This place has an amazing interior. It really is miles from what I expected to find in National Harbor. That's 50% of my two stars right there. The other half is split between the somewhat slow but courteous service (its new) and the drinks. Unfortunately, the food was terrible. The presentation was mostly nice and certainly at home in the luxurious surroundings but that's about it. I hesitate to compare the food to your average Asian take-out because its an entirely different beast but trust me, you'd probably prefer take-out. The vegetables and sides were certainly at or below typical take-out quality and were generally prepared unflattering stir-fry or steamed piles. The real loser at the table though was the duck. I believe it was supposed to be a seared duck breast but it was just 5 or 6 slices of cold, limp meat which was cooked through at the same consistency. Not at all how I enjoy a duck breast. The rest of the entrees weren't awful but were certainly mediocre considering the price. I generally hesitate to complain about cost and get annoyed when others do but I can't help it here. The quality we received was just not worth the $20-$30 range. Nothing seemed fresh or well prepared and I could adequately have replicated the whole meal for the four of us from a take-out place for around the cost of one entree. I know they have to pay rent and for that giant Buddha but c'mon. read more

When I read negative yelp reviews I generally think the people are high maintenance. I am easy to please. I was also very hungry when I went to Grace's Mandarin, which probably lowers my expectations. But it still fell very short. My husband had the crispy beef, and that's what got them 2 stars instead of one. It had good flavor, but for $29 it was a pretty small portion for that price and not all that exciting. For that price I'd expect something more special. Now onto the bad. I ordered the sushi deluxe from the chef's specialties section on the sushi menu. When it arrived, it was clear I got the regular (5 pieces of nigiri instead of 8 and a different roll). When we flagged down our server to let her know, she thought it was correct until I explained the difference. So she went to go check with the kitchen, then came back out, confirmed I was right and took my plate. I watched my husband finish his entire meal before mine finally came back out. I wish it hadn't. The crunchy shrimp roll was not crunchy and the shrimp was rubbery and all around not good tasting. My husband actually had to spit it out when he tried it. 4 of the 8 nigiri were inedible. When she cleared my plate the server did notice and I said it wasn't very good. She said they'd do something about it and then brought the check. They took 10% off. Not impressed. Don't bother. Needless to say we won't be back. Sad that it seems nowhere in National Harbor can get it right. read more

I'd been missing Chicago and the lake alot lately, so when a friend suggested we go to Grace's for my birthday dinner I was all over it! And boy am I glad we did... Let's just take a moment to talk about the lcoation before we even head inside Grace's.... Dat View!! Seriously... being right on the waterfront has its advantages.. the sunset over the water is absolutely gorgeous.. I wish they had outdoor seating.. not sure if they do in the summer..but if they don't ill just bring my own tent next time. The decor inside is just as breathtaking. This is definitely a date night/special occassion spot.. Dress to impress and feel good just being there. The staff is friendly all around (the bar tenders easy on the eyes) and the vibe in general is just happy. the bar area is kind of small for quick bites and 2 people groups I guess.. but then you start heading upstairs and prepare to oogle at everything..from the giant buddha statue (Buddha Bar Paris anyone?) to the gorgeous traditional chinese garb used as wall decor. It's all exquisite and makes for a great ambiance to add to your dining experience. Now let's remember that this is a restaurant afterall..so we need to address the food. The appetizers were definitely better than the main courses. Between the 7 of us we ended up ordering quite a variety of dishes.. The crab ragoons ( I was hoping to try the lobster and truffle ragoons that they had on their online menu but didnt have it that night) but were still very good.. huge and topped with a spicy aioli, Calamari that was like calamari you've had anywhere really.. mussels that were cooked in a delicious spicy broth and were perfectly cooked and lambchops that were a tad bit overdone.. I like my lamb medium rare, these were more on the well done spectrum but still very delicious. For the main courses between us we had the mandarin chicken- pieces entirely too large to try and eat with just a fork or chopstick, you'll need to order knives to eat this since they don't set the table with them, The pineapple friedrice, that was served in a pineapple shell.. cute. A seafood medley that got rave reviews, sweet and sour beef, again.the meat was cooked a little too much and was tough to eat through. The food was good.. but not mind blowing. We order a couple different desserts to share around the table since the portions really are large and we were starting to hate ourselves for not stopping while we were ahead. The chocolate mousse cake was fantastic, but the creme brullee was devine! creamy, smooth, brulleed to perfection! After our meal the manager came up to me and handed me a little birthday present which is such a stellar idea to make your guests happy and keep coming back! I got my own Grace's chopsticks and a little box of their signature tea. Very cute.. I'll probably be back if they have a happy hour menu..need to look into that. or for another party cuz between the 7 of us we ran up a $400 tab (the signature drinks are delicious btw) so yeah.. this place isnt cheap. read more

