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    Vortex

    3.9 (53 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Vortex Takeout or Delivery

    Vortex Seafood Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    VORTEX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Vortex

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    Elaine F.

    Okay Vortex !!!!!!! I came to Vortex to celebrate my friend birthday and It did NOT miss. The venue is pretty and the vibes were giving.. where is the dance floor Shout outs to the DJ for playing all of the tunes. We came for dinner and honestly, a lot of the items sounded pretty good. I got the 7 spice chicken (jerk chicken & jollof) and it was good. I forgot the drink I ordered but it was good too (could've been a little stronger though). The service was great our server was kind and friendly. I would definitely come back to try the Mac & cheese and wings, i heard great things about them.

    V!
    Maria L.

    This place stood out to me as we were driving by to go to our show at the Sage Theater.. I was like we gotta come back! Just mysteriously inviting! We went up the stairs-- tables, hookahs and a bar! I must admit we didn't have anything to eat except fries-- but I did have their amazing espresso martini. That was delicious!! I'm not a big coffee drinker but I like coffee icecream. It was so tasty. I will definitely be back for another one! Our bartender was super nice I also had a spicy passiontini which was also yummy! My friend had an old fashion. We enjoyed the music and the vibes! Will have to come back and try out the food.

    Rum cake
    Kanisha L.

    Food: fusion for sure. Not sure what kind of party was going on in my mouth, but I liked it. We had the chicken, branzino, and rum cake. I'm used to branzino being made simply so be prepared for lots of flavor. Rum cakeeeee... there's a reason there's only 1 dessert in the menu lol DeLISH. Service: okay at best, was a turn off that the bartender was smoking hookah. Ambience: suuuuuuuupee cute. Though moreso for adults. Loud music, censored but adult content. All in all, I'd be back.

    Lamb shank
    Chell H.

    We had the oxtail ragu, lamb shank, and jerk branzino. *chefs kiss* Our waitress was really nice & knowledgeable as well as the owner. They also have a pretty good happy hour.

    Dania J.

    Vortex is such a vibe. Black and female owned, and you can feel the love and intention behind every part of your experience here. The space is chic and stylish... Perfect for date night or a fun night with friends. Our server Awani was amazing! She was super sweet, really attentive, and made sure we were good the whole time. For my cocktail, I had the spicy strawberry margarita which was so good. Strong, flavorful, and just the right amount of kick. Next for my main, I had he Berbere crab cakes--so well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The brussels sprouts and corn salsa on the side paired so well with the crab cakes. I also ordered a side of Mac and cheese which was baked exactly the way I like it. For dessert, I had both the bread pudding and the rum cake for dessert (don't judge me lol) and they were both absolutely delicious. Honestly, I'd come back just for those!!! I all around a great experience at Vortex! I look forward to coming back.

    Ashley O.

    The is the best happy hour experience that I've ever had. They had an extended happy hour, which worked out for us because we got there pretty late and we ordered at the bar and then moved to a table. The music was really good. The ambience was exactly how I wanted it..relaxed but classy and the food was really good. I ordered the bacon burger and the mac & cheese balls off of the happy hour menu and I very much enjoyed both of them. I will say that our waitress was a little bit inattentive. Maybe she got backed up with other things, but I did feel like I had to ask for the same thing a few times before I got it, but it overall didn't really impact my experience because I really loved this place and definitely would love to come back.

    Pineapple crush
    Terrell R.

    This is a newer location in DC, I popped into to check out after leaving dinner from a different location. The venue is clean cut and elegant, the windows are tinted out which makes it hard to tell if they're open or not but adds to the ambiance, black furniture and tables located throughout the first floor (it has multiple but that was the only floor open at the time). There's a decent sized bar with a couple tv's above. They were just opening at 6pm so their happy hour menu was available (runs from 6pm-9pm). It was a decent sized crowd but I was able to get a seat at the bar. The service was excellent overall and the bartender provided some good recommendations and crafted some high quality cocktails. The happy hour menu features about 6 different cocktail options ($9) and a few different small bites like cheese fries, shrimp basket, and crab spinach dip (prices ranging from $15-$21). I attempted to test out one of the desserts the brown butter rum cake and several of the cocktails: the blueberry lavender french 75, strawberry margarita, brown sugar espresso martini, and the pineapple crush. The rum cake was delicious, moist and the salted caramel ice cream was the perfect compliment. Out of all the beverages the martini was probably my favorite the brown sugar gave it a bit more sweetness than you'd find in a standard espresso martini but didn't make it overly potent. The French 75 was refreshing, the blueberry lavender seemed to pair well with the gin and champagne. The strawberry margarita was solid, well made and not as sweet as I had anticipated it might be from the ingredients. The pineapple crush was my least favorite but if you're into something super sweet that would be the go to. Overall cool experience I'll definitely have to return to try out the food menu.

