"If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog" Other cute and insightful sayings adorn some of the walls of this clubby restaurant sitting almost in the shadow of some of the most powerful governmental institutions in the United States. There is surely a genre of these kinds of resaurants and bars across the nation ... in state capitals and county seats everywhere. If you are not part of that world, and I am not, then it is a treat to get to visit such spots. This is reputedly a common dining and drinking stop for legislators, staffers, lobbyists, and a host of others involved in the business of governing the nation. The restaurant sits in an unpretentious brick building, perhaps Federal style, on D Street (see pics). Inside the atmosphere is comfortable and low key. One enters to a small foyer with a cloak room dead ahead. There is a small bar with perhaps 10 seats and four or five small tables for groups to sit and have a drink. Dining tables and booths of various sizes situated in cozy alcoves and open spaces occupy the remainder of the restaurant. The service was good ... courteous and matter of fact. There were no undercurrents of fawning and no haughty behavior either. For me, as an average customer, It had a very nice feel. The menu options seem reasonably standard for a restaurant of this sort ... steak, crab, and other mainline dishes. Entrees run from $20 to $30 plus, with appetizers and desserts in the $8 to $10 range. One attractive option, which many in my part chose, was the restaurant's fixed plate menu. For $35, diners have their choice of several appetizers (perhaps three), two or three entres (depending on the night), several dessert options, and coffee. This was an excellent choice and I opted for it. I chose the house salad -- a standard romaine lettuce salad, but nicely enhanced with avocados and heart of palms. For the main course, I went for crab cakes (two rather smallish ones) with an excellent red pepper sauch on the side. I rarely eat crab, or crab cakes, so I have little to compare them with as far a quality. They seemed fine, but the reader will need more of an expert in this realm to know if they are really good or not.. Dessert was super ... "creme brulee" ... or as I prefer to call it "Crema Catalana". Whatever you call it , it was excellent here. A large bowl with tasty carmelized sugar crusted on top and an creamy treat below. For me it was perhaps the best Crema Catalana (creme brulee) I have had outside of Spain ... and frankly it beats most of what I have eaten there. To drink .. tap water and house Merlot @ $7.50 a glass at the bar, a very fair price for the setting. I enjoyed this spot (20 Feb. 2009). The food was fine, the service was relaxed and comfortable, and the atmosphere is superb. And most likely it is the atmosphere of the place, visited by the well known, the powerful, the connected, and those who are less so and want to be all of the above, that draws us outsiders to come here for dinner or lunch. read more

The Monocle - Streetscape along D street at the Monocle ... looking east. - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Come for the food, drinks and service; but stay for the storied past. This place is the quintessential DC power lunch and/or dinner experience. I sipped on the Ginger Manhattan followed by the pear/arugula salad and filet cooked to perfection. If you can fit in dessert without going into a food coma top off your meal with the lemon curd pie or crème brûlée and a glass of port. Thanks to everyone at The Monocle for an unforgettable experience! I cannot wait to go back. A truly special place with absolutely amazing people. read more

I don't know what to say-- nobody comes for the food, and you shouldn't either. People either come to people-watch (pick a weekday lunch and hope to get lucky) or because they're going with one of the people that others like to watch (you will know who these are). Either way, just embrace the latter and do the best you can with the food. The salads are decent, albeit humongous. read more

What a fantastic gem of a restaurant! I came for a Boss' Day lunch with a group of my colleagues and had an excellent meal. I worked on the Hill for several years and never knew this place even existed. It's a cute little yellow building hidden in plain sight on D street (which means no annoying tourists!). The servers are attentive and the food is superb. The atmosphere sophisticated, but not stuffy. It's a great place for a long, indulgent lunch, or a romantic dinner for two. Between the delicious herbed focaccia bread and my perfectly prepared medium Delmonico steak, I didn't want to leave. An unassuming, but amazing place to dine. I look forward to returning. read more

