- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
AGAINN
Categories: Restaurants British Restaurants American (New) British, American (New) [Edit]
1099 New York Ave NW(between N 10th St & N I St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 639-9830
Announcement
Join us this St. Patrick's Day for the best party in town! Visit our website for details!
- Nearest Transit:
-
Metro Center Metro Station (Blue, Orange, Red)
Mcpherson Sq Metro Station (Blue, Orange)
Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station (Green, Red, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 12 am
Sat 5:30 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
293 reviews for AGAINN
Review Highlights
-
"I've also tried their Banoffee pie, which is awesome." In 26 reviews -
"The sticky toffee pudding for dessert was also quite good." In 16 reviews -
"Dinner was amazing, ordered the hanger steak and oh." In 13 reviews
Loading...
293 reviews in English
-
Review from Erin D.
Updated - 4/29/2012
After our poor experience with our waitress and the customer service last time, the manager invited us back to try the restaurant again. This time it was wonderful - as I said in my initial review, the food was a four star, the service is what brought my review down.
The food was, again, wonderful. I had the lamb shoulder, which was absolutely perfect. The meat just fell apart when you touched it, was juicy and tender, and had that perfect lamb taste. For dessert we split a chocolate cake and the toffee pudding - we couldn't decide which we liked better.
The service this time was a 180. Our waiter was aware of our first experience and apologized profusely for what had happened and let us know the waitress was no longer with the restaurant.
It was a completely lovely experience this time and I'm really glad the manager contacted us to invite us back and remedy our previous problems.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/25/2012
I want to be clear from the start - the food was a solid four. Unfortunately, the service was a one… Read more »
-
-
Review from Barbara W.
Gaithersburg, MD
5/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
The first time I went to AGAINN, I would have given them 2 stars for an extremely slow wait staff (yes there was just one person for the entire restaurant which is pretty big, both inside and outside) and salty food with some spoiled ingredients.
I went to AGAINN a second time for lunch with a coworker this past Friday (April 27 2012) and there was a brand new menu, plenty of wait staff and huge portions! The waiter was extremely attentive and kept our waters filled even though we could have done it ourselves with the bottle on the table.
Again the portions are huge, so me and my coworker ordered 6 oysters, Shepard's pie and Brussels sprouts with bacon and the sticky toffee pudding (with ice cream) and it was more than enough for us. I would say the food is still on the salty side, but the presentation was really gorgeous.
Of what we ate, I would definitely suggest the Brussels sprouts side dish and that toffee pudding was amazing! -
Review from Su H.
Alexandria, VA
4/7/2012
PROS: the decor and interior is great. Very chic and elegant but didn't get the feeling of an "old traidtional pub". Great service. They mistakenly forgot to tell me their salmon is cooked medium well. When I sent it back, the fixed the issue right away.
CON: the menu is lacking in entree choices. By default I ordered a salmon which was decent but not spectacular.
Overall, good but not great. -
Review from Andy G.
Washington, DC
5/22/2012
Not impressed with Againn. We had really poor service. Drinks were good, but the food was average at best. Way overpriced IMO. Not sure I'd ever come back.
-
Review from Genya D.
Arlington, VA
5/21/2012
Againn came highly recommended from a foodie friend in DC, so I was expecting great things. We also had a Groupon. Tuesday nights are apparently half price bottle of wine nights, but we did not check to see how that deal combined with the Groupon. Turns out, they do not combine. So I was unfortunately stuck with a much bigger bill than I planned for.
We had the seared scallops to start, which were wonderful. I cannot cook scallops at home, so these are always a treat.
We had a splendid bottle of pinot grigio, recommended by the sommelier. We took half bottle home.
The entrees...meh. I ordered the chicken with potatoes. I got two ENORMOUS pieces of grilled chicken, laid on top of some cut up potatoes. The chicken was tender, but I made it through only one half of one piece. Why the enormous portion sizes? The potatoes were over-done, oily, and very plain. No veggies to go with the giant portions of protein. I was ill after eating this meal. Thank goodness I took the chicken home and made chicken noodle soup.
My date had red snapper over a tropical salsa. It was good, but nothing I couldn't make at home.
The dessert of lemon posset was terrific. But there were no blackberries as listed on the menu. I felt a little cheated.
The service was decent. It was a slow night.
The food was alright. Not worth the $87 (without tip) however. I can make most of what we had better at home, especially the chicken. I still can't get over the boringness of the dish, and the poor quality of the potatoes. -
Review from Eric W.
Arlington, VA
5/12/2012
More like NEVER AGAINN for us....
We purchased a LivingSocial deal for this restaurant and were excited to use it as we had heard some good things about this place.
First thing I noticed was the restaurant had a nice decor and a good variety of beers on draft and a very extensive bar...a definite plus.
