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Wow wow wow!!!! Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" was an
Wow wow wow!!!! Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" was an experience for sure! We came here for my sons, soon to be Mother in Love Birthday and it was amazing! I must say...the location is perfect! Right at the Wharf with all of the other nice restaurants! But for now...let's get into this! So, when you walk in, the vibe is hella cool! Nice music being played by the bar and the lighting was dimmed low. We took shots at the bar, then we were seated at our table and it was a group of 4. I hate that I didn't catch the waitress name but she was phenomenal...I was a bit buzzed after starting the day with happy hour, boat ride to another bar then Hells ..so forgive me..I live a little The food was amazing! Well..I decided to have salmon because I didn't have much of an appetite after eating at sooooo many different places but the way the food was plated was spectacular! Of course I had a glass of Chardonnay then I indulged in a glass of Cabernet! Yummy! I have pictures but I had so much fun...I really didn't study the menu this time but please feel free to live vicariously through me ..until next time~Cheers!
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Beautiful views of the Wharf if you're upstairs.
Great decor. Food was good not great - definitely rode of the celebrity hype. Overpriced for sure. Could get more bang at any Michelin star restaurant for the same buck.Our server was well-versed in the history of the show, concept of the restaurant, and the menu. Although I thought thought the beef Wellington was good, it wasn't $65 for one dish and a swipe of pomme purée good. The scallop dish could've used more salt and sear. The best bite of the night had to have been the Sticky Toffee Pudding, I actually really enjoyed it.6/10 - well cooked and decent taste, but the restaurant is for sure riding the coattail of the celebrity chef. overpriced for sure.
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I am a huge Gordon Ramsay fan and was ecstatic when I heard
I am a huge Gordon Ramsay fan and was ecstatic when I heard DC was getting a Hell's Kitchen. The experience was great. Staff was very friendly. I loved being able to see the blue and red kitchen in action. The food on the other hand was meh. They do have a fixed menu for $85 where you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert. I went with that and others in my party ordered from the regular menu. I got the scallops and beef Wellington from the fixed menu and the scallops were good, but the Wellington was cold and a small portion for $85. My date ordered the salmon and it was overcooked. With the high prices and Gordon's name being on this, I expected more...better. Will I go back...not sure. Maybe for lunch or brunch since I wasn't impressed with their dinner service/selection.
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I had the lobster risotto, short ribs, and Brussels
I had the lobster risotto, short ribs, and Brussels sprouts, all were really good. The place was really crowded but we received excellent service. I loved the ambiance, the decor was really nice and the restaurant is in a great location on the wharf. I plan to visit again
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I had spent the last 6 months following this opening with
I had spent the last 6 months following this opening with great excitement as I was planning to surprise my boyfriend with a reservation for his 43rd birthday. When I found out I had secured a reservation for his birthday weekend I was beyond excited for us. But especially for him as he is a huge fan of the Hell's Kitchen tv show for many years. Our server was the nicest person her name was Julia and was from Ukraine working so hard to help her family back home.Everything started out great and we ordered the Smoke On The Water Bourbons and they were absolutely delicious. For an appetizer we had the famous lobster risotto and when it was presented we noticed the portion was remarkable small but the lobster tail itself was pink - not the rubbery white texture you would expect - it didn't taste right the texture was slimy and was still translucent. My boyfriend had 2 pieces which he soon regretted. We called the server over who took it maybe 7-8 feet away to the kitchen maître d' running the pass. We were sitting directly in front in the VIP section and could see everything happening between the red and blue teams. During that time my boyfriend started not feeling well and went to the bathroom where he got sick. The manager came over to apologize and confirmed the lobster was undercooked and advise us we wouldn't be charged for that appetizer.Upon coming out of the bathroom, Julia had already delivered the steaks to our table. I ordered the filet mignon cooked medium. It came out dry, with no moisture - as best as I can describe it was beyond well done. I was shocked! My boyfriend ordered the $90 caramelized ribeye cooked medium and his was literally a piece of raw meat with a sear. It wasn't bloody, but it was definetly rare. I watched him as he tried to cut a small piece off with a serrated steak knife and he was struggling and he was looking up at me in disbelief. The server looked at the steaks and she realized they weren't properly cooked. She was frankly embarrassed herself by this point. The lobster risotto, filet mignon, and the ribeye made it through the cook on the grill, the sous chef running the pass, the maître d' at the line, to the server who delivered them to our table and not one person noticed they were improperly prepared.My boyfriend began feeling hot and nauseous and had to unbutton his dress shirt collar for air. A different manager this time was sent over once again to apologize for the error with our meal. He looked this man in the face and asked him if we were being pranked? If he was in a hidden camera show version of Hells Kitchen? He told the manger to his face that the VIP tables always get screwed on the TV show and that he must be hallucinating this experience!! At this point my boyfriend left as he needed to get some fresh air.Our server Julia who had witnessed this exchange came back over and I indicated we didn't want the steaks remade as all the items had been improperly cooked and the night had been ruined. She told us she understood and that we could leave as we didn't owe anything for what we ordered. I was embarrassed for Julia and especially my boyfriend that this was the quality of food that came out of the kitchen on this night and for our table! They knew it was a birthday dinner and they sat us in the VIP section for this reason - right in front where we can see it all with our own eyes!!The way the restaurant presents itself as upscale dining versus the experience we had was laughable. It tries very hard to be the TV version of Hell's Kitchen, but it failed us tremendously this evening - operated well below Gordon Ramsay's standards. We've never had such a poor dining experience in our lives and would not recommend anyone visit this restaurant. The anticipation we had leading up to this birthday dinner, especially considering the name, our expectations were high to say the least. They very quickly came crashing down. To mess up one plate is an embarrassment to mess up 3 is inexcusable.
