Imperfecto is a one star Michelin star restaurant specializing in Mediterranean/Latin fusion cuisine. It is located a few blocks from the Washington circle park in Washington DC Service is excellent with attentive and friendly staff, from the hostess welcoming you, to the manager and al the way to the servers. The ambiance is relatively casual, with comfortable, nautical theme of blue and white decor with gold accents. Easy listening music set the stage for a comfortable dining experience, either with coworkers or for a special night out. Their wine and alcoholic drinks selection was wide and their mocktails were equally as interesting. You can definitely see the interesting Mediterranean/Latin fusion in all the dishes. From the ingredients and spices picked for each, to the presentation and flavor profiles, it all screams fusion. Even though we didn't go for the chef's tasting this time, our party got to try and share quite a few dishes.: To start, we were received by a mushroom and truffle cream soup shot. Tasty and creamy, great way to open the appetite. For the appetizer round we ordered the moussaka cigars and falafel. The moussaka cigars were perfectly delicate and airy, yet flavorful, stuffed with eggplant and ground lamb and pine nuts, served with a creamy manchego goat cheese dip to balance the crispy, fluffy phyllo dough. The falafel was equally delicate and light, served with a Latin tahini spiced with sumac and cinnamon. For the main course, we got to try three different dishes: The mushroom risotto - very interesting flavor profile. The crispy fried maitake mushrooms topped the perfectly cooked, creamy risotto, which was surprisingly acidic in a very refreshing way. The lechón was delicious. A generous portion of tender, fall off the bone, suckling pig, including a super crispy skin, served on a date mole with zucchini blossom and a side of zucchini salad with radish, olives and pepitas, definitely stole the show. The only criticism I would have is the zucchini blossom was a bit too oily probably due to the drench they used before frying. Other than that, it was a really well balanced dish. The Lamb terrine was served on top of potato puree, red cabbage confit and lamb juice topped with generous shavings of black truffle. Beautiful to eat with your eyes and equally as delicious on the pallad. For dessert we ordered the pistachio and yoghurt dresser with consisted of a delicious salty pistachio ice cream served with a dulce the leche foam and yogurt, served on a raspberry sauce and topped with a crispy Mille-feuille cookie. Fascinating dessert and incredibly well balanced. The sweetness of the Dulce the leche foam was expertly balanced by the pistachio ice cream and the raspberry sauce provided some acidity. The cookie gave a textural component much needed by all the other soft/smooth elements. Definitely try it out if it's on the menu. I would definitely recommend Imperfecto. I know I'd come back! read more

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We ate at Imperfecto for Restaurant Week 2024. Vibes: formal, cool-toned interior. Friendly but rushed severs. Food: Aladdin burrata - Dark horse. This ended up being my favorite when I thought it would the most boring dish. The crispiness of the fried lentils paired with creamy burrata and hummus was divine and popped in texture. Sea bream - Fresh and delicious. The included tostada is very crispy so it's a multi-sensory experience to taste the food and hear the crunch in your ears. Lamb Terrine - Lamb was fine, tasted like pulled lamb in a block. The flavor was mostly in the sauce and that flavor was "salty". Tagliatelle - Also fine, the truffle doesn't over power. Didn't quite catch any summer corn notes. Beef Wellington with Empanada - Hard pass. Saw another table order it and was curious. Not as good as it looks and way too expensive for what it was. read more

We've had ~5 meals at Imperfecto, but last night was our first time trying the chef's table. It did not disappoint! I'll hit the highlights first, as there are too many to detail at length: the delightful amuse bouche (corn tart!), the cocktails that may be the best in DC, the completely original cold vongole and stroganoff, wagyu that melts in your mouth, and service at par with Pineapple and Pearls and Inn at Little Washington. The team is clearly pushing for two stars, which is delightful, so I wanted to write with a few notes that may help them along. 1) As other reviewers have noted, the experience is tarnished slightly by its length and pacing. Particularly annoying was the wait until 720 for a late party. You've gotta figure out how to catch them up so that the rest of us aren't waiting 20 min for bread. And with a 7p start, it's not ok for us to be getting home at 11:15. I love all the major dishes and would be sad to see any go, but you've gotta have either tighter pacing or larger portions and fewer plates through the mains. 2) Gotta start on a better note. The sourdough bread was cold and tough. If I were a Michelin reviewer, that starting note alone would keep you out of two stars because it just begged the question, "did anyone try this?" 3) Relatedly, the desserts are impenetrably academic. The pumpkin and selva negra both taste like a good idea that someone then overthought and kept editing/adding until it just didn't taste good. I get the push for stardom, but in both cases, we would've all preferred a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream. Stop overthinking it. None of us finished either of them. Everyone's favorite was the simple sorbet. Why harp on these minor quibbles given how mindblowingly awesome the overall experience was? Well, they are pushing for two stars, and the meal costs $400 per person all in. At this level, the bar is continuous improvement toward excellence. I really hope they get there! read more

