Minetta Tavern DC

Oddly located in an alley, the only backside facade in a wide industrial alley amidst rows of dumpsters... sorta turned my stomach before entering the front door. If you're on a romantic date, you might wanna blindfold them until after they enter. Inside, it's a very dark, old world Italian Steak House look. Dark wood, very low lighting, cramped, like a NYC restaurant where square footage is a premium. Interesting, if not out of character for the hip nature of the Union Market. Given its placement in the back alley, a low cost lease must have been a factor. I mean, it's the only restaurant front in rows of back to back roller door low-rent industrial spaces. I don't get it. Inside, the bar and the dining area in the back was remarkably loud for a small place. The 4-top tables were tiny, like 4' round. A 4' square would have provided a little more comfort and plate space, but they're also just placed tightly in the tiled room with booths surrounding the perimeter. The menu and food, IMO, is uninventive old school cooking. Don't know who the chef is, but everything we had was very savory, bland and dark to match the decor and intent, I guess, flavors that you tire of before you've finished the dish. The Escargot was nicely presented in a puff pastry, but the sauce was like beef gravy from a jar. Most items are in the $35-45 range, with the $175 steak and filet being the exception. Personally, I don't get the dry aged thing. If it's cooked on a hot kitchen grill top, not wood, I do a much better steak on my gas grill w/ smoker and save $125. The burger (ordered medium rare), was cooked until well, way overly salted and not easy to choke down. The veal and pasta dishes were equally lacking in flavor. Don't know what else to say. Some reviewers like it, but... maybe the last 5 months in New Orleans elevated my expectations. 50 years of dining in DC, there aren't many newer entries that impress.

Stopped by Minetta for brunch with friends and had a decent experience. The ambiance was nice and welcoming, with a beautiful space - especially the back dining area, even thought it felt a bit tight and cozy at times. I also really appreciated the full bar and seating along the walls once you walk in. I had the deviled eggs and the eggs benedict. Both were fine, but nothing that particularly stood out. My friends had the burger and seemed to really enjoy it, so i'll definitely plan to return and give it a try. The service was a bit hit or miss - our server seemed awkward at times which impacted our overall experience. I think they just started offering brunch and were working out kinks so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Overall, Minetta has a lot of potential and I would return especially to try the burger, the dinner menu and for their drinks in their cool upstairs bar.

Minetta does everything right! Best French onion soup I’ve ever had. Burger was incredible (although didn’t find much of a difference between black label and their regular burger) and the steak frites were on point. Servers were all smooth and attentive. Definitely go!

The moment you walk through the front door you know you are in for an experience. The atmosphere was sophisticated and full of history. The service was truly outstanding start to finish. The cocktails and wine were superb and the food was excellent!

Absolutely loved my experience at Minetta Tavern DC. The ambiance blends old-school charm with a modern touch, making it perfect for a night out or special occasion. The standout of the evening was the foie gras — rich, buttery, and perfectly prepared. Every bite was a treat. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the overall vibe was warm and welcoming. I’ll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

We went here after finally securing a reservation. I recommend going on Resy at midnight when they release new reservations. The actual space of the restaurant is really cool. It is set in an alley near Union Market and they did a great job of making the interior look like a classic New York restaurant. It was loud and vibrant inside. I couldn’t, however, shake the feeling that this place was a bit like Disneyland - fake and contrived. The food was really good. We split the NY strip steak and a few sides. We also got the oysters and crab croquettes as starters. The service was excellent, as was the friendliness of the wait staff. Don’t skip the bar upstairs. Very cool vibes. I would come back just to have a drink here at some point. Definitely a very cool place! I am glad that Minetta exists in NYC

What a Cozy and Fantastic Restaurant…. My Bestie and I sat at the bar and enjoyed a few stellar appetizers. The bartender Tim was very friendly and chatted it up with us throughout our stay. The bar back was hard working & on top of keeping the bar clean as well as consistently refilling our waters. The establishment has a beautiful ambiance with the perfect lighting for dining. I’ll be back for the roasted half chicken entree and foie gras appetizer during my next visit. Cheers!!!!! 🤩

The food was good, but this place is definitely overpriced and overhyped in my opinion. I feel like you can’t charge so much money when you are located in an alley with literal dumpsters next to the entrance. We each got one drink and shared one entrée and it was a triple digit bill. The steak frites was delicious though. Upstairs is significantly more expensive. It was hard to get a reservation so we ate at the bar downstairs, which was not the most comfortable, but the service was good and we got our food quickly and it was tasty, but I would never pay this much money for that kind of experience again.

