The Dabney

Review summary

1. m

   morgan

   Washington DC

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food was amazing. Staff was great. Ambience was perfect for the holidays Only minor note would simply be for folks who’ve never done a tasting menu. The portions may small for some people. My wife thought they were perfect, while I left a little bit hungry.
   

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2. L

   Lauren

   VIP

   Washington DC

   34 reviews

   5.0

   34 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Wonderful experience overall! Perfectly prepared seasonal ingredients.
   

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3. M

   Michael

   VIP

   Washington DC

   13 reviews

   5.0

   13 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Outstanding from start to finish! Loved the catfish sliders!!
   

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4. N

   Nicholas

   VIP

   Washington DC

   11 reviews

   3.0

   11 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   We had been here about a dozen times over the years, this was the worst experience yet. Having to provide a credit card to hold the table is never a problem for me. But when we arrive promptly on time after having a drink at a bar across the way because you have no bar we could sit at, then make us wait 20 minutes for a table, is unacceptable. The offer was to sit outside in the freezing cold at some tables in the entry way. The food this time was hit or miss, tasting menu was not the great experience we had in the past, couple that with the bad start to the evening and a $900 check, very disappointed. I think had they handled our 20 minute delay a bit better, I may have been able to overcome the mediocre food but we will never know. Our server was good, no issues there, very pleasant and helpful, wasn’t his fault. The hostess and management need to do a better job accommodating people and when you have 3-5 open seats at the bar, our table is late, you should seat us there for that time and at least provide us with a place to spend even more money. Not sure we will go back from a while after this.
   

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5. M

   Michelle

   VIP

   Nashville

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Was disappointed. Food was overly pretentious. Service was attentive but couldn’t get a lime to save my life even though I asked for one for my water three times.. used to love the restaurant but it has completely changed.
   

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6. R

   Ryan

   VIP

   Washington DC

   22 reviews

   5.0

   22 reviews

   Dined on December 14, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent all around. Service is impeccable and the food superb.
   

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7. K

   Kayte

   VIP

   Denver

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on December 12, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food, the ambiance, the service, were all top notch. Was one of the most amazing meals/menus I’ve ever experienced
   

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8. J

   Joy

   Washington DC

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on December 11, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Outstanding- from the service, to the food to the atmosphere. Worth the expense. An experience!
   

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9. N

   Nancy

   Hawaii

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on December 10, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   I had high expectations for The Dabney, but unfortunately, the experience was far from enjoyable. Despite arriving on time, we waited over 40 minutes before any edible food was placed in front of us. Initially, the server blamed the delay on my request to substitute duck for pork as the main course, which makes no sense considering this had nothing to do with the five courses preceding the main dish. Later, the story changed, and the waiter claimed the delay was because they had just started a new menu this week and were still getting aligned. None of the dishes stood out, and the meal was so underwhelming that we didn’t even bother taking pictures of the food. I’m a big fan of Jônt and would happily pay more for their exceptional experience. Even El Cielo, which I’m not the biggest fan of, feels more on point when compared to The Dabney. Honestly, I would have been better off across the street at Unconventional Diner. The Dabney has a lot of work to do on both service and quality to justify its reputation.
   

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10. K

    Karen

    VIP

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5

    The succession of very small course were all delicious and presented in a beautiful way. It was fun seeing the hearth and the chefs creating each course. The service was unobtrusive and sometimes we wanted more explanation of dishes, as other waiters seemed to be giving to other tables. The sommelier helped us select our glasses of wine, and gave us a taste of those we were interested in. The ambience is warm and welcoming, if a bit noisy. Altogether, I recommend this highly for a celebratory dinner (it was my birthday) as it is amazing but pricey.
    

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