at the last minute - his loss, my luck) to the moment we left. A moment of amusing confusion ensued when I waved to Katie and verbally greeted Catie (who happened to be hostessing that evening, apparently) and both thought I was speaking toward them before I realized they had the same name. Whee! We were fortunate to be seated at one of the booths, which was comfy for a party of two. You -might- be able to squeeze a party of four into one if you were friendly, but I wouldn't recommend it. It was nice to be able to see most of the action happening in the main dining area, while still being somewhat sheltered from the hubbub. And Chef Todd's cuisine? I can't believe I waited so long to finally try it. I knew it was good stuff from when I attended cider happy hours back in 2007, but a sit-down meal is so much more satisfying! I thoroughly appreciated the chef's use of local, seasonal ingredients, and letting the quality of the flavors stand on their own with simple, elegant, yet superb preparations. Like Katie F, I also stuck to the Restaurant Week menu (although they do offer their regular a la carte menu, it appears - great to have the option!) and started off with the endive and lettuce salad. I was super surprised at the quantity and quality of the dish when it came out! Outside of endives, radicchio, and candied walnuts, I can't recall all the details of what was in it, but the freshness stood out in every crisp, crunchy bite. Yes, the other starter options (the sweet potato soup or the shrimp cake) might sound more exciting, but I was thoroughly pleased with my salad. I -definitely- wasn't hungry by the time I consumed the large plate! In between our starter and main course, we were offered a complimentary sampling of foie gras served over some kind of berries, with crostini and a drizzle of the most delicious balsamic vinegar I've ever had. I've only had foie perhaps two or three times before, so I have little basis to compare this against other than to say that its presentation and pairing with the sweet, tart cooked berries was amazing. But even that was less interesting to me relative to the delicious balsamic dot on my plate. No wonder they refer to it as "black gold" in Italy. My Kirkland's crap at home is going out with the trash! And on to my main - the walu filet with a citrus sauce served over a bed of marscapone grits. I can't admit to ever having been a fan of grits, but these were rich and cheesy, without being outright heavy. I appreciate that the flavors were (and I hate using this word, but...) subtle. This is not a heavy-handed citrus-y ceviche-like thing. It was a complicated mix of flavors and textures, with the blood orange wedge, the flakiness of the tender fish, to the creaminess of the avocado chunks, to the richness of the underlying grits. I'm completely unclear how I managed to finish the dish, considering I was full halfway through. I appreciate generous portions like this. My waist doesn't. And rounding out our dessert course, I opted for the chocolate chip cookie nibbles. As with everything else here, this dish was simple and spare, but elegant and delicious. Most folks know I adore chocolate chip cookies. These are spot on. -Just- crisped on the outside, moist and nearly fluffy on the inside, with still-gooey chocolate chips. Again, a very generous plating served up with a shooter of spiced hot chocolate that easily rivals the Valrhona concoction at Tangysweet. Kudos to our server, Laila, for taking great care of us and ensuring we had everything we could possibly need. We did a lot of talking during the meal, and I ate very slowly to 1) savor each bite and 2) give myself some time to digest, which probably made the timing with bringing our dishes extra challenging, but somehow they managed it perfectly. Every time we were done with one thing, empty plates were automagically whisked away and the next course was rapidly en route. Chef Todd even came out just prior to our mains being delivered to say hi and to make sure everything was going well (which, of course, it was). I can't say enough glowing things about Equinox, and I'm excited to make my way back here sooner than later, now that I fully realize how stellar it is. Restaurant Week or not, find a way to make it here. It's no mistake that this was the first fine dining establishment that the First Family visited upon moving into the White House. read more

Impressing San Francisco food snobs in Washington, D.C. is a daunting task. Enter Equinox. I came here this evening to sample cider-based cocktails with my platonic life partner in crime. We ordered the Pumpkin Cobbler (cinnamon-infused rum, Applejack, hot cider and pumpkin spice liqueur ) and the Apple Pillar (Applejack, fresh cider, lemon and orange juices and maple syrup) and in short order the drinks arrived with tasty gratis appetizers like house made fingerling potato chips with a tangy sour cream dip and butternut squash soup shots. As he sipped his drink and nibbled, my platonic life partner in crime smiled. Though he'd lived in DC before, I'd managed to show him a DC he'd never met. And the spiced cider used in all five of the special hard cider cocktails comes from an 1800's era recipe the bartender dug up. What better to put you in a fine, wintry mood? read more