I really enjoyed my time here! New York staple, but the Service feels like home where everyone remembers your name. Chilled cocktails and awesome service. I love the crab croquettes and hamburger. There's a speakeasy up top called "Lucy Mercer" Where everything is organic. Caviar is on the menu. Gorgeous spot with a fireplace and excellent service.

Minetta Tavern has quickly become one of my favorite neighborhood spots. I struggled on giving it 4 or 5 stars because I really do enjoy it here but there is room for improvement regarding too much service which I have never experienced. There are a ton of people working and helping you at any moment but it felt like someone was hovering over our table at all times and we had to continue to let them know we were still working on our meal. They also changed the paper table covers after our dinner and before our dessert which didn't seem totally necessary. Everyone is so nice but I think they could give folks a bit more time and carefully watch better. My experience sitting at the bar was better than sitting at a table in regards to all this. However, I will say I absolutely love the vibe and decor in there and you do not feel like you are in DC. It doesn't feel new and is very warm and inviting. This most recent visit was a Tuesday night and it was very crowded and loud which was surprising. Our table was next to the bar, so it was especially loud with folks standing around. Just be prepared for a happening spot! For food, everything we order was pretty good. I would say that the butter lettuce salad is a bit overpriced for what you get so I wouldn't recommend that. Definitely get the fries (pommes frites) though and add them to any meal! The Coq Au Vin was delicious but the gnocchi is served on the side and while equally delicious, doesn't really go that well with the dish as a whole. For dessert, I was blown away by the soufflé and will want this every time I come back! The only thing is that the soufflé is brought to the table and then the server split it into four pieces and cut it tableside which seemed very unnecessary. We added the salted caramel gelato and it was divine! I will be back to Minetta Tavern soon and hope that they can figure out a balance with the appropriate amount of service. This is a great addition to the neighborhood!

I was excited to try Minetta Tavern with friends the other night and while I am always a little wary of going to a new restaurant in its early days (yes, I'm considering January early days after its December opening), it did not disappoint. I haven't dined at the New York location but agree that the DC location has the NYC vibes. It's a cozy spot with a lot of tables close together. We were seated in a booth and we didn't feel cramped at all but I'm not sure we would have felt the same at a table in the middle of the room. It was also packed and loud but they still had music pumping. We did feel like we were shouting a bit to talk to one another but I also didn't feel like other people could hear us, which is nice in this town. My friends had glasses of the Bordeaux and I requested a filthy Belvedere martini. I asked if they had blue cheese olives, and while they don't, our waitress said she was happy to make them for me. And she did - the martini was perfect! We shared the Grilled Island Creek Oysters to start and my only complaint is that I wish there were more of them. They were buttery, warm and delicious. My friend and I both had the Steak Frites (medium rare with maître d'butter and Bearnaise sauce on the side) and the steaks were cooked perfectly. I love skinny fries and they were crispy, salty and so good. Our other friend had the Coq au Vin and she said the chicken was delicious and she loved the added side of truffle gnocchi. We did have to request bread but when it came out it was a crusty, warm baguette served with butter and flakey salt, which always hits the spot. I stopped after my one martini but when our server asked my friends if they wanted another glass of wine they paused and she suggested they split a glass. They agreed and were given very generous pours which was appreciated. We finished with the chocolate soufflé for two (but worked perfectly for three!) which was absolute heaven. Gooey, fresh out of the oven, light and the perfect sweet bite to the end the night. The service was excellent. They took my coat upon arrival, our server was excellent and went above and beyond (the blue cheese olives, serving the soufflé, spitting the glass of wine) and there were a lot of other staff available to refill water, clear plates and be on standby. It's definitely not a cheap night, but also not much different than other DC restaurants for a night out. I'd love to go back and try the famous French onion soup (which did look incredible at the table next to us) and some other items on the menu. I would say the crowd was diverse as well from couples, to a large family table with a baby, and some younger folks as well. We had an early reservation at 6pm and when we left around 8:30/8:45pm, the bar was completely packed as people waited for tables and enjoyed drinks. If we had been seated at one of the booths out there with people hovering over us, I'm not sure it would have been as enjoyable. Overall, I really enjoyed Minetta Tavern and look forward to going back!

