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Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: GeorgetownMon-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"Wow, this place was GOOOOOOOOD. Friends and I were looking for a place to eat for brunch in Georgetown since one of us was going to Jinx…" read more »
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*4.5*
1789 is my go to restaurant for dinner with out of town guests. It offers Georgetown charm, excellent food and service, and well-balanced wine list.
I can rely on 1789 to serve sweetbreads on nearly every visit, probably one of my favorite food, along with a nice selection of seafood. The sweetbreads are perfectly seared, not overcooked retaining their succulent and savory goodness.
The servers are super knowledgeable about the wines and have impressed me more than most sommeliers in town. They have recommded some phenomenal wines in all prices ranges, and it is 1789 that opened the world of Oregon Pinot Noirs before they were in "vogue".
Well, I hate to be a grump, but I've never experienced such a combination of good food and horribly bad service as we had last night at 1789 in Georgetown.
Our party of four sat in the front "bar room," to the left as you come in the door, and our waiter, a pudgy young white guy named Justin I believe, was just short of being a cartoon caricature.
1789 is a serious (for Washington) and even stuffy restaurant, but this person tried to assume the sort of familiarity that you'd expect from a waiter at, say, the Palm who's known you for years, combined with an "upsell" schtick that would have been hilarious if it weren't so annoying.
I had to tell him three times that yes, all I wanted was the quail entrée of the evening, as he sort of loomed over the table and pointed out appetizer items seemingly at random.
When I stuck to my guns, he "warned" me: "Now, sir, the other people at your table will be served their soup and salad before you get anything. Are you suure you'll be all right with that?" The unctuousness of Peter Lorre came to mind.
The host of our party was brusquely rebuffed, and had to settle for a second choice, when she asked if she could get an entree specially prepared (leaving some menu ingredients off, not adding more).
Then, once dinner got rolling, the Waiter From Hell would blunder up at random times, asking loudly if "we" (seemingly including himself) were enjoying "our" dinners. Yes, he really did sound like a snooty-waiter character from a Simpsons script. Finally, about the fifth time he asked if "we" would "like" something or other "now," our host (a normally courtly lady from the Southwest) looked up at him and said, "What I'd LIKE to do NOW is finish telling my story," which drew an instant response of "OH, I didn't mean to INTERRUPT you or anything," that sort of struck me as a line that the WFH had used a few hundred times before.
Then he went off and sulked for twenty minutes or so before taking our dessert orders. Another heavy-handed upsell, but he maaay have started to notice our eyerolls by then.
The poor service was a shame, because the food itself was quite good - approaching five-star (including Yelp Star Inflation) quality. Two of our party ordered the monthly tasting menu, which revolved around chestnuts (reminding us of the Iron Chef surprise ingredient) - tasty soup flavored with a chestnut puree, juicy and well-sauced small chickens, and a ripe-pear dessert bowl with chocolate gelato and a chestnut-and-chestnut-flower-honey sauce. I had a well-prepared quail with sweet-potato and dark mushroom sides. Our hostess had a pork chop and a tasty beet-and-radish based salad. Breads were seemingly homemade, and excellent. Amuses-bouches and little cookies were offered at appropriate times. Everybody just about liked everything, aside from Mr. Pseudo-Jovial Royal-We Omnipresence's badly-timed interruptions of our meal.
We didn't order wine last night, but the wine list looked good. The usual Snoot Palace markups (e.g., $40 or for a Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages, $50 for a Chateau St. Jean Gewurz, $50 for a nice Chilean Malbec) but one really can't complain about the prices - we didn't sign up for any bargains when we picked the venue.
And to give the rest of 1789 its due, everybody else we dealt with - the hostess, our other waiter Ken, and the various fetchers-and-takers, were outstanding. As other Yelpers have mentioned, the decor is old-clubby and the place settings are elegant without being frou-frou.
There was one young man - college age - in our dining room without a coat, so perhaps the dress code is easing a little bit. Ties definitely are no longer a requirement.
So in summary, go for the good if limited menu, the excellent preparations, and the old-club ambience - but if you get the waiter we had (and if you've read this far, you'll spot him pretty quickly), you might want to ask the very nice hostess to move you to a "better table."
It is with great happiness that I write this review of 1789. Perhaps the five stars come as it was on the heels of my crappy experience at Tuscana West, but I'm pretty sure it is deserving of all the stars I clicked over.
WORD OF ADVICE!! To maximize your dining experience, ask for server David who rolls with his side kick, Gustavo. That team was so helpful, had knowledge of the menu, and were overall non pretentious. They truly made my dining night out at 1789 "POP"!
The food portions were larger than what I had expected. I mean, you could honestly share your plate should you desire. I however, chose to be selfish and ate everything. While the food choices are not outlandish incorporating random tastes together, I was pleased with the outcome of each dish. Their wine list was expensive so we brought in our own bottle with a $20 corkage fee. Saving money at 1789? Hells yeah. They also offer complimentary valet parking.
The decor is less than to be desired. It reminds me of someone's grandma's house with multiple pictures everywhere. Everyone was raving about their dishes so I assume they're happy, too.
Try it and be wowed.
1789 is a beltway institution. I highly recommend 1789. For the critics who are comparing 1789 to the more nouveau restaurants.....get a clue...this is traditional....it's Georgetown for chrissake.....there is no comparison. Get out your blue blazer out and get ready for a traditional night out. The service is impeccable amd the food is well worth the price. I recommend the rack of lamb....and the wine list is very comprehensive. As for the atmosphere, simply put....New England traditional. So if you want L.A.....go to L.A., if you want a beautiful night out in Georgetown go to 1789. BTW, given parking is difficult....1789 has free valet.
