4.5/5 for me! We originally booked El Taller for the summer restaurant week experience. We received a call around noon the day of our reservation and were offered the full Chef's tasting menu for 50% off. Really generous offer. We gladly accepted. We were greeted immediately upon walking in and waited no more than 1 minute to be taken upstairs to our table. The service was the best we've experienced at any Michelin. They were all so on top of everything. Both sommeliers named Aaron helped us and they were fantastic, truly. Our one downside with the wine is that it's all very pricey. A full glass of wine is $65, $35 for a half glass. The cheapest bottle of white wine was an Albarino for $180 the cheapest red (which we got) was $150 - a combo of two red grapes. It was tasty. Our favorite dishes were the scallop crudo with uni and caviar, the oyster bite from the starter snacks, and the crispy paella rice. My least favorite dish was the turbot only because of the clams. I like clams but the texture of this was off for me. I don't think the clams added anything to the dish. The turbot itself was delicious. Also of note, many dishes came with caviar which I enjoyed. I noticed a few different types of caviar used for various dishes. Sadly we couldn't do the Iberico pork Wellington as my spouse as a pork allergy but we saw others get it. It looked great and they reported it was awesome. Most of the meal is upstairs where you can see into the kitchen. The last two courses (dessert) are on the second floor. We enjoyed this break and switching to new location. It was really a wonderful experience. The real question is would we have paid full price ($225) for this dining experience? Probably not. Compared to other Michelin restaurants we've been to in DC, I think this would be better priced somewhere around $175-185. And I'd like to see some more affordable wines plus other beverage options highlighted. read more

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Xiquet had some lovely touches. The standout for me: dessert happens in a separate room, which is such a nice shift in pace and genuinely added to the experience. A couple of the dishes were excellent. For the rest, it was good, solid, well-executed, but I'll be honest, I walked in with Michelin-level expectations and didn't quite get swept away. The dining room felt fine but not particularly special, and I kept thinking the open kitchen was a missed opportunity to make things feel more alive. My dining companion and I also agreed the portions ran on the smaller side. That said, there's real skill here, and the photos speak for themselves. read more

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Great Michelin star experience! Came for the fall tasting menu and enjoyed all the dishes, particularly the paella! It was a shame they offered only a spoonful of paella in their tasting menu but is available a la carte as well so wouldn't mind coming back to have that again. All their courses are presented beautifully and the last course is served one flight down at the bar. Xiquet was easy to find if you're driving or taking an uber and is also accessible by bus. Dining area is two flights up (I don't recall if there was an elevator) and interior is tasteful. Service is top notch and liked that the menu is printed on large cards with storytelling. Would recommend for a special occasion! read more

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Pretty strict reservation policy which I think hurt the potential diners cause you put in 300 dollar pp deposit on reservation. Anyway, they called the day before to ensure customized service. It's a small attached townhouse 3 levels with lots of service people. It's got the service that I came to expect in a "fine" (I mean either 2 or 3 star) place. We chose the additional Iberico wellington which may be a good choice if you are young and can eat. The first set of apps were not only pretty, but very tasty. Each of the 10 plates was well-executed, pretty and tasty with no misses on my book. The Iberico Wellington was excellent and far above Gordon Ramsay's tourist wellington at the warf. If you think the portions are small be sure to order the wellington. I wasn't particularly enthused with their alcohol situation with its high prices, but chose them and it was okay. They took us downstairs to lounge with the table too small for a cake and series of tiny desserts. Came out to be about 500/pp. I was too happy and drunk to leave additional tip (having problems even to find what I should sign) which I now regret. The service was above and beyond and they deserve 30%, not the standard DC 20. This is a place I will return and make up for the forgotten tip % and enjoy the amazing meals again and again. The downside of course the expense. If you can afford it, the experience is so worth it. read more

Went here for a birthday dinner at the end of May and it was terrible. From the moment we arrived, there were issues. The woman greeting you as you entered didn't say a word, so at first I thought we had to walk up the stairs. Then after a minute or two or three, she greeted us. Then there was a stench of old mop water. They had a diffuser trying to blow scented air, but it was no match for the smell. We sat for a while until she came over and said they were running behind. She apologized and after about 10 more minutes we were seated upstairs. The waitstaff was pleasant enough but the ambiance and food was lacking. You felt as though you were in someone's home and not in a good way. Seating upstairs was extremely tight and combined with an open kitchen, it was just alot going on. Not to mention I got stung by a mosquito within 15 minutes of being seated. Overall the food was just ok. Nothing really knocked your socks off and I did do the add-on of the beef wellington, which was undercooked, so I ended up with uncooked raw dough under the meat. After letting a member of the waitstaff know, he proceeded to chastise the kitchen staff, which you could hear because they are so close to you upstairs. The service was very slow, but there appeared to be table of Spainards near us and their service moved quickly and received a visit from the chef. Hometown pride? Who knows. After the meal we were told to go down to the 2nd floor where we sat awkwardly until the waitstaff acknowledged us. We had no idea what was happening and we saw other diners from upstairs leaving. Finally they gave us a menu and presented us with a pandora's box of treats in little compartments. They were ok. Not worth the wait and we definitely could have skipped that. Overall for a Michelin-starred restaurant, this place falls spectacularly short. I've tried a few Michelin restaurants in the DMV and this is by far the absolutely worst of them all! Ruined a completely great birthday dinner and it was pricey for what it turned out to be. Would not recommend. Save yourself the trip. read more

From arrival till the end we had get an insight of the hospitality of Chef Danny. We started with the amuse bouche which were very creative with fresh seafood and the Chef's interpretation of the dishes from Spain. I love the uni and the squid ink shelf, fish, squab and iberico pork wellington were prepared with delicious sauces, after the dessert we had some olive cake and a series of sweets. The hibiscus tea was a great way to wash down the sweets. read more

Amazing food, amazing service and we had the best table in the house right next to the kitchen! I would highly recommend requesting this table so close to the fire you can feel the heat (in a good way lol) We did the higher end wine pairing and did not disappoint. The move to the dessert lounge was a great touch. Yes you are going to spend a lot but it's a unique dinning experience with everything done over open wood fire. Please order whatever add-on that they offer especially the steak. Enjoy and it's very romantic and spacious! read more

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9/5/25 5PM: My previous Michelin meal, prior to this joint, was Alinea in Chicago. I came in with a high standard for dining. I don't know how this restaurant has a Michelin star. Is it gaslighting? The service is poor and the food is not good. No one verbally explains the food stories to you, it's not a fun experience. You get printed cards and have to read what the food is and how, why it's a menu item. I was very confused when we got the first card because it wasn't explained well, what it was. I picked it up and started reading to my dining companion. Isn't that just so weird? Why am I "working" during my really expensive dinner!? Cherry on top: I got food poisoning on-site and the chef tried to gaslight me with twisted science, that I did not have food poisoning!!! Okay dude, but I got physically sick at your restaurant, in a way I've never in my whole life been sick from food, from a restaurant, or from dining. And it was immediate. It was your restaurant! I had to ask my friend to take me home because I was so scared of getting more sick in an Uber and a charge of getting sick in a paid car. I could not have physically gotten home, if it wasn't an ambulance or a best friend. I hate this place :) read more