Grace's Mandarin was highly recommend by a friend and they sure did not disappoint. The staff was very courteous and helpful which made everything at ease. The food was exceptionally great; everyone enjoyed their meal without complaints. We were expecting a party of 20 which turned out to be about 12 with a few latecomers and we were accommodated with no hassle. Plan to visit again soon. I hope highly recommend this restaurant. read more

OUTSTANDING food, beautiful environment. Unusual cutlery. Nice! Yummy Delicious.

The host speaks into a headset and says "Second Floor". I go to the second floor and stand around. Nice way to start lunch. I order an ice tea. The waiter asks "Sweetened?" I say "Yes, please." He arrives with unsweetened tea and a cup of sugar packets. The food was simply okay. read more

I must say that I am shocked by all of the negative or so-so reviews as I had a fantastic experience here. And this is one of my favorite Grace's experiences as I have been to both in Bowie and now this one in National Harbor. It started with the decor. I immediately noticed the upscale atmosphere, appropriate for its location at the National Harbor. Although the decor at the location on MLK blvd is very nice, they clearly stepped it up here. One of my favorite parts was the oversized Buddha standing in the Koi Pond. The Koi pond certainly brought some joy and entertainment as we waited for our entire party to arrive for my brother's Graduation lunch as they seat whole parties only. As they lead us up the staircase for our party of 10 table, I became more and more enamored with the place. Snuggled close to the floor to ceiling windows of Grace's are cute tables of two, perfect for a romantic dinner featuring water views--a must for dinners at the harbor. They seated us at a round table in the middle of the restaurant unlike any I'd ever seen. It had two semi-circle booths with more than enough room. There were five of us on one and three on the other and then two plushy chairs. The booths had pillows, which were very comfortable for my back. And in the middle of the table was a lazy Susan that turns, perfect for a large party that may want to share. The fireworks really took off with the food, however. We started our meals with rounds of sushi, crab rolls without the fish roe for the hubby and I. Some California rolls and some spicy rolls with the roe on the side for others at the table. There was also an order of chicken wings. And some calamari. I only tasted the crab rolls, divine simply because of their use of fresh crab meat which really made a difference over the imitation crab meat in a California roll, and then I had some calamari. The calamari tasted extremely fresh as well and perfectly fried with accents of veggies. I love it when they add veggies too. For my entree, I ordered the National Harbor Fried Rice and I asked them to crank the heat up a bit. It was simply AMAZING. It was the BEST thing I've eaten at any of the Grace's. Though a full-bodied portion, I found it hard to stop eating. Each bite would bring a new depth of flavor and I could taste every element. Ooh squash. Now green bean. That was a scallop, YUM! Shrimp. And to subtly crank it the heat, I believe they added notes of thai chili. The flavors came together perfectly and it was clear the chef knew what he was doing. The Hubby ordered the surf and turf with lamb chops and a crab cake--which may have garnered the one complaint. For $28, the lunch portion was extremely small. The crab cake looked to only be about 2 oz. And they picked the two smallest chops they could find. So needless to say he scraped his plate--poor thing. I would not suggest the lunch portion of this if you're hungry. All the other meals (Panang Curry, Red Lantern Chicken, Shrimp & Chicken fried rice, the Lobster Tail, Shrimp, and Scallop) came better portioned, even for lunch. I did not hear any complaints from anyone on the food. And the table went extremely quiet as everyone began munching. It appeared our party was very happy and satisfied. The service was just the icing on the cake. Of course, Grace's begins and ends every meal with the signature hot towels, a lovely touch. The warmth soothes and cleanses your hands at the same time. It makes me feel more relaxed and at ease as well. And I'm pretty convinced the towels are infused with some sort of lotion or moisturizers as my hands always feel softer afterwards. They assigned us two waiters and they made sure to keep the water flowing, they didn't forget any requests, and they ensured everyone's food orders came out correctly. When it was time for the check, they do not split them. However, it did not take them a long time to process all of our different payments--which I appreciated. Our server continued to be engaged the entire time and it was only his 3rd day there though we could not tell. He joked with us and answered all of our questions like a veteran. It ended with the decor. On our way back down the stairs, we saw there was some money in Big Buddha's hand. My brother excitedly began reaching across to grab the dollar unsuccessfully. We laughed at his feeble attempts and continued walking gleefully out the door to a chorus of pleasant farewells. As far as food, atmosphere, and service, the Grace's franchise is certainly doing something right and Grace's Mandarin was no exception. For those that complain about the prices, it is a pricey place--as are many others at the Harbor. Tis life. Anticipate that before you come. So if your wallet is too light, come for Happy Hour! Otherwise, think of it as a special occasion. read more