First of all, I just have to laugh at some things. "Buttercup and Lolarosa Salad (V)- Grilled Walla Walla Onions, Forbidden Apple, Red Wine Hazelnut Vinaigrette * 12" Forbidden apple? Like are we talking the apple that Snow White ate? Am I , as a regular person suppose to know this apple type? I mean... I feel I'm about as versed as the next guy on apples... I could name 5 apples off the top of my head ( pretty lady, granny smith, gala, golden delicious.... crab... ) Hahaha, that fifth one was a stretch. But, am I suppose to know what a Forbidden Apple is? Or a Walla Walla onion? I hate unnecessarily complicated menus. That being said, having looked at the rest of the men, it wasn't toooooo bad. I don't know what "Val D' Aosta Style Grits," are, but they came under my short rib, and I assure you, they're delicious. 3/4s of my table ordered the veloute, not knowing that it was a soup. Thankfully, it was pretty good. I feel like it could have used a little acid, but that's just me. The Truffled Risotto Fritters were delicious. The remoulade that was served with them was spot on. And they were much lighter and more flavorful than other arancini that I've come across. The short rib was super fork tender. Brussel sprouts were well cooked. I could have gone with a little more flavor on this dish. A little bit more of a punchy sauce would have been nice. The pumpkin pot de creme was not my favorite either. I think the whole table agreed on this one as we shared this small jar between 4 people and didn't finish it. I don't think the filling was sweet enough and honestly calling it a ganache was a stretch. That's me being very critical. Here's that whole soup boiled down- Risotto balls: I'd order again Veloute: I could do without Short Rib: Was good, It'd be on my short list. (no pun intended) Tagliatelle: Absolutely delicious -reminds me of my own homemade sauce. Pumpkin Pot de creme: Definitely not. ( and that's saying a lot cause I love pumpkin flavored things. One thing I was a little disappointed in was that I read Chef Todd Gray had put out a whole Jewish Cook Book. Why no jewish dishes? read more

Simply sublime. I regret that last Friday (Feb. 6) marked the premature conclusion of Equinox's chocolate-themed happy hours. The seasonal happy hour was originally scheduled to run on Fridays from December 19, 2008, until March 20, 2009. Surprisingly, chocolate was not a popular theme. I have a great deal of respect for Chef Todd Gray in his humility. Looking back, Chef Gray said that people preferred chocolate at the end of their meals rather than at the beginning. As I will explain in a subsequent review, this lesson is particularly true in the case of chocolate cocktails. But I have it on good authority that Equinox will probably introduce its spring-themed happy hour shortly after Valentine's Day weekend. Chef Gray tossed around the possibility of using dates or figs but nothing is certain yet. For those of you who missed this past season, Equinox's Chocolate Happy Hours spotlighted "rich, creamy chocolate cocktails and decadent chocolate-based snacks."[3] $10 cocktails are a bargain when you include the complimentary snacks. Served alongside your cocktails were three dishes: warm fry bread with butternut squash puree and coco nibs; a Camalier Farms Angus beef meatball with chocolate red wine sauce over creamy polenta; and a bittersweet chocolate "popsicle". Individually, these appetizers would likely range from $6 to $9 a la carte. The warm fry bread was not the Native American fried dough as its name suggested. Instead, it was a grilled crostini, which lent a faint smoky overture, smothered with a rich butter. The crisp and crunchy crostini was the perfect foil to the velvety, smooth puree. The layers of flavors and textures that stacked on top of each other was absolutely remarkable; most notably, the intensely flavorful, nut-like accents from the coco nibs. Sadly, I was less impressed with the Angus beef meatball. The meatball itself was well done, dry, and flavorless. The polenta was too much like a porridge with large chunks of raw grits. On the other hand, I took a great interest in the chocolate red wine sauce. The chocolate essence was easily missed but, once identified, you started to notice a fragrant chocolate perfume coupled with hints of the sauce's earthy, bittersweet flavor. I suspect that this dish was hastily assembled at the last minute but, then again, I doubted they expected anyone to ask about the Chocolate Happy Hour. Lastly, the bittersweet chocolate "popsicle" was just an unexpected surprise. Encapsulated within a thick chocolate shell was the secret of Tasmanian peppercorn ice cream. The flavor was unique with a mild peppery spice and a fleeting fruity aftertaste. Add an extra coating of bittersweet chocolate, a dusting of confectioner's sugar and you have the perfect ending. If you want the Equinox experience at an affordable price, then come for its seasonal happy hours. The $10 cocktail and complimentary snacks is a far superior bargain than the 3-course Restaurant Week meal. Post Script: Please note that this review was not influenced in anyway by having a brief conversation with Chef Todd Gray. It was merely a privilege and an honor that he personally served and introduced the dishes to me. read more

