- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Domku Bar & Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Polish Restaurants Scandinavian Polish, Scandinavian [Edit]
821 Upshur St NW(between N 9th St & N 8th St)
Washington, DC 20011
Neighborhood: Petworth
(202) 722-7475
- Nearest Transit:
-
Georgia Ave Petworth Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Tue-Wed 5 pm - 11 pm
Thu, Sun 10 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
160 reviews for Domku Bar & Cafe
Review Highlights
"This cute little Eastern European bistro/coffee house/lunch..."
(in 22 reviews)
"...my favorite things is the Norwegian pancake goes Dutch - no."
(in 6 reviews)
"Also great breakfast/brunch fare."
(in 34 reviews)
Loading...
160 reviews in English
-
Review from Maki P.
Washington, DC
2/8/2012
Such a rare find in DC! Domku is an unexpected, cozy little industrial-chic gem of a cafe that has affordably priced, unique and well-prepared food. They also have some rare regional beers (Efes and Baltika) and liquors (aquavit) available, adding to the authentic stamp of the place, which feels like it could be situated on a little hidden side-street in Prague.
I went here recently for a delicious lunch of borscht (heavier than anticipated, but quite good) and a warm and crisp shredded chicken and sauerkraut sandwich. More recently, I was there last night for a Georgian wine dinner-- three courses of Georgian food with a paired Georgian wine for each, finished with a shot of Georgian brandy (charmingly called 'chacha') all for $55. The service was slow, to be sure, but the experience itself was a good and convivial one, with a Georgian "sommelier" making the rounds to tell us more about the wines we were drinking. I will for sure come back again, for the unique (if not refined) menu and the warm ambiance. -
Review from Steve A.
Washington, DC
1/8/2012
What a miserable place. I've been here twice, once a couple years ago and then again today. Previously, the service was bad -- everything is very very slow, we had to ask several times for things and then getting our card run took about a half an hour.
That was nothing; today was horrendous. Probably the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. This could turn into a long rant but I'll summarize with bullets:
- The manager (owner?) has a nasty attitude and gave us and a server a hard time about where we were being seated. We moved but didn't appreciate the static.
- Our server was wicked flaky and had a pretty poor knowledge of the menu. She fully misrepresented a menu item. We called her on it when it arrived and said we were willing to pay extra to receive what she said would be on the plate. She said no but then asked us if, "everything was delicious and if she could bring us anything else." Unbelievable.
- Once this occurred, our server basically wrote us off, and we had to ask the other servers for such luxuries as our check.
- There were some kids around and we witnessed the manager (owner?) reprimanding them for being kids with their parents right there.
- I think the table behind us had an even tougher time. Somehow the girl ordered fish when she didn't mean to. She tried to send it back and our server said, "tough luck." I thought this girl was about to cry.
- Finally, our friend who had to eat the shrimp salad that was not as the server described came down with food poisoning from the undercooked shrimp.
I know it's tempting to go here because there really isn't much in this neighborhood but you won't catch me there. -
Review from Colby P.
Washington, DC
1/5/2012
Tempted to give Domku a 5 start rating for the simple fact that something like this is available just a short walk away in the neighborhood.
But... there are a few negatives:
1) service is usually very slow. the times I've been in there the place has been nowhere near capacity yet we had to wait to even be seated. It also took 3 asks from my +1 for a glass of water to actually get the damn thing...along with our check.
2) Not the greatest value. The prices are about what I expected (maybe a tad on the pricey side, but still very reasonable) yet the portions are small.
Now, I'm not one to really bash a place for under-attentive service, since for me, it's always about the quality and price of the food, the ambiance and what the general dining experience is like. Since the service didn't get in the way of my enjoyment I don't consider it too much of a problem.
Everything else about the place is fantastic: warm, unpretentious decor; a playful cocktail list (I like the Absinthe Minded); and surprisingly good dishes. This coming from someone who lived in Prague for a while and was so off-put by the cuisine, that he vowed never to eat Central-Eastern European/Scandinavian food ever again.
The potato pancakes are amazing! I have no idea how they get that much flavor into them. The fried pickled herring is also a must have starter. Ditto the tomato, olive oil and feta bruschetta-type dish. The pierogies were nothing to write home about but still quite good if you like that kind of thing.
A good strategy for dining is to order several dishes and starters then share. This is the perfect spot for special date. -
Review from C B.
