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    RARE Steakhouse & Tavern

    4.1 (422 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSteakhouses, American
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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    Tini
    Sonia Q.

    I was visiting D.C. for a White House tour and was walking around near my hotel looking for somewhere to grab drinks, when I stumbled upon Rare Steakhouse & Tavern. It looks very dark from the outside so I initially thought they were closed. I saw someone walk in, so I decided to give this place a try. I ended up sitting at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks. The bartender was kind and attentive. I enjoyed the experience enough that I went back the next day. One thing that stood out to me was that the staff actually remembered me by name when I returned. It was a small gesture, but it made me feel welcome and added a personal touch to the experience. The drinks were good, and the atmosphere was quiet, dark, and relaxed. It seemed like a popular spot for people stopping in after work for a drink or dinner. If you're looking for a lively party vibe, this probably isn't it, but if you want a comfortable place to unwind, it's a solid option.

    Porterhouse steak
    Micah V.

    Rare Steakhouse delivers a classic steakhouse experience done right. The 24 oz bone-in porterhouse was cooked perfectly -- tender, flavorful, and high quality. Adding the truffle maître d'hôtel butter is a must, it melts into the steak and elevates every bite. The loaded potatoes were a standout side, rich and satisfying. The mac and cheese was good, creamy and comforting alongside the steak. Simple, indulgent, and worth the visit when you're in the mood for a serious steak.

    Menu
    Gabriel S.

    A taste for steak brought me to this place and before I get into describing my meal I will get this out of the way. Yes it is expensive $$$$ Steak prices range from $70-$200+ but if you are like me I don't mind paying high prices as long as what I'm paying for is worth the price. I ordered the 10 oz Capital Cut, fried calamari, whipped potatoes, and creamed spinach. The atmosphere was very nice and all the tables were set perfectly and the waiters were on point. A+ I never had to ask for a refill of water and the bread they brought to the table was fresh and so flaky. A+ on table bread. The steak arrived and if you are used to a wider cut this not the place. The steaks are of a taller cut means thicker cuts from narrow ends so the chef has to get it just right. Well the chef nailed it. The steak was medium well with a perfect char on the outside and salted perfectly. I savored each slice that I cut. A+ The whipped mashed potatoes I couldn't get enough of them so creamy and not one potato lump found. A+ The creamy spinach tasted good, but for me it was to rich and I wanted it to be something you dig into but one spoon full was plenty. B- I ordered the calamari just to try it as I feel it's a good starter dish and if I don't eat it that's ok. This squid was cooked well the meat was firm and white with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It came with two dipping sauces and the mustard based sauce was my favorite. B+ To drink I only had the table water, but I don't know how they filter that water but it was refreshing. A+ If you like wine or alcohol drinks it looked like they had a nice selection behind temperature monitored glass to view. Great place for a steak! if you are wearing a hat/cap/cowboy hat you will be asked to remove it at the door.

    Lemon drop martini
    Brenda R.

    Hands down, a great steakhouse! We celebrated my husband's birthday here, and they were able to accommodate our party of 24 with ease. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully cooked. I had the ribeye, cooked medium rare, and it was prepared to perfection. There was no shortage of sides--we had mac and cheese, string beans, asparagus, mushrooms, loaded potatoes, and broccolini. Every single side was full of flavor and thoughtfully prepared. The service was top-notch. Our waiters were attentive and made sure our water glasses were always full. I ordered a lemon martini, which was perfectly balanced, and also tried a glass of Pinot Noir from Oregon (though I can't recall the name--it was excellent). The staff went above and beyond, even cutting and serving our cake. We sat on the second floor, which provided a perfect setting with beautiful decor.

    Beautiful booths with a vintage feel upstairs, downstairs area is plentiful
    Jemily H.

