My friend and I made reservations at minibar to celebrate together last Friday evening. The experience began at barmini, where we enjoyed a few bites accompanied by a champagne cocktail made with fermented strawberry and rich strawberry syrup, which was prepared in front of us. The drink was vibrant and fruity! CAVIAR The caviar sat on a freeze-dried beet meringue that was clipped to the rim of our champagne glass. The meringue melted in my mouth instantly, followed by bursts of briny caviar and crème fraîche. MAMMA MARISA CHEESE This was an apple-flavored cookie topped with incredibly airy, almost whipped blue cheese. It was a complete 180 of what I normally think of as a gritty, dense cheese. ONION RING This was intensely savory, with bold garlic and onion flavors in each bite. The exterior was perfectly crisp with a soft, creamy onion filling. Afterwards, we were escorted into minibar, where the open kitchen allowed us to watch the chefs work seamlessly together. Each course came together with incredible precision, as different chefs added their own components onto each plate. Once every dish received its finishing touches, the plates were presented to us simultaneously. It was like watching a choreographed assembly line. CHICHARRÓN A light and crispy chicharrón topped with a wasabi-avocado combination. The airy crunch contrasted nicely with the creamy avocado, while the wasabi delivered heat to make it more interesting. PATHFINDER A pomegranate-flavored drink which was sweet and refreshing, served as a palate cleanser before the next course. SUMMER SALAD A beautifully plated dish with the beet and radish arranged to resemble flower petals, finished with dill oil, grapefruit dressing, and carrot puree. The vegetables were delicate and fresh, while the citrus and herbs added brightness. FABES CON ALMEJAS A silky miso-based purée served with fresh clams and a bright citrus sauce. The puree was exceptionally velvety, while the citrus complemented the brininess of the clams. CAULIFLOWER The most impressive course of the evening. The chilled cauliflower purée was molded to resemble an actual head of cauliflower, with a smooth, ice cream-like interior created using liquid nitrogen. The pickled cauliflower added a bit of tartness, while the caviar brought a burst of umami. Despite being two bold ingredients, neither overpowered the other, and the two complemented each other beautifully. JAMÓN CHAWANMUSHI Served with purple uni, which was velvety with a delicate sweetness from the sea. While I enjoyed the uni, I thought the custard leaned a bit too sweet, which threw off the balance of the dish for me. PISTACHIO TART Another course made using liquid nitrogen, giving it an incredibly creamy texture that instantly melted in my mouth. The pistachio flavor was delicate, though my tart was a bit saltier than I would have liked. One of the chefs personally fed it to every single one of us, since it would have melted in our hands upon touch. 'MAR Y MONTAÑA' The bluefin tuna was lightly seared on the outside and served with a brown butter sauce and parsnip purée. The buttery sauce paired beautifully with the creamy purée without overshadowing the quality of the tuna. TURBOT DONOSTIARRA A dish featuring Spanish turbot filet covered with a collagen-rich fish sauce made from the bones of the fish, squid ink drizzle, a delicate parsley "air", and a thick yuzu compote. The sauce was rich and concentrated, with a subtle hint of spice, while the fish had a firm texture. The parsley air added a light herbal foam, and the squid ink added a bit of umami. TXANGURRO A comforting crab dish with a porridge-like texture, combining a rich crab cream, tender crab meat, and a crispy Old Bay crab cracker. It was heavier than some of the earlier courses, but satisfying and packed with crab flavor. SQUAB A LA CATALANA First, we had the tenderloin on its own, which was incredibly tender, but not my favorite due to the strong cilantro flavor. Next, we were given a squab leg on one plate and morels topped with squab breast on another. The rich sauce paired well with the earthy, umami-packed morels. The squab was tender and juicy. It was a memorable final savory course. CORTE HELADO Lychee jelly and strawberry ice cream in between two pieces of freeze-dried hibiscus meringue, making a fancy ice cream sandwich. Super tangy and bright! CORN & HUITLACOCHE A corn custard with brown butter powder on the side. All I knew was that it's good and that I enjoy corn-based desserts. DONUT I believe the donut was made using Krispy Kreme donuts. The skin was thin and delicate while still holding the ice cream together We were served either a cup of pour-over coffee or brewed tea along with a few dessert bites to end the almost three hour meal. Between the creativity of every course, the precision of the kitchen, and the flawless service, we were never bored at any moment. This was easily one of our favorite dining experiences to date. read more

