The Dinex Group, DBGB Kitchen and Bar Reviews

It isn't worth the money. You can dine in much better places if you want to spend that much money. Too expensive for not a good quality. Too salty. Overcooked vegetables, mushrooms and potatos. The staff were trying to be friendly but they really didn't care. The burgers were not cooked at all. When we asked them to change it they brought the same thing after 2 minutes.

Very good, but not great. Dbgb in nyc seemed more lively. I m sure the kitchen staff between the two locations have much crossover. Service here is excellent though.

The atmosphere and surroundings of this restaurant are fabulous, and to our delight the food and wine list were up to the task as well. Our party comprises members with eclectic food requirements, and the menu more than accommodated us. The wine list was varied and broad. The service was outstanding. Highly recommended.

Food was overall good, but my Frenchie Burger was well done & I ordered Rare-med/rare...Very annoyed that waiter neglected to validate parking, and even tho the valet saw us enter & exit restaurant, he charged us the full rate.

I love DBGB! Good section of beers and wines. I ordered the from the bar and ordered the house made Lamb Sausage,very very good, I recommend it. The Chef is world known in the Culinary world. Come here if you are on a dinner date, hanging out with good friends or for business professionals.

The kitchen really know their stuff. Classic French technique. A little on the pricey side, as you may expect for a big name

Wanted to share a great experience we had here last night. After having a slight issue with something, Emily Alexander the manager came over and changed our whole dinner experience.
Definitely recommend and thank you again Emily for making our first dining experience in DC a night to remember.

Just sat at the bar for happy hour but it was a great experience. Bartender was friendly and engaging. The drink specials were amazing and the bar food was good. The restaurant was bright, clean, and comfortable

Solid brunch option. I don t know why the yelp reviews are so negative. Only complaint is that they didn t tell us where our oysters were from.

Had the steak tartar and the dayboat scallops that were prepared to perfection. The two bottles of Chablis were excellent. The staff was great with the kids. It may be on the expensive side, but for what I ordered it was well worth it.

Tasty cocktails, charming atmosphere and very nice bartender. The Thai sausage was weird and bland, so won't be getting that again. Loved the drinks.

Amazing and relaxing. Great for a date night out or to enjoy and celebrate a special occasion like my sister's birthday. We love this place. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable about the wine and accommodating my dietary issue. They removed dairy from my meal. Kudos to the chef. Escargot! Crab cakes! Sausage! Chilean sea bass! Espresso and dessert! All on point. Bravo! We will come here again.

Went twice while in DC. Duck breast was tasty, coq au vin was ok. Enjoyed the baked alaska.

The good: the Baked Alaska is good! The flavors were great and we loved the ginger in the vanilla. Great presentation. The sponge cake did taste a little dry and old, however.

The bad: my burger was served raw. Not rare, but RAW. it was so raw the meat didn t cut, but stuck to the knife as I cut the burger in half. They seared the outside and called it good. I ordered my burger medium well. Not raw! It was so gross. They didn t ask me what I wanted, just took the burger away. At that point, I did not want another beef anything. Had they asked, I would have asked for a salad or a pasta. They brought me another burger, and it wasn t medium well, either. It was still red in the middle (not pink- red in the middle, pink, then cooked. More medium rare). Furthermore, the fries were frozen ones you can buy in the store. Honestly, how hard is it to make fries? It s not! I was very disappointed with this and it was NOT worth the cost. Total rip off.

One of the nicest dining experiences I've had on the area. The high ceilings and split level seating combined with the modern style decor gives this restaurant a cozy but plush feel. The menu is simple enough but still provides you with a nice arrangement of choices.

The hostess there is amazingly responsive, constantly watching to ensure all needs are met and always smiles. Having consistent and friendly staff is almost as important as the menu.

The Blue Crab Spaghetini was delicious. Oysters fresh and flavorful. Service very fun from Bulgarian server.

Service was incredibly inhospitable, and the quality of the food was not worth the price. There are much better places in DC to eat for that amount of money. Wine selection was nice and the sommelier was extremely helpful and kind. Our server was inexcusably rude. Go somewhere that will make you feel welcome and provide on quality of food!

Went for the valentines day fixed menu. They seated us in a private event room upstairs with about ten other couples. It was much quieter than the main restaurant and had good views of the courtyard of Citycenter DC. Service was excellent and food was perfect. Lobster risotto was creamy and delicious. I had the duck and my wife had rockfish. Not sure about everyday menu prices, but the valentines menu was about what you would pay for 4 courses.

