Excellent food and presentation, lovely atmosphere which was enhanced by pianist throughout our meal. We're staying at the Hay Adams and decided to eat here on our first night. Leisurely and delicious. Exquisitely prepared beet salad and scallops. Perfect for intimate dinner for two or a group gathering. read more

BRUNCH BRUNCH BRUNCH!!!!! Their Sunday brunch is amazing. It's pricy ($85 per person) but given what is served and the excellent service, it's worth every penny. Appetizers, salads, and small plates are offered buffet-style, as well as dessert. Champagne, Bloody Mary, or mimosa drinks are also included in the price along with non-alcoholic beverages. I could easily fill up on the buffet but you order an entrée off of a very broad menu. A sampling of buffet items: Greek quinoa salad, tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, crab claws, carved roast beef, pastries, charcuterie plates, smoked salmon, Italian salad, fresh fruit, lobster salad, and all manner of sauces, toppings, and dressings for all the above. The entrée menu offered lobster omelette (my choice), crabcake Benedict (my friend's choice), Angus steak and eggs, brioche French toast, duck confit, braised lamb, a pasta dish, and a vegetarian platter. Everything we tried was superb and sadly we were too stuffed for dessert. Our server kindly offered to box up our choices, which is unheard of with a buffet, but we declined as it was too hot to leave in our car throughout the day. Elegant yet casual enough to feel comfortable. Cannot rave about this enough! read more

Friday was my birthday and unfortunately my experience wasn't what I expected from a reputable restaurant. Here are the three things that really disappointed me: 1. We found peaces of hard nutshells in the bread that my bf chewed into and we mentioned it to the server, but no action was taken, 2. Chef's $85 seafood tasting menu was very mediocre - crudo and halibut were ok, but I'd skip the octopus soaked in tomato sauce. Dessert was nothing special either. 3. We got overcharged by one $20 drink, which I had to mention to the server. Overall not a great experience... read more

Stately atmosphere, unrivaled service & ridiculously tasty complimentary butter(s). Not your average hotel restaurant. The Lafayette executes classic American dishes in a tasteful environment that is special occasion worthy. The atmosphere is formal, decor is wonderfully detailed to the point of distraction. The white glove service was almost over the top, it may make some people feel uncomfortable. Make a reservation, try the crab-cakes! read more

Simply fantastic. We (me and my wife) went there last sunday to have a brunch. What a brunch. Quite expensive, but simply extraordinary. They have a buffet full of delicious things to work as appetizer, and the main plate can be chosen directly on the menu. It's a fixed 75$ per person, but it also includes the beverages (champagne, mimosa and bloody mary). It's an unique experience. Also, the dessert buffet, also included, is fantastic. read more

Had lunch here on a Saturday afternoon and enjoyed my experience very much. The atmosphere is very elegant and the service is great. The menu is somewhat limited, and not too many dishes jump out as very original. But, everything I had was executed well. Downside: The desserts are not very good. We had 4-5 different kinds amongst my party and they were all unremarkable. Also, my creme brulee was visibly burnt, which left an acrid taste in my mouth. I was not able to eat half my dessert. For $12, I was expecting the best creme brulee east of the Mississippi. read more

Definitely not your average hotel restaurant. Always had memorable experience at the Lafayette. The atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated. The food is exquisite. Had a great birthday brunch with awesome people. Great menu, steps away from the White House. Totally worth a visit! read more

I have no idea why this place does not come in as a five star. The whole experience is impeccably amazing! Everything, from first entering, dining, socializing and parting, far exceeds FIRST RATE! We were treated as royalty with the utmost sincerity, courtesy and caring; we really regretted the night coming to a close. If we lived in the DC area, I have no doubt, we would be regulars at The Lafayette. NICE! read more

The Lafayette - Old time heaven: here on earth! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very intimate and elegant dining room. Great food and ambiance. Service was excellent. Complimentary valet parking. Save for special occasions, as dinner for two with wine likely to be $200. read more

First rate...look no further. Elegant and gracious service. Accommodating staff and lovely meal presentation. I stopped here for a leisurely lunch on the way to the airport. What an oasis! read more

See all

This place is near the White House. Have heard big shots hang out here but I was not impressed with the food or the service. The place had a stuffiness to it. It did not live up to its look and up-tightness. read more

