I visited Fancy Radish mid September when I discovered it was the only vegan restaurant in the DC area on the Michelin app, and I'm really sad to hear that this restaurant is permanently closed. I won't be posting a full review as this restaurant is already closed, but leaving this review in hopes that those who work there see this as a post of appreciation for our amazing meal and service. The staff were honestly great and part of what made the experience! We dined comfortably and there was such a cozy vibe. My meat centric friend also really enjoyed our meal and had high compliments for how they could turn vegetables so tasty!
Hannah H.
Fancy Radish is described as a 'modern vegetable restaurant' and has been around since '18.We came to try them out for dinner, and it was not to worry what kind of 'meat protein' was in each of the dishes!We tried literally each of the menu items - HAHA!+Fancy Radishes - yuzu avocado, smoked tamari, and nori - these were just sliced radishes, dressed in sauces; these were passable+Pastrami Carrot Salad - sauerkraut puree, smoked mustard, and pumpernickel soil; spices used were definitely reminding one of eating a pastrami, but in carrot form+Rutabaga Fondue - soft pretzels and house pickles+Heirloom Tomato Toast - basil goddess, crispy shiitake, and micro salad mix+Grilled Corn Salad - with gochujang mayo, napa cabbage, pickled daikon, and sesame+Peruvian Potatoes - with aji amarillo, cilantro, peanut, cured olives, and cilantro; these were okay, but we weren't fans of the olives+Grilled Avocado - curtido, smoked tomato salsa, cilantro crema, and pepitas+Miso Butter Noodles - with zucchini, ginger, and shaved almonds+Spicy Dan Dan Noodles - red chile sesame sauce, Sichuan peppercorn, five-spice glazed mushrooms; while these had a kick, they were not as savory as I expected as it was bland; the noodles were also a bit mushy as they were overcooked+Chermoula Grilled Tofu - warm black lentils, Calabrian chili, and tomato olive salad; the tofu were a bit overcooked; the black lentils were okayService was friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is cute and cozy, with scattered light fixtures and cute paintings on the walls.+vegetable-centered restaurant+friendly service
Song C.
In town visiting bestie who is a vegan for dinner and this place did not disspoint. Sad that they will be closing after today.
Aditi K.
amazing! i am so sad this place is closing!i made a last minute reservation when i heard this place was going to close and only got a table at 5:15! it was early for me but obviously i understand why it was swamped. our service was still really fast!my friend and i split each of the plates, and i got a cocktail while she got a mocktail. i didn't love my drink - i didn't taste anything but alcohol for most of the drink, and only got the dregs of watermelon juice at the end. my friend's mocktail was well received.the food was amazing!! the portion sizes were not super large, but everything was incredibly delicious. the gochujang mayo on the salad was incredible, and the noodles were actually spicy! the dessert was also amazing - i loved the fudge bar and the earl grey-esque lavender ice cream.the place was quite pricey, so i understand why people may not have wanted to consistently spend this much on such small plates, but i definitely would have returned for special occasions. fancy radish you will be missed!
Jay C.
In town for the weekend to visit fam, and the cousin found Fancy Radish just a short 6 min ride/15 min walk from Union Station. The one-page menu is inspired by a mix of Latin American and Asian flavors, e.g., grilled corn salad with gojuchang mayo. The dishes use a lot of fresh, seasonal ingredients and keeps it interesting with pops of spice. Here's a full meal breakdown: - Rutabaga fondue- Grilled corn salad- Grilled avocado (group favorite)- Miso butter noodles - Spicy dan dan noodles - Chermoula grilled tofuOne of the best vegan restaurants in DC. Unfortunately, they are closing (on 9/23). The staff were informed just three days prior. What a shame, as the staff was just lovely; you really couldn't ask for better. And the food was fantastic. I hope Fancy Radish gets a second chance. It deserves it.
Emily S.
