Outstanding experience featuring delicious food, beautiful presentation, and excellent service…read more Everything felt thoughtfully prepared, creating a memorable evening that exceeded expectations and made us eager to return again soon.

Following a recent visit, my friend and I popped in following the pride parade and were able to…read moresnag two seats at the bar. The environment was very comfortable and service was great and quick. We had some great recommendations with the cocktails. I had the 50 shades of purple and it felt so festive. I shared the tuna crudo with a friend and we both loved it. It was so bright and vibrant, I could not get enough of the sauce, so delish! Following my prior review regarding a friend's allergy, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was now noted as an allergy on the menu. Awesome job by management!

Very homey style restaurant with friendly waiters! We made a reservation but I don't think you…read morewould need one. Hot toddy - waiter recommended, it's hot and has honey lemon taste like a tea but the alcohol is also a bit strong 2/5 Pineapple margarita - very very strong almost like straight alcohol lol 1/5 Red sangria - super well balanced and fruity! Very yummy 4/5 White sangria - a little bit sharper alcohol flavor and less well balanced but still good 3/5 Embutido Combo - Jamon Serrano, Salchichon de Vic, Chorizo Iberico - I'm not sure which is which so going by the picture left to right. A little spicy, overall good quality but I do think they put a bit too much oil which made it have an extra oil taste 2.5/5 Middle - like prosciutto this is the best one! Not dry at all in any area and not too salty 3.75/5 Right - least favorite but it is still good overall. Taste a little less yummy than the one on the right even though the one on the right is too oily 2/5 Queso Mahon - rich and cheesy. Not too sticky and very soft. I like the little fruit it comes with too 3/5 Seared scallop - usually squid in rice I feel like is just color but this one was super savory and delicious with a unique taste too that I'm thinking must be from the ink! It's made super well and the crispy sear on the scallop adds so much flavor but also the scallop was not overcooked at all, super bouncy and tender. 4.5/5 Spanish risotto - very moist and yummy! Even though it's just vegetables it's made well 3.75/5 Crispy pork belly - falls apart and very tender. Not dry at all! Unfortunately too salty though. Also very heavy. Meat too salty but veggies it came with like potato that soaks up the flavor was like inedible too salty 2/5 Seafood paella - I think it came out a bit faster than 40 minutes but I didn't keep track. Large serving size! Wish there was more seafood but lots of rice! Very moist and flavorful rice, seafood flavor comes through too! Wish they cooked it longer though since bottom is not crispy at all. Shrimp is overcooked unfortunately but individually seasoned. All the squids and octopus don't have much flavor but cooked well and not chewy at all. Mussels were good too but had some weird webbing on some pieces that made me not want to eat it and size is a bit small. Needs more seafood to balance the rice amount 4.25/5 Crimini mushroom - weird with the poached egg especially since there's a bunch of mushroom liquid below that I think would mix weirdly together. But ignoring that, the mushrooms themselves were very flavorful and actually taste really great with paella! 3.75/5 Basque cheesecake - very heavy and dense. Jam is not too sweet which is nice 1.5/5 Churros - very airy and light inside! The fried part is more than double the inside though so wish that was a little less thick so it can be a little less oily but still overall light. Came very warm and the dipping sauces were very liquidy. Chocolate is on the darker side which is a nice match 3/5

I went to Atxondo hoping to taste the work of a Basque chef, and found out that the new chef is…read morefrom El Salvador, but has studied cookery in Spain. After having a full meal with cocktails, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee (about $70 per person), I concluded that Atxondo will be a definite future destination for Happy Hour and light bites, but that my full meal dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. The Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes) were outstanding, with their two tasty sauces and rich, crispy flavor and texture. The Hibiscus Margarita with its salt and tajín rim was good enough to warrant a second one... but the Sangria was lackluster due to the complete absence of cut-up fresh fruit in my glass. The "Crispy Duck Breast" is no longer served whole, but sliced on a bed of sauteed kale... and, sadly, seemed to be only a shadow of its former self. The Lamb Meatballs suffered from being mushy (a coarser grind would have made a world of difference in the texture) and lacked that meaty exuberance one treasures in any kind of meatball. My serving of Basque Cheesecake was almost comically tiny (at $9 per serving, perhaps not so funny after all). But my cup of Americano came out of the espresso machine strapping strong and piping hot, with a gorgeous head of natural crema from the oil of the coffee beans. So I will definitely return for a future Happy Hour to devour the outstanding Patatas Bravas and sip the good Margaritas, and to try the bargain Manchego Burger and other Happy Hour bites. For serious dining, Atxondo falls short of the mark... but for drinks and bar food, Atxondo turns out to be a real neighborhood gem. .