referenceSo as a watcher of the Reality Show, you become a fan! It's natural that I couldn't wait to attend the DC Wharf waterfront location of Hell's Kitchen. The menu is standardized across all of their locations so the table planned to order what they had at other locations, the crispy skin salmon and I would try the vegan menu specifically the brussel sprouts as an appetizer although it is listed as a side, the tofu scallops and kale salad with the hibiscus sour mocktail. Note: my dining partner would've ordered the Beef Wellington which seemed rather popular but is made with pork so if you don't eat pork be sure to inform the restaurant at least 48 hours prior and they can make the Beef Wellington without pork.Now I was served the non-vegan version of the kale salad despite ordering from the vegan menu and there was way too much cheese anyway for a "gourmet" kale salad. Did I mention I was vegan? Also the salad wasn't flavorful which was a let down after discovering it was made incorrectly. The tofu scallops were greasy and bland. Major disappointment. The salmon skin wasn't crispy either. Hmmmm what happened herwSo overall I'd come here for the view and drinks. The decor was chic and the servers were courteous. Hell nah on the food. Maybe that's why the name is Hell's Kitchen, you would only eat here if you had no other choice. Reservations required.
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We were able to sneak in for a lunch reservation for my
We were able to sneak in for a lunch reservation for my boyfriend's birthday and we had the best time! If you're a fan of the show or fine dinning with amazing views you won't be disappointed. Our waiter Larry gave us great recommendations on food and drinks. Don't skip over the beef Wellington, it's to die for!!
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Came here for the first time with my Partner for his
Came here for the first time with my Partner for his birthday and all I can say is.... O..M..G! Everything was fantastic, I've been a fan of the show for years and it exceeded the visual sensory experience and taste buds! Austin our server was amazing with a positive attitude, had a warm smile, and was prompt and ready to answer any questions we may have had . 10/10 will be returning and thank you to the team of HK again for an awesome experience!
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As someone who has watched every episode of Hell's Kitchen,
As someone who has watched every episode of Hell's Kitchen, I couldn't wait to eat here. It did not disappoint. The service was amazing. At least people stopped by our table to ask how we were doing and how the food was and our waiter was very attentive and helpful. The restaurant itself is very nice, and it's cool to see the set up reflect the TV show. We sat in the red kitchen. All of the food was a hit, but some dishes were better than others. The beef Wellington was delicious and the best dish of the night. The Caesar salad and the lobster risotto were good but not great, and they left me feeling like they should have been better. The wagyu meatballs and the short rib were also very good. Overall the price was reasonable given the menu and the portion sizes (which were generous). I would definitely return!