It is getting harder to rate places 5 stars these days. Fancy Radish came so close, but some items were priced a little too high imo, and the service was good but not stellar. To start, the host put us at a bad table despite us having a reservation and better tables being available, but did change it when he saw my hesitation.A++ for concept, though. The world needs more serious vegan restaurants with a genuinely thoughtful sit-down experience, not just for vegans, but to create palatable vegan options for meat eaters so they can enjoy exploring vegan food, to offer more variety for vegetarians and pescatarians, and just to reduce meat consumption overall given how bad it is for the climate and animal welfare. I like that Fancy Radish offers a legitimately good, well-rounded dining experience, putting thought into ambiance and cocktails etc. instead of just leaning on the novelty of the food.I also like that Fancy Radish values the vegetables themselves, offering creative and unexpected preparations, instead of just slapping down some baked tofu or seitan.I found that the ambiance was an extremely important part of our experience here, as that is what sets Fancy Radish apart from other vegan and vegetarian places, which always seem to lean fast-casual or crunchy granola. The lighting and light fixtures were notable, which feels like a weird thing to say about a restaurant, but they made a difference. Lighting was low and sexy, the fixtures were interesting, eye-catching and thoughtfully placed. The overall color scheme was Earthy in a nod to the cuisine, but nuanced. Carefully placed potted plants, again, nodding to the theme but not overdoing it.The only things I didn't like about the decor were the things that were gimmicky about being vegan - a stretch of wall over the kitchen painted with radishes. Art hanging on the wall over the booths that looked like it was collaged from trash. They didn't go with the otherwise very sophisticated look of this restaurant. Also, the severs were dressed in these weird olive-gray soft t-shirts with matching aprons over black slacks and honestly they looked like they were in a cult, which I did find a little jarring.The food. At $15-$20 the plates were pretty reasonably priced, but they are small plates. We found that portions varied wildly. Our server said she has had couples come in and eat the whole menu but typically tables of 2 get 3-5 plates to share. We started off ordering 3: the rutabaga fondue with pretzel bread, the Peruvian potatoes, and the dan dan noodles. After that we felt we needed a fourth item and got the grilled avocado with slaw, and finished with a desert.The fondue was unexpectedly delicious, and impressively textured like a delicate sauce, not a gloppy puree. The bread was fresh and dusted with a perfect amount of sea salt. The noodles were perfectly cooked , covered in shaved green onion, and came with shiitake mushrooms in 5-spice that were somehow both crispy and chewy. The noodles were, however, VERY spicy, and when I asked our server if spice levels could be modified, thinking about future visits, she said not really. The potatoes were good, but not showstoppers like the fondue and dan-dan noodles (though my fiance put the potatoes over the fondue in his ranking). They were also quite spicy, with large bits of peppercorn. We were both disappointed with the grilled avocado. At $16, it was half a small avocado with some garnishes served on a small pile of slaw. It was good, but it wasn't so special that it was worth that price at that portion. I can cut up an avocado at home.Our desert was write-homeable though. We got the choclate bar, which is really more like a ganache cake browny thing, very thick and rich. It came with a vegan lavender ice cream and blackberry jam, both delightful. Personally, I'm of the belief that if it isn't chocolate it isn't worth the calories, but I think in this case the lavender ice cream impressed me more, especially given that it was vegan but I didn't notice a difference from regular ice cre
Ruchika Agarwal
I had a lot of expectations from this place as being Vegan. The place was average, I expected a lot more decor and aesthetics. All the cocktails were around $20, we had two of them one was butterfly effect. I have had this type of cocktail before and it was amazing but this one was not. The other cocktail was also average, not something I would again try. For the food, very limited options and expensive as well. All the plates were around $15 - $20 and the portion size was way more small. We ordered, fondue, grilled avocado and Peruvian potatoes. All the food items are below average in taste, quality and portions. I have had amazing vegan food in DC with great portion size and price. Three plates each $20 were not enough for two people. Our server was a girl and she was sweet and humble. Since it was my husbands birthday they had us two small bites with candle on one.
AM Krahe
A flavor bomb in every bite! Creative, beautiful and delicious plant based dishes served as small plates so you can sample several dishes. There is not one that I have tried that I would not order again. And the drinks menu is as creative and delicious as the food! And service is friendly and fast, but not rushed. By far my favorite vegan restaurant!Vegetarian options: All vegan menuDietary restrictions: Server asked about any food allergies/sensitivities
Kelly M.