I had to sleep on this before writing a review. I'm somewhere between a 3 and 4. It's an expensive meal so I can understand the frustration many other reviewers have. That being said, it's about the experience, flavors, and passion for the craft -- not the price. I really enjoyed the 1:1 time with Danny plus the personal touch with each of the playing/menu cards; the notes and the interactions made the experience warm and inviting (although, FWIW being followed/escorted to the bathroom is a bit peculiar). We had the tasting menu + wine pairings (didn't upgrade for wagyu or lobster). When we were escorted to the second floor / lounge, we ordered an additional glass each. All in, our bill was about $1,200 for two and we tipped $300, which is optional given the included service charge. Massive highlights: - BBQ frog leg: moist, flavorful, and fun - scallops: a multitude of complex flavors + fun preso | uni, caviar, lime pearls, yuzu vinaigrette... amazing - ham: ok the empanada was lackluster but the heavy handed serving of iberico ham? yes please - wines: many wines I haven't tried / wouldn't have tried. And isn't that what experiences like this are all about? A wee bit of adventure. I'm not usually interested in whites but they were fun most complimented the food quite well - sea bass: the pea puree was delish and the skin was perfectly crispy. I would happily consume a super sized version of this (!!!) - dessert: every single sorbet/cake/delicate bite sized sugar bomb was creative and exploding with unique flavors Lowlights / things that didn't do it for me: - the duck breast + grab Marnier foie cake - it was an odd paring and maybe I don't have a refined palette to appreciate! - pork tenderloin - hard to cut and lackluster, however the parsnip puree and pumpkin sourdough bread were amazing - paella - simply because I've had better, although I deeply appreciated the additional spoon of socarrat (plus it was fun to watch). It's a fun presentation too! All things considered, it was a delicious adventure and I'm glad I experienced it. I was celebrating my birthday and they brought a special birthday dessert out and gave me a card, which I loved. They have a few events / collabs coming up and I'd be keen to try the ala carte experience on the first floor. It's a little hole in the wall with lots of heart poured into it, so I'd recommend a visit. read more

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Personally this place was amazing! I had the opportunity to go to many Michelin restaurants that offer a set course meal. This was the first place that offered an actual story to me from the chef. From sea to land with an amazing in between(frog legs). Again this is a restaurant were you do have to be open minded on eating everything but it is worth it for sure! Team was wonderful and the only thing I would say could improve is the push in wine, I enjoy wine but do not need it to pushed that often. Worth making the drive! read more

Solo diner review (12/11/24): I'd read mixed reviews of Xiquet before making a reservation, but their interesting spin on Spanish cuisine won me over for a fresh off their 2024 Michelin award. I will say that my reservation on a Wednesday night was made and then rescheduled due to a special event they were hosting with a guest chef. Be aware, there is a premium charged on the weekend for the same menu as weeknights. If you can get an early reservation (mine was at 6pm) for a Wednesday night, it's worth it to say almost $80. Highlights of the evening were the Lloborado (Spanish sea bass), Partridge (complete with pear cut into the shape of a tree), Pork Wellington (take a beef Wellington and make it Spanish!), and the Traonja del segle with orange sorbet for dessert. For much of the evening I was alone in the third floor dining room. There was another single diner when I arrived, but he departed shortly and a table of two was seated while I ate dessert. Service was incredibly attentive -- and from light chit chat it seems like they may have been doing some training/shadowing of new staff. Chef Danny came by to great me in the dining room AND again in the lounge as I enjoyed dessert bites and coffee. The open kitchen on the top floor was nice, but I couldn't see much action as they were only cooking for me. Wine pairings were fine, but nothing earth shattering. I did love the menu cards instead of a traditional menu sheet there were playing cards for each course. If you come back seasonally you can complete an entire deck (one suit for each season). Overall, I thought the food was very good and service was lovely. They made me feel at home, but it's not a place I'm longing to go back to. read more

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Xiquet was a great experience! Booked this restaurant for my husband's birthday and came on a Tuesday evening. It felt like private dining because for half the time we were the only people in the restaurant. The whole time we were there only one other party came, another party of two. This is a restaurant that deserves its michelin star for the food and service. It's not a hyped up trendy place that gets by on liquid nitrogen and lots of cream. They have a great wine selection, we had a really good krug and all the courses were delicious. Would highly recommend this place for a special occasion. I'm pregnant and they also went ahead and adapted the menu which was thoughtful. Desserts were just right and not too heavy. The second area you go to is nice also. I didn't have room for the desserts at the next stop but we took them back and ate them the next day. read more

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The professionalism of the staff could use some improvement, I was there in January/February and they literally didn't know where their left and right were. One of the managers at the first floor bar complained about another guest ordering a Martini? Bro shut up and make it man, it's not even mine but damn a MICHELIN RESTAURANT with two bars can't accommodate such a request? Bro they need to go back to the basics or they're losing the star. Upstairs Dining with the Tasting Menu looks great, I took a peek and this seems like a quarterly/yearly thing to do. Apparently there was an influencer dining near us and she was treated with extra care just for a few pics with her phone. This camera culture with them is getting out of hand. read more

I have been meaning to go to Xiquet for some time now, but living in California now makes that difficult. Finally made it in DURING A HURRICANE , yes not even a hurricane will stop me from consuming delicious food. Was welcomed with a nice glass of wine and saw the beautiful awards on the wall. Was taken upstairs where the main dining area is and was able to have a few words with the staff. Everyone was extremely welcoming and friendly. I'm not going to go into detail about the food, all I will say is BOOK YOUR RESERVATION NOW!!! This meal will be remembered for a very long time! I don't have a favorite dish but the Paella really stood out. I loved everything, especially the cards that come before every dish explaining exactly what you're about to consume and the history of it. Thank you for having me Xiquet, I'll be back and I'll be telling all of my friends about my incredible meal! read more