Wow wow wow! I went here last month as a solo diner and was a blown away by the experience! The chefs table was absolutely amazing. It helped that the other guests I was seated next to were amazing and very friendly. I really enjoyed the communal dining experience. I realize that may not be for everyone so just know that it's one big chefs table for the Michelin chefs experience. I was seated right next to Chef Rene and could feel the warmth from the oven. The staff were so prompt on service and took the time to explain things if you asked. My water was always refilled before I needed more. The food was absolutely incredible. This is in my top two Michelin experiences for sure. The only thing that would have made it better for me would be having my spouse there but that's not on the restaurant. The amuse bouches were all delicious and unique. It's really hard for me to pick a favorite as it was all SO good. Chef Rene even let me help break up the clay that the main entree was cooked in. Very fun experience. They also send you home with the menu and some goodies (chocolate, a pastry and some oat milk is what I got). The restaurant is decorated in whites and blues. It gives off Mediterranean vibes for sure. There were big windows in the front. It felt open. It is a long dining experience though. The reservation starts at 7 and we were there until 10:30/11pm. Totally worth it in my opinion. I can't wait to go back here for a special occasion! read more

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When we arrived for the reservation, we were seated immediately. It wasn't very crowded, so we were able to select a window by the table. It was a little cold by the window, but it was a good view with lots of natural light. We ordered mocktails and bottled water. For the entree, we had the lobster omelet and shared truffle fries. The mocktail was a 10. The lobster omelet was served perfectly folded with a consistent yellow color. The plate presentation could have had more pizazz. In terms of flavor, the omelet was just okay. The lobster was not abundant enough. The omelet was served with a freshly prepared bread. The bread and truffle fries were outstanding. The service was pretty good. The maitre d checked in several times, so that was definitely a nice touch. read more

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Cocktails, food, and service were excellent. However, it is very sad to see that they engage in the 5% "service charge" scam instead of just raising their prices accordingly. It is difficult to explain this practice other than a technique to fool customers about the real prices. If not for the surcharge, this would have been a 5-star experience read more

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Tried Imperfecto tonight for their winter Restaurant Week dinner 2026 and I think it is worth it. It was a three course meal with a complimentary mushroom soup to start and candies at the end, which was a nice touch. $65 for a starred restaurant is... wow. Starting with the ambiance, the interior is very aesthetic with a modern design and Greek influence. Blues and whites throughout make the space feel polished and calming. Service was smooth and everyone was attentive without being overbearing, exactly what you would expect from a high quality restaurant. The mushroom soup was a strong start with very deep umami and pronounced mushroom flavor. We tried both appetizers and neither disappointed. The textures really stood out in both the beet salad and the ceviche. The ceviche had a nice spicy sauce and a crispy cracker or bread element, though I do wish it was slightly thicker. Surprisingly, the entrée was my favorite part of the meal. The chorizo and mushroom dish was fantastic and I honestly wished there was more of it. The duck was cooked beautifully at a medium rare and served as a large portion. I enjoyed it more in smaller bites since it is a thick cut. It is lean and not as tender as some other duck preparations. The skin was excellent on its own or with a bit of meat. The cocktail we ordered was refreshing with a bright yuzu flavor and paired well with the food. For dessert, we decided to try both options. Both were good and the ice creams were rich and creamy, making for a nice ending to the meal. You will definitely leave feeling satisfied. I was worried I might still be hungry, but that was not the case at all. read more

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This place is one of the better meals we've had. The complimentary mushroom soup was literally perfect. It was rich, in the perfect amount. We had six items, and every single one of them was very, very good. The Crudo was great. The mushroom risotto was probably the best thing we had, and the close second was the lamb. We absolutely would come back. That was incredible. read more

Imperfecto has been a bucket list restaurant for a while. Didn't want to pull the cord on the chefs table quite yet so instead I went for Sunday brunch. If brunch is half as good as the chefs table then I will be for quite a treat dining at the chefs table. Brunch was perfect, everything I wanted it to be and everything it should have been!! I ordered the lobster omelet with the addition of caviar and black truffle. It's took a 30$ omelet to closer to a 100$ omelet but worth every penny. Sometimes you have just enjoy life!!! Service is what you expect from a Michelin star restaurant... absolutely perfect. Greeted with warm smiles and served with an exceptional level of detail. Order a Bloody Mary if you're going for brunch, easily a top 3 in DC!!! Don't stop there though, venture out and have a second cocktail. Imperfecto's cocktail program is amazing to say the least. Overall a wonderful adventure, one that is definitely worth experiencing!! Highly recommended restaurant!! read more