This was as good as it gets for fine dining. I ordered the filet mignon medium and it was cooked perfectly. The wine sauce was beautiful and not overwhelming where it masked the favor of the meat. The potatoes gratin were heaven and I wish I knew the recipe for them. We all ordered something different and we were all very pleased with our meals. The service was wonderful and the staff were very friendly. The atmosphere was old school and the building was historic. Probably the only thing the Congress and Senate can agree on is to eat at the Monocle. I would go back in a heartbeat. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. read more

Attended a Smithsonian Associates group lunch with about forty people at The Monocle today. Pre-set menu. Food was superb; portions ample; service speedy and friendly. A+ all around. read more

The Monocle is the place to be seen where many who is who in DC go to make deals, or so I was told. Colleagues took me to check it out on Wednesday. Our Hotel Concierge knows the owners. She got us in, all 10 of us. The service was impeccable; our waiter was friendly, attentive and very helpful. He was very apologetic when my coffee was cold and had replaced immediately. Everyone in the party was happy with the entrees and appetizers. I had the crab meet on a portobello mushroom, it was to die for. A huge disappointment was that they ran out of creme brûlée...my colleague wanted to cry because apparently they are known for it. My chocolate cake was heavenly...planning on returning soon. read more

I've eaten here once for dinner and once for lunch now. For dinner I had liver since it's a pain to find in the store and make on my own, and for lunch I had chicken milanese. Dinner was very tasty, especially the potato gratin that came with the liver. The liver itself tasted very good, maybe a touch to tough but still highly edible. For dessert I had the lemon curd pie which was a little underwhelming because it wasn't lemon-y enough. The whipped cream, however, is the real deal and to die for. I also ordered a dark and stormy which was mostly rum. I took a few sips and asked them to top it off with more ginger beer, which didn't help very much. I think they need to upgrade to a better brand. Reeds, maybe? The chicken milanese came with perfectly peppery arugula and was seasoned nicely with oil. The chicken was good, but I've had a better version at Mariposa in Honolulu. They really pile the arugula on so you can feel extra healthy when you order this. What many people say is true, you'll see the who's who of DC politics at this restaurant. I also saw a perfect 10 guy at another table, but then his boyfriend showed up. Just wasn't meant to be. read more

The Monocle - Lemon Curd Pie, whipped vanilla cream. Not quite lemon-y enough for my tastes, but the whipped cream is some of the best I've ever had. - Steakhouses Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The best restaurant in Washington DC!! Awesome service and atmosphere filled with history and powerful folks who are a joy to be around! Tasty food!! read more

I love the restaurant - the atmosphere and the location, but the waiter was SO rude that I will never go back again. The menu failed to say that a dish had dairy in it but the waiter blamed me. Most of the time, waiters are very accommodating and want to "make it right" when there is an allergy or sensitivity. In this case, I was amazed the callous response of "well, what are we going to do with the dish you ordered?" when I asked for another dish that was dairy free. The manager made it right and I got a new dish but the waiter made me feel ashamed for having an allergy. Even though my replacement dish was very good, I could not enjoy it because I did not feel welcomed or respected. read more

The Monocle is a great restaurant and closest to the U.S.Senate office Buildings the food & service are awesome it's a wonderful place to be seen & be seen it's definitely my go to place in DC read more

We love The Monocle and were so glad they took part in Restaurant Week! The entire dining experience is consistently wonderful from the cocktails to dessert. The choices on the special menu were delicious and I was glad they added a few more. Our table enjoyed the rockfish, pork chop and beef filet. All the apps and sides were on point. Just a solid choice in DC that never disappoints! read more

Fantastic staff and outstanding food. Need I say more? The staff took every measure to ensure we all stay healthy.

