The Reserve

Everything here was wonderful: the food, the wine, the ambiance. The heart of palm was a delightful, flavorful surprise I'd recommend to everyone. Also recommended: scallops, filet and lamb. Yum! more

I was there on Thursday for a friends party ...my first time there....nice atmosphere....EXCELLENT food! One of the nicest setting I have seen in dc for private parties...would definitely recommend more

All in all a great place for happy hour. There were a few $5 appetizer specials, $5 beer, wine, and cocktails. My friend and I tried the Reisling, which was perfectly fine considering we paid $5 a glass. Service was attentive. more

I'd been to The Reserve on a number of occasions for parties and special events. This time I went to use my What's the Deal voucher for dinner with a friend. We arrived for our 7:30 reservation around 7:10, and went to the upstairs bar while we waited. We came back downstairs to find there was only one ""table"" available. My friend and I ordered a salad and 4 tapas. We ended up getting the greens salad for starters, it was ok. It was basically a garden salad with a bunch of green beans on it. Next our waitress brought out the Shrimp on garlic sauce (why it's not called shrimp in or and garlic sauce is beyond me) and the taquena w/ guacamole. Both of those were very good and I'd highly recommend them. After that we had the chicken sliders and a side of fries. The chicken comes with sauce and pineapple salsa, the fries were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside just the way I like them. After that course we just sat and waited for our final course the shrimp penne pasta (which is apparently one of their signature dishes) and is larger than your traditional tapa. While we waited, the other waitress working on the main level finally brought out the water we'd asked our waitress for since before we'd even ordered our meal. The other waitress took up our plates and asked us how was everything. I told her good but we still had another course. Overall, The Reserve has a nice vibe to it. The food is pretty good. Honestly, I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon, unless it's for drinks and more of those tasty taquenas. more

the decor was lovely, the food smelled great, and the drink specials were awesome. the crowd was way too loud and apparently reservations are required to dine here....that was a sad surprise. so we had some drinks here and dined elsewhere more

This L Street restaurant, lounge and wine bar is a classy after-work getaway with dark wood paneling, soft lighting and two discreet TVs. Whether ordering dinner or just kicking back on one of the low couches with glass in hand, the atmosphere is decidedly sophisticated. Menu options include charcuterie, cheese platter, meat, fish and a vegetarian section with prices so affordable one might be tempted to take the boss out. Happy hour, happily, runs longer than most in the city--some beer, house wine and rail drinks are just $5 between 4pm and 9pm on weekdays. more

The Reserve steals from its employees! They pocket the tips you give to servers and don't provide minimum wage. Boycott The Reserve! Friday, July 9, 2010 MOE IS LESS AT LOCAL EATERY: Restaurateur Moe Hamdan (below, at left) used his new upscale DC eatery as his own personal piggy bank while leaving workers empty-handed, say former employees of The Reserve. According to one former manager who requested anonymity, Hamdan - who's the target of a demonstration by former workers and their supporters today at 5P - repeatedly ""used workers wages for his own private expenses"" while short-changing or not paying employees. Workers came to DC Jobs for Justice for help after not being paid for six months by Hamdan, who they say owes them over $10000. ""I worked really hard as a bar boy at this restaurant,"" says former Reserve employee Luis Ducas, ""and the owner refuses to pay me my back wages."" D.C. Jobs for ...? More » more

I love this place! The brick facade on the outside helps distinguish The Reserve from the other lounges in downtown DC. My favorite bartenders are Andy and Rohit, also known as Harold and Kumar. The third floor just recently opened up on New Years Eve and is a completely different ambiance than the other two floors, boasting house music and a crowd costumed in Armani Exchange. The first two floors play the usual music you'd hear around the K Street area, with table service along the walls and a few areas to stand around near the bar if you don't feel like dancing. If you're a female over the age of 28, sorry Cougar Barbie, you belong at the Caucus Room. Pros: Everything more