    My fiancé and I dined at this location yesterday evening. While we had never heard of this restaurant before, it was close by to a custom suit tailor we visited to begin building his wedding tux! Such an occasion deserved a meal just as splendid. We were very impressed with the meal, options, and general hospitality and service. They offer both "wet" and "dry" aged meats here- which seems unique because we had never heard of a wet aged steak. They also have seafood options and hors d'oeuvres, salads, etc. Our server explained to us that what aged implies that it sits in its own juices for longer, and typically is a leaner meat while dry aged tends to be fattier and more marbled and kept at a very cold temp and very flavorful. We opted for a dry aged 32 ounce tomahawk as we figured that would be the perfect portion to share. Actually, we had a small amount left over! The side mushrooms were delicious the side loaded potatoes were ok but I would try another side next time. My dessert cocktail called "the thin mint" was the perfect holiday festive cocktail if you like sweet espresso martini like drinks...this is for you! My fiancé ordered the super Tuscan red wine ($21 a glass) and it paired lovely with the steak! This is an upscale establishment for a nice date night. I'm looking around I mostly saw couples and families. They also offer a private area for events. Certainly dress up a bit and make the best of it but as far as the food goes, this meal will be remembered!!

    Katherine S.

    3.5 stars TL;DR: overall decent experience; expensive for what you get; a few good bites Came here because we were going to be in DC and were craving steak. The interior is nice. They have 2 floors. The bar/tavern has an additional menu is downstairs. Upstairs is a little brighter and for full dinner service. SERVICE (4.5/5): Service was very friendly and attentive. Only thing was our server was explaining some of the specials and pricing, but it was a little difficult/confusing to understand him, so one of the items we got ended up being 2x the price we had thought it was FOOD: ~Complimentary bread and butter (5/5): Bread was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The butter was whipped and so good (maybe because I haven't had real butter in forever) ~Calamari (3.7/5): the flavor was really good. However, the breading fell off very easily and was a little soggy. Portion was very small. For $25, I would have expected it to be either the best calamari for that portion, or a larger portion with the dish we got. ~Caesar salad (3/5): was very underdressed. Had mostly red leaf romaine, so since it wasn't dressed very well, most bites were just bitter lettuce. Eventually asked for more dressing, which helped. ~Porterhouse (3/5): 24 oz. With the bone, the mean portion was small. Texture was a little strange (as if it was sous vied too much). But it was soft. Flavor was just okay. ~Japanese wagyu (overall 3.5/5): They had a special of a 6 oz filet. It was very tender and seasoned well (4/5). This was the dish that ended up being 2x more expensive than we anticipated. Value (2.5/5). I think they also added some additional oil to it, which was unnecessary and ended up being overly greasy. ~Garlic Parmesan fries (5/5): Nicely seasoned and crispy shoe string fries ~Roasted mushrooms (5/5): great flavor (I think red wine vinegar and a little bit of truffle). Cooked very well. ~Loaded Potatoes (5/5): They use fingerling potatoes, so the cook was great, and the mouth feel was fantastic. The potatoes themselves were also very well seasoned. All the sides were expensive for what they were, but they were tasty and the portions were decent, so I didn't mind. Overall, this place was decent but very overpriced.

    Eri E.

    This is hands down one of the best steak houses I've been to. I found this steakhouse while browsing through Yelp. I had a long flight from LA and I needed a hearty steak dinner. Don't let that tiny fillet mignon fool you - it was extremely filling and what I needed. The steak was very juicy and the perfect medium! I took my time with the taste. Service was very personal. My waiter had always checked in on me. Mind you, this is a pretty fancy steak house with some pretty fancy prices. For my fries and steak, it did cost me $100. This is definitely a special occasion place. I love looking at the history and all the decor of this steak house. Highly recommend!

    Bread and butter (individual butter dishes for each person)
    Gloria M.

    Finally made to Rare Steakhouse downtown and it was superb, I can't believe I haven't eaten here sooner. The service was particularly attentive with multiple staff coming by to fill water or clear plates. Our main server was great and made it clear that we would not be rushed and can enjoy our meal and drinks, the timing on the courses was perfect. He was also great with explaining the menus and providing suggestions. Everything we ordered was delicious and the portions of the salad and sides were enough for 3 people to share. I'm looking forward to returning!