So glad I came across this gem tucked away in Capitol Hill. Steps from Union Station is a restaurant worth any penny. Mostly came to review the food, but I must say the cocktails I tried are impeccable. Sturdy and well balanced, classy and unique. Even if you stopped by for happy hour you'd be content. In terms of atmosphere it's laid back and feels like your dining room with family over. There is also a lot of history in the restaurant which is especially reflected on the walls. For drinks if you don't get wine, try the Ginger Manhattan or the Pegu Dan. Great presentation, tasty, and well-laced. Regarding the food. First of all, remember the table bread has rosemary in it! Amazing. For the appetizers, try the tuna tartare and avocado (one of my favorite), burrata, and scallops. For mains, it's a steak house so... Get the steak! The prime ribeye is tender and delicious, accompanied by a cheesy side of potatoes and spicy chilli butter. Crab cake is always a safe bet and is served generously. I wouldn't skip out on dessert either. Whether you prefer chocolate, fruit-based or plain, there is an option for you. Try the cheesecake and lemon curd pie -which had the right amount of tang for sure. Next time you are in the area, check The Monocle out! read more

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Our server, Amin was great. Customer service was superb. Although we were dressed down in athletic attire, in contrast to the majority of politician lunchers, they treated us like gold. I had the Wagyu chopped steak- so delicious. The meat was perfectly cooked and the potatoes were creamy goodness. Hot bread and butter - not nouveau but a classic that doesn't disappoint. read more

Making this review for a compliment to the management. Thank you for replying to my inquiry on whether or not your restaurant was closed! So glad to hear it's open. I don't know why other Yelpers were reporting as closed but I can attest it is open!! While our plans changed for dinner the night of our reservation this past weekend, we still would have come by to see for ourselves and dined accordingly. My husband ate here a year or so ago and raved about the food and decor. When we return to DC, we are definitely stopping by. Thank you again! Best customer service! S read more

The Monocle is a classic Capitol Hill haunt. If you want to go to a restaurant that feels like it has all the smoke filled rooms that Washington deals are brokered in, this is the place to go. The walls are adorned with pictures of famous patrons, and it's fun trying to see you can recognize. Its classy, old-money feel is a great ambiance. The classiness is enhanced by the wait staff. These people are professionals. The food is good and the drinks are strong--what more can you want? A friend and I go on Fridays about once a quarter and get the steak sandwich with fries and a martini. All three are excellent. I've tried other things on the menu, but these are my favorites. The martinis are superb, the steaks cooked to perfection, and the fries are crisp. Five stars for being super classy, and home to many martini-infused fond memories. read more

The crab cake and the beef are both awesome! I still miss its taste after leaving Washington DC. The service is great as well.

My husband and I stopped in here late last night (around 8:30ish?) and went straight to the pub area, which is all wood-so beautiful! Love wood bars and when there is all wood in a bar area-gives it a whole other feel. So this review is solely on the bar area since that is where we went-we didn't go over to the restaurant side. We got two burgers and two glasses of Malbec and both the burgers and wine were great. The staff was SO FRIENDLY which I just loved. They were so happy and that made US happy. We sat at a table and enjoyed our meal and when we left, I took another look at this place from the outside and it was just so. cute. We will be coming back here again for sure :) read more

Warm hospitality from an attentive staff made for a great lunch.

"So, do you have to wear a Monocle while you're eating at the Monocle?" I asked my SVP as we walked over there for our lunch meeting. (My SVP scares me and I use humor to deal with uncomfortable situations. Bad humor at that) Anyway, I have to be honest and say that I wasn't all that impressed. The building is extremely old (or maybe antique is the word) and it is cozy. I love old buildings so bonus points there. But it seemed stuffy, and clearly I forgot that I'm supposed to have my blackberry roller glued to my thumb. This is definitely the place for self important people. The food was mediocre at best. For those prices, it should dance for you on the table, not have zero flavor. I started with the soup of the day which was a Corn Chowder. Now when I hear corn chowder, I'm thinking thick and creamy, potatoes, onions...oh and CORN. The watery soup I got should have been called "green pepper chowder" or "celery chowder" or better yet, NOT CHOWDER. I think there were 3 corn kernels in it. Moving on then... I chose the shrimp and asparagus orzo for my meal. BIG mistake. This dish had no flavor. At all. I ended up asking for lemons to squeeze over it. The shrimp hadn't been seasoned at all, and there were like 4 little chopped pieces of asparagus over a completely flavorless mound of creamy orzo. I was really disappointed because orzo and shrimp can be so good. The service was decent and the bread was interesting. It was piping hot out of the oven, so they get some points for that. Throughout the meal, I kept wondering what Ted Kennedy or Steny Hoyer or Orrin Hatch ate here that made it worth them signing a photo endorsing the joint. Overall, this was very disappointing considering this is the old school place to go for Capitol Hill power brokers and the like. read more