Awesome Burgers and cooked exactly the way I wanted it! Service was stellar and the price was very affordable. Homemade Pickles, too.

For the price that I paid I wasn't really impressed with the food. They forgot to bring my wifes soup the server and manager were great about it, they apologized and the server brought us some little desert items. I had a 45 dollar ribeye steak, as Mel Brooks said in History of the world "Nice, not thrilling but nice".

Had Thanksgiving dinner with my family and it was amazing! So happy we chose to go there for Thanksgiving. The best drinks we have had in DC.

Great brunch, had the Jackson, very fluffy scrambled eggs with herbs, hash browns, and more, very tasty. We also has the burger which was tasty and good quality and cooked to our liking

Had a large group dinner party here last June. Definitely 5 stars from service, to good and wine, lovation, design, atmosphere...this resaurrest came as a recommendation from our colleague in the industry. Our guests were happy which make us a happier hosts. Try it when you're in DC!

Portions are slight for the price. Great place for business lunch.

A great French bistro with a varied and delicious menu. This restaurant is almost always packed, so be sure to have a reservation. Make sure everyone is there when you want to sit, as they will make you wait until the whole party arrives before seating anyone.

I wasn't feeling particularly French the last time I went, and opted for "The Yankee" burger with cheese and bacon. Absolutely delicious. Not quite on par with what you could get at The Partisan or Le Diplomate, but very solid and an easy go-to. The rest of our party went on a tour of the menu, getting a little of many things. Everything came out great.

Service is generally quick and friendly, and the bartenders are nice and quickly make fantastic cocktails. Great selection of craft cocktails, nice wines, and decent beer.

Absolutely worth a visit, or many.

Very loud and not very intimate, but energetic atmosphere. Limited choices on menu but food is good but overpriced.

I had reservations for Thanksgiving at DBGB. The place was pretty darned full, but there was no problem being sat in a timely manner. My wife, daughter, and myself all got the Thanksgiving turkey dinner which was composed of turkey, pork-wrapped stuffing, mashed potatoes, and thinly sliced sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes, for me, was best in show. The turkey, pork, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, while good, aren't really anything worth mentioning. Honestly, I was a little underwhelmed by them; I was downright disappointed in the mashed potatoes. Again, not because they were BAD, but, considering the restaurant I was at, I was expecting them to be much tastier. Our friend ordered the coq au vin and really liked it.

That being said, there are four specific things I feel the need to point out:
1. This is some of the best service I've ever received at a restaurant. The level of service is what is keeping them from receiving a three-star review.
2. I felt the choice of background music was... peculiar. Not a criticism, but I wasn't really expecting AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Warrant, Motley Crue, or Journey. Again, not a criticism -- this didn't affect my star review of them, but I DID find it a little odd.
3. This is one's not a SUPER big deal, but my expectations for a restaurant are tied pretty closely to the average cost of an entree. My wife was given a different drink than she ordered. She informed our waitress, who sent the bartender to our table to resolve the issue. This happened a second time, as well, when I ordered a Willet bourbon but was given a Willet rye. I like Willet rye (it's one of my favorites), but that's not what I ordered. At that point, though, I didn't bother saying anything about it -- I didn't want to be "that table."
4. Being Thanksgiving, and no Thanksgiving meal is complete without leftovers, they gave us each our own "leftover" turkey sandwich on focaccia bread. That was very endearing. :)

Bottom line: Would I return? No, not unless somebody else was paying. It's not that I didn't enjoy my experience, but I don't think it lived up to its reputation.

I was so stoked to find this restaurant here in DC! I'm a fan of Boulud so I was fangirling a bit. We had the tarte and pastries to start. They were both really delicious!! The pastries were so flaky & buttery and the whipped jam was a surprise and so yummy!! The "tarte" was actually a flat bread though. My friend had the Vermont and I had the thai frittata. I liked hers a lot more than my dish. While mine was good it didn't blow me away and lacked any real thai flavor. The scrambled eggs on the Vermont? THE best eggs I've EVER had. Hands down!! They were so creamy and light it was unreal. I'd loke to come back and try some other dishes, maybe lunch or dinner. A highlight was all the dinner plates decorated by other chefs that were part of the decor, from Bourdain to Achatz, was really awesome!

I came here for a brunch with the family a while back and the food was really good. It wasn't too expensive like some of the other places offering brunch but it wasn't cheap either. You got what you paid for and it was pretty good.

Daniel Bolud's restaurants are among the best in the nation. His DC Gran Bistro -- DBGB DC -- is no exception. The Thai Sausage appetizer and the Arugula Salad were spectacular, and the Baked Branzino for 2 -- stuffed with a crab and scallop mousse -- was just out of this world.

