Rumor is that U.S. Senators prefer this nearby restaurant. I can't speak to politics but I can speak to their good taste! This restaurant is clearly a well-establish dining enclave. The booths are tight. If you know, you know. Don't let tummy pressing tightness dissuade you. I am very salt sensitive. I find most restaurants blow your palate away with overly salty food. Not here. I can say without reserve that my octopus was well grilled (okay, a few pieces were extremely chewy), the "spicy" sausage was redolent of the savory flavors of the American south, though to my (spice forward) palate, I did not discern a lot of heat. The Santorini fava, a traditional Greek dish made of split yellow peas had a delightful freshness and subtle sweetness that served effectively as a sauce for the octopus and sausage. The combination of flavors was surprisingly fresh, and reflected a clear culinary perspective (and a practiced hand). I very much enjoyed the food and my friends reported similar happiness with their dishes. Restaurant well, my friends! read more

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I have always walked by the Monocle but never have had the chance to go. Finally, I had a special lunch scheduled, but unfortunately it did not meet expectations. We had to remind the waiter (twice) for all of our sides and they arrived at the end of our meal. My husband had to ask for a ginger ale refill. My water was at least consistently refilled. Three of us ordered salmon and we agreed it was not spectacular nor did I love the sauce with it. It was cooked fine but did not wow. A gentleman in our party enjoyed his steak. You have to ask for the bread; ideally the waiter would have offered. read more

The Monocle - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you care about your health and safety, do not eat here. I ordered halibut with butter sauce, but they served it with lobster sauce--and they knew it, yet never told anyone. No announcement, no apology, nothing. This violated my religious dietary restrictions and could have endangered someone with a shellfish allergy, like my wife. The staff knew the mistake and did not take action. This restaurant's disregard was unacceptable. I will never return, and neither should you. read more

Nice food and close to the Capitol. Decent menu options. had a fantastic Shrimp Louie add crab- the dressing was so so good. Co worker had the burger and said it was well cooked. read more

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We cannot stop talking about how much we loved The Monocle! The food was delicious, the service impeccable, and it just oozes classic steakhouse. The bone in filet was perfectly cooked and a high quality cut. We were celebrating our anniversary, and it truly felt so special. The entire staff knew and wished us a happy anniversary. Even at the end of our meal as we were heading to the car, someone poked their head out to wish us a happy anniversary once more. It was really sweet! I would definitely recommend it and look forward to going back. read more

Absolutely fantastic! Food was perfect, service was flawless and friendly. Ambiance is old time charm. Comfortable and just perfect to enjoy a great meal. My food was superb. Good location. read more

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Cozy intimate American steakhouse with great service! Great place to celebrate or reunion with friends. I had an issue with my steak and they worked to make it right and I was very grateful. Great cocktail and dessert list too! read more

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Excellent restaurant for a very expensive meal, but with good food and amazing service. Great place to impress. Also a great venue if you are meeting up with some Washington DC friends after work. Conveniently located across the street from Union station. New York strip steak was fantastic. French fries met expectations. Cheesecake also met expectations. Diet Coke glass was full, I didn't have any alcohol. Everyone else who did have alcohol seemed to really enjoy the experience. read more

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The service and atmosphere were lovely, but I was underwhelmed by the food especially considering the pricing. The drinks and specials we tried were very good though! read more

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I had dinner here with a couple of colleagues while in town for a meeting. I had been here before for a group dinner, but this was my first visit with just a regular reservation and ordering off the menu. This is a historic restaurant right near the Capitol and is a good spot to increase your chances of catching a glimpse of members of congress if you're interested in doing so; there are lots of signed photos on the wall of previous guests. The menu is classic and basic with steaks and classic seafood. I had the crab cake and added on the optional side of fries. The crab cake was excellent; almost entirely big chunks of crab. The vegetables and fries were good. I had a ginger manhattan from the cocktail list; it was an excellent manhattan and the ginger was subtle. Service was a little off sadly. Other tables received bread and we did not. We asked about this and were told it was coming but never did. We also had an hour wait between cocktails and food arriving which is part of why we wanted the bread. Other tables were definitely being served before us; not sure if our ticket was misplaced for a bit. If something like that did happen, an explanation would have been helpful. I definitely love a leisurely dinner, but this did not seem by design. read more

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Delicious!! Started with shellfish bisque, followed by a paradise salad, then topped it off with Crème Brûlée! So very good, with stellar service by Haris! read more