    8oz Filet Mignon

    Went on a Thursday night, it was easy to get a short notice reservation online. On entry, we were immediately greeted by the host who was our fantastic server. Along with the food runner and another gentleman. Their whole staff took great attentive care of us. The wine list was awesome, and the menu was great. I had the 20oz dry aged New York strip which was incredibly flavorful and cooked perfectly. The whipped potatoes were to die for, if you visit here they are a must try. My lady had the 8oz filet mignon which was also cooked very well, a little on the rare side, but she loved it. Overall we had a great dinner here. It is expensive but worth every penny. Best steak and potatoes we've ever had in our lives.

    A5 Wagyu Ribeye (4oz)
    Joey J.

    Kept it simple and had a steak, side, and glass of wine at the bar. The wagyu was served by the ounce and cooked perfectly. Loved the side of mushrooms, they had a lemony zest that complemented the steak well. Sat at the bar and service was efficient. Won't be the cheapest meal you have, but it was great.

    Maryland Crab Cakes
    Tyler C.

    This was my first time eating at RARE. The ambiance when you walk in is very calm yet classy. It was a Friday night, I thought maybe it would be a little more busy than it was. Our reservation was at 8:30 however they stopped taking orders at 9. Which was an hour before close. Started out with a lemon drop (don Julio) which was perfect. Ordered the salmon, crab cakes. Broccolini and loaded potatoes. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but I do recommend to purchase one of the sauces to put on top. The crab crakes were pretty good. Didn't have much filling. And they didn't taste crabby if that makes sense lol The broccolini (rich broccoli) was great The loaded potatoes were very good as well. BUT do be alarmed that there are piece of pork belly mixed in as well. (For the non pork eaters) All in all I will definitely be returning.

    Shared 36oz Bone-in tomahawk steak with wild mushrooms and charred broccolini
    Eun L.

    We came here for our anniversary dinner earlier this year. We were very impressed with the professionalism and service: A+. We also liked the whole vibe of the steakhouse. It kind of has that classy 40-50s vibe. The furnishings looked luxurious, and the staircase has an elegant chandelier. We usually eat dinner on the earlier side so there weren't many people in the restaurant. We were escorted up the stairs to a wide, open space with a bar at the front and tables and booths behind. We were seated at the back of the room, facing the bar so we had a grand view of the entire space. The waiter greeted us promptly and was very professional, but not in a stiff way. He started us with glasses of champagne. We aren't big drinkers but the champagne tasted good to us. For our appetizer, we shared the Steamed Clams & Mussels. This one was tomato based vs the white wine based ones we usually eat. It came with two grilled toasts that we dipped into the broth. It was very flavorful, and we enjoyed it so much it made me think I should try more tomato based ones in the future. While eating, I spilled some of the red broth on my side of the table. When the server cleared the table and combed it of its crumbs to prepare it for our main dish, the red stain seemed to be glaring at me. I was delighted when our server quietly covered the red stain with a clean napkin. I was so relieved I wouldn't have to stare at the bright stain during our elegant meal. I thought, "they thought of everything." It's the little things that makes a big impact. They serve wet aged steaks and dry aged steaks. We were there for the dry aged steaks. We decided to share the tomahawk steak with roasted mushrooms and charred broccolini. The steak was prepared perfectly to the temperature we requested. It had a good flavor. The tomahawk is a fattier cut, which many steak lovers enjoy. I personally prefer leaner cuts so it was a bit too rich for me. But I wanted to try something different that evening. And perhaps the Tomahawk is large enough for many people to share, but we could've eaten a larger cut, had they had one. We finished our meal by sharing the chocolate pot de crème. As it was evening, I ordered a decaf coffee to chase it down. The coffee with its bold flavor was a nice foil to the rich, sweet pot de crème. We left very satisfied with our meal and experience. Glad we found this place.

    22oz. Prime Bone-in Ribeye
    Andy C.