As much as I wanted to like 1789, I just find it hard to give a place 4 or 5 stars when I shell out over $60 and Im' not even remotely full by the end of it. I mean, the food was good...not amazing though. The place was really nice and the service was good, I just wasn't blown away.
Growing up in DC (yes, Virginia, we natives DO exist!), dining at 1789 was always the most special and exciting occasion. I remember the first time I went, the outfit I wore, and even what I ate!
I hadn't been back in a few years and with the changing chefs and menus, I was curious to see what my dining experience would be like. As always and as should be expected from 1789, the service was absolutely impeccable, from soup to nuts, if you will.
If you've read any of my previous reviews, you know that alcohol is always my initial go-to, and this occasion was no exception. My dining companion and I enjoyed a glass of wine at the very tiny bar, served by a charming and knowledgeable bartender.
I wouldn't say I'm easy to please, but I am nearly always won over by a creative amuse bouche. We were served a single potato chip, topped with a morsel of sturgeon and some creme fraiche on top. The saltiness of the chip and the piquant taste of the creme fraiche were counterbalanced by the evenness of the sturgeon. It was a great beginning to the meal.
I then went with sweetbreads, which, if that is your cup of tea, were very good, if unremarkable, though I don't mean that negatively. It was everything you would imagine sweetbreads to be in the traditional sense and did not disappoint.
For my entree, I chose the wild sturgeon. I'd never tried sturgeon before, but it was a flavorful white fish, with a taste slightly reminiscent of crab meat. The potatoes served with the meal were excellent for mopping up the American caviar vinaigrette!
I finished my meal with the honey fritters, which were like tiny bites of funnel cake. They were served with french vanilla ice cream and delicious slices of peaches and raspberries. To be honest, the wonderful simplicity of dessert and it's freshness were the most striking and most enjoyed part of the meal.
1789 is a great spot for people watching, particularly if you are enthralled by the old blue-haired guard of Washington. We definitely got an eyeful of them as we dined rather early before a trip to the theater in an effort to take advantage of 1789's yearly Summer Special, a $40 prix fixe menu for three courses. There is no question in my mind that it is a bargain value for the service, quality/quantity of food, and the overall experience. And if you are looking for an affordable entrance into an upscale dining experience, I definitely recommend taking advantage of the special.
Amazing..... ambiance, food, service. Nothing was overlooked. It was the most romantic meal I have ever had. Every detail was well thought and well executed.
We were here for the special Christmas dinner during which they have a choir singing carols in the old-timey living-room atmosphere. It was very nice and very retro in both the decor and the ambiance. Our servers were good, not the greatest waiters I ever had, but certainly not bad. The food was also good but didn't make me wig out or anything. It was like having a really nice Christmas dinner at your grandma's house.
My biggest complaint was that the place was really crowded and our table was so close to the table next to us that I felt we were eating in the other couple's laps. Our table was so teeny and close to theirs I had to watch my elbows, literally. I understand that a lot of people go to 1789 at certain times of the year (like holidays and graduation) and they needed to get enough tables in, as well as make room for the chorale to perform, but my husband is a big guy and it would have been more relaxed if we'd had a little space to ourselves. Having said that, I might go again at another time of the year.
This is a good place to take your parents, visiting out-of-towners, or anyone who's into "old timey" Washington restaurants, and doesn't mind paying a high tariff.
We first visited 1789 during the Feb 2009 restaurant week that apparently many people were left disappointed by. Despite amazing service and great desserts, the food was pretty bad. We expressed our disappointment and received another opportunity to try 1789 when the kitchen wasn't a cafeteria.
We went back about a month ago, and while I still found the clientele ridiculous and the service ridiculously amazing, the food was GREAT. It was as close to a perfect meal as you can get. My cucumber soup with monk fish was incredible, as was their standby rack of lamb. Their wine list is great - the Fidelitas M100 and Brachetto d'Aqui are standouts at a reasonable price.
It's a DC institution, and it looks like the decor and clientele haven't changed in 40 years. But the service and the food (if not during restaurant week) are spot on.
I proposed to my wife here ten years ago in grad school. I guess it was good luck because I love her as much now as I did then. A lot of students seem to take their first dates here as it's literally within walking distance of the Georgetown dorms and across the Potomac from GW.
Food at 1789 has always been solid and the ambiance in the restaurant and around the Georgetown area adds to the overall experience. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone!
I was waiting for a spectacular dining experience to write-up for my 100th review - my dinner at 1789 was definitely it! Located in Georgetown, 1789 is a classy establishment with lots of charm. The service was impeccable and the food delicious. The S.O. and I both started with a cold cucumber soup that was unlike any cucumber soup I've had. Ribbons of vegetables and small morsels of shrimp and crab were laid down before us in a bowl and then the cucumber broth poured over them - so light and interesting. I had an exquisite heirloom tomato and burrito cheese salad which was followed by lamb chops seasoned and cooked to perfection. SO had filet and that was lovely too. While pricey, this is certainly a special place to visit in Georgetown. I hope to return again someday soon.
Expensive enough to be saved for special occasions. Good food, good service and perfect ambience.
Duck is my favorite here. Deserts are delicious. Oh and jackets are required.
3.5 stars - Restaurant Week '09
Came here with Cadence R. and Katie F. to start off my week of RW dining. This place had been on my list for a while and I was curious about it every time I'd come to the Tombs right next door. Was glad to finally try it this RW.
To start off I has the lobster papperadelle. The lobster portion was decent. Nice creamy buttery sauce that left me wanting more.
Next came the hangar steak. Juicy, tender, but didn't blow my mind. It also came with a cauliflower gratin which was nice and cheesy.
For dessert, I chose the chocolate cherry cake. It was decent. I love chocolate so I was happy. But I think maybe there was a tad too much cherry.
