Food was good, service was not. I must have some kind of bad mojo when I go out to eat knowing specifically want I want from a restaurant. Every single time I visit a restaurant because I'm craving a specific dish, I get bad service! I came around 1:45 pm, wanting some bruleed grapefruit and it was about 85% empty. I get seated, and it takes ten minutes for someone to come up and ask if I have been helped. That's how bad it was! I got asked if I've been helped BEFORE I've been helped. I made eye contact with a plethora of people, trying to give out a "help me" vibe. I got orange juice, it was good. Got the grapefruit, it was good. But the service left a bad taste in my mouth. I just wanted to come in, order me some grapefruit, and leave. In and out. This took forever. I hope to come back during a time where they weren't switching out services, but still. Even if they are, they need to realize that customers still come in and want to have good service. read more

Kingbird - Bruleed grapefruit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Words cannot describe the impeccable service we received at Kingbird. We were staying here at the Watergate and had made reservations for a night in. The ENTIRE time I never wanted for anything. There was constantly someone who was ready to help me. They greeted us by name and had waters available the second we sat down. Our waitress was absolutely phenomenal. I hope to have her the next time we come here for dinner. We had the Bouillabaisse for two. It was delicious and such an interesting way to serve it right in front of you while it cooks. We were both very impressed. This is a great spot for birthdays, anniversaries, or even just a nice dinner out. Thank you, Kingbird for a lovely night of food and drinks. We will be back. 5 stars well earned. read more

Kingbird - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Beautiful location overlooking the Potomac and conveniently close to the Kennedy Center for anyone looking to catch a show. The staff was fantastic and provided good humor, were attentive, and gave us excellent recommendations. The food was a bit pricey for the portion sizes, but everything that we ate was tasty. The presentation of the food was absolutely beautiful and almost too beautiful to eat (but after a bite, each dish went pretty quickly). The lobster risotto and beets were table favorites. The Tableside Bouillabaisse for Two was split 4 ways and also very tasty. The presentation of this was well worth the price of admission. We also really enjoyed the 30 day aged Porterhouse - a massive steak with bone marrow sauce that did not last long for 4 people. The cocktails were delicious (albeit pricey). Their Watergate Manhattan, which was rested for a minimum of 30 days, was one of the best that I have ever had. All in all, Kingbird is worth a visit if you are in the area or heading to the theatre (excellent theatre menu options). They have something for everyone and the food is all very good. read more

The first time I stopped by this place was NYE on a whim-- and I had an absolute blast. Great food, drinks, service, music, and a nice mixed crowd. I'll definitely consider going back here to bring in 2019. This time around I came to the Watergate for an event taking place in another area of the hotel. Me being way earlier than I had anticipated, I decided to kill some time and enjoy a drink at Kingbird. I figured that since I had a good time on New Year's then they should be able to make good drinks when it's not super hectic...and was I right! The server told me that their old fashioned's were a tad bit different from the usual way that they're prepared (in a good way). I'm a bourbon/whiskey lover so I took him up on the offer and was pleasantly surprised at how good the drink really was. I gulped it down because I didn't want the ice ruin the flavors... and well because I was really enjoying it . So then I ordered another drink! I said I wanted something with bourbon in it but not another Old Fashioned. That's when he recommended the Dark Lord.. sounds a little crazy but it was one of the best drinks that I've had in a while. This place is now one of my go-to spots for bourbon/whiskey drinks read more

Kingbird - One of the best Old Fashioned's in town! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Went for afternoon tea. Although it was good it is very expensive for what it is. $75 gets:1 salmon bite, 1 slice of egg salad sandwich,1 cucumber bite, 1 mini croissant with prosciutto and cheese, 1 bite of tiramisu pastry, 1 bite of strawberry shortcake pastry, 1 macaroon, and one mini scone. You will also get a glass of sparking wine and a pot of tea. Where I wrote bite I mean just that a single bite is all it is. From a business perspective it is genius the profit must be incredible. From a consumer perspective a bit of a rip off. So just be aware before you go. read more