Washington D.C., DC
1/23/2012
Super disappointing! I've been in the neighborhood for about two years and this place cannot get it right. I have visited on several occasions hoping maybe THIS will be the time I have a great experience. No luck yet.
To be fair, the food is pretty good and innovative. Drinks are creative and the atmosphere is relaxing, too; which is good because you will be wating f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get service. I visited three weeks ago and waited 45 min. for french toast (not so complicated, folks). This past weekend, I stopped clock counting after a full hour of no food. No apologies, no explaination, no consideration. I hope the owner understands how important good word-of-mouth is in a neighborhood that is quickly being developed. And how easy it is for unhappy Petworthians to dish out our bucks at any other establishment.
Other low notes: they quickly run out of dishes, so don't bet on getting what you like. Waitstaff seem to be irritated when you ask them for pretty much anything. -
Review from Sarah H.
Washington, DC
2/3/2012
Awesome quirky place. Great, great food and drinks. Service is usually good (but not 100% of the time). Very reasonable prices.
-
Review from Krystal D.
Washington, DC
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can it be? Have a finally found a go-to spot in my very own neighborhood? Within walking distance of my apartment, no less?
The boyfriend and I wandered into Domku on a whim early on a Saturday afternoon. We were given a very warm greeting when we walked in, despite the fact that other reviewers noted bad service. Our hostess also happened to be our waitress, and she was quite friendly throughout the duration of our meal.
At 2:00 on a Saturday, we had the option of ordering from the breakfast or lunch menu, and we decided to give the breakfast menu a go. The boyfriend ordered the eggs benedict and I opted for the tomato, onion, and cheese omelet, adding kielbasa. Both were served with a side salad.
It took only about 10 minutes for our food to arrive, and the presentation was excellent- no frills, but obviously fresh ingredients. Everything tasted great, with only two problems. First, the boyfriend's eggs were over-cooked. Poaching an egg is an artform, and the chef here didn't seem to have it quite right. My dish tasted excellent, but they forgot to add the kielbasa. When I pointed this out to our waitress, she offered to have the omelet remade or just bring a side of kielbasa. I opted for the side, but in retrospect, I should have had the omelet remade. The kielbasa was fantastic and would have completely transformed the omelet. Our server offered us a free aquavit to make up for the error.
As my star-rating indicates, I'm definitely willing to give Domku the benefit of the doubt and try them again soon. The dinner menu looked extra tasty! -
Review from Alex A.
Washington, DC
11/16/2011
Domku is a great little find, with a delicious eastern European and Slavic menu that would be unusual in this area, let alone Upshur Street in Petworth. In addition to the great food, the atmosphere is cozy and casual, and more bar/cafe than restaurant.
Despite the reviewers complaining about service, we never experienced a problem -- to the contrary, our waitress/bartender was friendly and helpful. I wouldn't go to Domku if I were in a hurry, but then again I wouldn't go to any restaurant if I were in a hurry. -
Review from joe m.
Washington, DC
12/29/2011
My fiancee took me here last night for my birthday dinner. We recently moved to the area about 6 blocks west of the restaurant, so we were excited to try something that people had been telling us about nearby.
We were not disappointed at all. My fiancee ordered the borscht to start. she allowed a few spoonfuls for me, and we both agreed it was amazing. I quite honestly hadn't tasted anything like that and it was delicious.
For entrees, I ordered the chicken goulasz. It was downright amazing/phenomenal/life-changing. Easily the best plate of food I had in all of 2011. I don't claim to be a foodie, but I do go out to dinner a lot. It was mind-blowing with all the flavor and the spices and the chicken just falling off the bone. I don't think I've left a DC restaurant that satisfied in my 10 years of living here. It was a perfect meal for a cozy winter's night.
My fiancee ordered the beef stroganoff. It was smothered in dijon and something else over noodles and I easily had a healthy sampling of it b/c it was so well prepared and delicious.
The place was empty, so it was hard to judge service based on previous posters, but friends had warned us about poor service. We didn't feign being regulars or foodies, and we were greeted kindly by the owner (I later learned it was the owner) and the wait person was so pleasant and helpful, and then incredibly kind sharing with us some details about the restaurant and its history in the neighborhood once we shared with her that we were both new to Petworth and also first timers to Domku. Based on her recommendation of their brunch menus, we will definitely be heading back there on a Sunday or Saturday morning! -
Review from Laura L.
