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1789
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
1226 36th St NW(between N N St & N Prospect St)
Washington, DC 20007
Neighborhood: Georgetown
(202) 965-1789
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 10 pm
Fri 6 pm - 11 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Formal (Jacket Required)
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Ty B. said: "The food here is great!!!! This place is a definite jewel in downtown Upper Marlboro. I was not impressed with the customer service on the phone (take-out) in fact it was terrible...had I not ate in before, it would have been my last…" read more »
250 reviews for 1789
Review Highlights
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"The Rack of Lamb is perfection personified here." In 22 reviews -
"Great place for a special occasion." In 19 reviews -
"The amuse bouche for the evening was fantastic." In 13 reviews
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250 reviews in English
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Review from Yuchen Z.
5/12/2012 5 photos
**Special treat: If you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, the restaurant will 1) write "happy birthday/anniversary" on the MENU and your dessert plate (candles too); 2) give you the menu wrapped in a little ribbon and 3) give you a card from the management.
I celebrated my birthday here...I felt very special and the wait staff was all very nice.
Atmosphere: the restaurant looks like it was in an antique house...its walls were decorated with paintings and pictures of historical events. Everything was very ornate.
Food: every that was ordered was delicious. Some of our favorites were:
+ Tagliatelle: very hearty, good mussels and crab cake and noodles
+ Duck confit: delicious
+ Lamb Shank: OMG. The meat just FELL OFF THE BONES. I took a bite of the meat and my world froze for a second while my taste buds experienced amazing deliciousness.
+ Scallops: 4 giant scallops and what's special is there were lamb pieces in between the scallops which is rare and just adds to the plate.
Warning regarding the pepper chocolate mouse....it was very peppery and it could be over powering.
Definitely a unique experience and very very high class. Dress code is business formal. The food was really really delicious.Listed in: Washingtonian Top 100…
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Review from Stephanie S.
Silver Spring, MD
5/9/2012
1789 is handsdown one of the best restaurants I've had the pleasure to dine at in the DC area. My boyfriend and I were seated in a lovely corner booth that was intimate and romantic, while still giving us a nice view of the entire dining room. We decided to buy a bottle of wine - which I suggest. You can never just have one glass! To start, we had the Home Grown Salad (cut to order locally grown mixed greens, hazelnuts, strawberries, baby beets, goat cheese and honey balsamic vinaigrette) and Morels (brioche toast, Capricious goat cheese, Marsala cream sauce, fried duck egg and aged sherry vinegar) - both were absolutely amazing. Entrees: Tagliatelle black and white pasta (with Maryland crab fritters, house smoked bacon, razor clams and wild ramps) and the 35 day age dried strip ((Virginia Cattle Co-op) fingerling potatoes, Swiss chard, pearl onions, roasted hen-of-the-woods mushrooms and bordelaise). Both dishes were delicious. The razor clams on the pasta were huge and cooked perfectly. The steak was delicious and we suggest ordering rare/medium-rare.
Of course we also had to eat dessert! Ice Cream Profiteroles (cream puff pastry filled with hazelnut, brown sugar and espresso ice creams; candied hazelnut and warm bittersweet ganache) and the strawberry White Chocolate Tart (orange shortbread crust, slow roasted strawberries, Grand Marnier cream and strawberry crème fraîche ice cream). The desserts were extremely tasty and complamented nicely with french press coffee.
The service was spectacular and the evening was perfect. I can't wait for my next dining experience there. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Washington, DC
2/24/2012
Sumptuous. Started with a basic salad in a vinaigrette, flavorful, fresh, and satisfying. Hard to select one item from this fascinating menu, which takes advantage of independent farm products and "humane" suppliers. There are 3 kinds of steak, including the muscle known as Teres Major, good for rare meat lovers. The chef also offers some pasta dishes, fish selections, two lamb picks, and other assorted items, all interesting. I settled on the Virginia ham, which came about the size of a small squab in a charming little iron frypan. The sauce was honey-based and the entree came with the egg noodles known as spaetzle, here walnut-based. My dining companion had the terrine/mache for a starter, followed by a lamb shoulder entree. For dessert, 1789 offers an impressive number of specialty sorbet and ice creams (including graham cracker, almond, passionfruit flavors), as well as some more over-the-top items, best reserved for true dessert-lovers.
