For those who have been, which do you recommend between Minibar, Jont, and Causa? I know they’re very different but each has its appeal to me.
There are a few interesting places on In Kind, which winds up being a big discount given how much I bought my InKind script for. Would like folks thoughts on the following two restaurants:
Reverie
Gravitas
Also, the Jose Andreas places are on it. While I dine simpler than minibar, Neal’s recommendation of Zaytinya seems right up my ally.
I’ll be at either Bombay Club, Rasika or both as well (my wife prefers Bombay, I prefer Rasika, love them both).
This won’t be much help but posting anyway. I have only been to Gravitas once and it was during COVID when they were working out ways to maintain cash flow. They did a demonstration cooking class lunch that was nice. Food was good, I liked the space and everyone was great. I know this wasn’t a normal situation but it made me want to return. However, since it’s an hour drive and we rarely get to DC these days that hasn’t happened.
Thanks for the post Brian.
They have a $75 tasting menu as an option, so I was intrigued. Was hoping for some balance to the bad trip advisor reviews. However, the Executive Chef is publically political in a way I’m not in tune with, so I’ve crossed it off my list.
Any comments on Reverie? I see the chef Johnny Spero, whose other place is recommended upstream.
I haven’t been there in forever, but i had a dish called Shish Taouk - chicken skewers with something called garlic toum. It was the most garlicky thing I think I have ever eaten.
Well that is disappointing. Off my list to revisit.
Political opinions of the chef aside, Gravitas is the only restaurant I will interrupt a strangers conversation to recommend against visiting. The only memorable part of my meal was the bill. The dishes were bland, boring, and aesthetically belong to an instagram feed from ten years ago.
Wine list and btg offerings were incredibly disappointing for a 1-star restaurant. For me, this was a clear example of how Michelin standards are demonstrably different in the US.
I haven’t been to Reverie, but it seems to be in the same league as Gravitas - a highly-marketed Washingtonian magazine friendly destination. Friends have vented about a similar experience at the chef’s now-closed Basque-style restaurant.
Zaytinya is the way to go in my opinion - check out their aged Musar on the list if that’s your thing.
My 2 cents on where to do a tasting menu in DC - Reverie would be my number one pick, followed by albi, obelisk, and omakase at barracks row.
Reverie is a completely different experience to what bar spero was, and it remains my favorite dining experience. If you’re looking at spending money on a tasting menu in DC, that’s where I would go. I went before the fire (and star) and since, and while I really enjoyed it the first time, the service was notably more attentive and geared towards a ‘fine dining’ experience. I’ve also been to pineapple and pearls, jont, and imperfecto- I wouldn’t go back to any of them anytime soon.
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Thanks for the comments on Gravitas and Reverie.
Looks like my lineup (if I don’t get too full):
Raisika
Zaytina
Reverie
Bombay Club
Jaleo
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You got to try Moon Rabbit! Went there for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it.
1,2, and 5 i can vouch for. Jaleo is not gastronomic if I can be allowed a bit of license. Probably a good choice after a 4 day run. In the past 20 years my “appetite” isn’t what it was; can’t eat big meals day after day.
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Thanks! I have a night off between 3 and 4.
I’ve also been to Bombay Club (although quite a while ago) and Rasika. We both love great Indian food but my wife prefers Bombay Club (traditional) to Rasika (modern); I’m the other way around. Hence we’ll go to both most likely.
I too would recommend Reverie and agree regarding pre and post fire (I suspect they are aiming for Michelin stars). I’d add that it is very seafood focused now. It’s not cheap for sure but my spouse and I loved it for a special occasion dinner.
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That’s interesting that Reverie is on InKind now, but Johnny is a fantastic chef and definitely worth a visit and glad to see that you’re going.
I’ve probably dined at most (if not all) of the fine dining spots in DC, Reverie is probably in my top 10 list (though I don’t trek out much to Georgetown and if I do it’s usually for Lutece).
I don’t know that I’d recommend both Zaytina and Jaleo. They’re totally different, but I just personally wouldn’t pick two Jose Andres restaurants close to each other. I’d echo the recommendation for Moon Rabbit above–they’re probably my current favorite restaurant by Gallery Place.
Price considerations aside, Jont is the best fine dining experience in DC. I’ve been many times.
It’s a reasonably modern French-Japanese approach that is in vogue these days. You’ll get a sense of what young chefs who are striving for the highest accolades strive for. minibar is a very interesting experience; almost more focused on the presentation and theatrics than other aspects of the meal. Even though it’s less expensive than Jont, I thought it was a bit of a worse value–worth checking out once if you’re into fine dining, live in DC, and don’t mind the price, but if you had to pick one of the 3, then I wouldn’t pick minibar. Causa is another favorite of mine and I’ve been going since they opened (I think I’ve tried just about every itieration of their menus). It’s a fantastic experience and pretty unique in DC. If you’re going with a party of 2-4 it’s worth getting something supplemental from their “fish market.” Their prices have risen in the last year or so (so has everyone else’s), but it’s still a good value for the quality of the food and experience.
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I’m not super keen on Jaleo but Moon Rabbitt isn’t open Sunday - and may not still be hungry by then.
Minibar is also on In Kind. I thought it might be how @GWang described, no longer want that type of experience. But if got InKind script at 40 % off, it’s an appealing experience.
Anyone been to Xiquet?
Very underwhelming, or at least it was 2.5 yrs ago, but have heard similar feedback since then from others as well.
Very impressed with The Dabney recently though, including a very nice Lopez de Heredia dinner they hosted a few months ago.
Thanks. Veey useful.