BOURBON STEAK — Restaurant in Washington

I would have liked to give this place more stars, but a few hiccups left me no choice, but give them a solid 3.5 stars

We were really exited in celebrating my husband's birthday with our children here. It's the first family trip and celebration in a restaurant since the pandemic.

First, the atmosphere was great and the food would have been perfect if they were not bland, where we were expecting more flavors and too salty in other areas.

We appreciate how family friendly it was! They have kids menu, but I can't recall the age limit. We were warmly greeted and I thought were off on a great note.

The main server was nice and gave recommendations, but only when asked. He did not take initiative so it was a bit odd for us. The assisting servers, on the other hand, were awesome! They were very attentive (ie. Refilling glasses before it ever went empty and paying attention that I was still on sparkling water and great with the kids).

Speaking of sparkling water.... I've never been to a place that up charged it for about 1000%; no exaggeration. It was $11 for a bottle. My husband enjoyed the "marry me honey" drink before the meal and the red wine with the steak.

I have to agree the fries were delicious! It was odd that we were not offered the garlic bread. I wouldn't have known that we could have some until I saw other tables served them and thought it was odd to have a bread plate, but not offered bread. It was only when I asked one of the assisting servers that we were served since bread, which my husband enjoyed. I, on the other hand, found that it wasn't great. I thought the idea was neat, but it was not soft as I thought it would be (like a cinnamon roll).

The table side preparation of the tuna tartare was a nice touch and it looked elegant prior to being mixed. We both felt it was underseasoned and could use a touch of citrus.

I enjoyed the brussel sprouts side. The mushrooms were salty though. We requested the rib eye to be cooked medium rare, but my husband found it more rare than he'd like. The steak was also salty. The kids' meals look good, but the farmer's fruit platter appetizer for the kids looked very plain and lacked finesse. The kids did mention that the Mac and cheese was not as good as how I make it at home. Because it was considered a must try fish, we tried a bit and agreed it was really one note and tasted heavy.

Lastly, when I called to make reservations, I mentioned it was my husband's birthday. Someone called to confirm our reservations and his birthday and said they will make it extra special for him. We weren't expecting much, but not even a candle on the chocolate molten lava cake. We should have tried with the s'mores other Yelpers recommended as the molten lava cake was a disappointment. Not really molten and nothing...

Have you ever had a $350 Bourbon Steak meal in the lobby of Four Seasons Washington DC? Not for the faintest of hearts, and definitely something that should never be on one’s bucket list. Next time you walk into Bourbon Steak, look to your right, you’ll see a resting area that has a few chairs and coffee tables, imagine that is your dining space for your two kids (2 yo and 4 yo) and 2 adults. Have you tried cutting a steak on a wobbly coffee table while trying to ensure that your toddler doesn’t knock plates and glasses off the coffee table with her feet because her booster seat is taller than the table with the food? I doubt it. I wish I could attach a photo of this impromptu picnic setup that, in my opinion, was more appropriate for a shawarma stand at a Christmas market. However, I won’t subject my dear friend and her kids to a public posting. I’ve been coming to Bourbon Steak since the opening in 2009. I know what the lounge is like (sometimes loud), and I stuck around even though the quality of the food dropped significantly in 2021. My friend and her kids come to Four Seasons for breakfast and dinner all the time. It’s the only place in our neighborhood now that serves food between 3pm and 5pm.

It was a Tuesday 3.58pm when we arrived. We saw a table at the back of the lounge, set and available. We made it clear to everyone that we will be done with dinner by 5.30pm because kids had a bedtime. We left that day at 5.32pm. Shelly, the waitress, went out of her way to emphasize that the table was booked back to back. However, no one showed up to claim that table until we left. No, our ordeal didn’t end there. You’d think that the least this “5 star” restaurant could do is to ensure that there is a waiter dedicated to us to somehow make this experience a bit more tolerable. Nope, we were in the boonies aka lobby, without a waiter to wait on us. My friend had to make trips to the bar to ask for more drinks, and then had to carry them back. Did I mention we were paying customers? But, that’s not all, asking for a check was harder than running a marathon. My friend had to call the restaurant from where we sat to ask the hostess to bring us the check after she already asked the management. As I watched her keeping her composure while being blatantly made feel unwelcome, I sat there remembering John Gilbert who was a wonderful GM, who’d go above and beyond for the patrons of the restaurant. John always made a conscious effort to treat everyone equality and with respect. At the end of the meal, I nicely voiced my concerns to a new GM, Eric, and asked Eric if families were actually welcomed at this establishment. I can’t say they are from this...

A TWO‑TIMES TREAT AT BOURBON STEAK – LUNCH & BREAKFAST I recently had the pleasure of visiting Bourbon Steak twice during my stay—first for an indulgent lunch and then returning for breakfast—and both experiences were top-tier.

LUNCH HIGHLIGHTS I opted for the Prime Steak Burger—with aged white cheddar, red wine shallot compote, it was absolutely sensational. The burger was juicy, perfectly cooked, and elevated by that balsamic-y compote. Fans on Yelp are raving: “best burger I’ve had the pleasure of devouring in the District”. Must-try: a side of duck-fat fries served in trio-seasoned spoons—garlic-herb, smoked paprika, spicy ketchup—and each flavor hit the mark. Also, a basket of buttery, sea-salt-topped truffle rolls set the tone before the meal—rich, savory, almost cinnamon-bun textured—definitely a crowd pleaser. Service was what you’d expect from the Four Seasons—attentive and polished. My water glass was kept full, questions were answered thoroughly, and I felt truly taken care of .

BREAKFAST MEMORIES Though Bourbon Steak is better known for dinner and power lunches, dining here for breakfast felt like a private moment in a grand setting. The same elegance carried over to morning service—friendly, unhurried, and thoughtful. It's a calm buffet of savory flavors: think crisp breakfasts, with classic training in presentation and flavor balance.

OVERALL IMPRESSION Atmosphere: Modern and stylish—leather, wood, large windows, and plush seating create a refined yet approachable steakhouse vibe . Cuisine: Classic steakhouse elevated — from sandwiches and burgers to A5 Wagyu and seafood; everything is elevated by thoughtful technique and quality ingredients. Service: Exceptionally consistent—warm, professional, and attentive without being overbearing (exactly what you want from Five‑Star staff).

Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Washington, DC delivers an unforgettable experience—whether it's a solo lunch indulgence, a power business breakfast, or a romantic night out. From the stellar Prime Burger & duck-fat fries to the elegant ambiance and flawless service, it hits every note of a high-caliber steakhouse. I’ll be dreaming of those truffle rolls and comeback-worthy burgers! Would I recommend? Absolutely. Five...