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Overall, a fun and nice experience with some attentive and friendly staff who definitely noticed a few things about me and made things even more memorable with conversation and customization of my menu with a Pokemon. The presentation was quite enjoyable too. Food and price wise, I was somewhat disappointed; I did not think the taste of majority of the dishes matches the price given for this experience. Beginning snacks at barmini: Nothing too notable, but I did enjoy the onion ring - probably the best onion ring I've ever had! Savory dishes: Most of these dishes, although, weren't anything amazing or jaw dropping to me unfortunately outside the presentation. Dishes I did enjoy were the jamon chawanmushi with the refreshing uni and the squab a la catalana with the tasty meat alongside the piece that was served on a pitchfork. I did not enjoy the txangurro, as I found the dish too salty except for the cracker aspect. The pistacho tart, although served in a fun way, didn't really taste like much. Dessert: I really loved the corn & huitalcoche dessert; the buttery flavours alongside the ice cream and the salted caramel worked perfectly! I also enjoyed their take of a Krispy Kreme donut. The corte helado was fine, but the sandwich parts were a little too airy that the taste felt almost nonexistent at times. I did like the dessert box at the end. Appreciated the birthday cookie sandwich for me. I do think the star of the show here was the staff throughout the experience that made it enjoyable alongside my friend, but there was nothing too crazy to write about the food, unfortunately. This may be a one and done kind of spot for me. read more

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The service here is excellent even with them pushing your chairs in for you! They made sure to describe every dish and push the plates towards you. I really enjoyed the snacks at the beginning, particularly the cheese stuffed onion rings and the caviar tart that came with the strawberry drink. My favorite dishes were the uni chawanmushi, squab, and all of the desserts. There were some dishes that were misses though, such as the crab txangurro. This was extremely salty which my friend also agreed with, and I usually like my dishes with heavier seasoning so this is saying a lot. The cauliflower purée was also pretty bland even with caviar mixed in. I recently had Jont so just comparing this place, I don't think the food quality hit the same. Overall, this place is still pretty good to try at least once! I also like how they customized a Pokémon on my friend's birthday card. read more

I wanted so much to love this place - e by Jose Andres in Las Vegas was a highlight meal for me last year - but I left feeling like this restaurant prioritized presentation and technique over flavor. Molecular gastronomy often wows with technique, and the experimentation here is impressive. Unfortunately , most of the dishes were too subtle. There were some standout incredible bites though, notably the turbot. Sometimes experimentation worked (uni paired with caramel highlighted the sweetness of both) while at other times it felt like a gimmick (the tart dropped into your mouth). I love how it's creative, but I had hoped for a little more. Service is what you'd expect at a place like this, though sometimes the pacing was slow (one more cook could help). It's DC sibling is tighter, more cohesive, and more satisfying, but this remains one of the best molecular gastronomy spots in the world (there aren't that many, and there's still a lot to love here). read more