I've been to Kingbird twice - for afternoon tea (which I enjoyed) and also for New Years Day Brunch (which I'm reviewing here. Since it was a New Years Day spread, the buffet was more extensive (and expensive) than the standard Sunday brunch buffet. But, still, at $99 per person, I thought it was well worth it! Loved the presentation! When it comes to a buffet brunch, sometimes presentation is everything. I love it when food is served in small, individual, glasses or miniature plates. Everything was well laid out and tidy. The live music added to the ambiance. Most everything was available at the buffet with the exception of the turkey torchon and the prime rib, which were served by the waiters. The salmon and the prime rib were exceptional. Loved the scallop crudo and shrimp cocktail glasses. I truly enjoyed most everything I ate - my only regret was not eating more! The only thing i tried that i did not like was the creme brûlée. The shell at the top was watery rather than hard, as it should be. Also, I believe the omelets were made to order in the back - somehow my husband and I missed this (if the waitress even mentioned it.) Service was attentive and friendly for the most part. My only criticism is that it took some time before the waiters cleared off the dirty plates. We had some piles of plates before they were cleared away. All in all, i was very pleased with the whole experience, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying their regular Sunday buffet brunch. read more

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Went here for dinner before a show at the Kennedy center with friends. Parked at KC and walked over. Service is excellent and the staff is very kind, menu is pretty basic/standard American food. End of the day it's a hotel restaurant; so a good option for convenience. On the pricier side, but the staff is very attentive and helpful. Not a bad hotel restaurant! Very clean, nice wine options that everyone enjoyed. read more

We went for the afternoon tea following the Facebook event. Today was the second day they are serving the afternoon tea. Since there is live piano, the setting was between the restaurant and the lobby. I was surprised to see that they used low tables, which are better for drinks than eating. The service followed as described, with the exception of the bottomless tea, which our server didn't know about. But the manager kindly accommodated our request to sample two different teas, which come in nice, big pots. We were also offered two glasses of champagne per person. Foodwise, the salmon sandwich and the chocolate desserts stood out. read more

Kingbird - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Two stars because unlike many reviews I've read the service was very nice. It didn't make up for the food though, which tasted like I imagine first class airplane food might taste like. We ordered carpaccio, canard, sea scallops, salmon, the chocolate tart, and the honey crisp tarte (we went for restaurant week). I'm sorry, there's nothing good I can say other than the dessert was passable and the "sexy fries" went a way toward filling us up in the wake of laughably small portions served on gigantic plates. I know you won't believe me because you don't know me, but I never complain; however I just can't not say something in this case. Please, if you think carefully before dropping $50 a plate on a dinner, don't do it here, at least not for restaurant week. I'm sure many people put a lot of hard work into this place, but there's still much more that needs to be done. Don't give up on it though Kingbird staff, you are very nice and the location is wonderful!! In the meantime diners, stay home and make yourself a grilled cheese. We wish we had. read more

