Iron Gate Restaurant Review

The place has a nice and friend atmosphere for pleasure and business. The food is amazing.the food is great. But those of you watching your high blood pleasure, hypertension, ETC.. beware of what you order..

Lovely. Great food, romantic ambiance, friendly service.

Excellent brunch options and great cocktails at a reasonable price. Great atmosphere and service

Great atmosphere, great wines, great service, greek cuisine after all, really nice building

Amazing service and food. The wine list is really amazing and comprehensive.

Best bet (cost-wise) was to try the chef's special ($65.00 per person). Three courses, perfect presentation and very good food (very fresh ingredients and lots of it). Waiter and food deliverors were knowledgeable. Chef took time out of his busy schedule to greet us and discuss courses.

Very interesting wine list. Wine listed by region rather than grape varietal. If you know Mediterranean wines, you will find some great values on the wine list. Had a great Crete white wine for under $85. Was not chilled enough. Waiter took time to chill for us. Perfect. When you drink nectar like this, one wine bottle lasts all evening. Also great wine glasses.

Not great weather, so had to eat indoors. Historical horse stable - apparently a restaurant on site at this location since 1845.
Restaurant has a great outdoor PRIVATE patio in the back yard of a townhouse about 4 blocks from Dupont Circle.

Have to make a reservation because always filled to capacity.

Lovely bar and outside patio. Amazing food, cocktails, and service. Implausible to have a bad experience here.

My wife surprised me for my birthday with brunch at this place!! It was both our 1st time here but she found this place on social media and come to find out it was a top 10 brunch place in DC!.. well i just got to say it lived up to it!!! You can eat outside, bar area or downstairs inside. Very spacious, clean, fancy looking and the throwback music was awesome! Reminiscing on every tune hahaha. The menu shocked me at 1st because it was so limited but talk about trying something new! Not your usual eggs n bacon spot lol. This place made you step out your comfort zone and it was well worth it! Everything was cooked to perfection! So many flavors in all the meals. Had my tastebuds going crazy!!! Compliments to KEVIN our waiter! For all the help and recommendations! Also Compliments to all the CHEFS!!! Keep up the good work. My dream is to be a chef and this really inspired me more! They also gave me a bday dessert surprise. This place is just 5 stars! All day!! One of the best brunch spots in DC! For sure!! Thanks Iron Gate!

I took my girlfriend here for Valentine's Day and this restaurant is absolutely amazing. We were seated right next to the fire inside and promptly served. Our waiter was extremely attentive and ensured we were enjoying our time there. The quality of the dishes and the attention to detail in the preparation was hands down. We definitely will return. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended.

Can't say enough good things about this restaurant. Excellent service, food fit for a foodie and the ambience makes you never want to leave.

One of my favorite date spots in DC! Make sure to sit outside if the weather permits

The most amazing romantic restaurant in DC!!! Stepping into a piece of Tuscany in downtown Washington.

It was restaurant week and I'm so glad I got to eat here for it! It was a three course meal for $22, amazing. I had the arancini balls which were light and fluffy with a mushroom creme sauce that I could eat a whole bowl of. Next was the gnocchi with spicy Pomodoro sauce. It had a nice kick and the gnocchi was perfectly cooked. Desert was an orange tart ice cream and marshmallow , also amazing. This place had familiar flavors that were perfectly executed. Nothing showy or fancy, just really good ingredients cooked incredible well and balanced to perfection. Also, get the cocktails!

Unique atmosphere in the bar area; cocktails are fantastic, but can get crowded. The back is a garden, and reasonably nice, but it's almost too big, and the crowd is super pretentious and rather dressy, if that's your thing. The food is extraordinary; well thought out and creative. Worth a visit.

Excellent service and
good food, some dishes like the oysters and octopus are extraordinarily good.

Amazing. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Every dish was so thoughtful. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant- perfect for a date night or special occasion.

One of the most beautiful garden restaurants in DC. Food is the level you'd expect. Portion sizes may be too small for hungry diners, but the ambiance can't be beat.

If you want a best dinning exp as a couple, I would suggest you visit here. Food is too good which I didn't except for. Not so pricey

We did the family style meal, and let the chef decide for us. Such a great idea as it was a great meal!

Go there! Say Arron V sent you (if Melissa is there, you might get a drink :)

Excellent drinks and the food was phenomenal. The portions are on the small side, it would be a good idea to order two entrees if you're hungry.

Perfect ambiance for date night. The arancini is outstanding.

Went here for a work dinner. They courses were all delicious and I was impressed how accommodating they were for vegetarians. Anyone who was a vegetarian got a separate plate that was substituted for whatever the dish was.