Really incredible vegan restaurant! Everything was stellar from the service, the atmosphere, the drinks to the food. I had the Butterfly Effect cocktail and it was well blended with a delightful slightly sweet and slightly sharp flavor. My friend had a cocktail but also tried the Vibrational Match mock tail which was also great. The rutabaga fondue is amazing, and the bread so soft. The grilled avocado was awesome. The miso butter noodles seemed simple but the flavor was outstanding. The tofu and lentils is also good, had a little spice so wasn't my personal favorite. I had high expectations and was not let down! Be sure to get a reservation if you're showing up later in the evening or on the weekend. We were able to walk in around 5:45 on a Thursday but just barely.
Bhavika C.
All vegan Yes please. What else does a vegetarian person wants ! A menu I can order anything from.The place is cozy and modern. It was easy to make reservation and we went with my 22 month old and they had no issues accommodating!Our server was excellent and explained within on menu in detail. We order two drinks and both of them were great! We ordered a couple of thing like Smoked Eggplant Rillettes, Peruvian potatoes, Dan Dan Noodles, Chermoula Grilled Tofu with lentils . Dessert in my opinion was just ok, but every other course was artful and wildly delicious.Everything tasted amazing and our server was very accommodating and helpful throughout the evening! Absolutely go to this place if you get a chance . Make sure to do prior reservations !
Very unique dining experience! Natalie was our server. She was very attentive and friendly! She made our night fun and kept our drinks filled! We had a large group which is very challenging. She kept us very happy. Staff support is amazing! We had water when needed and dishes were taken away quickly.Manager Adam is professional and keeps a sharp eye out to keep things moving! Food allergies are respected and dishes are customized to meet needs.Highly recommend!
Yvette 'Divie' E.
A cool concept that's worth trying (even if you don't have any allergy restrictions). Food: Everything is vegan, and many things can be made gluten free! What an easy experience to navigate. A group of 3 ordered 4 dishes plus dessert, and we were comfortably full. There were noodles, potato's, veggies, and we had to try the fondue; it was different but a cool concept (and the gluten free bread was pretty good). Service: Not bad! We didn't have reservations but we're able to sit comfortably at the bar. We were attended to. Ambiance: It's elevated casual and kind of intimate. Very approachable. The prices aren't cheap but it's nice to see this kind of restaurant in the neighborhood!
Miranda K.
My husband and I struggle to find upscale vegan restaurants, and it was a pleasant surprise to find this stylish, classy restaurant/bar.We made reservations and were taken straight to our seats even though we were 15 mins early. We were given a choice of water. They have a great cocktail list and a couple of mocktails that my husband ordered one of. I had a bottle of white wine. The menu here is very unique. It is not your typical vegan food. You won't find any burgers, mac n cheese, or buffalo cauliflower wings here! It is an acquired taste and is great to experience. The food was filling. The only thing I was not a particular fan of was how close the tables were to each other. I like a bit more privacy when conversing over a meal. The service was friendly, quick, and knowledgeable.
Andrew Loiacono
Both the food and service were great. I didn't need to ask for more water like I usually have to. I kept getting refills. The Tofu dish could have had more food in my opinion.
villain
Small plates, sharing style. We were advised that it takes about 2-3 plates per person to feel full, and I found this to be accurate. Among the 3 of us, we ordered 9 plates, including desserts, with the goal of feeling stuffed. It worked. We tried nearly everything on the menu, and our favorite savory items were the Peruvian Potatoes and Spicy Dan Dan Noodles. The sauce on the potatoes with Aji Amarillo was the perfect amount of spicy. It was amazing. On the other hand, the spicy Dan Dan Noodles weren't all that spicy, but the flavors were certainly delicious, and they were still my preference over the Miso Butter Noodles. My favorite dessert (or maybe tied for first place) was the Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was more of a bread pudding, but much better than a typical bread pudding. Not overly sweet, not soggy or too soft. It was a high-quality cinnamon tasting bread with wonderful banoffee ice cream. The other must try dessert was the Chocolate Bar. I'm not even a chocolate dessert person, but I've never had a dessert quite like this, with caramel pecans and lavender ice cream. I'd easily order it again. The Panna Cotta and Cheesecake were very average, and I don't recommend them. Service was too good to be true. Marcus helped our table out, and we also recommended each other slightly obscure hip hop artists and talked for a long time. Genuinely a very friendly person! Service this good is rare to find when you're one of the later tables toward the end of a night. I see why Fancy Radish is top rated in DC. Updated from previous review on 2023-05-25
I visited Fancy Radish mid September when I discovered it was the only vegan restaurant in the DC area on the Michelin app, and I'm really sad to hear that this restaurant is permanently closed. I won't be posting a full review as this restaurant is already closed, but leaving this review in hopes that those who work there see this as a post of appreciation for our amazing meal and service. The staff were honestly great and part of what made the experience! We dined comfortably and there was such a cozy vibe. My meat centric friend also really enjoyed our meal and had high compliments for how they could turn vegetables so tasty!
