a.kitchen+bar - D.C. — Restaurant in Washington

A Cozy Culinary Escape in DC – A Must-Try a kitchen + bar

Tucked away in the heart of DC, a kitchen + bar is the kind of spot that instantly makes you feel at ease. The warm, inviting space—dim lighting, cozy booths, and just the right number of plants—creates the perfect backdrop for an evening that feels both intimate and effortlessly cool.

Now, let’s talk food.

We kicked things off with a spread of starters that instantly set the tone for the meal. First up, the buttermilk biscuits—flaky, golden perfection. But the real star? The hotel butter they’re served with. Silky, rich, and impossibly smooth, it was so good I found myself rationing every bite just to make it last longer. Then came the chickpea panisse, which brought a crisp exterior and creamy center, making for an unexpectedly addictive bite. The crispy oyster mushrooms were just as impressive—meaty, crunchy, and packed with bold umami flavor that made them a standout.

Then there was the ricotta toast—something I’d normally skip in favor of something more adventurous. But this? This changed my mind. Creamy, whipped ricotta layered on thick, perfectly toasted bread, topped with just the right balance of sweet and savory elements. It was delicate yet flavorful, and honestly, one of the biggest surprises of the night.

For entrées, we went with the potato gnocchi and the lamb shoulder—two completely different dishes that both delivered in their own way. The gnocchi was like eating clouds, impossibly soft and pillowy, melting in your mouth with every bite. Meanwhile, the lamb? Pure silk. Slow-cooked to that perfect, fall-apart texture, with rich, deep flavor that made every forkful feel indulgent.

To wrap it all up, the hibiscus and black tea panna cotta was the kind of dessert that sneaks up on you. Light, floral, and just the right amount of sweet—refreshing enough to make you feel like you needed one more bite, even after a full meal.

This place isn’t just about good food—it’s about the whole experience. From the warm, calming atmosphere to the carefully crafted dishes, every part of the meal felt intentional. Whether you’re looking for a casual date night spot or just want to treat yourself to a great meal, this one’s definitely...

Attended the event-A.BBQ SERIES with Kevin Tien of Moon Rabbit-on a pleasant, cool Wednesday night.  We were greeted immediately by a cheerful, attentive hostess who escorted us to our seating on the outdoor terrace.  Rain didn’t stop the show thanks to the high-tech, retractable canopy that was instantaneously activated by the drizzle. Additionally, there were mounted heaters which added a nice touch of warmth.  There were smooth sounds of energetic, danceable melodies of the 70s and 80s being spun by the resident DJ (shout out to DJ Laura Lopez)-defintely a cool vibe.

Our server was welcoming, while going over the menu.  There were unique, tasty signature cocktails to choose from the specialized drink menu-we opted for a bottle of bubbles.  For starters, we ordered the tomato provencal with crispy shallots, Thai basil, and jalapeño and the cornbread topped with bluefish, trout roe, and a dollop of sour cream.  With the chef and the patio grill adjacent from our table, the grilled tamarind prawns with spicy green curry and fry bread was a necessity, along with the marinated skirt steak with papaya salad.

It was a bit busy on the terrace and in the main dining room and slight mixup-initially, we received the peach salad in lieu of the cornbread.  The peach salad was slightly busy in appearance yet savory with a burst of flavors.  Shortly after, the cornbread was delivered to our table followed with the grilled prawns.  Unfortunately, we didn’t receive the skirt steak; however, one of the chefs and one of the hostesses checked in with us with the interest of making amends.  The star of the night was our dessert-profiteroles with rich coffee ice cream- this surely made up for the confusion- yummy.  There is the final event later this month-will definitely check it out-bye for now :)

Food 5/5 A unique culinary experience; a harmonious use of distinctive flavors, spices, herbs, and fresh ingredients, offering a wide range of textures

Atmosphere 5/5 cool vibes set by the live dj; made to order courses from the patio grill

Service 3/5 this is fourth or fifth event of its...

I was here for restaurant week with my boyfriend for a brunch date. I had made a reservation and were seated quickly. Once seated, it took about 15 minutes for a server to attend to us (we were seated slightly away from the other tables) and we had to ask for water. It took us another 20 minutes to get the drip coffee we ordered, and even longer for our first course. We had been sitting in the restaurant for over an hour before we received our second/main course. My food was great with no complaints, however my boyfriend's burger had a few issues: medium well (rather than medium rare) and the fries were cold. At this point, I was worried that the sorbet I ordered for dessert would arrive melted. Luckily, it wasn't melted! But I didn't get a spoon. When I got a spoon (before it could melt), I immediately asked for the check so we wouldn't have to wait an additional half hour for it (it took 10 minutes to receive the check). Overall, the food was great and the servers are very nice when they attend to us, however, they just weren't attending to us as much as other tables. There were only 12 tables seated at a time (max. There were probably less most of the time). Some tables that were seated after us were checked on multiple times while we were trying to get a server's attention to remove our plates for the next course. We also noticed other tables getting served the wrong menu items, so maybe it was just a bad day where people were off their A game. Restaurant week has a set menu to avoid long waits and confusion so people can get a great first impression of the restaurant. Throughout the brunch, we were tempted on paying for our food and walking over to Tatte to eat in a more fast paced setting since we had places to be after our meal. I would hate to see how slow this restaurant is on an actually...