We started by ordering two of the "tidbits" off the menu - smoked almonds and edamame...both were pretty good and things were off to a good start. For dinner I ordered the Mac and Cheese, my wife and brother in law ordered the shepherds pie, and my sister in law ordered the smoked haddock. The haddock came out extremely salty (realizing that smoked proteins usually are salty, this was overboard). My Mac and Cheese was OK overall but ironically not very well salted/seasoned at all...so tasted pretty bland. From what I hear the sheperds pie was pretty tasty.
My sister in law mentioned the saltiness of her haddock and the waitress offered to bring her something else...she then ordered the mussels and those came over fairly quickly....at the time I was pretty impressed....it says a lot about a restaurant on how they handle someone not liking a dish. The mussels came out and tasted great.
For dessert the waitress suggested the "Banoffe Pie" which she said was her "favorite" and a "great dessert". I must say, i was very unimpressed...the dessert comes out in a mason jar and essentially looked like someone put a pile of graham/toffee in the bottom, a few slices of bananas on top of it, and then a little dollop of whipped cream. Although it was pretty dry overall, it tasted fine but for the price, it wasn't worth it.
Aside from all of this I probably would have given AGAINN 3.5 stars if it wasn't for the service. The service started out OK, but progressively worse throughout the night. At the point she realized we had a LivingSocial coupon she almost went immediately cold. She then brough over the check subtracting the deal but it still had the Haddock on the bill (the item we sent back). I mentioned it to another waitor who was picking up our check and I saw him speaking to her at which point I saw her roll her eyes. They then brought back the check with the haddock removed but not removing the Living Social deal (so it was $50 high). I had to re-explain everything again, at which point we *finally* got the correct bill. I guess third times a charm.
Overall, aside from the good drinks and beer, it wasn't a very pleasant experience. My sister in law actually has a LivingSocial coupon as well and mentioned rather than coming back she was just going to ask for a refund. -
Review from Aisha S.
5/9/2012
I was not too impressed the first time I came to Againn and ate dinner, but since then I've grown to like it. It all began with a cocktail called the Artemis and after that I discovered their truffle mac & cheese, chicken wings, and banoffee pie. Not to mention the great company of Anthony the bartender!
-
Review from Albert L.
4/5/2012
Finally checked out AGAINN with a friend after deciding to change it up and actually grab food in the city for once.
I was actually surprised at how cool the decor and layout was, definitely British and it had that industrial/warehouse feel. Actually, it kind of reminded me of Butler's Wharf along the Thames in London (more specifically the Chop House). I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they were going for. The lighting and seating are well spaced and give it a nice, smokey ambiance.
Service was a bit cool, but our waitress was kind enough to help us out with food selections and checking on us.
They have a decent selection of beers on tap, though I would have expected more selections from a British gastropub. The food menu was actually very focused and pleasing to read through. I think it's a great sign about the quality of the restaurant if I can get excited about the food just reading through the menu selections. I ended up going with the beetroot salad and lamb shoulder. The salad was awesome. The pieces of beetroot were a luscious red (it will stain, so be mindful), and it was complimented by the feta and citrus also on the plate. The lamb shoulder was amazing as well - tender and fell apart when I picked at it with my fork. The braised chard underneath was also very flavorful because of the broth.
Now, I wasn't expecting prices to be so high, but after review, I believe they are justified for the area and for the quality that you get. The whole experience is great if you want to try something different from the typical DC fare and stereotypical crowds. -
Review from Hungry I.
Washington, DC
3/11/2012
Summary: The best non-pub pub you will visit in DC
In the spirit of disclosure, we had been to Againn before for lunch and enjoyed it thoroughly; the house-made corned beef sandwich is a treasure to behold and they have a foreign draft list worthy of any pub. The thought of a Gaelic-named restaurant bringing integrity to Irish-inspired cuisine in DC made us eager to taste their menu again. Yet, when we sat down for dinner, our server explained the theme behind Againn and made no mention of an Irish inspiration. He said that it was a contemporary gastropub with a selection of over 100 different kinds of whiskies and a menu of traditional pub dishes re-imagined.
We started off with the Pumpkin Soup, pureed pumpkin and squash that was thinned out with milk before adding sage and brown butter. The soup was sweet, but not so sweet that it makes you think you're drinking a pumpkin pie. The sugar complimented the pumpkin puree well and the addition of squash kept the soup grounded. Warm and hearty, the flavors of the soup are all very familiar and can get tiring after a while if you're not a huge fan of sweets. Still, we would order it again, but possibly in a smaller quantity.
Our appetizer was the Marinated Olives, an assortment of seeded olives sitting in a bowl of olive oil that had been seasoned with orange zest, rosemary and fennel. The dish was really nothing more than a bowl olive oil with a generous amount of olives. If you don't LOVE olives, then do not order this.
The first entree was the Braised Veal Breast, a healthy piece of meat sitting on a whole grain mustard spaetzle, red wine braised torpedo onions and a small pool of veal broth. The cut of meat was very tender, the slow cooked beef kept together only by a succulent but thin layer of fat. Well marinated and expertly braised, the veal's savory juices worked harmoniously with the torpedo onions it sat on. The whole grain spaetzle extended the life of the flavors and did well to soak up the veal broth and mixed liquid, offering a slight crunch and not turning to mush in the mouth. As it should be, the veal was the prima donna of the dish while the extras performed admirably in their supporting roles.
