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Categories: Pubs, American (Traditional) [Edit]
1847 14th Street NWU St/African-Amer Civil |War Memorial/Cardozo (Green, Yellow)
Mon. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Tue-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
"Great location and an atmosphere you just can't re-create! I highly recommend this spot to both natives and out-of-towners."
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I remember eating at St Ex back when Bart was running the kitchen, and when he decided to move on to his own DC culinary stardom, I thought that St Ex's food may have been doomed. Not so! I've taken advantage twice of the pre-fix 3 course meal before 7pm ($32), once last year with my visiting parents and once again yesterday with my man. To my delight, St Ex continues to pump out reliably good dinner cuisine - creative but comfortable and leaning heavily on what's in season.
Course one: mussels and duck rillette. The mussels are spot on - quality, quantity and proper seasoning, topped with grill-toasted fresh bread. The rillette was ok, although I would suggest a pork rillete for the complimentary sweet flavors they have added. Duck just didn't cut it in flavor.
Course two: Tuna with sweet potato risotto and Rockfish with squash puree (I think; plus something else on each dish that doesn't come to mind, but it's not because it wasn't memorable, rather it's because it went so smoothly together). The tuna was good, but the Rockfish was an exceptional autumn-delicious dish.
Course three: Chai cheesecake and Peanut butter Buttermilk Ice cream sandwiches. The little sandwiches are whimsical and refreshing.
Our server was so accommodating and sweet, we refused to let her go without closing out under her before she left for the change of shift. We came in before dinner began (which is at 5) and we were both deliriously ravenous. She worked with us to get us something in our tummies despite the limited kitchen abilities and she did it all with a smile.
One of the minus stars I have for St Ex is the noise level. It's a small place with a low ceiling covered in metal, so it's understandable that noise will not be absorbed. However, at 4:30pm and with a (surprisingly) good amount of people at the bar, there's no need for music to be blasting on top of all of that chaos. Save that for 9pm and onward, when dining is basically done and the emphasis moves more from the kitchen to the bar. St Ex seems to struggle between being a high quality dining spot and a Saturday night watering hole.
I have heard a lot about the brunch here, and I should say that this was my first time, but I found two significant problems with only one plate of food, so that's all I have to go on.
First of all, I had the poached eggs with tomato hollandaise and grits. I specifically told the waitress to have my gf's eggs "over-hard" which they came out very well, although not "over hard" and I asked for "over-medium" which I mentioned not wanting to eat the "raw whites" of the egg. I didn't even think I should have to say that, but I did anyway. Of course, it comes out with exactly that. I don't think it's that hard to poach an egg.
Secondly, the salt content on the grits was borderline gross, and I love salt! They won't be getting another crack at this breakfast for a while.
Speaking just to the bar/club functions:
Went around midnight on a Saturday night and the place is like everyone says: so dark you can't see anyone, and disgustingly dank and sweaty in the basement. After losing my friends, thanks to the darkness, I headed elsewhere, returning around 2:15 to say bye to the friends who remained and hoping to wrap up the night on a high note, darkness/grossness be damned.
Although posted signs said it was open till 3, and the place was clearly still packed, the front door was locked. We went around to the side and when the door opened as someone exited, tried to enter. Mind you, I was completely sober at this point and not at all belligerent or the like. Bouncer rudely told us we could not come in unless we lost something. I said, brightly and politely, I just wanted to run in quickly to say goodbye to some people, and which the bouncer yelled, "I told you to stay out!" and literally pushed me out the door onto the street and slammed the door. I'm a girl and in my whole life have neither had a run in with a bouncer nor been pushed by anyone. So, so not acceptable. Definitely will not be returning.
Brunch impressions:
LOUD! What? THIS PLACE IS LOUD! What? NEVER MIND!
DID I EVER TELL YOU MY GRANDFATHER WAS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR IN WWI? HE SAID THE BEST ADVICE HE COULD GIVE WAS TO BAIL IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HEARD A RIPPING SOUND...What?
THESE EGGS ARE REALLY FRESH!!!!! What?
WOW. THAT WAS A VERY GENEROUS POUR!!!! Wha?