The amuse bouche didn't really impress me (as Katie said it was something we could have successfully mimicked at home. But the chocolate hazelnut squares at the end were nice additions... can never have enough chocolate right?
All in all, a mediocre RW experience that doesn't leave me in a rush to go back there for a regular meal any time soon.
Katie's Restaurant Week Winter 2009 Report Card
Dining Companion(s): Alicia C, Cadence R.
1st Course: Lobster Papperadelle. 4 surprisingly large pieces of lobster with two fresh tasty pieces of pasta. A really nice buttery/Meyer Lemon sauce. (1st courses are usually 11-16 dollars)
2nd Course: Pork Chop, with Jerusalem artichoke mash, onions, mushrooms, and snails (which Ill be the first to admit I didn't eat). Pork was nice and moist. A good dish and plenty of meat, but there could have been more mash in my opinion. (Usually 32 dollars on its own)
Dessert: Cranberry-Tangerine Bomb. Actually pretty good, and nice presentation. Two little meringue sticks covered in pistachio were a really nice treat on top. (Usually 9 dollars)
Service: Eh. Our main server could have been a bit warmer, but the food runners were nice. Valet was cute and nice.
Atmosphere: Old school. We were taking upstairs to a nice wood paneled room. There were some interesting antique prints by our table---one particularly funny one of a guy with a devil head that served as interesting conversation fodder. If you don't like looking at a stuffed version of your food while you eat, maybe this room isn't for you.
Extras:
-Loft of crusty bread and butter that helped displace the skimpiness of other portions.
-An amuse bouche was served before the meal---but it did not accomplish the task of exciting me before the meal. It was a tiny crostini with Spanish ham and fennel on top. Not original, not exciting, not vastly different than the mini-toasts and prosciutto that I eat in my kitchen all the time. Don't do an amuse bouche just because you can---Chef Giusti, please next time amuse me.
-Little pieces of hazelnut fudge with the bill.
-Complimentary valet parking.
Value: 50+ dollar meal for 35.09, Overall I would give more than 3 stars---maybe like a 3.509 since it cost that much.
** 3.5 Stars ** Restaurant Week experience **
You can't usually judge a restaurant accurately when you've only see them for RW, but in this case, I think I won't be too far off. The $35, 3-course RW menu is the same as their new promotional $40 prix-fixe menu that's offered on weekdays before 6:45 - a fantastic value. So this means that we were ordering food pretty much from their "regular" menu.
APPETIZERS: The broccoli and snail soup sounded delicious, but the whole thing overall was forgettable. The four small pieces of battered and fried snail were flavorful and juicy, but the taste of the soup itself was pretty shallow -- It's like it couldn't decide if it wanted to be creamy or not. Her mushroom pasta was pretty awesome - big fat chow-fun-like noodles. I only had a little taste, but it was pretty good.
ENTREE: The pork chop dish didn't look impressive (it took up about 1/3 of the plate), but it was pretty hefty. I guess it's snail season because there were more snails mixed in with the veggies underneath the pork. Not bad. Her branzino (I'd never heard of this fish before!) was better. It was really juicy and perfectly cooked. We both decided not to get the hanger steak because of one word: Ray's. :)
DESSERT: We had a lot of fun of referring to her citrus bombe dessert. :) It was shaped like a scoop of sorbet with some interesting garnishes. As for the taste, she described it this way: "You can almost taste the cinnamon, but just when you think you do, it takes you all the way around and then hits you with CITRUS!" (Did I get that right, Jenny?) The waiter suggested the apple strudel over the chocolate tart, and it was pretty good. Light, flaky pastry surrounding some rich apples and a fun-flavored ice cream on the side.
SERVICE: The staff we interacted with were very competent and professional, but definitely not the best in town.
Overall, it was a great meal, but there wasn't anything about this restaurant that made me say, "Ooooh!" Excuse my limited vocabulary.
RW review only:
First and foremost, the alleged best item on the list (the rack of lamb) is not on their RW menu. I would like to come back to try it because it appears to get the most positive press. If it is indeed amazing, I would strongly suggest this place as a special occasion dinner because this restaurant is very well run.
As far as how it presents for RW, I was a bit disappointed overall with the food. The problem was that I wasn't really blown away by any of the items I sampled. As one of the other posters noted, the snails in the brocolli snail soup were flavorful, but the base was mostly a green mess. I don't know if they were trying to make broccoli veloute, but it didn't work. The cheese that sparsely populated the soup was exquisite, and I think it would have been significantly tastier if it was more prominent. Unfortunately, it was a mere accent. I did enjoy the branzino, but it was a trifle on the small size. Yet, the presentation and pairing with perfectly done potato was fine. I would certainly suggest it as the RW choice. The dessert was unremarkable. The restaurant did give an interesting amuse bouche as well as some tiny hazlenut flavored chocolates at the end of the meal.
Other points: Our servers were excellent. The coat girl was beautiful. The hostess was friendly. The wine that we chose (Argentinian Malbec because all my dining companions ordered the hanger steak) was stellar. This is a romantic restaurant; it is fine for a second or third date. If you are taking your girlfriend or wife, they will likely appreciate the romantic ambiance. I will hold off on recommending for a business dinner until I try that rack of lambs.
Aaaahhh.....1789. You were the backdrop for one of my favorite dining nights evah.
A friend and I had dinner here on a Tuesday during restaurant week. We started the night early--6:00pm--which happens to be when the restaurant opens. The good thing about arriving early is that there are likely to be parking spots open nearby. We snagged one across the street.