The Monocle - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've walked by this place 1000 times and somehow never went in. I regret that because this is really one of the best places to eat in Washington DC.. I stopped by for lunch on a very hot day and enjoyed a delicious Shrimp Louis salad one of the best slices of cheesecake I've ever had. It came with rum and pineapple sauce. Fabulous! The service was impeccable; old school wait staff, who know their job. Proper dining establishments like this becoming rarer and rarer. People seem to want to grab or go, or flock to the most recent fad food brought to them by some random influencer. Quality food and thoughtful service are still alive and well at this restaurant. It is in a beautiful old building and a stones throw from Union Station. Well worth a visit! read more

Off Capitol hangout...great atmosphere for anger together, and good food. We had an opportunity to meet with a member of Congress and then follow that meeting up with a meal and some drinks. Harris was an awesome server and handled our group of about 15 with ease. I ordered the Hanger Steak, medium rare, it was very good. It was covered with a cognac mushroom sauce which enhanced the flavor of the meat. I also ordered the mushroom and oysters side, which was surprisingly good. I enjoyed my side over the potato au gratin, and the green beans and carrots. Folks from party ordered the NY Strip, which was sizeably generous. The halibut presented well and for good reviews. Two from my table ordered (and didn't share) their creme brulee. I chose to dessert on a Knob Hill, neat. Great experience at a traditional steak restaurant, in a not so traditional location. read more

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We were visiting and taking the train back to Richmond. This location is walking distance to Union Station. The guy host was so friendly and overall the service was good. The pictures all over the restaurant were pretty cool too. This place isn't cheap. The food options are what I would expect for a "White House dinner" or something like that so that's pretty cool but it's not amazing or a dinner I would necessarily remember. It served its purpose and convenient. read more

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Best steak in town! I got the filet mignon, and the house potato gratin. Both were terrific. This was the best steak I have ever eaten! Service was incredible! I see why this was one of Richard Nixon and JFK's favorite restaurants in town. Terrific ambience, great atmosphere. Once you eat here no steak will ever taste the same to you ever again! It will only remind you of how far you are from this exceptional establishment. MUST HAVE if you are in Washington DC read more

The Monocle - Monocle House Potato Gratin - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I apologize in advance for no pics of this special place or the amazing food. This is an iconic long term main stay of Washington DC. It is a special place where many politicians have come to enjoy an amazing meal, drinks and conversation. I have been here a few times and this time was a stop for lunch. I enjoyed the jumbo lump crabmeat imperial, a glass of wine and the classic crème brûlée for dessert. I cannot express enough praise for the crabmeat imperial. The ingredients were absolutely perfect, moist, tender and fresh. It really is a piece of art! The super knowledgeable staff recommended a glass of the Yealands Sauvignon blanc and it was a great pairing. Dessert was my all time fave dessert-crème brûlée. If a crème brûlée has a thick hardened toasted sugar top that cracks with the back of your spoon, you know it's going to be good. This was sooooo good. The prices are higher but seriously the history, ambience, great staff and amazing food are worth every penny spent! Def recommend! read more

When I sat down at our table, I took in the scenery and immediately noticed the wall of prior patrons. I had this vision of DC insiders having these perfectly tender steaks with a glutinous amount of steakhouse sides, paired with uncorked bottles of wine and a (cigar) smoke filled ceiling. For me, this kind of ambiance is worth the price of admission. I drank a mescal old fashioned and a rum based punch from the drink menu. (Both drinks were good) I'm pretty sure the house bread had a decent amount of rosemary in it. I like that personally. The house salad with avocados and hearts of palm was a great call to start the festivities. My 14 OZ NY sirloin was very tender and flavorful. Some of my steak slices made their way in the red wine sauce that accompanied my wife's Filet Mignon. That was also delicious and perfectly cooked. My crispy onion rings were not so crispy, but still enough crunch to satisfy that urge. Our side of potatoes au gratin was a 10 out of 10. The staff was fantastic and our server was excellent. It was a checklist experience for me and I'm glad we went. I look forward to taking my son here in the future to getting his read on the food and the ambience. I would recommend it. read more

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Amazing food, the workers are polite and really funny. And the interior is very nice.

