Top notch service and delicious food. Cocktails are also well crafted. Would recommend for date night. I think many places cook vegetables like they're an afterthought, but not at Iron Gate: they really put a lot of attention and detail into each ingredient. read more

As an Iron Gare veteran, I could not have been more disappointed for my birthday dinner this past Saturday night. My boyfriend and I each did the chef's tasting menu which tasted fabulous but left me on all fours crawling to my bathroom due to HORRIBLE stomach pains (among other things) I experienced post-dinner. Maybe it was the raw tuna, maybe the egg whites in our drinks, maybe an undercooked scallop, regardless, I paid $95 for a fleeting high followed by a night glued to my toilet. Unfortunately the delicious, short lived bliss was not worth the bite. Iron gate used to be my point place for a tasting menu recommendation, but I cannot say the same for the future. read more

We came here for Restaurant Week lunch. The menu states four plates for $22. Me and my husband tried a number of different plates: -Crispy potatoes: 3/5 starts -Donuts: above my expectation. It is little tiny round doughs instead of a regular donut shape 4/5 -Grilled sourdough: the sourdough bread is very hard to bite, not crispy 3/5 starts -Beets: very cute and adorable presentation. The tahini and cumin flavor is a little too salty for me but overall a nice dish 4/5 -Pork belly: my husband said it is a little bland but together with roasted pepper and onions, it tasted good -Bread salad: the bread is deeply soaked in vinegar before and it is very sour (even for me, a person who love vinegar), the salad is fresh 4/5 -Pasta: very normal dish and something you can make at home, tomato source, tomato with mozzarella cheese 2.5/5 -Hen egg frittata: nice, thick, with cherry tomatoes 4/5 Our waiter was very nice but maybe it is restaurant week and she was super busy. My husband ordered an ice coffee and it was served with coffee ground, which upset us both. She offered to replace after we raised the issue. The patio was super nice and it seems the restaurant grew its own herbs (basil, chive, etc.) which is lovely. read more

Had the Chef's tasting menu with wine pairing. Absolute first rate experience all around! Worth every penny

Was excited to try this beautiful restaurant... The food was dampened by the terrible service. Not only was the hostess very rude and inhospitable. But the service did not improve. Please do not bother visiting this establishment. read more

Food-wise, this restaurant is a 4.5 however, based on the below review you will see why it is a 3, based solely on the service. For food - the Mixed Grill was huge and so tasty, i wish it would have come with a sauce though. We requested some of the tahini/dill sauce that came with the gyro bites (also amazing). The focaccia bread was also really good and not too big so you weren't overly full after eating. The chili pistachios were mediocre and could have done without - nothing special but good for nibbling on. For service - I was very disappointed by the hospitality provided at Iron Gate. As mentioned in other reviews, for a restaurant noted as $$$ with pricey food & drinks, I really would have expected more. To begin, we were slightly early and the hosts informed us our table *may* be ready in the next 15 minutes (when our reservation was made). They offered for us to sit outside, where there was a massive rain storm/cold and oh, none of the heater tables were even available! One question - why, would that even be considered an option on an evening such as this? Finally, Our waitress, Brandi Y, was in few words - awkward and made the evening uncomfortable. The biggest issue I had with her was that she did not believe me when I told her it was my boyfriends birthday, and in the moment I shook off to not ruin the evening. Even after we received a birthday cake, she never even came over and said anything to us, like "Happy Birthday" or "Hope you had a special evening" - a simple pleasantry would have been appreciated. read more