    Had a super awesome date night here for my girlfriend's birthday. She got the filet mignon and I got the bone-in ribeye. For the side we got roasted mushrooms which were heavenly. The steaks were amazing in terms of taste and quality. Our waiter was a gentleman from Turkey who was extremely attentive and made sure to make our evening memorable for us.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - RARE Steakhouse & Tavern

    Do they require proof of vaccination?

    Is ceaser salad still served tableside?

    Hello Michael, thank you for your question. No it is not.

    Any dress code?

    Most of our guests are comfortable in business casual, but we have no formal dress code at RARE. However you're comfortable is okay by us! -drew

    Does the Steakhouse take reservations on Sundays?

    Yes!

    View All 5 Questions

    Le Diplomate - Croque madame - so good

    Le Diplomate

    4.3(5.8k reviews)
    0.7 miLogan Circle
    $$$

    This was easily one of the strongest dining experiences I've had in Washington. The server knew the…read moremenu inside and out, gave solid recommendations, and stayed on top of everything without hovering. We went with the steak frites, onion soup, and steak tartare, and every dish delivered. Great food backed by service that actually stands out. This place is on my list whenever I'm back in Washington.

    What a special place in Washington, DC we have here…read more It is said a lot of members of congress dine here and I can understand why. Everything is delicious here!!! I started here for my birthday with some escargots, fantastic. Pro-Tip: Don't forget you can dip that terrific breadbasket they give you with some of the leftover garlic sauce from your escargots. We both decided to split the Beef Bourguignon. The most tender beef you can imagine, you do not need a knife to eat, and it was accompanied with buttery goodness in the creamy potatoes and some carrots for good measure. For dessert we ordered the vanilla bean crème brûlée. French dessert at a French restaurant was a no brainer. The top of the dessert packed a crispy, sugary, slightly burnt tasting palate cleanser that definitely will keep you a pick me up, who needs an ECT shock to get the heart going when you can take a scoop of pure sugary bliss! This is a must go to if you are in the DC area, but be sure to make reservations it fills up quickly. As always people SYOY!!!

    Photos
    Le Diplomate - Dining area

    Dining area

    Le Diplomate - Escargot

    Escargot

    Le Diplomate - Bar and breads

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    Bar and breads

    The Capital Burger - Our namesake burger is served French onion-style with caramelized onions, Wisconsin Grand Cru gruyère and shallot aioli.

    The Capital Burger

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    This place is sooo good! Perfect ambiance, the vibe is kind of a modern pub without being dark and…read moredreary, big comfortable booths, plenty of space to not feel like you're part of someone else's conversation. Honestly we were so pleasantly surprised by how good the burgers are! I had the Capital Burger which had such incredible flavor and the burger itself is thick and juicy. Despite having just had a big dinner somewhere else, as I write this, my mouth is watering. My daughter had the wild mushrooms burger and she loved it -- the aioli had the perfect tang to go with the mushroom and Swiss, both burgers were cooked perfectly medium as requested. The old fashioned was just your typical old fashioned with a slice of candied bacon attached to the outside of the glass. We were hoping for something smokier and a little different but it was still a very good Old Fashioned. We shared the chocolate mousse and it was perfection. Yum! If I lived here this would be my new regular spot.

    A rather nice restaurant, typical DC expensive, the food was good, with nice atmosphere, good…read moreservice, clocking in at about $42 before tip for a burger and milkshake. I had the blue cheese and black truffle cheeseburger, with bacon, and it was good. . Very good. I could not identify or really pinpoint where the black truffles came in, but the beef was well seasoned. The additions were a dollar too expensive across the board so I skipped those. The fries were sort of stereotypical, nothing really fancy about those. I debated about having the truffle fries, but didn't really wanna pay the extra three dollars. Bless my server, he didn't know what black truffles were, either. The Reesie's peanut butter cup Skrewball milkshake was quite good. Good use of Skrewball. Could've done with a little more alcohol, but what a great combination. Good taste. Vanilla ice cream and peanut butter all the way through. My only .. concern.. were the pickles. There's this NoVA chain restaurant that serves POPCORN before the meal, which I think has to be the most depressing, unappetizing, lazy and cheap way to start a meal. Capital Burger servers sliced sweet pickles in a jar. That.. is a step up from popcorn, but not by much... If I was in the mood for a burger and boozy milkshake, this would be on the list, but not my first choice.

