We came to Gypsy Kitchen for our anniversary, and it was the perfect spot! The service was speedy…read moreand kind, and the decor/ambiance was beautiful. We ordered a bottle of the Cava, and four small plates, which was plenty of food. The mussels, labneh and Patatas bravas were all very generous portions. Labneh: 5/5, delicious, served with plenty of pita Patatas bravas: 5/5, with great flavor and crispy roasted potatoes Mussels: 4/5, generous portion size, and the sauce was very good but I wished the sauce was more white wine-based Tuna crudo: 5/5, not a ton of food but the flavor was absolutely delicious, very citrusy and fresh Labneh cheesecake: 4/5, served with a sauce that was a bit like cough syrup but otherwise absolutely delicious

We paid $130 with tip for croquettes, lamb skewers, tuna crudo, hummus, and two 50 Shades of Purple…read more(drinks with butterfly pea gin). We sat outside on the patio and it was a gorgeous day. The decor is perfect and I love that they've added plants to cover the staircase. Drinks were delicious and the food came out quickly. Our water glasses were rarely empty. Service was kind. Food wise if I were to stack rank I would say the hummus is the best of what we ordered. The pita bread is thick and garlicky and oily and massive. The croquettes would be at the bottom of my list simply because they're dissimilar from any I've had before and a little bit underwhelming. The tuna was fresh but it's a small dish and not much to write home about. The lamb skewers have a subtle kick to them and they're pretty substantial. I'll definitely be back to try more! Highly recommend on a warm summer day as you're covered by the canopy above, if you're looking for a rooftop vibe.

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.

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

My experience here was so unfortunate it's funny. D.C has some excellent restaurants so it's…read moreshocking this wine bar can stay competitive in this environment. First, a friend made a reservation at least a week in advance for a table of three. We all got there on time, if not a few minutes early. The hostess then told us there was not a table ready for us, and worse, was unable to give us a time estimate on when a table would open up because "we do not time our tables." So what is the point of making a reservation? Hilariously he said we can wait for a table outside instead, but they Won't be turning on the heaters. Happy to know they want us cold and hungry. We ended up waiting by the bar area, which was uncomfortably packed, for a drink while a table opened up. The bartender there was nice and respectful! Eventually, after waiting for some time we got a table inside. It was quite loud in the main room. There were three separate birthday parties. We were glad to start ordering. We ordered the oyster mushrooms, patatas bravas, chicken thighs, seafood paella, and the pork belly. The pork belly had to be comped because they forgot about it until I reminded them over an hour into the dinner. To note, all of the food was lukewarm/cold with the exception of the pork belly because they forgot about it and it was prepared late. Even the paella, which is served on a cast iron, so it has the optics of being piping hot, was actually just warm. The rice felt a little hard. The mushrooms had too much breading in each bite. I enjoyed the green sauce in the chicken. A runner asked if we wanted complimentary bread with our green sauce, which we responded positively towards. But soon after another runner picked up the plate with the sauce and swooped it away. Then the first runner came back with the bread right after, noticeably confused by the lack of sauce. It felt comedic. I enjoyed the wine and the pork belly most. Truly unforgettable service.

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. .

I've eaten here several times now and each time everything, food, wine selection, service, and…read moreambiance, was on point.

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.

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

who knew DC was a hotspot for southeast asian cuisine? this viet/laotian/thai/burmese-ish spot is…read moreso cozy and friendly! -thai tea: too milky, not strong at all :(( very sweet -chicken wings: large, sweet and spicy, super crispy -koi goon daeng: reminds me of burmese tea salad, super flavorful (esp w chili powder) and very filling! a bit too salty imo -pad see eaw: very chewy, fresh noodles with sweet pickled chilli. not my fan dish in general, but theirs was good with chinese broccoli

This place is in a great corner location, the food was delicious, and the staff were friendly…read moreoverall. We had a reservation to make sure we got a table, and the restaurant was completely full when we arrived. The only downside was that after being seated outside, we felt a little forgotten for the first 30 minutes or so. No one came by with water or to check in, and it seemed like the staff may not have realized a new table had been seated until we flagged down the outside host. There were also swarm of flies hovering around the outdoor tables, which another table pointed out and then we started noticing too. Aside from that, the experience was good overall. The inside dining area definitely had a dressier vibe compared to the patio seating, and once we were helped, the food made up for the slow start.