Came here for dinner with my parents..our server, Anthony, treated us like gold and the food was delicious. The atmosphere is peaceful and we will definitely be back. read more

What a treat! My husband and I had breakfast here 3 mornings in succession! Everything is perfect! The decor, the China, the service. We had Giovanni the first day and asked for him again! A true professional. I drank my coffee with a view of The White House! Try the lobster omelette! read more

The ambiance is superb; a live piano in the background while very attentive staff ensure that your Champagne is never empty. Every item was top quality, the smoked salmon was the best that I have ever had in the U.S. It was as good as Delphi Lodge in Ireland, which is the best that I have ever had! I have read reviews complaining about the pricing. You get what you pay for and I couldn't cook the same quality at home for $80. Every aspect of the brunch was phenomenal and I absolutely recommend anyone stuck in D.C. Over the weekend to stop in for their Sunday brunch. It is one of those experiences that will take you back to a time of elegance, sophistication, and quality that is so lacking in modern American life. Enjoy! read more

Classy, elegant and historical with great food and service. Recommend the soufflé! The sole, served table-side was really awesome.

I took my parents to the lafayette for my mother's birthday and what a great experience! From the amuse bouche to the intermezzo-- the food was excellent. The black sea bass was not only beautiful but delicious and the pasta was outstanding. Service was gracious and the brought out a birthday dessert for my mom with coordinated piano music. The chef later came to say hi and we found out that he is from Italy which explains the high quality of the food which I didn't expect. The pasta here is truly a hidden gem of the city! read more

Five star for the service, taste of food and quality. I love the ambiance too. The price is cheaper than what we are expecting. I would definitely recommend. read more

Had breakfast and lunch there (two different months). Both times amazing service and great food. Butternut squash raviolis are really good for vegetarians. read more

I've eaten at the Lafayette previously on client business. Other than the fact that the restaurant sells farm-raised fish, I have found the food to be quite good, the ambiance outstanding, and the detailed service exceptional. (I do note that at least one waiter does not know the rules of formal etiquette, however, it's not like I was dining with the president!) On this day, I took a group of friends for after-dinner drinks and one dessert in particular, the souffle. It's one of the top two souffles I have ever had in my life--a vanilla souffle with a subtle grand marnier sauce. The Lafayette should have a tour of the kitchen during the souffle preparation... The bottom line is that this is a great place to come for souffle and after dinner drinks bc the menu is so overpriced. Disclaimer--souffle and after dinner drinks do add up! read more

The Lafayette at the historic Hay Adams was the perfect setting for a very memorable anniversary dinner. It was truly a 5 star experience. The ambiance is elegant and classy without being too stuffy. There was a talented pianist that added to the lovely atmosphere. All of the food we had was prepared perfectly, which included appetizers, main course and dessert. Even the selection of breads that was served before the meal was fantastic and unique. The server was extremely professional and gave us great recommendations. To top it all off, since I commented it was our anniversary on the reservation we were given complimentary dessert wine and chocolates. Wonderful experience, highly recommend! read more

Had a business breakfast meeting @ The Lafayette/Hay Adams. The hostess was friendly and prompt to seat us. The wait staff were attentive and helpful with suggestions - I found the breakfast menu was a bit limited for a restaurant of this caliber, but the food was quite good. Unfortunately, upon finishing our meal the staff were a bit aggressive in clearing our table and circling for the bill - we had to shoo off the waiter a couple of times - which was disappointing given we were engaged in tying up a business deal, there were plenty of tables open and we were not there for an extended period of time. Although food and service were decent, not sure I'd return soon given the inability to enjoy our meal peacefully and without rush. read more

The service is excellent and the ambiance is great as well. I would definitely recommend the duck entree as well as the burrata appetizer. The wine list is also very strong as well. read more

An embarrassment. Coasting on fumes. Service was slow and inaccurate, though piano is nice touch. Decor is cute but lobby noise rivals the piano. Food is a joke, especially at these prices. Scallop was dominated by heat from it's garnish. Duck was cooked at too low a temperature and had to be sent back, and polenta was flavorless mush. Save a few dollars and get a much better meal at Equinox or the Oval Room around the corner. read more

Relaxing weekday breakfast. The staff brought complimentary Fiji water and my preferred newspaper to the table immediately. That set a nice tone. Ordered poached eggs, fresh berries, freshly pressed juice and coffee. I appreciated that they allowed diners to relax and linger. I would certainly consider visiting again. read more

