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Category: Restaurants [Edit]
3201 New Mexico Ave NWMon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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We've been going to Chef Geoff's since they first opened and Geoff Tracy the owner was out front nearly everyday. This place is consistently a good lunch place and always great for brunch. The prices have certainly increased steadily over the years, but for the most part they always deliver something good. The menu has become a bit schizophrenic in the last few years with more and more flavor profiles landing on the menu, but usually with success. The portions are generous, you can almost always count on a doggie bag.
We miss the days of great dinner deals, but the calamari caesar salad is delicious and their pizzas always delivers.
This location is certainly our nostalgic favorite, but we've found the downtown location to be good as well. We have not tried Tysons yet.
Just having a solid neighborhood restaurant in AUPark wins in our book.
Good food and happy hour. Poor service.
The happy hour burgers a great deal and I love me some supermugs of beer, especially with their good draft list. But the service here ticks me off. I feel it might be because I'm a college student and the servers don't like me and my friends because they think we don't tip much. There's one waiter I've had who is basically just mean to my friends and me when we come for happy hour. Also, the bartender i had today blatently ignored me except to take my order and take my plate. Never asked if i needed anything or refilled my soda when he was doing both to everyone around me.
Chef Geoff's has a new menu and I'm pleased to announce that the food has greatly improved. In the past, I'd always thought of CG's to be the more expensive, less tasty version of Cafe Delux. However, after eating there again last night, I think the food justified the price and I this restaurant more than holds their own in the Upper-NW DC dining world.
We started out with the duck corndog lollypops with purple mustard. It sounds a lot more adventurous than it tasted- really just corndogs with mustard- but it still tasted good. How can a fried hot dog be bad? I had the cider marinated salmon with bread pudding for my main, which was surprisingly excellent. My girlfriend had the scallops with rissoto, which were also very flavorful and perfectly cooked.
Our waiter was not particularly knowledgeable about the food- he recommended the "TurboT" with an emphasis on the final T- but he made up for it with an engaging and enthusiastic personality.
I ended up spending about $90 before tip for 4 glasses of wine, an appetizer, and two main courses. Not necessarily cheap, but I did think the food was worth the price, and it would have been a TON cheaper had we got the pizzas or burgers (both under $12).
Cafe Delux will still be my go-to spot because it's less expensive and the service is more polished, but I'd definitely return to Cheff Geoff's again to sample the excellent food.
Chef Geoff's is the closest bar to AU and the only thing going in Wesley Heights, but it certainly does more than it has to. The space is huge with a private room in back and patio seating out front. Not sure what occupied it before (it's a modern building), but it's very 19th century-saloonish, with high ceilings, small white tiled floor and long, beautiful wooden bar that seats at least 20. Two dozen beers on tap, nothing too adventurous, but nothing to crappy either. On a recent visit they included Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale (a hoppier version of their Pale Ale, which they also serve) Magic Hat #9, Anchor Steam, Paulaner Hefewiezen and Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale, plus another couple dozen int the bottle. There's also a very extensive wine list.
I hesitate to call the food Asian fusion. It's really more American food with Asian notes. The duck spring rolls have been on the menu forever and are quite good. On a recent visit I had the chilled crab soup with avocado: crab in a fruity broth, not what I expected at all. This is where the menu would have benefit from more description.
Proscuitto wrapped peaches with buffalo mozzarella was a tasty take on the ham and mellon but the handmade gnocchi with lobster and tomato was the star. They certainly didn't skimp on the lobster. It's listed as an appetizer, but pared with the soup, was more than enough for a meal.
I was hesitant to give them four stars because of the drink prices. Unless you're drinking a Belgian, $7 for a draft is a bit high, even for DC. Best bet: happy hour when their very good burgers are $5.95, pizzas $8.95, and you can get a super-mugs (33.8 oz) for $8. You can't beat that!
Great food, reasonable prices, awesome happy hour!
Given the lack of quality dining in the Tenleytown/Wesley Heights area, Chef Geoff's is a surprising gem in this otherwise almost entirely residential area. Whether you're looking for brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour, or just to sip on a beer, I have never had a bad dining experience at this restaurant. You can either relax on the patio on a sunny day or take it inside into their dimly lit but unpretentious interior.
But nothing beats their happy hour: made to perfection $5.95 burgers, tasty and original $8.95 pizzas, $3 long necks, and (my personal favorite) $8 super-mugs.
Only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because it can get really crowded, and thus have slow service, during happy hour and on Mondays and Tuesdays (when the happy hour specials are offered all day). But you'll definitely get a good "bang for your buck" at this Wesley Heights charm.
I think the name is somewhat dated at this point, for although Geoff Tracy is invariably wearing his chef coat at any and all possible public appearances, I don't get the sense that he probably spends too much time working on the line these days.