Romance all the way. Perfect 1 2 or 3 date. Dine under grape leaves eat the lamb meatballs.
In the city with a country feel.
From the time you walk in feels like a different time and place.
Join me no phone needed.

Service & atmosphere are the selling point of this place. Food is so so. Some dishes we had were overly salty.

My husband and I dined here for his birthday dinner on a Sunday night and we had a great time. The food was delicious and fresh-tasting, seasoned just right. We had two drinks, five plates, and two desserts between the two of us and were pretty stuffed by the end of the meal. We're more of beer drinkers than wine, and their selection of drafts and bottles was pretty good. Our favorite dishes were the stuffed squid. octopus, and the greek doughnuts. If it's nice out, I definitely recommend eating in the patio.

What I love most about this spot is the ambiance..The always changing menu will seem limited but it s rich in flavor and creativity. Sharing dinner here with 4-6 people, you could order the entire menu and get a taste of everything with out leaving too full. Wine list is extensive and cocktails are creative.

Reason it gets 4 stars:
I ve dined here 5 times over 2 years I get very mixed experiences from the people working, sometimes it s snobby interactions and other times it s been super warm genuine hospitality.

I wish we took pictures in here to share - what a cool place! The setting is amazing, the food even better! We couldn't decide, but, they have a multi course meal where the chef decides what you get. We did it. A must! Also, a drink called the honey Nut Cheerio made the entire experience. Go. Eat. Drink. Enjoy!

Had my first date with my wife here and it's absolutely incredible. Great food, beautiful ambiance, and just truly unique. It's a bit pricey but well worth the experience.

This review is somewhat circumstantial. And I would recommend it for a happy hour. But we were a party of 3 and we were seated in the bar area for dinner despite the fact that we had a reservation. If they try to do this, just leave. The main attraction here is the outdoor seating.

The food was decent. Several good items, but several items that were lacking. We decided to try the meat platter (35 per person I believe). This is a plate of various meat items, including chicken wings and dry pork belly (how do you even accomplish that given the fat content?). It was weighted towards the inexpensive cuts.

In the end, we spent well over 200 for a so so meal and absent service, and I wasn't even full.

Sharable foods. Recommend the bread and deviled duck eggs.

Expensive, but worth it. Great drinks, great food and the outdoor patio is very romantic.

Iron gate has a wonderful ambiance and a delicious selection of family style and small plates. The bar area is cozy and has a great old world feel. Their cocktails are fantastic. I never had a white negroni, but they pulled off a fantastic semi sweet Negron using ice wine.

Food was equally fantastic, we had the mixed grille which comes with grilled sausage, flank, chicken kabob, and one of the best burgers i have ever had the pleasure of devouring.

Highly recommend visiting!

Food and service was good like a mf. Def a nice place to take your gf/wife for a cute date. I wouldn't take someone here for a first date cuz the food a lil pricey, but that's me.

Beautiful courtyard covered in grape vines older than the people working there. Good Greek and Italian influenced food. Reasonable prices for lunch. Just so pleasant.

Delicious! Went for brunch on a Sunday. They didn't open until 11am, so a little later than I'm used to, but the orange blossom donuts and delicious eggs made up for it. The food is awesome, seasonal, varied and they have a lot of options for different diets.

Great ambiance! Food is OK, but too much emphasis is placed on the spices, sauces, etc rather than the intrinsic tastes and qualities of the food itself.

It's very quaint and romantic. Reserve a table in advance as it gets pretty busy. Excellent service and very good food. Portions are small but every dish we tried was delicious in it's distinct preparation and flavour. There's a cute garden area which I imagine is lovely in the summer. Great selection of wine too.

Lovely. While the menu is seasonal and often changing the consistency in terms of quality always brings me back.

Matthew was amazing as our guide for the evening. The course meals are thoughtful and provoking, and the ambiance of the tasting room is romantic and intriguing. We spent our anniversary here and we're nothing less than completely satisfied. Highly recommend for a great date or evening out.

Iron Gate is one of the best places to eat in DC. With its rotating menu and beautifully constructed plates, you will want to return time and time again. Iron Gate also has fantastic ambiance within its indoor and outdoor seating areas. The service at Iron Gate is also fun, approachable, and exceptionally professional. Overall, experiencing Iron Gate is a must for those looking for a great romantic dinner or those on a food adventure.

