Minetta Tavern

M Michael Chan 202 reviews · Local Guide 20 July 2026

First time to Minetta DC and we all loved it! The four of us got a great corner booth which was helpful as the noise level is very high so it was helpful to have noise coming at us from only two directions and not four. I understand the noise level might be a big turnoff for some people but I liked the energy of the space. I would say that this is definitely not a place to go if you are hard of hearing. We started off by sharing apps of foie gras, bone marrow that were huge, hamachi crudo, and an amazing Maryland Crab salad. The Lamb chops entree were perfectly prepared. Our biggest complaint was the table was too small for four but the servers made it work. The service was excellent and the somm was also very helpful. They don’t allow outside wine which is usually a turnoff for me as I like to bring wines with more age than most restaurants carry but Minetta has a nice list and we had an eight year old Bordeaux that was opening up nicely. The wine came out cellar temperature and they decanted it for us to let it breathe a bit while we enjoyed out champagne. Overall, would give Minetta a 4.5+ rating and look forward to coming back and recommending to others.

S Sean Arians 128 reviews · Local Guide 16 July 2026

Took the team here for dinner while in DC. It was recommended by locals. A little variety on the menu. Duck was the special which I usually don’t pass up but they also had lamb chops. I went with lamb. It was quite good. It had a spinach puree and something else but could have used a potato or something. Everyone enjoyed their meals. It’s a really neat old building and atmosphere. Service was ok but nothing extraordinary. Do the desserts!!! Would recommend!!!

L Laura Okpala 27 reviews · Local Guide 7 June 2026

I’ve been to Minetta Tavern a few times and genuinely enjoyed it at first — there’s a warmth to the space and a NYC energy that felt refreshing in DC. But after my last visit, I won’t be going back. We had an 8pm reservation and weren’t seated until 8:30, not because they were busy, but because they’d forgotten about us. Our full party was there and ready. No apology, no explanation — just a late table like that was perfectly normal. Midway through the evening, a bartender broke a glass that shattered at the feet of everyone in our group. It was completely ignored by the staff. That’s a safety issue, not just a service miss. Our waiter was wonderful — attentive and kind — but the steak was disappointingly bland for the price point. The one bright spot couldn’t carry the whole experience. The bar upstairs has a great cozy atmosphere, but the staff there were noticeably cold and unwelcoming. The drinks are standard, the crowd is nothing out of the ordinary — there’s just no reason for the attitude. I wanted to keep recommending this place, but the service has slipped in a way that’s hard to overlook. There are too many good options in DC to put up with being made to feel like an afterthought.

S Scott Laine 452 reviews · Local Guide 15 May 2026

Tucked into a small Alley near Union Market, this NYC transplant offers everything the original offers and then some. We could not have been more thrilled with our experience. We arrived early for our reservation with the vision of having a drink, and it turns out The Lucy Mercer Bar is straight upstairs. While we did not have a reservation upstairs and opted to just take a few bar seats,  I would suggest making a double reservation: one for the bar before dinner and one for dinner downstairs, if you want to roll like a baller. Who doesn’t? (I will review the bar separately. We started our dinner with the bone marrow and a bib lettuce salad, both of which were delicious. For our main courses, all four of us ordered steak and fries, which were cooked perfectly. Not everyone was drinking wine, so two of us got a half-bottle, not something I normally do, but this half-bottle was a maker I know, so it worked out perfectly. I was the only madman who still had room for dessert, so I decided to go over the top and order an Afogatto with a side of Amaretto. The combo of sweet ice cream, bitter espresso, and almond liquor was spectacular, and I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn’t know when to stop. We arrived before the rush, which afforded us the upstairs cocktail experience and a little bit of a linger at the table. By the time we left, it was jumping, so plan accordingly.

J Jay Cropps 67 reviews · Local Guide 19 February 2026

The special occasion I celebrated was well recieved at the door by the hostess, who was waiting for the Maitre D to return. We were seated immediately when we arrived 10 mins early. Our server Doug, watched us get seated and gave us a warm welcome. He told us the seasonal specials and also gave his personal recommendations. He was knowledgeable of the menu for pairing and understood our celebration. He was also quite relatable and had positive input. When the entree came out to be presented before plating, it was truly commercial worthy. Happy with the decision made, the nod of approval was given. Everything was cooked to the temperature requested and enjoyed thoroughly. On the down side, the table was too small to accommodate such large plates and left most of the staff struggling to move and place things properly. The house music was low and the place ended up sounding like a cafeteria instead of a fine dining restaurant. Putting that aside, the dessert was wonderful and unexpectedly added the perfect ending to our visit. It was my first time in these doors and I would definitely return with friends for another celebration.