That aside, I've never had a memorably bad experience at this place. Sure I've had some comical moments with knucklehead servers(AU students are what they are), but overall I'd qualify the staff as fairly well versed, knowledgeable, and polite - the bar staff somewhat less so and probably deserving of a half star deduction. For the most part, I've always enjoyed the food (even if if's Chef X's at this point) and I appreciate the approachability of the place without dumbing it down to Cafe Deluxe levels.
The outdoor seating and parking are clearly a bonus although I made the mistake of forgetting my parking ticket once in the check presenter and the parking lot attendant seemingly relished the opportunity to rake me over the coals. Irrelevant, I know - think of it more as a cautionary tale.
All in all, a good place if in the area.
Just an update on Chef Geoff's....
My fiance's family and mine (visiting from out of town) went for dinner this past Sunday. As usual, the food was amazing, and my super food-snob dad couldn't stop raving about the Tempura Tuna, served rare. I tried the pasta and crawfish with Creole sauce and was not disappointed! Aside from raving about the food, I wanted to let everyone know that there is a private room at this location with windows and natural sunlight, that I hadn't seen before. After a long while of searching, we are def going to have our rehearsal dinner here!
I love this place!!! Hands down, the best part of this location is the outdoor patio. It's… Read more »
I've always liked Chef Geoffs for its neighborhood feel, decent draft beer list, and big-n-tasty menu. 1/2 price wine nights = 2x the good. Happy hour at the bar = definitely meets the happy bar. I had an especially good (and surprisingly good, in fact) meal there this past weekend. We had a late lunch / early dinner around 4:30pm and it was GORGEOUS outside, so we dined at an outdoor table. I ordered the bean dip and melted cheese w/flatbread appetizer (blech, bland beans, not enough cheese, and the baked flatbread seemed an awkward accompaniment). My boyfriend had the gazpacho trio, which was really good and refreshing/flavorful. For my main course, I had the pizza with sausage, onions, and mozzarella (I added my favorite herb, basil) and he had the Next Burger, which this time came with boursin cheese, bacon & fresno chile relish. My pizza was really really tasty! The sausage came like ground sausage, except in bigger pieces and had a really savory flavor, but not too heavy. The mozzarella was fresh and super tasty as well. I really enjoyed this pizza! And it tasted great as leftovers too with a glass of cheap pinot noir :)
Other food recs: burgers, the curry chicken with israeli cous cous (never dry), the gnocchi on the appetizer menu
Would NOT recommend: the bean dip (as mentioned), the salmon (super dry and muted flavor)
Service was friendly and pretty quick. Great restaurant for a casual dinner. Also, check out their website now - they have a $10 off coupon you can print up and bring in!
After going to Chef Geoff's a few times for Happy Hour, where you get a lot for your money, i decided to check out the place for Sunday brunch.
For Happy Hour, if you like beer, you'll have quite a bit to chose from here. You get a huge 32 oz mug for a good price, I believe $7.50. They also have pizza and burger deals for $5. Just be sure you sit/stand in the bar area, you can't get the specials at HH in the restaurant from a server.
As far as the brunch goes, the food was delicious. I had eggs benedict with crab cakes and they were fantastic. They start you off with a bowl of fruit and a piece of banana bread (or other variety). The food was great, but I have to say as far as value goes, its not a great value. My gf and I really enjoyed the guda grits we got as a side, but with 2 drinks (non-alcoholic) and 2 meals and 1 side, you are looking at close to $50 with tax/tip.
The place is where i'll go for HH, but not for another brunch. Much better deals can be found in DC where you can pay less than $50 and get bloody mary's too. (which were 9.95 here, meh).
I took my mom to dinner here for her birthday. It's kind of tucked away behind Wisconsin Ave. so there is not a lot of traffic of cars or pedestrians.
Our reservations were at 6:15pm and there was a nice fixed price dinner special of a starter, entree and dessert option. I ordered the spinach salad with feta and balsamic vinagrette which was fresh and tasty. My salmon was done perfectly, not over cooked and was also fresh. For dessert I ordered the sorbet trio - I liked the blackberry sorbet the best. It was a refreshing and well balanced meal.
The atmosphere is great as well. The wood panelled booths provided a coziness without feeling like a dark pub. The dining rooms were not noisy, so we could converse without shouting or repeating ourselves.
There was also happy hour at the bar, and it looked like a decent happy hour menu and bar food. The 32oz. pints of draft beer looked tempting; however for a family birthday dinner I opted for the white wine instead.
If you get a chance to come up to the Tenelytown area, try to check this place out. Good food, good portions, good atmosphere.
Pretty good food and service but expensive prices. But I guess that's what you get for the area, right?
The outdoor seating is quite nice, especially during their lunch time specials. Their crispy eggplant sandwich was great - on foccaia bread! - and I've had their Asian salmon burger, too, which is great. The champagne salad dressing is even good! Chicken skewer appetizer is only three sticks. Tortilla soup was a little spicier than desired and did not have the best presentation. Nonetheless, this place has a nice location and is great for a one-step-up lunch or dinner occasion.