Wow we had a great night at Irongate very romantic and the food was superb. 8.31.18

Shared 7 dishes and a snapper among 4 people. Everything was very good. A lot of the wine was from Greece and Italy, so we went with a suggestion from our waiter and we really enjoyed it.

simple menu, small portions, tasty...
we tried 5 of their dishes
liked the crab dish and rabbit dish very much

Loved my date;) the fire in the background, my lovely server Kate and of course the food/decor. Everything makes this gem a 10/10

Superb courtyard. Lovely upmarket and relaxed crowd. A hidden gem!

Cannot say enough about this place! My wife and I go every year for our anniversary (so obviously I have an emotional attachment, but it's so much more than that!).

Excellent food and presentation. Chef Chittum and Co know their stuff. Delightfully creative pairings of flavors and ingredients, colors and textures. Both menus (a la carte and tasting) are seasonal with a few classic holdovers. The best compliment I can give is, I brought my brother (a gifted chef at a well-regarded restaurant in Toronto) and he was impressed!

The inner dining room (for the tasting menu) is terribly romantic.. especially on a Tuesday night when you have the place to yourself and the table infront of the fire. The service is impeccable and the servers demonstrate a deep knowledge of and care for the dishes and each individual ingredient.

The patio (a la carte) is incredibly picturesque. Purgola covered in vines, paving stones, and choice of tables or love seats. In the winter they have heaters and fires burning to keep you warm. Alternatively, you can choose to sit in the carriageway with its grand chandelier or at the alluringly rustic bar.

Final props go to the individual making the espresso... creamy, full-bodied, strong but not acrid. Best espresso I've had outside of Italy.

Start to finish, brunch or dinner, Iron Gate raises the standard for what dining in DC should be!

Three different restaurants in one makes this place unique. Menu variety on the front one isn't my favorite, but across the whole, incredible range.

Food was good. Great services. Great atmosphere. Staff were nice.

The spring pea bruschetta was amazing, among other plates. Nom!

Loved the outdoor ambiance. The Chef's Family Table was amazing and was the highlight of our birthday celebration!

come here every year for birthday celebration. food and experience gets better every visit

The cremini mushroom arancini was crispy and deliciously creamy on the inside. I could have eaten a whole plateful. The crispy blue catfish was very good with the kohlrabi-apple salad, but wasn't satisfying as an entree. Had they turned it into a sandwich or had a small side it would have helped. The blood orange tart was really good. This was my 8th Restaurant Week lunch and the first time I left the restaurant hungry after eating my meal.

Iron gate made our night truly unforgettable. They were so careful around Covid protocols (which seems unfortunately rare) and the food was FANTASTIC. They went over the top when they found out it was our anniversary, and even ended the meal with a hand-written thank you note.

I can't recommend them highly enough!

The best pandemic dining out experience I ve had so far! They have the best atmosphere in normal times, and that holds true even with social distancing protocols.

Really appreciated all the care they took, and that they had you put the mask on when the staff comes to the table. At other restaurants I have never know what is right to do or not!

Given that it s a sharing plates restaurant, wouldn t recommend going with anyone outside of your pod. I ve been eagerly waiting for them to reopen and was not disappointed

Finally got to try Iron Gate and went for brunch. Everything was wonderful - tried several dishes both sweet and savory. Riccota hazelnut pancakes were an unexpected favorite. Lots of special touches. Interesting cozy atmosphere and excellent service. The courtyard would be perfect when the weather is nice. The courtyard area is dog friendly and we saw two folks with dogs outside.

This was our second time coming to iron gate and I have to say this time topped the last. The restaurant was small and intimate with cute fireplaces and huge old grape vines above you. The food was to die for and the Greek wine selection was something fun to try! Great food great service and great atmosphere

The food was amazing and the staff was really great and pleasant.

FOOD POISONING: I received food poisoning here earlier this year. Took me a week to recover, during which I missed school.

I had to go to urgent care, as I was projectile vomiting and/or having diarrhea every 15-20 minutes.

I incurred hundreds of dollars worth of medical bills due to this visit to urgent care. I was in horrible pain, and eventually began to vomit up just stomach acid.

Urgent care nurses had to inject some medicine into my bloodstream to tackle the nausea. They told me the pills they would prescribe me wouldn t work fast enough.

I was weak and didn t return fully to normal until around a week later. Lost 5 lbs in one night.

Iron Gate management was contacted, but never returned the voicemail.

I ve never sued anyone, but considering the hundreds of dollars in medical bills I ve incurred due to THEIR FAULT, and their lack of acknowledgement, something needs to be done so more patrons don t get food poisoning.

It looks like they might go out of business anyway. They certainly deserve it.

The food was great. Careful, because the portions are very small. Dont go if you a large appetite.

