1789 Restaurant & Bar Washington - Buy Reservations

We arrived early and the bartender made us spectacular cocktails! She was so friendly and professional, we really loved her (I wish I remembered her name!) if you like a strong, dry cocktail-I recommend their cherry blossom special gin cocktail. Their crispy lobster appetizer was delicious as were the entrees. We really enjoyed the manager suggesting delicious wine pairings. The coffee and chocolate dessert were an absolutely perfect ending to the night!

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After spending the afternoon at the car show, my wife and I drove across town to have dinner at 1789. They are located in a quiet part of Georgetown a little bit off the beaten path. There are no nearby parking garages leaving you to find street parking which thankfully was easy on a Sunday evening. Their website mentions a valet service but it was not available this particular evening. From the outside, the restaurant looks for the most part like a townhouse blending into the surroundings quite well. Once inside the door, you still feel like you are outside with a faux exterior of an older looking house. To the right is a staircase up to I don't know what. To the left a small area with a full size bar and straight ahead their cozy dining room. Don't dawdle too long in this area as you may get hit by a door from someone leaving the bar room like I did. The dining room has perhaps a dozen tables in a beautiful little room with a welcoming fireplace. The space felt bigger and it was easy to have a private quiet conversation. Lighting was on the darker side and made it a little difficult to easily read the menu. Speaking of the menu, it was restaurant week with a three course fixed price meal. Our server told us it was all their regular selections for the most part. The choices were surprisingly varied with lots of options. They also provided a wine list along with several nice choices by the glass. Our server offered her suggestions as well based on what we were thinking about having. My wife got a Merlot and Cab Franc blend from Bordeaux and I got a Rioja Reserva that I thoroughly enjoyed. To start, we both selected a crispy lobster appetizer with Thai basil, papaya and cabbage. It looked amazing and tasted even better. There were several distinct flavors and textures all existing in complete harmony. For our entrees, my wife followed our server's recommendation and ordered the roasted rack of lamb and I the Duo of Beef. The rack of lamb arrived on top of a bed of couscous with a couple of onions and an eggplant purée. She remarked how good everything tasted and how well it all went together. My Duo of Beef was made up of a couple of slices of NY strip and small portion of braised short rib on top of a sweet potato purée. The steak was very flavorful and the perfect temperature. The short rib was delicious as well. The portions were a little small for me but did leave room for an amazing desert. For dessert, we went our separate ways. My wife is a sucker for cheesecake and I opted for a dark chocolate cake. Despite looking quite pale and bland, the cylindrical shaped cheesecake and white maple ice cream balls were awesome. My chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream was super rich and super yummy. Service was on point the entire evening. The staff helped one another out to ensure everyone had an excellent dining experience and that we did.

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Overall, 5 star experience - decor, atmosphere, food, drink, and service. I'm a picky person and from my POV it's very difficult to have great food matched with great service - 1789 did an amazing job. Cocktails & wine - brown butter old fashioned and the bees knees. Sarah and grenache rhone valley red - drinks and wine both delicious. Visited during winter restaurant week menu. Unlike most restaurants that participate in RW, 1789 keeps their regular full dinner menu. Apps - Crispy lobster: fantastic dish - half a lobster (de-shelled) served with a spicy thai sauce and julienned vegetables. I loved it. 5/5.Pheasant ballotine: Another great dish rich in flavor from the foie and meat mixture. Well done. 4.5/5.Entrees - VEAL TAGLIATELLE: My favorite - this dish had house made noodles, mountains of braised veal, and a sauce that was out of this world. Sauce was super flavorful, strained, and silky smooth. 5/5.Duo of beef: NY strip was dry aged and grilled to my liking - finished with molten flaked sea salt. Braised short rib - smaller portion but oh so very rich and meaty. 5/5.Dessert - Both ordered the vanilla cheesecake with bourbon ice cream. Light and fluffy mixture that was the perfect combo of cheese flavor and sweetness. gingerbread crumble and bourbon ice cream paired nicely. I would come back just for the dessert. 5/5. Thanks for a special night. Everything was great. We will be back.

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Historically elegant and romantic atmosphere, great staff, and wonderful food I highly recommend.

