The Dabney

The Dabney

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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Dabney
Review
At a glance
Closed now
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About
1 MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
The Dabney exudes charming, contemporary farmhouse vibes with its exposed brick, light walls, and dark wood, and the look is completed by a slickly arranged open kitchen complete with a wood-fired hearth. Chef/owner Jeremiah Langhorne serves up the flavors of the Mid-Atlantic with a hint of a Southern accent and the tasting menu is a deeper, more committed expression of the team's talents. Begin with bite-sized snacks including their pie crust tart with pickled blueberries, granola crumble, and cheese fondue or their Madeira compressed melon. Then, hearth-roasted vegetables are served over a bed of farro salad with whipped ricotta, herbs from their rooftop garden, and finished with a pour of a basil sauce. American wagyu cap grilled over coals is accompanied by eggplant prepared three ways for a perfectly satisfying main dish.
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
Features
CUISINES
American
Meal types
Dinner
Special Diets
Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Full Bar
Outdoor Seating
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Can a vegetarian person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Save this restaurant
Closed now
• Opens at 5:30 PM
Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Thursday
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Friday
5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles314 reviews
Excellent
221
Very good
55
Average
22
Poor
9
Terrible
7

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Ls8989
Atlanta66 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • family
The Dabney is one of a kind and we're happy we dined there. Having said that, I'm not sure any restaurant is worth $250 pp (before tip) but that could be because I'm just not used to spending that much. I love tasting menus and that is what The Dabney offers. The service was perfect. I had one of the best cocktails of my life - Called Man on a Wire. The food was wonderful except for one sausage course (but then I'm not a big sausage fan). The restaurant is a bit hidden so it was wierd for us to walk around a dark parking lot and down a little alley. Could be our Uber driver just didn't know where to let us out.
Written January 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bobby980
Washington DC197 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • couples
I would like to think we all like to spoil our significant others for their Birthdays-I took my wife to dinner at The Dabney and we were amazed by the 8 course dinner and classic wine pairing. Every single employee was helpful from the moment we walked in the door. They were on top of their game and made this experience hard to beat in the “best restaurant meal/experiences” we have had to date or will have in the future. The Manager on Duty was extremely helpful in discussing the food and wine, the kitchen staff were exceptional, numerous servers took care of us-my receipt says Nicolette was “ours”. I can’t say enough for this place and how much I enjoyed their dedication to sourcing the best ingredients and trying to keep the farms and purveyors within a small radius of the restaurant. My favorite item on the dinner was the course of the “sugar toads”-iykyk. Thanks again Dabney Crew!!
Written March 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dana Z
Westover148 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • couples
We were so excited to get a reservation at The Dabney. We were seated just a table from the counter where the chef worked and it was perfect. The night we went the focus was on a local pork farmer and seasonal crab. Each course was delicious. I could have done without the scrapple course but that is a personal preference. The staff was all kind and knowledgeable. We will defiantly return. The sommelier was so knowledgeable and listened to what we liked and picked wonderful choice for each of us. We will return!
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cruiser37126497536
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • couples
We booked at the earliest, 3 weeks before our trip, specifying a severe celery allergy. The evening before our arrival having confirmed this, the restaurant informed us that all their dishes contained celery, without considering any alternative offered. The night before!!! What contempt for the customer! They should have informed us at the initial booking so that we could consider another choice. Total disregard for the customer when a food allergy can be fatal and we are talking about a meal billed at $195... shocking.