Wow I'm not sure how I've missed this place but I was blown away. The crab rangoon....I had no idea I was missing melted cheese all my life but it is so good! We ordered spicy California and shrimp temperate. I liked both but wasn't blown away. My Singapore rice noodles was out of this world. As was my flan. Everything was superb read more

A group of my friends always do a post-holiday get together to catch up and just enjoy a night out at a place with great ambiance. We eat out a lot and are always looking for new places to try. This time we chose Grace's Mandarin for our get together. A few of us were early and ordered drinks at the bar while we waited for everyone else. The drinks were all great. Once more people got there we were seated at our table that was large enough to hold 17 of us. Food: Amazing! There is a huge selection of different styles of Asian cooking such as Japanese, Chinese and Thai. Throughout the meal we all tried each others dishes and one was better than the next. After dinner we went down into the lounge area for drinks and dessert. The lounge was very comfortable with a fireplace, a view of the river but still very trendy. read more

The worst customer service ever from Grace herself! I came with my 6 and 9 year old children. I asked for a steak suggestion for my 6 year old. The server recommended the steak with pepper sauce. It was extremely hot and inedible. Our appetites were ruined. The server called the manager over to our table and she offered something else and we declined. When they presented the bill I noticed they charged us for the steak. I questioned the manager and she said "I offered you something else" with a smirk on her face. I reminded her the food wasn't good and she turned her back and walked away. After paying my bill I learned the manager was actually Grace herself. I approached Grace to try and discuss her unprofessional treatment. She again turned her back and walked away. I was stunned and hurt by her actions. I will never ever eat there again!!! read more

First time was good experience. Sushi was great as well as miso soup. Gorgeous decor and views. Service was great. read more

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I had high hopes for this place. We were asked three times if we had a reservation even though we had called ahead and were told we didn't need one. The place is beautiful but the service was terrible and the poor lady's uniforms show a ridiculous amount of gratuitous leg. Our waitress actually picked up my napkin at one point, waved it in my face and said "this is your napkin." Our appetizers came out wrong and we were told they would be replaced with the new ones "right away." They came 3/4 of the way through our meal and the waitress gave us a lot of lip about how we said we still wanted them when we tried to send them back. Overall, the food wasn't bad but very overpriced. When we got our final check, the balance that was put on my card was higher than the total with tax that was shown on our check. Watch out! Update, returned recently to try this place again. Had a very similar experience, cold food, appetizer came late and sushi didn't smell appetizing. Recently read this review and couldn't agree more. Too bad, I really wanted to like this place. Happy elevation burger just opened in national harbor though! http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/graces-mandarin,1156077/critic-review.html read more

This review is only for the takeout pad Thai so I cannot judge dine in, but their pad Thai was surprisingly good. It wasn't overly oily, flavourful and the lime added a good zing. But for $13 the portions were on the small side :( I guess happy hour would be best to eat here. read more