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I absolutely loved the food that I was served here. This review is for the Chef's table. I went on February 13th. We started off with some small dishes that were gifts from the kitchen and the the chef sent us through a wild experience of different flavors and ingredients. I loved every single bite of food I had here, and especially enjoyed the amazing desserts that the had to offer. I'll happily recommend this spot to anyone looking for high quality food and a good experience. That being said, I did find the pacing of the meal quite slow at the chef's table. Our reservation was for 7. We did not leave until 11:30. Thankfully we did not have anything else planned for the evening. read more

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Came here for brunch and ordered the chicken waffles, prawns, and pastrami sandwich. Everything was good, but prob not worth the price. Ambiance was really nice and they are very attentive with service. read more

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(4.25) ~ Very good Overall New Year's Eve Dinner, Food; Beverages & Service DRINKS: ** Little Venice (cocktail) = (4.5) Very Tasty! (see photo) ** Coffee = (4.25) Very fresh ** Water (tap) = (4) very good, must be filtered;) FOOD: ** Raviolo = (4.35) Very tasty w. Egg yolk;) (see photo) ** Squab = (4.35) Very tasty (see photo) ** Second Dessert Course = (4.35) Very good & We liked even more than the first dessert course;) (see photo) ** Amuse = (4.25) Very tasty. Mushroom Soup (fav); Tuna Tart (2nd) & Oyster (3rd) (see photo) ** Wagyu = (4.25) Very tasty. Really liked the stuffed onion! (see photo) ** Chocolate Souffle = (4.25) Very good, especially the Hazelnut Gelato. this was the 1st dessert course. (see photo) ** Sorbet = (4) very good to cleanse the pallet;) (Key Lime - see photo) * Crudo = (3.75) Good, but too "seafoody" tasting for me... read more

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I've been here several times and it never disappoints. This time, we came for brunch--and it was excellent. We ordered a bottle of bubbly with a variety of juice flavors, which was a fun and festive touch. I had the wagyu burger, and it was absolutely delicious--perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Around the table, others ordered the mussels, French toast, and prawns, and everyone was happy with their meals--no complaints at all. As always, the staff was friendly, welcoming, and on point. The vibe here is lowkey and relaxed, with a great mix of people just enjoying a beautiful summer day. It's a consistently solid experience, whether you're coming for brunch or dinner. read more

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Imperfecto is the most scenic and serene restaurant I've been to in a long time. We came at the tail end of their brunch offerings but the staff was kind enough to seat us and give us enough time to get our order in. I ordered the tea, Imperfecto burger, and we got fries for the whole table. The tea came out in a beautiful kettle and presentation. The burger (not pictured) was delicious as well as the fries. I would highly recommend this place for lunch and hoping to come back for dinner. read more

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Late review--ate here in August 2025. Imperfecto is an upscale Latin/Venezuelan restaurant with a deserved Michelin star. Short review--loved this place. The space is stunning--bright, airy, and spacious with a white-and-blue palette. During the day, the sunlight pours in and makes the whole room glow, but it transitions beautifully into the evening as well. It's one of those rare dining rooms that feels just as impressive at 6 p.m. as it does at noon. My dinner was at 7pm, so it was still light. Throughout the meal, the mood of dining room changed because of the setting sun, which was a great visually. I started at the bar and had a fantastic off-menu cocktail built around citrus and rum. Perfect. For dinner, I essentially created my own prix fixe: an amuse-bouche soup, a moussaka-style pastry, duck, and prawns served with a rich sauce and sourdough. Every dish landed. Balanced flavors, thoughtful plating, and dishes well-explained. Service was another highlight. You'll interact with several different staff members throughout the night, and every single one was friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. A few even made a point to say goodbye as I was leaving. Overall, Imperfecto is a wonderful restaurant whose pricing matches the quality of the experience. There's a very good chance I'll be back on my next trip to DC, or at least try one of their sister restaurants (I may just come back here though lol). read more

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Imperfecto was recommended by a friend, and while the experience was good overall, it wasn't particularly memorable. The interior is gorgeous, with a chic Mediterranean vibe that feels both elegant and welcoming. The food and service were both very good, but I was disappointed with the 5% service charge added to the bill. With so many restaurants in DC of the same or higher caliber that don't include these extra surcharges, it was a bit frustrating. read more