DC Brunchy brunch...been to Chef Geoff's a few times but never reviewed. They seem like they have a decent following but I am not sure why so loved. It's good but I am not swooning over it. I orderd the Eggs Rancheros - eggs sunny-side up with beans and tortilla. Typical breakfast sans the meat. Everything else had meat but I am sure I could of substituted avocado or something. I like how it has ample parking. Not too pricey but the drinks are a bit steep...like $9 for a mimosa.
We went to Chef Geoff's for my sister-in-law's birthday, which just happened to be right during Restaurant Week. I'll be honest, the only reason I picked Chef Geoff's was because my sister-in-law is extremely picky and unadventurous about her food (she has the stereotypical "American palate"), yet she asked us to take her somewhere "adventurous". I felt that Chef Geoff's would offer that very narrow tightrope that would be different enough to satisfy her need for the exotic, yet is grounded enough in basic American cuisine that she would be able to find something to tempt her tastebuds (and I'm not running her down or anything. She's desperately sweet - but she thinks dining at Maggiano's is "adventurous"...and I just couldn't do another sad birthday dinner there...review on why I think Mag's is sad, later).
When we first arrived, I was a little disappointed in the decor. It was a bizarre clash between "Martha's Vineyard nautical" with "casual upscale yuppie dining". I wasn't sure what mood the decor was trying to convey (should I start calling out "aye maties" or flash my new Marc Jacobs bag?). If the weather was a little nicer when we arrived, we would have sat outside, which was quite pretty despite it being set in a little strip mall.
However, once I got over my disappointment in the decor, the rest of experience was remarkably decent. For the most part, the food was delicious without being overwhelming, the flavors were rich and strong without overpowering the palette. The inner (or not so inner) yuppie in me loved how much of our food was from local sources (the bread and ice cream were from local vendors), and some of the ingredients were from Chef Geoff's own garden!
My sister-in-law ordered the watermelon soup, and while she claimed she liked it, she only finished half. I had the seared tuna tartare which was quite fresh and well seasoned. I wasn't a huge fan of the mayo-wasabi that was served with it, but then, I very rarely rave about mayo-wasabi sauce. My husband ordered the duck spring-rolls (and he adores duck in all it's infinite deliciousness) and we were both a touch underwhelmed, as there was very little duck and too much filler in the duck spring-rolls. However, it was my sister-in-law's first experience with duck and she thought the spring rolls extremely tasty.
For our entree, she ordered the crab cakes (yes, we came to Chef Geoff's for crab cakes!), while my husband ordered the trout, and I ordered the scallops. My sister-in-law raved about the crab cakes, and from what I could see, there were nice large lumps of crab, and not just all breading. The trout was quite good, although I wasn't crazy about the sauce - I think something with a touch of spice would have pushed the dish to the next level. My scallops were delicious, and the risotto was flavorful and well cooked.
Ah, our server. She was nice and friendly - and tried to make small chatter (which was a tad annoying, as she did it while I had a huge chunk of tuna in my mouth...why do servers do that?!?), but her appearance was sloppy and her hair was very disheveled to a point where it was a little off-putting. However, her service was impeccable, and was able to steer my sister-in-law into some great recommendations that she enjoyed.
I would recommend Chef Geoff's for work luncheons or dinners with large groups of people, there will be sure to be something for everyone.
Hm... seems like I am here every other week. Great location for AU, but more than that it tends to remind me of growing up in the city... lots of cute families (i have a fondness for little boys with blazers on sunday after church!).. and consistently good service...
Only problem, they tend to seasonally change un-seasonal foods (like huevos rancheros?) which highly confused my veggie brunch partner in crime when they added ground meat for the first time in five years... really read the menus.... i think it is a tactic used to give the preppy fams who frequent something to talk about while brunch-ing for the hundredth time...
the music at brunch is waaay too loud, so make sure you don't sit hear the front bar tables...
definitely try to come during summer when the tables outside make it the perfect din din night...
The food is tasty but the service can be iffy. Tucked away in the rather quiet area of Foxhall, Chef Geoff's is neighbored by Balducci's, a grocery store. Parking is street or validated parking.
I'm a major fan of Chef Geoff's lunch and dinner menus. You cannot go wrong with their tuna burger or this tasty pulled chicken sandwich that comes with homemade potato chips. The chips & dip are a great appetizer, and the calamari is great. I can't remember if they have them at this location or the Downtown location, but the shrimp & grits are also good. For dessert, I'm a major fan of the milk and cookies. So simple but so delicious.
Brunch isn't as great. There's a smaller selection compared to normal lunch and dinner, and they seem to have done away with the excellent cheese grits side dish. I usually go for the chocolate chip waffle, it will fill you up quickly.