The room is refined and soothing in soft greens, white table linens, traditional American furnishings, and fine silver and china. The captains, servers, and wait staff know their stuff--no slip ups. Wine list will be sure to please. With tip, our February 2012 dinner for two came to $160 and included three glasses of red wine and coffee, which was prepared in a French press.
Among Washington restaurants, this restaurant stands tall atop its elegance and the culinary prowess of its capable chef and staff. 1789 shines brightly amidst an ever-increasing number of overpriced, disappointing, try-too-hard pretenders. It's been there a long time. -
Review from Katherine L.
Washington, DC
5/10/2012
It's not a restaurant. This is a sumptuous and romantic salon with the most sublime people-watching in town. Wealthy people bitch and gossip about politics and fart unapologetically at the table because they are old and rich and don't give a shit. Food is out of this world, too.
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Review from Amy M.
Washington, DC
5/6/2012
This is classic Georgetown, with great food and service. We love dinner at the bar!
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Review from Sabrina S.
Washington, DC
5/3/2012
I come to this restaurant 4 or 5 times a year. It's always for a special occasion and we always love the meals and are treated wonderfully by the staff.
I would comment on the menu items but everything is so seasonal that you won't see the same thing twice. I will say I tend to order ham/pork items and I once had the most amazing flaky peach fritters that were so amazing I came back twice within the month two have more.
Honestly, maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a GU grad, but you won't go wrong here. -
Review from Swatee G.
So I walked into this place and immediately felt
Like walking into someone's home! It's beautifully done - love the wood panels and the ancient ( or so it seemed) paintings and frames..
Our little room was just off of te main entrance and had a giant teapot for a chandelier which I thought was awesome!
Fresh flowers on the tables, super attentive, yet discreet service made it a worthwhile place for me :) yeah, my demands are pretty reasonable!
So now the food -
The chef's amuse Bouche was this little
Shot of sweet potato soup - awesome earthy flavor
The cauliflower soup- I feel it lacked flavor and seasoning - it was ok, but something to kick it up, maybe?
Pear salad- really yummy, a bit too heavy handed with the oil in my dressing maybe, but the favors were spot on!
Mushroom Tartlet- I was so excited by the description, the the dish itself was just meh :( My Tartlet was definitely over done, the squash added nothing to the dish and the mushrooms were almost non existent :( loved the spinach and the hen egg tho - nice touch!
They served some realLy good assorted bread with butter and olive oil - the apple cinnamon butter with the corn bread was the bomb!
So we were super full with the appetizers , so skipped ahead to the dessert directly - I know! I live doing such stuff ( the older, senator sort of lookig people siting tere would have given me weird looks, m sure! :p )
Anyways , the tropical cheesecake that we shared was excellent! Liver every component of the deconstructed cheesecake - will definitely recommend to anyone! :)
So the 4 stars were basically for the ambience and the desert! :) maybe entrees next time! -
Review from Sokha A.
Potomac, MD
4/11/2012 4 photos
The best meal I've ever had at restaurant! Delicious, light, fresh ... taste buds were in heaven! The steak and seafood dishes were divine. Highest quality food, service, beautiful decor ... exceptional overall dining experience. Great place for a special night out. Only negatives were that the portions were super small and the hallway felt kind of claustrophobic.
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Review from Sherry W.
1/25/2012
Salt salt salt salt salt.
Given that it was Restaurant Week, I suppose it's understandable for the kitchen to over/underseason their food and be a bit below par. However, my kohlrabi and sweet sausage soup. had more than an extra pinch or two - it was salty to the point that I actually pushed my bowl away. That's saying something, considering that I'm Asian (read: waste food as a kid and be beaten) and love soup.
Then came a severely overcooked pork loin topped with more NaCl, sodium, and SALT. AUGH. Oh, and some shredded brussels sprout salad. Perhaps it was another RW gaffe? I had to send the loin back to the kitchen; it was much more edible (though no less salty) when it returned.
The best part of the meal was the wine pairing and surprising texture of the chestnuts that accompanied my pork. They were earthy and tender like mushrooms, but with the starch of a potato, and a slight nutty sweetness.