Whoa. Not impressed. Effort was put in to the decorating of the restaurant but no effort put into food or food presentation. Very disappointed and I wasted my one night at the National Harbor. Sushi regular platter always comes with miso soup and salad (or at least one). Not here. So I decided on a few sushi rolls. Spicy crunch scal cut roll ($10.) and Salmon avocado cut roll ($8.)... Very forgettable!!. I ordered miso soup but that came way after my sushi was served and I did not want it at that point so I declined it. Getting back to the sushi rolls, it was placed on a plate with just ginger & wasabi...no presentation what so ever. Rolls were tiny and tightly wrapped. Looked more like the kind of sushi rolls you get at a supermarket when they squeeze it together to get it in the small packing. In fact, maybe that is where this sushi came from...the local super market? That is about the level this sushi was. read more

What a great meal! Beautiful decor, attentive and friendly service. We tried some dishes recommended to us by our waiter Clyde, and the crispy beef was delicious, as was the other dishes (but the crispy beef was my favorite). Every dish had its own unique taste -- sometimes all the dishes taste the same, but not at this restaurant! The special touches -- the chair cover to protect your jacket, the hot towels to wipe your hands, the unique utensil holder, the little stool on which you place your purse -- WOW! I hope I get to travel this way again because I will make sure to revisit this restaurant. read more

I wanted Graces to be better, but it wasn't.... I just want to say that the actual restaurant is beautiful, staff is lovely, but the food I ordered was, meh, horrible. I ordered the lamb, don't do it. My sisters ordered other food which was great, so maybe I just picked the wrong dish. read more

The decor is lavish in a predictable way. The service is attentive but neither personable nor particularly helpful. I asked the waiter "What is Togarashi Chicken ($18)?" His answer, without a trace of regret: "Basically just Kung Pao Chicken". The food is salty, not the least bit spicy, and overpriced. I would not go back. read more

I have only been to this place two times and have loved each experience. The food is delicious and uniquely displayed no matter what time you come in (went 15 minutes before closing one time). I would highly advise seating on the second floor for it has an amazing sunset view. Will be returning with friends. read more

We like sushi & are both foodies & have eaten all over the world. While our server was good and very apologetic, he did the best he could. I ordered an un-edible entrée and the waiter tried to get it comped. But the manger that night needs to be written up & disciplined. My Uni was edible but I can safely say it was the most pitiful serving & taste I ever had. I order the scallop stuffed with duck & while the waiter wasn't enthusiastic about us ordering it, I wanted something different & ordered it. My partner backed out. It arrived & It was bad. I tried to eat a little, to really give it a try. I was trying to be fair, but in my whole dining career I have never sent food back as un-edible; the waiter said he would try & get it comped but it was on our entire bill. The manager came back to our table, I didn't want to be unkind to him (he wasn't the chef) but it was not edible and I tried it. If this was a little restaurant I probably would have just left it alone, but this was a very high volume restaurant full of tourists & this distasteful entrée was $38.00; I ordered another $38 dollar entrée & it was average sushi/sashimi. In NYC these are the kinds of restaurants you never go back to, but it gets worse. I asked the waiter to go back but he came back and claimed he could do nothing, because he was told I had eaten half of it! God I had no idea I should have taken a photo of it. After a battle with the manager he said he would take 50% off the bill but that was not the point. It was a bad entrée, it deserved to be off the menu & the waiter could not recommend it. I would NOT go back. We left & what do you know, the manager was walking up the stairs as we were descending (justice I say); I told him it was bad customer service, he claimed (snark) he had to be fair. I said see me on Yelp. My partner said she would never come back and he said "have a good night." Don't go here. There is an oyster restaurant on the next block. Go there for great food. read more

Delicious! Simply delicious. The appetizers are incredible. The best desert I've had.

Parang Chicken (curry) delicious. Upscale and relaxing atmosphere. The staff is knowledgeable about the menu.