"On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur" and my heart saw goodness here. My ears were scared, though.
I read the previous reviews before writing mine, and I'm trying not to be influenced. I'm at 3.5 deciding whether to go up or down from there. Alas, I must go down. First off, it wasn't that crowded last night (Friday, 7:30 pm). In fact, they sat us down right away. The waitress was really friendly.... not like overbearing, but normally friendly. Gave us plenty of time to order, brought us water right away etc. Felt the need to point that out based on the other reviews.
It also wasn't THAT loud.... but it is DC and all the restaurant-converted-townhouse places have acoustic issues. I guess they could turn it back into a 3 bedroom house, but it's part of living in a city with limited space. It's annoying, but forgivable. One could always venture out to the burbs and eat at an acoustically sound Bennigans or something.
But, on to the food. The menu is just ok. Usually, I have trouble deciding what to eat at places like this, particularly if I'm spending over $20 on an entree. Saint Ex just doesn't give enough different choices, and they are heavy on cream usage if you are in the mood to eat sorta light. I ordered the beet/grapefruit-2-ways salad an appetizer and the tuna-risotto-pea shoot entree. The beets were good, but there was only one tiny piece of grapefruit. The tuna was rare as ordered, but was totally unseasoned. Granted, you don't want to mess with good quality rare tuna.... but if it's going to be unseasoned, I can do that myself at home for half the price.
But, it seems they go out of their way to source very quality ingredients. The taste is just not worth the price though.
I won't go back unless they drastically alter their menu.
Besides the cheap drinks, I see no reason to go back to Saint-Ex. The downstairs area was SOOO hot and crowded when I was there that I spent the night hanging out under the fan by the stairs. Funness!
This is another brunch review from me on Saint-Ex. You know, I really want to love the brunch here but we had a snafu this am. Jesse's (my bf) poached eggs came out with runny, undercooked egg whites. That is just completely disgusting and culinarily unacceptable. They were quite nice about it but it took another 20 minutes for him to them to replace it, at which point I was done with my breakfast. What's more, the eggs were completely overdone when they brought them back. Poaching an egg is breakfast 101 - I don't think you should be in the business if you can't poach an egg.
This review is based on the 1 time I have been to Saint-Ex. I went for brunch, which was… Read more »
3.5
I hate this place in the evenings. It's tiny, and always packed tighter than a French brothel after D Day. Friends don't let friends go to St. Ex for anything other than brunch (and the occasional Wig Night).
That said, many peeps I know were raised suckling the teats of their Armenian housekeeper and reading The Little Prince, so a place named and themed-out for Antoine de Saint Exupery is near and dear to their spoiled-rotten, evil hearts. The interior decor is one of St. Ex's main attractions, and although I hate to promote such behavior, the place really is best enjoyed in a relaxing, sober-ish atmosphere.
The brunch food itself isn't particularly stunning, and your overall experience will vary greatly, depending on the level of service. My expectations are usually fairly low, and I just go in to basically veg out, have some eggs Benedict and a mimosa, and attempt to trick my brain into thinking that it's still Saturday, and those things St. Ex always delivers. Though perhaps not as much fun as a French brothel, put your inner foodie on snooze, go into Bahamas mode, invite close friends to bullshit for a good hour-and-a-half, and you too will have a great time.
Service just mediocre and so was my food.
The burger was good, salad dressing had way to much salt and the calamari very so tiny I almost could not find them underneath the capers.
Drink (Beer) selection was decent but it could need some improvements.
The air is filled with the smell of applewood smoke and aviation relics. Aged brick, Latrec-esque murals, old wood and hammered tin line the walls and ceilings, calling forth times past. As the son of a Tuskegee Airman, the nostalgia of this place tugged at my soul as powerfully as the food excited my palate.
The ambiance supported spinning stories and sipping bourbon and red wine with my close friend and fellow culinary aficionado. We opted to share the $36 three course prix fixe menu taking delightful waitress Annamarie's suggestions of mussels soaked in a rich garlic and herb sauce, center-cut pork chops accompanied by a slightly sweet and savory bread pudding, finishing the meal off with sweet potato cheese cake that was more akin to my holiday favorite pumpkin pie, topped with a reduction of bing cherries. Each bite was greeted with a moan of delight. The meal was plenty for the two hungry folks with the help of the smoked bread to sop up the remaining sauces of the first two courses.