Holy moly... As a middle class recent college grad, I felt completely out of place here yet so pleasantly surprised. I recently spent date night here and was absolutely blown away by everything from the food to the service to the ambience. I have never been to a place this fancy or expensive in my entire life. I felt and was treated like a complete princess! How will future date nights ever compare!? We had a reservation for a Friday night. The hotel this restaurant is located inside is not difficult to find and about a 5 minute walk from an orange line Metro station. The hostess was very friendly and dressed very well in a classy white skirt suit. We were given the choice of still or sparkling water and went with still. They brought out a bottle of Fiji water and poured it into glasses and it was the best water we'd ever had... Like, come on! Even the water was good! The wine book (not even a list) is intimidating. I was overwhelmed by the large variety and saw some half bottles in there for $500+. I decided to play it safe and order the Riesling. It was $13/glass but absolutely worth it. The ''Dark Lord'' cocktail was also fantastic. Not very reasonably priced but still delicious. On to the food... Surprisingly, the bread and butter were pretty average. They gave us a bowl of little crunchy things coated in sugar that I don't know the name of, and they were good but pretty overly sweet. The gnocchi appetizer ($20) was incredible. I was already stuffed after that because I devoured every bite. But nothing beats the short rib... I think the short rib I had here has got to be one of the top five best things I have ever eaten in my life. It was absolutely beyond words. I ordered it because other Yelpers raved about it and I'm so glad I took their advice. It is decadent, tender, flavorful, just perfect. Try it and you won't be disappointed. I got mine with a side of the vegetable of the day, which was cauliflower topped with so much goodness, so many layers of textures and flavors. Omg. Unfortunately, neither of us had room for dessert. I'm sure the desserts would have blown us away as well. I must say the service was impeccable. We didn't catch our server's name, but he was incredibly polite and efficient. The food runners were always smiling, always looking me in the eye with warmth. Other servers even smiled and said hello. As for the ambience, it is very modern and sleek. Not as big of a place as I thought it would be but still very classy and elegant. I felt like a queen eating here. This is the place to go for a special occasion. I can't lie, it puts a giant dent in your wallet... But you will get what you pay for and it will be a memory you will always cherish, especially if you're someone like me and aren't used to places like this! read more

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We were there for the restaurant week. The food was decent though for dishes that are "fancy" it came out so quick on a hot plate. The service was probably one of the worst in dc. We were seated in a back of the restaurant where I still had to wear my puffer to stay warm. Though water was filled many times by service staff our server was nowhere to be seen during our dinner so we didn't get to order drinks. Will not be returning. read more

I was lucky enough to get reservations for the cherry blossom afternoon tea on a gorgeous Saturday and loved spending time here! For one, it was a walkable distance from the National Mall during a weekend where traffic was insane. The Kingbird is a beautiful space with lots of natural lighting. The tea menu is vast with all kinds of tea, some of which cost extra. There were 3 of us so we opted for a jasmine tea, the cherry blossom tea (my favorite!), and a variation on an orange-flavored early grey tea. The flavors were incredible and there was plenty to share! It's $50/person and totally worth it for the wonderful teas, mini sandwiches, and desserts - great way to catch up with friends in a nice atmosphere. Can't wait to visit again! read more

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This review is for brunch, which is... rough. I landed here after a flight and was happy about the brunch option since there's not a lot of other within a couple-block radius of the hotel. When the maitre'd told me it was $59 for the buffet, I was hopeful that it would be an excellent meal. It wasn't. Lots of variety, most of which was congealed and looking like it had been sitting out on hot plates, untouched for hours. I would best describe it as "Golden Corral chic." The service was also questionable...seemed like a bunch of waiters trying to act like they worked in a five-star restaurant without any of the training. They pushed the $17 all-you-can-drink option hard; that seems to be the reason people come here. I'd rather just go to a lesser restaurant and local bar. This ain't it. After tax and tip, I spent nearly $80 for the worst meal I had over four days in DC. I just can't recommend this place to anyone. read more

We came for a last minute dinner before a show at the KC. Our waiter Omar made sure we were fed in a gracious fashion but within the short period of time we had. They even showed us the short cut to get back to the show on time. We will definitely come here for pre show dinner again. read more

Why are the seats at the bar SO REMARKABLY UNCOMFORTABLE!? I had this conversation with two different groups sitting near me the other day and the bartender nodded like this is a thing they hear a lot. I get that you want to lean into your 50s/60s history, but there are comfortable options for seats that accomplish the same look. As someone on a date in a dress and heels, it was almost impossible to stay seated without slipping off. read more

Came here for New Year's Day dinner and I was very happy with my choice at kingbird. Although I wasn't entirely sure about the actual location of this place but it isn't too hard to find (I'm not from DC). The restaurant was by the water so I could imagine how great it'd be during the summer days. The staffs were all very friendly and made sure everything was just right. I ordered the Icelandic cod while my bf ordered the rockfish. Both were delicious and the fish was just so fresh! Both meals had some what of a broth to dip your breads in because you'd definitely want to do that. For a side, we chose the sweet potato gratin but I thought it was a little much. It was basically mashed sweet yams with everything bagel topping sprinkled on top-- wasn't the best. For dessert we had coconut, blackberry sorbets as well as poached pear with some kind of chocolate mousse cake. Everything was spot on & I had such a wonderful experience. read more