We walked in and were promptly welcomed by a pleasant young woman who informed us that we could sit and relax in the bar while the restaurant was putting their final touches on opening for dinner (we walked in early around 5:50). I started with a *stiff* drink of water with lemon. Not long after I'd taken a sip and tried a smoked almond, we were called to be seated.
We were seated in a corner booth on the ground level, where the lighting was low and the atmosphere intimate. We were presented with the regular menu and the RW menu. I elected to go with the RW menu, and my friend chose one thing from the RW menu and an entree from the regular menu. Yeah, you can mix it up like that. The restaurant aims to please.
We were presented with an offering of amuse bouche. I don't know what it was other than tuna and a hint of green onion. It was an amazing flavor--it was like a big POP in the mouth of complex flavors. I wish I had been paying more attention as to what our server said it was, but it was wonderful.
We both wanted to start with the wild mushroom papperadalle. It was a nice combination, but my friend (aspiring food critic that he is) mentioned that you had to have the two things together in order to have a successful combination; you couldn't just have a bite of the mushroom or the pasta to appreciate the dish (I'll have him Yelping in no time....).
I, on the recommendation of our server Jose, chose the pork chop. My date ordered the venison from the regular menu. While my dinner didn't blow me away, I did enjoy it and thought it was very good. My dining companion, on the other hand, was *totally* blown away by his roasted loin of venison and loved, loved, loved it. My dish was accompanied by Jerusalem artichoke puree, roasted fennel, hedgehog mushrooms and Burgundy snails. I would've liked a slightly larger serving to balance out the portion of the pork, but I still enjoyed it very much. His dish was accompanied by roasted sweet potatoes, stewed mustard greens, and mole poblano. He gave me a bite and I have to say it was flawless.
Next up: dessert. I chose the cherry chocolate cake (we decided to share it), but Jose, *awsome* server that he is, brought us the apple strudel on the house. On the house? Damn. He must have liked us! The apple strudel was tasty and not too or overly sweet, but that cake killed it. Visions were in our head and they were not of sugarplums. Gawd.
Very, very good service. Wonderful meal. Yep. FIVE stars.
My boyfriend and I dined here for Restaurant Week last night, and we were both extremely disappointed. I ordered the Broccoli and Snails Soup as my appetizer. The burgundy snails were perfect, but the broccoli aspect of the soup was completely bland. The restaurant skimped on the cheese, so most of the soup ended up tasting as though broccoli had been thrown in a blender and put into a bowl. My boyfriend began with the pasta. The mushrooms gave it a nice earthy flavor, and it was well-balanced and not too oily.
I had the hanger steak as an entree. It was brutally seared on the outside, and as you can imagine completely raw on the inside. I would have sent it back, but it took almost an hour for our entrees to arrive after we finished our appetizers. The collard greens earned a 5 star. They were phenomenal. The cauliflower gratin arrived in a small frying pan and, to be honest, I could've made it myself. My boyfriend had the same problem. He ordered the pork chop, which was burned on the outside as well. His vegetables were perfect, but it was difficult to taste anything besides burnt meat.
I was most excited about the dessert course due to the arrival of the new pasty chef. The chocolate/cherry cake was good, although the texture was off. The apple strudel was so disappointing, we both joked that an apple pie from McDonalds would've tasted better.
I'm sure 1789 was busy because it's Restaurant Week, but the lack of attention paid to my meal really turned me off. They neglected simple details a home-cook would have noticed. Sadly, they've missed their chance to make me a repeat diner.
This place really needs to wow me one more time. I have been twice, first time for restaurant week and second time during one of their summer specials in lieu of restaurant week. The first time, I probably would have given them like 1 1/2 stars. It was several years ago, during restaurant week and the waiter had this attitude like he knew I wouldn't eat there if it wasn't RW because I obviously wasn't high class enough. It was awful. Time passed and I opted to give them another try. I was pleasantly surprised. Our waitress was extremely pleasant and very helpful with menu and drink choices. She was very personable and eased my original aversion to being there.
The food here is very good. The place does live up to it's reputation for sure. Not sure if they'll do it again this summer but when they have the prie fixed meal special you can get a really good meal at a decent price from one of the more expensive restaurants in the city. It makes for a nice summer date in that you can stroll over the Key Bridge in the evening and stroll back while your full belly digests all the good food. I'm going to have to give it one more try though to see if they can fully win me over.
WOW!! This place was awesome... and thank God it was restaurant week or my husband and I would have never been able to afford to eat as much as we did!!
Everything about our experience was a delight! The service is out of this world... and the ambiance was wonderful. The only thing that is holding this place back from the full 5 stars was the food. I loved my appetizer (lobster papperdelle) and the dessert was soooo good (apple strudel) but the main course was just so-so! I ordered the fish off of the restaurant week menu and was just under impressed. It was ok... just not that great.
I think my favorite thing I ate that night was this little surprise that came out after dessert... it was a little bit of truffle/fudge with hazelnuts on top. Holy nuts... it was like a tiny little orgasm for my mouth!!
I probably will never go back... but I totally would if I could afford it!
My husband and I took our grandparents here and it was their favorite place of the week, it's that kind of place. A little bit of an older feel to it with a lot of memorabilia on the walls. We were seated in the Manassas room, which is to the right when you enter. It's full of photographs and the walls are made of old wood beams reclaimed from a barn in Manassas. To me it seemed the ideal place to take parents or grandparents, but I saw a few young couples celebrating.
We started with some glasses of wine and appetizers of spring onion soup, snails in a blanket, beef carpaccio and foie gras. Each was deliciously prepared and tasted fresh. I also noticed they had geoduck on the appetizer menu, but after smelling it at the table next to us I decided NOT to try it. Le peu!
