Pineapple and Pearls

“Whoever was responsible for pineapple and pearls losing a star has lost their minds. We built our whole DC Memorial Day weekend around visiting Pineapple and Pearls and we are so glad we did! It’s fun from the moment you enter. Greeted with smiles and enthusiasm that sets the tone for the fun to come. The food is incredible. Fun, inventive and absolutely delicious. I would love to give a more in depth description….but I think half the fun is the surprise! Cant wait to return for another fun and fabulous experience!”

“Best dining experience we’ve ever had. The experience as a whole including the emails ahead of time were above and beyond my expectations. Seating, while close in some areas, was still intimate and enjoyable. Every bit of every course was delicious and delightful. The topper of it all was the wagyu burger they send you home with. Questioning the microwave instructions the next day we trusted the process and boy it do not disappoint. The burger was a great late breakfast / early lunch enjoyed together in Franklin Park. These folks handled my wife and i’s 10th anniversary in the best ways without being over the top. Highly recommend this place if you can get in and if you can stomach the price (it’s worth it!).”

“We had a wonderful experience at Pineapple and Pearls last night. The food was extraordinarily curated and the surprises just kept coming. Cannot say enough good things about the lobster appetizer and the pork entree. Everyone on staff - the bartenders, the concierge, the hostesses, the servers, and the chef - made us feel special and accommodated our needs. Fantastic! Thank you!”

“Phenomenal. We celebrated my wife’s birthday. Out of the 3 courses and I ate 7 different dishes. We each had something different, so closer to 10 dishes we experienced. The portions are spot on. Sitting at the chef’s counter made it more than an experience, it was a journey. Seeing the dishes plated and served was like being taken to an unknown place, in an unknown route, and we did not care. Every culinary destination blew my mind. If life was like P&P, there would be world peace.”

“Dinner for two came to $940. That felt like the accepted price point for a restaurant with Michelin-star history, so my expectations sat high. I’ve wanted to try this place for years. Parking was easy. The neon pineapple sign is iconic and I planned to grab a photo, but part of it was burned out, which set an odd tone right out of the gate. The greeting was warm. The first “gift” of the night arrived immediately, a nicely presented drink with apricot liqueur and absinthe. Balanced and enjoyable. Almost immediately, I felt rushed. That feeling never really went away. We chose the full dining experience at the bar instead of a table. I don’t recommend the bar. One patron was drunk, loudly singing, and on her phone the entire time. It was disruptive and unchecked. The two bartenders launched straight into upselling. Drink pairing. Gnocchi add-on. Neither included in the base price. Their enthusiasm was obvious until I asked them to pause briefly while my dining companion stepped away. Their posture shifted. When I declined both add-ons, their engagement disappeared. From that point on, their attention went almost entirely to the other guests. Ordering felt hurried. Courses moved quickly. Dessert options were not offered as a choice. One attendant repeatedly used a made-up word instead of “entrée,” which became distracting. She discussed the menu while mixing drinks and chatting with her coworker, rarely focusing fully on us. The experience felt impersonal. The food itself was very good. Presentations were beautiful and deliberate. Sauces were the highlight across the board. The onion truffle tartare, lobster dip, and pork with pineapple all delivered strong, thoughtful flavors. The pork and pineapple stood out as my favorite. That said, the repeated presentation of the same charred pineapple being brought to multiple tables was off-putting. Each course arrived with a different server. I liked that. Each brought their own style and energy, and those interactions elevated the experience. Desserts were excellent. The popcorn ice cream clearly won the night. The take-home box with the wagyu burger for a midnight snack was a nice closing touch. Then the evening ended abruptly. As the second seating approached, our coats were handed to us without discussion and we were ushered out the door. Overall, this was a fun and unique experience. The flavors were interesting and enjoyable, though nothing truly surprised me. The bar staff detracted from the night, while the broader service team improved it. For me, the experience did not match the price. I felt rushed. I’m glad I went. I don’t feel a need to return.”