The service has never been unfriendly, but many times it's a bit... remote. Waiter comes, takes your order, gives you your food, checks in once or twice, then you just have to pray they see you asking for the check. Other times they'll be quite friendly. They don't need to act like my best friend, but I like waiters in establishments like these to interact a bit more with the customers.
My husband and I had the best dining experience at Chef Geoff's tonight... We've recently moved into the neighborhood and have meant to stop by every weekend.
We arrived without a reservation and were sat immediately. The ambiance is very comforting and at the same time romantic. We ordered the calamari and shrimp appetizer, which was amazing, perfectly cooked. I had the shrimp and wonton soup, which I would recommend for anyone who likes wonton soup.
For our main course, we had the scallops with mushroom risotto and the banger steak. Everything was just perfect and we'd recommend this restaurant to anyone from or visiting DC...
We didn't have enough room but next time we'll def. be ordering the milk and cookies!
Enjoy!
Chef Geoff's is a pretty chill place. They have a little place up front for outside dining and a large backroom for large parties, which is nice and private if you want to be loud and obnoxious. The service was good and attentive and very friendly. Parking is accessible behind the restaurant so you won't drive yourself (no pun intended) crazy looking for street parking.
I started the night at Chef Geoff's with a Supermug of Chef Geoff's Amber at the bar to take advantage of the happy hour prices. Chef Geoff's Amber is actually just a licensed Leinenkugel Red which is actually pretty good.
For dinner I had the Crabcake with Crawfish Butter and the Oreo Truffle Cake. I was a fan of the crabcake but I'm still debating if the $12.95 price justified the taste and portion size of the crabcake. The Oreo Truffle Cake was a little to rich for me but I assume chocolate fans will take a liking to it.
Alright, now the most notable thing at Chef Geoff's has to be their Men's bathroom. If you've been there you know what I'm talking about. So, they have three urinals in one corner of the bathroom which is really awkward. The center urinal is basically wedged into the corner between the other two so whoever gets stuck there is screwed. On top of that they have the XLerator hand dryer that will blow the skin right off your hands, which is awesome. I wanted to strap that sucka on my back and use it as a jetpack. Trust me it'd work, that's how massive and powerful the XLerator is.
All in all I enjoyed myself there but nothings really pulling me back to go there. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't mind going back I just don't have the cravings to go there like I do with a place like Julia's Empanadas. If you do go there I do suggest you use the bathroom and try the center urinal just to say you did it.
Went here for Sunday brunch with a party of about 8. The food was delicious - everything that everyone got was well prepared, well presented, and (most importantly) tasted great. The brunch menu tends toward the savory (instead of sweet) side, with lots of variations on eggs benedict and tex-mex style eggs, but all were great takes on classics. Each brunch item comes with a sweet bread and fruit plate, served as an appetizer, which I thought was a nice touch.
The service was outstanding. Attentive and unobtrusive. I haven't been there for lunch or dinner, but it seems like a restaurant where you can get a consistently quality meal and service each time.
For their $5 burgers during happy hour, they get three stars. Everything else is kind of mediocre.
I'm sure their brunch is great. Having just moved within a block of this place, I was looking forward to having brunch on their patio seating. So I went and looked at the menu. I don't care how good the brunch is - no waffle is ever worth $14. I could buy a waffle iron for not much more than that and cook brunch at home which would be way sexier than a patio brunch with four year-old brats all around. So I left without sitting down, but became intrigued again after I heard about this happy hour.
So a few weeks later, my boyfriend and I headed in and ordered the burgers - the Bistro which had bacon and three types of cheese (Cheddar, Jack and iforgetthelast) and the Next (complete with bacon, onion ring, and mozzarella). I ordered the Bistro and he the Next.
While I enjoyed my burger thoroughly, there was one thing I found very annoying. I'm not a total carbophobe but I don't like eating a burger that's 75% bun. At first glance, it looked like this burger came with half a loaf of bread. Upon picking up the burger, I realized this was a regular sized bun. They had just cut it in "half" so awfully that 80% of it was on the top part and the bottom was so thin that it was completely saturated with burger juice and was barely holding together. Eventually, I just took the top part of the bun off completely and just cut up the patty with a fork and knife. Now, this wasn't a total deal breaker for me cause I try limiting my carbs as it is and sometimes eat my burgers without a bun regularly, I know this could be a deal breaker for someone who can't imagine eating a burger without using their hands.
As for the Next Burger (which changes every few weeks or so), my boyfriend thought it was alright. Nothing too great, nothing bad.
Overall, for $5 each, it would have to be an awful burger to complain about. But as for the full price of somewhere around $10-15, I would never ever pay for that.
The decor is annoying too boot. Huge mirrors everywhere, nautical stars, and even frosted glass with star cutouts that were unfrosted, yuck. It looked like a toned down version of my dad's rec room, the only thing missing was a pool table.
We met a very interesting character at the bar who kept on telling stories. While all the stories added up, I began questioning if this guy was for real, but he bought me and my boyfriend a pint each, so he can talk all he want about whatever and I'll listen.
