Sometimes there's a dish that you have that you find you can't forget.  It's one that you look forward to having again and it becomes a memory of an evening well spent.  Such is the case for the tamarind braised lamb shoulder at Marcus.   Yum!  It is so flavorful and the portion is so generous.  Plus, it comes accompanied by the super contrast of the pickled vegetables and the just plain goodness of well-cooked collards.  So satisfying!  This dish alone is well worth the trip.  But wait, there's more....  The simple sounding crispy sweet potato was also delicious and, true to its name, the skin was delightfully crispy.  You could hear the crisp.  We also enjoyed the popular blue cornbread which had a really nice texture.  For drinks, we had the velvet detour.  It was also really good - and - it didn't come with a giant ice cube - YAH!  Those giant ice cubes drive me crazy!  So, I was very happy to be able to enjoy my cocktail without an iceberg ramming into my face every time I took a sip.  Dessert was the praline cake which was beautifully colorful and served tableside.  We appreciated all the excellent and friendly service we received and it was fun to see one of the talented staff assemble the various parts of our sweet treat.  The only very small downside to our wonderful dinner was that, for some reason, although we were there early when the dining room was still quiet, someone was seated at the table right next to us instead of at a number of other tables one or more over.  It felt like a little bit of a shadow on our privacy when there were many other options.  But, that's a small thing.  All in all, we really enjoyed our dinner at Marcus and that lamb shoulder is on my list of faves for sure. read more

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Most of the food at Marcus was delicious, but a couple dishes could use some tweaks, service was only okay, and the dessert course was a letdown. It's well worth a visit and has 5-star potential. I visited on a Saturday with a group of four at 6:30 PM; prime time. The place was busy but not full, especially not the bar, which was empty most of the time (maybe start happy hour?). We were seated on one side of a very long, very solid wood table. It reminded me of that movie trope where two people try to have a conversation from opposite ends of a huge table. Fortunately, we were all seated together. The opposite end was used for another group, much later on. We kept wondering who would arrive and be our sort-of dinner companions. First, a round of cocktails. The Brown Butter Soul ($16) was a standard whiskey sour; it didn't look or taste like its name, or bring anything new to the table, so it was a disappointment. It also looked identical to the Solara ($17), except for the latter's tomato garnish. The Abyssinian Blaze ($17), on the other hand, was like a negroni but with berbere spice on the back, giving it a novel taste. I'd order that one again. Everything on the menu sounded great. We knew we had to get the cornbread and the crab rice, but other things were TBD. The Blue Cornbread ($12 for two pieces) was excellent -- an attractive brown color outside, a grey-blue inside, texture moist but not crumbly, and most of all delicious with the yassa butter accompaniment. Yassa (a West African dish prepared with onions, lemon or mustard) was a new flavor for me, and it was great. The Steak Tartare ($23) was one of the better interpretations I've had recently. It was a surprisingly colorful dish, for a tartare, thanks to tiny, pure white mushrooms, dark red onion jam, yellow egg yolk, and orange spices in the steak. The brown bread that came with it was also great. We all enjoyed the restaurant's riff on an everything bagel + lox, the Smoked Fish Pate ($23). It was another colorful dish, well presented, if a fairly traditional take. The everything lavash was fun and tasty. Another seafood dish was Tuna Crudo ($25, ~5 pieces of fish). It was good but not too different from other crudos. It came with slices of kiwi, but only three to go with the five slices of fish. While the main dish was an attractive mix of red and green, the dark yellow sauce on the side of the bowl was a bit off putting. The Cuttlefish Tortelloni ($40, 5 tortelloni) was great with its lobster emulsion. You could have put any filling inside and it would have been good. The Crispy Sweet Potato ($13) with some creme fraiche and roe was good, but only interesting if you got everything together. The ratios were a bit off -- too much potato -- so that when you are passing it around your group, it's too easy to not get enough toppings. Finally, the Crab Rice ($68) with mushroom, pickled alligator pear, and uni bearnaise. We were divided on this dish. Some people loved it, others did not; all the components blended together into a single flavor, which I liked, but I also found very acidic and one-note. The acidic flavors paired well with the sweet potato side dish. I couldn't taste any crab or individual ingredients. It felt more like a tasty side dish than a main course. I would eat it again, but I would want a different protein that stands out more. Our dessert course started off on a confusing and disappointing note. A few days before, the Marcus Instagram account posted about a "Mumbo Sauce Salted Caramel Ice Cream" which was featured in a Food & Wine magazine article. Guess what? It's not available. In fact, our server had never heard of it. We had to show them the Instagram post to convince them to ask the kitchen about it; they didn't have it. Why are you advertising something on your Insta (and getting national media attention) for something you don't have? C'mon. Dessert brought the Strawberry Breton and Buttermilk Tart ($15 each). The breton was not good, and I would not have identified it as a breton. The pastry was dense and too thick. The strawberry sauce was the main flavor. The net result tasted like a strawberry Pop-Tart, so it tasted good enough, but wasn't appropriate for a $15 restaurant dessert. The Buttermilk Tart was a very good rendition, although the green tomato sorbet didn't taste as interesting as it sounded. This ended up being a lot of food for four people, so we had about half of the crab rice and some of the potato left over. The check came with four tiny house-made gummy fish -- their take on Swedish fish. This was a sweet note, but not enough to make up for the previous dessert disappointments. read more