Imperfecto (a la carte menu) was imperfectly perfect for my husband's 40th birthday dinner! Food/drinks: Everything was delicious. Falafel - amazing! Beef tartare- top of the line. Pasta - couldn't eat it but saw my partner with a very clean plate. Wagyu - like butter! And then let's talk dessert because we ordered 3. Eclair - partner demolished. Pear with gold - mmmmmm (and fancy)! Sorbet - fantastic! Drinks - everything was great, from the cocktail to the recommended wine to the dessert wine. I guess the tea I could have done without. Service: Fantastic. Not overbearing. Didn't rush us, even as we closed down the restaurant. Extremely helpful on navigating my dietary restrictions (gluten free and dairy free were not as problematic as I thought they would be). And they added a candle to dessert without me requesting (I mentioned it was a birthday in the reservation and the hostess confirmed at seating). I didn't get his name but our French friend's service enhanced the meal. Ambiance: Modern but cozy, not sterile. Loved seeing people seated outside. We were seated in the front dining room so didn't see the back room. I thought it'd feel awkward being seated close to the entrance but honestly, it was cozy. It's beaucoup cher ($$$$) but honestly, for a special occasion, if you can afford it, it's giving "live large" vibes! We didn't do the tasting menu and didn't miss it. Had a lovely and very special experience! read more

Imperfecto - Pasta, wagyu, and beef tartare - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was so excited to experience my first ever restaurant with a Michelin Star! Originally I had learned about this restaurant through my boyfriend sending an Instagram reel to me about their brunch menu. I immediately fell in love with their aesthetic and looked for available reservations during a trip to Northern VA in late June. A Friday night dinner reservation was available that fit our schedule perfectly, and the deal was sealed. For our first round of drinks, I ordered the Sunset in Santorini (Roku, Italicus, strawberry, tomato, bay leaves, Du Hammam tea, Mediterranean tonic water). It was a nice light fruit punch type of vibe. I decided to switch things up for my second cocktail and ordered the Unexpected Fall (Pisco, pear, Calvados, biscotti, Chica Morada lime, egg white). Egg white cocktails are one of my faves, so this was a no-brainer. The purple color was beautiful, and it was so light and lovely. We were surprised that we received a mushroom soup Amuse Bouche that was compliments of the chef. It came served in a shot glass type cup with no utensils needed. It was so silky, perfectly seasoned, and went down so easily. From there we decided to order several plates that we could share between three people. The first plate we received was the Moussaka cigars (Phyllo dough, smoked eggplant, ground lamb, pine nuts, goat-manchego cheese cream). I really enjoyed the crispness of the Phyllo dough as you bit into it. All the flavors inside were very earthy and uplifted with the cheese cream on the side. Next we got the Madai Crudo (Sea bream, Tahiti salsa macha, avocado, green aguachile, tostada). The fish was so fresh and absolutely delicious. After that we enjoyed more entree type dishes beginning with the Black truffle risotto, which was a featured special not on the menu. The risotto was creamy, comforting perfection and elevated by the black truffles. Next we enjoyed the Steak tartare tonnato (Hand-cut Angus beef, bonito sauce, tamari marinated quail eggs, pickled veggies, kale chicarron, sourdough). This was definitely one of my favorite dishes of the evening! The sauce on the bottom of the plate provided a nice velvetty counter balance to the rest of the dish. Lastly to round out the savory dishes of the evening, we had the Cochinillo (Slow-roasted suckling pig, sauce al pastor, apple & bean tamal, honey glow pineapple). This was a slightly cheaper way to enjoy their Jamón Ibérico. I was surprised that I was one of my least favorite dishes of the night. I'm not a huge fan of sauce al pastor, and the apple and bean tamal was weird to me. For dessert we ordered the Imperfecto Eclair (Mascarpone mocha cream, coffee anglaise, orange jelly, and crushed hazelnut) and the Golden Pear (Bosc Pear poached in Moscato, Sicilian lemon gel, thyme-vanilla ice cream, tonka bean anglaise, tuile). The texture of the eclair was a little crunchier than I expected, and I wasn't a huge fan. The pear on the other hand had a nice soft texture that pleasantly surprised me! The thyme-vanilla ice cream was an excellent accompaniment. We finished our meal with a espresso martini and some complimentary chocolates. I now understand why Imperfecto has a Michelin Star. The service was excellent and all the dishes arriving at the table were paced well. I highly recommend checking this place out! read more

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I recently dined at Imperfecto for brunch and was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience! I've lived in the West End area for the past five years and can't believe this was my first visit. The interior is absolutely beautiful, light, bright, and airy, with a chic Mediterranean vibe that makes the space feel both elegant and inviting. The service was spot on; our waiter was attentive, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu. As for the food, everything we ordered was delicious. My wagyu burger and fries struck the perfect balance between indulgent and elevated. rich and flavorful without feeling overly heavy. I'm already looking forward to coming back for dinner and trying the tasting menu. So glad I finally gave this neighborhood gem a try! read more

