Gravitas

I booked Gravitas initially for a party of three to celebrate my daughters eigteenth birthday. Expanding the booking to five people just six days before was no problem. The restaurant staff was very responsive to my email request making arrangements within the hour of receving my note. My reservation was for outside on their roof top patio. We arrived layered and equiped wiht a blanket or two as it turned out to be a very windy evening at 52F. Needlessly. Thankfully the staff of Gravitas were mindful of the chill factor and had moved us to what I susoect in non pandemic times is the foyer The windows were wide open, they had a small heater for each table and, yes, blankets! Something I have in the past experienced only in Turkey. We were made to feel very welcomed and taken good care of by the knowledgable and mindful staff throughout the seven course chef's tasting menue which we thouroughly enjoyed. We are very much tasters so there was some food sharing going on which was not frowned upon. All dishes were very tasty and served with a lot f appeal to the eye. Added to the seven course was a small greeting from the kitchen plus hot homemade breads. The adults opted for the wine pairing and the somelier (as well as our head waiter) explained all wines origin and flavor (and te different dishes). Topping it of was a small cake with a candle for the birthday adult. All in all a wonderful experience fully meeting my expectation of Michelin star dining. Our reservation was for 6pm, which initally I thought to be on the early side. No regrts though as the meal took roughly four hours., so do book the early slot if you can. I would absolutely go again.

Given this was our first venture to a restaurant after 388 days of #stayhome we were a littel concerned, but saftey and cleanliness protocolls were followed to the T. The bussing staff did ask us (none of the other tables though) to put on masks while clearing between courses. We felt very safe.

A very cool warehouse space but no name on the outside so hard to find. We did the wine pairing and I liked that the tasting menu had a couple of options for each course. We loved everything we ate - especially for me the hen egg with black truffle course and the garganelli. My husbands favorites were the garganelli and the lightly poached scallop. Both desserts were delicious but we both slightly preferred the lightness of the panna cotta with strawberry and rhubarb

Went there as a group of 4. We all got a drink each and ended up paying 30 dollars for it. There is a hidden 3 dollar charge per person due to covid which is ridiculous. The drinks were not worth it and safe to say it’s the last time we will go there. Ambiance is cool but way too overpriced for where it is located.

Auto charged 22% tip which is OK. But the tip charging based on food and sales taxes together is not OK.
When we made reservation, the price per person was $120 on Open table, but when we arrived, it was $150 per person on the menu.
We spent about $500 (with two drinks) total for two people.

Best in DC

The caviar and truffle covered Brioche with Champagne is the perfect way to start the evening. If you have not done Absinthe as them to pour it the classic way. You will enjoy the experience.

Took my hubby for his birthday here. We were seated, then waited for 30 minutes before someone came to our table. However, the food and over all experience was amazing!

The two of five courses were over salty.
Also customer shouldn’t be charged for tax of the service fee. Tip is not taxable item for customer.

For $140,- per tasting menu, you can expect top quality with Asian fusion influence - and we really enjoyed fantastic food, beautifully presented & excellent service!
BUT, the price is simply too high and should be downgraded , especially when you combine the menu with the proposed wine selection, you find yourself at $225,- p.p., a rather expensive experience!
AND the really surprise comes: you have no choice of tipping whatever you want, rather a 22% tip is automatically included in the check, AS WELL as $6,- p.p. extra Covid fee for cleaning and disinfecting! We normally give a good tip, but it still should be your choice!
And the Covid fee - ridiculous for this kind of restaurant! We complained and the $12 were deducted :) .

Everything about the experience was fantastic. Good, service, wine pairing—all amazing. Especially nice that the founder and chef Matt Baker came in on his day off to chat with us (my name is Matt Baker also). He’s a great guy and runs a great place.

The staff was very nice and friendly and the portions were also a good size and left very full

Very nice and well presented food. Service nice and professional explaining the different courses of the menu. Very poor setting for the quality and price of the restaurant with tables for 2 way too small, bad illumination and noise from ventilator over our heads. Nobody came to say thanks/good bye when leaving the restaurant. Not a first choice recommendation. They need to work with the overall experience.

Just like where the restaurant is located, the quality is just Okie. We had the 6 course chef tasting menu, and only the appetizers (Tuna sashimi and poached lobster) were somewhat impressive. Since they are seafood, you can't really mess that up as long as they are fresh. However, all the dishes went skydiving after that. The veal risotto was rough and beyond al dente. The risotto was very salty and they shredded the veal hair thin and I could barely tell it's there. The sweetbread was over fried and the breading was too thick. Then it came the entrees where I had the pheasant breast with the add on foie gras. The portion was a joke. Not only I got one little slice of tasteless pheasant but that foie gras was as thin as a piece of paper. The wife got the poached halibut and it was just Okie. The chocolate and caramel pave was not bad but nothing to rave about.

Overall, we are quite disappointed with the meal especially when the server checked up on us on the risotto. I told him it was not good and he just took it away without saying much. Any decent restaurant would either offer something else as a replacment or take off a little bit from the bill. He surely did neither to keep the customer unhappy.

Lastly, if Blue Duck Tavern loses their star, I just don't know how Gravitas and Bresca still have their star unless the Michelin inspectors have not been visiting the restaurants lately.

Here's my rating for the 5 criterion

Quality of ingredients: 4/5
Skill in preparation and the combination of flavors: 3/5
Level of creativity: 4/5
Value for money: 2/5
Consistency of culinary standards: 2/5

Everything was delicious. Always love a meal with courses especially when you can share. We had one of everything. My favorite in the main course was the halibut, but I did not get a photo. I did get photos of the chicken and the pork belly.

Fantastic dining experience with some of the most attentive wait staff I’ve seen in a long time. The tasting menu portions are just right, allowing you to appreciate the flavor nuances but not leave you too full. They are making a great effort to make everyone feel comfortable and safe in this environment and it doesn’t detract from the dining experience in any way. I highly recommend Gravitas for a truly special dining event.

Honestly the place never disappoints.

Everything was lovely. The staff was very accommodating. They even gave us small blankets to keep us warm on the patio.

Terrific food and service! Definitely worth a trip!

Bottom line: not Michelin star quality. The food was good, but not worth $400 for two people (inc tax and tip, with a reg menu [150] and garden menu [115] plus one supplement and one glass of wine]. For that much money, I expect something outstanding. This wasn't. A few weeks from now I won't remember any of the dishes we ate there. You are much better off going to Fiola, Kinship, or another fine dining restaurant.

We dined at Gravitas on Saturday, July 11. On arrival, the staff was appropriately masked and they took my temperature. There was dining inside and on the patio. We were able to be seated outside ... beautiful evening with a bit of street noise but not too much. The service, and especially the sommelier, was impeccable and the wine pairings added to the meal. My guest had the Chef's Summer Garden Menu; I had the Chef's Tasting Menu. Both were superb. The Shashimi and the Squab were especially notable. We really enjoyed being able to share a nice meal at a wonderful restaurant!

Ambience, staff, and food were amazing. I will definitely be going back. The rooftop is a plus as well.