Entrees offered a good selection of fish, and also one selection each of beef, chicken, lamb and rabbit. We chose the Black Cod, Day Boat Halibut, Free Range Chicken and Carolina Grouper with soft shelled crab. The chicken entree was juicy and the fish dishes were absolutely cooked to perfection - crispy and flaky with delicious flavors.
Our servers were very attentive and also served us some delicious desserts which I've since forgotten.
I hesitate to place 1789 quite as high as Komi or MiniBar but as we have only a 5 point system here, it fits the bill. More accurately, I'd rate it a 4.5 but this is definitely a spot to have an impressive meal. One of the only restaurants in the city that requires a jacket.
A friend of a friend recently treated a group of us to a meal at 1789. Wow. This restaurant is easily the best I've been to in DC. Sure, you have to throw on a jacket and shine the old loafers, but the food is more than worth the hassle of dressing up. I opted for the 3-course set meal for $40 (snail and broccoli soup, a nice clean fish dish, and flan). To complement the meal, we had a tasty chianti, and B&Bs to finish things off. The waitstaff was non-intrusive, and very generous in allowing us to stay well after closing time in order to savor the experience.
5 stars for the food, 4 stars for the service
Ahh....1789 - what can I say. Here goes...
This Old Georgetown mansion seems to aim to preserve the original character of the home it once was. For example, there are old English wall pieces that look like museum-borrowed tools or old European family photos or caricatures that're (I made this word up) framed and placed closely across the wall that is otherwise covered with dark wood beams which criss cross the wals and ceiling. The dominant color other than the dark wood of the beams and walls - was cream.
Each room of the restaurant creates a feeling of intimacy - forcibly because its very quiet and in such small rooms - a person like the-volume-ignorant-cell-phone-guy-type would easily be shushed ( or given very nasty stares).
The waiters ( or hosts) were fery formal in their interaction with customers- wearing dark blue blazers with golden buttons and crisp white cuffs ( in my mind's memory Im seeing gloves on one of them). Definitely them having a white linen towel tucked into their waist.
Our waiter stood "watch" at the corner of the room every attentively scanning the room and was highly responsive to the slightest glance or hand gensture made at this attention.
The table setting plates were gorgeous! It was almost sad to see them go when our dishes began to arrive.
To whet our palates they gave us very dainty portions of amuse bouche, which I think it basically very finely ground poultry meat with sprigs of a green garnish on a type of cracker.
For appetizer ( since its all titled in difficult to pronounce or spell words I'll describe the dish)[ Lobster Papperadelle] I enjoyed a conservately sized pasta with slices of a seasoned cheese and sausage crumbs. It was tender with nice texture - and the sausage gave small bursts of strong sausage-thyme-garlic flavor.
For an entree, don't sleep on the pork chop! The meat items here come very dense and thick, yet sliced and deliciously tender. My friend had the steak. (From their menu:Emerald Farm Pork Chop Jerusalem artichoke purée, roasted fennel, hedgehog mushrooms and Burgundy snails ) - I wasnt sure how the snails would go across my mouth( Had a bad experience with some mussels- lol) But they were very tender and tasted complimentary to the pork.
For dessert, I had the Cranberry and Tangerine Bombe (from their menu:tangerine sherbet and cranberry sorbet, Riesling marinated tangelo, crisp pistachio meringue, cranberry puree, cardamom custard sauce) - if you can imagine something like a Parisian World's fair in your mouth (fireworks, ferris wheel, can can dancers) - thats how it tasted. Sometimes tart, then loudly sweet, then smooth all at once!
I wish I could seperate my ratings. - I would say ambience and atmosphere was a 4.5 and the food would be the 3.5. I think that 1789 is tailor-made for people who are concerned with impressing people by saying they've dined there.
Although the food was very good, I do find, for example, $32US for a 5"x3" serving of some tasty porkchop exorbitant.
Truly a place to go for cherished moments where you want to communicate to your company their worth in your life and talk intimately.
Companion(s): 1 friend
Occasion: Restaurant Week
Located in a historic building, we entered a charmingly-cramped lobby lined with dark, heavy beams, and were greeted immediately. Up an even more cramped set of stairs -- the word "quaint" comes to mind -- we were seated within 5 minutes upon arrive. The dinning room felt both homey and low-key romantic.
Needless to say, the service was great. Polite yet friendly, we were never neglected nor harried onto the next course. Everything flowed naturally from ordering onwards, one course to the next.
I ordered from the prix-fixe menu:
* Mushroom Peppardelle
* Pork Chop -- infused with flavor and not too dry -- I was not disappointed, but not wowed either
* Chocolate Cherry Cake -- good, but nothing special
* Apple Strudel -- creamy, crunchy shell; apple filling just sweet enough -- HIGHLY recommended
The food was well-made, fresh ingredients, and comforted more than tantalized or astonished me (this may be because I typically go for more exotic fare). Nevertheless, a good experience all around.
food: 3.5
atmosphere: 4
service: 5
1789 is my favorite restaurant in DC. My fiance and I dined here to celebrate our engagement. After calling ahead (a couple times, just because I didn't want to screw up this night!) the hostesses greeted us with congratulations on our engagement and sat us at a wonderful corner seat with a pleasant view of the quiet Georgetown streets at night. I'd describe the atmosphere as being "traditionally elegant and warm." The waiter also was very cordial and professional! He knew the menu well. He helped us to select dishes that would be good for two to share; and recommended a complimentary champagne. The food was superb and portion sizes were just enough to fill you up; though you'll want to opt for three courses. I wouldn't go here on a regular night just because of the expense; but for a special evening, this restaurant CANNOT be beat.
I came for restaurant week since I've heard a lot of great things about this place and couldn't wait to try it out!! The service was definitely top notch ant the atmosphere was whimsical.