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The food and service were very good, but it was not worth the price and did not feel like a super premium experience. I disliked the beginning of the experience in the barmini area, there was a conspicuous lack of premium ingredients, and WE LEFT HUNGRY. These are unacceptable at the price point: $750 per person for the tasting menu, standard wine pairing, tax, and tip (22%). I did not feel this way at Jont or Pineapple and Pearls in the past, or other 2* or 3* restaurants I've visited internationally. We visited on a Friday for the 5:15 PM seating. We started in the barmini section of the restaurant with some champagne and a few snacks (the first three listed on the menu). They also included a small, extra cocktail for us because we reserved through Capital One Dining. Barmini was fine, but I would have preferred to start in the main restaurant. For one, we sat on very low, lounge-style couches that I found uncomfortable. For another thing, it was noisy and hard to hear the descriptions from the staff. Finally, barmini is not as exclusive; it doesn't feel like a special experience. Then we moved to the main minibar dining room, which has only 12 seats and does two seatings a night. It is a large, U shaped dining counter that looks onto an open kitchen. The decor is modern and spare. The kitchen was very quiet -- I didn't notice much activity there, either because they are very subtle or because more of the actual cooking was done out of sight (there was some kitchen space behind it). They did use the space to finish dishes. Most of the dishes were very good to great. They were mostly small, colorful, nicely plated, and tasty. I would have liked some more showmanship or interactivity to make it feel more like an experience. They only did this once, for the pistachio tart, which was created per person in front of you and then fed to you. This might sound weird, but it worked. I included a photo of the menu and many of the dishes. The overall menu focus was Spanish food. A few highlights were the Onion Ring, Winter Salad, Pistachio Tart, Turbot Brandade, Txangurro (crab), Squab a la Catalana, Corn & Huitlacoche (especially the brown butter flavor), and the Donut (tasted like delicious coffee + donut). The squab was my favorite dish of the night, probably because it was the most substantial. Less successful were the Fabes con Almejas, Jamon Chawanmushi, Turbot Donostiarra, and the final six dessert bites served on a tree. The Chawanmushi tasted only of soy caramel and not of jamon at all; such a specific, sweet flavor that my companion didn't finish the dish. The Turbot Donostiarra was overpowered by the sauce (covering the entire fish). The final dessert bites were just not that good or interesting compared to the rest of the meal. The wine pairings were all good. I am not knowledgeable about wine so I will leave it at that. We were also offered coffee (caf) or tea (decaf) near the end. The ending of the meal fell flat. I disliked the dessert tree. Some tables got an extra dessert because they were celebrating a birthday or similar, but we did not (feels rude to exclude people when you only have 12 guests). I felt rushed while settling the check, then whisked out into the night. Just like we had a small "arrival" experience in barmini, I would have liked an "exit" experience, like a nightcap or small to-go item. Service was very good. They went out of their way to accommodate dietary restrictions (from what I overheard). If you went to the restroom, they warned you if it was occupied, helped you with your chair, gave you a new napkin, and kept your dish warm. They put down plates with specific, synchronized hand gestures. This was some of the most coordinated service I have seen. A note on the restroom: there is only one, and it is decorated all in shiny silver and mirrors. I felt like I was in a disco ball. I found this a little gimmicky and more jarring than fun. I enjoyed minibar a lot for most of the meal, until it became clear the squab was the last savory course, and then when I got to the check and remembered how much I paid. I wanted a few more courses, especially another meat course, to feel perfectly full. (maybe have bread service! what an idea) I wanted more creativity; I felt like I had seen a lot of these things before, like molded/reconstructed dishes, a crab-shaped cracker, dessert tree, and common ingredients. If minibar offered more or was cheaper, it would have been worth it. As it is, I can't recommend it. read more

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This was a treat for our "one-month-before-our-wedding" meal/Valentine's Day. We love all of his other restaurants so we figured we would treat ourselves to his 2 star restaurant! The food was incredible. There was a lot of molecular gastronomy going on here which was really fun to see and hear described. The food was very inventive and delicious at the same time. The staff was very attentive and friendly, probably some of the best service we've had at a restaurant ever. There were a lot of cocktails and wine options that they helped give recommendations for. The only part that I didn't like was I left hungry after paying $350 per person. This was the only tasting menu I've ever had where I've left hungry and without leftovers. A few more courses would've done the trick, or making a couple of the courses a little larger. read more

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Finally booked myself a reservation at minibar when I was down in DC for the weekend. Was really looking forward to my meal and had very high hopes coming into it. The timing of the experience was good. Service was standard, and there was a hiccup where one of the servers spilled water into my Turbot dish with red sauce on it and it splattered everywhere. Luckily I was wearing all black, so I can't really notice any stains. The food was mediocre at best. A lot of the courses felt uninspired, bland, and lacking in flavor and depth. I did the $200 white truffle supplement which was 100% not worth it -- it was lightly shaved onto only two courses. The dessert dishes were outstanding to be honest. The desserts HEAVILY carried this meal. Even with the large number of courses on this tasting menu experience, I still left dinner pretty hungry. All in all, paying $750 for just me and only food (no alcohol) is absolutely absurd and I do not feel like this meal/experience was worth even remotely close to that price point. Maybe would've been fine at $250-$300 and that's being generous. I don't get the two stars either, as there could've been many improvements across the board. read more

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Ok full disclosure: I loved the experience! If you are into molecular gastronomy then this is THE PLACE in DC! Every bite was exquisite BUT!!! I left the tasting hungry and with entirely too much alcohol in my system... I give it four stars simply because, for that amount of money there has to be something more substantial on the menu, especially if you are doing a cocktail pairing! Fortunately, the staff was absolutely excellent, probably noticed that we needed more to eat and comped a few extra plates for us on the barmini side! Like I said, truly one of a kind experience - so glad I had the opportunity to try these amazing bites - like those olives that are essentially savory gushers but 1000x better or the mini banh mi - like air but with all the flavor - total genius! I just don't think I will ever go back so that's the reason for 4 stars, I need to want to experience it again for 5 stars NOW: barmini - you are going into those cocktail tasting menus knowing you aren't getting a ton of food and I will, hands down, do those over and over again read more