Best birthday ever at Kingbird . Club sandwich, sexy fries, cocktails .... Keshar was our server and went above and beyond for my birthday ! Made everything special and will be back again . read more

Kingbird - Birthday ! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friends and I were headed to the Kennedy Center and decided to check Kingbird out for brunch ahead of time. The space itself is gorgeous, as it's been totally renovated and it certainly felt like we were dining in a fancy hotel restaurant. Since it is a restaurant in a hotel it was pretty pricey as to be expected but I felt like even being in the Watergate the quality of the food didn't justify the price. We got the bakery basket and the homemade chips and I would say those were probably the best part of the meal. The eggs benedict I got were just fine but honestly nothing special. read more

Kingbird - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm giving the place 2 stars because our waitress was absolutely amazing, the restaurant was beautiful but the food was literal trash, the best part of the meal was the bread. I ordered the "8oz" filet- which looked promising- I was sadly so wrong, it come out served in the nastiest bbq sauce, literally tasted like McDonald's bbq sauce I have never been more disappointed in a steak dish. Desert was decent. But still I cannot get over the disgusting sauce they ruined a beautiful cut of meat with. Nothing was seasoned 0 salt 0 pepper, not even a hit of any flavor besides cheap bbq sauce. read more

Kingbird - Disgusting bbq covered steak - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I had extremely high hopes for this place unfortunately it was a big let down. I was here for my birthday dinner and even the hosts when greeting us we're not that friendly. Our server was extremely complacent and very disingenuous. On to the food: We started with the Iberico ham which was $28 for 5 small pieces and only two pieces of very small crostinis. It was very one note as well no depth to the appetizer, it was ok but would never get it again. Black garlic crusted sweet breads. Gross ...I was really excited for this as I love black garlic pickled mustard seeds and of course the sweet breads. This appetizer was bland very gamy had no textural differences. We did not finish this one ... and it was $18 Honestly for the $46 we would have been better off getting another entree. Don't make the same mistake we did... The saving grace was the Entree: bouillabaisse for two. Wow the presentation on this with unlike anything I've ever seen. The scallops were delicious I mean honestly the scallops are worth a visit there's a ton of lobster meat and the fish in the bouillabaisse still had at Crispy delicious skin. Once they heat up the soup/broth at the table in this interesting beaker contraption, they then serve it to you over the seafood, which has placed in front of you with two right before the broth is finished. ***Make sure you ask for bread because the broth is worth dipping into. (They do not serve this dish with bread, but two crackers that you can't dip) Again our server did not even serve this to us I don't understand how this place functions ...as we had a server a Buser and someone else bringing food to us who was not a food runner but a server from another table. Dessert 5 stars: hazelnut coffee tiramisu. This thing was the icing on the cake... No pun intended. I want to go back for dessert and cocktails as the presentation for every cocktail at other tables looked amazing. Back to this dessert, the ice cream was perfect velvety and sweet, The tiramisu cake orders moist and soft layer was delicious and the hazelnuts were embedded throughout the dessert. I'm not sure if I'm willing to give this place another try maybe some of the other entrées could be better. read more

