The Dabney

The atmosphere and the service was great. It was very cozy and the fire in the kitchen made it seem like we were in an old farm house. The food was ok at best, I will go back for the atmosphere but hoping it will be a different menu.

The Dabney is the whole package. On my visit, everything from the food to the service to the lighting and the temperature of the dining room was perfect. I love their concept of small plates as it allowed us to sample a wide variety of dishes. By far, the gem of the evening was the blue crab... The flavor and delicate texture are almost indescribable in their perfection. The pacing of the dishes was excellent, and the waitstaff were extremely attentive and solicitous. Of course, the food was the main event, but I was pleasantly surprised that I couldn't find a single thing to critique about this place. Bathrooms? Spotless. Music? Tasteful and not too loud. Lighting? Romantic but not too dark. Decor? Impecable (and seasonal). Temperature? Ideal (I'm usually too cold at restaurants, but I was actually able to send my coat to coat check here and I didn't miss it one bit!)

Make reservations ASAP. This is an amazing experience. The menu changes each night, all small plate items each with their own unique flavors. Service was spot on, situated in an alley that once served access to carriages of DC elites. The food is prepared over wood ambers allowing the chefs to delicately cook each item.

This place was good. Just not great for me. The catfish slider was amazing that night. The service was excellent. I've just had a lot of different really good food, and therefore I'm pretty picky.

My wife and I came here for our 8 year anniversary. She is a professional chef and we have eaten at Michelin star restaurants all around the world.

This was the absolute best dining experience of our lives. It was probably the most helpful staff ever. The service was impeccable and the food was perfect. The chef sent over multiple dishes for us to try and made the evening unforgettable.

I look forward to when they get more stars. I cannot rave about this place enough. This is worth traveling far to eat here.