5/25/2011 5 Check-ins Here
When you have a hankerin' for some Swedish meatballs and mash, you have two options: go to the cafeteria at Ikea or go to Domku. Luckily I tried the latter and boy, was it a good decision.
I've actually had the pleasure of visiting Domku twice now and while I've had varying degrees of service, the food has always been spot on.
Visit #1, Brunch:
No wait during what would be the brunch rush on a Sunday in any other neighborhood but Petworth. There was no wait, we were seated quickly and orders were taken. I got a coffee (free refills!), a scone of the day and smoked salmon benedict. The bf got the potato hash and the Scandinavian fish soup. The entire meal was absolutely fantastic. The bf and I visited Iceland last year and were looking for a place that had a fish soup comparable to the fish soup we had in Iceland and Domku's comes pretty close to the original. It has a touch of cream without being heavy, lots of dill, root veggies and of course, various types of fish. My dishes were all tasty as well-- the scone was great, not too sweet. The smoked salmon benedict was wonderful and came with a lightly dressed side salad. Scrumptious!
Brunch service was slow albeit absent for the most part but it was fine because we didn't really want to be bothered :)
Visit #2, Dinner:
We decided we liked Domku so much that we went back for dinner. We came here on a weekend night, with a very short wait and a semi-full house. It took awhile before a server even came by with glasses of water or to take our orders. Since we had time to decide, we were able to put in our orders when she first came by the table. We got the potato pancakes to start and I got the Swedish meatballs and mash. The potato pancakes came out quickly and were pretty tasty. Only downer was that there were literally only two on the plate... we were hoping for either a few mini ones or more than just two but oh well. The Swedish meatballs came out shortly thereafter- the cream was a bit more soupy/ runny than I had hoped. The mash was a bit dry but luckily I had soupy meatball sauce to help break it up. Overall, not a bad dish.
The service was extremely slow at dinner time- I couldn't tell if there was only one server because it definitely wasn't super busy. All in all, a good meal but just really slow service.
Also, you should note that it's a pretty intimate setting, ie: I couldn't help but overhear other people's conversations because we were in such close quarters. One poor fella next to us brought a lady to the restaurant who did nothing but whine about their pickled herring and lack of wine choices. Seriously, lady?! What do you think this is?!
Domku is a great restaurant if you're looking for a change in pace, er, cuisine. There aren't many Scandinavian or Eastern European restaurants out there but Domku is a great place to get a taste of that cuisine, if you're open-minded. -
Review from Liz A.
McLean, VA
6/21/2011
Can it get any worse?
Bad location, worse food worst service.
- The food tasted extremely bland.
- Too slow with food
- Forgot to bring the coffee we ordered, after two reminders they brought the coffee but had to wait 5 minutes for sugar at which point the coffee was too cold
- The service was beyond bad. I ordered something and go the wrong item and when I pointed it out the server said "oh, sorry, but do you at least like this one to keep it"
- NOT family friendly. It's full of teenagers and college kids with bad attitude. -
Review from Elizabeth K.
Asheville, NC
9/18/2011
My friend took me here for brunch one gray Sunday morning. The inside is absolutely precious, vintage furniture combined with Scandinavian-Mod things make this place so cozy!
I was skeptical of having brunch at a Scandinavian place because after going to Sweden and Denmark I am not a huge fan of their breakfast habits (the smorgasbord type spread isn't my thing). Domku has wonderful sounding dishes that made it hard to decide what I wanted- no deli meats and endless sandwich spreads in sight.
I ordered the pancake that comes with fruit and lavender syrup. It was delicious and exactly what I wanted. More fruit would have been great with it but I was not unsatisfied. The pancake was creamy and melty- in my mouth. I really enjoyed every bite.
My friend got the egg-cheese dish that comes with toast, she loved hers too. It looked really good.
The service was warm and friendly and the atmosphere is just adorable. I can't wait to tell more people about Domku! -
Review from Russell M.
Washington, DC
6/10/2011
Friday night eats usually mean crowded restaurants, stressed out servers, and the need for patience. Tonight, not so. Since moving into the area, Domku has been a favorite in the Petworth area for me. This review will hopefully explain why.
We started off the night with the mussels and cured beef. The mussels, a special tonight, were cooked in an exquisite tomato broth. The cured beef was laid over rye bread and mayonnaise with watercress, and the breaded onion bits gave the plate a little crunch. This starter was offset by a flight of aquavit - three different flavors (chosen by our wonderful server Lisa).