    Happy hour burger
    Kent D.

    Nice multi level space. Great for groups and after hours fun. The service was excellent. Our bartender was nice and attentive. The food was good and the happy hour menu was plentiful. But it's important to note that the portion size is smaller.

    Sweet Potato Cornbread with Honey
    Kai M.

    New hot spot alert! This place is new so first, welcome to the DC food scene. It's a restaurant and lounge in one so guests can expect lively music, bars, and a fun dining atmosphere. The hostess was very welcoming upon arrival and our waitress, Awani, was good. I would recommend a few more training for staff, mainly as it relates to managing several tables. At times we waited for minor essentials such as water for the table and cutlery. This of course wasn't a big deal but provided that the restaurant wasn't packed, I'm not sure why some services felt so delayed. Drinks: meh, the sangria tasted like sugar. It was so sweet and lacked direction. I didn't enjoy it at all. Appetizers: for starters we tried the sweet potato cornbread which came topped with honey butter. This wasn't my favorite at all and mainly because the honey butter was extremely sticky and the cornbread crumbled easily and was hard at the bottom. I wasn't too sold on the flavor but understood the vision. Next, we had the king prawns and those were indeed delicious. Slightly overcooked but the flavors were there. Main dishes: Not pictured: Oxtail Gnocchi (my friend loved it) Pictured: Deep Fried Branzino (my friend thoroughly enjoyed but wish it came with sides. They only paired it with bland carrots) My dish: Berbere Spice Crab Cakes. These were DELICIOUS! And the side of Brussels sprouts and corn salsa made it even more delicious. Very hearty serving so expect to share or take home one of the crab cakes because they're huge. Bursting with flavors: infused spices, a tad bit of sweetness from the crab meat, and perfectly prepared. This isn't your regular crab cakes, but it's SO good! Overall, I would like to try their brunch so I'll likely return for that. And of course, I'll be back for the crab cakes. It's a new spot so I'm opened to returning again and supporting a woman owned business!

    Atvtge bar
    Jazzy L.

    Tgis place was absolutely amaIng with vibrant energy, flavorful food, and unforgettable music. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was beautifuland welcoming. The music was also incredible with a mix of classic hits, 90s, and banging aftobeats. The food was next-level. Whether you're craving small bites or something more filling, their menu does not disappoint. And the drinks? Absolutely phenomenal. Craft cocktails that are both creative and expertly balanced. When I tell you! Each one was better than the last. What really sets Vortex apart is how everything comes together: great music, amazing food and drinks, phenomenal staff and an atmosphere that feels both upscale and totally welcoming. Whether you're out for a night with friends or looking for a cute brunch spot, Vortex Lounge delivers every time. Can't wait to go back!

    Deep Fried Jerk Branzino Dinner

    I reserved a table for 2 on 4/25/26 to celebrate my birthday here. I made the reservation for 8:30pm. We arrived at 8:29p and was promptly seated, right by the DJ. The server came and took our order for drinks and entrees. The drinks came to us at 8:55pm and the food came out at 9:10pm. At 9:07pm the security staff started moving tables from the 2nd floor, where were seated and at 9:15pm we were presented with our bill. Although the server said take your time she circled back to our table at 9:20pm asking was the credit card in the check/ bill folder, explaining that they are getting ready for a party. If Vortex had a private event starting at 10p, the LAST reservation should be taken at 8pm, or before to allow at least a 2 hour dining experience. My husband paid the $160 + the gratuity that was already added for 2 people . At 9:39m we were ushered out of the door and I had barely finished eating and had to rush to down my drink "berene kiss". We had 29 minutes to eat and drink. I would have celebrated my birthday anywhere else if I knew this was the treatment we would've received. This was a big disappointment. The host or the server should have explained that they were closing early, before we ordered. My husband had the oxtail ragu and I had the jerk branzino. While he said it was tasty the portion was small for the price. I thoroughly enjoyed the branzino but would not return because of how we were mistreated and not appreciated as customers. That's not how you do patrons. **Note the time on the picture and our reservation confirmation. We had just received our food 9:10p. We were ushered out the door at 9:39p.