Could not be more disappointed with my experience at their upstairs Lucy Mercer Bar. The decor is very eclectic early 20th century chic, and I liked the wood-burning fireplace and the elaborate ceiling design. But they were horribly overstaffed with little to show for it. Servers were not communicating with one another (two different people asked about our water preferences), we were slow to receive a menu and get our order taken (when very few people were there!), and it's a bit tight to walk around in there. Never have I ever had such an expensive cocktail in DC! $32 for a martini. Yet they do not name what brand of liquor is in any of their cocktails, so it's hard to know how much of it is genuine quality sourcing and how much of it is just branding. And, in classic European fashion, the question "sparkling or still?" holds an implicit third option ("or tap?") because if you don't, water is $12. I know this is a thing at certain restaurants, so I can't totally knock them for it, but the price point seemed wacky to me ($8 seems more right?). The audience for this place is clearly old money. But it's sorely out of place in Union Market, a neighborhood full of 20-somethings with disposable income--just not this much!

We had an early reservation on a Saturday and the place was bustling! Definitely gives hectic, lively NYC energy. We were seated across from the bar which was a bit too chaotic and loud so it was hard to converse. If you're dining here, know you're gonna spend money. Service was attentive, and our server often asked us if we wanted to add on additional items / rounds of drinks. Most of her recommendations were good additions to our meal (like the salted caramel gelato with the chocolate soufflé was excellent). We had martinis, the black label burger and chocolate soufflé. All worth trying but I like Gramercy Tavern's burger better. Minetta has the best fries possibly ever though - they are addictive, and the chocolate soufflé was a textbook example.

I was able to get in on the first night, and the staff was friendly and welcoming, though there were some typical opening-day hiccups. The Black Label burger was really good, but I found the hype around it a bit overstated. The chocolate soufflé, however, was incredible--a must try. I'm looking forward to trying more items in the future. The Lucy Mercer bar upstairs has a great atmosphere and excellent craft cocktails. But try to visit soon, as I've heard they'll be limiting access to the upstairs space soon. Overall, Minetta is a fantastic new spot in the neighborhood for a post-work drink, a romantic dinner, or a celebration with friends.

Came by last night for dinner with friends. Kicked off the night with some great service, the host staff were super friendly and we were seated immediately. The excellent, attentive service continued throughout the night, honestly some of the best service I've seen in DC. As for food, we ordered the tuna crudo to start. It was SO good, and the pine nuts were a nice touch. For mains, my friend and I got the burger. While it was good, it was really closer to a meatball shape, and was really hard to eat with your hands. If you squished it too hard, the bottom bun would get soggy and start to fall apart. I wound up using a fork and knife. The burger itself was quite good, but honestly not mind blowing. I'd give it a solid 4/5. The fries, however, were excellent. I wasn't too interested in any of their house cocktails, so I drank French 75s throughout the night. The drinks were really well made and gave a good buzz. Overall, we had a great evening at Minetta. The vibes were spot on, and we capped off the night with a round at the upstairs bar. Highly recommend a reservation, the place was packed at 6 pm on a Monday!

Just as I expected. Superb, beautiful, delicious! The fries and martinis here are to die for. Start there. We dined here week 3 since opening and they could have fooled us - no growing pains in sight. Service was organized, and just fast enough so you're not panicking to find your server or starving to death. Now the lingering / burning question that remains....how do we get into Lucy Mercer?!?

Oh how I wanted to love Minetta Tavern. I made sure to give it a few weeks since opening and it was still just meh. Let's start with the positive. Our server was lovely although was clearly taking care of too many tables. There were long pauses where she was busy elsewhere. It took at least 15 minutes for our plates to be cleared and to get the check. Overall we enjoyed the dishes we tried. We started with the onion soup, tuna crudo, and crab croquettes. All delicious. For mains we had the steak frites, mussels, and black label burger. The steak frites was the real winner of that group. If you are going to enjoy the black label burger you need to like a really thick burger. Imagine the opposite of the burger at Le Diplomate. Now on to the not so good parts. I struggle to think of a more cramped restaurant in DC. It feels like you are sitting on top of your neighbors. And if you are unlucky enough to be in a chair next to one of the paths through the restaurant, expect to get bumped into at least 20 times over the course of the evening. An unfortunate table near us actually had to leave because they weren't able to comfortably fit into the tight space. We were lucky enough (even though I questioned by judgment on the time) to go early at 5:30pm so we were able to be seated right away. As we were leaving at 7:15pm it felt like a bit of mayhem at the host's stand with people waiting for tables in the already very cramped space. I'm glad that we tried this but I won't be rushing back. Hopefully they can work on the space a bit and things might improve.

