Opal — Restaurant in Washington

Opal, a true gem in the Washington, DC brunch scene, is a must-try. With its warm and friendly service and inviting atmosphere that perfectly blends modern elegance with cozy charm, Opal stands out from the dry, boring, and bland brunch options that have become the norm. From the moment we stepped inside, we were enveloped in a welcoming ambiance that made us feel right at home.

The menu is concise yet thoughtful, offering a variety of dishes to cater to both sweet and savory palates. The $35 three-course meal seemed like a great deal, so each of us decided to go with it.

I started with the Shrimp, a delightful twist on shrimp and grits. The shrimp was perched atop one of the creamiest polenta I’ve ever had, accompanied by green tomato gremolata and cherry tomatoes. It was the perfect size to begin, and even though it was simple, it was incredibly delicious!

My dining companions all opted for the banana pancakes. They couldn’t stop raving about them, saying they would have licked their plates clean if they could have. Not a single pancake was left on the plate. Fluffy, light, and lightly topped with walnuts and a creamy, fresh banana, they were simply heavenly.

The main courses arrived about 5-10 minutes after we finished our starters. Two of my companions chose the breakfast sandwich, while the other opted for the omelet. All three were thoroughly satisfied with their selections.

The only minor feedback came from my husband, who noted that given the size of the sandwich, he thought it could have used just one more strip of bacon. The omelet was beautifully presented, light, fluffy, and bursting with flavor. It had the perfect balance of vegetables and cheese.

The server recommended the kale risotto which I had already been eyeing so I went with that, and it was absolutely amazing! The goat cheese risotto was just as creamy as the polenta I had with my starter. The parmesan crisp was snappy and thin, while the kale was lightly sautéed and sitting atop the blissfully sweet, caramelized onions.

We appreciated that they offered just three dessert options, one of which we chose was the tiramisu. It was beautifully presented and served tableside. Three of us opted for the dark chocolate fudge brownie after the server informed us that it would be served with cherries instead of the peaches noted on the menu. We quickly gave them feedback, suggesting they keep the cherries! It was absolutely wonderful. Served warm with a scoop of macerated dark cherries and mascarpone whipped cream, it was a brilliant dessert.

We decided to add on the $17 bottomless cocktails. We were delighted to see that they offered a variety of options beyond the usual suspects like the bloody mary and mimosa. Their bloody mary was particularly impressive—simple, appropriately thin, and perfectly balanced. It was delicious! The sangria and seasonal mimosa were equally enjoyable.

The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. They made sure our water glasses were always full and that we had everything we needed without being intrusive. The pacing of the meal was spot-on—we had enough time to savor each dish without feeling rushed. Our server was also training a new team member that day, and they both did an excellent job.

I was thoroughly impressed with Opal. Brunch is often seen as a low-priority meal, but Opal stands out as a true gem. They reject the approach of treating brunch like a standard routine, churning out the same dishes from a boring menu. Instead, Opal offers a thoughtful and carefully crafted menu that showcases their culinary skills.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a relaxed weekend brunch, Opal provides an exceptional experience. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their incredible menu....

We returned to opal yesterday evening and it was a disappointment. Gone is the fire baked pita with Zaatar. Instead, for $8 you get a commercial large bun that is heated in in the fire oven. One of the staff explained the switch - making the pita was too complicated and demanded great attention. The current menu also include tasteless carrots, and cod swimming in overpowering thick tomato sauce. Fresh fish cooked properly needs only lemon and a bit of olive oil. Thick sauces kill the delicate taste of fresh fish. Also gone is the former Serbia born manager who made sure every customer was pleased with their food. My initial review of Opal was one week after it opened and while I gave it a fair rating , upon reflection, I believe I should have waited until the restaurant attained its groove. I was delighted to return to one of the best restaurants in the DMV area. Last night, my wife and I had a delicious dinner at Opal. We started with a wonderful focaccia dipped in ajvar, a delightful Serbian specialty. For an appetizer we shared a large plate of ricotta dumplings that were light , tasty and accompanied by a light sauce. For our main courses we chose the trout which was expertly prepared along with a citrus sauce. The whole fish was boneless, moist, and rested on a bed of mashed potatoes. My wife enjoyed a large plate of clams with house made pasta. A side dish of mushrooms was a good choice for our main courses. After all of the above food we were quite full but decided to try the key-lime pie and the tiramisu. Both were delightful. The Service was very good and the Serbian born general manager, keeps a watchful eye on the guests and makes sure that everyone is enjoying their meal. Opal is a great restaurant and a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. Reservations is a must as it has become quite a popular place and...

Atmospheric--with a great bread and honey butter appetizer!--but a bit of an underwhelming menu at higher-end prices.

Came by for dinner with a friend and we got the above-mentioned bread and honey/butter mix appetizer ($8), the Wood-Fired Oysters ($22), the Roasted Squash ($15), the Wood-Fired Chicken ($28), and the King Farm Mushrooms ($15).

The only thing either of us raved about was the bread which, unfortunately enough, was the cheapest item on the menu. The honey/butter spread was so tasty, we almost got another order to go.

Everything else, though good and satisfying, was underwhelming and a bit of a disconnect in both quality and pricing. The chicken, for example, at $28, was roasted chicken breast, wing, and leg, plus brussels sprouts and... to be honest--and this is just my opinion--I felt it was possible to replicate the same or similar dish at home at equal quality or tastier for cheaper. It's possible both my friend and I are unrefined in our palettes, but we both usually cook at home, and were left underwhelmed at the flavor/texture/spices quality and overwhelmed at the hefty price tag of each dish.

The Oysters, Mushrooms, and Squash dishes, too, were good but not great, especially given the prices of the items. The Oysters also came drizzled with an orange sauce that neither of us thought paired especially well with the flavor of, well, oysters. It was still good, but again, not wonderful.

Overall, we found that, though the wait service was attentive, the place was hopping (two floors), and the atmosphere was dim and intimate... we were left with a suspicion that we'd probably politely decline a return to this place in the near future.

Clean enough establishment with an eye-catching menu... but not for us,...