I think the Monocle is a place you don't just go to for the food. It's location on Capitol Hill makes it a popular place for legislators to eat, along with tons of lobbyists. It's a place you could run into political celebrities at any time. It's very cozy inside, and has a traditional looking bar serving up classic cocktails. The food was fine. It's typical steak/seafood fare. The crab cakes were certainly a step above the average cakes, and the steak was excellent. The desserts are standard also, nothing special. It's also expensive, but not insanely expensive. It's a good place to wow out of towners with the location and the political quotes on the wall. I'd say it's a quintessential DC place. Come for the ambience, stay for the average food. read more

Want a quintessential DC experience? Hit up the Monocle during lunch or at happy hour. This place has been a DC institution for 50 years. It sits on the Senate side of Capitol Hill and acts more of a club for congressmen, staffers and lobbyists than anything else (Teddy Kennedy used to be a regular), making it ideal for playing "spot the DC celebrity" (remember, DC is like Hollywood for uigly people). Do you think that the fact that this is the only building left standing on the block (aside from the Capitol Police HQ) is a coincidence? I think not. The fact that it's usually only open Monday-Friday only reinforces the clubby feeling. Decor is classic saloon with long bar and walls covered with photos and quotes of DC glitterati. With all of this you would think that an outsider would feel unwelcome, but you'd be wrong; the staff manages to make everyone feel at home. John Valonos, son of the original Greek owner, and his Maitre D' Nick are both very personable and great sources of amusing anecdotes. You don't come here for the food; this place is best for a drink at the bar (think classic Martini or Manhattan), but if you've gotta eat, go for a saloon staple like steak or crabcakes. read more

My husband & I just ate lunch here for restaurant week and our experience started out disappointing. If you go to the Monocle's website and click on their restaurant week menu it shows their entire menu. Therefore, we assumed they were offering their entire menu. Well, they are not and it is extremely limited. The food itself is average. Portions are large though. I am not personally a fan of the ambience as a previous poster mentioned. Old Ebbitt Grill is cheaper, better and offers more ambience. Bottom line, restaurant week is designed to lure new customers in and hopefully keep them coming. Needless to say we won't be going back. read more

Absolutely unimpressed, that is the best way to sum up my experience at Monocle. The food was just fine, got amazing, not bad - but certainly not what I was expecting. I felt rushed through the entire meal - especially when the dinner came out on top of the appetizers (something I would not expect for a restaurant of this caliber). The atmosphere was nice, the restaurant is very cozy and has great political quotes around the sides of the room which is fun. It's really the only reason I gave this place two stars as opposed to one... There are also pictures of members of the House and Senate, which is always fun - but I can't for the life of me imagine why they would actually dine at this place. The service was by far the worst part of the experience. Our waiter was downright rude and was arguing with different members of my party about their orders. When we refused to tip him at 20% (he actually added up the receipts as we were walking out the door), he asked us why not as if he expected it. Overall - steer clear unless you happen to like overpaying for mediocre food and bad service. read more