Hoping for a lighter dish to compliment our heavy veal, we ordered the Local Rockfish, a generous piece of fish sitting on top of beluga lentils, spinach and celery. Topping the rockfish was a slight swiss chard and a significant amount of romesco sauce made from pureed red and yellow bell peppers, paprika, and butter. Although we were first put off by the large amount of red paste, the thick cut of delicate and tremendously flavorful rockfish had plenty of area for the the romesco sauce to compliment, opening up the flavors of the fish with its smoky, peppered tang. We would have preferred a more balanced proportion of lentils to spinach, but the sides did well to extend the life of the heavy fish. While we had expected a lighter dish, we still enjoyed the sleek and well spiced fish.
Wisely, we saved room for dessert and indulged in two choices. Our first choice was the Sticky Toffee Pudding, a toffee cake drizzled with a toffee sauce and toped with a homemade stout ice cream. Although intrigued by the stout ice cream, we quickly realized that it was not best to sample it by itself. The flavor was different and not altogether distasteful, but it shone its real purpose when combined with the toffee sauce and soaked cake. Even though it was soaked with sweet liquid, the cake still held its form well and tasted magnificently light. The toffee mixed with the tinge of the stout ice cream gave us a treat that was both familiar and new.
Our second choice was the Brioche Bread Pudding, a recipe that our server informed us changed us almost daily. This edition had the taste of a banana custard cake and held a delicate texture despite holding its form. Much like our previous dessert, this one was also soaked in a sweet caramel sauce and had a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The brioche bread pudding combined with the melted carmel and fresh ice cream was a true treat and guaranteed a return trip to the restaurant.
Againn's focus on the re-interpretation of pub fare hit the mark where so many other restaurants have failed. Many establishments turn out to be bad jokes, hollow impersonations or ignorant caricatures. Instead of being defined by any one cartooned culture, Againn elevates the menu of the generic, local pub and serves as an example for how even common, peasant food can be nobly reconstructed into fine cuisine. -
Review from annie d.
Washington, DC
3/7/2012
This is expensive pub food. It's fancy, but it's expensive. The whiskey list is extensive, but expensive. The food is tasty, but expensive.
That's about all there is to it. -
Review from Scot W.
3/2/2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Againn...I went for a weekday lunch and found the atmosphere to be about perfect. The service was friendly, the space wasn't too noisy or overcrowded...
The food: We both had their soup of the day which was a cream-based potato and celery soup; it was very good. The flavor of the celery really came through prominently to make the soup a little more interesting than the standard potato soup.
I had the mussels with fries; the fries were delicious and perfectly prepared. The mussels were very good and it was a massive portion, especially for lunch. The cider and curry seasoning was different from anything I've had before and was awesome.
My dining companion had a burger; she rarely gets beef but very much enjoyed the sandwich.
Great lunch spot; seemed like it probably has a great happy hour vibe. -
Review from Sara S.
Washington, DC
3/31/2012
High quality fare.
Great food - I think worth the money. Had the Oysters, not as flavourful as they could be. Excellent chips, flavourful accompaniments. The shrimp and grits were an upmarket take on a classic, very well executed. That said, the sandwiches and burgers are probably the best thing they do food wise.
Lovely presentation; I would visit again. -
Review from Doug P.
3/7/2012
I came here recently to use a Groupon deal and try it out. This meal was worth it full price or with a deal. It has a unique look to it- old leather den meets kitchen. The Scotch lockers add a unique look as well ( I enjoy scotch and whiskey, but don't think I will be purchasing a locker for my own bottle anytime soon). The Fish and chips was a very large portion, but the size of the Salmon was HUGE. I really don't recall the last time I saw a restaurant so generous with their portions. The service was also very freidnly and attentive throughout the meal. In terms of drinks, they make a great Old fashioned. Overall, the quality of the meal was also extremely good. I did not get to try the oysters but plan to go back soon and conquer that oyster bar.....
I think this is a great addition near the convention center area! -
Review from Jenny E.
Washington, DC
Updated - 4/23/2012
Went back to Agaiin for the first time and was sad to see they have totally revamped their menu and it is no longer upscale gastro pub (but rather - the "we can have fun with random cuts of meat" style that is in now). Food was fine - but definitely not as good as the old menu. Service was also below average.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/29/2010
I had been excited to try Againn after hearing good things when it first opened, so was surprised on… Read more »
-
-
Review from Sarah G.
Washington, DC
3/15/2012
I went to Againn with a couple of friends for a late dinner, and we were beyond satisfied with the service and the quality of the food. Timothy, our server, was very helpful and informative, and even gave us a glass of wine on the house while our selected bottle was chilling.