Our main dish, which we shared, was the was the Biff Lindstrom, A beef patty stuffed with aged beets, with a side of potatoes and a mustard seed sauce, wasn't fantastic but it did the job well. Maybe the appetizers really set the bar a little high... and maybe it was the fact that I chose the Biff Lindstrom instead of the lamb I was eyeing.
And let me take a moment to describe our service. Lisa, our server, was peppy and witty, friendly and comfortable. She was attentive to our needs but not overbearing; in fact, we found her attitude and conversation entertaining. Her choices in aquavit were impeccable. We really enjoyed our time, a lot because she was so friendly.
If you're in Petworth, and you're looking for a great restaurant serving Scandinavian food, Domku is the place to be. It can get crowded fairly quickly since there isn't a lot of seating. Go and take your time - it's worth it. -
Review from Betsy P.
Potomac, MD
11/15/2011
Have been there four times, hoping for improvement. We were so excited about East European and Scandinavian food. Service was poor and slow every time. There are some awesome dishes on the menu, but you never know if they will come out hot and fresh, or not. The owner is rude, some of the tables are an uncomfortable height, and the music is too loud. Four chances is enough. Don't bother.
-
Review from Rachelle S.
Washington, DC
2/15/2011
I've been to DomKu several times and always had the same experience:
great food, terrible service. Its really a shame because their space is unique and comfortable, their menu is wonderful and the food is always great. This past Sunday however, was the last straw.
After waiting 10ninutes for just our coffee to arrive, our food took a solid 50minutes to get to the table. Our waitress said NOTHING to us the entire time. Some other girl came up to our table thinking it needed to be bussed because of all our empty coffee cups..um no we've been in need of refills for half an hour! FInally our food came out and our waitress tried to blame it on the kitchen, she also told us that they were out of one of the items we ordered...All of our food was cold. We order simple breakfast food, eggs, potatoes, and a pancake...50minutes? really? and then for it to be cold?
I understand that shit happens, I work in the customer service industry AND I've waited tables before, but this was ridiculous. Someone should have communicated to us that there was a problem in the kitchen, the menu item we ordered wasn't available, and hey, would like a refill while you wait? Nothing. We told our waitress our food was cold and she goes, "oh! ok."
Sorry Domku but I don't think any of us will be back.
If you have 3 hours and you enjoy being treated like crap definitely go eat here- if you get warm food it IS delicious. -
Review from Nina B.
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have not had the luxury of exploring Petworth much, or even trying a variety of Polish/Scandinavian food. But, I was really happy that a friend of mine discovered and shared this place with me.
The food was great! I tried out the Pate Trio, consisting of brandy & blackcurrent chicken liver mousse, a smoked herring/cream cheese pate, and a smoked samon pate. They were all incredibly delicious, and made me craving for more. Their special of the day mushroom soup was outstanding and I was in the mood for something that was tasty, and felt like home, so I finished up with the Spicy Grilled Cheese.
Overall, the service was attentive and friendly, and the food is definitely worth the trip. -
Review from Katie Y.
12/28/2010
The things I don't know about Petworth, a neighboring community to my own, could sadly easily fit on a list a page long. Fortunately, one thing I can cross off is this darling little restaurant. I've never been to Poland or Scandinavia, but I grew up eating some Polish fare. This place is like comfort food on crack for those of Northern heritage: pierogis, Hungarian goulash, kielbasa, plenty of cabbage and pork, and ridiculously cute cocktails to wash it down (with things like elderberry liquor in them).
On a recent day that I was there, the "oven was broken" and a few items on the menu were not offered at all. Our selected items seemed to be unaffected, and we enjoyed ourselves in the quiet place, nestled up to the exposed brick walls and enjoying the whimsical holiday decorations.
I've noticed in several reviews that there have been problems with service. For us, service was smiley and relatively helpful (though perhaps a bit frustrated maybe due to the oven breakdown), though I could imagine that if it's a regular occurrence, it is likely something stemming from management rather than individuals there. Unless there is a bad server or two that happen to keep their employment, unhappiness and displeasure of life always stem from top management and trickle on down to the servers, making their lives hellish as they are often caught between a rock (the boss) and a hard place (the customers).