    Photos
    The Capital Burger - Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

    Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

    The Capital Burger - Blue Cheese and Truffle Burger topped with cabernet-braised red onions.

    Blue Cheese and Truffle Burger topped with cabernet-braised red onions.

    The Capital Burger - The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

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    The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

    The Hamilton - District Wings

    The Hamilton

    3.9(4.1k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    It's been YEARS since I've been to The Hamilton. A recent trip to DC and a free gift card is what…read morebrought me here. I went for brunch, but was in more of a lunch mood. I sat outside on the patio. To start, I got the calamari appetizer. Yall! Their calamari is so freakin good! The remoulade sauce that comes with it just takes it to the next level. I got the crab cake entree and it was just what I needed. I recommend replacing the tartar sauce with their remoulade sauce. The Tea Time mocktail was very refreshing. The service was good. The only downside is that there was an issue with the gift card that I won from their social media page. After some back and forth, they eventually honored it and all was well. But this experience was definitely better than my past experience, so I'm adding a star.

    As part of the Clyde's restaurant group, we were excited to try this since we love Old Ebbitt…read more However, we were a bit let down from the food. My girlfriend got the steak and eggs which she thought was good but on the saltier side. I got the crab cake benedict but my eggs were way overcooked and not runny whatsoever. My server was nice and apologetic about it. The sushi was surprisingly good and fresh. I was skeptical at first about sushi at an American restaurant but was happily surprised. Overall, a bit disappointed about the restaurant but may have been an off day. Would love to comeback and try their signature burger. Apps: Paradise Roll Entrees: Steak and Eggs and Crab Cake Eggs Benedict

    Photos
    The Hamilton - The bar and partial dining area.

    The bar and partial dining area.

    The Hamilton - Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

    Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

    The Hamilton - RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

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    RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Pulled Pork Nachos

    City Tap House Penn Quarter

    3.9(1.9k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    At my recommendation, my son and his girlfriend went here after a day of touring in D.C…read more. Apparently, they ordered the blue crab, mac & cheese, and chicken wings. Both reported, it was an outstanding choice. They enjoy the time before they took the Metro back home. There are no complaints about the service, and they didn't really mention what the place looks like. But it could not have been too bad. They did say, it was clean and nice in the 22-year-olds that's a compliment. They also said it was convenient to get to the metro from there.

    I won't be back unfortunately and you should probably keep walking and find something else. Didn't…read morerealize what kind of restaurant this was until I was told to order off an app and then my food would be ran out to me...and that's all you get for customer service. Runners just do that. Run around the restaurant throwing food down on tables and run back to the kitchen. Never checking on anyone to see if they need anything and how the food is. I ordered the SW Salad ($16.50) with a steak add on ($9.00) at medium temp. I also ordered a cup of Clam Chowder ($5.95) as an appetizer. Chowder came out pretty much right on top of my salad, but no big deal. Chowder was decent taste, but only found one clam. Ok whatever. Salad came out looking like a side salad on a large plate with five slices of rare, tough steak. It was so rare, that it was extremely hard to cut through, but again, who was I going to talk to about it. No wait staff would even look my way. I couldn't even get a refill on my water and there is no place in the app to order a glass of water...so that's that. Unfortunately it was just an extremely bad experience for $40. I'll be looking for dinner somewhere else tomorrow night.

    Photos
    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Bar

    Bar

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Pretzel  appetizer

    Pretzel appetizer

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Port City ALX IPA 20oz

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    Port City ALX IPA 20oz

    RARE Steakhouse & Tavern - steak - Updated September 2026

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