Café Saint-Ex has become my new favorite DC spot. I look forward to sampling the whole menu. Be forewarned though, U-Spoon's $$ is a significant understatement. The only entrées on the menu that weighed in at less than 20+ dollars were the BLT, and the burger. This is a must try for Capital travelers and locals alike!
The Good: I've been there about a half dozen times, and simply put, the food is excellent. They use superb, fresh ingredients, and plates are prepared with care and style.
The Mediocre: Has a certain pleasing ambiance, even if it's nothing too remarkable. Menu is smallish, but I usually manage to find something I like. The chef changes it regularly, which can be a good or bad thing. Certainly keeps it interesting - only problem is, when you do find something you like, you can almost bet you'll never see it again. For instance, I had just about the best damn piece of fish I've ever eaten in DC right there at the Saint Ex. I've longed to try it again, but never saw it on the menu again.
On rare occasion, they've missed the mark on a meal. Since it's a tad pricey for the portion size, it can leave one a bit disappointed when they do... But when they get it right, which is most of the time, it's well worth it.
The Bad: Overall, few complaints. Among them is that I wish they took reservations, or would agree to seat a partial party. Been really irritated on a couple occasions that I couldn't do either. Also, if there isn't enough seating upstairs (about 1/3 of the time), you get stuck in the basement room, which feels like... a basement. (On that point, Raisa, why not try writing your own review, instead of just bitc*ing about everyone else's?)
Final Though: I do like this place and will certainly be back when I want a good meal. The changing menu and seating leaves me a little anxious, so I'll never take someone there on a date - but it's a great place to have a meal with friends who are feeling a bit adventurous.
While searching out something else, I came across Kat Z's review of St.Ex and remembered that I'd promised myself I'd review them one of these days. This is that day.
Actually, having read Kat Z's review, there's no longer a need to write it up - all I need to do is to say that Kat Z's experience is almost identical to ours - twice.
The whole "your party must be complete" thing - particularly in an area where parking can be a challenge and a party of 4 or 5 might just be waiting for the driver - is unbelievably unwelcoming, and so clearly exists for the convenience of the staff at the expense of would-be customers. Unfortunately, it's happening at more and restaurants.
Guess it could lead customers to resort to deception. If I felt compelled to go there again (which I doubt will happen, although I'm in the area often) I'd be sorely tempted to simply say that the number of people present is my complete party, then have others join us when they arrive.
Might work, might not. It'd be interesting to see how the staff would work it out. "I'm sorry, but no, these other people may not join your party, sir." Jeeze. I'd have to really want to eat there to do that. So I won't.
As for the food: I've eaten there a time or three, usually parties of 4 for dinner. The food, service, etc. would have gotten them a three star review at best. The food's OK, but not all that. Better can be had, and with much better service and with less crowding in LOTS of places nearby.
Moreover, the place is over priced relative to similar places where the food's as good or better, the tables aren't jammed together, and there's way less 'tude.
So ... the tally's in and St.Ex is just another pretentious, over priced, customer hostile restaurant has one thing going for it: location.
And don't even get me started about that dungeon of a room in the basement ... there are few dive bars with reekier basements.
Reading the reviews below this I get angry as to how arrogant people can be! It makes business sense to not sit incomplete paries, sure you may be telling the truth that someone is parking but the majority don't! To the person who claims there was not much eye candy...you are a pig. Do you come here to eat or to oggle?! To those who rated it based on brunch...there is just so much you can do with eggs benedict! Try them for dinner!
I have only been here once so honestly it is based on just that. We ordered appetizers and small entrees. Their appetizers were very good. Parpadelle pasta with fresh mushrooms in a cream sauce. The parpadelle tasted fresh and had a bite to it. They were lightly seasoned which enhanced the taste of the mushrooms. The mussels were in a lemongrass broth that was lightly refreshing and did not overpower the mussels, though it left you wanting to slurp it from the plate, The tomato salad was a play on the genovese style made instead with fresh goat cheese. Heirloom (brandywine?) tomatoes were used and the dish was out of this world.