We've dined here more than a handful of times in the past 2.5 years, including having done several tastings to celebrate various occasions, in addition to a la carte meals. Our first few experiences were wonderful - fabulous food, wine, drinks and service - especially for the money value. We most impressed by the Chef's mezze starter as part of a tasting. Our most recent experiences in 2017 have been far more disappointing. This year we have done a tasting inside as well as a la carte on the patio - both since the the new menus were launched in early February. Both disappointing experiences boil down to similar issues - the prices no longer reflect the value. Iron Gate has become just another over-priced DC restaurant. The portions are smaller and the prices are higher. As an example, during our most recent visit, we ordered the honey roasted carrots from the a la carte dinner menu. For $14, we received THREE carrots (six halves), that were about 6 inches long. Fourteen dollars for $3 medium-sized carrots is outrageous and underwhelming to say the least. It amazes me that most of the most recent reviews are still very good - my guess is they are mostly first-time visitors to the restaurant. For someone who has had wonderful experiences here in the past, the trend is definitely going down. We will not be coming back any time soon or recommending to others. Very disappointed as this was our favorite restaurant for the past 2 years, but there is simply no longer "something special" about this restaurant and the experience it offers. read more

The only restaurant I've had great gnocchi was at Barbuto in NYC. Anywhere else I've had it was a disappointment. I dared to try it at Iron Gate and it was as good!! The focaccia bread is amazing and the carrots were delicious. I also had the dates, really good. The bartender was great company. We talked about Brooklyn so I was happy. Will definitely return to enjoy a meal in their outdoor seating. I gave them 4 stars because the desert was okay. Maybe because I got something I didn't order. It was okay. They immediately came back with the right order...by then I was full. read more

I've walked past this place a hundred times and was excited when my husband announced it as our date night destination. When he called for reservations, they let him know they were booked (Friday night) but encouraged us to try walking-in. We arrived around 7:30pm and were informed there was a wait. We spotted several open seats at the 1st bar area and since we were starving, decided to order from there. Service was still really good - our bartender/waiter checked on us often. It did get crowded 30-45 mins later, so I would suggest moving to a table if you're ordering food during a busy time to avoid people reaching over you or having to overhear their conversations. The food and beer we ordered were all really good. The only dish you really need to know though is the caramelized ricotta gnocchi. It was beyond delicious - great sauce, well-seasoned pork sausage and I love how they slightly charred the gnocchi. We had several orders and this was by far our favorite. Overall, it was a great experience and I look forward to going back, sitting at a table next time, so I can really enjoy the ambiance. read more

Iron Gate was booked on a whim, I had read an article about it and decided to try it out. That said it could be called a serendipitous mistake as the food and ambiance was stellar! I loved almost everything I ordered. Each dish out doing the last. I would HIGHLY recommend saving room for dessert. I got the lemon dessert, and as a lover of all things lemon this was absolutely phenomenal! In warmer weather the back patio is a really great place to sit. Unfortunately when there it was too cold, but very nice in more mild weather. read more

Bar service was just ok - bartender barely acknowledged us but warmed up to us eventually. I usually get a dirty martini with the addition of Tabasco and he gave a great recommendation of a habanero sauce specifically for drinks instead. I really enjoyed it. My dinner date ordered a martini with Greek yogurt, honey, vodka, and rosemary. It was wonderful as well. For dinner we ate on the patio and I highly recommend it. Such a great atmosphere with a garden feel - first time I've ever experienced something like this in DC. The food was great and the service was on point. Highlight was the anchovy toast - be sure to try it. read more

Excellent! I enjoyed everything about this place. Service, food and atmosphere were all excellent. I sat at the bar and my server/bartenders were on point with their recommendations and service. I went with three small plates and each one was better than the previous. My favorite was the pasta with sausage and red ragu sauce($12). It was recommended by my server and it was awesome! I also had the potato faccocia($6) and the rock shrimp with sweet and sour type dressing/sauce($11). All very good as well. The restaurant itself is uniquely set up with a bar section, outside patio section and a formal dining room. The ambiance was warm and inviting but in a modern like setting. Hard for me to describe so you should come try this place for yourself. I highly recommend it! read more

The atmosphere was fantastic and the service was nice. However, the food was a little bit expensive, even though most of the items we ordered were delicious, but some of the food was overly charred. read more

