It had been years since I'd dined out in DC, so I wasn't sure what to expect. All I knew was that…read moremy sister had heard wonderful things about Isla and that it was the kind of place worth dressing up for. We hadn't packed anything particularly dressy, but we did our best to honor the dress code. Next time, I'd love to wear something a little more dazzling myself. The restaurant is stunning. The rose gold accents throughout the decor, the chandelier, the chairs, gave the whole space a soft glow. With a room this beautiful, the food had a lot to live up to. We expected small, delicate portions, and while nothing was oversized, everything was sizable enough to leave us satisfied. The presentation was lovely, and the seasoning throughout was extraordinary. The oxtail patties were rich and deeply flavorful, though the pastry felt more like an empanada than a traditional patty. That didn't bother me, but it's worth knowing if you're expecting something more classic. I ordered the grilled prawns in tomato choka beurre blanc, and they tasted like miniature lobsters. The sauce caught me off guard in the best way: smoky, decadent, and beautifully balanced. My sisters ordered the fire grilled branzino and the lamb chops, and we shared a side of collard greens. Everything was wonderful. I heard the branzino was flavorful, delicate, and satisfying, and I was especially taken with the sauces across the table. Every dish had real depth and complexity. I'd love to come back and try more of the menu. We skipped dessert this time, but next visit, I'm making room for it.

First things first, ISLA is not a stumble upon kind of spot. It's tucked away, not visible from the…read morestreet and requires a little intention to find. Consider that part of the experience because everything after the door is deliberate. The aesthetic is dark and moody and very much committed to it, flash photography is a hard no I actually wish that was started in the reservations vs upon arrival because the host came off a little rude about it. Now Nathan. Our waiter ran that dining room like a well oiled operation and I mean that with full respect. His presence alone gave my party a collective anxiety but he delivered without missing a beat. Drinks, small plates, main course, in that order and with purpose. Once we surrendered to his process the experience clicked. The food was largely impressive. Grilled octopus, beef patties, lamb, bara, branzino, brussels sprouts: all excellent!! The ribeye caught me off guard at the price point but the temperature and flavor made me briefly forget what I spent. Briefly. A couple of misses worth noting the rice leaned more risotto than the dry rice I was hoping for, tolerable but not what I wanted. And the snapper arrived as fish balls without any warning or menu indication. Breaded fish is not my preference and I would have appreciated knowing that before it landed on the table. That one stung a little. The espresso martini however was perfect and closed the night on a high note. ISLA is an intimate, sophisticated experience designed for people who appreciate intentional dining. Just maybe ask about the snapper preparation before you order.

This Club is sandwiched between the White House and George Washington University. It is a…read moreprivate club but open to the public during certain hours. The historic building is worth the visit and you can visit certain rooms that have art hanging on the walls. You can also use the facilities for events. If you enjoy art and a quiet atmosphere this is a very nice venue.

The Arts Club may be one of the many places in DC that has both a rich history and current…read moreactivities in its favor, but this place is special. This non-profit organization resides in the former home of President Monroe, who lived here when he was Secretary of State and again when he was President when the White House was undergoing renovations. The main purpose of the Arts Club is to support the arts in DC and surrounding areas. In fact, this club is the oldest nonprofit in the US. There are exhibits in the house by local artists as well as free events. It is a popular place for weddings, also. The courtyard here is magnificent. Check it out in the spring and summer time.

This review is long overdue. I was invited to dinner here and this has to go in the Top Ten places…read moreI've ever dined at. Of course my friend is a member and if I'm lucky, someday I will be too. It started off as I walked up the sidewalk and approached the club, the doorman was standing on the sidewalk. As I got closer, the doorman greeted me by name! I was taken a back for a minute wondering how could he possibly know my name! I was escorted in and asked to wait in the main reception while they went to get my friend. I went into what they refer to as the "Correspondence Lounge" which is sort of a small library with some incredibly old literary works. They have very strict rules and one of surprise is no use of cell phones... period. How refreshing! You can go into the Correspondence Lounge if you need to use your phone but otherwise you cannot use while in the dining room or other public areas. So make sure you "check-in" on Yelp when you are outside. Naturally they have a dress code, but really, if you have to ask what the dress code is, you probably aren't going to this place. Another rule I was surprised is they try to keep business limited so you cannot bring out a bunch of papers, laptop, etc... The only papers you can hold would have to be a newspaper or a book. Once seated, the service is impeccable. Extremely polite and not overbearing. They knew when we were engrossed in conversation and didn't interrupt. I had the lump crab cake for dinner and it was without a doubt the BEST! I lived in Virginia for five years and went to college at George Washington so I'm quite familiar with East Coast seafood and I can honestly say the lump crab at the Metropolitan Club is the BEST! I could go on about this place but simply put, if you have the opportunity to go, don't pass that opportunity up for what will end up being one of the greatest dining experiences of your life.