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Kingbird has finally reopened after 9 years, the manager told us. They took the time to really perfect the place- it truly has been one of the best DC restaurant experiences. My family and I arrived at the Watergate Hotel to celebrate a birthday brunch. That day was also the first snow of 2017, so as we were seated in a booth by the waterfront, we could see the snow falling and blanket the ground outside. The interior was beautiful with sleek, wooden walls as well as intricate, metal pillars. We started off with some hot water and lemons - I was amused that the manager commented how it smelled like lemons at our table (from the overpowering amount of citrus). We shared the brûléed grapefruit, forest quiche, smoked brisket hash and grilled hanger steak & eggs. The grapefruit was so beautiful with all the garnishings on top- it also had a very strong champagne taste from the 'granite' ice. The hash had a good mixture of flavor of pork, potatoes and egg as well as avocado and tomato to cut through the richness. The forest quiche literally had the texture of flan - so light and airy. My personal favorite was the grilled hanger steak - it was cooked a perfect medium and was very tender. Our family enjoyed conversing with the manager who shared about Kingbird and explained the detail and care taken at the restaurant; such as preparing most ingredients in house, from the breads, meats and pastries as well as the selective process on choosing the type of italian coffee to serve. For dessert, my family and I were not very hungry, so we decided on the champagne sorbet with an assortment of cookies. However, the manager brought out a complimentary birthday dessert- the eggnog brûlée, which was one of the more popular desserts. I personally enjoyed the cookies. As a sidenote- the bathroom was also very beautiful. I was in awe of the mosaic rose tiling on the walls as well as fresh roses by the sink. I look forward to coming back to the restaurant for upcoming occasions! read more

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My hubby and I had such a lovely anniversary lunch celebration here. I'm still thinking about how delicious our meal was! We debated on the Restaurant Week list as to where we should go for lunch and everything just seemed boring or I had been before. When we came across Kingbird at the Watergate I knew it would be different and special as it's rare that we go out to upscale restaurants. Well, Kingbird did not disappoint! From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, we felt taken care of right away when the host gave us a big smile and acknowledged that it was a big day for us. The dining room was gorgeous with soaring ceilings, cool pillars and a fresh airy feel. We had a lovely seat by the huge floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the Potomac, and I loved the actual booths--so contemporary and comfortable! We both chose the pumpkin soup over the grain bowl and loved when it arrived to our table in a small ceramic pitcher, which the waiter poured over candied hazelnuts while we watched. I chose the saffron bucatini for my meal while my hubby chose the baby romaine skirt steak salad. We both loved each dish and polished them off. Dessert was lemon olive oil madeleines which were good, but I have to admit seemed like somewhat of a plain choice for a fancy restaurant...it seemed like there could have been a fresh berry sauce or chocolate sauce for dipping to make it more exciting. But, the portion was very generous...at that point we could only eat maybe 1/4 of the madeleines and had to take the rest home as we were stuffed! For our anniversary they surprised us with a lovely dessert of macaroons too. Due to the shutdown, the restaurant was slow. Our waitress was very kind, but service was a little slow and we had to track her down for our check and a to-go box. When we left the hotel, we ran into Zacharia, one of the doormen, who told us we could come in on any weekday and take the 15-minute tour of the scandal room at the Watergate! And mentioned that hotel rooms are at rock bottom prices these days due to the shutdown, so something to consider if you have the means to splurge! read more

Went for lunch during restaurant week. Had the squash soup, filet with sexy fries and creme brûlée. Filet was very tender and cooked perfect. All was great! Was a perfect amount for lunch. However staff was not very tentative. read more

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My friends and I went here to grab dessert last night at around 9 p.m. We had dinner earlier on, and went to the Kennedy Center for an exhibit, followed by grabbing desserts here. I understand that most waiters want to wait on tables that are ordering full entrées, however, we scheduled coming for desserts at a time they would not be busy because... well...we get that it's annoying to have a group take up a table unless they are getting a full meal! When we arrived, I'd say 60% of the tables were open, it was dying down, but our waiter acted like he couldn't have been more inconvenienced by our presence, and the audacity that we had to come there and not order dinner, like HOW DARE WE have dinner somewhere else before our exhibit and walk over to Kingbird for JUST dessert. We asked him for just a dessert menu, yet he gave us an entrée menu as well, which was fine but when we reminded him we would not be needing it, he commented "you're not going to get an entrée??" which again was okay, I guess...but his entire demeanor after that continued to be snarky and just plain rude. It made all of us feel very uncomfortable, which is an unfortunate way for a patron to feel in any establishment much less one that was dying down in customers that evening. Our dessert was good (at least mine was) but not good enough to feel uncomfortable and shamed. A couple of us wanted to order drinks too, but because of his attitude we didn't want to spend any more money with him quite frankly, and we often frequent upscale restaurants like Blue Duck Tavern, so are used to paying these rates, but we won't be coming here to get an entrée. read more