Came here for brunch. Service is top notch but I feel like the brunch falls a little short. Our table had various items. Burrata was good, the croque madam was basically all bread and overkill, French toast was okay, tiger prawns a la Diablo were great and had a wonderful balance of flavor probably my favorite dish, wagyu burger was over salted for me, and the chicken and waffles were okay. I really enjoyed the shakshuka. Mocktails were very very nice and I highly recommend it. read more

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Very disappointed. Used the website to inquire through the chat "Concierge" about the chef's tasting menu. The chat provided the menu and the pricing of $175 pp. Chat recommended I call for reservations which I did. I made reservations, confirmed the pricing, provided my credit card, then Open Table sent me a text with my reservation and it said the price was $265 pp. Quite a difference! I called back to Imperfecto and they said the chat was AI and was incorrect. Nothing was done to try to fix the situation, so I cancelled this reservation which was for our anniversary. Please note the pricing on the website is not the updated current pricing! read more

Came here for a private party- a 40th birthday celebration- and LOVED the glamorous, eclectic vibe! When we entered there were hostesses wearing lamp shade headdresses serving cocktails, and then inside the servers were glammed with feather boas and the like. The whole evening was on our feet, which made for nice mingling, and they even had a small carpeted dance floor. The menu for the night was likely custom, but covered a variety of vegetarian and meat options- mushroom and kale soup and mushroom tarts were among my favorites. Probably my favorite part was how creative and beautiful the mocktails were- which is very rare! Folks ordered mocktails and asked the bartender to add alcohol! Their menu is typically not vegan friendly, though, and generally very meat heavy- not ideal for vegetarian/vegan audiences. read more

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We had a phenomenal meal here last night and I wanted to review for anyone on the fence about booking a reservation. The service was extremely attentive, and the food really stood out. We had an amuse bouche of mushroom soup, then I ordered the burrata, mushroom risotto and the duck dish. Of the three the duck was the standout, highly recommend, but the other two came close. It's not inexpensive, but this is one of those special occasion spots that's actually worth the splurge. They prepare the pita bread fresh and you can see someone using a blow torch to fluff them up and put fresh seasoning on them. I also recommend their nonalcoholic red wine by the bottle- it's rare to find a good one "in the wild" at restaurants that doesn't taste like sad grape juice and has a little more flavor to it. We will definitely go back and if you're considering it, highly worth the visit! The interior design is also gorgeous so it feels like a special evening out for a date/milestone family occasion. read more

The food, the drinks, the dessert, everything was so delicious. Our servers were so nice and friendly. Highly recommend, can't wait to go back. read more

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4.5 stars for the Chef's Table and 4 stars overall for this West End spot. I've been to Imperfecto a couple times now. Located on 23rd Street between L and M, this Michelin star restaurant is rather unique as the Michelin star is specifically for the Chef's Table meal, which takes place in the center of the restaurant near the kitchen. I won't go much into the other a la carte portion, but I'll just say I was ready to try the Chef's Table. We arrived at the restaurant for our reservation (Chef's Table is always at 7pm), the host took our coat and sat us down, and the waiter leading the evening brought my friend and I a couple Old Fashioneds to start. The Old Fashioned was quite good and also a strong precursor before the wine pairing we would have with our meal. After bringing us out a sparkling wine to start, the wait staff brought us out a little tray with several amuse-bouche options. Each option was pretty good, but the mushroom soup (bottom left of picture) was my favorite out of the bunch on the cold winter night. We then had two appetizers that were pretty solid, including one that you eat with your hands. I can't remember the particular names because we never received a menu. While the descriptions given by the waiter for each dish was great, it would have been nice to have something written to remember later. After finishing our openers, we moved on to what I believe I remember was a fish main, a non-beef main, and then two beef mains (one of which I believe was wagyu). Each dish was fairly solid (I especially liked the non-beef main), but nothing stood out as being absolutely 5-star amazing. Overall, Imperfecto's Chef's Table did live up to the Michelin Star hype. A couple nits from me (including for the separate a la carte option) keep it from getting a 5 star, but overall I did have a very pleasant dining experience. read more

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I LOVE IMPERFECTO. Can I just start and end the review there? LOL. I was looking for a new restaurant to try and Imperfecto came up. One Michelin Star (high quality cooking). I made reservations on Tock.com. Upon arrival, we were seated immediately. There is a bar to the right and seating area to the left. Atmosphere was trendy and classy; dressy attire. We quickly ordered as our reservation was late in the evening (our stomachs were still on West Coast time). We ordered: - A5 Japanese Wagyu (I ordered mine medium rare; more on the rare side obviously) - Shrimp Ceviche appetizer - Mezcal Cocktails - 20 Year Port (Dessert Drink) Our waiter surprised us with a Pistachio Dessert with Ice Cream since our original choice was dessert ran out. What he suggested was delicious! Complex and multiple levels of flavor. Party in my mouth! Our Amuse Bouche was mushroom soup and they also brought out some chocolates for the Port. Perfect experience! Great service. Delicious food. Awesome vibe. 100% GO GO GO!! read more