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I feel lucky to have had some incredible culinary experiences during my travels--Alinea in Chicago, Per Se in New York, and The French Laundry in Napa are etched in my memory. Last night, I added José Andrés' minibar to that exclusive list. The only thing that could've made the experience more extraordinary? If Chef Andrés himself had been in the kitchen. Having dined at several of his restaurants over the years, I'd long hoped to experience his most renowned and culinary-forward concept. minibar has earned two Michelin stars every year since opening in 2017--and now I understand why. Most restaurants tuck a chef's table into a corner. At minibar, the restaurant is the chef's table. I was fortunate to be one of 12 guests at the 8:30 p.m. seating, a front-row seat to the culinary theater unfolding just feet away. Everything is prepared and plated right in front of you, with dishes arriving the moment they're ready. The precision is remarkable. And the chefs? Not only technically brilliant, but warm, enthusiastic, and generous in sharing the how and why behind each creation. Over the course of two hours, we were served 14 courses. The menu was as much performance art as cuisine, full of detail, wit, and stunning visual presentation. A few highlights from the evening: * Mamma Marisa Cheese, Onion Ring, and Soy Chicharrón * Beet & Osetra Caviar * Cauliflower & Beluga Caviar * Lamb Chawanmushi * Mango Sticky Rice * Yogurt Leaf, Occo Chocolat, Honeycomb, Cocoa Leaf, Rhubarb Binchotan, Passionfruit Caterpillar The three that stood out most--for creativity, presentation, and flavor--were the Salad, Artichoke & Pinenuts, and Lamb Chawanmushi. Each was a perfect balance of surprise and comfort, playfulness and precision. I loved being able to ask questions, interact with the chefs, and witness the rhythm of their teamwork. The pacing was flawless--one delicious moment flowing seamlessly into the next. The dining room is intimate, modern, and quietly stunning, creating a space that feels both special and serene. If you love food as an experience--not just a meal--minibar is unforgettable. read more

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So this was definitely a treat dinner for my husband and I on our wedding anniversary. I will say minibar is everything I expected from a 2 michelin star restaurant. Everything from the service to the food was incredible. Upon entering we were taken to bar mini for some appetizers and served champagne on our arrival. This was a great experience, bc I was curious what bar mini was like and I felt like I got to experience both. After apps, we were taken to the main restaurant where the experience was unlike I've ever been to. The food was delicious, everyone was so kind and knowledgeable, and I got to try so many unique things. My husband had the wine pairing, which I usually don't like wine but I got to try a few sips of his and the sommelier did an outstanding and I could really appreciate how each wine worked well with our dinner. read more

There is a reason why this place has 2 stars. Food is amazing(do note, being Spanish food, might no be for everyone). I make that note as for the price point, you want to make sure you really like the food. I do but not everyone is the same. The experience took about 2.5 hours and did not feel like it. We had a great time with both the guest and chefs. Each plate came with a description of what you are eating and you can ask as many questions as you want. The ambiance is beautiful and being a small area it feels very comforting, worth the drive! read more

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Minibar and Barmini, back-to-back on consecutive nights, turned out to be a great decision. The cocktail program was impeccably calibrated across the board. One drink in particular was a genuine head-scratcher in the best sense, foregrounding raw garlic. It wasn't the most hedonically pleasing pour, but it was brilliantly conceived and memorable--an intellectual cocktail that still made sense in context. The rest were sheer pleasure, balanced to the millimeter. Both experiences delivered the mix of pageantry, surprise, and concentrated flavor that José Andrés is known for. Service choreography is tight without feeling stiff, and the pacing keeps the meal buoyant. By the end we were full and satisfied. If I could tune one thing, I would have welcomed another protein course somewhere in the middle; the latter part of the progression skewed a bit fat-forward, especially with the chawanmushi near the close, and our stomachs testified to that the next day. Even so, this remains about as good a Michelin-level experience as you'll find in D.C., and better than many in larger markets. The wine pairing was spot-on and the cocktails were superb, from classical structures to more experimental builds. José Andrés continues to impress. If you're on the fence, go. You won't be disappointed. read more

What a night. What an experience. Chef Jose Andres has masterfully crafted a gastronomical culinary masterpiece that will take you from frozen to hot from savory to sweet to crispy to smooth. Every bite you will take on a journey that you have to taste, touch, see, smell, and hear to believe. Prepare your senses and bring a friend and open your mind for what Mini Bar has to offer. This is truly one of the best dining experiences I have experienced in my lifetime. Everything about this dinner is precision come to life. From the cocktails, mocktails, linens, restroom, and the service. Everything is precise and perfect. You will not find better staff, better atmosphere, or better food. Discussing each bite with my partner was truly such a core memory for me. Experiencing the twists and turns of each bite. The joy that was in each presentation. Watching each meal be crafted before us. Truly it felt like a religious experience. I cannot recommend making this culinary journey enough. Come experience. read more