A well selected wine list of moderately priced wines by the glass pair well with the menu.

Great food, great service, good wine, and great bar scene. What's not to like!

Went for Happy Hour today and ordered a few Oysters. Charcuterie Plate and Crab Cakes. Don't order any of them people. The Oysters were not shucked and had to be sent back twice. The plate was underwhelming. (Sliced ham shouldn't be a DB standard). And the crab cakes were more cake than crab. They resembled dollar Crab pancakes more than crab cakes.

Better choices in DC than DB.

Attended a company event in a private room. Very tasty food for 3-course, two entree selections-chicken and salmon. One in our group asked for vegetarian which they then offered but not on the menu card. All said their meals were delicious. Presentation going on while waiters and waitresses taking lunch selections which was awkward for them but they were very good at being discreet while taking orders, delivering food and clearing. Staff welcoming when we entered restaurant but we were not asked where we were going. Fortunately the event planner told us where to find the elevator to the private dining room. Would have been helpful if someone asked if we needed assistance. Then we would have been able to tell them we were going to the private event space and be guided. Minor suggestion for overall very pleasant business lunch presentation.

Great brunch, great dinner, great holiday meals. Make a reservation.

Service was awesome, steak tartare out of this world.

A positive resolution to my experience at DBGB is the impetus for changing my rating. I may have caught the staff on an off day. Regardless, the manager was responsive and corrected the situation without me making a request of any kind.

I had high hopes after reading about DBGB but my experience did not measure up. My waiter was seemingly irritated by my arrival time ( I assume he was about to leave prior to my walking in). The rest of the staff was attentive and courteous. Looking for a last taste of summer, I ordered the chilled corn soup and heirloom tomato salad. The soup and tomatoes were as flavorless as the bottled water, which I was billed for but did not order. Both plates were woefully unseasoned. The salsa topping on the soup added texture and heat; but again, not flavor. The tomatoes had a mealy texture that I have never experienced in heirlooms. The waiter waited, with his hands folded, feet from my table, for the entirety of my meal except when he tried to take my half eaten bowl of soup. I would have let him, had I not waited until 3pm to eat and been truly hungry. In hindsight, I wish I would have saved myself and my waiter the headache and continued walking to my hotel, where 1331 serves food worth the calories and cost.

Had an early dinner here outside in the courtyard, which was super pleasant. The staff was very accommodating as we had our 5 year old son with us. The food was also excellent. I am not sure what this shopping/dining area is called, but there were a few options that looked good for outdoor dining. That said, you cannot go wrong with DBGB.

A little pricey for brunch but the food was delicious

My DBGB Experience
If you have a taste for fresh Oysters, then DBGB is a good choice! I had the Chesapeake Bay Oysters and it was so succulent.
Very Friendly and courteous staff
Food Presentation
Fine Wine
Good Service
Lovely Ambiance
Highly Recommend

Food is great, but the atmosphere is absolutely amazing. Luis, the bartender, is a genius. Everything about this place is impeccable, but the drinks really make it what it is.

Came here for Sunday brunch recently. We had a reservation at 1100 and got seated right away at one of the booths along the windows. This place has a cute vibe but it s smaller than I realized inside. They have great customer service, a little formal even, but we felt well taken care of. We all opted to do the restaurant week menu and then order drinks on the side. I had the farro salad appetizer, the chicken main, and the key lime sundae. My friends got the heirloom tomato salad, the branzino, and the key lime sundae as well. We all liked what we got, though I felt the salad I had was a bit underwhelming. Overall a good experience for brunch!

Took wayyyy too long! Was way overpriced. And wasn t very good. I heard a lady a few tables down saying the same thing. Don t waste your time. We only had one day in DC and regret wasting it here.

I sent my friends to this place with my warmest recommendations. I go their often. I get very good feedback from my friends. The meals are appetizing and the team is very friendly and cooperative. always when we visit this place we pass a delightful evening. highly recommended.

Pleasant restaurant, very good food, palatable wines and....if they make a mistake they say sorry and sort it out with all due humility. I go here whenever I'm in DC. Recommended.

I m giving 4 stars because of the hostess. We arrived at around 3:30 - so there were very few people in the restaurant. My friend and I were somewhat indecisive about where we wanted to sit but we first selected the patio and then wanted to move back inside. We called for the hostess and she completely ignored us as she was walking back inside (I know she heard us). Finally caught up to her where she pointed back to the table. Anyways, food was great and the servers/busers were very nice and attentive. The Thai sausage sandwich we had was so full of flavor!