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I'm really stuck on my review for Marcus because the highs were high and the lows were meh. My positives were that, I really enjoyed the crab fried rice. I liked that it was kind of a choose your own adventure and there was a lot of flavor. It was a good amount of crab and was a hearty meal. The biggest star for me was the sweet potato side dish. It was perfectly crispy, well seasoned, and tbh I want that recipe. My lows originally put this at a 3, but I also know my experience isn't everyone's. Our party was seated in the side room instead of the main dining room, and when i asked the host if we could moved, she told me there was a table available but that it was reserved and that made me more confused because I also had a reservation? The ambiance was very lacking in the side room. They also have a table side dessert that I was excited for but the server told me the cart could not fit through the door so it was also disappointing (but he did check and said they could still do the whole service if I wanted dessert). Those were just bummers. The cornbread also I'd skip because it wasn't really moist. read more

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I was torn between giving this place two or three stars as the service was spotty and I wouldn't recommend coming here for food or drinks, which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant. The night started out strong as the best dishes were the appetizers and side, but the meal went downhill as the night progressed. Yes, order the blue cornbread. The flavors are unique and taste absolutely wonderful. Loved the sweet berbere honey on top. One order comes with two, so if you're with a big party you'll want to order multiple plates. This is the star dish of the restaurant. If the other dishes went in this direction, the restaurant could be great. Honorable mentions are the crispy sweet potatoes (I don't usually eat sweet potato but I liked this dish) and possiblyy the baked oysters (unique flavors but the toppings were a bit too heavy for an oyster). All the main dishes, I wouldn't order again. The crab rice had too much going on, the flavors were competing with each other so I couldn't enjoy it. I had one small servings and was done. The salmon was slightly undercooked in the middle and underwhelming. The sweet potato just heavily overpowered the other flavors on the dish and threw it off. When I ate the salmon without the jus, the dish was just fine. A very simple dish I wouldn't go out to order. Others at the table ordered the roasted sea bass. I liked the char on the fish and it was cooked well but again a very simple, underwhelming dish. Would not order again. The cocktail menu is very limited. I didn't care for any of the drinks we ordered at the table. There is an extensive wine selection so that may be the route you want to take if you come here. The birthday dessert is bizarre in the worst way. I think it was a small piece of cake topped with mousse that was then topped with caramel coated popcorn.. I can't comprehend the reason as to why they would serve this as a birthday dessert. It's not even on the dessert menu, and once you see it and try it, you begin to understand why. Overall, beautiful restaurant and great ambiance. However, the menu and flavors are all over the place, the drinks are subpar, and the service was slow. Would not recommend coming here for dinner. Maybee come here for a glass a wine and small bites (aka the blue cornbread)? read more

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The interior here is so lovely, and the bar makes amazing drinks (caffeinated lemonade was delicious and refreshing). We were ushered to our table in the back room. Between six, I think we ordered everything off the menu and it was beautiful and delicious, very generous portions too. The only miss was the baked oysters, they came drenched in an overly spicy in what tasted like unpleasantly spiced chorizo sauce that drowned out the oyster if there even was one in there, yowsa. The salmon was good but came with some very undercooked asparagus (raw!)...funny bc I also ordered a side of carrots - mix of colors-and these had good flavor but were on the undercooked side as well. I had to leave early but the lamb and beef dishes were impressive. I will definte come back again. read more

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Grabbed a seat at the bar with no plans for a full dinner--just wanted to sample a few bites. Three small plates and two perfect martinis later, I left more than satisfied. The smoked fish pate was a standout: rich and flavorful, paired with house-made crackers that were crisp, light, and just right. Add in the smoky fish, salmon roe, and a touch of pickled onion and pickles--it all came together beautifully. The snapper crudo was equally impressive--fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced with avocado and a bright citrus base. Absolutely loved it. Even the greens held their own, topped with crispy onions that added great texture. Two martinis in, and the night was officially made. I'm already planning a return visit--next time with company, since a few dishes on the menu are made for sharing. A perfect excuse to come back. read more