It was the day after Christmas and DC was a bit of a ghost town, but a few people came in out of the frigid cold to nosh and kept the place feeling somewhat populated (tip: they have baby highchairs available for use). This place would be great for a large group of people - there is certainly plenty of space and it's an easy space to float through. -
Review from Venkatesh B.
Rochester, MN
3/30/2011
My colleagues and I had a meeting here yesterday evening. The staff were attentive and quietly present which was perfect. The food was really great, especially the chocolate torte which may I add is only for me so don't even try to share it with me. The rest of the foods were all a hit as were the beers / cocktails. Really it was just a fun evening.
We found street parking easily by the way; I can't tell if it was a fluke or the norm there. -
Review from Alicia W.
Washington, DC
3/22/2011 16 Check-ins Here
I've gone there just about weekly for brunch ever since moving to Petworth and I love it. The service isn't rapid but I've never had a problem getting anyone's attention when I need it. Having had just about everything on the menu, one of my favorite things is the Swedish hash (either version). The Swedish pancakes (all types) are also great although I can never finish them and if you are willing to wait, get the grits bake. If you are looking for lunch type things the grilled cheese and shredded chicken are great.
This is also a great place to go relax and read a book on one of their comfy couches or get some work done during their non peak hours. They have free wifi and keep the coffee coming.
I have been there once for dinner and was not terribly impressed by the pirogies. This was about a year ago so I plan on giving that another go. Overall, a great pick. I'll continue to be a regular and hope others help support the local businesses in the neighborhood too. -
Review from Jessica L.
Washington, DC
2/8/2011
This place is very....interesting. It is not something you expect to find in Petworth, that's for sure.
The menu is very interesting and I was a little annoyed with my server. I don't need you to talk down to me about the way the menu is laid out, I can read. I love when a server tells you in detail about a certain dish that I have a question on, or when I need help to decide; but, PLEASE DO NOT sit there and explain everything on the menu or how I should go about ordering my food, give me a second to explore myself, that's half the fun of trying something new right!? With that being said, the food is very good and the menu is exciting (only if you have a daring palate).
So on the sour side...they seem to run out of things, which granted I know this place is small but there were only two other tables in there and it was a monday night. I think its more of a supply order issue, or pure laziness, to which I am not sure, but either way it shouldn't have happened on a SLOW ASS MONDAY.
All and All ladies and gents...you won't find me here again anytime soon! But if you are looking for something different and are feeling a bit daring, go on and give it a try. -
Review from Lindsay A.
Arlington, VA
2/23/2011
I've lived in Petworth for almost two years and only heard about this place a few months ago.
I'm about to say what everyone else has said, but it's true: great food, reaaaaaally slow service. I don't want to say "bad" service because it wasn't; the server was great. But she was also playing the role of bartender, hostess, and hell, probably chef, and the place was about half full.
They were also out of pierogies, which is "CRAZY," to quote my boyfriend. The food we ordered was awesome, though: lamb burger with blue cheese (don't care who you are -- you will NOT be disappointed) and latkes (we cleaned the plate).
Slow service would have knocked my rating down to a 3, but this place is in the hood -- MY hood -- and for that I'm thankful. Will definitely be back. -
Review from Gaston E.
Washington, DC
8/31/2011
Good stuff. Nice place. Nice staff. Some great food.
-
Review from Jane Y.
2/27/2011
This place could actually be amazing. It's a great, well designed, fun looking, interesting and tasty menu.
The service was not very attentive. We went at around 10:30 for brunch on Sunday. The place was empty. We had our choice of seats. But for whatever reason, it was impossible to get service. There were three servers, and when we got there, five tables. So there didn't seem to be any reason the waitress couldn't ask us if we wanted coffee right away. Or why it would take almost half an hour for her to take our order. Or why ALL the food we ordered would come out at the SAME time, even the donuts, which should have come out as an appetizer, which I asked for. Or why the food was cold (sad).
So if I go there again, which I probably will since it's a pretty interesting and sweet little restaurant, I will ask for the food to come out as it's ready. Maybe that will help? -
Review from Jonathan M.
Washington, DC
4/4/2011
I went here for brunch. The food is good; the service was poor. My waitress brought me the wrong meal and didn't return to our table for about 25 minutes. I tried to get her attention several times, but she just rushed by.
When the waitress arrived to take away our plates after we had finished eating, she said to us, "I'm not trying to kick you out or anything, but here's your bill." We actually had been planning on ordering some post-meal coffees. When she brought the coffee, it was cold.