Fancy Radish is described as a 'modern vegetable restaurant' and has been around since '18.We came to try them out for dinner, and it was not to worry what kind of 'meat protein' was in each of the dishes!We tried literally each of the menu items - HAHA!+Fancy Radishes - yuzu avocado, smoked tamari, and nori - these were just sliced radishes, dressed in sauces; these were passable+Pastrami Carrot Salad - sauerkraut puree, smoked mustard, and pumpernickel soil; spices used were definitely reminding one of eating a pastrami, but in carrot form+Rutabaga Fondue - soft pretzels and house pickles+Heirloom Tomato Toast - basil goddess, crispy shiitake, and micro salad mix+Grilled Corn Salad - with gochujang mayo, napa cabbage, pickled daikon, and sesame+Peruvian Potatoes - with aji amarillo, cilantro, peanut, cured olives, and cilantro; these were okay, but we weren't fans of the olives+Grilled Avocado - curtido, smoked tomato salsa, cilantro crema, and pepitas+Miso Butter Noodles - with zucchini, ginger, and shaved almonds+Spicy Dan Dan Noodles - red chile sesame sauce, Sichuan peppercorn, five-spice glazed mushrooms; while these had a kick, they were not as savory as I expected as it was bland; the noodles were also a bit mushy as they were overcooked+Chermoula Grilled Tofu - warm black lentils, Calabrian chili, and tomato olive salad; the tofu were a bit overcooked; the black lentils were okayService was friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is cute and cozy, with scattered light fixtures and cute paintings on the walls.+vegetable-centered restaurant+friendly service
In town visiting bestie who is a vegan for dinner and this place did not disspoint. Sad that they will be closing after today.
amazing! i am so sad this place is closing!i made a last minute reservation when i heard this place was going to close and only got a table at 5:15! it was early for me but obviously i understand why it was swamped. our service was still really fast!my friend and i split each of the plates, and i got a cocktail while she got a mocktail. i didn't love my drink - i didn't taste anything but alcohol for most of the drink, and only got the dregs of watermelon juice at the end. my friend's mocktail was well received.the food was amazing!! the portion sizes were not super large, but everything was incredibly delicious. the gochujang mayo on the salad was incredible, and the noodles were actually spicy! the dessert was also amazing - i loved the fudge bar and the earl grey-esque lavender ice cream.the place was quite pricey, so i understand why people may not have wanted to consistently spend this much on such small plates, but i definitely would have returned for special occasions. fancy radish you will be missed!
In town for the weekend to visit fam, and the cousin found Fancy Radish just a short 6 min ride/15 min walk from Union Station. The one-page menu is inspired by a mix of Latin American and Asian flavors, e.g., grilled corn salad with gojuchang mayo. The dishes use a lot of fresh, seasonal ingredients and keeps it interesting with pops of spice. Here's a full meal breakdown: - Rutabaga fondue- Grilled corn salad- Grilled avocado (group favorite)- Miso butter noodles - Spicy dan dan noodles - Chermoula grilled tofuOne of the best vegan restaurants in DC. Unfortunately, they are closing (on 9/23). The staff were informed just three days prior. What a shame, as the staff was just lovely; you really couldn't ask for better. And the food was fantastic. I hope Fancy Radish gets a second chance. It deserves it.