Overall, I will go only for the happy hours since it is such close proximity to me. If it weren't, I would probably never go.
Happy Hour times : All day Mondays and Tuesdays, 1 PM - Close on NFL Sundays, and 3-7 the rest of the week. Happy hour only occurs at the bar, which will be full if you arrive after 6:15.
Enjoy!
Perhaps Chef Geoff was having a bad day?
The sweet fried calamari was sweet indeed. Way too sweet if you ask me. Still, it was edible.
I wish I could say the same for the southwestern steak salad. How could a steak salad with Gouda cheese, black beans, avocado, tortilla strips and chipotle buttermilk dressing not be pretty good?
I pushed my flavorless salad away, mostly uneaten, wondering the same thing.
First off, the chipotle buttermilk dressing was nearly tasteless.
Next, the baby greens upon which the salad was built were limp, the likely result of pre-dressing done too early.
And finally, with a price of $16.95 I felt pretty cheated by this salad.
Not even a s'mores cake and a sexy lunch date could make up for that.
Chef Geoff, you let me down.
Personally, I've had nothing but good experiences at Chef Geoff's. That said I've also never been blown away by anything I've sampled from their menu. I think this place is absolutely worth checking out, particularly on a warm summer/fall evening where you can sit outside and enjoy the patio. I really like the overall feel of this quiet neighborhood, and I think Chef Geoff's picks up on it's naturally laid back vibe.
They have a solid wine selection, an awesome beer selection and food options to fit the needs of any type of eater- from the pizza pasta lover, to the meat and potatoes only type crowd, all the way to the salad and fish connoisseurs. One thing I would point out is- if the curry chicken is on the menu you should probably consider making that your first choice for an entree. You might be thinking that ordering chicken at a fine dining establishment is a bit of a waste- and for the most part I would agree with you. However this is probably the most moist and flavorful chicken dish I've ever eaten, and the giant cous cous that comes along with it is melt in your mouth delicious. I wouldn't really anticipate saving room for dessert, since I've never been too jazzed on any that I've had here other than the good old fashion root beer float.
Serrano ham-wrapped giant sea scallops served over a bed of creamy risotto with truffle oil. Need I say more?
No? I don't care. I'm going to tell you, anyway.
I was fortunate enough to dine with some of my fave DC Yelpers to catch up over a bite here. Being the first to arrive, I checked in with the hostess, and although the place was pretty much full, I was seated (as requested in the reservation) on a bench along the wall.
Service throughout the meal was great. This location has a number of microbrews on draft, including my recent discovery, Rogue. Of course, I ordered a glass.
The biggest challenge of the meal was simply deciding what to order, because everything on the menu looked so appetizing! Thanks to recommendations by our server and my dining companions, I opted for the scallops, and they didn't lead me wrong. Still, the calamari salad and the sirloin special both sounded mouthwatering.
Now that I've discovered the magic of Chain Bridge to sneak into and out of the northwestern-most corner of the District, I'm sure I'll be making future trips here. With a classy, comfortable environment, superb service, phenomenal food, and an extensive menu that won't quit, Chef Geoff has it all goin' on.
This is long overdue (since I went there back in January), but I'm only give the place 3 stars... maybe 3.5 max.
Here's why:
1. I wasn't impressed with the service. Our waitress was super weird (it sounded like she spoke with a different accent every time she returned to the table). It made for good conversation among my friends and I, but still... And for the "niceness" of the restaurant, the service didn't seem to match.
2. My dinner was generally good (the cheese with fig and crostini appetizer was kinda awesome) BUT I got milk and cookies for dessert and they were 100% un-good. I don't know how they managed to screw up something as simple as cookies, but it almost ruined my entire dinner experience. Even dunking them in milk didn't help.
What a bummer.
Definitely a solid dining choice. Is it a destination restaurant? Meaning, will I drive out of my way to come here? Probably not. But I was pleased with the food and the level of service we received here.
I came here with my husband to meet up with some fellow Yelpers. I was a bit scared at first, given the neighborhood and the table full of blue-hairs in the window. But upon entering, I could see that there was a wide variety of diners here -- young, old, families and couples. The atmosphere was subdued and yet relaxed.
Hubby really wanted to try the fried squash blossoms, but unfortunately they hadn't been delivered that day. So we went with the oft-recommended duck spring rolls. They were quite tasty.
For an entree I had the filet mignon. That beef was extremely tender and perfectly cooked. Yum! But I was jealous of Kevin's scallops, I must say. They were very pretty. My husband got the duck, and Stef got the crispy calamari Caesar salad. I was fascinated by the crispy calamari -- next time I think that's what I'll get! It's nice to see a salad with plenty of texture and flavor.
If I lived near here, I'd probably be a regular at Chef Geoff's, in much the same way Stef is. I can see it being a great place for brunch, lunch, and reasonably-priced dinners, so long as you don't order from the main entrees.