Google
Written June 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DCtraveler427
139 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • couples
My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary at The Dabney. Unfortunately, we found it to be a very disappointing experience. The level of cooking was variable. While there were some excellent dishes (or parts of dishes), most were just good and some were quite lacking. In addition, the sauces were redundant, with beets and rhubarb appearing in two or three dishes each (one of which was a snack). The beet sauce on the foie gras was too sweet, though the foie gras stood up to it. The wagyu small plate also stood up to the sauce, but it completely overpowered the sweetbreads which were over-cooked and tough. I tasted that dish, left it otherwise uneaten, and interestingly no server thought to ask about that. (I have eaten sweetbreads before and loved them.) The sliced duck was excellent and the duck confit was terrific; I wish the serving of the confit had been larger than a square inch. The duck legs, however, were covered with another overly sweet sauce, this time rhubarb. I attempted to scrape it off but ultimately wiped it off with the washcloth provided. Underneath the sauce, the legs were overdone, dry and tasteless. The refresher course was nice, but, again, rhubarb. The sorghum cake with apple butter was, frankly, awful. It was heavy and the sorghum totally overpowered any apple butter flavor. In addition, the tempo of the meal was very dragged out. The 4 snacks, while considered one course, are presented individually, roughly 10-15 minutes apart (I didn't time this; it is an estimate). That means that for approximately 40 minutes, we were drinking wine with only 4 bites of food, as no bread is served. It would be better to present all 4 together, both for timing and also for comfort. We were in the restaurant for 2 hours and 45 minutes and frankly we were glad to leave. This was not a festive experience. That brings me to value. This was a big anniversary for us, our 45th. We were aware of the cost and we were fully prepared to spend it. However, we weren't prepared for a meal that cost $850 ($185 for a mediocre wine that was among the less expensive on the list!) to be less than exceptional. This was not even close to exceptional. The dishes were inconsistent and in my opinion the repetition of ingredients represents a failure of imagination. That there are so many other restaurants in DC that routinely serve exceptional food, are more enjoyable and cost significantly less makes this experience that much more jarring.
Written April 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AnnisquamAdventurer
Gloucester180 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • couples
The Dabney thinks too highly of itself. We’re not as price sensitive as we should be, but our recent dinner for two, with tip, was over $450. That did include a couple drinks (modest pours) and a delicious 2018 Pattes Loup Chablis ($120, about 3X the average retail price), but very modest decor, no white table cloths, and rather mechanical service. The open kitchen with large wood-fired grilling is impressive and produced the high point of the evening: “Ember Roasted Carrots (poached in apple cider, we were told), Ricotta, Smoked Honey and Chili Crunch”. If only, the music continued. But, unfortunately, the $95 prix fixe entrees disappointed. The “Golden Tilefish” lacked a voice and the “Grilled Amish Chicken” would have disappointed the Amish. The daily typeset menu is impressive and wonderful in hand. Unfortunately, we won’t be holding it again.
Written May 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Scott W
Richmond60 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • none
My first time at a Michelin star restaurant and it exceeded my expectations. It started with a table right next to the kitchen, where we could see all the chefs at work. My wife, who worked in restaurants for a long time, said it was rare to see a kitchen where everyone seemed like they got along and were having fun. The chef's table menu was terrific. Highlights for me were the sweet potato rolls, duck confit popsicle, and the fluke. The waiter told us great stories like how meticulously the chefs make sure the crabmeat has no shells in it. The wine pairings were very thoughtfully done (and really good). It's in a charming little alley in DC. What's not to love?
Written November 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DCReviewer
Washington DC10 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • none
I am just glad that I didn't pay. My friends took me here because they lost a bet. It is a fine dining like restaurant with below average quality. The ambience is the only good think I guess. Do not order steak or any dish made with beef or you will be very disappointed.
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BadgerPam
Madison194 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • none
Thoroughly enjoyed the ambience, the friendly service, the inventive and delicious food, and the open kitchen concept. All three of us loved everything we were served, particularly the chestnut soup (snack), blue crab, the rock fish, the heritage chicken, and the bourbon brown butter ice cream. Our table was right next to the kitchen and it was so fun watching the food preparation over the wood fire.