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I had an AWFUL experience here. Honestly I was super disappointed, the chef is a James Beard Award Nominee, and people say that it's a great restaurant but I was not pleased. First off, the waiter was miserable, he talked at a GLACIAL pace, which is a big pet peeve of mine, and kept suggesting things after I said no. When I asked him how dark the rosé wine was (because I'm allergic to red) he said "it's rosé"... which was not helpful... The food was good but we ordered two drinks and three appetizers and the bill was over 100 dollars. Apparently they charged us for like 3 bottles of water, which is ridiculous. This is not Europe, please do not give me bottled water unless I specifically ask for it. I am willing to pay a lot of money for a good meal, but drinks and a few appetizers for 120 is excessive. Plus I feel like they tricked me into it, which I really hate. I really wanted to like this place, they had so many vegetarian options and the food was good, but the service was so awful that it ruined the entire experience. read more

Now that I am socially and emotionally over age six, Christmas itself is no big whoop anymore. I'm not jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn racing to the Christmas tree to see what "Santa" left me. I haven't been to church on Christmas day since 2005. I haven't decorated my place since 2008. Basically, I get this holiday depression thing from Halloween thru MLK weekend. The one thing I do look forward to is Christmas Eve dinner with Mara G. This is the second year in a row she's chosen the restaurant. (*great job Mara!*) Christmas Eve dinner at Equinox is as good as it gets. Here's what I had: Truffle Risotto Fritters with herbed creme fraiche $10 || Montauk Scallops, Beech Mushrooms, Ginger Carrot Mousseline, Wilted Kale, $32 || Bouche de Noel $12 The flavors, texture, and quantity of each dish were perfect. The dining room was decked out in full holiday regalia. The service was wonderful. And we even got to say hello to Chef Todd Gray again. Christmas Eve dinner at Equinox with Mara G. This one bright spot in my holiday season is as good as it gets. read more

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Looked pretty promising - up upscale restaurant with significant vegan and omni options, but also not pretentious. At first, the menu is a bit confusing (it doesn't say vegan anywhere), but our waiter Moses was very helpful and being a 49ers fan warmed up even more when learning about us being from the San Francisco Bay Area. Anyway, the main items are available in appetizer or entree sizes, or more excitingly, in a 3, 5 or, for the really ambitious, a 7 course, and with or without paired wine. I settled on the 3 course with the rice (fantastic), spaghetti (OK) and chocolate (excellent, but tiny) along with a passable pale age. Definitely pricey at $50 for the 3 courses, but easily worth it for the picky vegan diner like myself: or indeed anyone who'd like to sample a range of food. This is the one spot in DC you need to go. read more

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I visited Equinox (the restaurant, not the gym, haha) with a friend for happy hour / light dinner recently. It's located conveniently near Farragut Square, right around the corner from the Farragut West metro station. It was surprisingly empty on the night that we visited, but that could be due to the fact that it was raining. My friend and I both ordered riesling wine (2 glasses each, actually, since we enjoyed it so much). The table bread was excellent and we got a complimentary ahi tuna side to taste from the chef! Very nice! We ordered the following: -Truffled Risotto Fritters with Garlic-Olive Creme Fraiche. We shared this plate and really enjoyed it. Decent portion and that cream was excellent! -Pan Roasted Rockfish with Bouillabaisse Jus (with butternut Squash Polenta, Crispy Potatoes, Savoy Spinach). I ordered a half portion for this dish and loved it! Very decent size for a half portion and the flavors were great. -Rosemary Crusted New Frontier Bison Hanger Steak (with chickpea Tomato Cassoulet, Toscano Kale, Kalamata Olive Jus). My friend ordered the half portion and also enjoyed it. Chef Todd Gray's Equinox is definitely worth a try! Not my favorite restaurant in DC, but solid. read more