Some friends and I came here for restaurant week, and really enjoyed ourselves. But there were some drawbacks...
First, the seating area was pretty cramped. While walking to our table, I was afraid I was going to trip and land in someones soup. Even at our table, I was worried that some passing by server was going to drop something on me. I was really was a little worried about this, because they do not use trays, they carry out like five plates at one time - - and the space for them to walk in was so narrow. But alas, no droppage. :)
The one thing I found to be kind of weird was that the menu used the term "EVOO" (extra virgin olive oil), which I honestly thought was just a Rachel Ray abbreviation. I could be wrong about that, but strange to see it abbreviated in a menu... (not to mention that I can't stand Rachel Ray, but that's a whole 'nother thing!)
Chef Geoff's has a nice, progressive wine list. I had a glass of Riesling, and one of my friends enjoyed a glass of Cab. I honestly can't recall either vineyard, but both of us were pleased with our selections. The server was very knowledgeable about the wine list, as well. She made a great pairing for my friend, as he requested. (I don't care much for pairings, and just drink as I like.)
As we were there for restaurant week, we had a three course meal. I had the Chesapeake crab and corn chowder. Of course, being a Marylander, I am naturally picky about crab items, and to be honest, this left much to be desired. It was rather bland and did not have a lot of crab to begin with. I ended up putting some black pepper in it, but it really didn't help too much. My husband had the duck spring rolls to start, and as other yelpers have mentioned, this really is their best starter. It was amazing. The calamari was really unique. It was very lightly coated in a sort of sweet/curry kind of tasting mix. It was a refreshing new taste, given that calamari is usually pretty standard. A old classic made new and different.
For the entree, I had the Frenched Pork Rib Chop w/ White Bean Cassoulet. The flavor of the pork was delicious, however, tender, it was not. I felt like I was out in the garage sawing on a piece of wood. This piece of pork was NOT easy to cut. The White Bean Cassoulet was okay. Again, lacking in some flavor, and the beans were undercooked in my opinion. I don't know if that's supposed to be the style, but they almost had too much texture for beans.
My husband had the Serrano Wrapped Day Boat Scallops. Boy, were these good. Great flavor, great texture, but extremely salty. I happen to like salty, so my couple of bites were great. But I can't imagine eating a whole plate of these. My friend had the Cider Glazed Boneless Beef Shortribs. Now her entree was to die for. This was the most tender piece of meat I have ever eaten. So full of flavor. So tender. So good. I had a bite of hers, and spent the evening looking longingly over at her plate! Wow.
For dessert, I had the hazelnut creme brulee which was mighty tasty. But kind of standard. Nothing new here. Tasty. But so is all creme brulee. My husband had the almond cake with cinnamon ice cream. The almond cake was very... almond-y. Moist. Almond-y. Goodness. And the ice cream, well, I've never had cinnamon ice cream before, but it was also very... cinnamon-y. Just a very strong cinnamon flavor. Which I thought was great.
The service was great. Very attentive wait staff. Again, she knew her wine list, and she knew her menu, and was able to make recommendations from both and describe both in detail. Definitely a 20% tip kind of service.
So, as I mentioned, some items were kind of bland, but they ones that were good, were REALLY good. Next time I go: Riesling, Duck Spring Rolls, Beef shortribs, almond cake. MMmm.
This is a lovely place! I came here while in town with a large group of people. The service was wonderful, especially considering the size of the group I was with. The food was nice. The vibe was fun and exciting. The menu was large, and with a few decent vegetarian options. Very nice wine list. The next time I am in town, I would love to come here again.
Much to our surprise, Chef Geoffs was one of the few restaurants offering their ENTIRE menu during DC's Restaurant Week. I must first mention that I am not the biggest fan of standard American fare, but Chef Geoffs might be changing my mind! Their crab cake was second to none- I could have stopped with that! It was incredibly buttery and I didnt want the dish to end! I could have easily gotten 2 crabcakes and been a happy man. However I was treated to an boneless roast entree, followed by my favorite, chocolate cake! It was seriously one of the best meals I've had in the last several years!
I recently was fortunate to attend a Holiday party in a small private room at Chef Geoff's. I have never been to the restaurant before and was able to try a variety of appetizers and desserts. I'm not sure if all of this is on their regular menu, but here were the items that stood out, even if I don't know their actual names:
∙The duck spring rolls were good, especially with the syrupy teriyaki sauce. There was a mushroom version, which I did not get to try.
∙Fried balls of crab meat were sweet, delicious, chewy, and delicate.
∙The large shrimp were fresh and tasty but the sweetened (and cold) butter sauce was a bad match. An acidic or garlicky sauce would have worked better.
∙The chocolate covered cream puffs and the teeny chocolate berry tarts were excellent because the chocolate was rich and of excellent quality. Your tongue gets coated with wonderfully sweet and bitter chocolaty goodness. Yes, i just said "chocolate" four or five times; it was that good.