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Surprised how difficult it is to get reservations as there
Surprised how difficult it is to get reservations as there are many empty tables (in the middle of the restaurant on a busy Saturday night), maybe for walk ins? Food was hit and miss. The hit was braised short rib, two of us got that oh my gosh so good!! Two others got the Beef Wellington,...meh. Lobster risotto appetizer was excellent, scallops, tuna and oysters were good. Foie gras just okay. Pumpkin soup not so good and my friend had to send it back (impressive presentation poured at the table but not great taste). Service was also hit and miss. We had a lot of attention in the beginning, 3 servers. And then barely any visibility from the waitstaff as the meal wore on. There was a lead who seemed to be training the others but attention to detail is just not there (really cannot believe this is a Michelin place?), seemed very rookie. Service at the bar downstairs was a little more consistent
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The food knocked my socks off! Short rib had me reminiscing
The food knocked my socks off! Short rib had me reminiscing for days. Everything you thought it should be, the quality and presentation matches. The service - from host, to server to chefs (there is a beautiful open kitchen so we could hear their conversations) is all very snippy!! The attitude might be reality tv show worthy. Our server was also pushing us out for sure at just 9 pm like wait, hold up now... Side dishes are great but small for the price. $15 flat rate for all sides, you're tripping but at the same time they're all very good.
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If I could give Hell's Kitchen a million stars, I would.
Gordan Ramsey though outside of the box on some of the smaller details that makes a big impact. For instance, the ice cubes. He paid a lot of money on training of his staff. The restaurant is beautiful, and the food is orgasmic.
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I'm so excited I don't need to travel to Vegas to get my
I'm so excited I don't need to travel to Vegas to get my favorite food from my favorite Chef Gordon Ramsey, this place screams PERFECTION!! From the service to each detail on the interior decor, food and plating, The experience here is one of a kind. The entire staff here is super friendly, I came in without reservation and was seated immediately. I recommend to make your reservation ahead of time if you want to be seated upstairs otherwise the Bar serves and gives the same exact service as the above dinning area. As you enter your greeted by the staff, the Bar is an area where all the staff helps each other, it's so nice seeing team work with everyone that works here. I didn't get any name because they all made me feel comfortable and gave me the Best dinning experience. For appetizers I had the Quinoa salad it was delicious left me wanting more. Super fresh and delicious, you must order when you come. I also ordered a side of fresh oysters on a half shelf straight from Seattle Washington they were amazing, the plate was perfectly done, the details too this plate says it all. Must try on your next trip here. For my main course I ordered Fillet mignon and as you can see from the picture it was fresh, plate full of color and the taste was just Perfection! For sides k ordered the puree potatoes to die for, one spoon wil make you sing ladies and gentlemen. I also ordered the cauliflower it was amazing another side you must try, let's not forget the Best Macaroni and cheese super delicious. All this delicious food was flushed by one of the best Cosmos in DC, needed a perfect drink after tasting the Best. For dessert I ordered the coconut made three ways, the presentation was perfect, the flavors were the Best will leave you wanting more. The puree and the cake was so delicious everything was super fresh. I ended up taking my coconut shelf home, that's how good everything was. I also ordered the toffee cake pudding, each bite was to melt over, full of authentic flavors. This experience was top notch, an experience you will never find anywhere else. Make sure to stop by if your visiting right in the heart of DC you can't leave without have the Best. If you live nearby your lucky because I would be here for dinner every day. Thank you to the entire staff here for giving us the Best Service and delicious food.
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Unorganized, bad service.
Short rib was dry. Save your money and go elsewhere. Staff very green. $$$$ for bad service and underwhelming food!
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Service: AAmbience: AMixed Drinks: AFood: B-Value: C-The
Service: AAmbience: AMixed Drinks: AFood: B-Value: C-The Good: Very welcoming staff, from the front hosts to servers to managers. All came and checked on us multiple times. The restaurant is cool if you liked the show. It almost felt like a theme restaurant inside an amusement park. I'm not sure if people who haven't seen the show would appreciate it as much. Views of the monuments were beautiful. My husband got the Message from Gordon drink which was very gimmicky and had a generic typed message inside, but what saved it was the taste. It was excellent, a perfect blend of liquor and other flavors. The Bad: I wanted to love the food so much, especially because this was very expensive. Cheaper entrees were about $40-50 and the steak was $90. I would only recommend the beef Wellington and sticky toffee pudding. Both were delicious. The lobster risotto and scallops were both bland, and the pumpkin soup was very very bland. I've had much better tasting food at restaurants for half the price and I've had much better food in London, so I don't think this is representative of English food, necessarily. For the prices they charged, this was not a good value at all. I don't mind paying the high prices if the food is commensurate. Unfortunately, I think the menu needs work.
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I REALLY wanted to like the food, sadly I couldn't.
The service and ambiance however Amazing! Out for a birthday dinner we tried a number of the dishes (unpictured) and the short rib, scallops and Mac and cheese were the best. The beef Wellington was room temperature and not hot which made it not as good as it should be. The restaurant overall would be good and cute for drinks but food would pass on.
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The ambiance is amazing.