Chris P. We live…read moreclose to Barcelona in Cathedral Heights and like to walk there and sit at the bar. Our go-to guy has become Erick. Best bartender at Barcelona - and really in the neighborhood. He's a pro. He is always paying attention and moving fast while staying calm and mellow. He makes the place work. We give Erick Five Stars.

Pablo was the best server ever! He was very informative, helpful, and accommodating to the parties…read moreallergies. To the point where he circled what food could be eaten/be modified/to avoid. He was awesome all around, please give this man a big fat raise. The place was super loud but if you II sit away from the bar (ex. Inside/outside) you can still have a great time. Went on a Thursday with a 9:45 reservation and did not get seated until 10. Do with that what you wish. Regardless the hostess was very nice! Food was amazing and very quick service with both drinks and tapas. Next time I go I will be trying some more tapas because everything u had was amazing. Perfect place for a social scene, I would not say first date vibes only cause it's blaring loud. But blaring loud with chatter because the place host the best vibes and environment. Will be back. MAKE A RESERVATION

A Hidden Gem in Takoma Park!…read more Olive Lounge exceeded my expectations! The food was fresh, flavorful, and paired perfectly with their drinks. Their happy hour prices are very reasonable, making it an easy spot to enjoy without breaking the bank. I ordered the spinach dip, which was absolutely amazing, along with the pita and hummus, which was fresh and tasty. The standout for me, though, was the steak and cheese egg rolls, super good! Everything came out fresh, and the service made for an enjoyable experience. An added bonus is their outdoor lounge area, which creates a great atmosphere for relaxing with friends or enjoying a nice evening out. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend Olive Lounge to anyone looking for great Mediterranean food, good drinks, and a welcoming vibe in Takoma Park.

Overall: great prices, delicious food, okay service, casual ambiance, single stall inclusive…read morerestrooms, changing table, kids menus, and high chairs available They have a great happy hour and different daily specials. There is so much to love about the menu. Everything we ate was delicious, but overall we are just wildly impressed with the prices. We rarely eat that much quality food for the prices you pay here. I love how many vegetables they have on the menu and the meat was cooked perfectly.

Sakoo- tasted like a mochi and spring roll cross over. The filling is a savory peanut sauce…read more Imagine eating a pan fried summer roll with the dipping sauce wrapped inside. Delightful Gaeng dang curry- yummy yellow curry. It was umami, salty, and there was a touch of spice from the chili oil drizzled on top. I thought the kick of spice was unique and made the dish Pad see eaw- this was also done well. The noodles had a great chewy texture. It was not too salty either I would give it a 4.5

I'm always excited for Lao food, and Baan Mae did not disappoint! I came here with a friend for a…read morebirthday dinner. Even though they are pescatarian, there were still plenty of options on the menu for both of us. We started with Thai green teas, the Sakoo, and the Enoki--both starters were delicious. For mains, we shared the Fried Catfish Laab and the Pad See Eaw with Shrimp. Both were delicious, though I preferred the flavorful laab while my friend loved the Pad See Eaw. My only minor critique was the sticky rice; it was a bit too soft and stuck to my fingers. That said, the Jeow Bong I ordered on the side was incredible. I'll definitely be stopping by often to grab some to go for my home-cooked meals! I'll be dipping everything with Jeow Bong! As someone who grew up eating Lao food, I can confidently say this is the real deal. The space is very small and intimate. We were practically sharing conversations with the table next to us, so I highly recommend making a reservation

The food was so good! We tried the Patatas Bravas, Croquetas de Setas, Gambas Al Ajillo, and…read moreBoquerones con Naranja; everything was flavorful and well prepared. Each dish had something special, and we honestly enjoyed all flavors. It was very busy and a bit loud to make conversation, but the server was really nice and attentive despite how packed it was. Overall, such a great experience and I'll definitely be back!

A very swanky place. Me and a date were walking around Galleryplace for a place to sit and when we…read morewalked in and we knew immediately to ask for a table. The dark warm mood lighting, the corrugated wall, the intimate seating, and of course the small share plates makes for the sexy experience tapas is suppose to be! It is typical of Spanish flavors, heavily relying on high-end cured meats and cheeses, and classics such as croquetas. There is something very special that goes into tapas because its suppose to satisfy you based on good taste over quantity. Large shrimp in a generous skillet of olive oil and slow cooked garlic slices and a iberico mac and cheese are some examples of how they elevate classics we are familiar with. We really liked that they learned into garlic and spice. We found dried Aji Caballero in our meal, great attention to source country. They have a very robust and generous drinks menu. Loved watching others not dining alone and embracing that share quality of the menu design. Perhaps it is not the best tapas I had, I would have liked to see a balance with lighter citrus flavors but maybe that was an ordering issue. At some point, since the menu heavily leans towards rich and decadent, its better to plan around that. Our waitress was amazing, she explained the questions we had on the ingredients and was on it with the refills.