Almost went while we were in NY but glad we waited to try our local Minetta! Before I start, I hope the quality and consistency remain! Got lucky and snagged a 530pm reso on a Thursday. After managing the DC traffic, we arrived around 6pm. The host greeted us and was very courteous and understanding of our late arrival. We were promptly seated and ordered a martini and a glass of wine. Both the drinks were great. For appetizers we both ordered the French onion soup and for entrees we had the black label burger. The French onion soup was fantastic! Definitely the best I've had in DC and puts Le Dips & Grande Boucherie's to shame. The main event though is why we came here, the dry aged (45 days) black label burger. I ordered mine medium-well (should've done medium) and was amazed at the amount of flavor and juice the burger had. I was initially caught off guard by the caramelized onions on top but man the patty was seared perfectly on the outside and juicy in the middle. The fries were also the best I've ever eaten. I need to get a job here as a line cook just to learn how to make those French fries.... The dessert soufflé was also great! Overall, pleased with the dining experience and the staff was super attentive and courteous with complimentary jacket check ins and letting us enjoy a few cocktails on the upstairs secret area Lucy Mercer

I grabbed a holiday reservation at Minetta Tavern and it was a SCENE!!! Politicians everywhere, hot people that were truly *dressing* everywhere else. Occasionally those circles overlapped but *waves hands* you know. I can't think of many other places, certainly not restaurants, where people are showing out with this much success. The service was amazing. The dining room pulses with warmth and conversation. The table next to us leaned in as we sat to brazenly tell us the must orders. The table on our other side arrived after us and became partners in laughter as waiters wiggled between boisterous arm movements from people telling stories and snug tables. You felt like you were at a dinner party you hoped to be invited back to. My friend and I ordered liberally for two- bone marrow, burger, oysters, drinks, salad, soufflé. The breadbasket? Bottomless and served with butter and sea salt to sprinkle. We got out with $120/ each with tax and tip. No notes. I loved it so much I returned back the next night with two more friends and left itching to sort how swiftly I can return and try the upstairs bar.

If I could give more than five stars, I would. This steak was better than St. Anslem's. The filet is 10oz and the seasoning, texture, and temperature was a dream. The fries are better than le Dip's and a bigger portion. My friend got the Black Label Burger and was equally blown away by its size and taste. The baguette starter with the French wine our waiter helped us select will make it difficult to go anywhere else for a similar meal. Can't wait to go back and try the other options our waiter suggested as his favorites, including the Spinach Fazzoletti and the Coq Au Vin. Can confidently say if you're looking for one of the best pieces of meat and red wine in the city, you'll fall in love with this new spot!

Fantastic new DC spot! If you're looking for a nice night out with a great moody atmosphere and delicious food -- this is your place! Service was attentive and professional, making it the experience even better! You receive a warm welcome when you come in and everyone says hello to you as you walk to your table. We ordered many different things: -Bone marrow was great and delicious -French onion soup was yummy -I'm a big steak tar tar fan and it was awesome -I had the steak frites - delicious! Drinks were good, too! Perfect for a date night!

We went to dinner at Minetta Tavern last night. Even though our reservation was at 5:30, the bar and restaurant were already packed when we arrived. Despite the bustle, the service was absolutely incredible from the person who showed us to our table, to our waiter and someone who I assume was the manager. We had a cocktail to start and the grilled oysters. I'd say the cocktail was good but not outstanding. I had la Premier Jardin. The grilled oysters were delicious with a nice smokey flavor. For dinner we both had the steak frites. This was also very good. We wanted to order a bottle of wine to have with our meal so our waiter had the sommelier come by our table to recommend one. For dessert we had the crepe suzette. I loved the vanilla gelato that came with it. After we finished our meal, paid and were getting ready to leave they let us know that they had a table available for us in the bar upstairs, Lucy Mercer. This was a pleasant surprise as I had wanted to check the upstairs out but hadn't seen any way to make reservations. I also think it was a smart way to keep tables moving and accommodate the next dinner reservation without rushing us. The upstairs bar has a fireplace and lots of couches and lounge chairs. The vibes were great and perfect for a date night.