For those of you who go there for the flesh hunting or expect gourmand experiences from your eggs,I don't think that is possible...and to the eye candy person,you are whacked.
I really wanted to like this place. But I just didn't.
We went here for brunch yesterday and I thought it was going to be a great day because we just ordered a chair from Reincarnations (5 star experience) and found parking right in front of Cafe SaintEx! Doesn't get better than that.
We are finally seated - they wouldn't seat us until our entire party arrived - too bad for them because while we waited an hour for our friends, my husband and I would have thrown back a couple pitchers of bloody mary's (these were excellent), oh well their loss.
We get seated and our ditsy waitress comes over - she talked me out of like 2 dishes, so I took her word for the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. My sandwich was so dry, I would have asked for more tomato mayo, but she would have talked me out of that too. And frankly I make better fried green tomatoes.
Here's the kicker. We asked for hot sauce because we are browntown and enjoy a little spice with breakfast potatoes...THEY RAN OUT OF HOT SAUCE!!!! And our waitress had no shame in selling out the restaurant, here's what she said:
"We're so not prepared to be a restaurant!"
Seriously a simple apology would have been ok.
I think I'll be back for late night drinks because the patio was awesome, but for now no more food from this place.
2 stars for outside seating and a damn good bloody mary.
Happened upon this place while walking around the area. Sat outside for lunch and had a reuben sandwich and fries. great outdoor patio in diverse neighborhood. service was slow, but not terrible.
on the first floor, marble topped tables, dark wood, cool interior. also clean bathrooms. looks like this place used to be an old house at one point.
i would definitely visit again for a nice outdoor lunch!
alright....this bar is the reason I live on !4th st. I've been going here since their inception and I have not once been disappointed. I absolutely adore the staff here and this place understands cozy. great atmosphere and people during the week. the weekends at this bar are invaded with the bridge and tunnel crowd. I respectfully request that the bar brings back it's sign that read, " management respectfully asks you to turn down your collar before entering the establishment." That being said you will probably find me having chicken dinner and a glass of Jameson here four nights a week.
Thinking back to my brunch experience earlier this morning at Saint Ex, there's one word to describe everything - average. Service - average, food - average, menu options - average, price - average.
While sitting outside in the shade was perfect on a gorgeous day, I wouldn't venture out of my way to go to Saint Ex for a meal. My dining companion and I had adequate meals, but something we both could have whipped up in our own apartments (average french toast and below average omelet). The portions were also small.
Saint Ex as a weekend night spot is another story, though. On Fridays and Saturdays it's packed with a vibrant scene of lively young professionals. It gets crowded, but it's fun to grab a beer here.
Decent service and a nice vibe, but the calimari was one of the worst dishes I've ever had at a restaurant. I think they put an entire bottle of perfectly good capers on four pieces of calimari and then added a cup of salt. About 10,000 x the daily recommended dose of sodium.
As a bar it's fine-- just as loud and crowded as many comparable choices. But as a restaurant it's really quite good. My fiancee sipped a fruity-but-not-too-sweet specialty cocktail and I had an IPA and sat outside nibbling on an array of tasty stuff: good fries, tomatillo gazpacho, beet salad, and a green-tomato-BLT. I'm not sure why I don't come here more.
[Well, I do wonder about the quality of their hollandaise sauce.]
We came here on a Thursday night to meet up with another person. This place seemed like a decent enough place to hang out and grab a few drinks. The downstairs area, Gate 54, is not very big. Definitely a very strange crowd. We happened to go on a Brazilian night thus making for some interesting music selections. Not much for eye candy, either male or female. The one thing that stood out for me was that the bouncers were incredibly nice. I have never encountered bouncers that showed people respect. Kudos to these bouncers at Cafe Saint-Ex.
Three of us came here a week or two ago. It wasn't our first choice, but a lot of U street places seem to be closed at lunchtime. We stumbled along the blocks in the Spring sunshine and found this place. It was open. It served food and beer. We walked in.
