Restaurant NoraLovely to celebrate graduation hereEverything about the restaurant was perfect and what was gleamed from their website was accurate. They care very much about the food and drink they offer and their patrons. Special menus were printed with "congratulations" at the header, and the hostesses were very forgiving for our tardy (about 45 mins) party.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Value for Romantic DiningAmong restaurants of its type (elegant, sophisticated menu, romantic), Nora is a fine value for the money. You could spend far more for a less wonderful meal in a less gracious setting.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMDining aloneComfortable setting even for one. Wear long sleeves in summer as the A/C is very high.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellentA wonderful experience in both the food and the ambiance. You can tell the meals are prepared with a talent for pulling healthy, clean ingredients into a beautiful and delicious plate. Our waiter was friendly, but was a rarely around and forgot several of the details we'd requested. Overall, though, it was a wonderful dining experience and we will be back!6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMSpectacular!Many years ago while on a job in Washington, DC, I ate at a place called Asia Nora. Every dish was an event--subtle, flavorful, just perfect in a unique way. When my husband and I visited DC last week, he asked if there was anywhere special I would like to have dinner. I immediately said, "Asia Nora." Asia Nora has since ceased operating, but Restaurant Nora was near our hotel and we got an early dinner reservation. I had the vegetarian dish of the evening (tomatoes stuffed with quinoa) and my husband had the scallops, which he said were the best he had ever eaten. My dish was beautiful as well as delicious--a feast for all the senses. And the molten chocolate cake--heaven! All in all--perfect!!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMI was very impressed withI was very impressed with the ambiance, the food and the service. I ordered chicken roulade, which was a little pink for my taste (I tend to prefer all-white chicken breast). However, our server explained that free range chicken does tend to be pinker and the taste of the dish and the rest of the food (appetizer, dessert, drinks) was very good.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe tasting menu was outstanding.The tasting menu was outstanding. This was one of the very best meals we have enjoyed in quite some time, and we will look forward to our next visit!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat -- again!We have been to this restaurant several times and it always delivers. The food is creative and delicious with excellent wine choices. Our food took a bit longer than usual to be delivered this time and my dish was slightly cold, but other than that it was fantastic!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMVery Good, but not GreatNora's continues to serve very good and interesting food. The service is friendly without being interfering. Almost everything we ate was top notch. Perfectly cooked beef, excellent pasta with fava beans, and outstanding appetizers. The duck was a bit overcooked with made it rather chewy.
We have been to Nora's several times and will certainly go again.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMorganic delightsWonderful food and service made Nora's a great place to take my fiancee for our anniversary. The wine and desserts were especially delicious, and we both appreciated the organic and humane food.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMterrific dining experienceMy wife and i have high standards for dining out. Nora exceeded our expectations. We have enjoyed la berge chez francois....Nora is in the same class.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMStill greatWe had not been back in several years. The food is still fantastic. Really fun time.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMNever fails to please. SuperbNever fails to please. Superb menu, lovely presentation, thoughtful and friendly service.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMMy new favorite restaurantEach ingredient shines through with freshness and bright flavor, and each compliments the other. It's a couple days after we ate there and I am still thinking about my meal. In addition, I love that they support sustainable practices (wind power, organic food, etc.) and good food in public schools. (I am a public school teacher myself and see what they serve my students, who only have 30 min for lunch anyway).5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial PlaceWe dined at Nora's a year ago for a wedding reception, so we took the happy couple to Nora's this year for their first anniversary. The food was very good (though it seemed much more special for the wedding reception!) and we were able to dine in the gallery (upstairs dining area) just as we did previously. The waiter we had on the more recent occasion was a bit pushy and not as friendly as the staff that had helped with the reception. Nonetheless, we still had a good time and enjoyed the evening. I was surprised that, of the occupied tables (8), half had young children with them! But, they were all very well behaved. We'll go again for the next anniversary.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThe warm, comfortable atmosphereThe warm, comfortable atmosphere and outstanding food, paired with impeccable waitstaff make this restaurant our Washington favorite! The main restaurant was closed for a private party so we were escorted around the corner to their upstairs location. We felt like we were in a friends' house and served delectable plates we will remember until our next visit!