1789 Restaurant

A classic American restaurant in a charming setting with excellent food and impeccable service (note - and prices to match: you get what you pay for). The portions are just right and the ambience allowed us to have a conversation while not overhearing too much from the other tables. Definitely a recommendation for a special night out!

The food was cold.

Had a casual dinner in the bar with the fantastic attention of bartender extraordinaire’ Sean! Delightful in every way.

great restaurant but way too expensive, dinner for 2 almost $250 !!

Excellent food, ate at the bar, which was fine until the folks in a private party told me & my friend we were making too much noise! They should have rented out the whole bar. Didn't even offer to buy us a drink. Declasse.

Everything in this restaurant is exquisite. Highly recomended, for those with a refined palate.

The GM/sommelier Brian made our experience so wonderful by helping us taste and select a wine we would like and made us very comfortable with the price point too. Atmosphere is cozy and elegant. Very special place.

Had not been there since the Reagan administration, and the food and the service are still outstanding, even if the menu isn't as staid as it once was. The ambience is only marred by the loudness of the supporters of the current administration voicing there odious prejudices. 30 years ago, people knew how to behave in a fine dining establishment, regardless of their politics. Alas, that does not seem to be the case anymore.

It was great! And Vincent, our server was phenomenal!

Will make plans to come back!! my wife and i enjoyed our meal and our waiter Hesham

Perfect for any day of life.

Absolutely wonderful evening! We love visiting 1789, and consider it a “go-to” for special occasions. We had the best table, near the fireplace. Our server was superb making excellent recommendations on cocktails and providing guidance on menu choices. Two in our party opted for the tasting menu and it was a lovely combination of flavors and experiences. We lingered over coffee and dessert and never felt rushed. Everyone was top notch from the valet at the curb, to the hostess who greeted us, to our extremely professional server. We can’t wait to go again!

Overall the experience was okay. Chris, our waiter, was very attentive.

We had a discrepancy with an expensive cognac we ordered being poured at the bar instead of the table.

Typically when we order this cognac at other fine dining establishments they follow this protocol. When I expressed my disappointment they chose not to correct it but rather had the manager bring it over. I explained to the manager what should happen and he apologized half-heartedly and did not make any attempt to mitigate the situation.

Additionally, we were sat in a small room and the hostess continually sat people directly next to us and other patrons despite the fact that other tables were available. This made the intimate setting quite noisy and unpleasant.

If it was not for the waitstaff and the excellent food I would rate this establishment lower. The food, however, saved the day.

Come hungry. This is not your typical Michelin star restaurant where when you leave your asking your significant other what they want for dinner.

PS: Try the lamb!

Exceptional meal. Servers knowledgeable and professional. Enjoyed learning the history of the restaurant.

Wines and main course were fantastic. The hot appetizer of lobster risotto was equally noteworthy. The cold appetizer of endive with figs and some kind of glazed nut was all endive and very little else. The vinegrette was uninspired.

Our server was such a sweetheart!! He made great recommendations for the food and beverages, which were absolutely amazing!

Top of the list experience.

Needs to make some serious improvements to get back to where it used to be. Food was uninspired, atmosphere was creepy, patrons were awful, but most importantly the service was sub-par. Nothing like what it used to be, one of the greatest restaurants in America.

Excellent food and outstanding service. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the young man who waited on my husband and I, but he was exceptional. Always anticipating our needs. Will visit again the next time in Washington.

Impeccable service excellent food. Price normal for DC. Every time I’m in DC I always stop here for supper.

Phenomenal from beginning to end!

Phenomenal service. Excellent food. Great spot!

Food was delicious . We both had the halibut and it was so tasty. Beautiful setting and attentive staff A real gem!

We always enjoy dining at 1789. The food, service and ambiance is wonderful.

Beautiful table, wonderful service, delicious food. We had a delightful evening and can’t wait to go back.

I am in Washington only a couple of times a year but I have been going to 1789 since the 80’s. The last couple of times I have thought the food to be ok but really not worth the price. Time to move on I think.

Food was great. But the service was very fast. Hardly had time to finish before the next course was delivered. It made it hard to enjoy the experience.

It was so wonderful. I wants to take the chef's with me.But the manager was telling me they are 8 in the back.i cant afford it. I really enjoyed I be back.

This place was wonderful! The service was excellent and prompt. The food was delicious and the perfect portion size. I have a gluten allergy and the server was knowledgeable on what I could/could not have and how dishes could be modified. We were here during a slower dinner night, and also though the ambience was rustic and quiet, the tables are quite close together. If it were to get busy it could become a rather cozy space. Regardless, would still recommend.

Excellent and Memorable! Truly a Washington Dining Experience not to be forgotten!

What a special experience. Very few places have this package. Cozy, elegant, comfortable setting with fabulous food that after one bite you want to To try everything. I wanted to go back in to the kitchen to see how they did this transformation of food.
The service is perfectly timed with career servers who are happy to see you and know you when you come back! The extra things they do for special celebrations is worth the trip alone. But we won’t spoil the surprise. From travel to India, to Ireland, to LA, to the small town Ohio where I’m from, this is now my favorite and first choice for dining out.

Excellent food, service. A reliable DC standard for years and remains so.

This was a major failure of 1789 and opentable. I made a reservation a couple weeks ago for my husband’s birthday. We arrived to find the restaurant closed with a sign in the door that they will reopen tomorrow. Neither the restaurant nor opentable contacted me regarding this. WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

I love 1789! The chef is terrific and uses locally sourced products in her cooking. I wish I could eat there every Sunday night. But this time, I was there with a friend for restaurant week. The main course — a cod plate— was beautifully presented. The cod was cooked to perfection, flaky and succulent. And the vegetables and sauces made it an extraordinary dish. The soup was billed as bouillabaisse, but this was more a clear fish broth with fish and no shells. It was good; I would have called it something else. My friend had the beet salad, which in retrospect was the better choice. She said it was divine.

And I love the main dining room, just to the left of the entrance. It is old-school and gives a certain DC warmth on a cold January night. This is the second time my friend and I have been able to sit at the little table for two in the corner, so we are not seated across from each other, but catty-corner instead. Perfect for catching up on our busy lives!

And the wine was perfect. There are many great choices. We shared a Pinot Noir from Oregon, Willamette Valley.

Thanks, Tracy and staff, for a lovely evening!

I love 1789 at any time, but its prices generally keep me from going there as often as I'd like. So when Restaurant Week came along, 1789 was the first place I looked to make a reservation. $35 for three wonderful courses? Unbeatable! Every single dish, from the amuse bouche to the gratis fudge pops after dessert, was creative, flavorful, and unique. The atmosphere is old-line Early American Traditional, but the food is always looking to the future, pushing the boundaries of fine dining. Crispy potato latkes with perfectly cooked and seasoned fish? That's certainly not what the Founding Fathers would have served, but I loved the combination!

Exquisite. We will certainly return to 1789. The food and service were both outstanding.

For a Restaurant Week meal it was well thought out and very tasty and beautifully presented. The only little problem was my husband’s drink was a very light pour.

Could hear the whole conversation of the table adjacent to us. Other than that, fantastic food and service. Restaurant week 2020 menu was great!

I was there with a friend during restaurant week, and the evening was really nice. Lovely ambience. Would be perfect for a date night. We ordered a three course meal with wine paring which tasted amazing. Although they could’ve done better in introducing wines and the menu. All in all it was a good experience.