Minetta Tavern DC

“Minetta Tavern DC has an incredible atmosphere, especially upstairs. The artwork, warm lighting, and classic decor give it a really unique and almost old-world feel. It’s the kind of place where the setting alone makes the experience memorable. The upstairs space in particular has amazing character and a great vibe for drinks or dinner.”

“Starting from the moment we entered the building, this was truly an incredible evening and a true example of fine hospitality. As one who has worked within that world since I opened my eyes, it was so refreshing to see it and done so well. Subtly and awareness is the key. The restaurant is bustling with a variety of guests, the bar was full - everyone seemed in good spirits. The energy was lively but warm. We were promptly greeted by Beau (apologies if misspelled), he confirmed my later reservation while I over explained I was trying to locate my friend in the mix of everything going on. Once I found my dining companion, we returned at our reservation time - they acknowledged us and our seating immediately, offering a glass of champagne while we waited for our table to be ready - a sort few minutes later, we were greeted by the lovely Katie. She kindly sent the Somme over when we mentioned wanting to decide our meal before the wine to pair. They both had wonderful recommendations, Katie predicted any needs or additions we may need, ensured we had not only a delicious meal but experience throughout. We're not for the faint of heart, so we ordered a bottle of Beaujolais, lobster bellevue, fois gras terrine, roasted bone marrow, smoked LI duck breast, prawn risotto, pommes Anna, grand mariner souffle, chocolate mouse and after dinner drinks. Apparently, our meal was so divine - the table next to us asked about some of our bites + we adopted them into our evening. The GM, John, introduced himself and checked in on our experience - with a polite refinement, his quiet but self assured table manner was a perfect end to our dining experience. We made our way upstairs to their velvet tufted lounge for cocktails + shared three to try - all spectacular. 10/10 would go everyday till I die. Special thanks to Beau, John and Katie! :)”

“Excellent food, a bit uneven service, and an energetic atmosphere make Minetta Tavern a great overall NYC export into Union Market. We enjoyed pretty much everything we tried. My onion soup was like being back in Paris, I savored each bite and sip. The foie gras terrine was good but not remarkable. However, their steak tartare was probably one of the very best versions of that dish I have ever had. Really outstanding. For our mains, the mussels were sublime, another standout dish. The prawn risotto and the butternut squash ravioli were both superb too. The Minetta burger was probably the only real disappointment. It was fine but came out bloody, not medium and didn't hold together well. They need to up their burger game a bit here in DC. Smoked duck breast was excellent as well, and the trimmings added a lot. Cocktails were very good overall, nothing I was dying to try again but all solid, no complaints. Service was friendly but a bit uneven as mentioned. My friend asked for more bread 3x over 30+ minutes before they finally remembered to bring it out. There was also about a 30 min gap between the first course and the second course where our table sat bare (and dirty) during that time. Also an odd moment where one of the servers picked up a clean utensil (thinking it was used I guess?) and then handled it and put it back, not the most hygenic maneuver. I was taught a long time ago serving tables that whatever you pick up from a table, you never put back down. So yeah, service could be better but not enough to make this a 5 star experience.”

“Extremely well done very traditional french dishes. I'm surprised I enjoyed everything so much, despite nothing having much of a twist or modern take. Just very strong basics. Had all the highlights: the French onion soup, coq au vin, and a grand Marnier souffle - something so classic I rarely even see it on menus in the US. Service was wonderfully attentive and the atmosphere was quite a fun vibe. Also one of the best martinis I've had in some time. I can see why the original NY location gets so much hype. I will be back.”

“The special occasion I celebrated was well recieved at the door by the hostess, who was waiting for the Maitre D to return. We were seated immediately when we arrived 10 mins early. Our server Doug, watched us get seated and gave us a warm welcome. He told us the seasonal specials and also gave his personal recommendations. He was knowledgeable of the menu for pairing and understood our celebration. He was also quite relatable and had positive input. When the entree came out to be presented before plating, it was truly commercial worthy. Happy with the decision made, the nod of approval was given. Everything was cooked to the temperature requested and enjoyed thoroughly. On the down side, the table was too small to accommodate such large plates and left most of the staff struggling to move and place things properly. The house music was low and the place ended up sounding like a cafeteria instead of a fine dining restaurant. Putting that aside, the dessert was wonderful and unexpectedly added the perfect ending to our visit. It was my first time in these doors and I would definitely return with friends for another celebration.”