This is a wonderful spot nestled across from the White House. The building and members have more…read morehistory in Washington, than just about any place in the capitol, or the nation for that matter. I have been fortunate enough to dine, party, and converse with some of Washington's behind the scene's power players. You can learn a lot, if you ever get past the door man, or Lily.

Jodi officiated our wedding at The Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria. From the moment we met…read moreher, we knew she was who we wanted to have preside over our special day. In addition to being extremely professional, Jodi is warm, kind, and caring. She truly puts her heart and soul into making your wedding day special. Our friends and family also loved Jodi and we received so many compliments about her from our guests. We could not have asked for a better officiant! Cheers!

We had our wedding ceremony at the Carlyle House in Alexandria VA, our officiant was Jodi Johnson,…read moreshe is amazing from the start to the end! We recommend her anytime, if your planning your wedding and really want someone that can make your moment special, you need to have Jodi as your officiant, very responsive, always follow up, and at the ceremony make you feel so special, thank you Jodi, you will be part of this precious moment for us.

I couldn't recommend Exclusively Entertainment more! They are extremely professional,…read moreaccommodating, personal, and talented! The DJ for our wedding, Maz, executed my vision just perfectly. He was the perfect match for our fusion wedding!

Exceptional - that's the word that comes to mind when we think of Exclusively Entertainment. From…read morestart to finish, Iman and his team did absolutely everything they could do to make the wedding planning process seamless and our wedding day exactly how we imagined. We were planning our wedding during the pandemic and things were constantly uncertain as to whether or not the wedding would be able go to on. Iman and DJ Kia had routine calls with us to check-in and offer advice. We knew we could trust their opinions and flexility during the uncertain times. On the day of the wedding, DJ Kia was so involved with every aspect of the ceremony and reception. He knew exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to make our wedding day an unforgettable experience. He literally orchestrated our ceremony processional and was making sure everything was running smoothly. Everyone felt at ease walking down the aisle because DJ Kia was there to send them off. We were lucky enough to have Iman MC our wedding, and believe us when we tell you he knows how to put on a show. The dance floor comes alive with Iman on stage and everyone was out of their seats and dancing the entire night. Our cocktail hour ended up going over schedule, which pushed back our reception. It was no worry though, because Iman was there to quickly restructure the timeline and ensure everything ran smoothly. Even with unexpected issues, we felt completely at ease knowing he had us covered. He is such a genuine person who truly cares about his client's happiness. We also used Night Owls for our video production and working with them was a truly pleasant experience. They captured every aspect of the wedding beautifully. In just a few short weeks, we had our trailer and wedding video created, both of which were edited to our liking. They were extremely patient with us throughout the process and the end result is videos we still can't stop watching! Thank you to Brandon and the team at Night Owls for all of their hard work. We also want to give a special thanks to Wake on the sax, Farzan on the drums, and Cyrus on the cello. These three gentleman made the music come alive and our guests could not stop raving about how talented they were. My wife and I still talk about just how great it was working with Exclusively Entertainment and we would absolutely recommend them for your events!

DACOR Bacon is a sensational venue for hosting a party/wedding/school reunion/etc.. We have thrown…read morea cocktails and dance party there for the past three years, and can't say enough about the professionalism of the staff, the quality of the food, the service, and the price. Best of all, our guests love DACOR Bacon and come back each year. The house is an elegant Federal brick building (1801), home of John Marshall when he was on the Supreme Court. It is decorated with beautiful antiques and paintings. If you're having a large event, the garden AND the house are able to accommodate 180 people. When we wanted to rent a tent for dancing under outside, they helped us. When we wanted great DJs, they helped find them. For smaller events, the house is wonderful for a cocktail party, lunch or dinner. It retains its beautiful old world charm and is located just a stone's throw from the White House. Parking is fairly easy on weekends and in the evening We have also used DACOR Bacon for alumni cocktail parties. Guests tremendously enjoyed the elegant and comfortable setting. Washingtonians love to come to parties there -- it's the only still functioning grand historic house in Foggy Bottom. People walked by and say, 'What's that? I'd love to go in there." Out of towners are thrilled with its location, history and beauty. The staff is very experienced and helpful. They go out of their way to ensure the success of the events. Sylvia, who is the events coordinator, always goes above and beyond to make sure that we have a good experience. Alba and Jose make sure all the logistics are running smoothly, and they do a wonderful job. Meg wonderfully oversees it all.