    Lamb Osso Buco, Garlic Mash, Broccolini
    Shelby A.

    I enjoyed my visit at Vortex. The service was great. The staff was welcoming and attentive. The venue is 3 levels with a cozy lounge like atmosphere. During my visit I tried the Lamb Osso Buco and the Vortex hookah. The lamb was very flavorful and it was generous portion of food. The hookah was priced as normal and was very smooth. They had a great DJ. I'll definitely be back to try more things from the menu

    Lounge
    Mark O.

    I recently visited Vortex for one of my siblings birthday. My sibling's friend put the reservation for under a random name so we had some trouble getting in the venue but once we sorted it out everything was great. The lounge area upstairs was aesthetically pleasing. It was a bit dark but definitely set the vibes. The DJ was on one. He did a great job controlling the vibes. My favorite part of the night were the vortex wings. I'll be honest, these were probably the best jerk wings I've had in the city. I would order these to go weekly if I could. The venue did a great job hosting the party. Look forward to going back.

    Dana and Angel Are great they give the best service and I will back to see them ! And the hookah is amazing the drinks and ambiance.

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    Ask the Community - Vortex

    Is it possible that I can get y'all to put ....Dimple I love u and want to spend my life wit u ..but for now would u do the honor of being my girlfriend.....but we can shorten the words up just a idea is that possible and how much would that cost?

    Take a picture of it and you can forward it to them

    What's the address for vortex?

    1426 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005

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    Free State - Hazy IPA

    Free State

    4.3(149 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

    Free State is perfect for a chill bar in the Downtown area. It's exactly the kind of place you want…read moreto share a few drinks and be able to hear the person in front of you. I had a delicious orange crush drink and my friend had a sangria. The bartenders are extremely chill and nice; they only come up when you need it which is nice for good conversation. I'll easily be back when I want to catch up with friends without a speaker blaring in our ears. Great place to introduce to more people!

    Photos
    Free State - Spiked chocolate

    Spiked chocolate

    Free State - Bar

    Bar

    Free State - Small glasses

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    Small glasses

    Chadol Korean BBQ

    Chadol Korean BBQ

    4.5(134 reviews)
    1.5 miNoMa
    $$$
    All you can eat
    Full bar

    Chadol Korean BBQ was such a fun pick for our monthly dinner series! My friends and I had a great…read moretime and honestly left fullllll. For $45 per person, the all-you-can-eat experience feels like a really solid deal considering how many protein options and side dishes you get. They start you off with a variety of banchan (side dishes), including a salad with this super tasty dressing that had the perfect little spicy kick. For the BBQ, we kicked things off with the spicy bulgogi and butter garlic shrimp, while the others tried the pork belly (I don't eat pork). Later we ordered the steak, spicy brisket, and grilled squid, which were all delicious. The spicy brisket especially was a standout for me. The guys also ordered two rounds of fried dumplings that looked amazing, but since they contain pork, I had to sit those out. I'd love to see Chadol add a veggie dumpling option to the menu! As for the sides, the kimchi and cold glass noodles were both hits at our table, and of course we all added white rice. The "mashed potatoes" though? Definitely more like potato salad and unfortunately very bland. On the other hand, the cheese corn costs extra but is 1000% worth adding. For drinks, the guys enjoyed the Woody Old Fashioned while I had a mezcal margarita-style cocktail that was smoky and refreshing. We also ordered one of the chicken options but never received it and eventually just gave up on it. One of the coolest parts of the experience is the ordering system. Most meats are ordered directly from a machine at your table, and the food comes out quickly on this conveyor belt-style setup which was honestly so fun. Drinks and side dishes are ordered through the servers. The atmosphere was lively and energetic without feeling overwhelming. The restaurant is actually much larger inside than I expected, with a modern setup that works well for smaller groups. That said, I didn't really notice tables for larger parties, so I'm not sure how they accommodate groups bigger than 6 people. Service started off a little rough because our server wasn't very attentive, but after I called it out, he definitely stepped it up and things improved. Overall, Chadol was a really good experience and absolutely worth the price. The 1.5-hour seating limit makes sense too, both to keep things moving and give others a chance to enjoy the experience. I'd definitely go back!