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, as alwaysAnother fine dining experience -- although service was not up to par this evening. As always, the food was outstanding, especially halibut, calamari (best my friend ever had); tartare was perfectly seasoned. Waiter seemed to be relatively uninteresting in our table, but other servers, managers, etc., were extremely responsive.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, beautiful setting!Everything about our dining experience was positive. The staff at Nora's take such good care with the food-- and it comes through from the time you enter until you finish. Food was outstanding, as were the red wines available by the glass. Desserts were over the top delicious and gorgeously presented. When we are back in Dupont Circle, we will defininitely go back to Nora's.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDecent food, weak serviceTasting menu, following all of the server's recommendations. Avocado soup had great kick but was overpriced, a-l-c. Tomato tart was a creative surprise. Perfect crust and tapenade. Warm tomato atop lacked flavor (out of season). Filet-M and roasted tomatoes perfect, creamy nettles divine, but turnips sharp. Rhubarb pie great but crust was dry and salty. Weak link was the service: an unapologetic 20 min wait past our reservation from an irritable hostess (leave it at home, please). There was a long delay between courses 1&2 and 3 came before 2 finished in such a fluster that the server didn't know what to do and set our plates on another table. Seemed like some poor organization, mixed with an absence of friendliness. HQ EVOO w/ the bread.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food - nice placeWonderful creative food in a very nice, small setting. everything was fresh and appropriate to seasonal ingredients. Flavors were very well balanced throughout every dish.
Halibut was superb! So was the strawberry shortcake and the French Chardonnay. Great spot for anyone who loves good food.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMCalm, comfortable, and deliciousIt was a great pleasure to eat again at Nora's last week. For mains my wife had Dayboat Scallops and I had Ayrshire Farm Heritage Pork. They were delicious, but that's only the beginning of the story. The atmosphere was relaxed and the noise level permitted easy conversation. The wine list was very carefully selected. The service was calm, friendly and attentive. The art on the wall was outstanding. The synergistic combination of all these basics made for a perfect evening.
Nora's emphasis on the best local ingredients is reminiscent of Chez Panisse in Berkeley. We come from Berkeley and eat out often. I would say that Nora's is equal to or better than Chez Panisse or any other restaurant in the San Francisco Bay area.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my favorites, but....First, I love this place. It has always been one of the best in DC. However, the food preparation was underwhelming this time. The duck was way overcooked and the risotto was bland.
Even the best have bad nights. I will always come back and bring new people, but I will not tell them about this recent experience.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMDuPont circle gemIf its in season, the roasted beat salad is a must. Shorts to suits, all comers will enjoy the amazingly fresh, healthy, sustainable and delicious food.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat night out!Took my fiancée to Nora for a night out and she loved it. The food was delicious and the service outstanding. Can't go wrong.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMA Leader of Tomorrow's WorldRestaurant Nora offers what we really want in organic food, natural beef and fish and chemical free water. You are the leader of the future of the restaurant industry as more and more people learn the value of avoiding toxins.
Thank you!
Gar5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOur Go-To Dining Choice in DCNora offers consistently fine quality, healthy dining choices, with exceptional service in a charming atmosphere.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great atmosphere.Great food, great atmosphere. Always an interesting menu.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMStill a gemRevisited Nora's after 20 years and it's as good as I remembered! Beautiful, classy but not stuffy. Definitely an all time favorite. She did it first and continues to serve fresh, wonderful food in a fabulous environment.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMNeed to Plan for a Long EveningFood and ambience were great -- but the meal took almost four hours.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMVeganThe restaurant overall was great, but there is only one entree for Vegans and it was mediocre at best.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMStill great after all these yearsThis restaurant is known for its organic offerings--being the first in the country to be certified organic. I chose the four-course tasting menu, the highlight of which on the night I went was the filet mignon, very tender and topped with melted blue cheese. Nice flavor combination! We were seated at first at a table that was in the line of a lot of traffic, but staff moved us at the first sign of our displeasure. Service was excellent, staff were proud of the history and tradition of this restaurant, which has been around since 1979. Noise was very manageable; my wife and I were easily able to carry on a conversation.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMTasty goodnessThis was my second time eating at the restaurant. Loved the options on the menu - it was so hard to choose what I wanted! I like how intimate the space is and how attentive the service folks were. After having heard about Restaurant Nora for more than a decade, I'm thrilled it's lived up to its well-deserved reputation for excellence.