| Address | 1226 36th St., Washington, DC 20007 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Mon-Thu; 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Fri; 5:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Sat; 5:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Sun. |
| Phone | (202) 965-1789 |
| Fax | (202) 337-1541 |
With the Ris's departure, I'd have said start the reviewing all over. But Daniel's got it down! Even during restaurant week, he and the staff(!!!) hit new high standards.
I had the short-ribs, which were melt in your mouth, on a bed of kale. Fantastic.
My three companions had fish, all of which I sampled. Skate wing was buttery with capers, bass grilled, and dorade roasted --each was marvelous.
Appetizers: crab soup, scallop crudo (seviche-style but lighter in acid), and ... Snail croquette. Now, I ordered this liking to push the envelope. I'd say it was fun, but lacking in flavor. Snails are always more interesting in concept than in reality. I would have made this by rolling snails, parsley and garlic into a small cylinder, chilling it again, then rolling it in bread crumbs, and pancko, chilling once again -- then deep frying. As you can see I am into the concept, but it definitely lacked something.
Desserts - pumpkin cheese cake, spiced pineapple slut (my freudian read of 'split') -- and great cheese plate.
We had the matching wines for each course (eg PX w/cheese cake)
I want to go back tonight!
1789 is truly elegant. Fancy, yet understated. One of the coziest places to go, especially in the winter. (Small spaces + fire + snow-village-like ambiance of Georgetown = COZY!) It's in a town house made up of tiny little rooms, each with its own exquisite flare.
This is not a bustling type of place. Very calm and cool-headed.
Service is generally impeccable. Waiters, hostesses alike extremely knowledgeable and admirably well-mannered.
Food is classic and bound to please, if not excite.
Come here for a low-key, but significant celebration.
This is one classy joint.
I've been a fan of 1789 ever since I first tasted their exquisite cuisine during restaurant week 3 years ago. I have enjoyed a meal there only 4 months ago, but this last meal was a bit of a disappointment. Now, granted, everyone should take restaurant week with a grain of salt because restaurants try their best to sample their food without taking too much of a hit on the cost, but sadly this sometimes falls flat as it did last night with 1789.
Admittedly, my boyfriend splurged the extra $10 on the incredibly tender and desirable rack of lamb, but I was only just pleased with my banzino (fancy word for sea bass) and felt that 1789 has become a bit pretentious with their food. It looked fabulous on the menu, but failed to deliver to my expectations. Now, maybe I'm a little bit jaded having traveled to South America and tasted real chorizo as opposed to the beef jerky like chunks of unidentifiable meat that was placed amount overcooked mussels in the first dish, but then again, maybe as a foodie, I'm expecting more out of such an established restaurant.
Alas, I was disappointed in my food last night, but the service still held true and so next time I come, I'll pay full price and get the food I deserve.
When spending the money I spent, I hoped to be "wowed" by my food. I wasn't. I've had as good fare at places much less expensive.
This is fine restaurant in Georgetown. One of the hidden jewels. They do have a dress code and men are expected to have a jacket for dinner.
The dining area is spread over three levels with a flight of stairs connecting them all. The decor is old English with lots of framed prints from various English magazines adorning the walls. There is even a coat of arms though its origins might be genuine its hanging is certainly suspect. The decor is quite reminiscent of an exclusive country club.
If you are on a diet stay away, reading the menu will add 100 calories at least. During summer they are having a $35 special where the meal includes either a soup or salad, main course and dessert. The two most (popular and pricey) entrees are an extra $10. If you can live without the top two entrees you will enjoy a great meal, if you cannot, you will enjoy a moderately inexpensive meal.
When you add in a bottle of wine it seems a bit cheap to nickel and dime the patrons for the coffee at the end of the meal, including adding another $3 supplemental on for the cheese plate instead of dessert as one in our party did. For which you get three tiny portions of cheese--be warned, this in really a tasting platter of cheese and not what an after dinner serving should be.
All the portions are not large but very well prepared. The service is impeccable, the whole evening flows together extremely seamlessly. The only flaw we could find was - we had to ask for water service rather than have it refilled automatically.
Tables are a bit close together, although no worse than at other restaurants. Good thing we got along with our neighbors. Food well-executed, but tends toward the more bland side of the spectrum. As far as main courses go, vegetarians are limited to the ubiquitous "vegetable plate."
We visited 1789 during Restaurant Week and will definitely make it the go-to place for special occasions. The food, service and ambience are second to none!