Imperfecto - Ceviche. Wagyu. Mezcal Cocktails. 20 Year Port. Pistachio Dessert. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love the place though there could be absolutely better food. Service is excellent. Ambience is fantastic. Avocado Toast - this one is really good, even though Avocado Toast is a bit too millennial for me. Tanning Sunshine - this drink is quite amazing. Super balancing and also super refreshing. read more

Imperfecto - The Millennial Special - Avocado Toast! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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High quality and savory food. Each dish had a delicious taste enhanced by multiple flavors. For example, the avocado toast was very fresh and had a sour cream or cream cheese base that really tied everything together!! Service was very intentional, they checked in many times with us. We were here when someone had a wedding brunch! Which is suffice to say, it's a very beautiful modern restraint with booth seating and marble tables. Open space and big win read more

We started with the creamy mushroom soup with truffle oil and chives an amuse bouche which truly told us we would be having one of the best meals of our lives. The flavors are bursting at your first sip it warms your entire body and truly relaxes you. If I could have this everyday of my life I truly would. We had a few mocktail and cocktails , I'm not an espresso Martini type of girl but this resturant has changed my mind. They make it with the perfect balance of care and artistry. Everything comes out beautiful and well thought out all the drinks had a perfect balance of everything and nothing overpowering. The Mr. Berry cocktail was pretty good and such a beautiful drink. The moussaka is the best thing on the menu please make sure you start with it. The flavors the seasonings were just perfect. This is not something you would like to share trust me. They oysters do come pre dressed so be cautious of this before hand. They were great, the only con is they could have been cleaned a bit better. The shrimp came with a few cuts of bread when dipped in the sauce it's perfect ! The shrimp dish does come with 3 pieces of shrimp to share or for yourself. The shrimp ceviche was good but please note this is a cream based ceviche not a citrus based one. I ended my night with a well made lamb with a sweet and savory sauce with truffle and mashed potatoes. Everything was perfect so good you may want to order one to go ! Our waiter Milan was just so caring so sweet went above and beyond at any chance he could get. The entire service crew were amazing everyone was quick clean and attentive. Thank you so much for an unforgettable experience. Also we can't forget the star of the show ! The garden tonic it is unbelievably fresh crisp and such a perfect summer but also beginning of meal drink ! The citrus, rosemary and spices just all blend together soooo well. The lingering taste after each sip makes you want to chase after the drink over and over. The drink is seasonal and does change so I would come quick so you're able to try it! read more

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I was looking forward to date night here. On our reservation we requested to not be seated at a major intersection where patrons walk by... of course that's exactly where we were directed to sit. However, the hostess allowed us to select a different table after stating our preference. Once seated, we decided to pass on the tasting menu and choose our own adventure. Prior to bringing out our appetizers we were greeted with a complimentary shot of mushroom soup. This was flavorful but over salted which took away from the natural flavor of the mushrooms and chives. For appetizers we started with the Steak Tartare Tonnato and Madai Crudo. This is where we started to realize that our expectations were set too high. The steak tartare was bland and sliced so thin that it was closer to being minced. This made the texture closer to a baby food consistency. Everything else surrounding the steak tartar (kale, pickled vegetables, marinated quail egg) added some flavor. We tasted the tartare alone one more time just to check... "yup.. no flavor". Our second appetizer, Madai Crudo, was pleasing; light, simple, basically sea bream and avocado in a steamed rice paper-like wrapping and drizzled in chili oil. Not worth the price but worth the attempt to make at home. The corn tortillas that came with this dish were over toasted... even a little burnt around the edges- we ate the dish without it. For our main dishes, I order the Lamb Terrine and my companion ordered the Lubina/Chilean sea bass. The sea bass was cooked well, flaky, good texture but again... not much flavor, very bland. It also sits next to a purée of more corn tortilla (same corn tortilla that was served with the Madai Crudo). This did absolutely nothing to compliment the dish. Now for my dish...This is where the night just fell for a huge flop. The was dry dry dry! Dry as in I had to guzzle water to get a few bites down (makes me cough just thinking about it). I mentioned this to the waiter, who took the dish back and nicely removed it from our bill. He even admitted that other customers made the same complaint (the lamb being very dry) that night. He then said he would return to allow me to choose something else from the menu, but he never did. Later someone else brought us a dessert menu which we were hesitant to try but being that we wanted to attempt to end on some sort of "high" note we ordered the pistachio and yogurt. The flaky caramelized topping was tasty, the pistachio ice cream tasted like regular store-bought pistachio ice cream, and it sat under a dollop of flavorful dulce de leche foam. Last but not least, I ordered an espresso martini- the most basic espresso martini I've ever ordered. No razzle dazzle, no coffee beans on top, nothing. Just cold coffee with a splash of vodka in a martini glass and a few sprinkles of grated coffee beans. Overall, our night together went well, but the food didn't contribute to that. The servers were attentive, however for the price and an establishment where I am expecting them to want their patrons to really taste and enjoy the food, I felt passively rushed. Would I go back? Only if they invited us back to make up for the night (we'll see). Pros: -Good for a date night -Great for photos (the bar) -Servers are attentive Cons: -Very uncomfortable chairs with no cushion left. I felt like I was sitting in a hole. I swapped seats with my date and his chair was worse, l dropped about 3 inches! -Chef doesn't seem to care if multiple people complain about a dish, apparently, they'll continue to serve it anyways. -Avoid trying this on a Saturday night (though we had an early reservation before the crowd)...perhaps the culinary team is better during the week. read more