My experience wasn't so bad that I'd never return. It's a pretty cute place, perfect if you want to walk around Georgetown after dinner, and the sparkling lights on the ceiling lend it such an air of quaintness. I'm just hoping that next time, they go easy on the Morton's.Listed in: Date Night
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Review from Meredith C.
Alexandria, VA
2/14/2012
I've gotten to where I avoid Restaurant Week like the plague, because I think it's an excuse for most restaurants to charge basically what they would for an average meal, but skimp on quality and service. Not true for 1789. I had wanted to try it for ages, and this year I managed to snag a table for 2 during the winter RW. I am happy to say it exceeded my expectations, which were high to begin with.
There was a complimentary valet service, which was perfect for Georgetown on a cold night. Inside, it has comfortable but traditional decor with white tablecloths, exposed wooden beams, old maps on the wall. It's certainly the kind of place I know my parents would enjoy visiting. The waitstaff was great. I was surprised that there was no hint of snobbery since we were obviously there for Restaurant Week. If they thought less of us for taking advantage of it, they certainly kept it to themselves :)
The amuse bouche of soup was absolutely delicious. My dining companion chose the soup option for his appetizer and raved that it was the best he'd ever had. I had the scallops, which were rich and perfectly executed. He had the steak as his entree, while I had the pork. Both were good, but I think I made the better choice. At the waiter's recommendation, I picked the "candy bar" dessert, which was the only disappointing aspect of the meal for me. It was far too peanut buttery. Luckily the other dessert that we ordered (the panna cotta) was wonderful. Its sweetness helped balance out the overwhelming peanut butter flavor a bit, so I went back and forth between the two. We also had chosen the wine pairings for the dinner, which for $15 seemed like a complete steal.
The service was a little bit hurried, but I know that they are counting on table turnover to make RW worthwhile. On the whole, I would say that it's traditional American food in a traditional setting, which may not "wow" the way some DC restaurants do. However, my meal was really good, really classic, and really enjoyable. They carefully choose locally procured vegetables, sustainable seafood, and humanely-raised beef, so the prices seem reasonable. It's certainly a good choice for meals with visiting parents and grandparents, but not too stodgy for a date night. -
Review from Olivia P.
Washington D.C., DC
4/2/2012
We went for restaurant week. It was excellent. Sometimes restaurants do crappy jobs during restaurant week or treat you poorly. Here they were gracious and professional. The atmosphere is really incredible. You feel as if you are someone's rich grandma's house in Boston, but it didn't really feel that stuffy. There were other young people there too. The breadbasket and amuse Bouche were welcomed and delicious additions to the meal. I had scallops, rockfish, and the candy bar cake. We had the wine pairings. The food was divine. My friends food was not quite as good. She had n overly salty kohlrabi soup and slightly dry pork. But for 100 bucks total it was a steal! Go if you have the bucks or wait for restaurant week!
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Review from Haley G.
Washington, DC
1/17/2012
I called ahead and said we were celebrating a friend's birthday and the staff made the evening extra special for her.
Loved everything about this place. The food was divine and the service was impeccable. Was it necessarily the BEST, most creative, culinary masterpiece I've EVER tasted in my entire life? Probably not, but the it did not disappoint and was definitely worth every penny.
Can't wait to go again! -
Review from Simon B.
1/2/2012 Seated via OpenTable 6 Check-ins Here
There is nothing else quite like 1789 in DC. I've been there about 6 times in the last 12 months, and will continue to go back.
1789 does not have the best food in the city. Its chefs have historically not been as inventive as what you'll get at Komi, or as classically and perfectly executing as what you'll get at a Michel Richard restaurants. You won't get any trendy tapas either, or whatever the flavor of the week is around the city. It's conservative fine dining food, made with Fresh and high quality ingredients. The menu changes frequently, based on availability.
It isn't the best service in the city either. You'll get one attentive waiter and some grumpy aides, and your dishes will sometimes come with awkward timing. You'll even be rushed, once in a while.
That said, it is the quintessential Georgetown and Washington DC experience. You'll spot reluctant Georgetown students, trying to find a way to get rid of the red bowtie their parents forced them to wear. You'll witness a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary, and the wife's jaw drop when the --exact-- cake they had at their wedding appears. You'll spend hours gazing at the million paintings and ornaments, amidst an atmosphere like no other, while enjoying the warmth of a beautiful old fireplace.