What a gorgeous place! The interior is very well designed and is beautiful. We took advantage of the summer promotion that 1789 was offering, 3 courses for $30. We couldn't pass it up. I was concerned that once the staff found out we were there and were using the promotion that the service would change but it did not. The service was incredible. They were there when we needed them and we didn't feel rushed. The options were plentiful and everything tasted delicious. It is a very romantic place and is great for a special occasion. It gives one a reason to dress up. I would go back again.
Our dinner at 1789 was very pleasant. The food was excellent (I particularly enjoyed my chilled lobster salad appetizer and chocolate pots de creme dessert). The service was gracious and helpful, although perhaps a bit overworked; the captain seemed to have the entire room under his jurisdiction and the waiters were stretched thin; I noticed another table complain to the manager that their drinks had not yet arrived and they were ready to order. This was probably because the restaurant was packed. Every table on every floor was booked. So, I tried not to be too disappointed with our table. I had asked for a romantic table when I made my reservation online and I called the day before to request a romantic table again. The ambiance of the room we were in was very nice, but looked more like a gentleman's club than a romantic restaurant. The woman at the table next to us did not improve the atmosphere as she became progressively drunker. Oh well. A lovely dinner for my boyfriend's birthday--he loved the birthday card from the staff!
This was one of the most memorable dinners I've ever had in D.C. mainly because the service was exemplary. Many restaurants in the city have wonderful food (although 1789 is among the top) but it is extremely rare to have good, let alone excellent, service. Everyone from the host to the server to the buser was professional, efficient, polite, and unassuming. I cannot give enough high praise. This is a fabulous place to go for a special occasion.
This was our first visit to this classic Washington eatery. Surrounded by expense account diners, we hoped for the kind of breathtaking dinner we have had at Citronelle, Gallileo, and others. While 1789 did not meet this high standard of excellence, it was very good. The menu and preparation were solid, though not outstanding. The service was first rate. All in all, a very good experience, but nothing truly special.
I thought that this place was great! One of the things that I admire the most is their strict adherence to a dress code. Gentlemen must wear a jacket to get in. This is one of the things that keeps this place truly upscale. I think more places should have enforced dress codes just to make dining out to such a nice restaurant special. Come on guys! You can put up with a tie for a few hours, right? Other than that, the food was excellent. I do have one gripe, but other than that the experience was top-notch. There was a live beetle in my salad. When I pointed it out to the waiter, he took the plate back into the kitchen and brought out a fresh salad. All fine and good. A beetle could get into anyone's salad, as this was a very small beetle and was no doubt brought in with the produce. The thing that was not all good and fine was the fact that the waiter never apologized for the incident. In fact, he told me not to worry that it was "only a beetle". I expected more from a place like this. I should have gotten my meal comped, or something.
1789, tucked into a townhouse in Georgetown, offers a wonderful dining experience. The food is inventive and delicious, and changes with the seasons and the availability of local produce. The ceviche cocktail appetizer is not to be missed; nor is the oyster stew. Vegetarians are accomodated nicely, but the best dishes are meat and fish.
Beyond the food, the atmosphere and the truly top-notch service are unique. They said good help is so hard to find, but you will find it at 1789, where the waiters are knowledgeable about the food and the wine. FYI, if you call in advance, the staff is more than happy to make an occasion over birthdays, engagements, and anniversaries--in the most dignified way, of course. 1789 is perhaps not as flashy as the downtown steakhouses and power-lunch places, but it has a stately charm all its own.
1789 is outstanding from food to wine list to service to decor. It is extremly romantic and has different floors with different themes. Ask for a table near the fireplace for an especially romantic meal.
I'm stumped as to why so many people like this spot. While fine for traditional food, it is short on creativity. The rooms, designed to recall the restaurant's namesake year, are tastefully and warmly decorated. If only such care was given to the food.
We went during Restaurant Week but the service was still impeccable! Service was comparable to that of Citronelle. The food was quite tasty, if not very inventive and we were dined and visited with each other quite casually without feeling the least bit rushed. The one odd thing was that in this quaint, historic restaurant, a distinct thump-thump-thumping of house music began to sound. Apparently there's a nightclub just next door and it just didnt match the feel of the restaurant. But it wasn't so loud as to be annoying ... it actually made for a great running joke throughout the evening.
It was our 4 year anniversary so we wanted a romantic place to go and 1789 was perfect. They couldn't find our reservation, but we were still able to get a table in three mins. As soon as we sat down we were greeted and our cocktail order was taken. Food, service, and atmosphere were perfect. And the desserts alone are a reason to go. It was a wonderful and romantic place to celebrate our occasion.