The roasted chicken was perfectly cooked, and the mushrooms were very flavorful. We also had an order of the steamed curried mussels and the truffle Mac and cheese - I will probably be dreaming about this food tonight! After dinner, Tim left a chilled display of desserts on our table and we were sold on the goat cheese cheesecake and some sort of cake with Guinness ice cream (I forgot what it was called, but you should DEFINITELY get both because we couldn't decide which one we preferred). Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend it! -
Review from Lauren B.
Updated - 4/17/2012
We went back for more Artemises, Artemi? I don't know what the plural of that drink would be but we had many and in a moment of clarity decided grabbing some food to soak up this soiree. I highly recommend the smoked wings and truffle mac n cheese as they are both excellent. I wish I could remember our bartenders name because he was so fun!
Listed in: This Tabs for You!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/6/2012
One of my favorite things about Yelp Drinks Week is that it brings me to new places I either didn't… Read more »
-
-
Review from Clifford D.
Washington, DC
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
The service at the bar at Againn is excellent. All the bartenders are super friendly and attentive. The happy hour deals are pretty good and I like their selection of draft beer.
I enjoyed the food I ordered, although I thought it was overpriced. If the food was cheaper, I'd give it five stars.
I really like the atmosphere and design of Againn. I will be back. -
Review from Teresa M.
Washington, DC
4/20/2012
Great drinks and high end bar food. Love the cool industrial decor. The curry mussels were amazing! Service was not great. Took awhile to get our drinks and waiter was not knowledgeable of menu or wine list.
-
Review from J P.
Vienna, VA
2/4/2012
On my third trip to Againn the food and service really hit it out of the park.
Arriving for a late Friday Night dinner we were surprised to hear that all the tables has been booked for the evening (it was the last date for a certain Groupon special so there were quite a lot of eager patrons in the restaurant). Fortunately the whole menu is available at the bar and at the marble half-circle oyster shuck station.
As its not a problem for us we saddled up at the oyster bar and were immediately introduced and tended to by Stephen.
Stephen's service on a busy night is actually what brings me to this review and the high marks. He provided attentive service, personality and comfort, and devoted enough time to us that at times I wondered if we were monopolizing us. His recommendations were spot on and even in our tiny dining space we were able to happily consume our meal.
One nice touch I was unaware of at Againn is that they will split entrees and other items for you (no charge) and that was especially nice for the Lamb Shoulder entree and apple-butternut squash soup. Having our own plates it was somewhat staggering to discover our meal came to under $100 ($99 to be exact - and thats without any coupon or deal).
We had beer, wine, soup, shrimp and grits, rarebit, the aforementioned lamb shoulder, brussel sprouts side (always a favorite at Againn) and a toffee pudding dessert. It was, for the price, the most satisfying meal (flavor and service) I have had in several months.
It may be hard to sell the Brit gastro pub fare to friends but the second you sit down - especially with a server like Stephen - you will be very pleased. The flavors are sharp, the meal is not soupy or covered in gravy, it is genuine and flavorful. We may just add Againn in to our regular rotation after last night. -
Review from Les D.
1/6/2012
There's a lot of promise in this restaurant, just too much missing. Waitstaff is very good and the interior satisfactory. However, it is deafening. Not even sitting near the bar, I spent the night shouting across the table. I'm no prude when it comes to a clamorous bistro, but the decibels were far too numerous. Ears were actually ringing when we left. Strongly recommend you request a table at the rear of the restaurant away from the bar.
I love a challenging menu, but I genuinely didn't see a single entree on the menu that sparked my interest. Nothing with a genuine contrast of flavors. And the price. No further example needed than cod: $26. I like cod. I read "Cod: the Biography of the Fish That Changed the World" by Mark Kurlansky, an extraordinary read. Although not addressing it directly, the author, I believe, might concur that a cod dinner in an Irish/American restaurant in DC should not cost $26. Now I'm just being churlish.
I wasn't the only person at my table underwhelmed by the menu, and it wasn't helped by the old coach's clipboards on which the menus were passed. Just didn't go with the rest of the restaurant. But, alas, we were saved by the special; a ribeye for two. I'll go for that. A creative idea and it wasn't bad, but was certainly undercooked. Hardly luke warm at the center. Steak needs heat to summon flavor. Potatoes were nice, bread was nice, mussels didn't score par. Salmon undercooked.
I'm a farm kid. I certainly appreciate the locally procured initiative and, yes, I'll pay a small premium for that. The ribeye special came to $75. Simply wasn't a good value. There's clearly talent and creativity in the kitchen, it's the menu that needs a good sorting. Againn is in a neighborhood with some fantastic restaurants, also known as very stiff competition. It's simply going to take a lot more variety and shushing to bring me back. -
Review from Lenny S.
Rockville, MD
3/3/2012
Very Expensive But overall good food.
Nothing amazing in terms of service, food or drinks but over a good atmosphere and a fun evening even with the very high prices.
The pork belly was delicious.
