Ijeoma O.

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)?

Aimee B.

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.

JANELLE W.

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.

Khanh-Chau M.

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!

Lily J.

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.

Kai M.

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!

Shelby B.

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.

Victoria M.

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.

Unakem O.

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.

Caitlin D.

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.

Ana T.

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.

Dania J.

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.

Ericka E.

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