The offer their entire menu for DC restaurant week. Our waiter was very pleasant. The food arrived in a timely fashion. Our wine glasses were always filled. I also appreciate the waiter was able to handle the large bill (and run multiple credit card transactions) for a party of 6 people. Although, they did a lot of things really well, I can't give them a higher rating. The food was nothing special. My shrimp pasta tasted gritty; and, the pasta was over seasoned. One of my friends got the same entrée as me. Although, my shrimp tasted gritty; I had plenty of it. She complained she only received 2 pieces of shrimp. Although the onion rings were delicious, they did not justify the extra $6.00 price tag. It feels like you're in the center of it all with when you're surrounded by the US House and Senate buildings. My friends and I said was the Monocle felt like the restaurant you go to when you've succeed in making a difference; and, you go to the surrounding bars when you're just starting out as young idealistic intern. read more

Monocle is a place to see and be seen, not in a Hollywood sort of way. It's a very conservative place. The food was probably the worst I've had in DC though. Considering its reputation and location, I was shocked. Everyone in our party was very disappointed. I had the salad with avocado, and there were three pieces of avocado and two or three other pieces of vegetables. It was heavy on iceberg lettuce. There are no vegetarian options, unless you count sides. There's something very stale about the atmosphere too. It isn't cozy. It seems like it needs more lights or something. It feels very stuffy. My boss was not feeling well, so I asked the waiter for some fresh ginger for the tea. The waiter just said, we don't have ginger. I didn't push the issue because I was trying to be discreet; it was a business meeting. But, I was shocked the waiter didn't even check the kitchen. How could you not have ginger? Ok, I don't normally go to steakhouses, so maybe I'm wrong to assume that. read more

I'd come here for their focaccia alone though I do also love the history and ambiance of this place. We had a work lunch here, and I loved the food, staff, and service. They were ready for our group on time (actually, we were a little early) and we were shuffled upstairs to their private room right away. We had preselected the menu, but even still - these guys were crazy fast! We had soups, choice of entree salads, and dessert...and everyone was done eating in just over 30 minutes! Again, save room for the focaccia. You won't regret stuffing your face with this bread basket. It's legendary! read more

This is a classic Senate restaurant. Adorned with signed portraits of Senators and other Washington Illuminati, the wood paneled walls exude a sense of importance, if not pretense. Mei Wah, the legendary Chinese restaurant on M street, has a similar decor, but it feels different -- more playful than Monocle. But hey, the place is named after the Penguin's defining facial prop, so what do you expect? Indeed, important people eat here. For example, meeting a friend for a late weekday lunch, I found myself seated at a table next to Michael Bolton. For better or worse, he didn't sing. The food was fine, but unexceptional. I ordered the "chicken paradise salad": grilled chicken, atop lettuce, hearts of palm, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes, served with a vinaigrette dressing on the side. The portion was large, which was good given its price. My friend had a steak salad. These two main salads, plus two iced teas, ran us $40 before tip. The bread was quite good, as was the salty butter it came with. All in all, it was fine -- nothing to rave about. A bit stuffy, but very Senatorial. read more

The restaurant itself feels very storied and traditional. The menu was concise and clean with options from land and sea.

Tasty and affordable.Good service and an interesting vibe. I agree with some of the other reviews, I definitely wouldn't be surprised if I was sitting next to a lobbyist, congressmen or other official. When I was there, there were a lot of groups and what looked like business meetings. So don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. Altogether, the staff were phenomenal and attentive. The food was decent. No complaints, I'd definitely go again. read more

Met a friend for a business lunch here and wasn't really that impressed. the place is okay, but just okay. nothing special. could have something to do with what i ordered, but what i did have was just mediocre. the shellfish bisque was nice, but not special and kind of bland. the cheeseburger was a disaster. overcooked (not cooked medium rare per my specifications), and adorned with the most distracting and off-putting medley of bell peppers (in retrospect i should have scrapped them off). and the thin frites/fries were not my cup of tea. i'm more a fan of thick-cut fries. maybe i should have gone with the crab cakes or crab imperial which looked more inviting as i spied what some of the other diners were eating, but the prices... pretty steep. and these were lunch prices. yikes! if i had a K-street lobbyist's expense account maybe, but not on my salary, thank you. on a positive note, front of house is way above par. very friendly and genial staff. no problems there. read more

