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Bresca - Bresca, Washington, DC
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Bresca

$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
1906 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Make a reservation

A photo of Bresca restaurant

Bresca

4.6
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
U Street Corridor

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for fine wines
  • Lively
Bresca offers A La Carte and Tasting Menu options! Parties of 5 or more will be required to do our Chef's Tasting Menu. We are a Contemporary French restaurant and cocktail bar located in the bustling 14th Street neighborhood. Our team explores the finest in seasonal ingredients paired with genuine hospitality.

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202620252024

  • Award icon
    MICHELIN 1 Star2025
  • Award icon
    MICHELIN 1 Star2023

From the OpenTable editors: From a living moss wall and purple banquettes to playful dishes layered with truffles and caviar, maximalism reigns supreme at Ryan Ratino’s MICHELIN-Starred hotspot. His Parisian bistro-inspired menu includes whimsical takes on French classics like a strawberry-pistachio foie gras “gateau” paired with colorful cocktails from beverage director Will Patton.

Executive chef: Ryan Ratino

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French / American, Contemporary American, French
  • Hours of operation
    Wed, Thu 5:30 pm–9:30 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Award-winning
    1. OpenTable Icons 2026
    2. OpenTable Icons 2025
    3. OpenTable Icons 2024
    4. MICHELIN 1 Star 2025
    5. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
  • Neighborhood
    U Street Corridor
  • Cross street
    T Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking- Metered Street Parking is available on 14th Street NW and surrounding side street parking also available.Closest recommended parking lot- Reeves Center Parking Garage covered parking located on the corner of U St. and 14th St. NW (Building Address 2000 14th St NW. Washington, DC 20009, US)
  • Public transit
    Metro Accessible via the Yellow and Green lines using the U St./American Civil War metro station - located at U st between 12th and 13th- 5 minute walk to Bresca- walk west to 14th st, make left, 1 block down on west side of street near corner of 14th and T st.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Summer Restaurant Week(s)

    1 - 8 people

    Jul 29, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026
    Join us at Bresca, July 29 to August 31, for a chef curated experience highlighting the bounty of late summer. Enjoy a prix fixe menu of 3 or 4 courses, or fully indulge in our Chef's Tasting Menu. A la Carte will not be available in the dining room during these select days.
    Summer Restaurant Week(s) Photo
  • Gastronomy at the Bar

    $195.00 per person

    1 - 8 people

    Jul 26, 2026 only
    Gastronomy at the Bar: An Immersive Odyssey at Bresca 5 Courses- $195 per person (pairings included) Prepare to blur the lines between the kitchen and the shaker. We invite you to an exclusive, high-concept dining experience: Gastronomy at the Bar. This isn't just a pairing dinner; it’s a dialogue between the stove and the ice. Hosted at our intimate bar, this event showcases five courses of Michelin-starred artistry from the Bresca kitchen, meticulously synchronized with five avant-garde cocktails that utilize the same culinary techniques—clarification, fermentation, and molecular extraction—usually reserved for the plate.
    Gastronomy at the Bar Photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

What 1,313 people are saying

Bresca reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bresca offers an "outstanding dining experience" with "creative" and "beautifully presented" dishes. Guests frequently praise the "impeccable service," noting the staff's attentiveness and hospitality. While some find the menu "pricey," many appreciate the "unique" tasting options and "thoughtful" touches for special occasions, making it a "memorable" destination.
1,313 Reviews
  1. Dave

    Richmond9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Food was amazing!

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  2. Jena

    San Francisco6 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on July 6, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service and ambiance was excellent. The bees knees cocktail is good, served in a cute little bee glass that seems more for looks than functionality. Wine list was pricey, we would have appreciated more than one wine under $100. All the dishes were good but they were sweeter than I expected. We did not order dessert because all the food already felt like dessert.

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  3. J Gold

    Naples10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    That Clarified Painkiller was Fugu 😜 What a creatively sinful cocktail 🖤

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  4. hali

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was impeccable and we loved all the staff! The food was mostly very good, there were some stronger flavors but the none alcoholic pairing drinks are excellent!

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  5. Julie

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Exquisite! We will definitely return and look forward to new seasonal delights.

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  6. Kene Gold

    Cincinnati1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    They have set new culinary standards as our dinner was absolutely amazing. Additionally they have elevated our expectations on what it means to provide legendary service, hospitality and a world-class experience. We will be back the next time we are in D.C. Thank you all for an amazing and warm experience. Alyssa and Kene

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  7. Shiloh Gold

    Denver6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 2, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Ok so bresca is really very good. The key distinction though that I would draw is that the kitchen has flashes of brilliance combined with just a little bit lower polish than I would hope for at this price point (chocolate cloud = perfect, black garlic and plum purées on the duck, absolutely brilliant. In comparison the cook on the duck was slightly tough, the cornbread under the pork belly was a bit odd and the burrata’s straciatella was quite thick and a bit meh). In comparison the front of the house is flawless, the level of attention to detail is superlative, the staff never lets your water go less than half way or a napkin stay unfolded. The front of the house is basically as good as any restaurant you’re ever gonna go to, the kitchen has a little work to do.

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  8. Farzana

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 1, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hubby got me a gift card for my birthday. It was a solo dinner for me. Food was amazing. Portions are small. Given its a one Michelin star place I knew it will be small. Everything was amazing. I loved the duck and the plum puree was to die for. My most favorite was the dessert. The chocolate hazelnut banana dessert was such a perfect ending. I love that it has the casual feel. I dont really like dressing up for going to a restaurant. Highly recommend.

