Convivial — Restaurant in Washington

Updated Review: On a whim we decided to give Convivial a 2nd chance. I am so glad we did. The food was much improved or we just seemed to avoid the things I didn't care for the 1st time around. For dessert we had the celebration cake, it's a good cake with what seems to be some sort of firework on top. That is worth the price of admission right there. They just opened in the neighborhood and they may have some rough days considering the crowd that hangs out across the street, so 4 stars just for that. I'm very happy they opened. I ordered 4 things. An old fashioned, the escargots in a blanket, sardines, and the key lime pie. Let me start with what I liked. The escargots were lovely. They were hot tasty, meaty, little things and the dipping sauce just added to it. The sardines were a slice of a big sardine, not those little things you get in a can, topped with I guess is preserved lemon and a sprig of dill, on top of something like sardine salad and a hot crusty crostini. The key lime was pretty and rich. I was told it is the same thing served at Mintwood. I did not care for the old fashioned. I was told there was a sugar cube in there somewhere but I did not taste any sweetness, nor did I taste a hint of citrus despite there being two big peels in the glass. I drank half of it after giving up hoping (if has happened in other bars) that it will get better. It never got better. The other thing that left me wanting was the bread. Supposedly it was "bread and butter" I just tasted bread, no butter till I asked for it. It was good bread, but needed slightly salted butter. I kept my expectations low because they just opened and they are still figuring things out. I will return again, probably not for an old fashioned, but because they are right across the street from the Giant grocery store I shop at and a few steps away from my church. I'm in the area all the time. I'm sure in a few months they...

Ambiance was great. Saturday night dinner with visitors from out of town, restaurant was full, lively but not too crowded or loud. The restaurant has a very comfortable feel.

Service was perfect. Our waiter stopped in regularly to check on us, brought out orders promptly (thanks kitchen staff), and was patient with indecisive customers with kids!

Food was ... okay. But at this very high price point I was expecting another level. Escargots were good; but it's only butter/garlic/parsley...but they were cooked perfectly. Seven for $17 dollars. Steak and frites...not good. I don't know what cut of meat they use, but mine was laced with grisel and appeared to be a cheaper cut and thoroughly pounded. I say appeared because I couldn't really see it as is was drowned in a very thick, sweet sauce/gravy. I'm not Gordon Ramsey, but the fries appeared to be frozen fries, and many of them were hard/dry, overcooked. Again, for the $38 price, I was expecting more from the dish. The $16 soup a l'oignon was PERFECT...the high point of the entire meal for me. My friend had the mussels, she loved them and they certainly give you a full portion. Great sopping up the juice with excellent, crusty bread.

We had a nice time, with a slightly above average meal, but don't believe I'll be going back. Simply too expensive for...

My expectations (due to Washingtonian Magazine reviews) were never higher for a restaurant, at least recently, than at Convivial. Our meal started reasonably well. The quantity and quality of the soup (Onion) that I had and the various appetizers (Mussels, steamed Leeks) that family members ordered were acceptable, if not impressive. However, nearly all the entrees (Bouillabaisse, Short Rib & Beef Shank, Trout) were astonishingly minimal in size and almost totally lacking in taste. The dessert I had was chock full of candy and most other desserts were similarly disappointing. To top it off, one family member contracted food poisoning, lasting 24 hours, presumably because of eating the under cooked bone marrow as part of the Short Rib entree.

In summation, I have never patronized a more disappointing restaurant AND Convivial was expensive, not reasonably priced according to the Washingtonian Magazine. For the life of me, I do not understand how any restaurant, which serves such inadequate food at exorbitant prices, can receive such high approval ratings. Can any reviewer or food critic provide some degree of insight into why Convivial provides relatively minimal and poor food at very high prices AND still receives such...