MIght go back if someone else was paying but other then that there are better places in dc for far less money. -
Review from Nicole L.
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
The restaurant was packed when we walked in luckily I made a reservation prior to going. We were greeted by the friendly manager and the host took us right to the table. The restaurant, a gastropub looked well-made compared to many so called upscale restaurants in DC. The dark wood and tiles that were high quality were also aesthetically pleasing. Due to its casual appearance it's a tough sell for the food that was supposed to be more upscale.
We started off with the Pimm's Cup and a Scottish ale appropriately named as the Skullsplitter. The Pimm's Cup was a very refreshing cocktail it was light on the alcohol despite being most noted 1) for the bartenders 2) for specialty cocktails. When the beer arrived at the table, the beer froth had subsided it ended up looking like a half-poured beer. At this point it would be the responsibility of the waiter to ensure quality control of the beer but that didn't happen. For $9 a glass I expected a nicely poured beer. The beer had a punch and slightly bitter ending due to the hop.
The breads were freshly baked and slight warm that was definitely a plus! We ordered the black pudding and beet salad for appetizers. For entrees, we had the Scottish salmon and braised veal.
Homemade black pudding with apple puree, pickled sunchokes, petite cress: pan fried to a nice crisp on the outside the flavor was great! It was definitely taking everyday food to another level.
Beet salad with navel orange, pickled fennel, ricotta salata, spiced walnuts, honey dressing: a very balanced salad. I particularly loved the ricotta salada that was shaved all over the plate it had a mild creamy texture that went with the citrus and beets on the plate. The slight nutty flavors from the spiced walnuts completed the dish.
Pan-seared Scottish Salmon with roasted beets, marble potatoes, horseradish:
the almost white color of the fish was a contrast to the usual salmon it also tasted more like a white fish than a salmon, slightly firmer and less fatty flavors.
Braised veal breast with whole grain mustard spaetzle, red wine braised torpedo onions: the cube of a veal slowly braised it was fork tender the meat shredded easily. The fried spaetzle and slightly sweet onions combined really well with the tender meat. It was well-seasoned and quite harmonious.
Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce, stout ice cream: the most lovely dessert outside of chocolate or fruity desserts for me. I explained to my bf who was not familiar with toffee that it was caramelized sugar with addition of butter or sometimes flour. The stout ice cream tasted like a creamy bailey's together with the slightly warm and soaked bread this dessert was just perfect. The toffee sauce gave subtle smokey and deep flavors. The focal point of the dessert? Well it was the dessert itself not the typical sickening sugary desserts that I loathed. Again it was a balanced dessert with just the right portion.
Overall, I really enjoyed the dinner at Againn. I found the food to be of high quality and well-balanced. The price point was definitely higher than the restaurant looked. It's a tough sell for a gastropub especially here in the US where people don't eat the same type of pub food like in England. Though it had the appeal of a casual pub, it was surprisingly a gourmet delight.
I would definitely go back especially if they have Sunday roast but they are closed on Sundays. -
Review from Brian F.
1/25/2012
Not quite a 5-star review because of a few quibbles, but overall one of the most satisfying dinners I've had recently.
Went there for an EARLY reservation with the girlfriend-type recently, because we had tickets to a show (the In Series pocket opera double-bill Barber & Barberillo). Luckily, our reservations were very early, because we weren't seated on time. I understand places get backed up, but this was like 5:30 on a Saturday evening. That didn't bode well for those holding 7:30 or 8 o'clock reservations.
The goods:
- The pork belly & cracklin....I wanted to climb on the table and make love to it like Jason Biggs did to the titular pastry in American Pie. Holy cow! I heard the footsteps, the bass kick in, the engine start and tires squeal, and I felt like I was transported into a video for Roxy Music's Love is the Drug when I took my first bite. The succulence of the pork belly contrasted by the crunchiness of the cracklins, but both overwhelming in their "pigness"
- The sticky toffee pudding - the stout ice cream offers just a hint of savory to blunt the nearly overpowering nature of its companion.
The bads:
- The salad prior to dinner was nice, but ultimately forgettable.
- The bartenders...they didn't seem to be particularly well-organized or motivated. They seemed to expend more energy in making a show of doing Five-Hour Energy Shots than waiting on customers, and one of them made a comment along the lines of "270 reservations tonight and 2 bartenders". Not so professional there, guys.
The uglies:
- Not being seated on time. If you're already backed up at 5:30, it's going to be a looooooong night.
- The tab. This place is a wee bit pricey for what is self-described "gastropub" food. Luckily, we had a coupon, but this isn't someplace we'd frequent unless I land one of those cushy K Street lobbying jobs. -
Review from Venu N.
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.25 stars. If I was only writing about the refreshing beetroot salad that started our meal, I would potentially be giving Againn a much higher rating. Againn's version used earthy golden beets prepared two ways and complemented with an array of different flavors ranging from mildly spicy (fennel, spiced walnuts), milky (ricotta salata), and sweet (navel oranges, honey). When each bite of a salad provides a different intoxicating experience, you know you have a winner. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed with the start to our meal.