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KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: January 2023 DC has no shortage of the growing list of fine dining restaurants and one of the places that had been on my radar for a while since my wife Jun and I moved from NYC to the DC area was Xiquet. Opened in 2020 right before the pandemic outbreak, the restaurant by chef Danny Lledó has been getting accolades here and there for his innovative and modern take on traditional Valencian cuisine. While Jun and I had been to casual Spanish restaurants in the area, it was our first time exploring a fine dining format from this wonderful country of rich culinary tradition. When we walked up the stairs to reach the second-floor dining space with kitchen next to it, chef Danny kindly greeted us with a few bits before we were seated. The aroma coming from the kitchen was quite pleasant and our expectations for the dinner began to elevate. Overall, our meal at Xiquet was quite delicious with a few really outstanding dishes and without notable misses. When we got the welcoming snacks at Xiquet, my wife Jun was pleasantly surprised to see goose barnacles in the aperitivos. It's not often you see these crustaceans at a restaurant. Another surprise was the assortment of flash cards for each dish, similar to how Atomix had been dazzling diners for years. Each flash card thoughtfully described chef Danny's inspirations behind the corresponding dish, oftentimes sharing his memory in Valencia. The first dish that came after the aperitivos was fresh scallop from Hokkaido, Japan, accompanied by Ossetra caviar and blood orange that gave refreshing flavor. Even if you are not a vegetarian, you would be won over by a vegetable dish like the wonderfully fire-roasted heirloom squash with romesco. Called rèmol in Valencia, the turbot also beautifully displayed its rich flavor with the help of classic beurre blanc sauce. While Valencia is known for the famous paella, Xiquet's rice dish was more grounded in the method of Alicante nearby, accompanied by herb-braised rabbit. It was not surprisingly one of my favorite dishes of the night. According to chef Danny's flash card, partridge is a fowl widely used in Spanish cuisine, and Xiquet's version of the dish that came with foie gras and pear was certainly a winner. The savory part of the course ended with a rib-eye and Iberico pork tenderloin; both were delicious but fell slightly short of the bar set by the preceding dishes. The rib-eye inspired by vaca vieja ("old cow") raised in sustainable manner in Spain was unfortunately sourced from beef nearby in Maryland, and the slightly tough texture made us wonder what the real Spanish version would've tasted like. Iberico pork tenderloin and ham would've been fine on their own, and Jun questioned whether putting it in the puff pastry to create a Spanish version of Wellington was the smart choice. After all the rich savory dishes, an all-orange roster of desserts (from siphon cake to sorbet) provided a nice break to our palate. We wrapped up our meal with some treats at the bar area below the dining floor. Getting a reservation at Xiquet through Tock is not too challenging as long as you plan a couple of weeks in advance. The restaurant also offers wine pairings and has a fairly pricey wine list that skews toward tempranillo-based Spanish wines (although we were lucky to find one of my favorite California producers on the list and ordered a bottle of pinot noir to complement our meal). The small but cozy dining space with minimal décor gives the vibe of a fine dining restaurant without much stuffy atmosphere, making the restaurant a great choice for a date night. At the end of our meal, we were told that chef Danny is working on a new counter-style format that supposedly gives an upgrade from the dining room dishes in a more intimate setting. Jun and I will certainly check out that new format once it materializes; until then, our assessment of Xiquet is a very good restaurant but not quite top echelon yet. read more

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Decided to come here for restaurant week. I read somewhere that their regular tasting menu at $265 was discounted by $100, but was dismayed to find out that it was different in that two items aren't included (Iberic Wellington and something else). The Wellington was an optional add on at $40, which I did not opt for. Reservation was a breeze online, and there was a $50 per person non refundable deposit, which gets deducted from the final bill. There was ample street parking. The dining experience was very intimate, with just 7 tables. Service was awesome, and even Chef Danny brought out a few plates and described the dishes! My favorite dishes were probably the red prawn, turbot, and the partridge. The orange dessert also really stood out. The final two dessert servings is served at the mezzanine level, where there is also a bar. There you settle the bill and get a parting gift bag with some sweets. A mandatory 22% service fee is added, which also gets taxed, and this is not a tip. Overall, a very nice dining experience. I was hesitant at first, having read the reviews, which were either hit or miss. I personally enjoyed the food, but wasn't completely blown away at the price point. Luckily, I tried it during RW at a discount. Still, a very nice experience overall. read more

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This is a fine dining Michelin Star restaurant. I will attempt to segment my review accordingly, as the nuance of such an experience and expounding thereupon is highly divergent in appreciation and applicability. Needless to say, this restaurant is not for every and all tastes. -- 1. Truncated scores for oversimplification, respectively: (1) Compared to other Michelin Star venues: 2.75 to 3 out of 5 stars; (2) Compared to other Michelin (Star or otherwise) venues: 4 stars; (3) Compared to other fine dining restaurants in surrounding area: 4 stars; (4) Compared to all restaurants, regardless of type or class: 4.25 stars; (5) Compared to options in DMV area for a special occasion: 5 stars; (6) Subjective enjoyment as a food enthusiast: 3 stars; (7) Subjective enjoyment as a fine dining enthusiast: 3.5 to 4 stars; (8) Value of experience from a dining enthusiast's perspective: 4.25 stars; (9) Objective value: 1.5 to 2 stars; (10) Aggregate true rating: 2.75 to 3.25 stars, depending on the day. -- 2. Exposition: Xiquet offers an expensive, premium, and highly specific experience that may seem foreign, especially to those who aren't accustomed to fine diving; and even, at some points, to those who have dabbled here and there. Upon entering the unassuming multi-level restaurant, you are greeted by a host who takes a variable amount of time to prepare a table for you. You sit on a couch in the lobby which also has a bar. Upon my visit, the bar was unattended, making for a peculiar dynamic. After being checked in, you walk up two floors to the top floor. You are greeted by the head chef, and partake in a drink and small bite as he and one of his chefs welcome you. You are then seated at your table, one of only a few in the dining room. The big windows on the end of the room make for a good view, especially if you are seated toward them. After being seated, you will be acquainted with 2 to 3 main servers; a sommelier; and a manager. Prior to being served each course in the tasting menu, a card will be presented to you which describes the dish as well as its origins, concept, and personal relevance to the head chef, Danny Lledo. As the dish is being served, the main server attending you will further expound upon the nuances of each dish. Toward the end of your meal, Danny comes to speak with you once more. Upon finishing all the courses (and there are many if you go for the tasting menu), you will be escorted down one level to a bar and lounge area. This floor happens to also be where the restrooms are located. As you conclude your meal, you sit on a couch which is surrounded by another bar area. You are served tea, chocolates, and desserts. Upon preparing to check out, the manager comes by to ask you about your experience. The menu changes several times per year with a certain few items remaining. If this place is your cup of tea, consider revisiting to try different items; as well as different occasions in which the setup may be quite distinguished. -- 3. Critique: Each of the staff are highly trained and very knowledgeable. The experience is very unique and different, and highly worthwhile for a food enthusiast who wishes to experience something new and premium; especially for a special occasion. Many of the items, like with art, are made better by the explanations; as is the whole experience bespoke accordingly. However, some items are better than others; and some are highly memorable while others are perhaps bland. All items, however, do push the envelope; and craft a cohesive story as well as are likely unique. In that sense, I cannot offer any misgivings about the experience. To say I would recommend it, however, is a threshold I cannot truly pass; as much as because of the competition and the price point, as well as the relative expectations and preferences of all people, which are not necessarily in tune with a clientele who would visit this place. Of those who would contemplate visiting such a place, I cannot say with guarantee nor sterling conviction that the experience will be enjoyed, either. Some items did little for me, palette-wise, as well as in invoking any thought, inspiration, or satisfaction. Others, yet, induced a comprehensive resolution of resplendence which reaffirmed why I continue to exist; of why I endure; and of why I strive. My lukewarm score is a function of these two states at conflict; as well as that the exact distribution is not favorable, given the price. But I am at a limbo, in that, in grading a Michelin Star, I ask myself whether I am grading the food or the restaurant; and to what degree I am offering too much or little to either front. In the case of Xiquet, I opine the experience superior to food. Definitely a good restaurant and experience. But is it fitting of its weight? That is the query. -- 4. Recommendations: Try at least once, if you have a lot of disposable funds. Definitely keep an open mind. read more