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Without a doubt it was one of the best meals that we have had in month/s. Not only was the food impeccable but the service was attentive but not overbearing. We stayed for three courses and it turned into a fabulous four-hour evening. Crispy Skin Maryland Rockfish was a nice touch. It's so nice to find a gem! Chocolate Hazelnut Dacquoise was AMAZING . read more

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

The food was amazing. Very pleasant ambiance and the staff was extremely courteous. If you are looking for a place to drop $100 per person to eat, this is a good one. read more

I visited this restaurant for a friend's birthday dinner. This was my first experience with Equinox but most of my friends have been and raved about the food. The atmosphere is very welcoming and modern. The staff are exceptional and absolutely helpful/friendly. At one point even the chef came out because one of our guests was raw vegan gluten free and he prepared a special salad for her. As for my personal experience with the food: I ordered the Saffron Risotto along with a side of the braised brussel sprouts. Which totals to about $45 for the pair. The food was luke warm and lacking flavor all around. I was so disappointed with that price tag, the food should be mind blowing. Some of the guests ordered seafood dishes and complained that they were overcooked/chewy. I would maybe try this restaurant again for a special occasion but with the prices, I'd rather go to Great Sage or something comparable. read more

Cyndy's Bottom Line: Service is uneven, and spotty. High price point given the quality of service and food. We were excited to return to Equinox for outdoor seating and a full interesting menu. We arrived and I decided that I could not brave the D.C. humidity so we sat inside near the window with A/C. I started with a great glass of prosecco, nice and bubbly! Hubby had a well made Manhattan on the rocks. After perusing the menu and the selection of entrees we decided to go with the tasting menu. For the tasting menu everyone on the table needs to order it. Instead of pairing the wines to the dishes we ordered a bottle of the Domaine Bernard Chablis. This is what we ate: 1. Amuse-bouche of white fish salad. A nice bite of saltiness and smokiness of white fish. 1. Carolina Tomato and Sweet Red Pepper Gazpacho - Northern Neck Asparagus, Jumbo Lump Crab Meat, Sun Gold Cherry Tomatoes. The gazpacho arrived in two parts. The soup bowl contained a tomato, asparagus and a few pieces of crab meat then the waiter poured in the gazpacho which was of a bright red orange color and the consistency of red pasta sauce. The gazpacho was refreshing but lacked depth of flavor. There was no soul to this soup. There is a skill level required eating soup out of this tiny bowl. 2. Thyme Roasted Southern Wahoo Filet - Cherry Tomatoes Escabeche, Crispy Garlic Custard, Parsley Puree. The wahoo was cooked to perfection. The crispy custard was an interesting surprise. It was perfectly fried and golden brown on the outside. The parsley purée complimented the dish. The seasoned vegetable was good but a tad over salted. 3. Eggplant Agnolotti with Fennel Sausage Bolognese - Black Olive Butter, Heirloom Carrots, Parmesan Reggiano. The agnolotti was delicious. The pasta so delicate. The bolognese so flavorful and carried the agnolotti well with every bite. Again the tiny bowl that it is served in requires some skill with your utensil. Since I'm a professional at eating I used a piece of bread to get all the goodness of bolognese out of the bowl. 4. Trio of Roasted Pennsylvania Rabbit - Farro Risotto, Forest Mushrooms, Fava Beans. No tiny bowl for the rabbit. It is served on a plate. The rabbit was prepared well and the risotto was tasty. 5. Dark Chocolate Torte - Milk Chocolate Orange Cremeux, Orange Caramel Sauce and chocolate gelato. Enjoyed the chocolate gelato! The rest of the torte was ok. The orange cremeux over powered the milk chocolate. 6. We were lucky that they were able to sub the dessert. Hubby had raspberry sorbet. The service was uneven and it took awhile to get our food delivered. There must have been several hiccups in the kitchen. We were asked whether we received our food. Really. It was 2.5 hrs later and it was good that we didn't need to be anywhere after dinner. We will not be returning because there are too many restaurant options in this city. Aloha oe! read more