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This place is a must try if you are into fine dining!! I was lucky to have put my name on the waitlist and got called the day of. Of course as a 2 Michelin star restaurant you know you're going to get a great meal with great service. Mini bar far exceeded my expectations of fine dining. You are sitting with 11 other people watching the chefs prepare your course in front of your eyes. You're able to ask questions while they are plating and they are more than happy to answer any questions. It is so incredible the coordination they do to serve and take away your plates it's really a sight to see It was truly an experience! read more

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This was one of the best meals of my life. I really didn't know want to expect, but I was blown away. Everything was so imaginative, thoughtful, and delicious. The chefs and staff explained every dish and even how some of the more fantastical elements were accomplished including a silicone mold of a cauliflower floret to mold a cauliflower mousse. I agree with other reviewers that this is a much of a show as it is dinner. I did feel pleasantly full after two and a half hours. If you can believe it, the service actually outshone the meal. I have never experienced this level of attention at a restaurant. They notice everything. Each course receives a fresh plating and new set of cutlery. They noticed I held my fork in my left hand and began playing my silverware on my left side while leaving all the other diners with right hand placements. After the meal was finished, they allowed us to linger, drink coffee and ask questions about the meal. I doubt I'll ever make it back here, but this was truly special. The wine pairing was excellent and I enjoyed learning about all of the choices from the sommelier. read more

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(5) ~ Excellent Tasting Menu, both Food & Service!! Note: Plenty of Parking Garages nearby. MENU HIGHLIGHTS (see photos): ** Onion Ring ** Cauliflower ** Morel ** Turbot ** Lamb 2.2 ** Mango ** Donut 3.0 ** Honey + Chocolate (Dessert Tree w. Marshmallow caterpillar:) ** Philly Cheese Steak Waffle ** Key Lime Pie Popsicle read more

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Minibar by Jose Andres is one of two Michelin restaurant with two stars in the DMV and provides a similar experience to Jont (the other 2 Michelin star). Jont is a little more expensive but both provide an amazing dining experience. You sit at a counter surrounding the kitchen so you can watch courses being prepared. We were served about 15 dishes not counting small desserts at the end. Minibar is next door to barmini which is their sister cocktail lab that serves creative drinks. Bonus is we can order drinks from barmini and dessert courses were served here. Service was impeccable as expected from a 2 Michelin star restaurant. Overall an amazing dining experience for really special occasions but not one we would do regularly due to the cost (at least $500 per person without drinks). read more

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Solo diner review for Saturday, August 17 What a wonderful night of quiet luxury. I've been to a few Michelin restaurants and wanted something special for my birthday celebration. minibar did not disappoint. While other Michelin experiences have had peaks and valleys this was just beautiful all the way through. I opted for the dinner with standard wine pairings and there was not a sour note all night. The dining experience itself was comfortable and moderately communal for the 11 of us at our seating. It was comfortable speaking with your neighbors about the dishes and your thoughts. My neighbors had a gluten allergy on one side and a dietary restriction from pork on the other. The dishes with substitutions came out with brief explanations about what had been changed and why. It was very thoughtful. Highlights of the evening included the watermelon margarita to start (juicy and sweet and salty), the beet butterfly (creative presentation), pumpkin tart (flash frozen and served to each guest on a spatula), and squab and huckleberry (rich and delicious). They did include a special birthday dessert, candle, and card to recognize me. It was perfect -- not a big deal, but not forgotten. Bar seats were very comfortable with hooks or small tables for handbags and a foot rail under the bar. One gigantic bathroom, but with only 12 diners at a time it was no issue. Volume was quiet, but not awkward. Staff were highly attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommend for a once in a lifetime meal/special occasion. read more

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After casually trying to get a reservation over the years, this was our year. It did not disappoint. The atmosphere was both relaxing and exciting to walk into. It felt special without feeling precious. Beautiful table and kitchen setup. Each course was thoughtful and complex. I ordered Bar Mini cocktails and my partner ordered the wine pairings. We both chose well with helpful suggestions along the way. We loved it all. Down to the music which elevated the experience (thank you Alex!). Thank you to Alexandra for taking care of us. We will be back. read more