Iron Gate is tucked away in an alley off of Dupont Circle. At night it's kind of mysterious and romantic -- and easy to miss. So much the better. You can eat inside, but I'd recommend eating in the patio. Even in December the firepits keep it warm. It was my birthday, so they brought us a glass of aged Greek malvasia and orange-blossom doughnuts and all kinds of other stuff, all on the house. The wine list is extensive, mostly Greek and Southern Italian, the cocktails are creative and damn good, and while we only had small plates each one was better than the next -- the charred octopus was unforgettable, make sure you get it. Our waiter was a young guy with blond hair and a big jaw. I don't remember his name, but if your server matches that description you can rest easy, you're in good hands. Can't recommend Iron Gate enough. read more

A big shoutout to the crew at the Iron Gate. Something had gone wrong with our reservation, but they managed to carve out a space for us anyway so that we could celebrate our anniversary (27 years!). The staff were super attentive, made excellent recommendations and took very good care of us. A great night to remember! We enjoyed the grilled oysters, the mushroom risotto, the octopus and a divine rhubarb strawberry panna cotta, among other things. read more

Nice ambient, especially the patio. The food is good but overpriced. However it had a nice atmosphere to enjoy a conversation.

A romantic spot with unique seasonal dishes. After seeing someone's photo of the spectacular lobster squid ink pasta, I knew I had to try it. We stopped in for an early dinner on Sunday. The famous outdoor patio is as lovely as everyone says, but to avoid the bugs we ate indoors. We ordered the Dakos Salad, Summer Melon Skewer, an octopus dish, Daily Focaccia, and Whole Roasted Main Lobster with Squid Ink Bucatini. The Dakos Salad and Summer Melon Skewer are light and enjoyable summer appetizers. The focaccia is a really delicious must-order here. The lobster pasta dish took an hour to prepare and arrived as an impressive, tasty dish well worth the $49 price tag for two people. The dish I would not order again is the octopus--for $18, it was small and unmemorable. I paired my meal with an excellent Sage Advice cocktail. I'll be back to try more seasonal offerings. read more

The 2 stars are for the service and the wine pairings. I used to go to this place years ago and was so looking forward to returning (especially with Tom Sistema's review (sp?). Flavorless, no salt added to anything. My husband ordered the appetizer of scallops - well it is ONE scallop. His entree of short rib, which was taunted as being akin to carbonara, was nothing close to anything tasting like carbonara. My entree, duck with foie gras. Really, the worse foie gras I've ever had and the serving was more like a tapa. The squash, chicken liver on crostini and the omelet which come all at once like a amuse bouche all flavorless. My cheese plate. WHAT CHEESE PLATE??? A flat piece of one cheese about 1/5". That was it. The only good things to say about this place is the ambiance and the wine pairings. Too bad the food pairings were so disappointing. I'd rather eat shoe leather. read more

Wines by the glass: Excellent! Unusual selection from Greece, Macedonia, and Italy. $12 - $16 Food: Delicious comfort food. Don't miss the braised rabbit with dill gemelli, it's top notch. $9 - $15 for small plates. A dainty diner could do 1 or 2. I'm into exploring lots of tastes and was happy with 3. A couple could do 5 - 6. Atmosphere: Intimate, pretty, perfect for a romantic evening. Service: Awkward, but charming. Hostess is a gem. read more

Holy moly (yes, people still say that) I walked past Iron Gate super late one night and thought to make it a point to check it out. What a shock. Some of the best tasting combinations I could ever ask for. Total hidden gem. read more

Such a romantic spot, especially the back patio. The tapas are excellent although be warned that there are very very few main plates (to share only.) Excellent desserts, especially the Greek doughnuts. read more

Really great spot. Romantic and intimate, the atmosphere is cozy and warm. The food is small plates or a pre fix menu. We did small plates and each one was better than the last. Delicious cocktails too. It's a fancier place so it's a bit pricier but worth it. Can't wait to come back for another special occasion. read more

Wonderful setting, spectacular patio, great drinks, very good food. Just go; it's a no brainer.

