Alero Restaurant Dupont — Restaurant in Washington

This review is based on UberEats. My office wanted to go with Tex-Mex for our meeting and decided to go with Alero. WRONG CHOICE!!! Most people ordered quesadillas, some wanted sour cream, others did not, some wanted extra guac, and others just wanted them how they are normally served. Two ordered wanted to add spinach to their quesadillas. Well one ordered didn't come with any spinach and the other came with raw spinach on the side. WHAT!?!?!?! What logical sense would have you put raw spinach on the side when spinach quesadillas is an actual menu item?!?! Then that order requested no sour cream or pico, but add extra guac. Instead it came with sour cream and nothing else??? There was a salad ordered and we asked for extra dressing on the side, instead the salad came with NO dressing. My co-workers also said the sour cream tasted like ranch dressing??? I contacted the restaurant to speak with them about the mistakes with our order, they were unapologetic and tried to make it seem like they couldn't see the special requests. However, they contradicted themselves by saying they saw that we requested no dressing. They also got some of the orders correct with the sides so how is it you can't see the special requests? LIES!!!! Instead of them correcting the issue, they made effort in taking responsibility for the mistakes. Where is the customer service?!?! A good restaurant would offer to send the correct food, at least attempt to rectify the problem. Nope, not Alero! Since they were no help, I contacted Uber and explained the situation. Well Uber's solution was to give us a $5 credit. No offer to contact Alero on our behalf, no offer to maybe offer a larger credit/refund on a $115 order. Just a $5 credit and a sorry. Well I have given them my feedback via the Uber app and am writing this review. If you want you food done correctly or great customer service, don't order from here....

I recently had the pleasure of dining ALERO and it completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by the warm, inviting atmosphere: colorful papel picado banners draped overhead, soft Latin guitar in the background, and comfortable, rustic wooden tables that felt both festive and cozy.

Food: Every dish we tried was bursting with authentic Mexican flavor. The guacamole arrived tableside, perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of lime and cilantro; the chips were warm, crisp, and addictive. For our main course, the carne asada tacos featured tender, marinated skirt steak, topped with pickled onions and a drizzle of smoky chipotle salsa—simple, yet unforgettable. My companion’s chile relleno was equally impressive: a poblano pepper stuffed with creamy cheese, fried to golden perfection, and bathed in a delicate tomato-garlic sauce.

Drinks: margaritas are not to be missed. They offer both classic and creative twists—my favorite was the house-special hibiscus margarita, tangy and floral, rimmed with a hint of chili salt. They also have an excellent selection of tequilas and mezcals for sipping, each pour served with thick sea-salt-coated lime wedges.

Service: Our server,she , was attentive without being intrusive—she happily guided us through the menu, recommended dishes to suit our tastes, and checked in regularly to refresh our aguas frescas. The kitchen even accommodated a last-minute gluten-free request with a smile.

Value & Final Thoughts: Portion sizes are generous, and prices are very fair for the quality and authenticity you get. Whether you’re looking for a casual night out or a small celebration, I can’t wait to go back and explore more dishes—highly...

First-time visit, found it pretty and festively decorated, pleasant inside. Server was attentive, young man was inexperienced/clumsy, but that's ok - not his fault, much more importantly he was very nice/helpful. Bartender was snotty with a holier-than-thou attitude. Pitcher of margaritas was so watered-down and tasteless, could barely tell what it was - worst ever :( (Go to La Vida's upstairs bar on the Wharf instead.) Salsa - bland, tasted as if from a jar. Guacamole not bad, just also bland, but way overpriced - like everything else on the menu. Enchiladas - good. Carne asada-he asked how I wanted it cooked, came very well done after requesting med. Meat extremely tough, hard to chew. Beans also very bland... noticing a trend here.. Total bill for two presented without any itemized list of order - had to specifically request this (!) Proper bill appeared with an 18% gratuity already included in price. For two ppl? No. Unsat. Went to sign the total bill ($143) shown on device, which then immediately asked, "Do you want to leave a tip? 18% 20% 25% Custom" This after you already added the substantial tip on our bill but neglected to inform us? Just shady. Highly unsat. This was the kicker after substandard food and drink already proved enough to make the decision to avoid Alero again. Better chefs, but more importantly, an owner who values integrity are much needed here. Go...