Sadly, the pork belly was not on the same level. While I understand that pork belly generally does not look appetizing, a thick slice unceremoniously plopped on top of a dark pork broth was not what I was expecting. The braised cabbage that complemented the pork broth was delicious, but it was not enough to save the dish. The white grits were such an afterthought on the plate that they did not really provide anything of substance to the ensemble. Having said all that, the actual slice of pork belly was rather tasty. I also enjoyed the pork cracklin that topped the belly.
I sampled the hanger steak, and while it was properly cooked, it tasted like it had been covered in both a shallot vinaigrette and butter. In fairness, I only sampled this dish, but let's just say that I was happy I ordered the belly.
I finished my meal with the sticky toffee pudding. The cake itself apparently is made from dates and has an odd taste to it. I did like the stout ice cream served with the cake. On a subsequent visit, however, I will probably opt for the Guinness beer float. Also, I tried the vaunted banoffee pie, and apparently I got the only bit of caramel in that dish.
In short, I loved the beetroot salad, but I'm not sure I have found the right combination of desserts and entrees to complement the starter yet. -
Review from Mike B.
Washington, DC
1/17/2012
Normally very busy so reservations recommended.
Good atmosphere and food with great atmosphere and service.
All in all, it should be better for the $$$ - pricey for the offering. -
Review from Samantha G.
Washington, DC
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
I haven't actually eaten here yet, but drinks on a weekend night here was a great experience. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and mixed yummy cocktails. It was pretty busy, but not so busy that you couldn't get near the bar or felt ignored. The food looked delicious, so I will be sure to try out some menu items next time I'm here.
-
Review from Brian B.
Washington, DC
3/30/2012
Limited, overpriced menu. Extremely greasy and high fat options. Delicious.
The corned beef is a pile of untrimmed meat on a brioche bun--you will want to devour the entire thing. Do not wear your belt.
OK fries, nothing to write home about. Whoever wrote the menu thought they were fancy, calling them "chips". Salt comes in a ridiculous little dish with a spoon. LMAO.
Great service, they will from time to time ply you with cookies after the meal. They have also been known to discount regular customers to the tune of 10%.
Best known as a low-key pub with a great beer selection. Trust in the Irish. -
Review from Kathryn H.
Washington, DC
2/12/2012
I have been to Againn twice. If I had written this review after my first visit, it would have been a 5-star review. I went to Againn one evening in September with a girlfriend and we had a fantastic experience. Our server (Jennifer I believe) was in training and normally works as a hostess. She was incredibly helpful with making menu selections and all-around fun and friendly. If she weren't working, we probably would have asked her to pull up a chair and join us. Our meals were delicious and the dessert Jennifer recommended was to die for.
I returned to Againn a couple of weeks ago with my boyfriend. The food was still very good, but the service was borderline offensive. The server ignored us for the first 15 minutes - not even a greeting! My boyfriend and I both spent years waiting tables so we are pretty understanding of a waitress who is overwhelmed for one reason or another. All it would have taken for us to brush aside the wait was a quick apology or explanation. However, our server just came up and brusquely asked for our order. After she took our order, the next time we saw her was when she delivered the check. It was then - when we were both finished with our meals - that we were asked if we wanted another drink. We both kept an eye on her our whole meal. She wasn't running around with a huge section, or large parties. She just seemed totally uninterested in serving us. -
Review from Anne H.
Washington, DC
3/21/2012
Just ate here for the first time Monday night. Waitstaff was friendly but service was very slow. Some dishes were great, but it was all a little too salty. We ordered steamed mussels and a few were bad, which spoiled an otherwise delicious meal.
-
Review from Olivia P.
Washington D.C., DC
4/2/2012
We went on a Saturday night. We waited at the bar for our friend, and the bartender was super nice (and very attractive). He made us our cocktails. I had a Pimm's Cup and my friend had a whiskey drink. They were good, although the Pimm's was not very strong. The food here sucks and is very expensive. My friend didn't even eat her fish from the fish and chips. The truffle mac and cheese was something I could make better, and I'm not even a good cook. The fried pickles were not as good as the ones from Boundary Stone - the batter wasn't appropriately seasoned. I asked our waitress if they had any pilsners and her response was, "We have a lot of beers." I looked on the beer menu and nope, no pilsners. VERY expensive for what you get here. Won't be going AGAINN.
-
Review from Jenna J.
3/5/2012
Oh Againn, I will keep going back to you again and againnnnn.
One doesn't typically think of food from the British Isle's as particularly innovative, but Againn lives up to its title of "gastropub" and delivers some of the tastiest food and innovative drinks I've had in DC. The only thing that keeps me from going back more often than I do is the lack of vegetarian options (none on the entree menu, and only a couple appetizers), however, I find excuses to go there for desserts and drinks as often as possible.