∙I had a French Kiss. Don't make me blush; it was actually the name of a drink with champagne, peach liquor, and peach nectar. It was tasty.
Chef Geoff's is the closest bar to AU so if you attend AU chances are you will run into people you know. Their happy hour menu is great! I especially like their burgers and the beer selection on tap. Their house wines are decent as well. Also, their happy hour runs from 3-7pm Monday-Friday (i think on the weekends as well) and is valid only if you sit at the bar or at the small tables by the bar. If you want to take advantage of the happy hour specials I would recommend bringing no more than 4 people max as it can get cramped. While their real menu tends to be "hit or miss" I would recommend their madras curry chicken. You can never go wrong with that. Also, their salmon and scallops dishes are very good in general.
The service there is average. I personally think the bartenders are more competent than the servers on the floor.
I can't believe I've never rated this place.
I've been to CG's three times. The only reason I give it one star is because I went there for the first time over a year and a half ago with my current boyfriend and have amazing memories from the five hours we sat outside and chatted.
All that aside, I always avoid going to Cheff Geoff's at all costs. Most people suggest it because it's convenient to AU... but I'd rather trek somewhere else to get decent service.
The food is usually alright; it's the service that drives me nuts.
My first time there the waiter spilled coffee on my lap and didn't seem to notice.
The second time I went was for an anniversary dinner with my boyfriend. I accidently spilled my drink (knocked it over while reaching) and watched the waiter bury his head in his hands and scream at the busboy in Spanish to "deal with it" and watched him march the other way. Before that fiasco, we had to deal with not having the table we requested a week in advance and were promised we would have. And then we were moved three times.
The third time I was there was for a work meeting and we had to wait for nearly 30 minutes to get a table in a half-empty restaurant around 3 in the afternoon on a weekday.
Furthermore, Chef Geoff's is a bad idea if you'd like to actually talk to the other person you're there with. Especially on weekend nights when the place gets so crowded that you're practically sitting on your neighbor's lap.
I hate Chef Geoff's.
Edit - Jan. 22, 2008 - I STILL hate Chef Geoff's. I went there again tonight, a little unwillingly, but for some reason I always try to give this place another chance. I ordered the Lump Crab Cake Sandwich with fries. I swear to God that the "crabmeat" sandwich was really just a tin of tasteless tuna that they lightly browned on both sides. Ugh. I hope I don't get temporary amnesia the next time someone suggests we go here. When will I learn?!
Great food at a good value... great neighborhood kind of place... best calamari -- maybe anyplace ever... sometimes a bit loud and it is popular.
I'm amazed that CG uptown doesn't have a good rating on here. Actually...i'm amazed that none of Geoff's places are rated highly. I, too, worked at Chef Geoff's for 3 years during college and I was always pretty proud to do so. I agree with Alexa that Geoff really doesn't give a shit about his employees, but he's by far not the most arrogant of chefs, a profession where "being an asshole" is pretty much par for the course. Waiting tables anywhere is stressful, and I'll definitely never do it again, but at a place like Geoff's, at least I felt confident that my patrons were getting great food at a decent price.
I don't care what the people on here say about it, because the fact of the matter is that Chef Geoff's in Uptown DC (by AU) is the longest lasting restaurant in that space, and it has to be for a reason....some of the most highly discerning clientele in DC LOVE It there. I can't blame them....in 3 years of working there, I never had a bad meal and so many people whom I introduced to Geoff's have marked it a favorite.
If you go between 4 and 6:30 (which few of us yelpers likely would), Geoff's has a "sunset special" that is a 3 course meal for $20 (i think it's $20...can't remember). Either way, it generally consisted of Geoff's famous Curry Chicken dish (which patrons practically sent hate mail to him for trying to remove it one season), the salmon dish (which is always good) and a pasta dish. Desserts are always delicious, and the calamari here are another staple that people would start a riot over if Geoff took em off the menu---although I've heard that they can be inconsistent, but all calamari is!
As for the rest of the menu, Geoff's has fantastic burgers for $5 on monday and tuesday nights, as well as all day on weekends; fantastic pizzas, good sandwiches, and the Steak and Tuna entrees are always killer. He's does well with pork chops too. Definitely not a vegetarian haven.
I don't know if the service has slipped--the one cool thing about Geoff's is that it has always employed college kids, which keeps it casual and less stodgy. Considering these aren't "professional" waiters, things may not be perfect all the time, but they are the best trained 20 year olds in any DC restaurant. Management at Geoff's is usually right on the tail of every server in there.
Drinks: Geoff has like 24 beers on tap and 10 in bottles--that kind of variety doesn't exist in ANY other restaurant that isn't specifically considered a "bar" (RFD or Brickskeller)
As for the mouse....that's absolutely gross, but it's a part of every restaurant....mice are everywhere.