Go ahead, order a good bottle of wine, forget about the bill for a while, and enjoy this truly unique experience. -
Review from Stephany T.
Silver Spring, MD
2/11/2012
I'm not a big fan of American food but this was nice! Came for an early Valentine's Day celebration and it was relatively busy on a Friday night 8pm.
Service was great and the decor is certainly unique. I lovedddd the cauliflower soup. They also brought out a sample of a yukon potato soup which was even better - I wish they had it on the menu for the night! The yellowfin tuna was also delish and paired unexpectedly well with grapefruit and oranges.
Very intimate setting and probably one of those 'must-eat' places in DC since it's consistently ranked high. Not number one on my list of places I've eaten, but I'd say top 10 for sure. -
Review from Erin M.
Washington, DC
2/19/2012
Hooray for pasture-raised meat! Great food, great service, great ambiance, great for a romantic special occasion.
Would have given 4.5 stars -- lost a couple of points for having a drafty seating area that was a bit cold. -
Review from Tarik O.
Washington, DC
1/15/2012
Thought 1789 would be a pretentious, crusty old money type of place. Our assumptions were completely wrong.
I went with a large group during Restaurant Week and the manager and his team was just so gracious and welcoming. Everyone LOVED their meal and the staff-recommended wine pairing was well worth the additional $15.
In sum, probably the best meal I have had in DC. I think I'm going to take my mom their for her birthday this year. -
Review from Amit P.
Rockville, MD
1/14/2012
My girlfriend and I went to 1789 for dinner during restaurant week. Since it was a rainy night, it was nice to have a valet service. We did the wine pairing with our three courses - it was a great deal and the wines were well-paired. The service was excellent, and the server was rather knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients and history of the restaurant.
As Simon B. stated in his review, the food here wasn't amazing or anything revolutionary - It was fresh, well-prepared, and conservative fine dining. I would give recommendations, except they change their menu daily. In short, what you see is what you get with this place - which isn't a bad thing at all. -
Review from Fenny L.
10/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am never one to turn down dinner reservations - especially reservations to 1789, a restaurant that I've been meaning to try, but just hadn't found an excuse to go. Well, voila! The ever fabulous Alicia G made rez and asked if I was free. Um, HECK YEAH!
Always worried about traffic, I left work early and arrived at 1789 about an hour before everyone else. But no worries, because I quickly found the bar, and soon became new best friends with the bartender and another patron who was also early and waiting for the rest of her party to arrive. As I drank and snacked on those insanely delicious nuts, I got pulled into a bizarre conversation about earthquakes, renovation, and dogs. Heh. I knew that this was going to be my kind of night.
Soon Alicia G and Alicia C both arrived and we were seated while we waited for the fabulous Tara L. As we were waiting, we decided to get a bottle of wine, and after ordering a bottle, another server quickly came over to recommend a similar, but more popular option. Impressed, we allowed ourselves to be swayed by this recommendation, and I was so glad we did, because it was delicious!
It will forever be my assertion that Tara smelled the scrumptiousness of the bread basked and popovers that she bolted the last 3 blocks to 1789. Because the popovers and breads were truly divine, and I would have been just as happy dining on the breads all night long.
For my starter, I option for the heirloom tomato salad, which showcased three types of scrumptious tomatoes, all jam packed with flavor and juiciness. The way tomatoes should taste. Excellent! Although everyone else got fish (because they aren't fatties like me), I opted for the rack of lamb for my entrée, which was so tender, juicy and flavorful that although I knew that my jeans would be exceptionally tight the next day...it was well worth it. If I hadn't gorged on so much nuts and bread prior to this meal, I think I would have happily horrified everyone at the table (and those around us) by gnawing on the bones. Honestly delicious and wonderful. Nothing fancy or unique about the preparation...only that the ingredients were fresh and each component was prepared wonderfully and with much mastery.
I don't know why I didn't just stop there. Probably because I'm a glutton and can't turn away food...because yes, I opted for dessert - the beignets (for which, I always have such a weakness for). At the time, I didn't regret ordering them...but later that night, my tummy was packed so full that I felt like a pregnant cow ready to give birth. And yet...I still claim that it was worth it. Every bite.