Some of the reviewers didn't seem to enjoy their meals as much as I did, but I had a very good meal. No, it's true I wasn't blown away by anything but I thoroughly enjoyed everything. One thing I wish I would've done was come at another time. They have the same prefix menu for only $5 as a regular part of their menu.
From the paparedelle to the broccoli and snail soup, we were pleased but now wowed. Our entrees were the rockfish and the Steak. Our steak was also a bit burnt on the outside. It wasn't horribly charred but I wouldn't have expected that from such a restaurant. My rockfish on the other hand was delicious! The mushrooms and smoked trout roe were really great touches to the fish.
Our desserts were good, I particularly enjoyed my bombe which the waiter suggested; it was incredibly refreshing.
All in all everything was enjoyable but not very memorable. I don't think Ill be back anytime too soon.
Old school, pretentious, stodgy-to-boring DC isn't generally my favorite, but I make an exception for 1789. This is a place of no surprises - they have a mission, they execute it essentially without flaw - you leave with the satisfied feeling of having just experienced, not something mind-blowing, but reliable excellence. go, appreciate the food, service, and setting, and notice the details, because they do.
It's a great place for the holidays in particular - christmas carolers, very festive, etc.
Hosted about 50 peeps in one of the private dining rooms. All around service, food, price, drinks, desserts and again, SERVICE made this a 5 star for me. They had assigned about 3-4 workers for our party. During the planning, the coordinator was very flexible in my needs and was very easy going - constant communication was not a problem for them.
If you're looking to host a small group, check this place out.
One of my favorite DC restaurants. I love the historical surroundings, too.
The roasted chicken is always great. The duck confit was excellent, and the lobster was succulent.
How the Man landed a reservation on such short notice (or if it was short notice!) I will never know. A week long trip to the city for work on short notice did not lend itself to great dining prospects. Fast forward to a terribly hot and humid midweek midday that found me waiting at the security line to enter one of the many official buildings whilst suffering in a stifling black suit and uncomfortably proper shoes, fanning myself with a map in a futile attempt to avoid turning into a gross sweaty mess. Charming Man in front of me is lucky enough to be in a shady spot. Man offers to trade. Man and I exchange business cards. Man calls that afternoon to check I didn't get heatstroke. Man invites me to dinner the next evening. I accept. Then I panic and ransack my suitcase for something suitable to wear. Little black dress and uncomfortably high heels come to the rescue.
I meet Man for drink at a nearby bar. Man and I head to restaurant. Man looks dapper in sharp duds. Restaurant is cozy, welcoming and elegant, but not overly snooty. Service is impeccable, food is great and the ambiance fabulous. Noshed our way through superbly fresh high grade sashimi, rack of lamb for me and New York strip for him - accompanied by a bottle of '96 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou. Whoa. Can't say I'll be living that down for a long time.
Many celebratory groups at the restaurant that evening, which only added a nice festive touch to dinner. Man and I enjoy evening. Truly a world class dining experience - obviously with pricing to match. If you really need to be told this establishment requires Gentlemen to wear jackets - you might just have trouble figuring out which fork to use when. Otherwise, enjoy!
I decided to take my mom to a new place (new to her) for her birthday. Her birthday falls during the last week of the Summer Special so I decided to take advantage of it. I absentmindedly forgot to make reservations but they were still able to seat us in less than 15 minutes.
We were seated upstairs which is a way small space with about 8 tables. It's cozy and all but if one is prone to claustrophobia ask top be seated elsewhere.
The food was pretty good. I started off with a really good crab soup. It was so delicious that I had to discreetly use the bread to sop up the bit I couldn't get with a spoon. Dinner consisted of huge grilled shrimp. They were also very tasty. The best part of the meal was Upside-Down Caramel Peach Tart. The only drawback is it needs to come with two servings because one is not enough.
Edited to give info about the summer special:
For $39 you get an appetizer, entree, and dessert. All they ask is that you sign up on the site (newsletter and offers from the restaurant) and they give you a pdf to print out and bring in to present to your waiter. I believe they've done it at least two years in a row and it ran until the second week of Sept.
We're glad we came, the food was good, but we won't be coming back.
My husband picked a restaurant for our fifth anniversary dinner by going to Yelp and finding a top-rated restaurant that I hadn't reviewed. 1789 was near the top of that list, so he made a reservation for us through Open Table. Under the "Notes" section he commented that it was our fifth wedding anniversary.
I didn't know until we we were on the way in the cab what our destination was, and I was excited by the prospect of eating here. I'd been here once before, but it was over a decade ago, My hopes were high for a special experience.
We were seated quickly, but waited about 10 minutes for menus and water. In fact, after we got the menus, we asked for sparkling water, but got flat water. Oh well, mistakes happen. The water was replaced quickly.
Our waiter seemed busy, or distracted, or something. No matter -- we perused the menu and discussed our options. Despite the offering of delectable-sounding entrees such as soft-shelled crabs, or lobster tail, we ended up picking the tasting menu with the wine pairing, so that we could taste a greater variety of things, plus take advantage of the sommelier's expertise.
The first thing to arrive was an amuse bouche of cucumber slice with a "seafood salad". This was kind of like a ceviche, except with no citrus. It really had very little flavor at all. As I said after swallowing, "My bouche is not amused." Good thing that was just an "extra".
Our first dish was an exquisite serving of thinly sliced raw hamachi, with an avocado cream, daikon and Meyer lemon. This was very good, and the Spanish white that accompanied it was good, if a little intense for the fish. Second dish was steamed red snapper, and this was a really nice cut of fish. I liked this wine pairing better.