It's very quaint and romantic. Reserve a table in advance as it gets pretty busy. Excellent service and very good food. Portions are small but every dish we tried was delicious in it's distinct preparation and flavour. There's a cute garden area which I imagine is lovely in the summer. Great selection of wine too.

This is really a nice place and backyard patio is where your want a table.Plates was amazing especially the gnocchi! Maybe skip the cornbread.Small portions but filling. Cheesecake with guava is not sweet and so so good.

Very interesting food concept. Portions are a tad small, but definitely worth the money.

The service is fantastic, the food is excelent, and the atmosphere is romantic.

Our waitress was fantastic at every turn and guided the evening perfectly! The marriage of flavors was subtle and astounding. We enjoyed the tasting menu ($99/pp) and highly recommend that. A definite "must-do" on the restaurant bucket-list!

Amazing food and service in an incredibly cool, yet romantic atmosphere. Definitely check this place out!

Went to Iron Gate last night for restaurant week. The food was delicious. However, we were quite surprised that they were not adequately staffed for restaurant week and their planning for reservations were way off.

When we arrived for our 7 PM reservation we were told we would be seated at 7:30, as they were already running late. They said we could get a drink from the bar and wait outside. There was only one bartender and she was clearly overwhelmed. It took us almost 20 minutes to get two drinks. We were finally seated at 7:45 PM.

Nice ambiance, especially outside, with decent wait service. The wait for a table was far too long (25 minutes) for having had a reservation. The dessert options are also quite weak.

Had a very pleasant lunch with son here. Hostess and wait staff (Gabe) were very friendly. We both had the gyro and shared the apple crumble for dessert. The gyro had a wonderful smokey flavor to the pork. Quite intimate atmosphere with nice patio area. Recommend.

A quality dinner spot, with cute outdoor seating. Food is all pretty good. The gnocchi is a must order because it's the only thing that remains consistent on the menu for a reason. Desserts although good, are on the more darker side, so don't expect it to be very sweet. Service is the worst part about this place, got a lot of attitude and short remarks when asking about the menu.

Sitting under a candle lit vine arbor, during a cool Washington, DC evening with a great bottle of wine and delicious italian and greek food is my kind of an evening. From the moment you step off the sidewalk you are enchanted by large candles which seem to beckon you in and stay for a while. One of the truly hidden gems of Washington, DC this place is amazing for a special occasion, or just during a nice evening outside!

Brunch at Iron Gate was one of the best meals I've had in a while. The service is friendly, the ambiance is great and the food is fantastic. We started with the crispy yeast doughnuts with orange blossom syrup and the sesame crusted feta and both were amazing. My wife loved her olive oil fried eggs and my hamburger was one of the best I've ever had. We will certainly be back to try the rest of the menu. Also, even though it's listed as $$$ I didn't think it was that expensive .

We grabbed a quick brunch at the bar while in town for the day. The sesame crusted feta was my favorite.

Amazing vibe, feels like an escape from the city while being right in the heart of it. Highly recommend for dinner or drinks.

The restaurant setting is very nice. However, when we first sat down our host told us there is a 1 hour and 15 minute time limit. We were like OK seems short, but that should be enough time. Our server comes by never gives us his name or appears interested at all in conversing with us. It took 30 minutes for our food to come. When it finally did we had 20 minutes left on our time to order anything else. Our server would keep passing right by us and never asked how our food was, never asked if we needed anything else. We would actively look around like we needed something and our table was right next to the kitchen, so it should have occurred to him to check in with us. but he didn't. A very nice gentleman saw that we were looking around and asked what we needed and he brought it. Our server never returned to our table except at the end to clear our table and bring our check (we kept thanking him, and he had no response). When we do get the check we see a 22% automatic gratuity (I think for COVID). In any other setting it would be fine, but our server did not come over more than once. So the fact that they put an automatic 22% for next to no service was annoying. I asked to speak to a manager and she did accommodate us . But my intention wasn't too get free stuff, it was to say that time of service is absolutely unacceptable for a place that is so highly regarded. Overall, the service alone would probably make me never go back.

As you walk true the half restaurant u will reach to an amazing cosy place with a highlight of a fire place . Great service and the food is excellent unbelievable yummy . Try out there fresh grapefruit juice it is a vitamin bomb .

Food was good. Services was great. Atmosphere was good. Great facility was provided. Great presentation of food.

Great restaurant in DuPont Circle. Upscale vibe with a local seasonal menu. Outdoor space is truly amazing.

I ve been here several times, each was a delicious and unique experience without that pressure sometimes felt at fancy restaurants. Extremely comfortable atmosphere, beautifully authentic and cozy. I recommend the kitchen house when it s cold outside, and the garden in the late spring - gorgeous!