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For the Thursday 8pm seating, my friend and I did the chef's menu. Once inside The Morrow Hotel, Marcus DC's host walks you to a table for two facing the open kitchen. Here, you watch your meal being created by the chef and team. The tasting menu comes with five courses and two surprise courses, including Parker House rolls, which stole the show. They were so good with the butter. Overall, each dish was presented well and had good flavor. They also have a drink menu with some good wine options. Service was consistent and there was never a time where we wondered where our server was. He did a good job. read more

I'm so glad my friend and I found out we both wanted to try this place and made a reservation here because this place was absolutely fantastic with food, service, and ambiance! Came on a Thursday night after jumping off the Metro and a decent amount of people were there. I was offered coat check which was very helpful. Staff were very friendly and attentive. The place is inside a hotel but very beautiful to be seated in. I had blue cornbread as an appetizer and it was jaw-dropping with how amazing it was just cornbread and butter. The bread was denser than expecting, but went extremely well with the yassa butter; it was quite addictive. One cornbread already filled me up, honestly. I had the dry aged ribeye, which was delicious. The meat itself was juicy, tender, and had a nice crisp/flavour on the outside. The dish came along with sauce, some sautéed vegetables, and something else a bit more on the crunchy/grainy side, but I can't remember what it was called. Everything worked so well with each other but were also quite delicious individually too. The cauliflower was impressive, being refreshing and tasty as one of the few vegan dishes here, and is still quite great. The drinks and dessert were quite a nice touch too. There wasn't anything that appealed to me initially on the drink menu, but seems like the cocktails are hits regardless. I had a great time dining here, and I'd definitely come again and recommend to my friends! I would like to try one of their gatherings dishes next time, hoping that I'd have room for it! read more

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My friend and I had a belated birthday meetup and I'm not sure how this restaurant popped up but I'm glad it did. PARKING/TRANSPORTATION: It's within walking distance of the NOMA/Gallaudet metro stop. They have valet parking for $25 if you're attending the restaurant only. $65 for overnight guest. I'm unsure of nearby parking as I Ubered in this day. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: The restaurant is located in the 5-Star Morrow Hotel. Random, but I loved the bathroom. I believe there are about 5 stalls, one handicapped. The doors go from ceiling to floor and shows vacant or occupied. The restaurant was beautifully designed. Very upscale and dimly lit when the sun sets. I arrived a little before opening, and the second they opened the doors, the restaurant filled quickly. SERVICE: Carlos was our server and he was so incredibly warm, knowledgeable and made great suggestions. Service in general was perfect. FOOD: BLUSHING ROOT COCKTAIL dark & light rum, mauby bark, hibiscus flirtatiously earthy twist on the daquiri. - botanical & smooth This was sweeter than I thought it would be. When I first read the ingredients,I thought it would be a little more earthy but this was a pleasant surprise. BLUE CORNBREAD yassa butter, berbere honey This turned out to be a little more savory/salty than I thought. When I saw honey I thought maybe it would be a little sweet. I enjoyed it though. SEARED SCALLOPS plantain mole, maitake, pickled chayote This wasn't bad, just a little more salty than I would have preferred. CRISPY PORK BELLY tiger prawn, apricot mustard, radicchio, spiced jus Pork belly is always a hit or miss. While this was good, I feel I've had better pork belly elsewhere so I can't say I would order this again. DRY AGED RIBEYE* trumpet mushrooms, berbere crust, black garlic jus I didn't get to try this but my friend said it was cooked to perfection and had no gristle or fat. She would return for this dish. MEL'S CRAB RICE shiitake mushroom, pickled alligator pear, uni bernaise I know this is the staple item on the menu but I was a little disappointed. It just wasn't what I expected. I loved the textural elements and the bearnaise was to die for. I can see how many would love this but I think I was looking for something different. SWEET POTATO STICKY TOFFEE CAKE SERVED FOR 2 candied pepitas, smoked sage ice cream This was my favorite item on the menu hands down. I love sticky toffee cake in general but I don't care for sweet potato. This is the first item I've had that balanced the flavor so well. I would go back for this dessert in a heartbeat. It was rich, flavorful and... One person can eat it. Believe me. Oh and this may be small but for those who love this perk, they pack your food up for you to take home. OVERALL: I would return to this restaurant. There were other items I wanted to try and while there may have been some hit and misses, I feel misses may have been attributed to personal preferences. read more