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Came here for my brothers graduation dinner. Had a great time! Service - Was able to get a last minute reservation despite it being grad weekend which was awesome. Accommodating staff that went above and beyond. Despite it being a restaurant where people normally tend to eat their own dishes, we told waiter our (East Asian) family prefers family style and he instantly took our orders and impromptu came up with a 3 course meal based on what we we ordered Excellent ambiance and super attentive staff. Plating of the dishes were great too read more

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Imperfecto lives up to its name. It offers interesting and even experimental food which is not quite perfect. It takes you in a journey, and these can be tough some time. We went for restaurant week, and did the prefix menu which made the dinner affordable. We enjoyed the burrata, even if we wouldn't call it delicious, mostly for its it mix of textures and flavors. The lamb terrine was wonderful, but the pasta reminded me of modern art, where you can't be quite sure if you enjoy it. The truffle gave it a weird flavor. Service was great, the atmosphere was upscale (we felt underdressed as tourists), and I'd definitely would want to go back if I was in town. More detailed review at https://www.marga.org/foodblog/2025/02/dining-in-dc-imperfecto/ read more

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I've been here several times and enjoyed myself immensely each visit. The food changes a bit each time we eat here so come quick if you want to try something anyone has written about recently. The Cochinillo (suckling pig) was incredible and a must try! The Madai Crudo got rave reviews from the table and the falafel was the best I've ever had. All the food has been great but these have been the standouts. The service is impeccable and the ambiance is very cozy. I've enjoyed many of their cocktails and desserts. This is a place to visit in the West End. read more

Single diner review: This review is long overdue; I dined at Imperfecto's Michelin rated Chef's Table on Friday, May 10th. Bottom line: if two Michelin stars mean a meal is worth a detour, then this dining experience is definitely worth two stars! I followed the advice of a fellow Yelp-er and when I called to confirm my reservation that week, I requested Seat 1 -- next to the chef. This was the absolute best seat in the house, especially for a single diner who is there for dinner and the show Chef Rene puts on in the kitchen. The food was glorious. Highlights for me were the amuse bouche (all exquisite and tantalizing), wild grouper (beautiful in its simplicity), and the venison (unexpected and fortifying). I also did the wine pairing and, as a ten course meal, this was a marathon, not a race. Definitely plan to Uber home after this one! Service was impeccable. I loved how they described all aspects of the dishes without making it feel like I was getting a history lesson. Our lead server shared details of the ingredients and background of dish inspiration and development as well as suggestions for how to approach some of the more unique preparations. Some advice for future diners: plan for traffic! I dined on a rainy evening when there was horrible gridlock in Foggy Bottom. I actually abandoned my Uber and walked the last three blocks to make the reservation time. Consider that you're dining as a party of 12! While Imperfecto did hold our dinner for a couple running a little late, it was difficult to do so and inconvenienced 10 other people. Also, this was fantastic as a single diner. I wore a skirt set with fun accessories to dress it up. Attire for the whole table was on the business casual side. Bathrooms are multiple single rooms. Overall, one of the best Michelin experiences I've had to date! read more