It was busy - every table was occupied, but we spotted the wide open bar, free and unclaimed like mid nineteenth century Oklahoma. We staked our claim and One-M got home base, with and Two-M and me the runners on the corners as we waited for the bar man to pitch us our beers and play offence all afternoon.
One-M on home base? Not quite a perfect metaphor for the prime corner position on the bar - maybe he was like Jesus, at the center of it all whilst Two-M and I where like the good thief and the bad thief, pinned on either side of him and asking if he could heal himself, or ask his Dad to get him out of this predicament.
But it was not a predicament to be gotten out of. It was an incredibly pleasant place, wth fine beer on draft and great food on the menu- although I will say the menu was a wee bit thin. We drank merrily and almost unbeknownst to us another customer joined us and started drinking 2 or 3 martinis. At lunchtime. You know you are in a world class city when you see that - I certainly don't get any of that in my normal lunchtime haunts beyond the beltway.
We tasted all the beers and joshed with the bar man. We had lunch. We talked. We laughed, It was a perfect way to spend the middle of the week and I want to do it like that every week.
Good place for those who love:
- lines.
- being skintimate with sweaty strangers.
- being on a packed dance floor with no AC.
- DJ's that go from a Journey song to a super sped up version of MIA's "Paper Planes" with zero transition.
- disgustingly strong drinks.
Bad place for those who don't love:
- See Above.
I just went here late at night, so I can't comment on the food. However, I won't be back for a late night good time.
This place is DISGUSTING. I went downstairs and there was no ventilation, and the place smelled. It was difficult to BREATHE downstairs.
Maybe I'll try the food someday.
I love this place more for the people and the experience I had than for what it really offered. It has a decent beer list, I really loved the Founder's Rye PA, but the list could have been a bit better and price points lower. Food wise, I was expecting more and was left disappointed as it was extremely salty and nothing spectacular.
The main event that makes me smile, like I said before, are the people. The bartender (Priscilla) was so very nice. The bar manager Johnny was, on top of being easy on the eyes, a real sweetheart. I came in here first to just use the bathroom, but stayed for a drink. The drink turned into a 15 minute conversation with one of the local bar stars at Saint-Ex where we were invited downstairs to the showing of the 48 hours Film Festival (shorts that were created in 48 hours, which by the way were sooo very funny and extremely well made).
I give the food a 2, the ambiance and 4 and the staff a 5. There will be a boys of Saint-Ex calendar coming out, being sold on their website, and you better believe I will be buying it!
We had an excellent meal here tonight (Friday). The only other similarly priced DC area restaurant that I've had as good a meal at was The Majestic in Old Town Alexandria. I was admittedly skeptical given the other reviews, but wow: yelpers you were wrong!
Fresh, plump, and mussely PEIs, good bread (rare in and of itself), perfect fries, wood grilled porcinis, Beet salad with watermelon 2 ways (they candy the rinds on site and use the left over syrup as a base for the dressing, add fennel, white balsamic, and feta and you've got an awesome treat). All of the veggies were local and in season (unique for U St IMO), the fish fresh, the beef grass fed and local, and the peanut butter ice cream in the banana split homemade. Oh, and the wine and beer selection, while not huge, has some unique finds. Sit outside if the noise inside is a bother. Our server, Heather, was very attentive, too, so not sure about the other comments here! Go!
If you're looking for a veggie option, you can't go wrong by asking for the kitchen to put something together for you. You won't be disappointed.
A couple of hits: the coffee wasn't hot, the mussels were just a tad sandy, and the beer is expensive enough that while I would have had a second, I couldn't stomach the investment. Maybe 1/2 a star deduction. Either way we're going back!
Smells like beer and sex
Everyone kissing but me
Rejected, alone
I don't know what their problem was when we went there yesterday but they were so not cool. A bunch of colleagues and I went at about 6 last night hoping to sit outside and enjoy some drinks.
First we were told that we couldn't push tables together outside. Fine, we'll sit at two tables near each other. Then she said she couldn't seat us at the tables because we were expecting two more people (plus a baby) who weren't there yet. Okay, maybe we'll go hang out at the bar and wait for our friends. She offered to let us sit together downstairs but on a beautiful day when you want to have drinks outside, having drinks in a basement is kind of the opposite of what you want. Plus she insisted that we had to have dinner if we were going to sit at tables at all. Then another person showed up so I hoped that then we could sit down at the tables but no dice.