Clearly, I'm definitely looking for a reason to come back. I think when my inlaws are back in town, they may enjoy this experience. The food is traditional, but there is nothing old fashioned about anything here. Each dish was marvelous and delicious. The service was marvelous and I'm so excited to have finally tried this place. Definitely lived up to the hype, and I can't wait to come back. -
Review from Alicia G.
9/27/2011
1789 is one of those places that has been on my DC restaurant bucket list for years. When I learned they were doing the summer special again (3 courses, $40), I made it a point to move them to the top of my list. It wasn't until Chef Dan announced his departure that really kicked me into gear to make my reservation. And I'm so glad I did.
The onion soup was delicious. I wasn't expecting a creamy onion soup but that's what I got. No complaints. It was piping hot and full of flavor.
For my main course, I had the halibut with a bacon relish and sweet corn puree. The halibut was a perfectly cooked, flaky white filet- and paired with the bacon, was absolutely amazing. The corn was sweet and fresh. I was willing to share but secretly hoped no one else really wanted to taste it.
Oh before I get to dessert, let's not forget the bread basket. There were popovers and other breads but skip those and just nab the popovers. Yum.
For dessert, I had the ice cream and sorbets. I was too full for the others and I didn't even finish my 3 scoops. I tasted a fried peach dumpling and it was pretty dang good. I was about to burst at this point.
The service was tops. Our server was fantastic. Another server overheard me ask our server about a wine and after I chose one, she came to our table and recommended a different one - similar pricing but she found guests preferred the other. I am so glad she convinced me to switch bottles because this new wine was way better.
Sad that Chef Dan is gone but if a return meal is as good as this one, I'll surely be making plans to come back soon. It was the perfect night of food, drink and catching up with friends. -
Review from Tara L.
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a nearly flawless meal here last week. Although my expectations were already high, I was not disappointed at all.
Per Alicia G's invitation and recommendation, we took advantage of the 3 courses for $40 Summer Special. My visit here was definitely overdue - I'd been eager to get a taste of Chef Dan's magic but the opportunity had not presented itself until now.
The restaurant's decor echoes traditional Americana: fire places, low lighting, dark woods splashed with deep pine. The dining area is definitely quiet - everyone is politely maintains their conversation levels. Even a minor giggle outburst at the table would garner subtle dirty looks from a few uptight diners.
But it's elegant and classic and perfectly suitable for a date or to bring your parents.
I started with the Spaghetti with Maryland blue crab, green tomatoes, gremolata and red chili. For a starter, it was a rather larger portion with lots of succulent crab meat. It was tasty, but I feel like I've had dishes more memorable than this one elsewhere.
The Red Snapper with braised green cabbage, Carolina fresh shrimp, chocolate cherry tomatoes, and garlic was amazing. The snapper was perfectly cooked, bursting with flavor and presented beautifully. The portion size was also spot on. I had absolutely no entree envy with this selection.
For dessert, our lovely waiter and waitress made a few suggestions which lead me directly to the Fried Peach Dumplings with maple ice cream and white chocolate rum sauce. Our waiter likened it to a beignet filled with warm peached, sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with white chocolate rum sauce.
First of all, you had me at white chocolate rum sauce. That's all he had to say. Apparently though, that was just a bonus. The decadent dumplings, presented in an adorable little basket were the ultimate comfort and happy ending (so to speak) to the meal.
This is definitely the kind of place that if I could be a fly on the wall here I would. It's a discrete destination for many of DC most powerful influencers and politicos.
Overall, I thought the service and the food were top notch. Not exactly the kind of place to let your hair down, but definitely a lovely location for an intimate meal. -
Review from Irena N.
11/8/2011
Brought my S.O. here for his birthday just last week and we had a wonderful time.
I put a little note in my OpenTable reservation letting them know it was his birthday, and they really made him feel special - wished him a happy birthday several times, gave us an amazing table, and put a nice little candle in his dessert. Our server was very friendly, approachable, yet also knowledgeable and professional; the food and wine was flawless; we left full, tipsy and definitely happy.
We shall return for sure.Listed in: DeeCee Faves
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Review from Toni C.
Tustin, CA
3/4/2012
Great place for a special night! It's super expensive. Lots of senior people. We had their set menu for valentine's day.
Home grown beet salad - delicious! I never knew beet goes so well with goat cheese.
Deep fried oyster salad - just ok, couldn't finish it.