Placed a large order via Uber Eats since restaurant will not accept takeout orders directly…read more Restaurant does not allow any specifications when ordering through Uber Eats - for example, one person wanted one ingredient held from her salad. Uber Eats lacked description for Zaytinya's food items (such as the ounces of the drinks) and some items (such as the horta salata) were not as pictured. There were no extra napkins in our bag. The Coke came in bottles but we didn't receive any bottle openers. To top it off, we had three food items missing. I called the restaurant again to let them know about the missing food - they were unapologetic and didn't know what the proper protocol was to fix the situation. The service was subpar and the servings were small. Won't be back. The next day we had food delivered from another local restaurant where both the food and service were outstanding, unlike at Zaytinya. UPDATE: After writing the Yelp review, a general manager at Zaytinya emailed me the following: "..."The restaurant normally offers takeout, but the location was actually closed that day for a private event. However, since the order had come through, we tried to honor it. The mujadara and 2 orders of rice were missing because we hadn't prepped those items, as they were not offered for the buyout..." The restaurant knew on Friday what I was ordering for Tuesday. They had plenty of time to reach out to me and tell me they would be closed and wouldn't be able to fulfill the order. Instead, they knowingly sent out an order without all of the food for our group and charged as if we received everything. This shows a lack of professionalism and is disrespectful.

Vibes, check. Food, check. Service, check. We had a great girls' night dinner upstairs at Amazonia…read more This would also be a great date night spot. I was pleasantly surprised by the plantain dish. Very interesting combo and tasty. The bluefin tuna ceviche was fresh and delicious. We loved the meat skewers and wished we had ordered more! We got the chicken, filet mignon and pork belly skewers. I forgot to take a pic! We also share the lomo saltado and the fusilli with crab. Both were solid choices. We added a little of the spicy sauce that came with the skewers and it set it off! I can't wait to go back and order more things!

Amazing time here. The service was top notch with our waitress explaining where the ingredients are…read moresourced and the uniqueness of each dish in relations to Peruvian cuisine. We got the pork belly and corazon de res skewers which were great. The ceviche amazónico was phenomenal. Really stole the show. Do not leave until you ordered one of their ceviche We got the fusili pasta which had a nice kick to it and the crab was fresh. This is a perfect place to celebrate while enjoying a new cuisine

Our company division recently hosted a team offsite in the DMV area, and to encourage us to meet…read morenew colleagues, we were placed into small groups of 10-12 people where a local colleague selected a restaurant for the group. I chose Ambar for my group, and I'm very pleased with our selection. Food Most of our group had dietary restrictions. Several of us were gluten free, and one person was both nut and seafood free. Ambar did an excellent job curating a menu that worked for everyone without making anyone feel like an afterthought. We opted for the Chef's Table experience, which included a spread tasting with veggie sticks and a variety of dishes that were clearly labeled and thoughtfully prepared: * Bean hummus - GF / DF / NF * Ajvar - GF / DF / NF * Balkan salad - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without feta cheese) * Baby carrots - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without tofu sauce) * Roasted peppers - GF / DF / NF * Cauliflower - GF / DF / NF * Baked beans - GF / DF / NF * Roasted lamb - GF / DF / NF * Stuffed pork belly "Sarma" - GF / DF / NF * Brussels sprouts - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without yogurt and bacon) * Seafood platter Everything was flavorful, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented. The meal was so delicious that I didn't even manage to get photos of everything, which rarely happens for me. Just know we dined very well and left completely satisfied. Service The staff was wonderful from start to finish. From the event team member who served as our account manager, to the chef, to the servers and wait staff, everyone was attentive and accommodating. They handled our dietary needs with care and professionalism and made sure our group felt taken care of throughout the evening. Pricing We paid a set fee that we were able to negotiate, and the final rate wasn't too bad for a group experience like this. Just keep in mind that there is an admin fee, a 20% gratuity, and taxes added on top, so be sure to factor that into your planning if you're booking a group event. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend Ambar for group dining, especially if you have guests with dietary restrictions. They made coordination easy, delivered great food, and created a memorable dining experience for our team.