Great place to grab a drink with friends. The service was great and the drinks were even better! I highly recommend read more

Kingbird - The Popular Pineapple - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Afternoon Tea (https://www.thewatergatehotel.com/dine-and-drink/afternoon-tea) at the Kingbird with 3 best friends for our monthly get togethers. We're had just about every time of tea and brunch all over the DC metropolitan area in all price points - this one is $50 per person. We were not impressed at all. The food was less than mediocre, literally no flavor for several items or just bad, tea options were very limited (out of the 4 teas, mine was the only good one), tea decor was not in line with the Kingbird's aesthetic, service was spotty and barely acceptable. The server mentioned SEVERAL times that tip was not included while being unavailable and hurried when we did catch him. When we weren't happy with the chamomile tea, he pushed back and insisted that the way it was served was the "style". It was nothing but loose leaves everywhere because the tea pots don't have strainers in them. If you know this is how it's served, then let people know beforehand. This afternoon tea seems to be an afterthought as to jump on a trendy tea time bandwagon with frozen/premade foods and cartoonish tea sets that evoke what Americans think English grandmothers serve in their homes. Definitely not again... read more

Went to Kingbird for the restaurant week and this place looks gorgeous! Has a really classy vibe, the service was really good as well. We also got a bottle of wine and shared it with my friends and the wine was smoooooth! The food is good as well but I think it was because of the restaurant week, we had less food. But I feel like the usual food wills be really good! read more

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Wonderful experience! The view on the patio on a nice day is unbeatable. And the service was amazing--our waiter was so attentive and personable, and they went above and beyond to give us as much as possible for our Travelzoo deal. I ordered the cucumber gazpacho and risotto, which were both so light and tasty. We also shared the scallops and charcuterie, which were richer and very good. The tiramisu for dessert was probably my favorite, as it was the most unique, with a surprisingly heavy coffee flavor, which I loved. I don't think any of the food stood out as the best I ever had though, and the menu was a bit limited (very heavy on the fish options when I was there), which is why I'm keeping it at 3 stars, but I had a great experience overall....would probably give 3.5 stars if I could. read more

If I could give them less than 1 star I would have. The food was trash!! I've had better food at mom and pop stores. Had high expectations. The food was trash!!! I mean gross what's in my mouth trash. I would never eat there again. However, I would say the service was great. read more

Kingbird - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The tea service here is spectacular. Unfortunately they will take online reservations and cancel them a week out for a private event that is apparently two months long. Clearly an event like this was scheduled well in advance, so the dates should not have been available to reserve. We have guests coming into town and this was part of our plans. Now we have to scramble, and all the other comparable experiences are fully booked. Thanks for leaving us high and dry at the last minute! read more

Got to brunch here before my flight back to Dallas. Came here with a couple of friends and couldn't have had a better way to end the great weekend. I love how this restaurant is located in the Watergate, it appeals to the "whole scandal" ordeal and the restaurant does a great job on putting a little history in our meal. They literally encourage you to "steal" their pens during the check. Now if you're going to brunch, I definitely recommend the Bloody Mary BOTTOMLESS!!! Drinks!! They're BM was on point and I enjoyed about a solid 4 drinks. Well worth the money considering it was $17. On to the food, I had the chicken and waffles and this is where my southern taste came to critique. When it comes to fried chicken, no one can compare to the South. But... I am a firm believer that Kingbird has the best chicken + waffles in DC! The chicken was flaky and juicy and the peanut dressing on it had me goin for more! My friends had the French toast and pancakes.. I couldn't get enough of the fragrance of the toasted coconuts, banana and Nutella spread on the pancakes!! Florence did a wonderful job serving us and her accent was so intriguing we had to ask where she was from. Before we left, one of the Managers approached our table and greeted all of us and gave us a brief history on the place.. really nice way to end the brunch and what great hospitality it was! This restaurant is in my bookmarks and I can't wait to come here again for their grand opening in January!! read more