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We were so delighted to see 1789 participating in Restaurant Week and even more excited when we were able to get a reservation for dinner. When we want to dine, we do not mind driving from Baltimore to 1789. Even though the dress code has been relaxed, we still dress to enjoy this elegant restaurant. It had been several years since our last visit, mostly due to Covid restrictions. Another pleasant surprise was the addition of the first floor restrooms. Because of that, we were able to invite another couple to join us for dinner. She is recovering from a broken leg and could not possibly do stairs.We actually arrived early for our reservation. We were warmly greeted and, as stated on their website, we were requested to show IDs and our vaccination cards. We were seated at a table near the fireplace as we requested in the John Carroll Room. Ruta, our server, was right there to welcome us and effortlessly attended to our every need. The service at 1789 is always exemplary. The gentlemen started off with cocktails and the ladies enjoyed Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines. We must compliment the chef on the extensive menu that we were presented with for Restaurant Week. Two of us started with the Crispy Lobster coated in Panko breadcrumbs with a papaya and napa cabbage with a Thai basil sauce. It was very tasty, but a little too spicy for us. My husband had the American Wagyu Tartare with shallots, cornichon, parmesan, pomme Rosti and black garlic. Our friend (who is not a lover of soup) decided on the Butternut Squash soup with coconut panna cotta, cranberry jam, apples and toasted pumpkin seed. She was thrilled with her choice.We enjoyed the following entrees: Brioche-Crusted Halibut with roasted fingerling potatoes, fennel, grilled leeks in a Saffron-mussel broth, two Roasted Racks of Lamb with Israeli couscous, Cippolini onions, eggplant puree with Chermoula; and the Duo of Beef which was a grilled NY strip and a Braised Short Rib with sweet potato puree and baby carrots. We were all thrilled with our entrees. They were beautifully prepared and presented. For our sweet ending, we had the Green Apple Charlotte, Vanilla Cheesecake and a Dark Chocolate Gateau, which was presented with a lighted candle to celebrate my birthday. It was so worth the drive to 1789. Thank you so much for a most enjoyable evening!

Read More in 1789 Restaurant & Bar Washington Yelp Reviews

We were so delighted to see 1789 participating in Restaurant Week and even more excited when we were able to get a reservation for dinner. When we want to dine, we do not mind driving from Baltimore to 1789. Even though the dress code has been relaxed, we still dress to enjoy this elegant restaurant. It had been several years since our last visit, mostly due to Covid restrictions. Another pleasant surprise was the addition of the first floor restrooms. Because of that, we were able to invite another couple to join us for dinner. She is recovering from a broken leg and could not possibly do stairs.

We actually arrived early for our reservation. We were warmly greeted and, as stated on their website, we were requested to show IDs and our vaccination cards. We were seated at a table near the fireplace as we requested in the John Carroll Room. Ruta, our server, was right there to welcome us and effortlessly attended to our every need. The service at 1789 is always exemplary. The gentlemen started off with cocktails and the ladies enjoyed Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines. We must compliment the chef on the extensive menu that we were presented with for Restaurant Week. Two of us started with the Crispy Lobster coated in Panko breadcrumbs with a papaya and napa cabbage with a Thai basil sauce. It was very tasty, but a little too spicy for us. My husband had the American Wagyu Tartare with shallots, cornichon, parmesan, pomme Rosti and black garlic. Our friend (who is not a lover of soup) decided on the Butternut Squash soup with coconut panna cotta, cranberry jam, apples and toasted pumpkin seed. She was thrilled with her choice.

We enjoyed the following entrees: Brioche-Crusted Halibut with roasted fingerling potatoes, fennel, grilled leeks in a Saffron-mussel broth, two Roasted Racks of Lamb with Israeli couscous, Cippolini onions, eggplant puree with Chermoula; and the Duo of Beef which was a grilled NY strip and a Braised Short Rib with sweet potato puree and baby carrots. We were all thrilled with our entrees. They were beautifully prepared and presented. For our sweet ending, we had the Green Apple Charlotte, Vanilla Cheesecake and a Dark Chocolate Gateau, which was presented with a lighted candle to celebrate my birthday. It was so worth the drive to 1789. Thank you so much for a most enjoyable evening!

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