This is more of a 3.5 review, but I like to round up. I've walked near this restaurant for almost 4 years now and finally got a chance to have dinner here. I came here with my boyfriend for restaurant week. The bread and butter was soft and delicious (maybe we were just hungry though...) But next we shared the calamari and crab toast for appetizers, neither had enough flavor and could easily be passed on. We both go the 10oz New York sirloin for the main course which came with cheesy, garlicy potatoes. This was the definite highlight of the meal! I ordered asparagus because the menu didn't mention specifically that the entrees came with a side. The asparagus was thin and wimpy, so pass on that too. Dessert was divine though! Creme brulee and lemon torte were both delicious! Although the creme brulee could have used a thicker sugar crust. Not sure if I'll go back, but I'm glad I went so I could check it off of my DC list! read more

Obama should shut this place down as part of his anti-lobbyist reform effort. It oozes a somewhat seductive history of cozy cigar times with industy lobbyists and lawmakers. For those of us who are unfortunate enough to visit this dingy old boys club nowadays, expect blah, unseasoned, country club food. If you're visiting from out of town on a weekday, go upstairs and peek your head in to see which Senator is hosting a fundraiser. You're almost guaranteed to find one. A plus is that the servers are pleasant and dignified. read more

Service wasn't great. Waiter rarely came at all, and frequently mistook orders. Asked for iced tea, got Heineken beer. What the-? Guess the waiter was tired. Environment: Old atmosphere Capitol Hill style. Had the NY Strip steak. Ordered it well done, it came back medium cooked. Didn't have time; was in middle of a business meeting. Ate anyway. Chow was decent. Doesn't come with sides, have to pay for it separately. My whole meal - iced tea, steak, asparagus, and desert: over $100, not including tax & tip. Would I recommend the Monocle to others? Definitely not. read more

Had a pre-Acela drink and snack here and it delivered what I wanted: friendly staff, quality food, neighboring tables of DC insiders doing DC business and audibly cranking the gears of government. All of that and it was fast. It was like a little food and a show all in one convenient pit stop. Really helps, of course, if you're there on business because inexpensive it is not. read more

Really enjoyed the crab cakes (like many other people have rated). The cakes had plenty of crab meet and not too much breading. Nice lunch in a comfortable setting. The gentleman that was there with me had the salmon and said it was nicely done and tasted very well. Very competent staff. They knew when we were talking and when it was appropriate to do plate pick-up. Easy walk back to The Hill; even in the heat. read more

Convenient location if you're on The Hill. Limited menu. Expensive. Food was good, but nothing special. Service was prompt and friendly. Cool seeing pictures of all the pols, although it was a bit of a "cult of personality" thing I wish our pols would avoid. They are there to serve, not be celebrities. read more

We went here for dinner and the food was absolutely amazing. The crab was delectable and steak was cooked perfectly. Service was absolutely amazing as well! Would definitely recommend and go again! read more

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I was expecting something much different when our friends invited us out to dinner at "the Monocle", perhaps my expectations were too high... the service was a little odd; what I mean is, our server seemed very rookie and aloof. He didn't know how to describe the items on the menu, he had no idea what kind of coffee they served or much about the drink list and he recommended the NY strip and although the food was good, my NY strip was very tough. Yes, people are different and we all like different things, I just expected a more buttery, tender and melty steak. The restaurant is very old, oddly decorated and not really "classy" (which is what I was expecting). Also, It had a musky smell when you walk in. I felt like I was in an outdated Vegas hotel on the old strip. We dined here on a Friday night and it was a much older crowd than we expected. We had a great time because we always do but it really wasn't the type of place we'd return to. Please keep the tradition but update it a little; with how old it appears it looks a bit dirty and run down. read more