Written November 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LivDaley
Brooklyn427 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • solo
A friend who lives in the greater DC area recommended it back some time. It's in a cute area over near Howard University, about a 10minute walk from the metro. It had a smart upper-middle class hip vibe. I was alone but I think it would be a good place for a comfortable date. I had the 3 course pre-fix at the bar on a Friday night for $120. It was a little loud and the bartender was a little fast while the server was a little slow. The ham crisp amuse bouche and the sausage with ramps and mustard were great. The strawberry short cake like rhubarb dessert was excellent. (And I don't even like strawberry nor rhubarb.) Yea, I'd go back in a heart beat when in DC again.
Written May 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Franco
4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021 • couples
Food and drinks were very good. The ambiance was a 1 however. Most of the staff were friendly. A few were super frigid. You go to these places for the full experience and unfortunately this place failed to deliver on that front. They took covid awareness to a different level. Just to note we are very conciousness of this ourselves and take every precaution. Every time a server came around you had to mask up. In fact we were told at seating that while we are not drinking or eating we should mask up while sitting at the table. You literally have to keep.your mask on one hand all night. After a while it really got out of hand when you are on a 5 meal course. They said that was DC rules which I think was exaggerated. In the past weeks we had visited Bresca, Nobu and Blue Duck and we didn't experience the same policy. They should advertise their policy and let people know ahead of time of this when making reservations. It may seem like a small thing. But trust me when I say it was honestly annoying. Make sure to take a disposable mask otherwise you'll smell your dinner for a long time as many times we masked up. I don't think we ll go back again, perhaps when covid is all done with we'll give it another try .
Written February 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anthony B
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • couples
Unfortunately we were not able to experience dining at the Dabney due to the sudden passing of my father at Christmas. We cancelled the reservation within 48 hours notice as we needed to cancel our trip and head back home to be with my family. When we followed up with the Dabney regarding the credit card charge, we were told that the charge was non-refundable regardless of the traumatic circumstances. It is obviously very disappointing that the Dabney is so inflexible and lacks even the most basic level of empathy. Needless to say, while we visit DC several times a year, we will not be rebooking with an establishment that is this cold and unfeeling!
Written January 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Younga87
Laurel11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022 • couples
We made a reservation for Valentine’s Day weekend. There was a special 6-course prefix menu so we could enjoy the atmosphere instead of staring at the menu. The wine pairing with each course was unique and fantastic. we were seated right in front of the hearth, the flames were blazing and the occasional breeze of hot air felt comforting for a night in February. The service was impeccable. I would definitely recommend The Dabney to anyone looking for high quality dining experience in a comfortable atmosphere.
Written March 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Voyage403940
Vallmanya2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • none
If you want to experience flavours that are sourced from seasonal and organic farms, cooked by chefs who temper heat from hot coals, the Dabney delivers this and more. The staff are so passionate and demonstrate this when they explain how the meals are prepared and where the ingredients are sources. One price for 4 dishes , great value for the quality of meals you have. All dishes were delicious.
Written April 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sabrina A
Washington DC97 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • friends
Another great visit to the Dabney last night, this time as a drop in. Was pleasantly surprised we could be accommodated in their bar and still share a fantastic meal via the ala carte menu. Each course was creative, fresh and involved a wonderful mix of flavors. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Amazing recommendation on an Italian White blend I hadn’t tried before. Don’t pass up a chance to have a meal here!
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Washington DC's Downtown neighborhood is a symphony of culture, cuisine, and history. Iconic landmarks like the White House, the National Museum of American History, and the International Spy Museum offer deep dives into the country's past and present. For food lovers, the area is a paradise with a variety of dining options ranging from upscale establishments like José Andrés' Minibar to casual eateries like Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. The neighborhood is well-served by the Metrorail system, making it easy to explore the wider city. Downtown's blend of striking architecture, rich cultural offerings, and exciting culinary scene creates an ambiance that is both intriguing and enjoyable.
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THE DABNEY, Washington DC - 1222 9th St Nw, Downtown - Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

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