Such a fun experience! My husband and I were at the nearby Portrait Gallery and had an hour before our dinner reservations. We found this place and popped over at 5pm right when it opened, and they were kind enough to seat us (it was a very full house inside). We sampled 2 of their most popular cocktails and enjoyed watching the bartenders prepare the various flights. They came over and gifted us 2 more complimentary cocktails (cantaloupe flavored! so good!) and we were both in very good spirits (pun intended) when we walked out! read more

What can I say about my experience at Minibar by Jose Andres? From beginning to end, it was an amazing experience. I took my wife there for Valentine's Day. I had to book this reservation when they released their availability during the first week of January. There is a limited amount of seating for their tasting menu (which fills up quick). We've been to multiple Jose Andres restaurants in the past, but this by far exceeded all other experiences. This tasty menu was paired with different wines from all over the world. My wife does not like seafood so they were able to make multiple substitutions for her. The dishes that stood out the most were the Shawarma, lamb mole truffle masa cake, oyster chowder, and the KK doughnut. The one drink that I can't get out of my mind is the 2010 Château de Yquem. The attention to detail amazing customer service, and knowledge base their staff had made the entire experience enjoyable. read more

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You start the night with an explanation of "the experience", and an upsell of $200 for a truffle add, and $200 for the "wine journey" - both of which are worth exactly nothing. Having lived in Spain for many years, wines are decent, they tend to not give any headaches to anyone that easily prone to "wine headaches" or mild hangovers, but are also very inexpensive. In most places around the same price as bottled water. The experience that you get is low quality food, lots of hands-on with food tweezers, one chef or sous chef that kept whipping sweat off of her forehead and then touching the tweezers (not sure if that's the right term or not, but you get the point), and two of the captains that put the tweezers in their front pant pocket, one of whom had it right next to his phone (saw him pull the phone out). The chef (Australian gentleman) took what seemed like an eternity putting together the salads, with tweezers, while we were given "snacks" and champagne to start the night. The snacks were foods that were designed to look like one thing, but taste like another; something I experienced in NYC, about 15 years ago. Salads come out, first portion size, probably 2 or 3 bites, then quality, completely flavorless and bland, with flowers on everything for some strange reason. Next courses consist of a bite of this and that, nothing that had any flavor, the chef even ironically joked about "how salt and butter are abused in kitchens in the US." Oh no, please, chef, please allow us to abuse some salt, pepper and butter, if only for tonight...I thought. Out of respect for my wife, and other patrons, I kept my thoughts to myself and continued eating this garbage. Main courses are roughly a 2 or 3 ounce piece of fish, made to look like cake (mind blown!! said no one ever with a double digit IQ), and about a 2 ounce piece of duck, that was very "gamey", and again, zero seasoning, and basically raw, or sun-kissed, and a quail leg "that was taken apart, de-boned and re-constructed." Whatever that means. You guessed it, zero flavor, gamey, and luke warm. Last course, and by this time just about everyone at the table is complaining of starvation, you're served various sweets, none appear to be fresh made, and of course rule of thumb is dessert should be 10-15% of the meal, not 60%, clearly designed to fill you up with sweets, that cost them noting and send you on your way. Your exit goodbye is for them to throw your jacket on the couches by the door, and say goodnight. Oh did I mention there is only one single bathroom, for 18-20 people, this included men and women. I met Jose Andres in a fund raiser in San Juan Puerto Rico a few years back. Seemed like a very nice guy, he was there donating his time and free food to Puerto Ricans that had been affected by the hurricane, as were my wife and I. While a completely gentleman, he is on the much much larger side. Is this how he eats? And why is it that his free food, cooked on a flat top on a beach in Puerto Rico was 10 times tastier than this garbage. Unfortunately what you run into a lot is, vast majority of people are followers. They'll simply hear something and repeat it. I'm not sure how Michelin stars are awarded, but irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. I've done the "multi-course dinner" plenty of times, in DC and other places and this was by far THE worst one. Not even comparable to the others. Do yourself a favor and pick from one of the other 25 or more choices you have in DC alone, and enjoy a great meal vs. supporting this joke of a process.... read more

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This is probably my favorite place in DC. So many courses as part of the tasting menu that were great, and yet not that heavy, so I was able to make it through a big menu without feeling absolutely bloated. If you like tasting menus with a view of the prep area, you should definitely try minibar. read more