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Last night, we experienced the Chef's Table at this establishment. We have dined at several Michelin Star restaurants in and around DC, but sadly have to put this near the bottom of this list. Upon entering, you are directed to the communal table just to the left of the host stand. The table can seat up to 12 people, but was only half filled for our evening. This experience is significantly more expensive than the rest of the a la cart restaurant (pre-paid at $265/pp not including tax or gratuity) and being so close to the host stand and the main door was off putting to us. We felt it should've been in a more isolated area to give it a more exclusive feel rather than putting the table on display in the middle of everything as if to say "hey fellow patrons, look at these guys...!" As far as the menu which had just been switched out and only a few days old, portion sizes were more than adequate, but was for the most part lack luster and very fish heavy for January. Which is fine, but just felt redundant after a few courses. Every item on the amuse was extremely salty, especially the mushroom soup, but thankfully wasn't that way throughout the rest of the meal. If my husband and I had to pick a favorite course, I don't know that we could. Not a single plate stood out to us. It was all just meh to ok! We were sent home with a "goodie bag" as most restaurants of this caliber will do. We were told it was a Venezuelan breakfast. The bag consisted of a breaded pastry, a chocolate bar and a shot of an oat milk drink. The drink was chilled so we knew to put that in the refrigerator once getting home. This morning I attempted to eat the pastry, but after taking a bite realized it was filled with diced ham and other meats. We had not been told what was inside the pastry and left it out all night, so it was not safe to eat and ended up trashing it. I was a little irritated by that, but can see how that may have been our fault as well. Final thoughts: It's always fun to experience a Chef's Table and we enjoyed ourselves as we always do, but did not feel this lived up to the standards of other starred establishments. Are we glad we went? For an evening out, sure! Would we return? No! Not until the experience and the price point are more aligned. read more

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I came here for a drink. I had the Imperfecto club cocktail and it was fruity and refreshing. The bartender was friendly and helpful and the restaurant had a cool, modern vibe. read more

Imperfecto - Imperfecto Club cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

*Review of the Michelin star chef's table* What an experience! My husband and I have been to several Michelin restaurants in the DC area and Imperfecto blew us away. It was better than some 2 stars we've been to and even the 3 star in VA IMO. We sat at a communal table set for 12 just off the kitchen where we had a nice view of the plating. We had great neighbors who we had a blast talking to throughout the evening (though I can appreciate the people next to you can really make or break your experience). First we enjoyed a tray of 5 amuse bouches followed by 7 savory courses (seafood followed by duck, venison and Wagyu), a palate cleanser, 2 desserts and then a few bites to end the evening. The finesse and artistry to each course really shined. Some of the absolutely exceptional dishes: -fish ceviche tart -tuna "prosciutto" over a plantain brioche with white truffle -venison with the unreal cheesy mashed potato -perfectly cooked waygu beef -final dessert with ice cream and that.caramel.sauce. A few that weren't my favorite: -squid "ramen" - still good but not as incredible as the others -duck - was also good but didn't blow me away -palate cleanser and first dessert were a bit too similar and tart for my liking But honestly I'm being nit picky. We had incredible service, tasty cocktails/mocktails, and that food was worth every penny. read more

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The food was fine, a little overrated for how much the meal cost but pretty the decent. However, I found the service a little underwhelming especially given the fact we were one of maybe 4 tables on a weeknight and there was not that many patrons. I was served the wrong main course, the servers were confused on who ordered what (which again, for a 4 figure meal I feel like should not be the case), and service was extremely slow (we were in there for more than 4 hours for a 3 course meal). Overall, it was a fine experience. The food was good but nothing to write home about. The service is just not up to par for what the cost of the meal was. read more

Imperfecto - Chicken liver tart - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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NOTE: this is for the a la carte experience, not the chef's tasting or the Michelin chef's table As a big fan of Seven Reasons' restaurant group, was excited to try out Imperfecto; however, I was severely disappointed by my experience here. Service, ambiance/presentation is lovely but the dishes left something to be desired. We shared most of the dishes from each section of the a la carte menu: Complimentary mushroom soup to start: to be honest this was the best part of the meal in addition to dessert! Section 1 (first course): got the cigars, burrata, crudo, but nothing spectacular. Section 2 (second course): prawns (a la Diablo), risotto, tagliolini. The risotto and tagliolini tasted off, flavors just weren't giving anything. Prawns were ok. Main courses: all were decent, but very salty. Dessert: Pistachio & Yogurt and the Eclair were a hit. Highly recommend. Curious to see how different the Michelin chef's table experience is, but with the level of creativity I've seen at this group's other restaurants, would have expected a lot more. read more

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We visited Imperfecto for Sunday Brunch. The sevice was great and what you'd expect at a Michelin Star restaurant. I also loved the ambiance of the restaurant. The big picture window helped to bring in natural light and made the place very warm and inviting. All of our dishes had a unique spin and were very tasty. Initially, I wasn't sure how I felt about the Feta on the waffle, but it worked with the flavor combinations. Pro Tip: Get the Rosé Prosecco! read more

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