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I went as a group of four for restaurant week, which I would 100% recommend. However, I can see why people who paid full price would be disappointed because it's good, but not $300+ good. Food: We really liked almost all the food. I quite liked all the starters, and loved the tarte for dessert. My main qualm was the main dish (I paid for the wellington), which was soggy, not crispy, and rather bland. We also got the basic wine pairing, and really enjoyed all the wines. The service: Xiquet had the most awkward Michelin star service I've ever encountered. When we walked in, my group just stood in the lobby for maybe 5 or minutes before anyone said anything to us. When we got upstairs, the servers kept having to reach around me, but always reached around me in the weirdest way possible, basically pushing me into a wall. Sometimes they'd randomly switch it around, so I'd go right and they'd actually come in that way. One server dropped tongs on me when giving me a napkin. They would discuss what we were eating while we were all clearly in conversation. And, ultimately, the food came out super fast. We were in and out in under an hour an half (maybe that's just for restaurant week)? read more

$600 for basic food for two. Absolutely the worst experience and I couldn't wait to leave. Paella was made of salt, can't taste anything else. The crab and octopus in the paella was like plastic. Frog legs were raw with BBQ sauce. Duck was bloody raw with cold duck pate that tastes like cardboard. Hoped to taste at least some liver but nothing. Only hope was scallops and uni but "lime pearls" tastes like plastic that ruined even the Uni. Fish was burned so not much left to taste. Dessert with the lime was as sour as sulfuric acid. Even the hibiscus tea was sour with the acidity of 1 like aqua regia. I had many Michelin star meals and this was the absolute worst. read more

I was very much looking forward to trying out Xiquet for restaurant week. The service and outreach beforehand to confirm menu preferences was great. However, the service all changed upon our arrival. We had expressed dietary preferences, which the host confirmed, but the waiter seemed completely befuddled at the start asking us what we would be having, when we already confirmed the meals. It was a shock to see how expensive the wine options were for a restaurant. I've been to numerous Michelin Star restaurants where you don't have to pay $25 for a half glass pour. It's surprising they don't offer more affordable alternatives as Spain has lovely wines at a more cost effective price point. They also didn't even offer tap water unless you requested it, so going for the up sells right away. The service started off bad with a wrong plating providing a gluten dish to a gluten free diner. That diner was also advised they would receive a normal paella with meat, but the waiter delivered the Vegetarian paella saying that's what they would receive. No explanation was provided on why until we asked the chef when he walked by the table. I did appreciate the chef's explanation and even his return to the table with the meat to explain how it used bread crumbs as binding. However, this should've been communicated by the wait staff. At a Michelin Star restaurant, servers should know the menu well enough, especially when dietary preferences are communicated weeks in advance. A minor note I was also surprised by was the scuffed matte flatware served with the meal. It seemed like it was beyond time for replacement. The overall dining room was very minimalist and narrow making it awkward for waiters to pour water for diners seated against the wall. It was nice to see the kitchen going as you walked up the steps. As for the food, the dessert was phenomenal and my favorite dish of the evening. The vegetarian paella was great, but light on portions for the price point. I think they could've spared adding more than a handful of artichoke hearts. The crudo appetizer was okay, but seemed overall salty. The tostada with asparagus was great. Overall, I can imagine myself being quite disappointed to pay for this restaurant at full price given even for restaurant week it seemed a high cost. I do appreciate the chef's attention to the table after expressing our concerns and they comped a wellington upgrade for the birthday diner, which was a very nice gesture. I don't know if I'd recommend to return here given so many other great Michelin Star restaurants in DC with more attentive service and value for the food provided. read more

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Definitely not worth the money. The food is oversalted, and caviar is added to nearly every dish, which completely overpowers the other ingredients. Service was inconsistent, and the ambiance felt sterile and uninviting read more

I'm headed to Valencia next month so I wanted to give Xiquet a try. It's not the best Michelin star restaurant I've been to, but it's not the worst either. I went on a night when they were still tinkering with their seasonal menu. My dishes were very meat heavy - there was lamb, partridge, and pork. That's on top of the hake and two paella dishes. I was definitely full and had to bring some of the food home. Other diners complained about their meals being too salty - I actually thought some of the dishes weren't salty enough. They could've also added a little more heat to them. I found some of them to be a little bland. The main course (Wellington Iberic pork) and dessert (rhubarb/avocado cake) were by far the best parts of the meal. I was charged $12 at the end of the night for "water service" which was a bit of a surprise. I opted for sparkling water. I don't know if it would've been the same price for still water, but a heads up would've been nice. Honestly, I would've been fine with tap water had I known I was going to be charged for it. They also don't have any soft drinks and no cocktail menu. They have what appeared to be a full service bar on the middle floor, but I was only given a wine menu. It's cheaper to get the wine pairing, unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars (or thousands) for a single bottle. Even a single glass was upwards of $50 so I opted to just stick with my $12 water. They charge you a 20% service fee which they say goes to all of the staff, but on top of that, when you receive your bill, there's also a line that prompts you to tip. It's very confusing. Furthermore, they charge you $50 when you make a reservation (which is eventually deducted from the bill), but I was actually charged $51.75. Apparently there's a $1.75 fee as well which wasn't made abundantly clear. I ended up spending close to $300 with no alcohol. I went on a Wednesday night around 7 PM and I was a little surprised by how vacant the restaurant was. There was just me and one other couple. Their dining room appeared to sit about 20-30 people, though I do have to give them credit for allowing single diners. Many Michelin star restaurants won't even give you that option. Service was great and staff were very friendly. What I found unique was they give you little cards with descriptions of each of the dishes. I'm not sure I'd come back, but worth a visit I suppose, especially if you like paella. read more