What an amazing experience! Parking nearby and other garages for DC. They open right at 5 pm so if you have a reservation, you won't be able to enter until then. There are 2 entrances, the minibar entrance and the barmini entrance. We ended up at the barmini entrance but someone walked us over to the correct one. Once we entered into the sitting area, we were greeted and they took our jackets. We sat and relaxed for a couple minutes before being sat at the Chef's counter. They start you off with some bubbly and have a book for you to sign for the evening you're there. The Chef's will work and put finishing touches right in front of you and you can ask any questions you'd like. Honestly, there's a good bit of the Michelin restaurants where there's a handful of items I didn't like but I loved every course at minibar. This was easily my favorite 2 star Michelin I've been to. Each course was delicious and you get a little treat to take home as well. read more

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I love love love this place. It's my fav Jose Andreas restaurant. Science meets art = gustatory perfection! Try the progressive menu for the experience. Excellent!!! read more

Friendly, amazing service! Explained the menu and the best way to eat each dish. Not at all presumptuous like another Michelin Star restaurant we ate at. Beautiful, delicious, adventurous food that we will never have anywhere else. Loved sitting at the Chef's bar where we watched everything being prepared with explanations and we felt comfortable asking questions. Elegant yet comfortable seating. read more

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Great! Overall great experience from when you enter to the drinks! Every drink has so much detail & layers, the staff gives great presentation & explanations, each time here its a unique experience, love it :) read more

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Would actually say this is one of the better Micheline meals I've had in a while. Almost 5 stars. But my one knock, is that I still came away pretty hungry and that's with all the dishes. read more

What can I say other than it was exceptional. It's an amazing experience. Not a meal, an experience. Yes it's expensive and yes, it's worth it. An unforgettable night of food, service, drinks, and fun. It's so fun being in the kitchen and the chefs were all so kind and interactive. Went with my husband for my birthday and we will forever talk about this wonderful night. read more

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Front of house experience, which included the back of house, made for an incredibly unique and interesting evening! It has been on my DC bucket list since I was a server at the restaurant up the street in 2005! We enjoyed the conversation with the chefs and our hosts who graciously tolerated our questions. Amazing food and cocktail service!! Thank you for sharing your genius with the world, Jose! I'll let the photos speak for themselves! read more

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1) Katie was an amazing hostess! She went out of her way to make sure we got seated and served accordingly. 2) Jeff was a great bartender. He was knowledgeable and made it a fun experience on trying new cocktails 3) Alex was an incredible manager. He ran a tight ship! He cares about his team as much as he cared about the customer experience! Ambiance was great. Nice place to have conversations without the feeling of being too loud. Overall we will come back for the flight! read more

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My first restaurant for 2025 was @minibarbyjose , a 2 @michelinguide star restaurant located in DC. I was able to snag a reservation and was immediately blown away by their impeccable service and attention to detail. If my water was low, my glass was immediately filled. When I went for a break, I came back to a new dining table napkin. From start to finish, the service was amazing!!! There were several bites that I enjoyed which included the Funyun, Soy Chicharrón & Uni, Beet & Osetra Caviar, Cauliflower & Beluga Caviar, Lamb, Mole, & Truffles as well as the Mango Sticky Rice. If you're able to experience this, you should do so!!! read more

We ate here for our anniversary on Jan 11th, 2024. Jose Andrés is someone we respect immensely - he's an imaginative chef and an even better human being, so we were thrilled to score a coveted reservation. I don't think I have the words to express how magical this experience was. I can only say that it was amazing, and I can't wait to go back if I'm lucky enough to get in again. We chose to add the wine pairing, and the sommelier's selections really accentuated our courses. There are 12 counter seats facing the open kitchen so you can watch the magic happen. The group of 12 is split in half, and both sections have their own dedicated wait staff. During your visit, you will not have to ask for anything. The staff works together seamlessly. If you've ever seen The Bear, you know what to expect here. Your chefs and wait staff watch the faces of their guests and adjust on the fly. The staff was also accommodating about food allergies and did their best to substitute ingredients when they could. We felt incredibly special and cared for on our special occasion. And now for the food. There wasn't a single course we didn't love, but standouts for me were the Scallop, Miso, and the Toad in the Hole . I'm including a picture of the souvenir menu we received that matches the courses we ate to the wines we drank. Tea was served after our meal with the dessert courses, and they included a little something extra to commemorate our anniversary. We each left with a small container of three milk breads, which we ate the following morning with our coffee. Months later, I fondly remember how lovely this experience was. Despite the high bill, I don't regret anything, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Thank you, minibar, for making our anniversary dinner a spectacular experience. read more

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I've been wanting to go to Minibar for so many years now and finally had the chance to. It was such an amazing experience from start to finish and I would highly recommend it to anyone! It's one of the few places I've been that I can justify the price tag for lol because everything was truly exquisite. I loved every dish we had the pleasure of tasting and especially love how friendly and happy everyone was! I can't wait to hopefully get to dine here again in the future. read more