I'm a little surprised at the 3 star review because I had a great meal here last night. One thing I feel compelled to say: please don't complain about the prices. The menu is posted at the door and everyone has the ability to check online so you shouldn't be sticker-shocked. A lot of times the Captain and I like to order a handful of items off the menu - mainly because ... well, we're hungry. Also, I feel like this is how you get a good feel for the restaurant's range. We started with the carpaccio trio, lamb chops appetizer, and edamame. The carpaccio was fresh (flounder, salmon, and yellowtail with black truffle vinaigrette), the edamame was standard, and the lamb chops were to die for. Flavorful, perfectly cooked, and with the slightest char. Order it. For our entrees I got the sea bass and the Captain had the duck wraps. We also ordered lump crab fried rice to share. I didn't really try the duck, but the sea bass was so good! Well seasoned, flaky without being dry - overall very delicious. The crab fried rice was also tasty, but lacked in "lumps" of crab meat. Although crab was visible, I've had this dish elsewhere with huge lumps of crab so I was slightly disappointed. Nonetheless, it was still a good dish. For dessert we split the tempura bananas with ice cream. Yup, I would come back. Also, if I find myself in the area during happy hour, I'll be sure not to miss it. Half price on select sushi, small plates, and bottles of wine. read more

This is my favorite restaurant however, Wayne the waiter for our dinner party last night was extremly rude to our table. His attitude of continuing to address us as "LADY" in a condescending demeaning voice. Caused me to ask for the manager. Which the waiter glazed over my request. Then I asked him to listen clearly so we could reorder a missed item that appeared later on the bill. Our party was for my niece 18th birthday. This waiter's attitude could have caused a young smart beautiful graceful young girl just tuning 18 a bad night. Please retrain him or hire a better waiter. Thank you read more

The food at lunch is sort of average. Very nice presentation, but rather pricey. Not sure I would go back.

The staff is very attentive and professional. Nice atmosphere and Asian design is very nice. Now getting to the good part, the food was absolutely wonderful. It wasn't a lot, but it left you full, but not stuff. I had the surf & Turf and my wife had the Mango Salmon. read more

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Say at the bar and was ignored for about ten minutes. Got there distinct impression they didn't want to serve me until after happy hour ended in 10 minutes. Whatever... don't bother if you value your time. read more

You are not paying for good food here, you are paying for the friendly service and charming atmosphere. I had the beef, unfortunately I did not take the recommendation fro the waiter, and it was not as good as a local Chinese take out. My wife had the crab cakes, again so,so. I will not go back to this place. It's way over priced. You might enjoy some of their other meals. read more

I've visited Grace's before, but it was my boyfriend's first time. He expected more traditional food and was a bit let down after viewing the menu. We went Saturday night, had a 8:30 reservation and was seated immediately. Our waitress was pretty busy so she didn't come around too often, but that wasn't her fault ? We were surprised with a fireworks show (idk what the occasion was) so luckily Grace's have large windows so everyone stopped to watch. We ordered 2 platters of sushi (I can't remember, I don't eat it) and the fried chicken wings (couldn't pass up on the least expected item on the menu) for appetizers. For the meal, we ordered the crab fried rice, crispy beef and teriyaki chicken. The teriyaki chicken is literally grilled chicken strips that have a little bit of teriyaki sauce drizzled on it ! Out of all days, I left my phone in the car, I really wish I hadn't to snap a picture. It would be more fitting to order this AT Sarku Japan, for all I know, they're pre-cooked Tyson's or Perdue strips, but IT WAS OK. We really enjoyed the crab fried rice and the fried chicken wings, and he thoroughly enjoyed the sushi. The crispy beef was really crispy and kind of small, but it didn't taste bad so that's safe to order and try. Overall, for what we spent, I expected more, but it was an OK experience. read more

It was a beautiful setting to get in the new year and the food was great and the waiters did a good job to accommodate us on a busy day

We enjoyed a great meal on Mothers Day from a pre-fix menu. Plenty to choose from... portions were good considering we had 4 courses ... from appetizers to dessert! We ordered miso soup to begin our meal & didnt like the fishy broth (never had it before before). The waiter brought out a green salad that we ordered, instead. We've been here several times before & had good food & service each time. We recommend this one. read more