Kohlrabi and Sweet Sausage Soup - not recommended.
scallop - best scallop ever! perfected cooked! -
Review from KP M.
Arlington, VA
For anyone that knows me, a dinner where I have absolutely no suggestions on how things could be improved upon is not common. I don't think I've had one in the past couple of years to be honest.
The price... just accept the fact you are going to spending some money here and move past that. If you are a penny pincher, this may not be the place for you.
On this visit, I was very impressed. My table was ready on time with friendly hosting staff, the wait staff was very attentive and very nice, & the food was lovely! I had the Tenderloin, one of the pricier dishes, and it was wonderful. The meat was so incredibly tender that you could almost cut it with a butter knife. Do yourself a favor and try the braised short rib ravioli. The pasta is made fresh daily and the flavors are excellent.
There were many nice little touches from the amuse bouche spring roll to the assortments of butters to go with your many warm breads to actually crumbing a table. I would happily go back for a special occasion. -
Review from Kathy D.
Alexandria, VA
9/5/2011
It took me a couple years and a few dozen attempts to get a decent, acceptable time for a reservation during DC's Restaurant Week.
I'm so glad I did!
The pre-fixe menu during Restaurant Week was excellent! It was a few samplings from their normal menu. It's basically like we got our salad and dessert for "free". The food was great, but what set this experience apart from all of my other dining experiences in DC was the level of service. I think at one point we had 4-5 people checking on us, amazing.
Truth be told you could probably get the same food at Clyde's (their sister restaurant group), but there is no way you could get the same level of service. I guess that's why this place is so special. -
Review from William M.
Washington, DC
2/9/2012
We had a friend in town, and we scored a last minute RW reservation. The food was delicious, and you could tell the kitchen really cared about the food they were putting out. My steak was ordered medium rare but came out medium well. It was corrected immediately without fuss. The wine list is nice, diversified, and includes some bottles from VA, one of which we enjoyed. Service is really good, very professional, and the restaurant itself is incredibly charming. An enjoyable dinner catching up with an old friend, but it's probably not my first choice for a special occasion in the future.
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Review from Anna S.
8/3/2011
I like my luxuries plush and fusty: Trump over Mandarin Oriental, filet mignon and french onion soup over molecular-gastronomy globules, Burberry over Cavalli. (Not that I can ever afford any of this, but whatever.)
That's why I like 1789. The meals are sumptuous, filling, and Old World. The surroundings are be dimly lit, classical, and Old World. The servers who are not literally from the Old World at least act that way.
The clientele is not Old World--generally it's just old. But old people can be smart sometimes. 1789 takes care of you, and it serves a damn nice meal. You can always go down to the Tombs for post-dinner cocktails if you're desperate to feel young again. -
Review from Kathleen S.
Washington, DC
11/3/2011
Stepping into this restaurant is like reentering a 19th-century dining room in the times of Madison. Stuffy, yes. Quaint, absolutely. But full in its ambience.
I went to 1789 for Restaurant Week. The meal started with a "palate cleanser." The rack of lamb with lamb medallions was great, while the cheesecake probably ranks as the best I've ever had. -
Review from Douglas M.
Madison, WI
11/2/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Got the roasted pheasant for 2. The food was excellent, as well as service. The location is just a touch too stuffy for me in terms of decor. In a suit I feel a little under-dressed.
Obviously chock full of weatlhy yuppy parents buying their Georgetown children celebratory dinners. If you are well aware of your standard Georgetown people, expect the same here but with their "going out with mom and dad" clothes on. -
Review from Christine G.
Falls Church, VA
11/18/2011
I think this place was ok. Service was good, I think we had three waiters working for us the whole time. They seemed confused, because sometimes we were asked the same question mulitple times. The waiter made a good recommendation on the dinner entree, but other recommendations were not spectacular.
I ordered the rack of lamb...and it was phenomonal. The side served under the rack was also delicious (although I don't remember what it was).
This place gets three stars because it just was not my style. Decor was old-fashioned, but not in a tasteful way. The tables were also very close to each other, and it was hard to zone out of our neighbors conversations.
It was nice to go to this place once...but doubt I'd go back unless they had specials for Restaurant week. -
Review from Damon L.
1/16/2012
Amazing!
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Review from Rachel P.