Make sure you make that reservation! The downstairs bar was amazing. I didn't take a picture but I got the note from Gordon! It was strong and sweet. I did have to check out downstairs before going upstairs for dinner. Upstairs was a vibe. The service was FANTASTIC! My server and my server's assistant were really attentive and went above and beyond for our table. If you spill even a drop of water or a piece of lettuce they wipe your table down. Presentation is truly everything at this restaurant. We ordered the Caesar salad and shared it amongst the three of us. Everything is a La carte so i ordered the chicken scallopini (it comes with a few mushrooms and a like 5 potatoes) and a side of potato purée. To be honest, the chicken scallopini entree was enough food. I ended up boxing half of it to go because the serving sides were not what i expected. I was pleasantly surprised by the large portion sizes. I also ordered another note from Gordon. Hopefully I'll be back sooner than later.
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We were so excited to try this restaurant, we dressed up
We were so excited to try this restaurant, we dressed up did our hair and makeup. I was struck by the cheesy avatar of the chef when we walked in but dismissed it. We had a pretty table overlooking the water, but halfway though our meal the waiters asked one of my dining companions to move, to make more room to serve another table. She incredulously complied. My scallops were off, and having recently dealt with food poisoning, I immediately stopped eating them. (They were also cut it half, to make it look like there were 5, but there were 5 half's, so cheap). A manager came out to check on us, we explained the problem, he said he'd comp an alternate dish because I had the price fix, and there were "no substitutions allowed there". They offered to cook another dish then, after everyone in my party had finished their course. I declined. My friend didn't like hers either (maybe she got the other half's of mine?) she ended up with food poisoning! Another friend ordered the beef Wellington, and despite a huge fuss from the waiter about it always coming medium rare, it was cooked through, well done. This dish we sent back for a replacement right away, but it took a long time, esp for the most popular dish of the place. Everyone had finished by the time she got her new one. In the end, they had the extra steak on the bill. We had to complain to get it removed, and then the waiter threw it back at us, like see it's $100 less, well, yes, because you overcharged us. One manager seemed appropriately appalled 2/4 of their signature dishes were inedible, but we never saw him after that. It was atrocious service, I don't think any of us would return, especially considering how it claims to be fine dining, and charges those prices but the whole evening was a mess. There's more little things but it was so bad I'm just listing the most egregious. See photo for pretty but cut in half scallops that got us sick.
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Made reservations for my birthday and the service was
Made reservations for my birthday and the service was great, we were greeted by name and walked through the restaurant. The server explained the menu and the dishes, and oh my the food was outstanding. The winners for us were the lobster risotto and the sticky toffee pudding.
5 stars I was really excited to dine here as they have an extensive vegan menu. The ambiance and decor is wonderful right on the water. We were the first to be seated at the restaurant for the evening and we were seated in the red section. But it was strange to us that we were seated all the way in the back corner next to where the servers and bar tenders were standing and talking while the whole restaurant was open and available. We basically heard every conversation and constant walking back and forth. We noticed that every other table that was seated after us were seated in the blue section (which is facing right by the water). It felt a bit strange to seat us where we were seated given that we were the first to be there and no one was seated in our section after us for a while. The food was decent. I appreciate the vegan menu. My favorite was the cauliflower with the lime breadcrumbs sprinkled on it. I also really enjoyed the coconut dessert. It had a nice balance of textures and flavors. The tofu scallops and the risotto were good too, but nothing too exciting. Overall, our experience was okay. We were excited for the experience, but the seating wasn't ideal. Def recommend the cauliflower if you go.
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Amazing atmosphere and wide selection of fresh seafood
The staff really made our visit special, and the seafood is very fresh! We really enjoyed our evening there, and we’ll definitely be back when we visit DC next time! Thank you so much for the contagious passion and enthusiasm that you put into your work! Emanuele & Ines
Visited Hank’s twice during a business trip this week. OMG. It was so good I would stay at the Canopy by Hilton just so I can eat here each night. Food was phenomenal and service was just as good. You have to try it. Started with the grilled octopus with citrus salad and finished with the fried cod sandwich. Octopus was perfectly cooked and the citrus salad brightened everything up. Very nice indeed. Could not be more pleased. RE the fish sandwich: bun was soft and buttery and fish was cooked to perfection. Service was attentive and very friendly. Highly recommend this gem at the wharf in DC. Cheers.