Kingbird - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's nice to have a solid restaurant near the Kennedy Center. We've been several times now and the food is quite good. A recent highlight included the table side bouillabaisse, which features lobster, scallops and fish in a broth steeped with fresh herbs (the steeping is done table side in a fancy gizmo) and flash fried soft shell crab (the best I've ever had!). The service here can be excellent but unfortunately inconsistent. The menu is also not terribly seasonal (braised short ribs in the summer?). All in all, though, a solid choice. read more

Kingbird is a solid choice for a pre-show dinner before heading to the nearby Kennedy Center. Considering the lack of competition for walkable options to the concert venue and the unique location in the Watergate hotel, you'll likely walk away satisfied from your dining experience. While the design and ambiance of Kingbird is top notch, the quality of the cuisine ($112 for ribeye), cocktails ($22 for Old Fashioned), and service just do not live up to the high price point. As a restaurant that bills itself as "fine dining," I would expect more in terms of customer service. Three examples of sub-par service on a recent visit stood out to me and prevents Kingbird, in my eyes, from being a worthwhile "fine dining" establishment. (1) We arrived during a torrential rainstorm on a Friday night, so I had my (dripping) umbrella with me. No one at the host stand offered to secure it before seating, so I had to lug it with me through the very nice dining room to my table. Once I was seated, there was simply no place to put it. In any other establishment that considers itself "fine dining," someone would offer to take it off my hands to ensure my comfort. Here? Never happened. (2) My original reservation was for three people, but our third dropped out at the last minute. Soon after being seated at a tiny table between two others, we quickly realized that this was not going to be a comfortable dining experience. Looking around the dining room, we saw multiple tables open that seat 4-6 people. Since our reservation was originally for three people, we requested to be seated at either a booth or 4-person table. We were told that none of them were available, and we watched them remain empty throughout the night. (3) The wine list at Kingbird is impressive and presented in a very large & cumbersome book. After taking a seat, the two of us decided to have cocktails instead of wine. Yet the wine list, masquerading as a Ten Commandment stone tablet, remained on our table until our second (!) course arrived, leaving us little room to enjoy our multi-course meal. The bottom line is that Kingbird is a fine enough option for a meal before/after a show at the nearby Kennedy Center. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it based on the high price point that is ultimately not justified. read more

Perfect place to go for a date night dinner before a show at the Kennedy Center! Be prepared to shell out the cash, but for the ambiance, the artfully prepared dishes, and amazing cocktails it's worth it. The drinks: You must get the The Watergate Manhattan. The presentation will take you back to an older and classier time. It was absolutely delicious and will make you feel like a million bucks. I also had the Basil Daiquri which was fabulous. I LOVE basil in a cocktail. It gives it the perfect distinct, yet subtle, flavor. The food: For our appetizer, we got the Pan Roasted Scallops with pickled cucumber, black tapioca pearls, and lemongrass sauce. It sounds like a bit of an odd combination but trust me it works! Absolutely delicious. We also got the Char-Grilled Beets with burrata, dill oil, and smoked pistachio. I didn't taste much of the pistachio but the saltiness of the burrata cheese paired absolutely perfectly with the sweetness of the beets. It was so so good. Even if you are not a fan of beets I suspect you will love this combination. For my main course, I got the Lightly Cooked Ora King Salmon with English peas and citrus beurre fondue. The salmon and peas were perfectly cooked. The peas were not overdone, but we just the right amount of tender. Highly recommend. For dessert I got the crème brûlée. Delicious. Besides the fabulous food, the bathrooms are beautiful (weird but I really do love a gorgeous bathroom) and they have valet parking so you don't have to deal with the hassle of parking your car. This is the place to go before a night at the Kennedy Center. read more