Food ok.. not worth the price. I had booked this place for dinner on my husband's birthday hoping to have a nice romantic ambience and food. The ambience was good but we got our seating in the hallway where the bar is. Seating was worse and they cramped four little tables with barely any place between tables. It was hard to get in and out and the seating was not comfortable either. Food was OK. read more

Today we had Brunch for the first time but definitely not the last! There were four people in our party and we could not have had four more diverse dishes. Angus Burger, Catfish, Poached Eggs and Lemon Pancakes. Everyone LOVE their meals without exception. Sean, our server, was the friendliest, attentive and professional people I've ever met. The restaurant itself is warm, comfortable and welcoming. Can't wait to get back for dinner! read more

I had drinks and dinner on the patio with a friend visiting from LA who moved from DC a year ago. I'd sat inside at the gorgeous bar a few times with friends, and was excited to enjoy the beautifully lit patio with 100 year old wisteria vines. Very romantic and relaxing atmosphere. We started with cocktails, I had the Nicolaki, which I worried would be too sweet, and was intrigued by the greek yogurt in it, but it was divine. It tasted like a not too sweet, creamy lemon pie. My friend had the Hearts Alive cocktail, which we both agreed was a bit too sweet. Then we ordered a bottle of the greek Syrah, and the sommelier was very friendly and descriptive. We then ordered the house-made focaccia bread, two small bowls of the campanelle with pork sausage ragu, and the veal meatballs, they brought all the dishes out at the same time, which was kind of a drag, especially because on the menu the meatballs were clearly marked as appetizers, and who wants to eat bread after eating a full meal? But each were delicious--though I felt like the campanelle were a bit salty, but I often feel that way about pork sausage pasta dishes, so maybe it was just me. The polenta that came with the meatballs was smoky and creamy. The focaccia with olives and potato was hearty, and not too oily, and I normally don't care for focaccia/dense breads. We then split the Greek donuts for dessert, which were in ball form, served in a glass with an orange blossom syrup at the bottom. The donuts at the bottom of the glass got a bit too syrupy, but it was overall tasty--and I don't usually like donuts. Our server even brought us a complimentary apertif at the end of dinner, which aren't my favorite, but appreciated the nice gesture and had a sip or two. I love the ambiance of Iron Gate--the romance and peace of the patio and the cozy, stately and historic decor of the bar. I also find the Greek wine list intriguing since you don't often come across Greek wines. I would def recommend for drinks and dinner, for a date or to catch up with an old friend. read more

It isn't easy for a gluten free vegetarian to eat many places without having to resign themselves to having a salad. Super grateful to the chef who was willing to make me my own something special! Bonus - it was PASTA! Sit on the patio and forget you are in the middle of DC. read more

Amazing ambiance, less than friendly staff and no happy hour specials. My friend and I went around 5pm on a weeknight and sat at the bar. The staff was disengaged, inattentive and seemed to have an attitude when we asked questions about the menu. Also, the signature old fashion cocktail was amazing. The bartenders may not be friendly but they are true mixologist. I would recommend the restaurant but would suggest asking for the manager if you encounter unfriendly service. read more

Iron Gate has a longer history than all but a few DC restaurants. It has always been a lovely place with a cozy indoor area with a fireplace and a beautiful outside dining room under a grape arbor. Before it closed briefly in the early 2010s, however, the food was pretty bad and the service indifferent. The place is still just as pretty and now the food is more than adequate. Not spectacular--zucchini blossoms were overly greasy--but the good outweighed the bad. Gnocchi, for example, had an almost perfect consistency and came with a decidedly tasty well spiced tomato-based sauce. Is it spectacular? Nope. There are better meals. But Iron Gate has pretty good food in a really lovely environment. read more

Service beyond excellent and intimate ambiance, but my wife and I were not impressed with the food. The octopus and the donuts were great, but we didn't really like anything else we ordered. Everything was prepared well, looked beautiful, and cooked perfectly...we just didn't enjoy the flavors. I think everyone should give this place a try, but we won't be back; there are too many other places in DC we want to eat at. read more