I'd still give the place another chance if I lived nearby (I don't), and the food options seem interesting and unique. I liked the coffee shop vibe and the decorations. I'd give the place another chance, but it just wasn't a great experience due to very slow service and the mistakes. -
Review from Elina T.
2/19/2011
A very cool, different and cozy place with unique and tasty food. Domku is like your local neighborhood coffee shop, but with great cuisine. The cuisine is Eastern European / Scandinavian, but presented in a way that appears to an American palate. I'm Russian and certain ingredients like kielbasa and pastries with blackcurrant hit really close to home, but the dishes are unique and different from anything I've ever had as a kid.
I always go for brunch. One of my favorite things is the Norwegian pancake goes Dutch - no. 5. A must try - the slightly sweet melt-in-your mouth pancake goes perfectly with the saltiness of the gouda and the smokiness of the kielbasa. The pulled chicken sandwich with sauerkraut is also quite good. I also like their desserts.
The servers are also very nice. I agree - when they're busy, the service can be a bit slow, but I've never gotten cold food and, if I don't mind lounging around on their comfy couches while the food comes.
I wish this place was closer to my home (Arlington) -- I'd be there every weekend! -
Review from Shawn M.
Washington, DC
2/28/2011
I'll say that I want this place to succeed because it's in Petworth and because it serves eastern european food, but they just charge way too much for dishes that are mainly made of super cheap ingredients like potatoes. Not sure why anyone pays these prices. I went with a gift certificate and it was alright.
However, they are a decent value when you use http://restaurant.com ($25 off if you spend $40 before tax/tip), so I give them an extra star conditional on them remaining a part of that site. -
Review from Stacey P.
Washington, DC
8/23/2011
I liked it, but I didn't love it, which is sad because I'm a Scandinavian-blooded Minnesotan and wanted a good place to get a slice of home. The fried potatoes/carrots were great, but the abelskiver (Danish pancakes) came out lukewarm and tasted basically like the ones you can (or at least used to be able to) get at Trader Joe's. Plus my chai was just okay. However, the atmosphere was fun and quirky, and that alone might get me to go back.
-
Review from Richard M.
Sacramento, CA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food was fantastic - I asked our gracious server to surprise me - and she did with a couple great starters, entree, special drink and dessert. I eat here every trip to DC and so should you!
-
Review from Kvatch K.
Washington, DC
3/31/2011
Domku is a rarity among restaurants...a place where you want to try absolutely every dish on the menu. I've been three times so far, and each time my food was delicious.
Yes the service is a tad slow, but hey...while the weather remains on the chilly side, have a bowl of borscht! You won't be disappointed.
Long story short...I plan to keep returning to Domku until I've tried every dish. -
Review from Linda K.
Washington, DC
10/4/2010
This is a unique place. The neighborhood is not the safest, but the decor is urban and modern. The couch area is nice. Service is slow.
The cognac and pistachio pate is okay. The potato, onion and bacon pierogie is good. So are the pork chops. They come with cabbage and potato dumplings. The red chili pepper aqu avit is far too strong.
Overall, an okay place but not worth the trek unless you happen to be nearby. -
Review from Ben B.
1/12/2011
This place honestly deserves a 3.5, but I round up. The space is excellent, it has the feel of a trendy little cafe but a full menu. So it'd be a great place to go if you have to spend the day doing some work.
The food is great. I had the mushroom and kraut pierogies, which weren't the best I've ever had, but were pretty dang close. I also had gravlax, which WAS the best I've ever had. We shared some seafood soup, which was excellent. I recommend avoiding the farmers cheese dish, it's pretty plain.
The thing that makes this a 3.5 place is the service. I agree with other yelpers, the server needs an attitude adjustment. Our service was fast, but it came with a side of attitude.
I'd definitely come back. A nice little surprise in the neighborhood. -
Review from Duy N.
Montgomery, MD
1/20/2011
missed breakfast, but had the gypsy kielbasa sandwich, which was tasty. Also had the Ukranian Borscht, which is a deep red/purple beet soup, which was smooth and very good, worth a try if you never had it. Most noteworthy was their aquavits, ordered a flight (3 shots) plus one: Dill, Spicy, Lemongrass, and Cardamom. My favorite was the dill.
Located in a random place, but that's what makes it so good. -
Review from Kori K.
Washington, DC
5/31/2010
Well, I have to say I'm happy to FINALLY have found a place DC where a good Polish girl can get some pierogies or kielbasa and some real piwo (beer).