We visited during restaurant week for a much needed friend date! I was the first to arrive and was seated promptly! The service was solid, no complaints. As for the food, everything was delectable! My least favorite item was the shellfish bisque, it was a little too salty for my liking. The vibe is super cute, it made me feel like I was in The Sopranos. I would absolutely return here! read more

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I start this review with the fact that this visit was for a large party during lunch hour because I believe it plays a part in the quality of the meal to a certain degree. The service when we arrived was quick and efficient. The server took our orders quickly and he was on top of filling up our drinks during the duration of the meal. The salad was bland to say the least and was already served on the table upon arrival. For our entree we had a chicken or steak option. I ordered a medium temp steak, which I believe was the hanger steak on their menu. The steak was under cooked and lacked seasoning. The side item was the star of show and it was the chef potatoes. The potatoes were well cooked and the sauce was delicious. Overall this was a underwhelming meal. The ambiance of the restaurant was neat and you can tell there is a lot of history in this building. Unfortunately the meal was so forgettable that I simply can't give it another try when there are so many good options in the area. read more

The Monocle - BLT Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We visited the restaurant for the dinner with a large group of people. The restaurant is apparently an institution, one of the oldest in Washington, where you can meet senators etc. on the regular basis. As this was a large group dinner, we had fixed menu. My main dish was salmon with sautéed vegetables and cream sauce - well cooked and well seasoned. I also had chocolate pannacotta for the dessert which was more resembling a chocolate ganache cake, but it was still tasty. Excellent service, prompt and attentive. Visiting this restaurant is an experience, recommended. read more

The Monocle - Chocolate Panna Cotta - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

More of a 4.5... the Monocle is a DC institution on the Hill. It's a political hot spot with the volume to match. Lots of suits during the lunch crowd. Ambiance was busy with a more mature crowd. Food was prepared well. We loved everything we ordered. *crab cake, delicious! I loved it on a bed of avocado, yumm! *Tenderloin salad-meat was tender and flavorful. A bit generous with the blue cheese. *D Street Burger-my husband loved. It was prepared medium and tasty. *crème brûlée was delicious! We would definitely come back. There were a few hiccups with service but we still want to give this place another shot. read more

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Nothing short of perfection. Everything we had was simply done well. To top that all, service was personable, genuine, and top-notch. A six-decade-long restaurant located next to the Capitol serves delightful food with a rich history of congressional diners. We had the burrata and grilled octopus for appetizers. The slices of tomatoes with the burrata were very good. The octopus was cooked perfectly. We had the linguini clams, bone-in ribeye, new York strip, and spring chicken. All were flavorful. For dessert, we had the cheesecake with pineapple, creme brulee, chocolate panna cotta, and coffee ice cream. I love cheesecake but the way they did it here was out of this world with thr pineapples. I was a skeptic at first, but it was mind-blowing. We will certainly return because it was just that good. read more

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On our vacation to D.C., we had planned to eat at recommended and somewhat historic places. We chose this one and Old Ebbitt Grill. Monocle food was good, but not fantastic. No wow factor. The menu is very limited. Somewhat of a disappointment for us. Staff seemed hurried and kind of irritated. If you really want wow factor, I highly suggest the Old Ebbitt Grill. It was amazing and we will be back to eat there next time in D.C. read more

Why has the Monocle survived all these years...because it is so darn good! We celebrated an anniversary there recently. The service was terrific, the meal was better. This was an old school experience not to be missed. We started off with a champagne toast and moved on from there. The bread that was brought to our table was so delicious we asked for more, they even sent us home with some we enjoyed it so much. Our wait staff and maître d' were attentive and unobtrusive. We had the vegetarian mushroom pasta and the linguine with clams. Absolutely delicious. For dessert we shared a crème brûlée and a port wine. Both were to die for. We were treated like royalty and owe a great thanks to everyone who made our evening so special. read more

The Monocle - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We loved our experience at this place. Great cocktails, quality food, friendly, genuine staff. Well try to come back here! It was the first date with the most beautiful woman. And the waiter was very pushy and asked tactless questions, not allowing us to be in personal space, which spoiled the impression a little. read more

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What a pleasant experience. We had been walking around all day and were definitely disheveled tourists. We walked in thinking they will never let us in, we're under dressed and look a mess. John said we have a table for you, and had the maître 'd seat us. The meal was very tasty, the ambiance was definitely old school but also current DC and we had a delightful time. Members of Congress were all about, including some very well-known Senators. John was very friendly, came over and talked to us and made us feel at home. If you are in the area, we highly recommend this establishment. read more

The Monocle - Crab cake and chicken entrees. - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One thing you will get when you come to The Monocle is no frills steakhouse and that's exactly what we wanted. What a treat to feel welcomed and no pretentiousness surrounding you. My bf who is a DC resident for over a decade will rave to anyone about this and for good reason, it's just perfect. The drinks are so stiff but delicious, the appetizers (love you wedge and crab) and steak is just simple and fantastic and the desert was simple but exactly the sweet treat you need after a big steak dinner. Everything was cooked to perfection. A true DC staple with absolutely amazing service. It's quiet, you can enjoy your meal while being able to hear the person in front of you. read more