Everything we ordered was YUM. The vegetarians loved the egg plant and I personally loved the Penang curry and. pork Chops. Wish I had the space to order more and try more dishes. Will be back read more

Love this place! From the decor, to the menu to the friendly staff, this place always meets my expectations! The food is very high quality. You definitely get what you pay for. read more

Horrible service. Horrible food and very over priced. I honestly can't think of one nice thing to say about this restaurant except for the decor. Had reservations for a Friday evening and we waited over an hour to be seated. Either our waiter completely forgot that we existed or he was busy waiting on his other imaginary tables. We end up tipping the waiter in the section next to us because our server only checked on us once when he came to bring the bill. I won't say "never" but I highly doubt if I ever give them my business again. read more

Not sure why there are not more raving reviews, this place is awesome! Went there last night with party of 9, place was packed but got seated within 15 minutes (which gave us time for a drink at the bar). We were seated on the third level and the service was very attentive, proactive and just great! I had the Mandarin Angus Filet and it was one of the best filets I've ever had! Also ordered the National Harbor Fried Rice and the Indonesian Fried Rice - both really, really good! All in all the experience, the food and the service were awesome. I do believe the place is a bit overpriced and obviously taking advantage of the location right across the street from the conference center, but it sure was worth every penny! If I'll ever be back in that area I will be going to Grace's Mandarin! read more

To be perfectly fair, I think Grace's Mandarin is a tourist trap. I really do. Located in the newly built National Harbor area, the place is gorgeous on the inside. The decor is impeccable and was built with a great thought in mind. The water feature, the chinese statues, the silks, the comfy soft booths with pillows, the soft lighting, the colors, everything is very nice. Service is nice. I mean everything is nice. Except the food. I can get exactly the same meal at any of the better-than-average asian strip mall mom and pop restaurants for $10. Fried rice at $20 anyone? General Tso's chicken for $23? For that kind of money I expect to meet the General in person and shake his hand. Crispy beef for $29? Whole crispy fish for $36? Come on, guys. Really. I understand that you need to maintain a certain pricing level if you'd like to maintain an overall restaurant image at a certain point, but in that case, the food has to amaze just a little bit to justify the price. Just don't get caught in the trap. Go elsewhere. Food is the same, prices lower. Go walk around the harbor, enjoy the views, eat some ice cream or something, and then go eat someplace else. read more

Great location and decor, spacious dining room and high ceiling. All make you expect highly of this restaurant. However, the food was just as great as the building itself. We ordered chicken lettus wraps, green beans, and crispy beef. All taste like the same soy sauce-based brown sauce. Also our waiter was too busy to refill our water glass. It was pricey as I expected since it was at the National Harbor, but still the the portion and taste of the food was not up to standard for me. read more

Pretty decent food. Ordered the calamari and crab roll for an appetizer...delicious!! For the entree i ordered the duck..it wasnt bad..just tasted like liver..which i do not like...but when i ate it as a leftover the next day.. with A1 sauce it was great. I will return again but since its kinda on,the pricey side..my next visit will be during lunch or happy hour times only read more

What a great experience!! We barely waited 5 minutes until we were seated, which is much better than the waits for some other restaurants around here. When you get seated the waiter gives everyone towels which was a very special experience. The food was so unique and amazing!! The decorations really showcased the chinese culture and started for some great conversations!! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone, especially families with kids!! They would love it! read more

This is a beautifully appointed restaurant, and the food is excellent. I will visit again. I had the lunch special consisting of spicy beef, steamed rice, vegetable, and the perfect ending of mango mousse. An excellent value, with a nice wine selection. Even though the menu can seem pricey, there are excellent choices in all price ranges. The view of the harbor and the georgous fixtures and furnishings make this an excellent Asian Fusion restaurant for lunch. read more

This restaurant used to be my favorite, but it is really inconsistent on its quality. When they are having a good night it is worth every dollar, but on nights like tonight when my family will only eat the rice because the crispy things are burned and everything else is just soggy.... this used to be a special treat now I am kicking myself for going back. read more