After all that we ended up going to Marvin, sitting in the upstairs area (not the crowded roof but the inside) and enjoyed ourselves.
I am inclined to give St. Ex the benefit of the doubt because I heard they're having issues with their liquor license but there was nobody sitting outside. They could have had 8 people sitting there and enjoying some food and beverages but instead they gave us a hard time. WTF?
It's called brunch, people, and I recommend that you try it at Saint-Ex. The food is all organic or… Read more »
I enjoy hanging at Cafe Saint Ex after work during happy hour or on weekend afternoons. I have yet to eat a meal here even though I hear they attract a good crowd for their weekend brunch.
The best time to go is when the weather is nice and you can sit outside drinking a beer. I like going after work or on a weekend afternoon. There are times where they require you to order food if you sit at a table. I got annoyed when I was having a beer with a friend at one of their outdoor tables and the waitress informed us that if we didn't order food in about 15 minutes we would have to get up. Alright, well tell us that in 15 minutes, otherwise let me drink my beer in peace.
I do like their beer offerings especially the fact that they have Peroni on draft, which they serve in a big tall glass. I was taken aback by the price they charged for a German Heifweizen-type beer. At first I thought it was a mistake, but the bartender assured me it was in fact 8 dollars for one glass. The beer was good, but it wasn't that good.
I've heard good things about Saint-Ex and I finally went there last Saturday to catch up with some college friends. We got there around 10:00pm and it wasn't horribly crowded. We grabbed some drinks upstairs and hung out near the bar. An hour later, the place was mobbed and there was literally a line to get downstairs. We luckily got a table, but it was tough to get a drink.
Eventually, my friends wanted to check out downstairs. The music was decent and for hanging out with college friends, somewhat appropriate since it was all music from when we were in college. However, it was a mob scene and the dance floor was full of people thrashing about in a very uncoordinated way. Maybe I'm just getting old and crotchety, but it was annoying.
There's no bathroom downstairs, or I didn't see one, so I had to go upstairs and wait in line. Then I had to wait in line AGAIN to get back downstairs, even though the rest of my group was down there. The bouncer was kind of a jerk and was picking and choosing who to let downstairs like he was bouncing at some NYC venue. I finally got back downstairs and decided I had enough of this place.
I will say that drinks were average price for DC, but they were decently strong so that's a plus. Not that I'll be going back.
The cheapest beer is a $5.00 Peroni, which is not great.
However, Gate 54 (the downstairs area) is tons of fun when people are dancing. It's small, cramped, and sweaty but it makes the experience very communal. I've never gone here for food but if the DJ interests you, definitely check out a dance night here.
I've been here twice. Both on weekend nights. Both around 2200-2300. And both times I've stuck around for all of ten minutes, tops.
The basement level reminds me a little bit of the upstairs of Town. Except that instead of crazy spinning lighting at Town, St. Ex is nearly lightless. Instead of tall, ripped, shirtless, sweaty dancing boys... St. Ex is filled with short, clothed, awkward breeders. I guess the music might have been somewhat similar - some virtually tuneless dance track with heavy bass. I don't remember, I was distracted by some signage about a ladder near the bathrooms downstairs.
Yep. Add me to the list of people that just doesn't get the allure. Perhaps I'll stop in for brunch?
Somehow, on many weekend nights I end up at Saint-Ex. I use the word "somehow," because I am often too inebriated to realize what's going on before we arrive at the dance floor basement of Saint-Ex. As soon as we hit the dance floor, however, I don't stop dancing like a maniac until late into the next morning. In spite of how extremely crowded it is on the weekends and the sometimes poor music selection (though for the most part, it tends to be good), this place always seems to consistently offer a good time, whether you're just trying to dance or pick up a lady or fellow.
*I've never had food here so I can't comment on that...