Third was rack of lamb. We were told this was the "specialty of the house". It was very good, though bloodier than the medium-rare we had requested. An Italian red complemented it perfectly. This was followed by a cheese course -- a lovely cow's milk cheese with a tiny single slice of nut bread and an apple marmalade, served with a lovely Madeira. Last was a chocolate hazelnut "praline" dessert, paired with a lackluster Fonseca ruby port.
I must report that we were less than impressed with our waiter. Every dish was served with a somewhat condescending explanation (e.g. "This is hamachi, a white fish also called amberjack -- it is a very nice fish".) He was perfectly competent, but barely present -- we certainly did not feel special, and there was no recognition that it was our anniversary. The only time I actually felt that he was paying attention was when a bug crawled across the table in front of Martin -- he brushed it away quickly, and for the next wine course he gave Martin a little extra pour. Whoo hoo.
In the end, we concluded that the food was good, some of it very good. But the price was high, and we didn't feel that we had had a special evening. By far, the tasting menu at Komi was of higher quality, more fun, and a better value. No reason to come back here.
When my boyfriend told me he was taking me to the "jackets required" 1789 restaurant for my birthday dinner, I immediately started brainstorming my outfit in my head, ready for a fancy night out. In my black dress, heels, and tennis bracelet I was feeling quite hoity-toity and loving it. When our cab pulled up to the restaurant the valets came over to open the door and help us out, the beginning of continually superb customer service throughout the night. We received a warm greeting from the hostess as she sat us at our table in the cozy Federal-era decorated dining room. Our waiter, alerted ahead of time that it was my birthday, presented me with a personalized menu to take home and even got the chef to sign it.
We began with a bottle of wine, around $40, and one of several less expensive options. From other reviews I had expected some insane wine prices but they really weren't that bad. You could also pay a $20 corking fee and bring your own bottle.
For my first course, I had a pasta dish with sautéed mushrooms and lima beans. It was a little too heavy on the butter for me and I wasn't a sold on the lima beans but the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the large slices of mushroom were a good addition to the dish. My SO had the clams with bruchetta which I really liked. For the main course I had the rockfish, served with mushrooms and calamari. It was another dish with maybe too much butter but it was still very good and I loved the calamari with the fish. My SO had the black cod, served with mini potato cakes and chorizo. It was a bit heavier than your typical fish dish due to the chorizo, which also added a lot of flavor. Moving on to dessert, I had a delicious strawberry shortcake (complete with birthday candle and "happy birthday" fondant pieces) and my SO had the incredibly rich chocolate dome.
All in all, the above and beyond service, romantic and cozy atmosphere, and delicious food made for a wonderfully memorable evening, the perfect way to celebrate my 24th :)
On a side note, 1789 is currently running their special summer 3-course meal for $37 which is the perfect way to enjoy their food without losing all the contents of your wallet!
I found this place merely average, but Katie F. detailed the reasons why better than I ever will. Please see her review.
The bartenders are super nice. If you go in early then they might just give you extra wine.
I went for restaurant week, and the food was filling. There weren't many inventive dishes though. The ambiance is traditional... a bit stuffy.
Fantastic place! I took my boyfriend here for xmas and it was amazing. From the start, the night was great. Champagne upon arrival and a table waiting exactly at your reservation time. (I've had friends whose reservations were repeatedly pushed back by the manager at 1789 and while they waited at the bar they received several complimentary glasses of Macallan scotch as an apology.)
The restaurant was comfortably warm for a sleeveless dress in December and I felt like I was in a cozy lodge. Our waitress was super pleasant and made some great dinner suggestions (including the ox tail soup, which pleasantly surprised me...) This restaurant is def for romantic dinners or important celebrations- 2 couples got engaged while we were eating dinner...on either side of our table. Our dinners were great, as was the complimentary dessert we received. I've only eaten here once, so I can't make any dining comparison, but I would definitely go back.
I've been here twice now for dinner in the last year, and both nights were perfect in just about every way. Most recently, I came here for dinner during Restaurant Week. I had read some mixed reviews about other people's experiences during RW, but honestly, we couldn't find a thing to complain about!
I was originally planning on taking advantage of the RW menu, but I couldn't pass up their specialty rack of lamb, which I still vividly remembered from my first dinner here last summer. The lamb was every bit as tender and delicious and perfectly cooked as the first time I had it. My dining companion went for the $35 RW dinner menu (similar, if not the same, as the new $40 prix-fixe menu that you can get anytime). She ordered the broccoli and snail soup for her first course - this was surprisingly tasty! I loved the lightness of the (vibrantly green) soup and the delicate crust on the tiny fried snails. She had the hanger steak for her main course, which I must say gave the lamb a run for its money. Cooked perfectly between rare & medium-rare (cooked through, but *just* so, which is how I think quality beef should be done!), it left all the hearty flavor in the meat and kept it nice and tender. It was served over a bed of greens (swiss chard, I think? or possibly beet greens?) that really complemented the meat, as well as a side of cauliflower gratin (extra cheesy, just the way I like it! MMM!).
For dessert, we were just going to split the apple strudel that came with the RW menu, but the server couldn't serve one of us without the other having something - so I got a beautifully plated Cranberry-Tangerine Bombe on the house! In addition to being fun to say, it was just plain delicious. And I'm not really a fruity sorbet kinda person, but I ate the whole damn thing, crisp pistachio meringue included.