The space is relaxing. Bright colors, comfortable seating, good for groups. A nice patio to chill during the warm days.
And the food is pretty damn good. But just like everyone said, it will take FOREVER. Are they casing their own sausage back there? Fermenting the sauerkraut? Whatever it is, it took over an hour for us to get our food and there were only two other tables.
And the menu isn't exactly cheap. For example, the kielbasa and kraut is $16!
I'll probably be back though... when I have a lot of time. -
Review from Sergio S.
Houston, TX
4/13/2010
The reviews of this place are so polarized that I couldn't resist checking it out. I was hoping to get the man that introduces himself as a "horrible waiter" to greet us, but ah--how dreams fall short. C'est la vie!
Our lady was very nice, but if I were starving . . I would have died of famine waiting for our order. If ordering Borchst, however, it comes out pretty quickly. I have no frame of reference with this dish, but I dug it. Speaking out of ignorance, however, I'm guessing it could be better. Let the Borscht hunt begin!
Many hours later I had the Gypsy Kielbasa: "Spicy smoked kielbasa, onions, red peppers, arugula, blue cheese, & mustard-mayo on
ciabatta. " Just as tasty and delightful as it sounds. Perhaps not the best in it's food genre, but tasty nonetheless.
The place is a nice loungy type of affair. Nothing fancy and as someone mentioned, the chairs look pretty uncomfortable. That' s how we ended up on the couch I guess.
Don't come here looking for speed or efficiency, . . . it's more of a chillax type of time that Domku will dish out instead. So wait and enjoy. -
Review from Dan M.
Washington D.C., DC
2/5/2011
Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere, great service.
There are very few places in DC with this much character and this good food. A rare find! Well worth the trip to Petworth.
If you're there be sure to request the server Haley. She's really friendly and responsive. -
Review from Stephen H.
Arlington, VA
4/21/2011
I have to confess. In the past, I have warned friends I was taking to Domku that they shouldn't expect good service, but that the food and overall vibe of the place made up for it.
This past Friday, Domku made me eat my words. After trying DC Brau's first offerings at Meridian Pint, my group of 8 was trying to figure out where to eat, which wasn't going to be easy with that many people. I called Domku, who said they would check and call me back in a few. Somehow I missed their call, but when I called back a few minutes later they were really friendly and said that they were setting up a table in the back for us to use. After convincing my relatively drunk friends that yes, Petworth has a great Slavic/Scandinavian restaurant, we walked up GA Ave.
Everyone loved their food, despite their complaints that I'd made them walk too far. The service was great, and our servers were really good about dealing with a group of people who might have had one pint too many, and who wanted to pay with a good five or so credit cards. The special mushroom soup was probably the table's favorite, but I'm personally a huge fan of their vegetarian borscht, as well as their eggplant appetizer. The vegetarian meatballs were a little leaden, but they tasted fine. On our way back to the Petworth Metro, the entire group said how much they'd enjoyed their dinners, and how they wanted to go back. Thanks, Domku, for not letting me down! -
Review from Monique E.
Denver, CO
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went with a girlfriend (we're both of Polish heritage) and ordered the shopka salad, veggie meatballs, brussel sprouts and carrot soup. The food was excellent!! We were really impressed. We'll come back. The shopska salad didn't taste that authentic, but I think it is hard to buy the specific tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers found in Bulgaria and with America's industrially produced food, it's hard to get fresh, tasty produce, which Bulgaria has in abundance. Two thumbs up on the rest of the food, though.
-
Review from Stephanie W.
Arlington, VA
1/24/2009
While visiting friends in DC, I knew I had to visit Domku because it was the only place with decent espresso close to my friend's house, and because it's in such a weird location.
Now Domku is the sort of coffee shop one might find in San Francisco or other bougie neighborhoods. The espresso is great and the space is laid out in a welcoming fashion. The walls are all warm earth tones that seem unassuming, yet inviting. They have the purposefully rustic looking sofas that look as if they were pulled from a musty antique shop. All the chairs and purposefully mismatched, the lighting is minimalistic, and it is ostensibly quite cool looking on the inside. And this makes absolutely no sense because this coffee shop/breakfast nook is sandwiched in between a restaurant called "Seafood N Things" that seems to sell only pizza, and a liquor store (one of those with the Plexiglas bubbles around the cashiers with the box underneath to slide cash/products)
So when I saw this odd mix in Petworth, I had to see what it was about.