    I ate here around a year ago and reviewed them on google. The food is not good, service is slow,…read morefor some reason you can't order certain things with the tablet, and it's really easy to miss the little automated train thing that brings out your food. This place has negative reviews deleted on Google. Spend your money elsewhere, there's better Korean food in DC.

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    Chadol Korean BBQ
    Chadol Korean BBQ
    Chadol Korean BBQ

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    Ciel Capitol Hill

    Ciel Capitol Hill

    4.3(8 reviews)
    1.6 miNoMa

    Omg!! The food was delicious. This was my first time patronizing this restaurant and I was blown…read moreaway. Interestingly enough they have two locations which I did not know. The food at this location was great. The red snapper with the rice and tomatoes was very flavorful. The red snapper could have been cooked a little harder. However, other than that it was great. My friend order the same dish except with salmon. She enjoyed the dish as well but also mentioned that the fish could be cooked harder. We sat at the bar so we didn't get service from the waiter. However, the service from the bartender as great. He was very knowledgeable on the drinks and the food. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the drinks. But I ordered a smoked margarita which had a great taste. The ambiance was wonderful. It was very aesthetically please. From the flowers on the ceiling to the rooftop overlooking the Capitol it was great. The roof top provided a chill vibe with low music. It could be a great place for a date night or just a place to go to meet up with friends. I 100% recommend.

    My first visit to Ciel Social Club was such a good experience! I went during happy hour with…read morefriends and the entire vibe of the rooftop was amazing from start to finish. The views alone make you want to stay all night, especially as the sun starts to set over the city. We also got to enjoy live music from the band, which made the atmosphere feel even more fun and elevated. It was the perfect mix of great energy, good music, and a beautiful rooftop setting. For drinks, we tried the Blushing Orchard Martini, Capitol Blossom Fizz, and the Lavender Ginger Bloom -- all refreshing and well-crafted. For food, we ordered the East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell, Beef Sliders, and Mediterranean Tacos. Everything came out fresh and flavorful.

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    Ciel Capitol Hill
    Ciel Capitol Hill
    Ciel Capitol Hill

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    Bar Betsie - Back area

    Bar Betsie

    4.3(68 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a…read morewait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink.

    What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the…read morestart. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd.

    Photos
    Bar Betsie - Quick view of options

    Quick view of options

    Bar Betsie - Frozen hibiscus pina colada

    Frozen hibiscus pina colada

    Bar Betsie - A well balanced Old Fashioned

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    A well balanced Old Fashioned

    Death & Co DC - Fool's Gold

    Death & Co DC

    4.2(113 reviews)
    0.6 miShaw, Downtown
    $$$

    I've been eyeing this bar for several weeks now, and the other day, I finally decided it was time…read moreto give them a try. I know reservations are probably highly recommended, but we were fortunate to walk in at just the right moment and snag a seat. The seating is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxed evening. The atmosphere is just my style, an elegant, dark, grown and sexy vibe that really sets the mood. The decor is striking, with thoughtful touches that create an inviting space to unwind. While it leans a bit on the pricier side, the exceptional service more than justifies the cost. Jordan and the team were incredibly knowledgeable about both the drinks and food menu, offering suggestions that perfectly matched our tastes. We tried two standout drinks that I can't recommend enough: the Attractive Nuisance and El Tiburon, (which is an Old Fashioned made with gin). The bartenders here clearly know what they're doing, each drink was crafted with care and precision. The good music in the background added to the overall ambiance, making it a delightful spot to spend an evening.

    We were here to get drinks and apps to kickstart our friend's birthday celebration. Unfortunately,…read morewe didn't have a reservation for that evening. Because the last time we were here, we could find a seat easily. So never thought about making a reservation. As we walked in, the place was packed. Lucky we got a table in the corner for an hour. One of us had to stand unfortunately. Drinks were great but felt overpriced. Food was delicious too. Fried potatoes and tartar is a must have. The service was great. Ambiance is amazing as well. Slightly on the darker side in the inside. They also have outdoor seating.

    Photos
    Death & Co DC - Please and Thank You

    Please and Thank You

    Death & Co DC - Mutineer

    Mutineer

    Death & Co DC

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    Vortex - seafood - Updated May 2026

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