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Celebrating Black History Month by supporting Black owned businesses. Join me! I must say that the food scene in DC is impressing me everyday and I'm here for it. This place embodies fine dining. After all, the mastermind behind this place is the Marcus Samuelsson!!! Staff: The staff was incredible. Brandon wore many hats but did an amazing job at making guests feel welcomed while recommending everything from wine pairings to desserts. Then there was our amazing waiter, Oudone! He was a star and knew his items on the menu from front to back. Drinks: The cocktails were impeccable and unique. Talk about incorporating spices into a drink, this place offered it. I ordered the Solara and my boyfriend had the Velvet detour. The Solara: Blanco tequila mixed with vine-ripened tomato and citrus for a sun-kissed, fresh cocktail with bright warmth. This was sinfully good! A bright and playful cocktail which lived up to its refreshing description. The Velvet detour: Tamarind, cognac, and lemon juice shaken for a luxurious, smooth cocktail with a soft, velvety texture. Amazing! And listen in, the tamarind balanced the cognac just right, creating another cocktail magic. FOOD Table Talk- Blue Cornbread: I'm uncertain how anyone could not love this cornbread. Honey, this starter was a sweet lure down the food rabbit hole, the one you don't want to be rescued from. It was phenomenal! And the Yassa butter and sweet berbere honey was chefs kiss! Snapper Crudo: After a sweet start, the snapper crudo presented the citrus flavors that we needed to reset our palate in order to intake another wave of flavor goodness. Whew, this dish was citrusy and absolutely fresh, an amazing continuation of the food journey. Impressions- Seared Scallops: By now I'm thoroughly impressed and wondered to myself "what else can Chef hit us with?" Well, along came the best seared scallops that I've ever had! Rested on a bed of plantain mole, this dish brought together cultures and I truly appreciated that. What a delightful addition to the evening. Gatherings- Tamarind Braised Lamb Shoulder: So of course by the main dish, we're already sold on this place and deciding on our return. And then the Tamarind Braised Lamb made its exquisite entrance. Paired with a side of saffron pickled vegetables (helpful to balance the fat from the lamb) and Dorothy's collard greens (baby this the one!). This entree was enough for more than 2 people so my boyfriend and I had quite a few servings days following. Saffron pickled vegetables were perfect and again, an excellent break from the fattiness carried by the lamb shoulder. The Dorothy's collard greens were divine. The Tamarind Braised pork shoulder was AH-MA-ZING! Whew! I'm still on a high at how gooooooood this was. Talk about perfectly seasoned and slow cooked to perfection. I think the meat melted by simply looking at it. So of course we were in a food coma at this point and then the sweets menu came out. I felt as if we needed to gather our strength to indulge in something and the Sweet Potato Sticky Toffee Cake was our poison of choice! A literal dream! Brandon informed us that the sage ice cream on the cake was smoked. So, we wondered "how?". Well, turns out that the ingredients are smoked and added together and bam! The BEST ice cream you'll ever have! The sweet potato sticky toffee cake was sin in a skillet. OMG this cake was fluffy, light, and surprisingly not too sweet. Balanced with the smoked sage ice cream on top, our tummies were satisfied!!!! As we closed off the night we were presented with a sweet jelly fish which simply melts in your mouth. A beautiful way to say "thank you for dining with us" and the perfect end to an extraordinary night! Make the reservations and go enjoy! You won't regret it! read more

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I appreciated the beautiful restaurant environment and the great service from our waiter however the food overall was not a stand out. The blue cornbread and Parmesan gnocchi were amazing but our main course being the grilled Branzino was very underwhelming especially for the price. This is the type of restaurant I wouldn't be mad at if someone else picked it but I wouldn't return on my own. read more

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This meal was such a beautiful, elevated experience. The restaurant itself is elegant without being too over the top. It's a comfortable environment that feels warm and exciting. The bar is beautiful, and as I waited for my party I had initially sat there. I saw there was an option to sit there and eat, which is great if you're staying at the attached hotel. I don't believe you need reservations to sit at the bar, but something you will want to confirm. I started with the oysters which were salty and fresh. My friends had ordered the cornbread and they enjoyed it. I also ordered the scallops which were cooked perfectly. The plate presentation was beautiful and the added flavors made this my favorite dish, until I tried the crab rice. Warning, this is massive. We were a table of four and this could have easily been our entree, with us ordering a side or two max. Also, believe the hype, it's delicious. They prepare table side and it's an experience. It's magic in your mouth and when there's leftovers everyone wants to take some home. Dessert was the praline cake and a scoop of sorbet. The cake presentation is done table side and was a fun, campy experience. We were rooting for the cake when it was ready for us to dig in. Overall, the cake was good, but the sorbet was delicious. I could have ordered a scoop to myself! My meal at Marcus was so fun, delicious, and really enjoyable. It was so engaging and made it a memorable meal. I highly recommended, although it may be tricky for vegetarians. read more