1/14/2012
Went for Restaurant Week.
The food was good, but I really didn't think it was great. I was hoping for a little something more. I would say the best dish I had was the scallop app. The beef entree left much to be desired (myself and a friend needing to spit out some tough pieces). The dessert the "candy bar", for me, lacked a good crunchy texture on the bottom and was just a bit soggy. Central does a fabulous "candy bar" and I found myself wishing I was eating that instead. I did think the dishes were well rounded and had nice flavors. I just really wasn't that into the wines/pairings. There wasn't anything that I said to myself I really have to have that again. I also felt, as well as the rest of my co-diners, that the service was awkward, awkward, awkward. Half the time I had to ask for more explanation on the dishes. There seemed to be little interest in the actual presentation of the food. Everything felt so rushed and impersonal. Personality and giving a crap is what gets ya a good tip and makes me want to come back! One would hope that restaurant week diners would love the food and experience so much that they would just have to come back to eat many times throughout the year. Not so with this one. Maybe again, but not any time soon. I'm kinda bummed b/c I wanted to love 1789! -
Review from Irina D.
Atlanta, GA
1/4/2012
This is top-notch dining, so expect to pay top dollar. Everything is as it should be: The food is spectacular (and I don't even typically like American fare), the restaurant is beautiful and tastefully decorated, and the wait staff is incredibly attentive.
Go here to celebrate something great or just for an exceptional night out. Either way, break out your best nova check and your simple 100s...1789 is refined and elegant. -
Review from Jeff S.
Washington, DC
3/14/2012
I brought my girlfriend here on her birthday. The colonial style decor and service is elegant. I had Nova Scotia Halibut that was delicious and our server picked out a wonderful bottle of wine. The experience is worth the money, especially with the valet parking
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Review from Ryan Z.
8/25/2011
Our group was impressed by everything we chose, and I particularly enjoyed the squid starter (with grilled squash and a fried squash blossoms) and the signature rack of lamb. The sweet corn pudding dessert was a great mix of savory and sweet and perfectly complemented by a dark berry compote. My friends also spoke highly of the cheese starters and the rockfish and liver entrees.
The last time I was at 1789 the service was totally indifferent and unfriendly. This time, the service was much improved and mostly strong, until the waiter had the nerve to ask us if another round of drinks was "within our budget." Apparently he pegged us as cheap because we ordered wine by the glass and not a bottle, or because we're in our twenties - or both. What was odd is that he was otherwise an attentive, knowledgeable, and even friendly waiter, but the comment about our "budget" was uncalled for. We order by the glass because we aren't big drinkers, and shouldn't be judged for that. This is a 3 star review because, long after this dinner, I sadly remember the waiter's comment more than I remember how delicious the meal was. As much as I enjoy their cooking, I'm not sure if I'll ever be back after two dinners with bad service. -
Review from Carol C.
Gaithersburg, MD
1/14/2012
Think of the most delicious thing you have ever eaten. Recall how it bathed your tastebuds, melted in your mouth, made you feel like your mind and body had just short circuited and your entire being was concentrated at the tip of your tongue. Your eyes probably rolled back in your head and you probably uttered strings of profanities and unintelligibly obscene noises that undoubtedly made others around you extremely uncomfortable. And now multiply all that by ten and you would come close to understanding my dining experience at this place.
I'll admit I was intimidated when I walked in the small cozy entrance. It was so quiet and otherworldly, like I had actually stepped through a time portal and been beamed two hundred years into the past. We were greeted with "good sir"s and "dear miss"s and our coats were whisked away before we were ushered along cozy wooden corridors lined with historical paintings and papers. People talk about the ambiance of this place and I truly understand where they are coming from now. I was afraid 1789 would be stuffy but the waiters are friendly and personable. They may be dressed to the nines (as are all your fellow diners), but they are always smiling and eager to help.
And now the food. The food the food. We went for Restaurant Week, which usually has people raising eyebrows and questioning the standards, especially at such a renowned establishment where the typical entree is already more expensive than the entire RW package. But no, everything was perfection. We both got the RW special with wine pairings (for $50 - a steal!!) and it was basically a ticket to heaven. The scallops were amazing, as was the pork terrine, which I generously slathered on the foccacia and sourdough, still warm, from our bread basket. I was a little sad to see they did not have their famous lamb among the RW entree selections but that soon passed. The rockfish was absolutely divine, ridiculously tender, incredibly flavorful, and really generously portioned. The creamed farro served alongside was just as delicious and really reduced me to a flailing exclamating mess. My companion's steak was also beyond words. Literally. Our conversation over dinner eventually became an exchange of inhuman noises.