It is getting harder to rate places 5 stars these days. Fancy Radish came so close, but some items were priced a little too high imo, and the service was good but not stellar. To start, the host put us at a bad table despite us having a reservation and better tables being available, but did change it when he saw my hesitation.A++ for concept, though. The world needs more serious vegan restaurants with a genuinely thoughtful sit-down experience, not just for vegans, but to create palatable vegan options for meat eaters so they can enjoy exploring vegan food, to offer more variety for vegetarians and pescatarians, and just to reduce meat consumption overall given how bad it is for the climate and animal welfare. I like that Fancy Radish offers a legitimately good, well-rounded dining experience, putting thought into ambiance and cocktails etc. instead of just leaning on the novelty of the food.I also like that Fancy Radish values the vegetables themselves, offering creative and unexpected preparations, instead of just slapping down some baked tofu or seitan.I found that the ambiance was an extremely important part of our experience here, as that is what sets Fancy Radish apart from other vegan and vegetarian places, which always seem to lean fast-casual or crunchy granola. The lighting and light fixtures were notable, which feels like a weird thing to say about a restaurant, but they made a difference. Lighting was low and sexy, the fixtures were interesting, eye-catching and thoughtfully placed. The overall color scheme was Earthy in a nod to the cuisine, but nuanced. Carefully placed potted plants, again, nodding to the theme but not overdoing it.The only things I didn't like about the decor were the things that were gimmicky about being vegan - a stretch of wall over the kitchen painted with radishes. Art hanging on the wall over the booths that looked like it was collaged from trash. They didn't go with the otherwise very sophisticated look of this restaurant. Also, the severs were dressed in these weird olive-gray soft t-shirts with matching aprons over black slacks and honestly they looked like they were in a cult, which I did find a little jarring.The food. At $15-$20 the plates were pretty reasonably priced, but they are small plates. We found that portions varied wildly. Our server said she has had couples come in and eat the whole menu but typically tables of 2 get 3-5 plates to share. We started off ordering 3: the rutabaga fondue with pretzel bread, the Peruvian potatoes, and the dan dan noodles. After that we felt we needed a fourth item and got the grilled avocado with slaw, and finished with a desert.The fondue was unexpectedly delicious, and impressively textured like a delicate sauce, not a gloppy puree. The bread was fresh and dusted with a perfect amount of sea salt. The noodles were perfectly cooked , covered in shaved green onion, and came with shiitake mushrooms in 5-spice that were somehow both crispy and chewy. The noodles were, however, VERY spicy, and when I asked our server if spice levels could be modified, thinking about future visits, she said not really. The potatoes were good, but not showstoppers like the fondue and dan-dan noodles (though my fiance put the potatoes over the fondue in his ranking). They were also quite spicy, with large bits of peppercorn. We were both disappointed with the grilled avocado. At $16, it was half a small avocado with some garnishes served on a small pile of slaw. It was good, but it wasn't so special that it was worth that price at that portion. I can cut up an avocado at home.Our desert was write-homeable though. We got the choclate bar, which is really more like a ganache cake browny thing, very thick and rich. It came with a vegan lavender ice cream and blackberry jam, both delightful. Personally, I'm of the belief that if it isn't chocolate it isn't worth the calories, but I think in this case the lavender ice cream impressed me more, especially given that it was vegan but I didn't notice a difference from regular ice cre
I had a lot of expectations from this place as being Vegan. The place was average, I expected a lot more decor and aesthetics. All the cocktails were around $20, we had two of them one was butterfly effect. I have had this type of cocktail before and it was amazing but this one was not. The other cocktail was also average, not something I would again try. For the food, very limited options and expensive as well. All the plates were around $15 - $20 and the portion size was way more small. We ordered, fondue, grilled avocado and Peruvian potatoes. All the food items are below average in taste, quality and portions. I have had amazing vegan food in DC with great portion size and price. Three plates each $20 were not enough for two people. Our server was a girl and she was sweet and humble. Since it was my husbands birthday they had us two small bites with candle on one.
A flavor bomb in every bite! Creative, beautiful and delicious plant based dishes served as small plates so you can sample several dishes. There is not one that I have tried that I would not order again. And the drinks menu is as creative and delicious as the food! And service is friendly and fast, but not rushed. By far my favorite vegan restaurant!Vegetarian options: All vegan menuDietary restrictions: Server asked about any food allergies/sensitivities
Really incredible vegan restaurant! Everything was stellar from the service, the atmosphere, the drinks to the food. I had the Butterfly Effect cocktail and it was well blended with a delightful slightly sweet and slightly sharp flavor. My friend had a cocktail but also tried the Vibrational Match mock tail which was also great. The rutabaga fondue is amazing, and the bread so soft. The grilled avocado was awesome. The miso butter noodles seemed simple but the flavor was outstanding. The tofu and lentils is also good, had a little spice so wasn't my personal favorite. I had high expectations and was not let down! Be sure to get a reservation if you're showing up later in the evening or on the weekend. We were able to walk in around 5:45 on a Thursday but just barely.