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Our latest experience at Xiquet was less then amazing. We have been to Xiquet before and it was perfect, so I am not sure what happened this time. The service is absolutely perfect, the team at Xiquet is top notch; Honestly it would be hard to find a better service team in DC. The cocktail program is always on point. They serve up some seriously amazing cocktails that's really represent the Spanish influence that the restaurant has. So the food......... Well.... Chef Danny Lledo was not their that night. I am not sure if that was the problem, but I kinda assume it was. Everything seemed a little off,It was good but slightly off. Even the famous Paella was just a few degrees off..... Trust me I hate writing this review but honesty is the best policy. This is a great restaurant, and I still encourage you to visit. Worthy of a Michelin star; no doubt This is my experience, and hopefully not yours. read more

Xiquet by Danny Lledó - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had a decent dining experience and I'm unsure what so many are griping about concerning price, service, or quality. 1) Look at the menu: you're paying for rare and treasured ingredients literally cooked in front of you. Yes, you can get supermarket chicken at other Michelins gussied up fantastically. But idk maybe read ahead before you reserve at someplace that's not doing that 2) They're human and mistakes happen. A course can be flawed and things can spill. In the live arts, even the best trip. The food wasn't underseasoned. They quite deftly paced the intensity of seasoning to peak on the meat dishes and be minimal on the earlier dishes. The service was nice but in general overwrought considering they were mostly just repeating what you could read on the card. The cards were a really nice touch in that regard: you got all the info and are able to reference whenever. They should let servers offer personal anecdotes vs recitation of the card. The Chef was in-house and I enjoyed the introduction and ensuing interaction with him. Again, I'm not sure what people are expecting here. Is he supposed to turn around while you eat? Eat with you? Take your wife home??? All of that is said, there were some honest and unnecessary disappointments. -The paella (both times!) tasted scorched and I couldn't finish. This could be a quirk I'm not privy to, but I would have at least appreciated a warning. TBH, I think it was just scorched. Too many restaurants are clamoring for open-fire "live" cooking as an ambiance gimmick. I don't get it - The cake paired with the hauntingly delicious strawberry semi-frio was a miss. I would have LOVED that semi-frio with a crouton of the stale, bland, cake instead. -The final dessert summed up my quibbles: too many courses felt like they put checking requisite boxes (pun intended) ahead of other things. -The Wine selection seemed designed for Rober Parker/publication point hunters and was quite unimpressive given you're kinda limited/forced into wine. Overwrought and heavy wines from recent vintages with inflated market prices due to high scores. That's one definition of rare, but not necessarily the one I prefer. The half-glass options were a nice touch, though -Overall dining experience left only a few memorable impressions. Perhaps too few given the hard work and mentoring on display from the Chef/team throughout the meal. read more

Xiquet by Danny Lledó - menu - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Many people say that parking here is tough, but we had a 7:45pm reservation on a Friday and there were tons of street parking spots (plus a garage a block away). But onto the restaurant! 4 of us came for my husband's birthday and we started on the first floor with drinks and canapés. I love an egg white cocktail so I ordered their orange cocktail but didn't love it (it tasted like straight liquor). I also wasn't that impressed with the canapés - tuna loin, olives, barnacles were kind of odd. Although the Chesapeake oyster was delicious. Next we moved upstairs for dinner which included 12 courses (including 2 dessert). Xiquet is all about Spanish cuisine and uses a woodfire kitchen to make the courses come to life. We had several fish and seafood courses and we paid extra for the seafood paella which was definitely worth it. It was really delicious and we could see why it was the chef's signature. We also had a squab and wagyu strip loin before moving onto dessert. All of the courses were solid, but my favorites were the paella and oddly enough the pallet cleanser (the best one I've had! I could've eaten a whole bowl). We then had 2 dessert courses before moving onto a third space for dessert bites and after dinner drinks. Overall I was very impressed with the service! They were very attentive and explained all of the dishes perfectly. The dinner was also very good, though not a ton of wow-I-need-to-eat-this-again moments. One thing to note is the seats during the dinner portion were not comfortable. I think these fine dining restaurants forget their patrons sit for 3 hours! I can still see why they've earned their Michelin star though! It's worth a visit for sure. read more

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The service is 5*, but the food missed the mark a little. Waitstaff were wonderful, the chef came out to greet customers. The atmosphere was also very nice as the kitchen is surrounded by glass so many of the customers can see the kitchen. All staff were friendly and went out of their way to remember each guest's name. They certainly have the Michelin flare. Regarding the food, most of the ingredients were not first class and were not able to carry the dish into leaving a memorable experience. The Australian Wangyu strip was one of the lone dishes that stood out as excellent and well cooked. A few of the other dishes were also enjoyable but a few too many were a bit underwhelming and lacked a unique flavor. Difficult to recommend to anyone considering the price point. read more

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I really wanted to love this place, but it just wasn't my flavor profile. Everything was a bit too salty for my taste. However, the experience was wonderful. I loved the introduction to the kitchen, which included welcome drinks and snacks. Following the meal, we were also moved to the lounge on the lower floor for dessert. It felt like I was having a nightcap at a speakeasy. Had a great time, but I won't be returning here. read more

We came across this place looking to do our Anniversary Dinner. We had an issue come up the night before our reservation and they were so accommodating in moving our reservation to the next week. Gotta say parking was a little tough and it made us late but found some street parking and they were still super friendly and accommodating to us. You start by going into their lounge for drinks and ordering before even going to the table. We got a couple of cocktails (don't really remember the names but they were made really well) and opted for the 10 course tasting menu. Our favorites were the Grilled Octopus, Tartare Iberic, lobster and prawn paella, the duck and foie gras dumpling, and the orange nine ways. Everything was cooked perfectly over a wood fire grill and you could taste that in everything they placed in front of us. The octopus was the best I've ever had. It was cooked perfectly and had a smokiness to it. The Tartare was salty and meaty and loved the chicharron on top. Paella had huge chunks of lobster and even full claw meat as well. The crispy bits of rice were a perfect accompaniment. The dumpling skin had a great bite and had such a savoriness from the foie gras and duck combined. The orange nine ways was a refreshing way to end our meal and I couldn't tell you how they did the orange but they definitely killed it. Service was so on point here as well. People were on top of us as far as refills, clearing out, and just checking in on us they even gave us some small anniversary bites which was a lovely gesture as well. I would love to come back if I could get a reservation. The dining room is beautiful with the large window and skylight giving a good amount of sun to the room. read more