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Food, Excellent Service!Excellent Food, Excellent Service. Made me wish I live closed to Restaurant Nora. Staff was very professional! Really enjoyed the meal.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience, great food!This was one of the best meals I've had in a very long time. Outstanding, far beyond my expectations. I will definately be back and will tell everyone I know about the outstanding experience. Great desert as well!!!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMRestaurant Nora Always DelightsExcellent on every detail. It was a special occasion, my son turned 21, but every meal here is a special ocassion.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a most wonderful mealHad a most wonderful meal at Restaurant Nora. The service was impeccable -- solicitous without being overbearing and the servers made it known that they wanted to ensure we had a positive experience. My boyfriend and I had the tasting menu -- highlights were the pea soup with a hint of bacon or lardon which was fantastic and a peekeytoe crab salad with avocado which was well balanced and super flavorful. Both the filet mignon (which my boyfriend said was cooked perfectly -- something that's hard to find) and my spring vegetable risotto were delicious. Dessert was also excellent. The restaurant also has an impressive wine list -- the Barolo my boyfriend and I shared was just divine.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was prepared justEverything was prepared just perfect. We had a fantastic dinner!5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a lovely dinner withWe had a lovely dinner with wonderful food. It hasn't always been that way at the restaurant, but this visit was definitely a winner.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was creative, wellThe food was creative, well presented and delicious.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed a delicious dinner.Enjoyed a delicious dinner. Food was excellent and healthy.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful meal in a restaurantA wonderful meal in a restaurant where you actually hear each other without shouting.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food, service, and ambienceThe food, service, and ambience was outstanding, but by the end of our meal, when the restaurant was full, the noise level was just too high. We were in a room that seemingly used to be an alleyway or open space between two adjoining brick houses but had now been closed in via walls at either end and a roof. As a result, sound just reflected off the walls making conversation nearly impossible. Some wall hangings or sound-absorbing materials would help greatly. This is the reason why I am not giving the restaurant only a Very Good rating. I do plan on revisiting Restaurant Nora frequently, but from now on, I am going to opt for a reservation at the opening time of 5:30 pm in the hope of a quiet meal before the crowds come around 74/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is always fantastic...The food is always fantastic... and the space has an amazing atmosphere.. Love the beautiful subtly lit American quilts that adorn the walls.. I feel blessed that this gem is in my neighborhood!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMNora's remains our favoriteNora's remains our favorite DC restaurant.
Never fails to deliver an ever-changing seasonal menu - with excellent local/regional food prepared and presented beautifully.
Relaxed, unrushed atmosphere.
Looking forward to our next meal there!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe've been to Nora many timesWe've been to Nora many times over the years and always enjoy the experience, both food and service. On this most recent visit, we found the menu quite interesting but the execution on a crowded Saturday night was not as polished as it often is. (e.g., over-cooked shad roe). Deserts, however, were especially good. Service was as fine as ever. The restaurant, when it is full, is noisier than my senior citizen ears appreciate, but acceptible compared to most places these days.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGood romantic dinnerBrought my girlfriend to Restaurant Nora because she's a vegitarian with dairy allergies, and I'm a strict carnivore. She had an excellent fish dinner over greens and I got a delicious grass-fed filet mignon. They have vegan-friendly options too. Wine list was good and setting was romantic. Very nice.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGood meal!What a delicious meal! Had the scallops ~ they were yum! My son had the chicken liver that was awesome and my husband had the steak also, very good. It was a delicious meal ~ the portions are not huge, but they are appropriate..It was a nice experience!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely, comfortable, elegant,Lovely, comfortable, elegant, unpretentious, gracious. A fully satisfying dinner and a superb setting for a long evening with good friends.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMIncomparableThis is the best restaurant in DC. There is nothing else even close. It is refined, inspired, outstanding cuisine that shows a real dedication to good, local, sustainable food. Service is exceptional. A wonderful place4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are frequent travelersWe are frequent travelers to D.C. and we always make sure that Nora's is on our "to do" list. Each and every time the service is impeccable, the food delectable, the wine incredible and most importantly the experience is memorable. Although we are not residents we feel that Nora's is our "neighborly" and most favorite dining locale and we always leave wanting more. Special requests are always honored (this week it was an amazing special all vegetable entree). Thank you Nora.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AM