All vegan Yes please. What else does a vegetarian person wants ! A menu I can order anything from.The place is cozy and modern. It was easy to make reservation and we went with my 22 month old and they had no issues accommodating!Our server was excellent and explained within on menu in detail. We order two drinks and both of them were great! We ordered a couple of thing like Smoked Eggplant Rillettes, Peruvian potatoes, Dan Dan Noodles, Chermoula Grilled Tofu with lentils . Dessert in my opinion was just ok, but every other course was artful and wildly delicious.Everything tasted amazing and our server was very accommodating and helpful throughout the evening! Absolutely go to this place if you get a chance . Make sure to do prior reservations !
Restaurantji Recommends
Very unique dining experience! Natalie was our server. She was very attentive and friendly! She made our night fun and kept our drinks filled! We had a large group which is very challenging. She kept us very happy. Staff support is amazing! We had water when needed and dishes were taken away quickly.Manager Adam is professional and keeps a sharp eye out to keep things moving! Food allergies are respected and dishes are customized to meet needs.Highly recommend!
A cool concept that's worth trying (even if you don't have any allergy restrictions). Food: Everything is vegan, and many things can be made gluten free! What an easy experience to navigate. A group of 3 ordered 4 dishes plus dessert, and we were comfortably full. There were noodles, potato's, veggies, and we had to try the fondue; it was different but a cool concept (and the gluten free bread was pretty good). Service: Not bad! We didn't have reservations but we're able to sit comfortably at the bar. We were attended to. Ambiance: It's elevated casual and kind of intimate. Very approachable. The prices aren't cheap but it's nice to see this kind of restaurant in the neighborhood!
My husband and I struggle to find upscale vegan restaurants, and it was a pleasant surprise to find this stylish, classy restaurant/bar.We made reservations and were taken straight to our seats even though we were 15 mins early. We were given a choice of water. They have a great cocktail list and a couple of mocktails that my husband ordered one of. I had a bottle of white wine. The menu here is very unique. It is not your typical vegan food. You won't find any burgers, mac n cheese, or buffalo cauliflower wings here! It is an acquired taste and is great to experience. The food was filling. The only thing I was not a particular fan of was how close the tables were to each other. I like a bit more privacy when conversing over a meal. The service was friendly, quick, and knowledgeable.
Both the food and service were great. I didn't need to ask for more water like I usually have to. I kept getting refills. The Tofu dish could have had more food in my opinion.
Small plates, sharing style. We were advised that it takes about 2-3 plates per person to feel full, and I found this to be accurate. Among the 3 of us, we ordered 9 plates, including desserts, with the goal of feeling stuffed. It worked. We tried nearly everything on the menu, and our favorite savory items were the Peruvian Potatoes and Spicy Dan Dan Noodles. The sauce on the potatoes with Aji Amarillo was the perfect amount of spicy. It was amazing. On the other hand, the spicy Dan Dan Noodles weren't all that spicy, but the flavors were certainly delicious, and they were still my preference over the Miso Butter Noodles. My favorite dessert (or maybe tied for first place) was the Sticky Toffee Pudding. It was more of a bread pudding, but much better than a typical bread pudding. Not overly sweet, not soggy or too soft. It was a high-quality cinnamon tasting bread with wonderful banoffee ice cream. The other must try dessert was the Chocolate Bar. I'm not even a chocolate dessert person, but I've never had a dessert quite like this, with caramel pecans and lavender ice cream. I'd easily order it again. The Panna Cotta and Cheesecake were very average, and I don't recommend them. Service was too good to be true. Marcus helped our table out, and we also recommended each other slightly obscure hip hop artists and talked for a long time. Genuinely a very friendly person! Service this good is rare to find when you're one of the later tables toward the end of a night. I see why Fancy Radish is top rated in DC. Updated from previous review on 2023-05-25