The Monocle - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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High class restaurant that lives up to the hype! Service: Service was excellent on a Friday night from as soon as we walked through the door. We went during restaurant week so I expect it was a typical busy evening. We were greeted by name as I had made a reservation and were seated immediately. They do check for vaccination cards and everyone wears masks correctly. The waiters gave us full attention ensuring our waters were filled, our meals came out quickly and like we wanted and we always felt attended to. Food: Food was delicious. We ordered the calamari and shrimp bisque as first courses. Calamari was very well seasoned and the shrimp bisque was good. Needed a few more shrimp but was good nonetheless. We ordered The beef tenderloin and crab cakes as main courses. The tenderloin came out at the perfect temperature and cooked just like we ordered and the crab cake was scrumptious. The crab cake came with veggies that were well seasoned and perfectly cooked. For dessert we had Crème brûlée and chocolate panna cotta. While the crème brûlée came out a little cold it was still tasty and the chocolate panna cotta was excellent. All in all the food was great and we want to try the other items on the menu! Overall: This is a great, high class spot where you feel welcomed and warm. While we dressed up and most of the other patrons were at least somewhat dressed up it is a chill and classy environment. I recommend making reservations but the food is delicious and you will not leave hungry! read more

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We had the most amazing evening, celebrating our wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrived, John met us with a smile and promptly sat us. I forgot my reading glasses and he graciously let me borrow his (thank you again!). The food and service were spectacular. Everything from the rosemary infused bread, down to the dessert and port. We both had the filet and it was done to perfection. Our waiter was attentive and kind, making our evening even better! The atmosphere was warm, welcoming and full of so many stories, as evident on the walls with the decades of pictures and memories. Our favorite part of the evening was speaking with John, who felt like we've known him for years. Our only regret is that we haven't been there sooner. We can't wait to return soon! Thank you all for the exceptional evening and making our wedding anniversary one we will never forget. -Shannon and Spencer Phifer read more

The Monacle has been on the "have to try this place" list for a few years. I made the reservation last week and went last night. I decided to take metro as it was of and on raining and wasn't sure of street parking in this part of DC. I was early so I walked around enjoying the cherry blossoms and beautiful buildings . Definitely a spot to take a date or the family for a change of pacee. My reservation was for 6:30 and I roll in a bit early. I am immediately seated and given a glass of chilled water. The waiter comes over and takes my wine order. I decided on the malbec from Argentina. I checked out the menu beforehand but wanted to check for nightly specials. I'm enjoying the wine and decide on the 14 oz NY sirloin steak, medium rare cooked. The potato gratin gets good reviews so I ordered that as well. Lots of politician pictures on the walls. Downstairs, upstairs ... pretty much all over. It's different from the Palm. I recognized a few pictures...most I had to get close to read who they were. After visiting the men's room to wash and check out more pictures I return and my steak is on the table with the potatoes! Nice... The meat is very good, on par with Rare behind the white house. Potatoes are a on the buttery side but still tasty. The 14oz is the perfect size. I order another glass of the wine, finish the meat and potatoes and I'm satisfied. The decor is fitting for the food and drink being served. Historic and classy. Definitely will be back. read more

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Far too often, a restaurant's personality smacks of a sterile, formulaic, dare I even say "corporate" experience that lacks the authenticity of what a true epicure would expect to find at a venue that is, indeed, a one-off, unique enterprise that more resembles a time capsule than the latest instantiation of your prototypical New York, Midtown, chain that mastered the art of replication and fully embraces their pasteurized foolish consistency that is the hobgoblin of little appetites. The Moncocle is that family venture that John preserves like a fine bottle of wine. The entire experience whisks you to an era where men took off their hats and stood for their female compatriots then dined under oil paintings without distraction from vacuous technologies and spoke about substantive topics in-between bites of perfectly prepared steak. Do not patronize The Monocle hoping to find famously elected officials dining at the adjacent table. Go there to find yourself and that perfectly preserved experience of decorum from a bygone era where a jacket and tie was not a special occasion, it was a Tuesday. read more

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An excellent Capitol Hill people-watching location. Service is good; food is mediocre.