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Ambiance was beautiful Service was good, pleasant Food wasn't that exciting personally. Had the blue cornbread and it was ok. I'm a southern girl so maybe I'm picky about my cornbread. I had the sea bass entree which the fish itself was delicious but the curry and green peas fell flat for me. Not bad at all but not exciting. The asparagus was a hit for me but not my best friend. Didn't get dessert because they no longer have the sticky toffee pudding. read more

Marcus DC - Sea bass, asparagus, NY strip - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

An upscale spot by Ethiopian-Swedish, New York-based chef Marcus Samuelsson, located within the Morrow Hotel. We got: blue cornbread, Parmesean gnocchi, Mel's crab rice, crispy sweet potato, chocolate cobbler sundae, and coquito tapioca pudding. All dishes were clearly made with such intention, resulting in tasty and interesting combination of flavors. My favorite was the cornbread and the crab rice. The gnocchi was very small portion size and not worth it in my opinion. Loved the cobbler sundae, the tapioca pudding was fine. Loved the cool interior and the staff was lovely. read more

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I enjoyed our visit. Carlos was our waiter he was knowledgeable of the menu and gave exceptional service. Whoever cooked my steak chef kiss they cooked it to perfection. It was fantastic and tender. I am a big-time sweet tooth and I loved the dessert it had layered flavors. It was savory and sweet at the same time. It had a little bit of crunch, softness and spice it was just great. read more

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I recently visited Marcus DC with one of my close friends and honestly could not have asked for a better experience. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was incredible and the service matched it perfectly. We decided to go the small plates route and I'm glad we did. We started off with the oysters. The oysters paired the prickly pear piri piri and habanero sauce were absolutely delicious... bold, unique flavors that I was not expecting but loved every bite of. We also had the snapper crudo which was so well balanced and flavorful without being overdone. Just really well executed. Now let me talk about the adobo cauliflower because it may genuinely be the best seasoned cauliflower I have ever had in my entire life. I would go back to this restaurant just for that dish alone!! Lastly, the crispy potato was also a great addition and rounded out the meal perfectly. Everything about this visit was top tier. The food, the atmosphere, and especially the service. If you have not been to Marcus at the Morrow Hotel yet, you are truly missing out. read more

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Beautiful restaurant! Attentive service. Food was delicious Cornbread is an absolute must and if you pair that with those greens, you're in business. The greens slapped! (That's a good thing ) I also got the gnocchi and pork belly (with tiger prawn) which were both good. As a foodie who has watched almost every single coking competition show I recognized Exec Chef Anthony Jones immediately and got a picture with him too read more

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Came for a birthday dinner date and the ambience inside is gorgeous. Servers are attentive and ensure you have a good experience. I would say it could get pretty loud in here due to the open space and amount of people at the time. Overall, we enjoyed on our visit, but we wouldn't say there's a strong desire to return. The crab rice was our main reason for visiting and the portion was perfect for sharing + taking home. Nice taste and good portion of crab. A lot of our plates were plated beautifully and definitely had us trying things from one another's plate. read more

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Great food, deeply disappointing service. The restaurant itself is decorated very plainly ....understated, simple but surprisingly warm and cozy. I actually liked the comfort of the space. Walking in, though, I expected a much friendlier welcome. The woman seating us didn't acknowledge us at all and wasn't very pleasant; thankfully, another host was much nicer. Now, the food? Excellent from beginning to end. * Blue cornbread: Soft center, crunchy exterior, that maple butter on the side ---chef's kiss. * Scallops: Perfectly cooked and beautifully seasoned, though they could've been a touch warmer. * Salmon: The outside was cooked a bit too hard for my taste, but the center was spot-on. A simple dish done well. * Crab fried rice: Flavorful, warm, and visually appealing....one of the stars of the meal. * Greens: Looked plain but packed with flavor. Truly delicious. * Desserts: The sweet potato-pistachio dessert was overly salty and not my favorite, but the surprise birthday treat they brought out ...a crumble of leftover cake dressed up with ganache and caramel popcorn--was outstanding. And it's not on the menu. Unfortunately, the service kept this from being a place I'd return to. Our server felt "off" from the beginning. We had to pull recommendations out of him, he asked about allergies multiple times, forgot things, didn't check in, and just didn't seem engaged at all. I ordered a Diet Coke that never arrived not even after the meal ended. When a manager/host came over to clear the table, I mentioned it, but by then it didn't matter anymore. What did matter was when the server came back and SLAMMED the dessert menus on the table before walking off. That sealed it. Good food can't overcome service that makes you feel unwelcome. Bottom line: The kitchen is doing great work. But the service.....especially from our server....made this a one-and-done for me. The food was good, but the experience? You can have it. read more