I'm not one to ever complain about high prices if I am getting some good food in return but Cafe Saint Ex is EXTREMELY overpriced for what you're getting. I really should ding it down to 2 stars but I did like the food here and felt it was *slightly* above average.
This place is packed. While I've never been here for dancing, I have been here for both brunch and dinner and each time I have suffered because I couldn't hear anything (goes too many people in too small of a space) and felt our servers were slower than should be expected. While I can argue that the prices for dinner were "fair" but the brunch fairs are ridiculous. I mean, not worth it, rip off, lame. Perhaps if you hit Saint Ex on an off day you won't suffer through your meal but for the most part, any good food you might end up with will be ruined by your overall dining experience
ARH! Every time I stop here it is SO crowded. Last night was no exception.
I couldn't tell you what the decor, other clients, or drinks looked like here as it is so dark. When I can't tell the sex of someone (I don't want to find out I am checking out a girl), or be able to see my friends I am not happy. They should rename this place Silhouettes.
The music was...interesting. Thats all I got. When the only one of sense that I had in use was abused--I had to get out.
Exceptional food and beer, but the service and attitude of the restaurant management and staff hurts the experience every time.
My Saturday Night at Saint Ex:
10.45: Let's stop into Saint Ex to warm up!
10.47: Why don't we try going downstairs?
10:50: It's so dark! Can you see anyone?
10.51: You guys ready to move on?
Wow, reading these reviews has made me wonder if I really enjoyed myself as much as I thought I did. So I will qualify my review by stating that I was here for NYE. It was no cover and low key which was exactly what we were looking for.
We hung out downstairs at like 8pm and the place was relatively empty. A few tables were eating but we were able to grab spot on the eleveated booth-like area along the wall. The decor was heavily wooded, not like log cabin...just a lot of wood. It was cavernous which I didn't mind. By ten PM the place filled up and we shared and the DJ kicked in. He played all classic stuff, top 40, best of the 80s, a lot of good mashups. By midnight it was impossible to move.
I guess what I loved was the sincerety of the place. On such a major night there was no prentention. They were confident to have no cover and no champaigne toast and they probably ended up making just as much as all the other bars that did the opposite. Because of this, I felt like I'd want to come back again on a regular evening.
Yeah- the jury is still out on this one.
I have not eaten there... just went for the night life!! The drinks are fairly priced especially for DC. I ordered a vodka tonic with lime (old stand by) and it was in a decent sized glass and it was only $6.50.
The kind of crappy thing about it was the music wasn't that great and the DJ was having some major transition problems... at on point I thought there was an accident outside it was so bad!! Also this place gets PACKED!!! I got there around 10:30 and claimed a spot on the dance floor that was reduced to the size of a foot by mid-night. It took me about 10 minutes to make my way to the back, get up the stairs and out of the door! There is no way that place was in fire code!!!
All in all- I would do back for early drinks... but I don't think I would go back for the dancing!
Two words to describe the mess going on downstairs: go-go. And if you don't know what that means here is a synonym: jungle music.
You see, this place played only go-go. The same drum beat over and over. And over. That's what go-go is.
They pack too many people in there. Sorry to say this, but it's a tragedy waiting to happen. Also, it reeks of piss. It's dark, damp and smells and feels dirty. Like, you don't want to touch anything for the risk of getting tetanus.
Upstairs looked nice and the food looked great, so I'll give this side of them a chance sooner or later. Not many places can pull off a dual personality like this.
After getting seated out on their patio last night by the very nice hostess, we proceeded to order an appetizer and beers to unwind from a long week at work. After taking our order, the waitress snapped that we aren't allowed to sit outside if we aren't eating full meals, BUT she'll let us off this time since "it's beginning of patio season". HAHAHHAHAHAHA, yeah, thanks for the favor, NOT. Why would we be seated outdoors by the hostess without her prefacing the rules for patio seating and then get yelled at by the waitress? Sounds like inconsistent application of seating rules.
Aside from the poor taste left by our waitress, the food was decent (gnocci), and the beer was good (sea dog). Good location, but a little to trendy for my tastes. I'll pass next time.
"1/2 off Wine Bottles"
Bethesda, MD
Happy hour
Greenbelt, MD
Washington, DC
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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