If this rating was based on my meal alone, I'd give this is 3-star, but want to be fair and take into consideration my dining companions' meals, and the service, which being the Hay Adams, is superior. But here's where I take serious issue with my order of the Diver Scallops as an entree. I specifically passed on a starter figuring an entree of scallops and risotto would be plenty. I was astonished to receive a plate that had a mere TWO scallops and, I kid you not, a few forkfuls of risotto! For $32! I dine regularly at fine restaurants and take no issue with the prices that they can command, but this was offensive. Had I not been at a business luncheon, I would have had my meal returned. Recognizing that this dish is on the dinner menu as an appetizer, did the kitchen and waiter forget it was lunch time? read more

You definitely get what you pay for - and while its more than I'd choose to spend on the typical Sunday brunch, it is superb! Even though the lobster benedict I ordered as my main brunch entree was great, I will say that the appetizer buffet was even better! There was an incredible variety of appetizers, from specialty salads to freshly baked breads to grilled vegetables to gourmet cheeses to fresh seafood galore! I couldn't choose a favorite if you asked. read more

I had such a great experience at The Lafayette. I only stayed in DC for one night and I'm so glad me and my friends picked this place. Clarence was our waiter and I honestly wish he could be my personal waiter every time I went out to eat. He was awesome! He knew what he was talking about, and sold us on the dinner specials, which was phenomenal. He made sure our glasses of champagne were always full. And he was very good at connecting with us even though we aren't from the area. Definitely a great experience, and I would recommend this place, and Clarence, to everyone I know. read more

The Lafayette - Pan seared cod, dragon tongue beans, snap peas, with pork belly bites! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place would get 5 stars simply for its exterior, everything else aside. I mean, you're driving around and then all of a sudden out of nowhere appears this ginormously beautifull resuarunt. If you miss it, you are blind. For those of us a little less street savvy, there is a private parking lot so you only have to walk a few feet to the door. great food and very nice ppl highley Recomanded (: read more

The first thing you notice is the warm, caring attitude of the valets, as they take your car, and make it very easy to get inside the hotel. At no time will you need to look for someone to get your attention. These people treat you as if you were a diplomat! The same attention is afforded you in any area or restaurant in this hotel. They have customer service in place here, no kidding!! Their menu, although exquisite, is way too expensive. Seventy five dollars per person for brunch is a bit much, in my budget. There is not much in the way of breakfast food, in my estimation, that warrants such prices. Although very good, and a very lovely atmosphere, I'll opt for something a bit more pedestrian, next time we take my mother- in-law out for brunch. read more

incredible lobster salad for lunch! Restaurant is very elegant. Great central DC location.

Elegant decor. Top notch service. Very good food and an overall amazing experience. Fine dining at its best in a historic location.

The Lafayette was an outstanding setting for a group dinner event. The balcony views overlooking The White House is an experience to remember. The food was fantastic as well. read more

A few friends and I went to The Lafayette for my birthday and another one of my friends birthdays. We made reservations and were asked if we were celebrating, so they knew we were there for a big experience before we even arrived. The decor is amazing, the service is outstanding, and the food is nothing less than perfect. Our waiter, Clarence, was one of the best waiters I've ever had serve me. He was so helpful with menu choices, he had perfect timing for everything, he was very easy to talk to and gave us great spots to go as far as night life after dinner. We followed all of his recommendations and were more than pleased. One of our friends is vegan and he made excellent accommodations to her dish so that she could eat. We all loved everything about it, and to top it off he gave us a beautiful birthday dessert on him (baked Alaska! get it!) Go to The Lafayette if you want a true fine-dining experience and if you can, get Clarence to serve you! read more

The Lafayette - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely delicious. We ordered the grouper special and it was amazing. Wait staff was attentive. Would definitely recommend.