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I love the atmosphere. The decor and vibe is perfect. The waiter was very nice and made suggestions that were helpful. Everything we ordered was delicious. My favorite were the sweet potatoes and greens. I've never had greens with like a gravy of some sort on it. Hands down best greens I've had in DC. It should be a featured side on the menu. It comes as a side with a dish so you have to request it as a side. Everything was great. I'm accustomed to paying high prices for drinks in DC but I'm not accustomed to having the shortest glass in America filled with lots of ice and paying $34 for it. The drinks were definitely a ripoff. I ordered a margarita. I probably won't ever order drinks from here again but I will come back for the food. I would give a 4.5 because of the drink but I don't want to take a whole star away because my experience was great, so 5 stars it is. read more

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Beautiful restaurant and great service. I love the booth seating layout. Waiters were very knowledgeable of the menu and offered great suggestions. The braised lamb was seasoned and cooked to perfection. Excellent restaurant and great choice for a night out read more

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The ambiance was not as elevated as I expected, but nice. Bright. New. The kitchen is open. The whole fish was not A's flavorful as I expected. I had to asks for salt. The crab fried rice is definitely the best thing on the menu. It was really good. The drinks were good but the dessert offerings left a lot to be desired. The table side cake was good in theory but the cake flavor was not one that interested me. I'm glad I went to support the chef, but won't be back. read more

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The food and service at Marcus was amazing. We came with a large party of family who flew in from out of town for a graduation and the staff were very accommodating with answering all the questions and dietary requests. The restaurant itself was absolutely beautiful. It wasn't too crowded at 5pm on a Thursday but could easily see it being so on a Friday night. My family raved about the lamb, miso greens, blue cornbread and chicken. Everything was delicious. Though they're from out of town, I'm local and will definitely be back. read more

Had a chance to try the finer delicacy of The Marcus Samuelson in D. C. Having had a late lunch we enjoyed a few light bites and a nice Prosecco from Italy. The restaurant is located inside The Morrow Hotel in NOMA area. Very upscale and a bright dining room awaits with a mix of tables and booths. The server and manager were very accommodating given we were held up due to traffic and graciously had us seated upon arrival. We enjoyed the sweet potato chips , scallops and blue cornbread. Everything was fresh and would like to come back again for a full coarse meal. read more

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What a lovely addition to the Union Market area! It's very clear that they are not afraid of thinking out of the box and going bold with flavor. Some favorites not pictured here are the cantaloupe mocktail and the crab rice. Can't wait to bring more people along! read more

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Open table had no availability for a Thursday night, but my husband and I were able to walk in and get a table at around 5:15, so don't get discouraged if there's no online availability! When we left the restaurant one hour later, there were still some empty tables. On the menu, Table Talk and Impressions are small dishes. We ordered steak tartare, swediopian, tanner park salad (and then the massive crab rice dish) and they had multiple ingredients, but they all meshed really well. We were planning to order the blue cornbread, but they gave it to us anyway at the start. To finish, I ordered the delicious corn cremeux for dessert. The food was amazing and came out really quickly, and our servers were attentive (they all wear cute colorful aprons). They switched out our plates and utensils in between dishes (but could've wiped down the table). Water glasses were never empty, since they were being constantly refilled. The restaurant felt bright indoors with large windows on a summer evening. There are tables of varying sizes, to accommodate parties anywhere between 2-10 people. It's so close to the metro, and there's street parking nearby. read more

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The food was absolutely the star of the show. We ordered the whole market fish, the channel bass and the collards. The sweet potatoes that come with the whole fish---OMG they were absolutely amazing (and I hate sweet potatoes). They were almost chargrilled and sweet and savory. Delicious. The whole fish dish was $100 and worth it. Two people can easily share the dish. The roasted channel bass dish was good, but by the time it arrived, the mussel broth it sat in was just warm, not hot. The shaved fennel on top was a great added touch to the dish. It was filling, but not in an uncomfortable way. Again, the taste of the food was almost perfect. Great dishes. The restaurant itself is inside of the Morrow hotel (which works out nicely if you book the hotel with your platinum AMEX because you get credits that can be used toward dinner). I think the booth looking seating looks more comfortable than the table where we were seated kind of in the middle of the floor. We had a dinner reservation at 9:15pm and were seated immediately. Service was meh. Not bad, but not great. I think our particular server just lacked personality and wanted to go home. He did his job, but not enthusiastically. We also dined at Marcus for breakfast on the morning of the 19th. The yeasted waffle was VERY sweet. The Gruyère, onion and spinach omelette was delicious and fluffy. Overall, I'd love to bring the rest of my family to dine here for dinner. read more