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This is definitely an upscale bottomless brunch spot. It's located in the Watergate Hotel. Although near the basin, there's no outdoor seating. Considering a highway separates the restaurant from the water; it may a good idea. Every dish on the menu has a unique twist. The food was excellent... even my buckwheat pancakes were light. To my surprise, the bottomless cocktails were not weak and you can switch to another and back again. If you're not having alcohol they may forget about you. Several members of the waitstaff buzzed around ensuring we were taken care. Once we finished eating they brought the check but didn't rush us out. It's pricey but to be expected for such an elegant and upscale place. Great for special occasions or when you want to impress. read more

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Was excited to try this for dinner, especially because their pre-fixe menu looked really good. We didn't have reservations, but were told we could eat at the bar, which was perfect. I sat in my bar chair and promptly slid right out of it. I told the bartender but he could not have cared less. Pass. read more

What a gorgeous and classy establishment! I had the pleasure of dining here a couple of weeks ago, and can't say enough about the food and service, which far exceeded my expectations based on the reviews I had read. The Hamachi Crudo is a must order, and if you like fish, I recommend either the Pan Seared Hake or the Sea Bass. Both excellent choices, but wish I would have ordered the Charred Octopus Campanelle. Even though I enjoyed the food, what stood out for me was the fine quality of service received from start to finish. After taking a look at the lunch menu, I'd love to go back for a nice weekend lunch. read more

It's nice to have another option by the Kennedy Center, but there are a few reasons why I won't be running back to this one. First of all, the price point for the food is way too high for what it is. $24 for a burger?! The restaurant is in the newly, and beautifully, renovated Watergate, and something tells me we're partially paying for the renovation in the price of the food. Now, about the food. It's nice that they offer bar snacks, and they did give us complimentary house made potato chips with a delicious slight coating of honey and chili. My mom enjoyed her bloody Mary, and the beet salad was good, with the blue cheese in a light whip, rather than crumbles. My mom also enjoyed her lobster roll, and while my burger was good, it was SO salty. Unfortunate for the $24 price tag. At that price, it really needs to be perfect, and there wasn't enough of the wonderful tomato jam on it, either. I love that it came on a pretzel bun, though, and the pickles were good. The fries were alright, with a hint of truffle. Then for dessert the pear whiskey bar was beautiful, but not to my taste. The whiskey ice cream that accompanied it was excellent with the subtlest hint of whiskey. Also, the super friendly bartender gave us some complimentary lemoncello to top off the meal. As I mentioned at the beginning, it's nice to have another option in the area, but at that price point and the fact that my burger was so oversalted, it might be better just to grab a drink. read more

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I had the best birthday night here! From the moment i walked in till i left was amazing. I love the decor and how amazing everyone is here. I started with the kingbird cocktail and it was so good! I had the shrimp bucatini and oh my! This is the best meal ever but my friend had the skirt steak and it was so delicious! I dint think ive ever had steak that tasty and juicy. Everything here was perfect and cant wait to return! Their rooftop views are to die for! I would recommend this place to anyone! Parking is available on the streets and valet parking is available as well. read more

Typically, Kingbird is a little expensive for my every day budget. But for a special occasion, like a show at the Kennedy Center, I would highly recommend. I've come once for dinner and ordered the lobster ravioli which was flavorful and rich and delicious. The best experience I had here, though, was during restaurant week. We made a lunch reservation for a Saturday and when we arrived, we were handed brunch menus instead of the prix fixe restaurant week menu we were expecting. We asked the waitress who informed us that they were allowing everyone at that time to choose any appetizer and entree from the brunch menu, and you would get madeleines for dessert and still be charged the restaurant week price. This ended up being an amazing deal, and it was really cool of the Kingbird to be flexible in that way and offer the regular menu for the great price. It really felt like they weren't trying to scheme out of it being a good deal and we enjoyed our food so much. I had the grapefruit as my appetizer. It was fresh and perfectly bruleed. The granola on top provided a nice crunch and the creme fresh balanced the tartness really well. For my entree I had the shrimp and grits which were also amazing! I was really impressed with both of my experiences here, and am looking for an opportunity to go back! read more