Balos Estiatorio
Restaurant · Dupont Circle
1940 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Highlights
Mediterranean dishes including grilled octopus, lobster, and lamb chops.
Mediterranean dishes including grilled octopus, lobster, and lamb chops.
"Friends and industry vets Stefanos Vouvoudakis, Tom Tsiplakos, and Joe Ragonese — all grandchildren of Greek immigrants — brought their idyllic country’s vacay and party-starting vibes to a once-sleepy Dupont corner in late 2023. It’s the place to be at midnight, when a lively napkin toss gets the whole restaurant involved alongside a DJ. The local celebrity magnet was the celebratory venue of choice for NHL star Alex Ovechkin after his record-breaking goal. Named after the gorgeous Greek lagoon, Balos honors its watery muse with a plentiful seafood selection, raw bar, and whole fish flown in daily. Weekend brunch is also a fun affair." - Claudia Rosenbaum
"Balos has become a go-to for brunch in Dupont Circle, where the upbeat ambiance feeds off bottomless brunch cocktails ($45 per person) that include tableside espresso martinis (made with strong For Five espresso). But don’t sleep on the actual food menu while deciding between a matcha, fig, or salted caramel version of the popular coffee cocktail. Appetizers include the spinach and leek-stuffed spanakopita, comforting avgolemono soup, and a light grilled octopus dish with a crispy exterior and caper sauce topping filled with acidity. Entrees cover every decadent brunch dish imaginable, from lobster in eggs Benedict and between buttered rolls to baklava French toast or steak and eggs. The three-course brunch option ($45) can be paired with bottomless drinks for a lavish and memorable weekend meal. --Emily Venezky" - Tierney Plumb
"A napkin-throwing Greek hot spot in Dupont known for its celebratory atmosphere; it gained broad attention as the site where Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking goal was celebrated." - Tierney Plumb
"Named after the seaside destination, Balos serves up plenty of traditional and new-age Greek plates. Classic dishes include cucumber and tomato-filled Greek salad, grilled halloumi, spanakopita, and spreads like hummus, taziki, and taramasalata. There are plenty of seafood options, with an extensive raw bar, sea bass “plaki” in a tomato fish broth, plenty of butterflied whole fish, and even crudos with accents of honey and lemon. The Mediterranean hot spot also serves up a luxurious brunch, with espresso martinis made tableside in flavors like salted caramel and orange cinnamon." - Tierney Plumb
"Dupont’s sleek Greek hot spot tacked on brunch last spring and introduced a new bottomless option in late 2024. The midday weekend brunch (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) brings crab cake eggs Benedict, omelet, shakshouka, and baklava French toast to the table. Bottomless brunch ($45) includes mimosas, Bellinis, bloody Marys, or tableside espresso martini service with an array of flavors like pumpkin spice, salted caramel, orange cinnamon, and banana. Menu here and reservations here." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky
