Surreal Global Kitchen — Restaurant in Washington

Another home run by the SRG, we enjoyed all aspects of our dining experience, even if there is a little room for improvement on the service side.

We waited about 10 mins for our table, and by the time we sat down we were ready to order drinks and appetizers. Unfortunately, neither of those arrived for about 35 mins. And the subsequent main courses were rushed. Coupled with our server disappearing for long stretches, there is definitely some optimization on seating service, pacing of the overall meal, and attentiveness of the server as well, though he was quite friendly and knowledgeable.

As for the food, it was impeccable. We loved everything we tried from start to finish.

The Caramelized Waldorf Salad (Whipped waldorf dressing, caramelized walnuts, shaved celery) was simple but tasty, a great palate cleanser.

The Bucatini Alfredo (Artisanal italian pasta, house made alfredo sauce) was excellent as well, the hand crafted freshness showed for both the pasta and sauce, and the bucatini was cooked perfectly al dente.

Swordfish Carpaccio (Thinly sliced house cured swordfish loin, flaming hot totopos, radishes, spicy sauce, olives, lemon, flowers) was so beautiful, it was almost a shame to eat but wow, I'm glad I did. Just perfect, so hard to describe all the flavors and textures in each bite, must be experienced.

The Footlong Boomdog (Bacon wrapped beef sausage, crispy garlic, oaxaca cheese, cabbage relish, house-made pink mayo) is big enough to share as an appetizer by 4 and packed with flavor. The hearty sausage is accented perfectly by the garlic and relish flavors. Delish.

Spicy Beef Saigon with Pineapple (Slaw, serrano pepper mayonnaise, roast beef, garlic-sriracha soy glaze, homemade baguette, fries) was a perfect spin on a Banh Mi, with tender roast beef celebrated with spicy and creamy sauces.

The Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Potato bun, cauliflower and cucumber pickles, iceberg lettuce, spicy purple cabbage jam, goat cheese cream, honey butter) was an equally compelling sandwich with so many creative accents, divine flavor for a chicken sandwich.

Cocktails were excellent, as creative and well presented as the food.

We were too full for dessert, so next time..

Decor is... Surreal. Another gem in terms of...

I recently visited Surreal and had an overall enjoyable dining experience. The service was excellent from start to finish. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed, which really enhanced the overall experience.

The restaurant itself is small, and the seating is a bit tight. If you're seated next to someone, you can easily overhear their conversation, so it’s not the most private atmosphere. That being said, the ambiance still has its charm, with the decor standing out as one of the highlights of the evening. I especially loved the cloud lights — they created a dreamy, whimsical atmosphere that added a touch of uniqueness to the space. It was the kind of decor that perfectly matched the restaurant’s name, making the setting feel special.

As for the food, there were some definite hits and misses. The crispy oysters were absolutely delicious and a great start to the meal. The tuna poke, however, wasn’t to my taste. I felt the tuna could’ve been better if it was smoked, but that's just my personal preference. The causa fritas tasted okay, though it wasn’t particularly memorable.

The steak a la parilla was the star of the show. It was cooked perfectly, tender, and full of flavor. My only suggestion would be to offer some Worcestershire or steak sauce as an optional addition — I think it would take the dish to the next level for those who enjoy a little extra kick.

For dessert, the pineapple cake was exceptional — definitely top-tier. It was the perfect sweet ending to a lovely meal.

One minor issue I did notice was with the bathroom. While it was clean and well-maintained, there was a broken glass near the handle on one of the stalls. This could be a potential safety hazard, so I hope the management addresses it soon.

Overall, Surreal offers a solid dining experience with great service, unique decor, and some standout dishes. The close seating might not be ideal for everyone, but if you’re looking for a cozy spot with a bit of charm and delicious food, it’s definitely...

I went here for dinner after hearing great things about the place. I wish that had been my experience but it wasn't. While I appreciate the "avant-garde theme" the practicality of what that actually looks like felt really disconnected.

The biggest disconnect for me was being given only a drink menu upon being seated. It felt like a failure for them to provide the most basic service. Their "motto" is they want people to order drinks before ordering food. However, I was starving and I couldn't make a decision on what alcoholic beverage to drink until I knew what I could snack on (because I do not drink on an empty stomach).

My partner ordered a martini. I had water. They lost out on me ordering a drink because they wouldn't give me a food menu. Had I seen food options I may have ordered something. My partner's vodka martini arrived in a tiny aperitif glass rather than a martini glass which I thought was really tacky.

Over-all I found the menu to be complicated and difficult to follow. It was again that "avant garden theme" of someone trying to be really on theme, barely giving the customer information as to what they were describing for an entree. When I order a salad I want an accurate description of what it is I'm getting, not to read a poetic version of what I'm eating. Because I have food sensitivities.

So instead we just ordered guacamole and chips (because I could understand what that was) and I will say the guacamole was really good. The chips however were absolutely disgusting. They were so thick that they hurt my teeth when I bit into them. They tasted like cardboard.

After that we got the check and left. I couldn't imagine trying to guess what their other food was like. I was annoyed for the entire experience. I think creatively they have maybe a good theme but they do not understand or care how disruptive the "avant-garde" theme is on the practicality of what a...