My husband and I ended up here on a recommendation from a friend as a nice place to go for an upscale breakfast close to the White House. We came at the beginning of a day of touring the city and were dressed in tourist clothing (jeans and T-shirts). I immediately realized we were under-dressed as soon as we walked in the hotel and half-expected to be turned away from the restaurant. However, they seated us and gave us top-of-the-line service despite the fact that we clearly did not fit in with their clientele. The servers were incredibly friendly, helpful, and did not treat us in a condescending manner whatsoever. The food itself was fairly average (except for the scone which was outstanding) and was surprisingly not overpriced ($17 for eggs & bacon). I was really blown away with the quality of service which was not affected by our casual appearance. read more

Ok, so maybe because it is a five-star hotel that I liked it so much. But the service was superb and they were quick to fufill any requests. The hotel staff was friendly and inviting and the concierge was very helpful in navigating Washington D.C. I recommend it to everyone who can afford this price-range. read more

Truly memorable experience - the ambience was fantastic as well as the food. It's was a lovely classy evening. The 5 stars come mostly from the service which was outstanding. The food would get 4 stars from me but I am somewhat picky. The drinks were definitly 5 stars. read more

We had a wedding celebration dinner for a party of 10 in the private dining room on May 7th that left everyone with a distaste for the Lafayette. Our waiter Anthony was very rude and unaccommodating. From the moment we arrived, we did not feel welcomed but instead felt rushed through dinner. Since the Lafayette does allow bottle corking, we decided to bring 6 nice bottles of some very nice wine. At some point during the dinner, I noticed the empty bottles being cleared and when I looked over to the corner table where the wine was being held, I saw that there were still 2 bottles of wine that hadn't been opened. After ordering the dessert, I noticed that the 2 bottles were gone and when I asked about them, Anthony informed me that all 6 bottles had been poured. Several minutes later, a few other members in our party mentioned that there were 2 unopened bottles that seem to have disappeared. Upon paying our bill, we mentioned this situation to Anthony again and he said to "hold on," after which he returned with 6 empty bottles, all too ready for our concern. We firmly believe that Anthony wanted to get us out sooner and poured out the 2 bottles. Although this allegation may sound odd, the fact that several members in our party noticed 2 unopened bottles that suddenly had disappeared leads us to believe that this is the only thing that could have happened. Even so, when our wine glasses were empty, any maître d' in a 5-star establishment would offer a wine list selection, but Anthony just cleared our glasses from the table. He obviously did not want us to stay any longer. When ordering dessert, I asked to order the Pistachio soufflé and Anthony said it would take 25-30 minutes. Since I knew 3 people wanted to order the pistachio soufflé, I asked to place 3 orders. Again, Anthony brought it to my attention that they take 25-30 minutes, which I understood the first time he told me. Again, another indication he wanted us out. Another situation brought to my attention was when Anthony was taking our dessert order, 2 members of our party asked if they could order a cappuccino and espresso with their dessert. Anthony responded that he wasn't taking coffee orders and that they could order on the "next round." Lastly, when our utensils were being replenished for dessert, I saw Anthony pick up un-used utensils from one person in our party and place it in front of another person in our party. I don't think this is standard practice in a supposed 5-star establishment. We have had plenty of fine dining experiences and this definitely wasn't one of them. Food was mediocre and wasn't anything that would make me want to try this restaurant again. As we expected much better service from this restaurant, I wanted to make the manager aware of our experience. When I finally got a hold of him 3 weeks after our dinner, he said he was there and saw all 6 bottles of wine. My first thought was, "Wouldn't and shouldn't a manager at least greet a large dinner party at some point during the dinner to make sure everything was running smoothly?" Overall, a waste of an experience and sad that I recommended this place to celebrate a wedding. If you want a nice dining experience, go to Plume or any restaurant on 14th street for that matter. If you still decide do go after this review and end up with Anthony as your waiter, request someone else. read more

had a fantastic last minute breakfast here with my husband. It was great food at a reasonable price. Also this place has a lot of history, all presidents stay here before they get inaugurated which I find really cool. read more

Went for prix fixe valentine's day. ambience was romantic, but kind of stuffy. Piano was nice, little chocolate hearts on the table, was VERY expensive for quality of food. I thought the food was not that great. Notable for things cut up in microsize pieces- strawberry tartar, salad with itsy bitsy pears, peppers, equivalent to a single bite in the salad, sea bass with oyster cream and celery, carrots, again micro bites and heart shaped potatoes- undercooked, my husbands filet was overcooked and chewy. Dessert was nice, but not to die for. Overall disappointing. Went to use the restrooms and say the bar-- that looked like the place to eat- less stuffy, but quiet and romantic, off the a la carte menu with some wine....wished we'd tried that instead. read more