This is a private club. Went for a group dinner sponsored by a member. We had to preselect our…read moremenu, but there was a decent variety for a quiet evening. I had the arugula and heirloom tomato salad, spring pea soup (which was quite delicious, I think it had some mint?) ginger glazed salmon for my entree, and an orange cake. Had a decent merlot. Servers were very attentive and polite. The building itself was the draw for me; rich with character. It must be about 200 years old. It feels like a converted private house with how the rooms are carved out of the space. Very nice experience.

Loved our first visit to Ellipse! The staff was very friendly and they have a good selection of…read moredrinks & food. The seating was comfy as well.

Tonya and her team are the absolute best!! The food and atmosphere rocks. Thanks for welcoming us…read morewith y'all warm personality!!!

I was invited to an event at The Gathering Spot, and while the event itself was wonderful, The…read moreGathering Spot truly felt like the perfect place to host it. It was a happy hour and learning-style event, and the space worked incredibly well for both. There was a great balance between areas that encouraged socializing and connecting, while also having comfortable spaces where everyone could sit down and focus during the learning portion. The staff was phenomenal. They were attentive and proactive in a way that stood out. They seemed to anticipate questions before we even had them and made sure everyone knew where things were and felt taken care of throughout the evening. I also ordered the spinach artichoke dip during the class portion of the event and I need to take a moment for that because it was, without exaggeration, the best spinach artichoke dip I have ever had in my life. I'm still thinking about it. A few others at the event also commented on how incredible their dishes were, so kudos to the kitchen because clearly this was not a one-off experience. I'll probably be dreaming about that spinach artichoke dip for a while.

If you're looking for a great place to hold a meeting or a gathering. The gathering spot is your…read moreanswer it has all the chic pizazz of a lounge but the sophistication of an office setting. The happy hour menu is the best in the city and the staff is amazing. If you're looking for a membership hit them up and as for Mr. McCraw tell him Donica sent you.

My daughter and I visited in 2015, 2019 and again last Spring 2023 took a tour of the downstairs…read moreonly. In 2019 a 200+ pound replica of the White House by former Executive WH pastry chef Roland Mesnier was on display. A photo of the Gingerbread house has been attached to this review. The unassuming brick home sets across from the WH. The house happens to be the oldest private residence in DC at almost 200 years young. I would not go out of your way, but we thought the cake was super cool inn2019. 3.5 rounding up.

Came here for a after-hours party so to be honest, this is more of a review about that party than…read moreit is about the house itself. The party occurred in what I assume to be the courtyard; it was covered (though the weather was nice out for March), with beautiful lighting. But crazily enough, the space was HUGE. Absolutely gorgeous. If you're looking to host a large party, I 100% recommend this location. The set-up was fantastic. I have NO clue where the food came from, but whoever catered was phenomenal (I had the best cheesecake bites I have EVER let my tastebuds experience). While waiting 45 min for this lyft to arrive, I decided to venture around the house (with the guide). The house itself is pretty bare, but I love it's simplicity. It was of course quiet, though you could hear the faint sounds of the party outside. I completely forgot that we were SO close to the white house, could have gone for a night stroll, but didn't. Overall, this was a fun experience and I am glad I got to enjoy it in such a way.

I wanted to take a moment to let you know that I recently visited our DC office while in town for…read moreother reasons, and was duly impressed. In particular, Dominique was bright and smiling from the moment I opened the door. She was super friendly, helpful, and offered me coffee and snacks as soon as I told her that I was just stopping by. She also gave me a brief tour of the lovely building, and introduced me to Priscilla and Nia - also very cheerful and welcoming people. I am a fan!

The team at Intelligent Office is the best! I had two days of hosting a meeting with them and…read moreeveryone was super kind with every detail thought through. I would happily have a meeting here again.