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I was invited by two friends to join them for restaurant week dinner, neither of us had been here but are fans of paella, and which was on the evenings menu. We decided to share the seafood paella and when presented and set on the table the very pleasant waiter noted to look for the "socarrat", the delicious crust at the bottom of the pan. Alas, there was not socarrat present for us to enjoy and the dish overall was rather a let down. Two of us ordered the hamachi crudo, and which was like three postage stamp slices of fish....though the final selection, a cheese selection and carrot cake were okay. For a party of three it was more of a tasting then a three course meal..... read more

Coming back from my long Yelp hiatus because I really think people should think twice before spending money here. Especially if you're like me - $400/person after tax is not a trivial amount of money (this is without alcohol). For me, this is the kind of place you save up for a little. And when I start spending more than $70/person, I expect a certain level or quality and service. Even more so at $300+ a person. I know that's not a super high financial bar in the fine dining world, but I'm just speaking for myself. But maybe I'm not the target demographic for Xiquet and I accept that. I have been to many Michelin starred restaurants though and loved very many of those experiences. So take this review with a grain of salt. First of all, there were mosquitoes in the restaurant and I know they love me, though now I have two new bites on my legs, and DC mosquitoes are relentless this year but really?!? I literally had to squash one as it was flying right towards my face. I had to ask for a napkin to wipe off the mosquito carcass off my hand. (Humble brag that I'm quite pleased with my hand eye coordination on the kill though.) Then a server dropped a fork in my lap as the silverware was being switched out. Then a different server splash olive juice/oil on me as they were taking a plate away. (Happy that it came out with some hand sanitizer because the one time I put a real bra on, shave my legs, do my hair and makeup and put a nice silk dress on of course something gets spilled on me.) Oh and when I got there I mentioned I was allergic to alcohol and they said they would make an adjustment to the introductory bite but when we were escorted upstairs 5 minutes later the chef greeted us with two glasses of vermouth and when I said I was allergic he seemed very put off and awkward about it. Of course they said the customary "I'm sorry" a couple times but I didn't really get a sense that they tried to step up the service in spite of everything that happened. Take away all that and the experience was still pretty underwhelming. Had maybe 4 courses in all that really felt remarkable and everything else was good but not great. Atmosphere was courteous but a bit sterile. Sitting here scratching my new mosquito bites and writing this review to say - I think you can spend less of your money elsewhere for a tastier meal and better experience. read more

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About a 1-1.5: Xiquet offers a Valencia-inspired menu, created by Chef Lledó - the tasting menu was stated to change often, but I'm thinking it's only seasonal? Just be sure to check their site for updates. When we went, the menu consisted of: +Coca - Valencian flatbread with white anchovies and veggies +Mojama - house-aged tuna loin with tomatoes, micro lettuce, guindilla peppers, and a quail egg +House Marinated Olives - prepared with orange peels, thyme, and garlic; I thought the citrus note from the orange peels were a little off for a marinated olives dish +Percebes - pickled spring veggies and escabeche +Oystra de Temporada - burnt lemon and honey air and guava rosemary granita +Generositat de Denia - red prawn of Denia, uni, uni cream, and Petrossian ossetra caviar +Tonyina - dill-cured blue fin tuna, ajo blanco, plankton, and marcona almonds; not sure if I was a fan of the dill taste on the tuna +Remol - turbot with garlic puree, salsify chips, salmon roe, and herbs; our party was not a fan of the turbot +Arros a Banda - Red prawn of denia, cuttlefish, and Alicanta paella +Canvi de Sentit - buffalo frog leg, bleu cheese, and ranch gels; the leg didn't seem to be properly prepared, as it seemed undercooked? +Colomi - squab, squab jus, and stuffed raspberries; we were not fans of the squab, as it was dry and flavorless +Presa Iberic - Iberian pork shoulder, pepper jus, potato souffle chips, and paleta +Paella de Cacador - smoked duck breast, black trumpets, chanterelles, foie torchon, and figs; the duck breast didn't seem to be properly rendered and undercooked +Abans de les Postres - quince semifreddo, manchego espuma, and an almond cookie +Pastis de Pistatxo - pistachio cake, lime sorbet, white chocolate, coconut, and lime The presentation of each of the courses were fine, but we just weren't impressed with the flavors; in addition, the fact that some of the protein were improperly cooked really left us super disappointed. Service was friendly, and the space is inviting. Plenty of street parking available. +improperly cooked proteins +friendly service +street parking available read more

Xiquet boasts a Michelin Star. I don't understand why. We dined on a Saturday night; the tasting menu cost $250 per person. Starting with the decor: Bland. Uninteresting. Cold. The dining room is up two flights of stairs. On arriving in the dining room you're greeted by a server at a counter in front of the open flame kitchen where you are given a small cone filled with something that tasted quite good and a small drink. This may have been the best tasting course. Then you're seated at your white-tablecloth-covered table, and the tasting menu begins. Twelve or so unmemorable courses. Some highlights: Spanish seabass was good - nicely prepared with crispy skin - but underseasoned. Partridge - dry and underseasoned. Iberico shoulder: not worth the hype. Tough and dry. Desserts were served in another room, down one flight of stairs on the same level as the rest rooms, thankfully. A wooden box was presented with little tidbits, some very good, some not remarkable. The chocolate and marsipan selections were my favorites. Service was efficient and the server did describe each course well, but with little energy or excitement. read more