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Stayed at the morrow hotel and dined here for my birthday dinner-the food was delectable. We started with the blue corn cornbread which was the perfect start to the meal. We had steak tartare which was my favorite appetizer. We also had the seared scallops but everyone agreed these were over salted. The stars of the show were the shareable entrees-don't miss the whole fish with crab curry. The sweet potatoes that accompanied it were out of this world. The braised lamb shoulder was also everything! I recommend going with a group so you can try multiple dishes. I will say I didn't love the cocktails but I would just stick to classics next time. Our server was funny and the restaurant is pretty! I can't wait to go again! read more

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Very disappointing. This is my 3rd visit to a MS restaurant, from Harlem to now in DC and the themes are exactly the same. Poor staff training and food that fails to impress. The flavors are just never bold enough. Service at the bar was poor and amateur-ish at best. When ordering a hot app and a cold app, you should assume that the guest doesn't want those at the exact same time. Or at the minimum, ask. Also, being asked to repeat your order twice to 2 different staff members is annoying and again, shows lack of polish. Someone who looked like a manager did stop by to chat and he was nice and cordial. The crudo and scallop appetizers were ok but really lacked flavor and pizzazz. Scallops were also underseasoned. The bass for the main course was decent but the skin was only crispy on the edges and not the middle. The fennel salad was just a miss for me. The almond apple cake for dessert was mid. Creative but missed the mark for me. The sauce poured tableside just didn't go with the cake imo. Overall, I am 0 for 3 for Marcus's restaurants and I don't see the need to make a fourth visit and waste more of my hard earned money. Do better folks. read more

Wanted to love, but it fell flat. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, including a meat fridge that allows you to look at the cuts of the day. While service wasn't terrible there were quite a few hiccups one even resulting in food being spilled onto my friend without really a big apology. As it was our first time there and we are fans of red rooster and other concepts of Marcus, we ordered and wanted to try several items. From the table talk we ordered the blue cornbread, a delicious start to our meal with well balanced flavors, and the oysters. From the impressions section we tried the tuna crudo, it was gray and darker than usual and did not provide the bright refreshing flavors that we were hoping for. From gatherings we ordered the grilled whole black bass served with crispy sweet batata, Swiss chard and crab curry. While the dish was promising, I just remember the presentation being slightly off putting(looking at the photo). The flavors were also not as bold as we'd hoped for and the crab curry really didn't come through. Honestly the potatoes were my favorite part of the dish. For our sweet treat we ordered the plum almond teff. The sorrel jus made the dish taste medicinal and again ruined the presentation. I will say that I loved the cardamom ice cream--silky and well balanced. For service the biggest mishap was spilling a dish onto my friend's white shirt while clearing plates. They offered club soda to blot her shirt but it really didn't do much. Most high end places would offer to clean the shirt or something comparable and have the manager stop by to apologize. It's possible that this restaurant is working out the kinks of a new menu in this location. I'm not sure that I would return despite being a fan of some of his other restaurants. Another note is the coconut cake presentation is a bit extra and really doesn't add much excitement. A member of the waitstaff pushes the cart, cuts a slice of cake, puts some whipped cream and toppings and goes away. There's got to be a better way. read more

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Super Viral Restaurant: MARCUS DC Review Located at The Morrow Hotel in NE, DC Girl's night out *Context & thoughts: I enjoyed eating at this Ethiopian, Scandinavian, and American Fusion restaurant by a Top Chef *Overall rating: 3.5/5 *Service Rating: 5/5 Exceptional! Our waiter was attentive, nice, and very knowledgeable about the menu. *Ambiance: 3/5 Thank you for the valet! Inside, the restaurant lacked a flare. It was nice, but not memorable. *Dishes I Ordered & Rating: *Blue cornbread: 4.5/5 The Honey butter made it really good. *Mocktail: Coffee + Lemonade: 5/5. It is a refreshing and tasty eclectic combination. *Oysters: 1/5: too spicy. Was the oyster on the plate??? *Main-Mel's Crab Rice: 3.5/5. It was good, but I was expecting to taste more of the rice, and the name was a bit deceiving. There's really no crab (or very little). Many other reviews rave about this dish, which is why I decided on it. *Collard Greens: 4/5 Very delicious. I wish I had more of this. *Desserts-Praline Cake: 3/5 The presentation and side table demo were nice, but the flavors of the dessert fell flat for me. *Toffee Sticky Cake: 5/5. So decadent and rich with bold flavors with a nice mixture of sweetness but not too sweet. read more