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Had an AMAZING birthday dinner here everything was so delicious. Loved all the vegan options. The favorites were the hawaiian hearts of palm, eggplant ratitoui, and the silky mushroom pasta dish. It was marked plant based but tasted so meaty! The orange salad was incredible. The oranges were smoky and every dish had excellent balance of flavors. Overall great menu, there is something for everyone here! PS THE ALMOND FIG DESSERT WAS THE BEST THING ANY OF US HAVE EVER TASTED. 100% consensus that I ordered the best dessert. read more

EXCELLENT!!! My husband and I came during DC restaurant week and had the 5 course meal!! We sat in the green room with Live plants (loved that detail) it was Soooooooo Delicious!! I had the Cherry Clafoutis for desert.... I went to Heaven!!! Our server Gustavo was Awesome, he explained all of our meals and was super friendly and attentive!! Just great service!!! It was an amazing date night!!! I am so happy!! We will definitely be back!! Thank you so much!! read more

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

I came here on a whim with my partner before a comedy show and had an absolutely lovely experience. The meal started with bread served with an olive based spread which was a delicious entry to the meal. For appetizers, my partnered ordered the octopus and I ordered the hearts of palm cakes. We both loved our apps. The hearts of palm cakes were served in a way that created a very pleasant medley of sweet and savory flavors. For entrees my partner had the duck and I ordered the terryaki glazed mushrooms. Our server did a lovely job presenting the dishes and they were both cooked to perfection with lots of flavor. My partner especially loved the way the duck was cooked with just enough fat. I really appeciate that this restaurant has a variety of options for vegan/plant-based eaters and carnivores alike. I'm looking forward to coming back for brunch. read more

Oh boy what a treat. Well worth the spend. Tasty noodles in the celery thing. Artichoke hearts were a lot and filling. Thanks. Wow. read more

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Vegan brunch on Sunday Decent tomato soup. Great tofu taco--but, honestly, it was a taco and I've made better at home. I appreciate that Chef made it, but it didn't blow me away. Sweet fried cauliflower was really good. Overall, most food was vegan junk food and didn't include even 1 drink. Went with out-of-town parents and we wouldn't go back. The quality didn't sync with the cost, unfortunately, since I wanted to love it. read more

Equinox was probably closer to 3.5 stars, but I just had a few issues that have been bugging me. My gf and I ordered the 7 course tasting meal and it took 2 1/2 hours to finish our meal. Unfortunately, the food came out very, very slowly. We are talking at least 15 minutes between each course. I understand and completely agree with letting us eat and then clearing our plates/silverware after each course, but by the time our food came out, it was bordering on cold. The food was definitely good, but the fish seemed to be a bit dry. We definitely enjoyed the cocktails and the ambiance (we sat on the patio), but I just can't see myself returning and spending over $200 for the slow service and cold food again. Chef Todd Gray was very sweet in giving my gf a birthday card and birthday dessert, but I think it may have just been too little to bring us back. read more

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Lunch today at Equinox. We're moving and wanted to eat one more time at one of my favorite restaurants. We ate in the Atrium on a rainy day. We appeared to be the only people not having serious discussions about serious issues. I trust the terrific food is the catalyst to help these folks solve the economic crisis quickly. Equinox is a foodie's delight. Local food, prepared perfectly. The menu is a bit challenging. A great meal depends on the dinner selecting those that are most appealing to the diner. The waiter and serving staff were excellent. Her recommended wines were terrific. My wife had fried risotto balls as an appetizer. Wow! I had heirloom tomatoes. (Less exciting.) For the main course my wife had a boudin of salmon and shrimp -- great fennel sauce, very tasty, but the texture was a bit off-putting. I had swordfish on top of a barley and pistachio risotto. It was terrific. Bye, bye, Equinox. I am going to miss you. read more