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Hard to even put into words how amazing this experience was! Highly recommend adding it to your list. From start to finish it was truly incredible. I'm GF and they were able to accommodate me so I got to have every dish! It was 20 courses but I can only add 10 photos so picking some of my favorites! A month later and I'm still thinking about this place! read more

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I have always loved José Andrés and his work. After my experience at Jaleo, I was very excited to try his restaurant in DC, but this was beyond disappointing. The portions are tiny, and the "chefs" are inattentive and rude. One young woman in particular (I believe her name started with a G) was extremely nasty. She was very dismissive and would touch her face, her phone, the tweezers, and then my food. Very unhygienic and unacceptable for a fine dining restaurant. read more

Impeccably executed creative culinary experience tonight at Minibar!!! My husband and I were celebrating my birthday and our anniversary at the Chef's Counter at Minibar, and it was AMAZING!!!! For starters, the entire staff is excellent from the moment you walk in. They are warm, welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable, and go above and beyond to make your night special. The place is so clean and open with a modern and comfortable ambiance. Alex is an amazing manager who ensures everything is running smoothly and customer service is perfect. Chef Sarah and her crew served up a wonderful tasting menu. Drinks were so yummy from my passionfruit mocktails to my husband's old fashions. Dinner is very satisfying with perfect bites that provide a unique culinary experience that provides a great balance of flavors in creative ways. The menu executes a perfectly seasoned and creative fusion of flavors, with unique culinary techniques. As you can see from my photos, the plating is gorgeous and extremely detailed in a well-thought out way. Some of my favorites include the wagyu beef tartare covered in caviar, soy chicharron butterfly, and seared wagyu with a beef consume sphere you pop for sauce! But the real star of tonight's line up is the Japanese Strawberry milk roll! I am not exaggerating when I tell you it is one of the top three best desserts I have ever eaten (and I eat A LOT!) I cannot say enough great things and highly recommend Minibar to anyone who can afford it and can get a reservation! You will walk away having an appreciation for their creative methods, personable staff, and the pleasant experience. read more

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What an amazing experience (and yes it was an experience)! We've been to a number of "top restaurants" and minibar has to be one of our top experiences in the United States! The service was phenomenal - we were invited to sit down in a lounge area, our coats were taken, and we were welcomed and made comfortable. It was such a intimate setting as we were able to watch the chefs in action with only 10 other people seated. The staff were extremely attentive and worked seamlessly together. They did the little things that made the evening more special, pulling out or pushing in your chair for you when you got up or holding and effortlessly taking your dishes away. This was a performance and the chefs worked so well together as a team, explained each dish, and were artists. While I am not one to take pictures of food (see sparingly in other posts), the color, design, and how things were plated were too beautiful to not immortalize in photo. The flavors were phenomenal and while the portions were deliberately small to give you a greater tasting of a wider variety of food, I felt like I would have gladly had each dish multiplied as a meal. They were all so creative and delicious! Admittedly, I was skeptical of the hype and Minibar more than lived up to it and it's two Michelin stars (as of this writing, one of three restaurants with that designation in the DC area). We will remember and dream of this meal for quite some time! Amazing experience! read more

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Minibar along with the team from Reverie. Fundraiser dinner to help rebuild Reverie after the fire the restaurant suffered. Minibar is always epic, and then you add in the team from Reverie and some of their signature dishes..... it literally couldn't get any better then this. Every single dish was creative, delicious and presented perfectly. The staff from both restaurants are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and truly love what they do. We had so much fun interacting with them last night. They encourage you to ask questions about the dishes and love when you do. You can tell they not only have a true passion for cooking the food but also talking about it as well. All my cocktails I had were recommended, I did not chose any of them. I told them what I usually drink and they made some recommendations. Those recommendations were spot on. I really think the idea at Minibar is to go and relax and just trust them. True professionals in what they do. Minibar has two Michelin stars, but in reality probably deserves three. No detail is left out, everything is synchronized, it's all absolutely perfect. I hope this review inspires you to go and eat here. It's probably the best restaurant in DC. read more

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Absolutely incredible experience! We've dined here twice and the service was impeccable each time. Watching the chefs move fluidly around the pristine kitchen was mesmerizing. Although it is a very formal dining experience the chefs added some fun with pairing music to a couple of the dishes and the chefs were very personable for some chit chat as they prepared the dishes in front of the guests. read more

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