For starters, you can't go wrong with the beetroot salad, which is tender cubes of beet, sections of naval oranges, pickled fennel, ricotta salata, walnuts, and honey dressing. The flavors blend perfectly together, and it makes a great (very) small meal on its own. I can't personally speak to any of the entrees, however, when I've been out with meat eating friends, many items, especially the porkbelly have gotten rave reviews.
The true stars of the menu however are their desserts. While the menu changes all the time, the two constants, the banoffee pie and the sticky toffee pudding, are real winners. In fact, I can't remember a dessert in recent memory that I love as much as the banoffee pie. What is this pie you ask? Well, first they take a little flip top mason jar, and put a thick layer of buttery graham crackers crust inside. Then they cover this crust with a generous layer of thick caramel, lay slices of banana on top, then drizzle it all in chocolate ganache and top with a large dollop of whip cream. It is rich and perfect. The nearly as good toffee pudding is a donut sized spongy toffee cake, covered with a big scoop of stout ice cream, and dripping with roasted toffee sauce.
I still haven't gotten to the best part of Againn yet though, and that, is their cocktails. The cocktails at Againn are frequently featured in DC cocktail competitions and are definitely some of the best the city has to offer. This is in no small part thanks to Brent, the bartender who is the brains behind many of Againn's most innovative cocktails. Take for example, the Aztec 3 Step, a firey mix of tequila, aperol, marschino, grapefruit juice, and chili bitters. Your mouth will burn. Or then there is my personal favorite, the Snap Dragon, a very drinkable mix of gin, lychee liquor, spice syrup, lemon, and bitters. This tastes like you are drinking a very alcoholic spicy lemonade, and goes down far too easily. Last time we were there Brent got me drunk, on the three rounds of cocktails that we bought, and on the bonus round of his newest creations that he gave us for free. When you go, ask him for a Dragon's Nest, an off the menu concoction of cacacha, lemon grass, and a bunch of other Asian-inspired flavors.
Add to all of that the always friendly service, the exceptional bar service, the cozy ambiance, and the bourbon lockers (you can buy your own bottle of bourbon and lock it up next to the bar) and Againn is a place worth repeating. -
Review from Winnie K.
2/23/2012
I SO wanted to love them - the service was good, their scotch list is vast, I had a Living Social deal, the atmosphere is just lovely. However, the food was just not up to par.
App: I got the pate with toast points - delicious, a few pieces of toast were burnt though. Friend ordered the soup special, a celery root and potato and he really liked it.
Entree: I ordered the hanger steak - did not enjoy this, I read the reviews and I love steak, so I was really looking forward to it. It was chewy and just not really good, seemed like it was the cut I guess. It came with a salad which was really delightful, light and it complemented the steak well. The fries were normal, nothing to write home about.
Friend ordered the crusted salmon and it was cooked perfectly. The crust was crisp and the inside was cooked. The flavors were also light and delicious. Should have ordered this one!
We also ordered the Welsh Rarebit on the side. We both thought it was very weird as a side because a side should complement your entree, but in this case, it really didn't. It was very heavy and rich. Friend loved it, I didn't so much.
Dessert: Banoffee pie! It comes in this cute pot/jar thing with graham cracker crust, chocolate drizzle, thinly sliced bananas, and (I think they said homemade) cream on top. SO GOOD. It wasn't too sweet, which normal desserts are, but you still get your sweet tooth craving.
Our server was attentive and helped us out with some of the menu.
Even with the Living Social deal, I thought the menu was overpriced. -
Review from M A.
Washington, DC
1/24/2012
I must say, I have been to Againn on several occasions. The first few times were satisfactory. However, I have had one really poor experience that has really turned me away.
I made a reservation a week in advance, thankfully -- as I watched many people get turned away. It was a busy Saturday night in the restaurant, but there were several open tables, probably to save the servers.
My friend and I were seated in the far back corner of the restaurant. As others mentioned, the restaurant is pretty loud - so it was nice to be in a quiet corner ... however maybe that wasn't the best location afterall.
It was cold, as people -- staff and customers included -- were going out the back door.
BUT - the worst was that the very pleasant hostess seated us ... and then we were pretty much forgotten for 30 minutes. I watched a server go to all the tables in the back room, but ours. When we did get a server, he rattled off the special and darted of -- to give us more time with the menus. At that point we hadn't even gotten a drink order taken!
As I watched him travel to several tables multiple times near ours, we flagged him down and indicated that we were now starving and had been waiting half an hour for service. He said ok, and still didn't come to our table. We finally got him to take our order and then he disappeared. We asked for a manager.
The manager and server that was reassigned to us were very pleasant. We were promised a comped dessert, but that didn't happen either.
It was a really mixed bag that night - the food was spectacular, but service was really lacking. -
Review from Sarah S.