We had an enjoyable experience. The all-you-can-eat small plate style is great for sharing with…read morefriends or family and trying a lot of different dishes. The food was overall tasty, especially the dips -- we all really enjoyed the beet dip, and I liked the fresh citrus balance in some of the spreads. The medium rare steak was also cooked well. Some other dishes like the shrimp and grits, sliders, and mac & cheese were more underwhelming and a little lacking in flavor. But overall a solid spot for to come with a group and a good way to try a variety of Balkan-inspired dishes.

One of my favorite places when I feel like I have the budget to spend. I came here on a weeknight…read moreand it was very quiet, which made for a relaxed experience. I started with Ben Frank's Milk Punch and it was really good. I couldn't taste much alcohol, but I think that's intentional compared to versions I've had at other places. The onion soup was interesting. I seemed to misread the "cappuccino" element. It definitely tasted like onion soup, but it wasn't very hot. The presentation also threw me off -- drinking it made my mind expect a dessert rather than a savory dish. The Cotton Candy Foie Gras was exactly why I came. It's a fun appetizer and I loved the balance between the cotton candy, foie gras, and corn nuts. You're supposed to shove it all into your mouth and eat it in one bite, which adds to the experience. The Tortilla de Patatas "New Way" was also delicious. I liked the contrast between the crispness and the creaminess of the sauce. It also came out super hot, which is how I prefer it. I didn't get to order more since it was meant to be drinks and apps, but based on what I tried, I wouldn't be surprised if the other items were just as delicious. Service was ok, they checked in with me but not enough for refill. Ambiance was luxurious which was a nice experience.

Writing a review for Bazaar by Jose Andres is like writing "A Tale of Two Cities." It was the best…read moreof times, it was the worst of times. This restaurant has a dining room that is as beautiful and impressive as any in DC. The architecture of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (the Old Post Office Pavilion) is stunning. The crystal chandeliers shimmer, the furnishings are top notch, fancy even. The atmosphere could not be better. Likewise the food shines. Each dish outshone the one before. We started with the oxtail croquettes and they set the standard very high. The meat was luscious, luxurious even; the crust was perfectly crispy and crunchy. Then on to the she-crab soup. OMG it was to die for. The flavor was intense, like a crab bomb exploded in our mouths. We scraped the sides of the little bowls to get every drop. Our main dish was the beef tenderloin Rossini and this was easily among the best steaks I have ever had. Cutting the steak was easy because it was so tender. And the seared foie gras on top made it heavenly. So, to keep with my opening concept, the atmosphere of the dining room and the quality of the food were "the best of times." What was "the worst of times?" The service. It is hard to imagine food this good coming from a staff that is so unprofessional, uninspired, uninterested, unfocused. The staff - all of them - seemingly had no interest in providing top notch service. We waited to be approached. We waited for our drinks. We waited for our food; indeed, one of our courses never arrived. Never have I had such great food and such bad service all at the same time. Ronny was our waiter and, to be honest, he was not good. But everyone who we interacted with was bad so, I can only conclude, that this terrible service is what Jose Andres intended. And all of this at a meal that is VERY expensive. My spouse and I talked about the pricing. When you dine out, are you paying for the food only, or for the food and the service? The answer, of course, is that you are paying for both. So, while I do NOT mind paying a lot for a meal, I do want and expect that the food and the service will be somewhat equivalent to the price I have paid. At Bazaar Meat, that did not happen. Maybe the service lacked polish and professionalism because of the 20% tip that was automatically added onto the bill. They did not have to work hard for a tip since it was automatic. Sure, you could decrease the tip - it even said that at the bottom of the credit card slip. But would you ever do that? Not likely. So, that is my "A Tale of Two Cities" review of Bazaar Meat. Food and atmosphere, GREAT! Service, TERRIBLE! Do I recommend Bazaar Meat? No. Will I return? No.