Had a wonderful experience at Xiquet last night. Chef Danny does an amazing job of making guests feel welcome as though he's invited you into his home. The restaurant is on Wisconsin Ave and we were able to find street parking easily enough. Entering the restaurant there is a small lounge and bar area. Smiling faces and gentle voices welcomed us in, they quickly wished me a happy birthday and confirmed my wife's crustacean allergy, then took my wife's coat and handed us a drink menu. I was sad to not see any Spanish cava or Spanish gin on the menu, as this is a Spanish restaurant. My wife ordered a glass of champagne and I had the house cocktail which was a lovely balance of gin (even though it wasn't Spanish), tonic, grapefruit juice, and fruit. We went upstairs to the third floor where we were greeted by Chef Danny who welcomed us with a half shot of Spanish Vermouth and an amuse bouche - it was a flatbread with sort of a ratatouille topped with black truffle. Frankly we were both underwhelmed - it lacked texture and flavor. We walked to the dining room which is very intimate, perhaps 8 tables lining the edges of the room. We were never in need of water, a fresh napkin, or clean utensils - the service was friendly, warm, and attentive. Rather than providing a menu, the servers brought playing cards of a Spanish card game with descriptions of each course on the back which I thought was a playful and humble touch. I asked for recommendations for one Spanish white and one Spanish red wine to accompany the meal - both recommendations were superb. First we had "aperitiu" - each dish was a nice punch of salinity. The uni was creamy and delicious but the brioche it was served on was too thick and super dry (almost seemed stale). The olives were the best we'd ever had and the broth the barnacles were served with was out of this world. A wonderful mix of flavors - exactly what you'd expect from a Michelin star restaurant with ingredients that are not easy to come by in the US. The first course was one of my favorite of the night - a Hokkaido scallop with blood orange, and caviar. This dish was so fresh, bright, and simple yet flavorful. I paid the $50 supplement for the gamba roja de denia - what's the point of dining at a high end restaurant if you don't experience what makes it unique? Xiquet is the only restaurant in the country with access to this type of prawn. Sucking the brains out of the head was fun - sweet, briny, and of the sea. The second official course was a deconstructed eel stew - grilled eel atop a crispy potato soufflé served beside a glass of eel broth - this was again unique and delicious. Fourth was fresh heirloom squashes roasted over an open flame served atop a romesco sauce. The smokiness, the crunchy candies almonds, and the sweet, tender squash all worked. Fifth was one of my favorites of the night - beautiful thin slice of turbot with garlic purée and beurre blanc. This dish was perfect. The rabbit paella dish was wonderful - full of savoriness and saffron. I paid the $100 supplement for white truffles with the last savory dishes. While I adore the pungent aroma and subtle flavor of white truffle, I don't know that it was worth the $100. Sixth was partridge breast with foie gras and pear. While my partridge breast was over cooked and a bit chewy, the flavors of this dish were out of this world. The pear was very sweet and added a nice grainy texture to meld the firmness of the partridge and the softness of the foie. The foie really tied it all together from a flavor perspective though. Such an incredible course. Seventh was a small piece of dairy cow ribeye. While cooked perfectly, I felt this dish was a bit of a miss because the meat actually lacked flavor and was quite tough. I didn't really understand the pairing with baby turnips and the honey nut squash purée. The best dish of the night for me was the pork Wellington. Smoky and tender iberico pork tenderloin wrapped in iberico ham, an incredible duxelles, and an impossibly crispy and light puff pastry. This kitchen has a true gift for sauces and I loved sipping up the sauce with the puff pastry. Next was a pre dessert of sorbet with almond crumble - beautiful and unique flavors and textures. Dessert was oranges 12 ways - wow what a creative and super dish. I don't know how he differentiated and extracted all those flavors and textures but he did it so well. After dinner we moved to the second floor salon for 5 little bite sized desserts - a perfect ending to the evening. The total bill came out to around $880 which was very expensive, but about what you can expect from a Michelin star restaurant these days with such unique and high quality ingredients. If we were to return, I probably wouldn't do the supplemental dishes, and would most likely opt for less expensive wines, but I do look forward to dining here again. read more

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Wow! A group of us have been choosing a top DC restaurant to check out each month for the past 5 years (with an interruption for Covid- this ends up around 30 or so restaurants) and Xiquet by Danny Lledo was the best dining experience I've had in the DMV, and maybe ever! There is so much to rave about Xiquet as it truly is a delicious and overall amazing dining experience. First and foremost - a huge thank you to the staff! From the personal touch of remembering our names, to the explanations of each dish, the history, and how to best eat them, to the extremely attentive service - little things like having our jackets waiting for us as we finished our meal - the staff just went above and beyond to make this a seamless, welcome, and memorable experience. The service start to finish helped make a wonderful experience even better. The restaurant truly did a remarkable job of making this more than just a dinner, but an experience. You start on the first floor at the bar for a few small bites (and cocktails if you wish, the Gold Rush was a table favorite). After that you are guided to the third floor which has an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work their magic! If you are into that, there is a prime table to the left of the kitchen that you can request and get a great glimpse of the action. The wood fired grill provides a great scent throughout the restaurant. After several amazing courses, you are brought to the second floor, which has more of a lounge feel. It definitely changed the vibe and was a bit more intimate as we were able to enjoy dessert and a nightcap. Now, for the food - the main event! The 14 course tasting menu is a masterpiece! There was not a single dish that we would not want to order again and there were several dishes that we wish we could have had as a full meal! It was an overall eclectic mix of flavors, creative dishes, and each dish, in its own right, was a mini masterpiece. Each dish seemed to build on the previous dishes and between scallops, iberico ham, and several vegetable and seafood dishes (I'm not doing it justice) we had a wide range of tastes and flavors. With roots in DC (and a UMD grad), Valencia, Spain, and Portugal - Chef Danny Lledo is a local who brings a wide background of experiences and flavors! This experience blew us away and it's only a matter of time before more Michelin stars are added! What a truly amazing experience and one we will always remember (and crave again)! read more

This was honestly a disappointment from start to finish and I'm still processing it. We went last night for our anniversary. Probably the best thing I can say about this place is that the street parking is ample. The restaurant itself is lackluster as soon as you walk in. It reminded me of a travel agency in terms of decor. Upon walking in, we were greeted by a member of the staff and asked about "welcome drinks"- these drinks were champagne and were at least $20 a glass. We've been to pretty much every Michelin star place in the city and we have never had to pay for welcome drinks for a $250+ person meal. The entire experience seems as if it is designed to squeeze more money out of you at every opportunity. Went upstairs to the main dining room and the waitress immediately goes into a 10 minute long walkthrough of the wine pairings. These range from $200 to up to $400. The wine menu is printed in a way that it is not clear that they offer individual glasses. I saw through these reviews that they offered cocktails, but upon asking the waitress, she said that they were "for downstairs" and that the upstairs was more for wine. I'm not a huge wine drinker, so I wish they had accommodated me. I ended up ordering half a glass of red for $18. Midway through the meal, I had about half a glass left still and a gnat landed in my glass. This by itself is not a problem, even though the waiter apologized profusely when I told him. If waiters could control the bugs, that would truly be a 5 star experience, but all I expected was for my glass to be replaced. Unfortunately, the amount of wine given as a replacement was less than what I originally had. Great service would have at least made sure to give me a similar amount, fill up the glass even more, or even comp the glass. Onto the food itself. I understand that the chef wanted to present cuisine from Valencia, but you could've told me it was a tribute to The Dead Sea because everything was super salty. We were not the only ones to complain about this, as the couple dining behind us also mentioned this. I'm not clear whether Valencian cuisine is just like this, or if the chef did not taste the meals sent out. We had to drink lots of water after every course. As mentioned here by others, the red prawn that we were supposed to drink from was not an ideal experience. I didn't get much "juice" and what I ended up getting tasted super fishy and weird. One of my other prawns had a bit of shell still left on. The attention to detail here is severely lacking at a place that has had Michelin stars two years in a row. Other dishes: the buffalo frog leg was fine, but really out of place. It was a weird addition and felt last minute. The squab was tough and not very appetizing. They gave too much of the paella in my opinion, especially since there are TWO paella dishes. The desserts were good. The pasty chef knows what they're doing. After our main meal, they shepherded us downstairs where there was a small "after dinner" seating area. Here, they offered cocktails and plenty of whiskey selections. These would have been great two hours ago. Again, they bring you here so they can squeeze more money out of you. It felt predatory in a way. We both passed on the drinks and were given a few small treats like chocolate and jellies. These were pretty good. Here's the final gripe and why I believe this restaurant might just be a well designed scheme: there was a 22% "service fee" but this is not considered a "tip". This is specifically pointed out when you make the reservation, and the bill brought to us had an area for a tip. The website describes this fee as a way to provide the staff fair wages, which, hey, I'm totally behind. However, the whole reason people tip is because normally servers are not provided fair wages and they rely on tips. Since this is not the case, why ask for a tip? As you can tell from the review, I did not believe the service or the food warranted any extra money from me, so I did not tip on top of the service charge. What a colossal disappointment. Likely the worst Michelin star place we've been to. Over this, I would recommend literally any one-star place: we've had fantastic experiences at Albi, Rose's Luxury, Fiola, The Dabney, Kinship, Gravitas, and Bresca. If you're into spending a LOT of money but feeling like it was well-spent, go to Jont instead. read more