The service was impeccable. Friendly and attentive without being overbearing, helpful in explaining menu options, and obviously doing everything they could to make sure our experience was memorable. Excellent wine menu features mainly French wines but also offers a nice selection of domestic options and a few South American choices. The fresh bread is crusty but with plenty of soft, fluffy insides to slather with the salted butter..... okay, I admit it, they had me with the bread and butter. The delicious entrees and free dessert were just icing on the cake. =)
Note that jackets are required for men. Complimentary valet parking is available, but I've been able to find parking within a block of the restaurant on both Saturday nights that I've gone, once at 6:30pm and again at 7:45pm. I loved the design of the restaurant, which is housed in an old townhouse that retains its cozy feel, with original room partitions and fireplaces. We also remarked upon the fact that each table in the Middleburg room where we sat was decorated with a real, wax-dripping taper candle in a silver candlestick - a classy touch that I can't remember finding elsewhere in a long time! Sometimes, simple IS good.
I lived next to this place for an entire year, and watched DC's rich and famous go in and out (usually via towncar), always wondering what was inside...
Well, I finally got to go when my mom attempted to one-up my roommate's parents on her trip out here (she lost, btw, as they took us to the Inn and Little Washington later, which is hands down the best DC area (loosely defined) restaurant). I am always a little awkward wearing a suit to dinner (I wouldn't be a proper college student if I wasn't), but this is one of those places where I felt like it was worth it. I got some kind of expensive fish (sorry, I totally forgot the exact kind!), and it was heavenly.
Georgetown students, if your parents are in from out of town and you are one of those typical rich New Jersey kids that seem to make up 3/4 of campus, get them to take you here - its probably a drop in the bucket for them. For the rest of us, still beg your parents to go there, if only once (the next time my mom came out we went to chili's to make up for spending too much last trip!). You will still catch me next door at the tombs more than you will here, but its purely a cash flow issue.
I was stoked to try out 1789 and extremely pleased that they extended their restaurant week special an additional week, so we could scrap our 10pm reservation for a more reasonable 6pm seating time. The location in Georgetown is so quaint and the facade is perhaps circa 1789. Inside, there is a small lobby where the hostesses will check your coat and give you a house jacket if you are not in a sports coat (jackets required men!). I was a little disappointed that we were not seated downstairs, but we had a larger group so we were taken to the second level. We were also a little early so we missed the crowd and were given very, very attentive service by our waiter. We also called ahead to tell the restaurant that it was our friend's birthday, and she was given a nice card and a candle with her dessert. Very classy.
So what can you say about the ambiance at 1789? Being from California, I have to say I much prefer the sleek lines of new American or Bistro style restaurants. I like my plates square and I like innovative centerpieces. 1789 is old-school DC class all the way, from the gold-rimmed flowered plates to the floral centerpieces and candlesticks to the ladies first service of menus, dishes, wine, etc. Classy, classy, classy. It's also quiet and date-ish, so save your group conversation about sex for another restaurant (we did not, but we also left a little abashed).
How about the RW food? I'm very impressed that they offered such a nice selection for the special. I'm also very impressed by the amuse bouche (salmon mousse on cucumber) we got at the beginning of our meal. We also started with a very good and very drinkable northern Greek wine recommended by our Greek waiter, a very light, fruity, semi-dry white ($40 a bottle). I got the steamed mussels (with chorizo) to start, which was tasty but unremarkable, but the steak tartare that my friends ordered (I hate food envy!) was excellent! As a main course, I ordered the rockfish (very, very tender still with skin- yay) and it came out in a surprisingly large portion over polenta and a cream sauce. Friends ordered the brazalino (good), the cod (also good), and the beef tenderloin (not cooked exactly as orderd, but still good, with a $15 upcharge).
The best part of the meal, however, was the dessert. I ordered the lemon tart and it came with a very, very nicely done tart, some candied tangerine and a blood orange ice cream. The ice cream was incredible. The tart was incredible. It's usually hit or miss with citrus desserts, but this one was a sure hit. Others got the ice cream and the truffle tart/cake thing and reported them excellent also. We were also given little sugar cookies and madelines to munch on as we paid the bill.
Overall, I was impressed with 1789. The service was impeccable. The decor (though not my style) was impeccable. The food was very good. I'm not sure I'd choose to go back here again unless it was someone who wanted to experience the epitome of DC-type fine dining, but I"d recommend it highly to those who are looking for that experience.
Having now tried many of the restaurants in the Clyde's restaurant group, I have to say that the Clydes/Old Ebs/1789 group knows their food and especially their DC classic, old-American style food (and fruit-based desserts!). And if that's what you're looking for, I have absolutely no qualms about recommending any of those establishments.
My husband and I booked a reservation here for a Saturday evening. Upon arrival we were seated quickly in the Carroll Room. We took part in their summer special -- 3 courses for $37 per person.
I ordered an appetizer of Manila Clams (mussels and clams) and my husband orderd the Scallops. While we were waiting, we were served some great bread. The clams were very tasty and I found it to be the perfect size for an appetizer. The scallops on the other hand was a tiny dish... only 3 scallops.
For the main course I ordered the Butter Poached Lobster and he got the New York Sirloin. These two entrees were an additional $15 on top of the $37 for the three course. The lobster was very tasty... it came with a "thai chili" sauce on one side and a "honey" sauce on the other so it was the perfect mix of spicy and sweet.
The sirloin was also very good, it came with a spinach pie and some amazing onion rings.
For dessert I got the Chocolate Dome and he got the Blackberry Tart. The Chocolate Dome was very rich and chocolately. It was flourless so it was quite thick. It came with a scoop of espresso ice cream. The Blackberry tart was amazing, the perfect summer dessert.
After the meal, the waiter brought over little shortbread cookies which were nice. We were totally stuffed though! The waitstaff was very attentive. Overall, a great experience and wonderful meal. Quite expensive though! $140 total and we didn't order and alcoholic beverages.
"1/2 off Wine Bottles"
Bethesda, MD
Yelpers Special: $4 house wine
Arlington, VA
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: French
Washington, DC
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Georgetown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: West End
Category: Bars
Washington, DC
Category: French
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