To address comments about decor or ambiance, Geoff's is definitely a crowded place on a saturday night, but some people like that. If you're a two top, ask for a table "in the 30's" because those are somewhat tucked away from the tables along the benches that are somewhat close together. They are closer to the bar, but you're more secluded. If you want to be romantic with your sweetie, ask for "table 19."
As Geoff's slogan goes "Food. Libation. Merriment." I've never had anything but the greatest of each when I went there (since having stopped working in the establishment :)
I repeat what others say that the happy hour is the best thing going for Chef Geoffs. The beers here are yummy, I especially love the local Maryland beer, hook and ladder I think its called?? The only food I've eaten here is the tortilla soup, which was decent (not great by any means), but i've seen the burgers and they look great.
I think the location is a detraction, there's not much parking and unless you go to AU there's no need to come to this sleepy corner of NW (which is why I loved living in this section too!). But I still think it would be worth your effort to give it a try!
Chef Geoff's is incredibly underrated.
I had the crab/corn chowder and the cobb salad and both were bomb. I really respect Chef Geoff for taking risks and trying new mediums for ingredients: this is a cool fusion place. And although there may be some bad dishes, they definitely do have there fair share of really good dishes as well.
If you're on the fence about Chef Geoff, it's worth trying at least once.
If I could rate 3.5, I would.
The Chef Geoff's happy hour is pretty good. Until 7 pm everyday, you can get $5 burgers, $8 pizzas, and a few different types of beer specials. There's a huge mug that they serve for certain drafts for $8 (I had the Yuengling that night). Not bad for an after work happy hour. You'll have to fight the crowd for seats at the bar or bar tables in order to get the special prices. Try to get there early then.
Sunday brunch is also pretty good, especially when the tables are pulled outside when the weather's nice. The omelette dish was pretty tastey and the waffles were pretty good too. It's hard to mess those up at $10 a pop, but I've seen it done at other places. So if you're looking for a decent brunch for the day after partying all night, then try Chef Geoff's on New Mexico. It's tucked out of the way, so you won't have to worry about running into too many people... except for the AU students.
Our last three visits to Chef Geoff have been less then satisfactory. The service I must say is always great which I appreciate. The food on the other hand was disappointing. I ordered the much talked about Bolognese was awful, it tasted like straight out of a can. The Salmon burger was not much better (second time in a row). It tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for a few days. I will take a break from this place for now.
Also Chef Geoff's website needs some serious makeover.
Disclaimer: Liam D. used to work here so I might have a biased opinion about the stellar service I received here.
I love their wine selection- try the Perlat and any of the dessert wines which are all well chosen.
My favorite memories from here are happy hours, but I've only been to a few. I really enjoy their food and they have the best mashed potatoes in town but SO bad for you- I need those mashed potatoes like I need syphillis. The desserts are all killer, classy atmosphere both for a romantic date and for drinks after work- go here!
a great location, great bar, more than decent selection of beers and wines and convenient parking along with cool outside seating front an back does not translate into positive culinary experience.
i so would love to rate chef geoff more than 2 stars. alas, in good conscience i cannot. every time i am there i am disappointed with the food, which is neither exceptional nor solid, nor even average. bland, too oily, too this or not enough that is usually my experience. yet i keep coming back when memory of that dismal food fades away, only remembering the great location, the great bar, the great.... only to be disappointed again with the food
a pity to be sure. the location is so unique and the neighborhood so in dire need of a great restaurant that i guarantee the place would increase its business exponentially with a new chef at the helm in the kitchen.
maybe that is why i keep coming back: hope. hope that a new chef has indeed taken over in the kitchen. one can only hope.
I'm not a fan of American Faire, but his place is alright. I think I got some salad sort of thing. Even though I don't remember what I had, I remember it being good. The menu is far from exciting, but the quality and service are commendable.
This is the kind of place to go and meet with clients over lunch, or to have after work drinks. Check it out if you are in the area and need food.
Excellent! Definitely going back.
First they give you banana nut bread and Coffee Bread which are both really tasty. The menu had many appetizing entries. We settled on the Cinnamon Apple French Toast which was plentiful and with delicious sausage, Also the Salmon Scrambled Egg Whites with Asparagus and Fruits(Blackberries and Blueberries), both very tasty, and without the egg yellow, good for you cholesterol watchers. service was astounding and the live jazz music in the background during Sunday brunch added a nice touch. Having just returned from Hawaii, I highly recommend the Hawaiian(Pineapple instead of OJ) Mimosa. The fruit plate looked really good as well, Kiwi, Pineapple, Papaya, and Mango. Water was served without ice which is great as thats a pet peeve of mine. Perhaps the OJ could have been freshly squeezed, but aside from that everything was great.
Neighborhood: Federal Triangle
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: American University Park
Category: Italian
Washington, DC
Category: French
Chevy Chase, MD
Category: Italian
Washington, DC
Category: Italian
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