+ Restaurant is beautiful. - Had to wait for seating even after arriving at our reservation time. - Order was placed in a staggered manner without our input, and I cancelled our order of steak frites after waiting for over 40 minutes. I believe this was just a mistake and not reflection of the otherwise great service. + French onion soup was perfectly done and outclassed the other dishes we ordered. - As we did not get to try the steak frites in a timely manner I can't speak to the quality of main entrees at this restaurant. The black label burger is priced above its taste weight class.

We celebrated my wife's birthday here opening night. I have to say it was hands down the strongest opening night I have experienced. The staff were seamless, knew the menu, knew the wine/cocktails and gave great recommendations. The lobster appetizer was killer it's a MUST order. I cannot wait to come back. The bar upstairs is perfect for a swanky night out or hot date so make sure to check it out when you go.

As a non-Instagrammer who's always shy to take pictures, I LOVE the no-camera policy. That said, I always defer on decor/vibe or comment that it just doesn't do much for me... LucyMercer/upstairs, however... bravo. The vibe blew my socks off from the second I began climbing the stairs and following the smell of the fireplace. You can't NOT be transported! (They didn't sacrifice comfort and coziness for cuteness upstairs, btw. Your ass will thank you!) Downstairs/Minetta: Old school vibe times 100. Decent food with generous portions. Signature burger and steak frites were ordered. As you'd expect, tbh. A nice wine list with some older vintages of bdx and champagne interspersed with a few semi-geeky affordable options=well priced/well-curated list and a very helpful sommelier. That said (see below!! you want to order cocktails here Service: EXCEPTIONAL. They treat you well here without overstepping. Victoria, Alma, on and on were just great folks. Cocktails: The low abv sherry cocktail (downstairs) and the Nijinski upstairs at Lucy Mercer (love me some Russian ballet) were impressive and noteworthy. ***Truly special stuff in every part of the establishment***

This was a pleasant surprise! We originally went to another location for a holiday themed night out, which ended up disappointing so we went to this location, thinking we'd only be able to get a seat at the bar because reservations were taken for the evening. Just our luck as we walked into a restaurant two seats opened up at the bar where we ordered martinis And just to see if our luck would continue on for the night, we asked if any seats were available in the dining area and in less than 20 minutes, we were escorted to our table. The martinis here are delicious. We tried three different martinis at night and were greeted with a beautiful baguette that was served with whipped butter and Sea salt flakes. I personally enjoyed the trout that was served with a risotto and my friend enjoyed the burger that was served with the best french fries! I see why people think this is so similar to le diplomat, but I would pick this place over the other. The decor reminded me of someplace I went to. I was a child in New York that I just can't remember what it was called and my friend said the decor reminded him of a pub in London. We had amazing service and an even more amazing time here. I can't wait to visit again!

What a weird place! Looks like a stage set or a Vegas or Disney World recreation of a Greenwich Village restaurant -- purposely aged decor. Even the windows are distressed and the HVAC vents look like the 1960s. Fine if you're looking for a theme park look. The menu is unimaginative. Everything on it can be found at many restaurants around town. The tuna crudo (chopped up for some reason) was watery and tasteless. The trout was smothered in a pasty buerre blanc. (The trout at Rooster & Owl by contrast was perfect.). The butter lettuce salad had a sweet dressing (rather than a vinaigrette) and didn't hold a candle to that at Le Diplomate. The chocolate soufflé was undercooked (which we mentioned to our server as he spooned it out but he chose to ignore us). Eating batter is not what we had in mind. Fortunately the edges of the soufflé were cooked. The service was extremely gracious and friendly. But we have no reason to return, especially since getting to Union Market is a chore for where we live. If we go, we will aim for El Presidente or St Anselm.

Management was completely inconsiderate and rude when approaching the table. We ordered a bottle of wine (well over 100 dollars) that is completely overpriced when compared to other restaurants in the district. The restaurant was too crowded and too loud to have a conversation. I would not recommend this restaurant unless you want to feel uncomfortable and judged when entering a restaurant."

Excellent food, atmosphere and service. Perfect night. Recommend the French onion soup!

Went to Minetta Tavern for a great Christmas Eve dinner. Since they just opened, they were still working out some kinks in the kitchen but the food was delicious and our server was lovely. Highly recommend.