10/26/2011
Decided to visit Againn for dinner with a couple of friends. I had interest in visiting for a while, always liking the look of the restaurant when walking by and finding the menu decent. We made an Open Table res and were seated a the table of our choice (I'm a table snob) quickly. Staff was friendly and welcoming. They have a small wet bar at the entrance (very small) and a larger bar, which was filled with "DC business types" (we'd say "yuppies" if this was the 1980s) the bar was nice, but, the scene at it wasn't my scene.
We sat near the wine cellar; through it you can see the kitchen. The menu was nice; just the right size with still lots of interesting options. One person at the table ordered a Pimm's Cup and the others glasses of wine. The wine is poured at the table and they allow you to try the wine before you accept a full class.
The food was delicious, one of the best meals I have had in DC in quite sometime. All seasonal, and despite it being a rather "small" appearing menu, the options are overwhelming - so many delicious things, so hard to decide. I had steak frites - an old favorite - and it was wonderful. Friends had pork (I don't remember what) and a fish dish, both very happy.
Overall, the meal was great, and the experience was enjoyable. The waitstaff did seem overwhelmed and we had to wait quite sometime for our check, but our waiter was very friendly.
Looking forward to visiting again! -
Review from R David C.
Alexandria, VA
3/11/2012
the food was all rather mediocre, and I hate leaving a place after an $85 tab for two and feeling hungry . . . the NY strip was ordered medium and came out tough and too well done and with too much fat for the cut . . . the mac and cheese should have just been called mac because we had a hard time discerning any cheese in it . . . the shrimp and grits may be one of their most popular items, but it turned our stomachs . . . on the bright side, the black pudding was pretty good, the spinach dish with gouda in it was nice, and the bread and butter were probably the best thing on our table . . . we each had a glass of the Argentinean Malbec and it was fine -
looking for drinks in a trendy atmosphere, this place might fit the bill, for dinner i will definitely not return . . . -
Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
1/20/2012
One day before their restaurant dealio (not sure which kind it was) expired and both their service AND mussels were on point?!? Unexpected! And appreciated!
-
Review from Tara N.
Rockville, MD
12/22/2011
Every bite I have here is delicious! I usually get the specials -- they are farm fresh and always amazing. The only reason I give it 4 stars (though I wish I could give them 4.5 stars) is that it is a little pricey.
That is why I usually wait until a deal from SalesVote or LivingSocial to go here. That being said, sometimes I just NEED to have that French Toast! Honestly, you need to go here for brunch just for that - they should sell it as a dessert all day long - it is just that unbelievable. -
Review from Bruce R.
Washington, DC
3/7/2012
Sat at the bar and Brent served me nicely. Nice sausage along with fried pickles. Tasted some bourbons. Nice beer on tap. Finally, the ice for the bourbon was a baseball sized rock that Brent created using this copper melting thing -- you gotta see this in action! In like 10 seconds, it melts a square into the baseball sphere. Amazing.
-
Review from Morgan H.
Washington, DC
10/12/2011
Overall, I had a pleasant experience at Againn DC. I would recommend it to friends based on the food - but not on the service. It seemed that we had a new waiter that wasn't very experienced. I would have expected more from this caliber of restaurant. He was friendly enough, but pretty socially awkward, which made it awkward for us. Mid-way through the dinner, the bus boy spilled the bottle of water all over the table and onto my plate. Luckily, it did not get into my food but it did spill slightly on me, but we were not offered anything to compensate for this. I would have hoped for more.
But like I said, the food was good. We had the shrimp cocktail and beet salad appetizers - the bloody mary sauce was delicious. For dinner, I had the veal which was unique but tasty. My friends had the fish and chips and the steak - I wish I had gotten the steak, it looked amazing and the "chips" were apparently cooked to perfection.
Overall, it was a solid meal and I would go again.. I'd just hope for a different waiter. -
Review from Betsy S.
8/28/2011
Big fan of this place (pronounced A-gwen, not Again-n-n. Bummer.) Our bartender, John, tolerated our bad jokes about the earthquake and impending hurricane, as well as my mom's attraction to the very British teacups to the left of the bar. The prices were a tad high, but the food was at least delicious. And to the food...
I can't remember our server's name for the life of me, but he was great. So many servers can't handle the wit and charm of my family, but this one shot it right back. He was quick with drink orders, knew just about everything about every menu item we asked about, and sold us on the Welsh Rarebit appetizer. He had me taking a Lactaid for that one - bread with melted cheese on top. So so worth it. Give it a shot.
I had the special tomato soup and the beetroot salad, strange as I'm not a huge fan of beetroots. But the tomato soup was perfect - creamy and tomato-y, with a little kick at the end, courtesy of the anchos floating in the bowl. The salad was a very colorful plate and the perfect complement to the soup. The consistencies of the oranges and beets matched well with the walnuts and honey dressing. But the desserts! And oh - I got an O'Hara red beer. Delish.
Our table probably ordered 6 desserts to share amongst the 7 of us, three of those being the toffee pudding. Read every other review that deifies the pudding and then go straight to Againn. The ice cream was cold, the little cake was warm and butterscotchy...please eat it. Five times.Listed in: Oh hai date night...