Great food and wine! The sommelier was knowledgeable and had some really good recommendations.

It was my first time eating duck, AND liver. The funny part about it is that we ordered Foie Gras which was splendid! The flavor and sauces that came with the duck were second to none.

Side note the steak and frites was good as well and the dessert was bomb!

Cool mid-centuety French kitchen atmosphere, very good service

Wow! This restaurant deserves more than 5 stars. Excellent food! Good pricing for the quality of food. Has a variety of French dishes along with French/American inspired foods. Don't forget to try the Baked Alaska! Highly recommend!!

We picked this place for dinner before a concert at Capital One Arena. The service was outstanding and was helping us pay attention to the time to make sure we weren't late. Our waiter was also well versed in the food and drink menus, making great suggestions for both! The steak tartar is probably the best I've ever had in DC... by far. It's perfect!

The service exceeded expectations and the food was first rate. I LOVE an attentive front of house and wait staff. This new DC hot spot did not disappoint. To top it off, the extensive wine list was exceptional and the food was first rare. More

Delicious and pretty food; pleasant space; attentive service.

Was literally just wandering around looking for lunch and stumbled upon this. A perfect, leisurely lunch; the crab cake with charred corn was meaty and delicious. The house made Thai red curry pork sausage with lemongrass and green papaya salad was an epiphany. Topping it off were the profiteroles for dessert. The wait staff was thoughtful, attentive, professional and engaging. Wish I lived closer!

The calamari were nice and crispy. The fried chicken was close to resembling the double-fried bonchon chickens, which is a plus for me. The crispy sweetbreads were the best thing. Now onto the bad. The duck was overcooked, the scallops were overcooked, the hanger steak and oxtail were overcooked. Not a bad place to eat with friends with a nice selection of mixed drinks.

Absolutely extraordinary food, an experience not just worthy of the holidays but a memorable event.

This is a great spot for brunch and drinks! The bartenders know what they're doing and the waitstaff is friendly and accommodating. NOTE: They require a credit card to hold a reservation and you will be charged if you dont show. Great atmosphere.

Really disappointing lunch today. I had the steak frites; greens were wilted even though hardly dressed. I ordered the steak medium rare--half of the steak was mid-rare and the other half was well done. Because the steak is served in six or eight slices, it seems impossible that the kitchen didn't see the issue. The steak also lacked seasoning. I gave two stars because others at the lunch seemed ok with their orders. Otherwise, it would have been 1.

For a restaurant that is chasing a Michelin star the customer service needs to improve... There are so many great places to eat here in DC! Don't waste your time here.

The atmosphere and the service was excellent at DBGB. I opted for the restaurant week menu. For dinner, I ordered the salmon appetizer, burger entree and chocolate mousse dessert. The salmon was delicious. My burger was okay and the dessert was tasty. My burger patty was very plain. My fiancee ordered the crab spaghetti which was on their regular menu and that entree had more flavors and taste than my burger. I would recommend staying away from the burger and order something else.

We wandered up at 7:20 looking like the exhausted, underdressed tourists-with-tween-children that we were. A wonderfully kind and professional lady in a blazer took us under her wing, guided us to the host stand, and made sure we got a table near the big window, as the patio was full. The kids adored their burgers, we enjoyed our steak and fish, the wine was excellent, and so was the service. It was exactly what we needed after a long day at the museums. Thank you!

This place was outstanding! My friend and I went for restaurant week and I m so glad we were able to try a few different options on the menu. The service was excellent and the food was SO delicious. The presentation of the food was great and I loved the inside of the place. It was quiet, but cute. I m excited to go back!

Booked a table here for a special occasion and they were out of 1 appetizer and 2 entree items we wanted to order, which is a lot, given how small the menu is. Rather than offer apologies, the staff and manager made excuses. We left and had a great meal elsewhere.

Excellent service, amazing food and delicious belinis! Went for brunch with a large group yesterday and had a fantastic time. The space is bright, inviting and smells amazing. Had the Frenchie burger and a coconut ice cream sundae that made my eyes cross on first bite. I will definitely be back!!

One of the best restaurants that I ever dined in. I had the Thai sausage as an appetizer, was told that the chef is from Singapore so he had a good sense of how how to make it and it was very delicious.
Then had the Crab Spaghettilini and it was amazing.
The service was excellent, attentive (my server was Jeremy - 10/10 )
The bar looks good.
I didn t drink alcohol.
Expect to pay $30-$60 per person for food and soda without alcohol.