Can you give more than 5-stars?? Wow - my wife and I finally had a night out and we chose the right place. Every detail (and they pay attention to ALL of them) was so eloquent and tailored. The service is impeccable. The food divine. The wine pairing perfection. The atmosphere is like nowhere I've ever been. Danny feels more like a gracious host than a world renowned chef. We simply loved this experience and can't wait to return. read more

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The experience was exceptional. We visited Xiquet for an early Valentine's Day celebration and were lucky to get a seat next to the open kitchen. The menu and ingredient selections were outstanding. Staffs were attentive and provided a beautiful experience for the both of us. For a special occasion, or not, I would recommend trying this place out. Definitely deserved the Michelin star they were awarded with. We selected the 14 course meal and wine pairing for one ($850 including gratuity). A few improvements: music and attention to detail. Overall, Xiquet is one of the best in the area. If you are looking for a fine dining experience for your loved one or for yourself, this is the spot. read more

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I'm just so so disappointed. I save up for and look forward to fine dining. This experience was just disappointment after disappointment. Everything seems designed to get more money out of you. Waited for 30+ min beyond my reservation time to be seated upstairs. Don't worry though, we were asked if we wanted to pay for champagne to get the night started. Hard pass. Oh, and when you get upstairs you have to eat a piece of anchovie flatbread in front of the chef? It was awkward. Upon seating, we noticed 2 open tables of the 7 total. So again, why the wait? Let's start out with the fact that there is no opportunity to order anything other than wine. They also do not make clear that wines by the glass are available. So, we felt forced into the wine pairing at $220 each. Great. An underlying theme of the night: the wine pour is an absolute joke. You get next to nothing - 2.5 glasses total - over the course of 3 hours. For $220 each. This feels like absolute robbery. Also, any Michelin place I've been to that was even slightly late on seating the party would have comped something to your party as an apology. Not this crew. The first course was barnacles. They were terrible and there wasn't enough sauce to mask the flavor. Second course was prawn. That seemed ok. The worst course of the night was the squab - literally rare pigeon. I sent most of it back because there was no way to mask the flavor. I would never send anything back at a Michelin starred place but it had to be done. No one even asked me why - it's almost like they know it will turn diners off and do not care. There were also two paellas. The fish one I had to wash down - it tasted so strongly of fish it was almost inedible. Really had to use some willpower to wash it down. The night took quite a while and eventually we ended the tasting menu only to be dragged downstairs where they tried to up-charge us for after dinner drinks. Given I had 2 glasses of wine total for the wine pairing over the course of 3 hours, I felt deprived of any proper pour but certainly did not want to shell out more $$. It took a long time to get the check and I really just wanted to go home The little treats that came out included a prickly pear jelly and a marshmallow. There was also some chocolate. That was good but I was already disappointed at that point and tired. Overall, a disappointing time. read more

Don't waste your time and money. For the value the food is terrible, the dishes served cold and the portions are tiny. The seasoning of the food leaves a lot to be desired, nothing really tastes fresh. The salad is bland, tasteless, without seasoning and the portion is shamefully small, for 30 dollars it does not live up to its value. Dessert is a little better, but nothing impressive and the worst part is that when we ordered dessert (FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE) there was a huge hair on the plate and we had to ask for a cheesecake... A dinner for 5 without wine costs around 590 dollars, for that price you can find restaurants with better food and portions with real sizes. read more

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Cyndy's Bottom Line: A 2021 Michelin Star restaurant featuring Chef Lledo's signature paella and traditional Valencia's cuisine. *The restaurant features seven and ten-course tasting menus. *Reservations on TOCK *Street parking, no valet service at this time. This is what we ate/drank: 2013 Chassagne-Montrachet, Marie Bernard +Amuse-bouche of baby eel pasta. Tasty, delicate eel pasta sautéed perfectly with a nice saltiness. +Grilled octopus, grapes, orange pearls, golden oyster caviar Beautifully plated to start. Tenderness of the octopus, together with the light sweetness of the grapes and a touch of saltiness from the caviar makes for a well composed dish. +Sea cucumber, sobrasada Perfectly cooked sea cucumber. A light crunch but also tender to eat. Sobrasada brings out a tasty flavor. +Tartare Iberic, tenderloin, paleta Iberica, chicharron, egg yolk, mustard, sherry. Well seasoned tartare. The paleta Iberica is so flavorful. The egg yolk adds to the richness. Loved the chicharron. I could eat a plateful of them! +White asparagus soup, smoked English peas, olive oil. The white asparagus soup is robust in flavor and the peas enhance the flavor profile. +Palate cleanser - I really enjoyed the granita palate cleanser. So herbaceously refreshing! +Lobster, cuttlefish, prawn, Senia rice, paella method Yumminest paella. All the seafood is shelled which makes for a luxurious delectable dish. +Hake, green sauce. Perfectly cooked hake. Moist and delicious. +Foie gras, roasted suckling pig, calvados reduction A purse of goodness. So inventive and yummy! +Australian wagyu strip loin, potato puree, Swiss chard, espanyol jus. Well composed. All the flavors come through in each bite. +Sweet potato donut, chocolate, almond cloud, chocolate mousse. +Orange nine ways A beautiful montage of orange. Creative with each bite different in texture and delectable sweetness. +Complimentary cookies served in the lounge- scrumptious! +Turrones - chocolate & almonds - yummy! *Excellent service. Synchronized and well timed delivery of courses. Excellent wine recommendations from Remi and well paced pours. *Relaxing ambiance both in the lounge and dining room. The dining room is a white minimalist dining room with large skylight and windows bringing in the natural light. *From the dining room you can see the open kitchen and see Chef Lledo in action. *A well deserved Michelin star. read more

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