Ambiance, food, service, wine list, and friendliness of the hostess was all 5 starts and above! Food was really fresh; specially vegetables. Some picked from the garden in the back! Really recommend this place! read more

Iron Gate - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First time for lunch. Sat outside. Helicopters overhead multiple times made it difficult to converse. Chair was wobbly. Had the lamb kabobs. Friend had the blue catfish. Kabobs were tasty. Catfish was bland and overly breaded. Portions were quite small. Perhaps the inside seating would have made experience more enjoyable - with a different order. read more

Always a pleasure. Lovely outdoor seating and delectable food. Vegan options available.

We've eaten at Iron Gate several times in the past few years in each of the dining areas. Every visit has been fantastic! The rabbit gemelli is to die for (also, this past week it was a pregnancy craving for me... sooo good)! From the delicious food to the impeccable service, we always leave Iron Gate looking forward to our next visit. Tried the rice pudding this time for dessert, it was light and refreshing yet decadent... the perfect way to close a meal. Also, for anyone looking for a mocktail that is a joy to drink and you don't miss the booze, they make a delectable pineapple, yogurt, rosemary concoction! read more

Great food and friendly staff. I did the four course tasting menus with the wine pairing. read more

Iron Gate - Quail - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

One of my favorite restaurants in DC. Excellent dishes and wine list, attentive service, and wonderful ambiance on the patio. I look forward to dining there again. I particularly recommend the scallops, the shrimp, and the braised rabbit. read more

I went to Iron Gate for a graduation party. The back garden area was able to be reserved for our private group, and the meal was a delicious, family style selection of various delicious foods. My favorite was the sesame crusted feta with honey- I am currently frantically trying to find copy cat recipes online! I also really enjoyed the bean salad and the gnocci. Each dish was something I would not have thought to order, but I enjoyed each and every one. The staff was very attentive and thoughtful and the location itself is beautiful. read more

Would love to bump this up to 3.5 stars because of the attentive and friendly service, but 4 seemed like too many (apologies to the servers and other attendants, who were on point)! So...I kind of get the sense that Iron Gate is coasting a bit. It has built up this mystique due to the fact that it always seems to be totally booked AND it feels like such a hidden gem! Those iron doors? So cool! However, I have to say that in a city that is now filled with interesting, inventive, beautifully plated small plates, the food at Iron Gate feels (dare I say) somewhat uneventful! I also found the food to be lacking the sort of finesse you can find elsewhere (e.g., Chloe). Sure, you can add edible flowers and burnt husks to a dish, but what does that do for the actual flavor? And sure, the dishes are "instagramable," but what about the temperature of the dishes' components? Do they make sense? In my experience, sometimes they didn't. A few temperatures, consistencies, and flavors were either a bit off or just not memorable. The cocktails were tasty, but again, we can get great cocktails in lots of places now! Also didn't love the condition of the bathrooms upstairs. Alas, maybe I'll try lunch or brunch some time, but would not recommend a late dinner there! read more

Came here for brunch - the food was amazing and the place itself is very aesthetic. We had the stuffed brioche pinwheel to start, and then I got the baked hen eggs. Loved them both, and the other 3 people I was with all got the lemon-ricotta pancakes and were really happy with them. The only thing is the service was incredibly slow - there weren't that many people there and it still took 45 minutes for our food to come out. Definitely want to come back for dinner though! read more

I dine with 7 friends and/or cousins once a month and for brunch this Sunday we chose Iron Gate. Everyone was pleased with their collections and for me the highlight was the burger and the eggplant wrapped in bacon dish which wasn't my entree, but tasted, and was blown away. I also chose the fried eggs that came with potatoes and a green salad. That was tasty as well although my eggs were a bit over cooked. As a chef you know when you've over cooked eggs therefore the eggs I received should have never made it to the plate, although edible. It's just my choice of wanting my fried eggs over easy to be just that. read more

See all