Random choice as we were visiting the Capital Excellent choice Best service anywhere, friendly and informative Very quick service as we were early but it did get busy about 630 pm Calamari was very good and crispy, sauce ok but nice feature Crab cake was excellent, fresh , not too salty, sweet and fresh Lamb chop was cooked to perfection but a little thin gratin potatoes was excellent Frenched chicken was very moist and flavorful Lemon curd pie was extremely refreshing and light Carrot cake was good a little heavy Great ambience, felt very nostalgic , historical , but not stuff read more

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What a disappointment. We heard that this was a classic old school, inside the Beltway DC establishment, not to be missed. It's a place that supposedly has served Capital Hill big wigs for many years, it's right next door to the Capital Building so we thought it would be a lot of fun to dine there after working on the Hill. We walked in without a reservation and were met by a jovial maitre d' and it seemed like a good time was going to be had by all. While we were waiting to speak to him we realized the place was empty and the decor seemed off. It's as if they took an old place with lots of character and scrubbed it all clean off. Must have been redecorated a few years ago by someone with a bland corporate palette and it felt very uninviting. Well, we thought "let's have a drink at the bar and see if we want to stay". The Maitre d' escorted us into the bar area which was again, mostly empty and quiet, no music playing, just a dead silence. You'd think the bartender would be happy to have a few new customers but no, he didn't say anything to us when we sat down, just looked at us, threw two napkins on the bar and stared at us with an unsmiling expression on his face....as if he was doing us a favor by being there. No offer of a menu for drinks or dinner, no offer of a glass of water...just a cold stare. We ordered two drinks and he turned around without saying a word, made the drinks, set them down in front of us and turned away to talk to a regular sitting at the end of the bar. It was the coldest atmosphere I've experienced in a bar in a long long time. He was rude...no other way to put it. We finished our overpriced drinks and left and I doubt we will ever return. read more

It has been A long time since,I have payed A visit to this charming Restaurant, on Capital Hill, it was and will always be A Lovley Spot to share A meal with A loved one, I have always thought of this restaurant as A Washington Secret, the first time I took friends that were from Virginia and Silver Spring, they were like how could we not know about this place it so charming and the food as always been top notch , and there was A manager there at one time , as I type the rest of this Please excuse me if I have A senior moment, this gentleman was so very polite and gracious beyond one's imagination no matter when I went into this establishment he made you feel as if your honored guest, and I am so ashamed, because he left that type of impression on you and the people you might have had with you he would do the same thing for them or anyone else that came over the threshold of the Restaurant , with so many wonderful places disappear from Washington DC, it's nice to see this old Friend each time I happen to be on Capital Hill, I pray your there for at least another fifty years or more. read more

Great service, good steaks. We had a family celebration at the Monocle tonight, and we had a great time. The service was terrific! We had a wonderful server, personable, friendly, attentive. The food was good. I had a Caesar salad and a tasty New York strip steak cooked medium rare. Others had calamari that was good, but not crispy hot, and a tasty crab imperial with avocado, and a decent seafood bisque. The salmon entrée was very nice with excellent broccolini, the crabcakes were good. For dessert, we had lemon, curd pie, crème brûlée, chocolate, Panna Catta - all were very nice desserts. We had a good time. read more

If you're looking for a classic DC restaurant, with senators and dignitaries at adjacent tables, The Monocle is the place to be. The hostess and weight staff treated my guest and me like we were dignitaries. Our waiter knew the menu and all the specials and was very attentive. I had the healthy ribeye and my guest had the Atlantic salmon. We were both extremely satisfied with our meals. read more

Really rude people work here. As an intern I took my dad here and regretted this decision within 1 minute of walking in. I was so embarrassed as the host was extremely rude to my dad and I since I guess we were not senators or lobbyists, just normal Americans. Once we sat down I decided we would only get a drink and leave, finding dinner elsewhere as the bartender and host were total jerks. read more

Visited this location, the other night wall in the area on business. I arrived at approximately 7:30 PM and there was ample Street parking right in front of the restaurant I entered via the pub side and was quickly greeted by the manager or possibly owner to see if I was meeting someone. I told him no and asked if I could sit at the bar for dinner and he quickly showed me to a barstool. Service was prompted and friendly, and the bartender seem to know most of the rest of the patrons as it appeared to be a regulars hang out. I had the sirloin from the bar menu and ordered the gratin potatoes instead of the french fries The steak was very tender and the potatoes were outstanding. For dessert I had a cup of coffee and the lemon curd pie, which is very tasty. Overall, I enjoyed my visit. It would likely return. The main dining room appeared to be full of DC types and at least one member of Congress Prices were reasonable in the bar area the main restaurant menu was more expensive, but still not outrageous read more