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  9. Ashley

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had such a wonderful dinner experience at Bresca! It's been on our list for a while and everything was amazing. We were celebrating our anniversary and especially appreciated that the team had a special card waiting for us at our table. We did the tasting menu and the "buzz" less (non alcoholic) drink pairing, very unique and we will definitely be back!

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  10. Ben Gold

    Washington DC2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our food was great and the service was even better. Our waiter, Drew, was fantastic too.

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French / American, Contemporary American, French
  • Hours of operation
    Wed, Thu 5:30 pm–9:30 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Award-winning
    1. OpenTable Icons 2026
    2. OpenTable Icons 2025
    3. OpenTable Icons 2024
    4. MICHELIN 1 Star 2025
    5. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
  • Neighborhood
    U Street Corridor
  • Cross street
    T Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking- Metered Street Parking is available on 14th Street NW and surrounding side street parking also available.Closest recommended parking lot- Reeves Center Parking Garage covered parking located on the corner of U St. and 14th St. NW (Building Address 2000 14th St NW. Washington, DC 20009, US)
  • Public transit
    Metro Accessible via the Yellow and Green lines using the U St./American Civil War metro station - located at U st between 12th and 13th- 5 minute walk to Bresca- walk west to 14th st, make left, 1 block down on west side of street near corner of 14th and T st.
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Family seating is mixed: guests do bring teens and celebrate birthdays or anniversaries here, but many also say the restaurant isn’t ideal for very young children (no kids’ menu) because of the multi-course format and lively, sometimes loud atmosphere. The dining room can feel tight in places, and bar seating is noted as compact. The reviews don’t clearly state ADA-accessible seating details, so call ahead to confirm accessibility or request specific seating for family needs.

Bresca blends casual‑elegant service with a lively, modern vibe. Guests praise warm, personable hospitality and creative dishes, but many also mention high volume, upbeat playlists (90s rap, electronic) and a bustling dining room. The mood is energetic and not overly formal; it’s a Michelin‑star experience with approachable energy. If you prefer quiet, reserve an early table or ask for seating away from the bar and main thoroughfares.

Yes, Bresca frequently accommodates celebration touches and dietary needs when given notice. Guests report personalized welcome cards, birthday notes, and thoughtful substitutions for allergies or preferences. Because the restaurant runs tasting menus and has limited seating, call ahead to confirm requests (dietary substitutions, celebration notes, table-location requests) so the team can plan and personalize your visit.

Bresca is busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings, during restaurant-week, and on holidays (Valentine’s, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve). The quietest times are earlier weekday dinners (Wednesday/Thursday early seatings) and some Sunday early evenings. If you prefer a calmer meal, choose a midweek early reservation and request a table away from the bar.

Yes, reviews frequently reference holiday and special-event services (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Restaurant Week), often with special menus. Hours can vary for holidays, so check the restaurant’s reservation page or call ahead for specific holiday times and offerings.

Bresca serves dinner most evenings. Current posted hours are: Wed–Thu 5:30 PM–9:30 PM, Sun 5:00 PM–9:30 PM, and Fri–Sat 5:00 PM–10:00 PM. Reservations and special menus (holiday or restaurant-week offerings) may change service times, so check the restaurant’s booking page or call ahead for holiday hours or special events.

Yes, Bresca is a popular choice for date night and special occasions. Guests frequently praise the creative, Michelin-starred food, thoughtful service, and intimate but lively dining room, and many celebrate anniversaries and proposals there. Note the room can be loud and energetic, so for a quieter, more intimate feel request an early seating or a table along the outer wall when you book. Expect a polished, contemporary French experience with tasting and à la carte options.

Bresca has a main dining room and a lively bar area; guests also reference a small waiting/library room where parties can sit while waiting. Seating can be intimate and closely set, and some diners suggest requesting a table along the outer wall for more space. The restaurant does not appear to offer private dining rooms for events, and parties of 5+ are asked to take the Chef’s Tasting Menu.

Business casual is the stated dress code. Guests typically dress smart-casual for special occasions, think button-downs, dresses, or neat separates, which fits the contemporary fine-dining yet relaxed atmosphere.

Weekdays are the best bet for a quieter experience, Wednesdays and Thursdays (early dinner) especially. If you want a lively scene, Friday and Saturday deliver energy and a bustling crowd. Sundays and early weekday seatings can be calmer while still delivering the full tasting or à la carte experience.

Go early on a weekday (the first dinner seating) or a midweek night for a slightly quieter experience. Guests report the restaurant is busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings, during restaurant-week and holidays. If you want the buzzy scene, a weekend night delivers energy and cocktails; if you prefer a calmer meal, aim for an early Wed/Thu or an earlier Sun seating and request a table away from the bar.

Yes, Bresca is a Michelin-recognized restaurant. The restaurant-provided information lists MICHELIN 1 Star (2023 and 2025). Guests also frequently reference the Michelin recognition alongside praise for the food and service.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. District of Columbia
  5. U Street Corridor

Make a reservation

A photo of Bresca restaurant

Bresca

4.6
$31 to $50
Contemporary French / American
U Street Corridor

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 17 times today
Experiences are available.
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