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Excellent service and oysters
Casual atmosphere with table, bar, oyster bar, and year-round outdoor patio (heated and clear plastic tarp covered) seating. Patio is a bit quieter, but still a bit chilly on a very cold and windy night. Service was excellent, as were the raw and fried oysters. Crab cake a bit small, but tasty. A little pricey, but I guess that’s the cost of eating on the Wharf.
We went to Hank's after seeing a play. I knew that the prices were high, but I expected better service. After being seated, it seemed that other tables were served before our order was taken. Even half full, the place is loud! We decided to eat light, so my husband had an excellent lobster bisque with a side of perfectly seasoned hush puppies. I had the oyster po boy with "old bay seasoned" fries. The oysters were fabulous. Four fat fellows resting on a thick piece of bread. However, no sauce. I asked for tartar & remoulade sauce. The tartar was excellent, the remoulade tasted like mustard & mayonnaise. The fries were old, and I don't think that they ever saw a jar of old bay. I ordered the only draft lager, and it arrived kind of warm and flat. The bill came - for a sandwich, soup, side, and a beer - $70 + tip.
After a day at the Smithsonian, it was time for a few adult beverages and a visit to the Wharf. Sat at the bar at Hank's and ordered a dozen oysters, and was not disappointed. We followed the oysters with scallops and crab cakes. In our opinion, the scallops were the better of the two entrees. Kudos to the bartender (sorry I did not get his name), for following me out to the parking lot to return the credit card I had left on the bar. In a somewhat 'tourist' area, it was greatly appreciated.
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If you like oysters, you will love this
Saturday lunch at the Wharf at 1230 - no problem getting a table but the place was quite busy - for good reason. We had a half dozen raw oysters (assortment of the six on offer), they arrived and the waiter explained which were which and even was on the order for reference. All were fantastic and a great way to try different varieties. Oyster Po' Boy was luscious - the oyster were full and obviously fresh fried. Great all around.
Busy place on a Saturday for lunch but we were seated quickly in the heated, covered patio with a nice view of the river. A small bowl of Gold fish crackers was served with the water. We were there for the crab cakes and they were delicious! As was the Autumn Salad with butternut squash. I enjoyed a mimosa with my meal. A small dish of dark chocolate chunks was served with the check. Our server was attentive. Excellent meal.
Maybe I’m Out of Touch During a rare visit to Washington to conduct some business on Capitol Hill, I was eager to try one of DC's popular restaurants. Loving seafood, I settled on Hank's at The Wharf. Maybe I’m too old school, but I left disappointed at my poor choices. The lobster roll appealed to me, so I ordered it, even as I was a little nervous about the $31 price tag. It was accompanied by French fries seasoned with Old Bay. A glass of iced water sufficed. I envisioned for the price a sandwich that would make any New Englander envy me. Imagine my surprise when a split-top hot dog sized bun arrived containing no more than two heaping tablespoons of lobster filling. Eying this underwhelming offering, I went to work on the Old Bay fries, which turned out to be another mistake. When biting into the roll, I discovered the powerful seasoning of the fries completely negated any taste of the delicately flavor of the lobster filling. You can be sure that I ate every bite of that over-priced sandwich, trying to no avail to wash the Old Bay from my palate, hoping the roll would reveal some flavor. After tax and tip for the excellent service the tab was over $41. Then, I was even more deflated when it cost me $10 to exit the parking garage. Yikes!
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Just ok- high priced and missing ambiance
Read good reviews. What a disappointment. Expected a good seafood dinner at a nice place. For the prices, the ambiance did not match. Very rough and relaxed seafood market feel. When I spend $200 I expect more. Food quality was decent. Calamari appetizer was hot, light and fresh. Clam chowder was what you’d expect. Lobster bisque and ONE chunk of meat - really? Salmon was very good. Fish and chips was as expected anywhere. Not memorable. Service was fine. For the price, I’d expect more. Wouldn’t recommend or go back.
Went twice and good food both times French toast was amazing! Burger good although would have been good to have a single burger option. Waitress lovely but front desk team didn't feel as welcoming
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Last Reply by 🍀 @EarlyAnswer20 (04/27/2023 5:41 pm)
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It can be under your name or a name you choose! Some reservation offers already include the AppointmentTrader Transfer Service which will transfer the reservation in to your name. If its not included you can add it on after buying the reservation for a small fee. One thing on that though: As many reservations become available at last minute, taking a reservation in someone else name is quick and great for privacy. Most reservations on AT are listed with a virtual phone number, so all you need to do is present the phone number at the hostess stand and you are good to go!
Best answer by 🥷🏻 @ColorfulRod45 (07/09/2021 8:17 pm)