Dessert. I'm embarrassed to say I hardly remember dessert, I was so far ascended into food nirvana by then. It was good, undeniably good, but I've run out of adjectives so I'll just leave it at that.
I dream of the day where I have enough money that dining here can be a regular part of my life. Until then, I eagerly await the next restaurant week... -
Review from Maggie M.
Washington, DC
9/23/2011
Went to 1789 for the first time since the new chef came on board, to be honest nothing really jumped out on me on the menu, but everything ordered by me and the others at my table was delicious. Service was top notch, as to be expected at a restaurant like this, and something about the homemade complimentary sparkling water got me (It's the little things. .). The lasting impression was the Chocolate Coin I had for dessert, yum.
Everything at 1789 was as expected for a restaurant with a good name such as this, however nothing was really "amazing" which is why i'm not shouting its praises for 5 stars. I guess my one criticism is that the menu is a bit tough to navigate - seperated by meat versus course, but a creative way to do it and tasty all the same.
All other things aside, there's something about the ambiance of 1789 that is so nice in the small rooms that makes it a place you want to come back too and we will back. -
Review from Krissy K.
Marina del Rey, CA
8/9/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I called all the hotels around the city to find the best spot for my party to eat our last night in town. The one place people kept raving about was closed. This was the second choice.
I wasn't overly impressed...however I wasn't totally disappointed.
The only issue was finding the place and the walk up the steep steps (from the major street) for some of my guests.
The service was really slow...and not like French style slow. It was more like "screwed up a few times and forgot about you" slow. HOWEVER, I don't base my reviews on service. I base them on food; as the server could have been having a bad night.
My guests did not enjoy the soups. Salads were so-so. The entrees seemed small. But after all of the food we had comsumed prior to reaching the entree, we were surprised we finished full. Dessert was the highlight of the meal. -
Review from Marissa N.
Washington, DC
7/6/2011 Seated via OpenTable
As soon as I saw there summer special (for those unaware: Sunday-Thursday $40 per person 3 course meal for almost anything on the menu), I had a reservation booked 2 minutes later.
And of course, the whole experience was amazing. Our waiter was absolutely amazing. So friendly, knowledgeable, and obliged every stupid question I had about the menu. The restaurant was nice and not overly loud like a lot of other places seem to be.
The food. So good. Seriously. My guest and I decided, however, that the smoked clams that came with my blackened grouper took the cake. Though, honestly everything was fantastic. (We had: Apps-Squid & Beef Carpaccio; Entrees: Lamb Shoulder & Blackened Grouper; Dessert: Chocolate Coin & Cherry Pie). Oh, and, the cherry pie was seriously to die for. Two tables close by also had some cherry pies and I heard the same thing coming from them.
So, my advice, check this place out on a Sunday-Thursday, and enjoy yourself semi-guilt-free. Its worth it, I promise. -
Review from Marco C.
Alexandria, VA
3/21/2012
The service was wonderful. The food was good. Some dishes were better than others. The Rockfish with lobster farro was delicious. The ambiance is intimate and we had a very enjoyable evening dining here. Overall though, I'm in no hurry to go back nor would it be the first place I'd recommend to anyone looking for this type of dining.
-
Review from D F.
Washington, DC
1/13/2012
Went here for restaraunt week. Booked the moment RW was announced. Managed to get two reservations which was a miracle - oh, yes, went both times in one week. It is that good. RW week makes it an incredible value since the place is pricey.
However I don't mind pricey as long as the food is worth it. Among the two evenings, we tried nearly the whole RW menu. I was impressed to see that many regular items were also on the RW menu. Happy to see that they take RW seriously -- the portions are substantial and the service was excellent. We had one primary server and at least three others bringing dishes and clearing dishes in between. Everyone, even down to the bus boy (bus man) knew what was being served and could answer our questions about any given dish.
A Washington institution and only one of two 5-star restaurants in the city, 1789 does not disappoint.