The cappuccino was delicious, though not the best I've had (and I like my latte art on the top as well when I go to coffee shops, which this place didn't do). I also had a delightful yogurt granola parfait for breakfast, which was sweetened with honey instead of sugar and full of bananas, blueberries and strawberries. Yes, I realize none of those are local/seasonal at the moment, but I can deal with that. My friend also said their scones were quite tasty, though I like more inventive flavors than cinnamon raisin. They let us sit at the window with our books as long as we wanted, and they were quite nice to the regulars who appeared to be their for Saturday morning brunch. Overall, I quite enjoyed this location, even if its location made little or no sense. Let the
gentrification begin! (er...continue, I suppose) -
Review from Joe C.
Washington, DC
12/23/2009
If I could rate a zero I would. Let me start this review like my dinner started, by telling you what we don't have. No potato perogies, 2 apps and a entree. This is a Polish-ish restaurant, so how can you not get someone to make some more perogies before the dinner rush? On to the drinks, flat club soda that cost 2 bucks and at one point our waiter went to refill the drink mid dinner and was gone for 10 minutes.
The mash potatoes are instant, not fluffy or good, just instant, flaky crap. The chicken goulash had bone pieces in it and a great deal of fat. I was beyond disappointed by this place. I will never go back or recommend it to anyone! Yeck.
The last thing, there was one employee working the bar and floor. He was a self admitted new waiter, which is fine, but then he followed it up by stating he is also a bad waiter. This place needs some serious re-working. Oh, and the interior is not cool or hip, it looks like garbage, nothing good about it. -
Review from Carly S.
Washington, DC
6/20/2010
As a neighbor in Petworth, I'm ashamed to say that my first time to Domku was five months after moving into town. This little gem is pulled from the pages of Etsy, and their breakfast fare is fantastic.
Now yes, I was a simple tradtiionalist and got only eggs & toast, but my colleague ordered the grits bake - and it was FABulous. Everything was piping hot (I felt like I could've had more eggs, though - the portion size was a bit small compared to the four pieces of french bread/toast) and the coffee was delicious.
I *love* Domku's decor, with pastels and indie art everywhere. My colleague and I agree it is nearly a carbon copy of the Dozen cafe in Pittsburgh - wooden everything, vintage chairs and tables, a few couch spaces. I'm pleased to see their outdoor patio, but they could use a different shade structure than a few umbrellas. "Cute" is all I could say to describe Domku's shabby-chic, hipster diner style. The back is "classier", with some bigger tables.
I did not experience the poor service that others are referring to, though we were a table of two. Our server was very cute and personable. Domku, however, is unfortunately understaffed in the wake of their increased business - and, from what I see today, they're hiring!
This part of Georgia Ave/Petworth is still... well, "developing", so I can see why it took some time for this place to take off. We arrived at 10:30am today (Sunday) to a nearly empty restaurant. I was thrilled to see that by the time we left, it was packed to the brim. As a resident of Petworth, I have a newfounded enthusiasm for local small enterprises - and Domku is at the top of my list. I will be going there for their night life soon, but I'll be taking a cab and absolutely NOT walking home alone. -
Review from Robert W.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2008
I had brunch here and was pleasantly surprised with the concept, the food, and the execution.
This place felt out of place in Petworth, but it was welcoming on a 25 degree day. I had the Swedish waffle with lingonberry sauce. Made with a unique heart/flower shaped waffle iron, I didn't really think there was anything distinctively Scandinavian about the waffle, but I thought they could have ladeled out a little more lingonberry sauce as it was served very skimpily.
I also tried some friends nordic eggs benedict as well as salmon Pyt i panna (basically salmon hash with a poached egg), which were both standouts.
Bruncher beware of the bloody mary - it's made with a vodka that is infused with habanero peppers, so you should definitely sip slowly, as it will kick you in the back of the throat. According to our waiter, one man tried to take a shot of it once, then immediately vomited into his mouth and sprinted to the bathroom (probably not at 11AM in the morning on a Sunday). This is the sign of a good vodka.
Finally, the concrete floors, mixed with the 1970s vintage furniture and the elementary school artwork added a great laid back touch. We ended up eating our brunch seated in some lounge chairs and a sectional couch at a coffee table, which you might find in your uncle's basement.
This place is definitely worth the metro/bus ride.