A standout local restaurant. Come for the tapas and drinks - way better than you might expect for a…read moresmall place. Open kitchen. Food is really delicious, with their own spin on flavors and textures. Attention is made to the food presentation. Wide selection of mezcal which pairs well with the small plate selection. Casual, easy going, adult atmosphere (no reason children couldn't eat there, if they are open to exploring flavors). It has become one of our go-to restaurants when we have guests staying with us, as well as nights we just don't feel like cooking.

La plaza is the tapas joint for chicatana, offering affordable yet upscale mexican cuisine. the…read morerestaurant is small and narrow, with just a handful of tables, but it doesn't get too busy. the food is cooked upon order. each dish marries a variety of flavor profiles, both subtle and rich ones. highly recommend everything we got: red snapper, chile con relleno, and the al pastor tacos.

Finally a restaurant in Adam's Morgan that I would actually want to come back to!…read more Food exceeded our expectations- I had the ossobuco w veal shank - melted off the bone and the only bad part about the risotto is that there wasn't enough of it! The complimentary bread was absolutely divine. One of us got the bruschetta and it was beautiful (and delicious). The space is small but doesn't feel cramped. What really stood out though was the service. We were a little early on our Resi before the restaurant opened. Rather than have us wait in the rain, the staff let us in. They don't split checks, but they did it for us anyway. It's those kinds of little gestures that really make a difference. Bonus- great leychee martini.

We were in town for the Cherry Blossoms and came up to Adams Morgan to get dinner. We weren't sure…read morewhat we wanted and stumbled upon Retrobottega. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was great. They have a nice whiskey selection, I had Redemption Rye, my wife had a Basil Gin & Tonic (very nice). She had the rigatoni bolognese, and I had two items off the all-day happy hour: Lamp Skewers and Arancini, all of which were delicious. The decor is cool, and it feels like the kind of place we'd frequent if we lived in DC.

Great business lunch! Pleasant energy imbues the whole of the restaurant. Service was excellent…read moreand servers were all friendly. Tomato bread, a signature dish, was refreshing. Gazpacho had a nice subtle spice and was full of flavor. Salad was quite fresh and well prepared. The vegetables were the stars. I did not try to the Patatas Bravas but loved the way the dish looked!

Yes It's that…read moresimple. What's not to love? Chef has a new cookbook out, and this was a sampling of many of the menus within the cookbook. Our server was great. The food was excellent and I wish I lived here. I'd go much more often. Before I forget, they had a different version of an old-fashioned, and we love that too. This is one of those places just add to the list. I'll be back.

First... man the chairs were UNCOMFY. Theres two types of stools and the padded one feels slightly…read moreslanted forward and small. But anyways Paella was delicious, the flavor profile was super fun. We got the short rib and seafood, and we all preferred seafood as the short rib was a bit heavy. The fish in it was crispy and so good, especially with the green sauce- nice herby and refreshing contrast. The figs were interesting and fun. But not that filling... I did not like the patatas... sauce was good but the potato itself had none of its own seasoning and was tough. Yes crispy but not pillowy inside. The octopus was delicious and super tender. Would come back for seafood paella and charcuterie.

Excellent food, great atmosphere, fantastic service! I wish I had photos of the food, but I was…read morehere with a big group and we descended on the plates like a pack of animals. It was so good. General consensus: the Hugo should just be ordered by the pitcher -huge hit. The Spring Gin & Tonic was excellent. The Iberico Washed Old Fashioned was okay. The Patatas Bravas were a HUGE hit. It's a day later and I can't stop thinking about the sauce. The Escalivada was also a crowd favorite. The Gambas Al Ajillo was universally loved. The sauce the shrimp are swimming in was amazing with pieces of garlic and peppers swimming in oil. Sop it up with the bread that comes too. I heard great comments on the octopus. I also really enjoyed the BOQUERONES CON NARANJA because I'd never seen anything like it. Really yummy if you like a salty briny bite. Our server was amazing and incredibly patient with our large group. Fantastic restaurant!