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What a spectacular restaurant in the heart of Noma. Marcus DC has some of the most explosive (complimentary) flavors I've ever tasted! We went for my mother's birthday, and were pleased to be greeted with such warm decor and friendly wait staff. We got a few items, including the crab rice dish, the fish and a few desserts. While those were all delicious, the star of the show was the double baked sweet potatoes, which were the best potatoes I have EVER had in my entire life. I highly recommend this restaurant, and I cannot wait to be back! read more

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I expected this to just be a typical hotel restaurant/bar but I was pleasantly surprised! Marcus was a bustling, colorful, popping joint that's serving really good drinks and fresh food. We sat at the bar as we had main meal plans for the evening, but we still had a great experience. The waitstaff at the bar was so friendly and attentive. Without being over bearing. We got two cocktails and a dozen oysters and it was so nice. The music was a vibe. The oysters were delicious. The drinks were gorgeous. Just an all around great read more

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One of the best dinners you can have in DC right now (March 2026). Food is incredible, consistent, and really inspired. Service is always friendly and well-informed about the menu, but the attentiveness can be a bit hit or miss. OpenTable also shows more reservation options than show up through the website, so check there if you're struggling to make a reservation! read more

Marcus DC - Praline Cake with stewed pears, candied hazelnuts, and roasted pear sorbet - Southern Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Marcus DC was on my shortlist of must-try's before the end of the year and I'm happy I made it a point to dine in before the end of the year. I was able to get a reservation on a Monday evening, for a date night for my partner and I. Parking in Noma can be a bit tricky, but if you don't feel like hunting, there is a garage and metro stop nearby. The inside of the restaurant is both romantic and cultural. The lighting was moody, super high ceilings, and the playlist volume was just right to set a vibe without being distracting. Pro tip: It looks like they have a private dining area, for those looking for a separate reserved experience. Service was great overall. Our server was attentive and shared a few tidbits about the menu since it was our first time. In terms of food, every dish was flavorful and interesting. I didn't know what to expect from a Swedish-Ethiopian fusion, but you could tell there was intention behind every ingredient combination and the plating. Highly recommend: Aged Tuna Tartar Seared Scallops Mel's Crab Rice Will definitely be back and can't wait to stop by the rooftop on my next visit. read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed our first visit! Upscale vibe but not pretentious with a southern hospitality feel. Service was top notch and our server gave many tips and recommendations. We shared the much talked about crab rice. It was very good. Has a little zip, but not overly spicy. However my friend said the drum fish was her favorite!!! I looovee the cornbread (so moist and with soft butter.) the collard greens and sweet potato sides were enjoyable although not anything too outstanding. The praline cake dessert was a wonderful ending, they bring a huge cart out and do a whole presentation and the cake is DIVINE. I would love to come back and try miso cauliflower next time. read more

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Amazing evening of great food and drinks. Our server was so kind and helpful. Loved the space of the dining area. Great place for a date night or night out with friends! read more

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Really beautiful interior. Creative menu w/ Ethiopian, Swedish, Mexican, Asian mash-up. Creative drinks & nice wine list. Menu items is clearly marked if they contain gluten, Dairy or shellfish. Had the heirloom tomato salad which I was afraid was too predictable but was not at all boring or usual! So tasty! Seared scallops paired w/ plantain mole was ingenious but scallops were overdone so tough. Crispy sweet potatoes were also creative & tasty & not what you might expect. Plantain ice cream was not very sweet but interesting. Waiter was knowledgeable. Service was impeccable by a great team read more

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I really wanted to give this restaurant five stars, and I was excited when I found out who was the owner of the new restaurant! I think they have a lot of work to do on the food. Five stars for service it went off without a hitch. My server was so knowledgeable and really good at recommendations! The ambience is beautiful. It's quite small relatively. So I went on a weeknight and got seating, but I can see it being an issue for walk-ins on a busy day. Let's get to the food : I got the rockfish . The sear on that skin was not thorough. There were parts that were rubbery. You never want that. And it was fresh. Not good fresh, like they needed to cut the fishiness with some lime/ vinegar first . I got a fishy scent from the time it was sat down on the table. The New York strip was better . I wish they had more carb options. They have a crab rice that you can get for 65 but with the meals, I didn't really like that I had three forms of cauliflower with my fish. Other meals came with a salad or tomato or melon very light pairings. I only really enjoyed the lower Bay fluke crudo, but it's very small as you can see from the pictures. It's a bite. Drinks were amazing. Skal and shadow and blushing root were good! For the price I expected more. I did not leave feeling satisfied. read more

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